Best Travel Credit Cards In Canada For March 2023
American Express Cobalt
The American Express Cobalt is one of the most decorated and award-winning credit cards in the Canadian market, giving massive rewards value for travel and groceries.
Rewards: Earn 5 Membership Rewards per dollar spent on groceries (up to $30,000 annually), 3 points per dollar on streaming services, 2 points per dollar on gas, travel bookings and transit and 1 point per dollar on everything else. The card also earns 1 additional point for every dollar spent on eligible hotel or car rental bookings made with American Express Travel, too.
Welcome Offer: 2,500 points for each month in which you spend $500 on your card, adding up to 30,000 Membership Rewards points over the year (a $300 value).
Annual Fee: $155.88 ($12.99 per month)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Despite the annual fee and the fact that Amex is still not accepted as many places in Canada as Visa or Mastercard, (though the Amex acceptance map is expanding) the American Express Cobalt remains arguably the most lucrative credit cards in Canada. It dominates two categories (travel and groceries) with its annual rewards value. Plus, the ability to transfer Membership Rewards points at a one-to-one ratio to many loyalty programs makes it extremely versatile for frequent flyers.
CIBC Aventura Gold Visa
The CIBC Aventura Visa Gold card is a good alternative to the Amex Cobalt with a slightly lower annual fee and slightly less annual reward value at $526.99 based on an average spend by Canadians in many of its reward purchase categories, but also similar redemption flexibility and more insurance options.
Rewards: 2 Aventura Points per dollar spent on travel purchases made through the CIBC Rewards Centre. Plus 1.5 points per dollar spent on gas, grocery and drug purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: 35,000 Aventura Points (an $800 value) in the first year, including 15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase. and 20,000 Aventura Points when you spend $1,000 in the first four monthly statement periods.
Annual Fee: $139
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though the $139 annual fee and the $15,000 personal annual income requirement could be considered drawbacks, a big benefit is the fact that one Aventura point is worth an average of $0.02 per point when redeeming for travel and they could be worth between 2.3 to 2.8 cents per point depending on the route you’re redeeming for. This means that the Aventura Gold (and any Aventura credit card) stretches your dollar even further than the typical points-based credit card loyalty program that keeps its points worth an average of $0.01 per point.
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card
Basically the same offering as the Aventura Gold Visa Card with higher annual earnings and extra Visa Infinite benefits.
Rewards: 2 Aventura Points per dollar spent on travel purchases made through the CIBC Rewards Centre. In addition, you’ll get 1.5 points per dollar spent on gas, grocery and drug purchases and 1 Aventura point per dollar for all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: Get 35,000 Aventura Points (an $800 value) in the first year. This breaks down to 15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase and 20,000 Aventura Points when you spend $1,000 in the first four monthly statement periods.
Annual Fee: $139
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: You’ll get the network exclusives and benefits of the Visa Infinite banner, like special events and experiences, but you need to be making $60,000 as an individual and $100,000 as a household for the privilege.
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite
A great card for Air Canada frequent fliers who also want Visa Infinite benefits. It also gives you annual reward earnings totaling $527.32 based on an average spend in a number of common purchase categories from Canadians.
Rewards: 1.5 Aeroplan Points for every dollar spent on gas, groceries and on Air Canada flights, including through Air Canada vacations. 1 point per dollar on all other purchases and you can earn points twice when you shop at 150 Aeroplan partners and 170 eStore online retailers.
Welcome Offer: A welcome bonus of up to 45,000 Aeroplan Points ($900 in travel value), including 10,000 Aeroplan Points when you make your first purchase and 35,000 Aeroplan Points when you spend $1,000 or more during your first four monthly statements.
Annual Fee: $139
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though you’ll need at least $60,000 in annual individual personal income or $100,000 in household income to qualify for this card, it will give you supplemental benefits like a free checked bag and a full suite of travel insurance options. Plus, redeem for flights, merchandise, gift cards and more.
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege
For a hefty annual fee, cardholders get every premium credit card benefit a traveller could want.
Rewards: 3 Aventura points per dollar on all travel purchases made through the CIBC Rewards Centre. Plus, 2 points per dollar on all eligible dining, entertainment, grocery, gas and transportation purchases. Finally, you’ll get 1.25 points per dollar on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: 80,000 Aventura Points in the first year. This means 50,000 Aventura Points when you spend $3,000 or more over your first four statement periods and 30,000 Aventura Points as an additional account anniversary bonus.
Annual Fee: $499
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card has a huge $499 annual fee and income requirements that will exclude most Canadians from applying for it at $150,000 individual or $200,000 household annual income. Still, if you can afford it, a world of luxury benefits is open to you like airport lounge access, dedicated taxi and limousine service, exclusive dining and wine experiences, a car rental discount, high dollar maximums on travel insurance and even a metal credit card for every successful applicant.
WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard
This card offers flexible rewards and generous trip and World Elite credit card network benefits, including insurance, for frequent WestJet fliers. However, it offers a modest annual rewards value at $311.69 according to average Canadian spending.
Rewards: 2% back in WestJet Dollars when you book WestJet flights and vacation packages. Plus, 1.5% back in WestJet Dollars on everyday purchases.
Welcome Offer: Get up to 450 WestJet Dollars: 250 after your first purchase and 200 when you spend $5,000 within the first three months of account opening.
Annual Fee: $119
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though the base earn rate of 1.5% can be beaten easily by other travel credit cards, the annual companion voucher, the free-checked bag, the World Elite benefits like membership in the airport lounge club, Mastercard Airport Experiences and 10 types of insurance, make a compelling case to any potential cardholder who likes flying WestJet.
RBC Avion Visa Infinite
Your dollar can go further per point with the RBC Avion Visa Infinite as long as you redeem for the right rewards.
Rewards: 1 Avion Point per every dollar spent and an extra 25% savings on eligible travel purchases.
Welcome Offer: 55,000 Avion Points, including 35,000 Avion Points on approval and 20,000 Avion Points when you spend $5,000 in your first six months.
Annual Fee: $120
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though the RBC Airline Redemption Schedule gives you incredible value per point, other modes of redemption, though flexible, only give you 1% in value. The extra travel benefits like the Rexall Be Well points and Petro-Points are nice, but you have to decide if the extra perks and insurance are worth the high income requirements.
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card
A great card if you want flexible rewards that cover taxes and fees on flights with a little bit of travel and purchase insurance for no annual fee.
Rewards: 1 Aeroplan Point per dollar on gas, groceries and Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada vacation packages. Also, get 1 point per $1.50 on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: 10,000 Aeroplan Points when you make your first purchase ($200 in travel value).
Annual Fee: $0
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though the base earn rate and welcome bonus are low, it’s still nice to get flexible rewards that can be redeemed for fights, gift cards and merchandise with a modest selection of travel and purchase insurance for no annual fee.
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege
This card has more perks and benefits than many other cards on this list. It only rivals the CIBC Aventura Infinite Privilege in terms of overall benefits and throw-in perks. The only reason it’s not as high is that its overall annual rewards value is quite a bit lower.
Rewards: Earn 1.5 Aeroplan Points per dollar on gas, grocery, travel and dining purchases. Plus, earn 1.25 points per dollar for all other purchases. As a bonus, you can also earn points twice at over 150 partner retailers and over 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore.
Welcome Offer: Earn 20,000 Aeroplan Points when you make your first purchase, 30,000 Aeroplan Points when you spend $3,000 within the first 90 days and 55,000 Aeroplan Points when you spend $12,000 within the first year of account opening.
Annual Fee: $499
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though the annual fee seems quite high at first glance, there are literally so many perks and benefits on this card that it pays for itself more than a few times over. There’s so many things you are entitled to that the actual $499 annual fee is dwarfed by the card’s overall value. As long as you can comfortably hit the $150,000 individual and $200,000 household income requirements, this card is worth every annual penny.
TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum
A cheap annual fee ($89) gets you quite the selection of travel perks, benefits and insurance.
Rewards: Earn 1 Aeroplan Point per dollar on gas groceries and Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada vacation packages. Also, earn 1 point per $1.50 on all other purchases. Finally, earn points twice when you shop in person at over 150 Aeroplan partner retailers and at over 170 online retailers when you shop through the Aerplan eStore.
Welcome Offer: Earn 10,000 Aeroplan Points when you make your first purchase and then earn an additional 10,000 Aeroplan Points when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days after account opening. Also get an annual fee rebate when you make your first purchase within 3 months of account opening and you add additional cardholders by January 4, 2023.
Annual Fee: $89 (waived in the first year)
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though the welcome bonus is modest and the base earn rate is lower than the competition, this card has quite a few perks and benefits, including insurance, for those with an average to fair credit score.
Alterna Savings Visa Infinite Card
A cheap annual fee ($89) gets you quite the selection of travel perks, benefits and insurance.
Rewards: 3 points per dollar on grocery purchases, 2 points per dollar on dining and entertainment purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Welcome Offer: A welcome bonus of 15,000 Welcome Points worth $150 that you can redeem for gift cards, travel experiences and cash rewards in the form of statement credit.
Annual Fee: $120
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: There’s a low welcome offer and modest annual rewards but you do get a lot of travel benefits for only an average annual fee.
WestJet RBC Mastercard
Welcome Offer: $150 WestJet Dollars when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months and make your first purchase.
Rewards: Earn 1% in WestJet dollars for every qualifying purchase you make on your card and 1.5% in WestJet dollars when you buy WestJet flights or WestJet Vacations packages.
Annual Fee: $39
Other Benefits and Drawbacks: It may come with a low annual fee and a good selection of insurances, but the welcome bonus and earn rate are modest. Still, with the lower barrier for entry thanks to an average qualifying credit score, it might be the window to collecting WestJet Dollars faster for the rest of us.
Credit card data research and analysis by Debra Toews and Tia Duncombe.
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