Travel credit cards: best comparison July 2026

The best travel credit cards - July 2026

A travel credit card is a card that lets you earn travel points or rewards, while also offering benefits designed for travellers: travel insurance, airport lounge access, and no foreign currency conversion fees. There is no single best travel credit card in Canada: the right choice depends on your spending habits and the type of rewards you are aiming for. Compare the best travel credit cards by category below.

Watch for: the best welcome offers on travel cards are limited-time and some end in a few days. See which credit card offers are ending soon before they disappear.

You can get travel points or benefits with those credit cards.

Here is a table summarizing the different offers. For more details, read on or click on the name of a card.

Travel points (flights, hotels, Airbnb, etc.)

With these travel credit cards, you earn points that you can easily use for any travel expense charged to your card. You can use any agency or website to book your trip and get the best price.

Our pick: TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* Card

With the TD First Class Travel^{^®} Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 146,000 TD Rewards Points^† as well as an Annual Fee rebate for the first year^†:

20,000 TD Rewards Points for the first purchase made with your card^†
126,000 TD Rewards Points when you spend $7,500 within 180 days of account opening^†
An anniversary bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards Points^†

Get an annual TD Travel Credit† of $100 when you book at Expedia^{^®} For TD, and enjoy your time at the airport with global airport lounge access and 4 complimentary lounge visits with Visa Airport Companion Program (a value of up to $277)^†.

With the TD First Class Travel^{^®} Visa Infinite* Card, you earn:

8 TD Rewards Points^† for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia^{^®} For TD†
6 TD Rewards Points^† per dollar on your grocery, dining and public transit purchases
4 TD Rewards Points^† per dollar on your recurring bill payments and purchases of streaming services as well as digital games and media
2 TD Rewards Points^† per dollar on all other purchases made with your card

This card also allows you to enjoy a range of travel benefits, including an annual travel credit, complimentary airport lounge visits, and a birthday bonus that boosts your points each year^†.

Transferable travel points

All these travel credit cards allow you to accumulate points that can be transferred to other loyalty programs, giving you greater flexibility in using your travel points.

Our pick: American Express^® Gold Rewards Card

Earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points with this welcome offer for the American Express Gold Rewards Card. That’s a value of $600 toward travel or any purchase charged to the Card:

5,000 Membership Rewards points per month when you charge $1,000 in net purchases to your Card, for 12 months (a total of 60,000 points in the first year).

You can also transfer your points to airline partners such as Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways, Qatar Airways, Finnair), Flying Blue, and hotel partners (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors).

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards points to a partner loyalty program, you would have the choice of earning up to :

60,000 Aeroplan points
60,000 Avios
60,000 Flying Blue Miles
72,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this Card, you get many benefits like:

$100 annual travel credit
Priority Pass membership and 4 complimentary Plaza Premium visits per year
$50 NEXUS credit

You earn 2 points per dollar for travel purchases, and at:

gas stations
grocery stores
drugstores

And 1 point per dollar everywhere else.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

No foreign currency conversion fees

All these travel credit cards have no foreign currency conversion fees.

This means you won’t pay the 2.5% foreign currency transaction fee usually charged by other credit cards when you use your credit card without foreign currency conversion fees (or when you pay online in foreign currency).

Our pick: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card +

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Visa Infinite ^+* Passport^MC Card, you get up to 60,000 Scene+ points as a welcome bonus (a value of $600):

40,000 points after $2,000 in purchases within the first three months
10,000 points after $10,000 in purchases within the first six months
10,000 points after $40,000 in purchases in the first year

Then, each year, if you make at least $40,000 in purchases on the card, you’ll earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 points, which represents a $100 value.

With the Scotiabank Visa Infinite +* Passport^MD Card, you earn 3 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà par IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! grocery stores. FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

You also earn 2 points per dollar spent, including on foreign purchases, in the following categories:

Grocery shopping
Restaurants
Entertainment centers
Transit

The Scotiabank Visa Infinite +* Passport^MD Card is an excellent Visa credit card for these types of purchases.

These points can be used for any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusive packages, and even Airbnb). You can also redeem your points as cash back with Scene+, for example, at your grocery store checkout at the same rate of 1,000 points = $10.

The Scotiabank Visa Infinite +* Passport^MD Card also offers:

No fees for foreign currency transactions
Get value of up to 10¢/L on your fuel purchases at Shell
6 access to VIP airport lounges
Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
Concierge service
Travel with confidence with 10 GB of free GigSky global mobile data for 15 days, plus access to GigSky Travel Essentials for essential apps on the go.
Cardholders also receive a free 1 GB/15-day GigSky global mobile data package annually, plus a 20% discount on future GigSky purchases.

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Outstanding travel insurance

All these travel credit cards offer outstanding travel insurance:

Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance
Car rental insurance
Flight and baggage delay insurance
Emergency medical care insurance

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard, mentioned above, also includes excellent travel insurance.

Airline points (Aeroplan, Avios, WestJet, etc.)

Are you mainly targeting Air Canada and Aeroplan? Also check out our comparison of the best Aeroplan credit cards.

All these travel credit cards are co-branded with an airline. With these travel credit cards, you’ll get great value from your points if you travel regularly with the airline or one of its partners.

Our pick: American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Reserve Card

With this welcome offer for American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Reserve Card, you can earn up to 150,000 Aeroplan points. Here’s how:

Earn 70,000 Aeroplan points after you spend $7,500 on your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership
Plus, earn 40,000 Aeroplan points after spending a total of $45,000 on your Card in your first 12 months of Cardmembership
You can also earn 40,000 Aeroplan points by making a purchase between the 15th and 17th month of your Cardmembership

With this Amex Aeroplan Card, you earn 3X the points on purchases made directly with Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations. And 2x the points on Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada. Everywhere else, you will earn 1.25X the points.

With this Amex Aeroplan Premium Card, you receive many Air Canada travel benefits, such as access to Maple Leaf Lounges in North America for you and one guest, priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling. It’s the best Amex Aeroplan Card for frequent Air Canada flyers.

With this American Express Aeroplan Card, enjoy your first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) for up to 9 people travelling on the same reservation on Air Canada^®* flights.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Access to VIP airport lounges

All these travel credit cards offer access to VIP airport lounges, so you can relax or eat before your flight.

Our pick: American Express Platinum Card^®

The Platinum Card^{^®} is the best premium card in Canada for travellers.

With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 170,000 Membership Rewards^{^®} points:

90,000 points after you spend $10,000 on your Card in your first 3 months of Membership
An additional 40,000 points after you spend a total of $45,000 on your Card in your first 12 months of Membership
40,000 points by making a purchase between the 15th and 17th month after your Membership
Offer ends July 28, 2026

With this Card, you get:

2 points per $1 on eligible dining and delivery purchases in Canada
2 points per dollar on eligible travel purchases charged to the Card
1 point per $1 on all other purchases charged to the Card

You can use your Membership Rewards^{^®} points in many ways:

Transfer points to airline partners: Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways / Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Delta SkyMiles, etc.
Transfer points to hotel partners, including Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy
Redeem points for statement credits to offset any travel purchase charged to your Card (1,000 points = $10)
Redeem points for statement credits towards other purchases (1,000 points = $10)
And more!

For example, with this welcome offer, if you decide to transfer your Membership Rewards^{^®} points to a partner loyalty program, you could earn up to:

100,000 Aeroplan points
100,000 Avios
100,000 Flying Blue Miles
120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

With this card, you also have advantages for your travels:

$200 Annual Travel Credit
An annual meal credit of $200
A $100 statement credit for NEXUS membership
Complimentary access for you and one additional guest to over 1,400 airport lounges in more than 130 countries
Hilton Honors Gold status
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
Access to the Fine Hotels + Resorts program

Last but not least, The Platinum Card^{^®} offers a wide range of insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, $500,000 travel accident, emergency medical expenses (out-of-province or out-of-country), lost or stolen baggage, flight delays and misdirected baggage, hotel or motel burglary, Purchase Protection, Purchase Security.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Hotel Points

All these travel credit cards are co-branded with a group of hotels or earn hotel points. With these travel credit cards, you’ll get great value from your points if you stay regularly at one of the group’s member hotels.

Our pick: Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card

The Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card is the best credit card for free hotel nights.

With this welcome offer, you can earn up to 70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points:

Earn 60,000 points after spending a total of $3,000 on your Card within your first 3 months of Cardmembership.
In addition, earn 10,000 points after you spend $500 on your Card in your 13th month of Cardmembership.

It’s a card we recommend you keep, because each year at renewal, you’ll get an Annual Free Night Award for up to 35,000 points, plus 15 Elite nights per year, counting towards your Marriott Bonvoy Elite status.

With this Card, you earn 5 points per dollar on all purchases at Marriott Bonvoy properties and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.

Last but not least, this Card comes with a wide range of insurance coverages: baggage delay, baggage loss or theft, $500,000 travel accident, flight delay, hotel/motel burglary, rental car theft and damage, Purchase Security, Purchase Protection.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

Popular travel credit cards

All these travel credit cards are popular with Milesopedia readers. They’re worth considering if you’re planning to travel soon!

Our choice: CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card

The CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card is one of the best Visa credit cards with travel rewards.

CIBC has an offer with which you can earn up to 45,000 Aventura points:

15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase^†
30,000 Aventura Points if you spend $3,000 or more in the first 4 monthly statement periods^†

In addition, you can benefit from a rebate on the first year’s annual fee for the primary card holder ($139 value) and up to three authorized users ($50 each).

With this CIBC Aventura Credit Card, you get:

2 points for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre^†
1.5 points for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores^†
1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases^†

The CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card also offers:

Airport lounges access: Visa Airport Companion Program membership with 4 complimentary visits per year
Reimbursement of NEXUS membership fees ( $160 value)

The minimum annual income required for this card is $60,000 (personal) or $100,000 (household).

Our choice: Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card offers an excellent welcome bonus.

Until November 1, 2026, you can earn up to 50,000 bonus Scene+ points, broken down as follows:

30,000 Scene+ points by charging $2,000 in purchases to the card within the first 3 months
20,000 Scene+ points by making $7,500 in purchases on the card in the first year

This represents a value of up to $500 for travel (including Airbnb).

With the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card, you earn 6 points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà par IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! grocery stores. FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

Also, you earn 5 points per dollar for:

Grocery stores
Restaurants
Entertainment centers

And 3 points per dollar on gas, transit and streaming services purchases.

You can redeem your points on travel purchases (flights, hotels, all-inclusive and even Airbnb). You can also use your points as cash back rewards with Scene+.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card also offers no foreign transaction fees, excellent insurance for your travel or purchases, concierge service, exclusive American Express benefits like the Front of the Line program.

Our choice: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

With this exceptional limited-time welcome offer, you can earn up to 70,000 Avion points as a welcome bonus with the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card!

Receive 35,000 points upon approval
20,000 additional points when you spend $5,000 within the first six months of account opening
15,000 points on your account anniversary

You can use your Avion Rewards points to book flights with over 500 airlines or transfer them to select partner loyalty programs, such as:

American Airlines AAdvantage
The British Airways Club (and Qatar Airways Privilege Club)
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
WestJet Rewards

You can also maximize the value of your points using the Air Travel Redemption Schedule, which offers fixed pricing year-round based on the destination and flight type.

Depending on your goals, this offer can represent strong value, particularly for transfers to partner programs or for using the Air Travel Redemption Schedule.

With the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card, you earn 1.25 Avion points per dollar on eligible travel purchases¹² and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases².

Our choice: BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

The BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard is one of the best World Elite Mastercard credit cards with travel points in Canada.

With our exclusive welcome offer, you can earn up to 115,000 BMO Rewards points (worth $770 for travel).

Here’s how to earn the welcome offer points:

60,000 points after $5,000 in net purchases within the first 110 days*
20,000 points after $10,000 in net purchases within the first 180 days*
35,000 points after $20,000 in net purchases within the first 365 days*

Plus, there is no annual fee for the first year for the primary cardholder and additional cardholders.

You can also take advantage of a 0% introductory interest rate on balance transfers for 12 months, with a 2% balance transfer fee.

With the BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard, you get:

5 points per dollar on eligible travel*
3 points per dollar on eligible dining, entertainment, and recurring bill payments*
1 point per dollar on all other purchases*

The card also offers:

4 complimentary airport lounge accesses per year via Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass*
comprehensive travel insurance, including emergency medical coverage up to $5 million for 21 days*
A NEXUS statement credit in the first year*
Six months of Instacart+ membership plus a monthly $10 Instacart credit with an eligible card*

Frequently Asked Questions about travel credit cards

Which travel credit card should you choose with no foreign currency conversion fees?

If you often spend in foreign currencies, choose a travel credit card with no foreign currency conversion fees (usually 2.5% on other cards). These cards help you save on every purchase abroad or online on a foreign website, while also giving you travel points and travel insurance.

Why choose a credit card linked to a rewards program?

When you sign up for our rewards programs (free!), you’ll earn points on your purchases, which can be redeemed for hotel nights, flights, car rentals and cash back. Why deprive ourselves of it?

What is the best credit card with Reward Points?

With the many credit cards on the market, Milesopedia offers you to compare credit cards, according to your profile and with everything you need to know about current offers. Milesopedia is along your side to help you make the best credit card choice for you.

What are the additional benefits of travel credit cards?

Travel credit cards can include free checked baggage, access to airport lounges, comprehensive travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees.

What are the disadvantages of travel credit cards?

Disadvantages of travel credit cards include annual fees, exclusion periods, and possible expiration of reward points.

How do I apply for a travel credit card in Canada?

Check your eligibility, complete an online application for your travel credit card, and meet the minimum income requirements and other specific conditions.

How can you maximize the benefits of your travel credit card?

Pay your bills on time, reach the minimum spend for the welcome bonus, and choose a travel credit card aligned with your spending habits.

What’s the best travel credit card in Canada?

There are over 200 credit cards in Canada. There’s no better travel credit card!

There are several travel credit cards to suit your needs:

Sponsored offer – National Bank World Elite Mastercard

Travel points (flights, hotels, Airbnb, etc.)

Our pick: TD First Class Travel® Visa Infinite* Card

Transferable travel points

Our pick: American Express® Gold Rewards Card

No foreign currency conversion fees

Our pick: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite + Card +

Outstanding travel insurance

Airline points (Aeroplan, Avios, WestJet, etc.)

Our pick: American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card

Access to VIP airport lounges

Our pick: American Express Platinum Card®

Hotel Points

Our pick: Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card

Popular travel credit cards

Our choice: CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card

Our choice: Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card

Our choice: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card

Our choice: BMO Ascend World Elite Mastercard

Frequently Asked Questions about travel credit cards

Our pick: TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* Card

Our pick: American Express^® Gold Rewards Card

Our pick: American Express^® Aeroplan^®* Reserve Card

Our pick: American Express Platinum Card^®

Our pick: Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card

Our choice: CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card

Our choice: Scotiabank Gold American Express^® Card