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If you love to explore new places, experience cultures, and take on new adventures, a good travel credit card can make travelling more affordable by allowing you to earn travel reward points and perks with every transaction. Most travel credit cards reward you one point or mile for every dollar you spend. Sometimes more in certain categories of spend. Every travel credit card also comes with its own set of special features and perks that can be helpful when travelling. These can include lounge access, no exchange fees, trip cancellation insurance, travel discounts and more. See which travel credit card is the best for all your personal travel needs by comparing travel credit cards today.
| First-year value* | Credit score required | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,536 | Excellent | CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite™ Card | |
| $1,874 | Fair | American Express Cobalt™ Credit Card | |
| $1,244 | Excellent | Scotiabank®* Gold American Express® Card | |
| $510 | Good | MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® |
*The RATESDOTCA Best of Finance methodology assumes the cardholder spends an average of $2,000 a month on their card to determine the first-year value. The calculation includes all welcome bonuses and promotional offers at the time of publishing.
While travel still seems like a distant dream right now, it will be back one day. When the world opens back up, people will be making up for lost time and experiencing great food and culture once again.
In the meantime, cardholders can continue to build their reward balances for better days. Earn rewards for everyday purchases and redeem them for flights, hotel stays and vacation packages.
These cards also feature great additional perks, like shopping coverage, mobile device insurance and exclusive offers.
We compared the top travel credit cards using our Best of Finance methodology and ranked the cards that provided the highest first-year value.
| First-year value | Credit score required | Top features | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite ™ Card - WINNER |
$1,536 | Excellent | Get a Priority Pass Membership and four lounge passes annually + NEXUS application fee rebate + Travel insurance |
|
2. Scotiabank®* Gold American Express® Card - Runner-up |
$1,244 | Excellent | Flexible Scotia Rewards program + Travel insurance + Pay no foreign transaction fees |
|
3. TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card - Runner-up |
$1,420 | Good | Share some perks with travel companions + Access Air Canada benefits + Travel insurance |
Cardholders of the CIBC Aventura® Visa InfiniteTM Card can access loads of travel perks, from four free annual airport lounge passes to a NEXUS application fee rebate every four years. This card also features travel insurance and Visa Infinite benefits, such as complimentary breakfast at over 900 properties worldwide and exclusive tours of Wine Country.
Pay no booking fees through the Aventura Travel Assistant and use points to cover airfare costs, including taxes and fees.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian would earn around $1,536 in rewards in the first year.
The Scotiabank®* Gold American Express® Card is loaded with travel perks and savings. Access the Best Price Guarantee on airfare through the Scotia Rewards Travel Service and redeem rewards for any flight at any time. Cardholders also get eight types of insurance coverage for shopping and travel. Plus, pay no foreign transaction fees, typically around 2.5% on foreign currency purchases. Only the exchange rate applies.
Cardholders can earn rewards quickly with accelerated earn rates for groceries, restaurant purchases, entertainment and more, and cash them in for thousands of options.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian could earn around $1,244 in rewards in the first year.
Annual fee:
$120
Limited time offer/bonus:
Offer expiry date: November 21, 2021
Rewards:
Get Air Canada benefits with the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, including some shared perks for travelling companions. Access travel insurance and exclusive Visa Infinite benefits like the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection and Visa Infinite Wine Country Program for savings and upgrades.
Plus, get a NEXUS application fee rebate every 48 months when you enroll. This benefit also applies to additional cardholders.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian could earn around $1,420 in rewards in the first year.
Annual fee:
$139 †
Limited time offer/bonus:
Terms and Conditions:
† Terms and conditions apply. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.
Offer expiry date: March 6, 2022
Rewards:
Travel programs typically offer the best redemption value of all the rewards credit cards. Whether they offer rewards, points or miles, these cards will always provide more value than cash back cards. However, cardholders get the best value for their rewards when redeeming for travel rather than gift cards or statement credits — though the flexibility is nice to have.
Most programs allow members to redeem rewards for flights, vacation packages, upgrades and other travel savings. Some programs also allow point conversions to other popular travel programs. Additionally, many of our top picks feature insurance coverage and exclusive offers like lounge access or benefits at hotels and resorts.
We compared the best credit cards with travel points using our Best of Finance methodology and ranked the cards that provided the highest first-year value.
| First-year value | Credit score required | Top features | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. American Express Cobalt™ Credit Card - WINNER |
$1,874 | Fair | Flexible Membership Rewards® points + Travel insurance |
|
2. CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite™ Card - Runner-up |
$1,536 | Excellent | Aventura Points + NEXUS application fee rebate + Four free lounge visits annually + Travel insurance |
|
3. The American Express® AIR MILES®* Platinum Credit Card - Runner-up |
$853 | Good | AIR MILES + Basic travel insurance |
The American Express CobaltTM Credit Card is one of the best cards for amassing rewards, offering cardholders five points for every $1 spent on restaurants and food deliveries, three points for every $1 spent on eligible streaming subscriptions, two points for every $1 spent on eligible travel and transit and one point for every $1 spent anywhere else.
Not only that, but the Membership Rewards® program is incredibly flexible, allowing members to redeem points for almost anything — travel, merchandise and more. Eligible cards, including the American Express CobaltTM Credit Card, can access the Fixed Points Travel Program and American Express Travel Online for travel offers and special rates. Cardholders can even use Membership Rewards® to pay for taxes, fees and carrier surcharges.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian could earn around $1,874 in rewards in the first year.
Want to learn more about how the American Express CobaltTM Credit Card stands up against the competition? Read more from our "In the Ring" series:
In the Ring: American Express Cobalt Credit Card vs. Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
The CIBC Aventura® Visa InfiniteTM card is chock-full of travel benefits. This card has everything a traveller needs to breeze through the airport and save some cash, from travel insurance to airport lounge access and a NEXUS application fee rebate. However, this card is also part of the Visa Infinite collection and features additional benefits, including luxury upgrades and complimentary breakfast at over 900 hotel properties worldwide.
Members can redeem Aventura Points for the total cost of airfare, including taxes and fees.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian could earn around $1,536 in rewards in the first year.
Annual fee:
$139
Interest rate:
Limited time offer/bonus:
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
Rewards:
The American Express® AIR MILES®* Platinum Credit Card offers up to 750 Bonus Miles every year when cardholders book their first flight or vacation package using Dream Miles. Regularly earn one Mile for every $5 spent on eligible food, gas and transit purchases, up to $30,000 annually. Get one Mile for every $10 spent everywhere else.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian could earn roughly $853 in AIR MILES in the first year.
Annual fee:
$120
Limited time offer/bonus:
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
Rewards:
Travellers can forgo the foreign currency exchange line and pack a much smaller wallet for their next trip. These credit cards offer no foreign transaction fees on purchases, sparing cardholders the extra 1.5% to 3% providers typically charge. Only the exchange rate applies.
Cardholders also get the added convenience of tracking all their transactions from little trips to the grocery store, tours and excursions all in one place. Plus, travellers won’t get stuck with extra foreign coins and bills at the end of their trip.
These credit cards also feature various benefits and travel insurance to help make trips more comfortable and carefree. Spend points on flights, rental cars, hotel stays or merchandise and get the most out of your next adventure.
We compared the top credit cards with no foreign transaction fees using our Best of Finance methodology and ranked the cards that provided the highest first-year value.
| First-year value | Credit score required | Top features | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Scotiabank®* Gold American Express® Card - WINNER |
$1,244 | Good | Flexible Scotia Rewards program + No foreign transaction fees |
|
2. HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® - Runner-up |
$347 | Good | A $100 annual travel enhancement credit + No foreign transaction fees |
|
3. ScotiaGold Passport® VISA* Card - Runner-up |
$276 | Good | Flexible Scotia Rewards program + No foreign transaction fees |
The Scotiabank®* Gold American Express® Card offers a great return on spending. Earn five Scotia Rewards points for every $1 spent on groceries, restaurant, food delivery and entertainment purchases. Get three Scotia Rewards points for every $1 spent on gas, daily transit purchases and select streaming services and earn one Scotia Rewards point for every $1 spent everywhere else.
Cardholders pay no foreign transaction fees on foreign currency purchases, typically around 2.5%. Only the exchange rate applies. Plus, access discounts through the Scotia Rewards Travel Service and get a wide range of travel insurance through the card.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian would earn around $1,244 in rewards in the first year.
Want to learn more about how the Scotiabank®* Gold American Express® Card stands up against the competition? Read more from our "In the Ring" series:
In the Ring: American Express Cobalt Credit Card vs. Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
The HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® offers six points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases and three points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. Cardholders can redeem points for travel, merchandise and financial rewards or convert rewards into miles.
This card also features excellent perks and benefits. Cardholders get a $100 annual travel enhancement credit for seat upgrades, baggage fees, lounge passes and other travel luxuries. Get a complimentary membership to Mastercard Airport Experiences Provided by LoungeKey, unlimited Wi-Fi through Boingo at over one million hotspots worldwide and discounts on hotel bookings through Expedia and Agoda. Plus, pay no foreign exchange fees on purchases made abroad or online. Only the exchange rate applies.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian could earn around $347 in rewards in the first year.
Annual fee:
$149
Limited time offer/bonus:
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
Rewards:
Cardholders of the ScotiaGold Passport® VISA* Card can earn 5% cash back on travel through the Scotia Rewards Travel Service, Scotiabank’s full-service travel agency. Plus, earn one Scotia Rewards point for every $1 in purchases.
Cardholders also get five types of travel insurance on the card.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian could earn around $276 in rewards in the first year.
Annual fee:
$110
Limited time offer/bonus:
Offer expiry date: November 21, 2021
Rewards:
Access the top travel rewards programs with these no-fee cards. While they feature slightly lower earn rates than their counterparts with a fee, they still provide excellent value and great perks.
Plus, these cards can slide into your wallet as a primary or secondary credit card, and you don’t have to worry about another annual expense. You can use the card as often or sparingly as you like without having to justify its worth.
We compared the top no-fee travel credit cards using our Best of Finance methodology and ranked the cards that provided the highest value while also considering additional complimentary travel perks and benefits.
| First year value* | Credit score required | Top features | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® - WINNER |
$503 | Good | Flexible MBNA Rewards program |
|
2. CIBC Aventura® Visa * Card - Runner-up |
$527 | Good | Use Aventura Points to cover airfare, taxes and fees |
|
3. BMO AIR MILES† Mastercard* - Runner-up |
$343 | Good | Earn more with AIR MILES Partners |
The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® offers cardholders four points for every $1 spent on eligible grocery, restaurant, digital media, membership, and household utility purchases for the first 90 days, up to the $10,000 annual spend cap in each category. After, earn two points for every $1 spent in these categories ($10,000 annual cap in each category) and one point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
This card also features $1,000,000 travel accident insurance, unexpected return home insurance and car rental accident insurance.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian would earn around $503 in rewards in the first year.
The CIBC Aventura® Visa * Card offers cardholders up to 10,000 bonus Aventura Points in the first year, a travel value of up to $100. This card also features basic travel insurance, not typically found on a no-fee card and Aventura Travel Assistant for personalized travel planning with no booking fees.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian would earn around $527 in rewards in the first year.
Annual fee:
$0
Interest rate:
Limited time offer/bonus:
Earn up to 10,000 Aventura Points in the first year. Get 7,500 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase using the card. Get an additional 2,500 Aventura Points, 500 points for completing each of the five following activities in the first 60 days:
Offer expiry date: N/A subject to change without notice
Rewards:
New cardholders of the BMO AIR MILES† Mastercard* can earn up to 800 AIR MILES Bonus Miles when they spend at least $1,000 in the first three months. That is $80 in AIR MILES Cash. Regularly earn one Mile for every $25 in purchases on the card and get three Miles for every $25 spent at participating AIR MILES Partners, like Metro, Foodland and Shell.
According to our Best of Finance methodology, the average Canadian could earn around $343 in Miles in the first year.
Annual fee:
$0
Limited time offer/bonus:
Offer expiry date: December 6, 2022
Rewards:
Travel credit cards come with a lot of great features. Here’s what you need to know before choosing a travel credit card.
To be eligible for most travel credit cards, you need to have a credit score of 650 or higher. If you have poor or fair credit, you may want to improve your credit score before applying for a travel credit card. You can rebuild your credit before you start looking for a rewards credit card, with a balance transfer credit card, which makes it easier to pay off your bill faster if interest is piling up on you or another option is a secured credit card. Some travel credit cards also require a minimum income; either individual or household income. Be sure to check this required qualification before applying.
Most travel credit cards come with an annual fee ranging from $100-$150. This is because travel credit cards yield high value rewards. Often the rewards value make up for the fee you pay annually given your spend or how cleverly you spend in the categories that earns you multipliers. Therefore, the annual fee is a small price to pay for the exclusive rewards and perks. Some banks and financial institutions may waive the first-year annual fee as part of a sign-up bonus.
If you’re a frequent flyer, using a travel credit card can help you access a variety of travel rewards and benefits, such as travel rewards points, hotel upgrades, complimentary lounge access and much more. There are also a few thing to consider before you apply for one.
Here are the main pros and cons of using a travel credit card.
Pros of using a travel credit card
Cons of using a travel credit card
RATESDOTCA may receive compensation when you click on links to those products or services. however, our content and calculations are objective and free from bias. The opinions expressed are purely those of RATESDOTCA; thus, partners are not responsible for any editorials or reviews that may appear. For current term and conditions on any advertiser or partner’s product, please visit their website.
