8 Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada 2023

Here’s a shocker: Canadians love to travel! So it’s no surprise that there are numerous travel credit cards in Canada offering sweet rewards. So many, in fact, that it can be hard to decide on the best one for your needs. Some offer the opportunity to rack up some major points, while others include travel insurance and passes to posh airport lounges as part of the package.

In this article, we look for the best travel credit card in Canada across several major categories: the best credit card for travel points, sign-up bonus, hotel rewards, airport lounge access, and the overall winner. Use this handy guide to pick the best travel rewards card and let it work towards the perks and points most valuable to you.

Canada’s Best Travel Credit Cards for 2023

In developing this list of the best travel credit cards in Canada, we evaluated all the travel credit cards currently on the market against the following criteria:

• Annual fees
• Welcome bonus
• Cardholder perks & special features (travel insurance, lounge passes, no foreign transaction fees, etc.)
• Rewards earn rates
• Reward redemption flexibility and ease
• Eligibility criteria

Truly, these travel cards won out above the rest.

Overall Best Travel Credit Card in Canada

If you’re looking for a travel rewards credit card with an excellent earn rate plus perks and a reasonable annual fee, we’ve found it.

Winner: Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card

Earn up to $1,100* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 35,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived on your first supplementary card.¹ Earn 25,000 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, as a Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite cardholder, you are eligible to earn an annual 10,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $40,000 in everyday net eligible purchases annually. Offer ends October 31, 2023.

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The Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card wins big points in our books because it offers a lot of perks without a hefty annual fee. For starters, it’s got a great sign-up bonus upon sign-up. Earn up to $1,100* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 35,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived on your first supplementary card.¹ Offer ends October 31, 2023.

Aside from the generous sign-up bonus, with this travel card, you’ll also: Earn 3X Scene+ points on every $1 you spend on all eligible purchases¹ at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés TradItIon, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op. Earn 2 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend on other eligible grocery stores, dining, entertainment purchases, and daily transit purchases (including buses, subways, taxis and more), and earn 1 Scene point on every $1 you spend on all other eligible purchases.

The Scene+ points you earn are excellent since they can be redeemed towards statement credits, travel, the latest in tech, gift cards, and more. From travel and shopping, to entertainment and dining, get more Scene+ points with Scotiabank’s award-winning credit and debit cards.

What really makes this card shine is that it comes with no foreign transaction fees and lounge access with 6 free annual passes. The travel insurance with this card is also impressive. You get travel medical, trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay, delayed/lost baggage, rental car, hotel burglary, and travel accident insurance.

Whether you’re planning a summer staycation or jet-setting around the world on the regular, this is a fantastic card for anyone who wants to earn rewards from their everyday spending.

The Details

• Annual Fee: $150
• Minimum Income Eligibility: You must have a minimum annual income of $60,000 or a minimum household income of $100,000 or a minimum assets under management of $250,000.
• Credit Score Required: Excellent
• Welcome Offer: Earn up to $1,100* in value in the first 12 months, including up to 35,000 bonus Scene+ points and first year annual fee waived on your first supplementary card.¹ Offer ends October 31, 2023.
• Other Perks: Complimentary Visa Airport Companion Program plus six complimentary lounge visits per year and no foreign exchange fee markup
• Purchase APR: 20.99% | Cash Advance APR: 22.99%

¹ Conditions Apply. Visit here for the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card to learn more.

Best Aeroplan Credit Card

As Canada’s most popular travel rewards program, many Canadians are looking to rack up Aeroplan points any way they can. Here’s a tip: simply by using an Aeroplan credit card, you can earn points redeemable towards flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, event tickets, and merchandise.

Best of all, earn double the points by making purchases at Aeroplan-affiliated partners with your Aeroplan credit card. If you’re one of the 5 million Aeroplan members, it’s worth your while to get an Aeroplan credit card.

Winner: TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

Best Offer yet for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card: Earn up to $1,600 in value† including up to 70,000 Aeroplan points†. Conditions Apply. Must apply by September 5, 2023.

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The TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is our pick for the best Aeroplan credit card because of its strong welcome bonus and excellent earn rate on eligible card purchases.

Earn up to $1,600 in value†, including up to 70,000 Aeroplan points† and additional travel benefits. Must apply by September 5, 2023.

• Earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card†

• Earn 40,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $5,000 within 180 days of Account opening†

• Plus, earn an anniversary bonus of 20,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $7,500 within 12 months of Account opening†

• Enroll for NEXUS and once every 48 months get an application fee rebate†

• Plus, share free first checked bags with up to 8 travel companions†

Earn 1.5 points† for every $1 spent on eligible gas, grocery and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®) made with your card. Earn 1 Aeroplan point† for every $1 spent on all other purchases made with your card. Purchases made at Aeroplan partners earn double the rewards when you pay with your Aeroplan credit card and present your Aeroplan membership card, so cardholders can rack up their Aeroplan points quickly and easily†. Earn 50% more Aeroplan Points and 50% more Stars at participating Starbucks® stores. Simply link your TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card to your Starbucks® Rewards account. Conditions apply. Learn more here.

Cardholders are also treated to other travel-related perks, including travel† and car rental insurance†, exclusive benefits like a free first checked bag cardholders and travel companions (up to eight) traveling on the same reservation for Air Canada flights†. The annual fee of $139 is affordable, especially when you take into account all the card has to offer.

The Details:

• Annual Fee: $139
• Minimum Income Eligibility: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household annual income
• Credit Score Required: Good;Excellent
• Welcome Offer: Best Offer yet for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card: Earn up to $1,600 in value† including up to 70,000 Aeroplan points†. Conditions Apply. Must apply by September 5, 2023.
• Other Perks: Travel insurance†, check-in and free first checked bag on Air Canada flights†, Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance†
• Purchase APR: 20.99% | Cash Advance APR: 22.99%

†Terms and conditions apply.

This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.

Best Air Miles Credit Card

The Air Miles program is one of the best ways to earn rewards in Canada. With an Air Miles Collector Card, you can turn everyday purchases – like gas and groceries – into free flights, car rentals, event tickets, hotel stays, electronics, and so much more.

If you’re an avid collector, you can maximize your miles by using an Air Miles credit card to pay for your purchases.

Winner: BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®*

Sign up for the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard® and get 2,000 AIR MILES as a welcome bonus when you charge a minimum of $3,000 to your card in the first three months of card membership*. Plus, the annual fee of $120 is waived for the first year*.

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What’s truly great about the BMO AIR MILES®† World Elite®* Mastercard®* is that it comes with a generous welcome bonus and a high earn rate. Get 2,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles and the $120 annual fee waived for the first year*.

Get 3x the Miles for every $12 spent at participating AIR MILES Reward Partners* and 2x the Miles for every $12 spent at any eligible grocery store*. Earn 1 reward mile for every $12 in credit card purchases, everywhere you spend*. This earn rate is one of the highest AIR MILES rates of return out there for an AIR MILES credit card. Additional benefits include complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass*, an exclusive 25% discount on one worldwide AIR MILES flight redemption during the calendar year*, and a comprehensive travel insurance package which includes travel medical for up to 15 days per trip*.

Although there is an annual fee of $120, it’s waived for the first year*.

The Details:

• Annual Fee: $120 (waived for the first year)*
• Minimum Income Eligibility: Minimum $80,000 (individual) or $150,000 (household)
• Credit Score Required: Excellent
• Welcome Offer: Get 2,000 AIR MILES Bonus Miles and the $120 annual fee waived for the first year*.
• Other Perks: Use fewer Miles with our exclusive 25% discount on one worldwide AIR MILES flight redemption during the calendar year*, comprehensive travel insurance*, Complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass*
• Purchase APR: 20.99% | Cash Advance APR: 23.99% (21.99% for Quebec residents)

*Terms and conditions apply.

BMO is not responsible for maintaining the content on this site. Please click on the Apply now link for the most up to date information.

Best Earn Rate

This was an easy choice. Ever since the American Express Cobalt® Card showed up on the scene, it’s been getting high praise. Here’s why.

Winner: The American Express Cobalt® Card

In your first year as a new Cobalt® Cardmember, you can earn 2,500 Membership Rewards® points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $500 in purchases on your Card. This could add up to 30,000 points in a year. That’s up to $300 towards a weekend getaway or concert tickets. Terms and conditions apply.

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The welcome bonus and annual fee are interesting with the American Express Cobalt® Card. Instead of paying your fee once a year, you’re charged monthly for a total of $155.88 ($12.99 monthly fee). There’s also a Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 30,000 Membership Rewards® points in the first year (conditions apply)

Get 5 points per $1 spent on eligible food and drink in Canada, including groceries and food delivery, 3 points per $1 spent on streaming services, 2 points per $1 on spent gas and transit like buses or taxicabs, 1 point per $1 spent on everything else, and 1 additional Membership Rewards® point for every $1 spent as a charge on your Express Cobalt® Card on any eligible hotel or any car rental bookings made through American Express Travel.

What’s truly great about this card is how broad the increased earn rate categories are. “Eats and drinks” covers restaurants, cafes, bars, and food delivery. Travel and transit apply to flights, hotels, rideshares, and public transportation.

Also a plus: American Express Membership Rewards points are incredibly flexible and can be redeemed for a range of things (flights, gift cards, hotel stays, statement credit) and can even be transferred to other loyalty programs.

The card also comes with decent insurance coverage, including travel medical, flight delay, lost/delayed baggage, hotel burglary, and car rental.

The Details:

• Annual Fee: $155.88 ($12.99 monthly fee)
• Minimum Income Eligibility: N/A
• Credit Score Required: Fair;Good
• Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 30,000 Membership Rewards® points in the first year (conditions apply)
• Additional Perks: Insurance, exclusive entertainment access, access to VIP benefits at the Hotel Collection from American Express®
• Purchase APR: 20.99% | Cash Advance APR: 21.99%

Best Airline Credit Card

Deciding on the best airline credit card is a bit subjective since it largely depends on your preferred airline. But we like the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card since it doesn’t have a minimum income requirement to be approved. In addition, Aeroplan points are highly flexible since there are no blackout dates or seat restrictions.

Winner: The American Express® Aeroplan®* Card

Earn 2X the points on eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada®* and Air Canada vacations®*, 1.5X the points on eligible Dining and Food Delivery purchases in Canada, and 1X the points on everything else.

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If you fly Air Canada, then the American Express® Aeroplan®* Card needs to be in your wallet. It offers perks that make flying AC way more enjoyable.

For starters, the primary cardholder and up to nine people travelling on the same reservation get their first checked bag free. You’ll also earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 charged to your travel rewards card. That means you can get higher Aeroplan status quicker. The welcome offer will also appeal to many people.

New American Express® Aeroplan®* Cardmembers can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points:

• Earn 35,000 Aeroplan points after spending $3,000 in net purchases on your Card within the first 6 months of Cardmembership
• Plus, earn 2,500 Aeroplan points for each monthly billing period in which you spend $500 in purchases on your Card for the first 6 months of Cardmembership. That could add up to 15,000 Aeroplan points
• New Cardmembers: Earn up to $1,100 in value within your first year. Spend applies to bonus point offers valued at up to $1,000
• Conditions apply

The Details:

• Annual Fee: $120
• Minimum Income Eligibility Requirement: N/A
• Credit Score Required: Good;Excellent
• Welcome Offer: New American Express® Aeroplan®* Cardmembers can earn up to 50,000 Aeroplan points. Conditions apply.
• Additional Benefits: Comprehensive insurance, Air Canada travel benefits, access to exclusive American Express benefits
• Interest on Purchases: N/A | Interest on Cash Advances: N/A

Best Travel Credit Card for Hotel Rewards

Travellers are not one size fits all, and there is nowhere in the travel sector where this is more evident than in accommodations. Where you choose to spend the night will depend on your taste and budget. However, when it comes down to hotel rewards, there’s one travel card that shines above the rest.

Winner: The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card

Earn up to 75,000 Points. New Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Cardmembers: Earn 65,000 Welcome Bonus points after you charge $3,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Plus earn an additional 10,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership. Offer ends July 24, 2023.

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When it comes to luxury hotel credit cards, you can’t go wrong with the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card. This credit card has an annual fee of $120 and no minimum income requirement, which makes it uniquely accessible. Earn 5 points for every dollar in eligible Card purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2 points for every $1 in all other Card purchases.

When you sign up for this credit card, you’ll become a Marriott Bonvoy® member, which entitles you to redeem your points for free hotel stays at over 7,000+ of the world’s most desired hotels worldwide with no blackout dates. You can also choose to transfer your points to frequent flyer miles if you’d prefer free flights over free hotel stays.

When signing up for this travel card, there’s also a Welcome Offer. Earn up to 75,000 Points. New Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Cardmembers: Earn 65,000 Welcome Bonus points after you charge $3,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Plus earn an additional 10,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership. Offer ends July 24, 2023.

Another sweet membership reward: Enjoy an automatic upgrade to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status when you reach $30,000 in purchases on the Card each year or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights within one calendar year with the 15 Elite Night Credits from your card

The Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card also comes with a wide range of insurance coverage, including travel emergency assistance, travel accident insurance, car rental theft and damage insurance, flight delay insurance, baggage loss and delay insurance, and hotel theft insurance.

The Details:

• Annual Fee: $120
• Minimum Income Eligibility: N/A
• Credit Score Required: Good;Excellent
• Welcome Offer: Earn up to 75,000 Points. New Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Cardmembers: Earn 65,000 Welcome Bonus points after you charge $3,000 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Plus earn an additional 10,000 points when you make a purchase between 14 and 17 months of Cardmembership. Offer ends July 24, 2023.
• Other Perks: Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status membership, annual free night, travel insurance coverage
• Purchase APR: 20.99% | Cash Advance APR: 21.99%

Best for Frequent Travellers

If you’re travelling a lot for business or leisure, you may benefit from a travel rewards credit card geared to frequent travellers.

Winner: HSBC World Elite® Mastercard®

Get up to $649 in total value* for the first year! Must apply by May 31, 2023. Conditions apply.

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If you want a credit card with excellent travel rewards, the HSBC World Elite® Mastercard® is for you.

Earn 3% in travel rewards on all eligible travel purchases* (6 points per $1); 2% in travel rewards on all eligible gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases* (4 points per $1); and 1% in travel rewards on all other eligible purchases* (2 points per $1). You can easily redeem points for whatever your heart desires: from travel to gift card purchases and merchandise to financial rewards (yes, you can put points towards your HSBC mortgage or a statement credit on your credit card or savings account!). As a Welcome Bonus for New Cardholders: Get up to $649 in total value* for the first year! Must apply by May 31, 2023. Conditions apply. This rewards card also comes with no foreign transaction fees (only the exchange rate applies), comprehensive travel insurance, and an annual $100 travel enhancement bonus* redeemable towards baggage fees, flight upgrades, and other travel expenses. Plus, you’ll get a complimentary membership to Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass, offering you access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide.

The Details

• Annual Fee: $149
• Minimum Income Requirement: Annual individual income of $80,000 or $150,000 household income, or minimum of $400,000 in assets under management (based on liquid, investable assets with a financial institutions in Canada)
• Credit Score Required: N/A
• Welcome Offer: Get up to $649 in total value* for the first year! Must apply by May 31, 2023. Conditions apply.
• Other Perks: Comprehensive travel insurance; redeem points for travel, financial rewards, gift cards, merchandise, and more; shopping protection
• Purchase APR: 20.99% | Cash Advance APR: 22.99% | Balance Transfer APR: 22.99%

This offer is only available to residents of Canada other than the province of Quebec (Quebec residents eligible for separate offer).

*Terms and Conditions apply.

®/TM Mastercard and World Elite are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Used pursuant to license.

Best No Annual Fee

All the cards on this list come with an annual fee — not surprising given that these cards offer some pretty sweet perks. That said, if you don’t like the idea of paying an annual fee, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® is a strong card even though it has no annual fee.

Winner: MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard®

Earn 4 points†† for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases during the first 90 days and up to 10,000 bonus points††. Terms and conditions apply.

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For a no annual fee rewards card, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus® Mastercard® is impressive. The welcome offer is worth up to 10,000†† points, which is easy to earn. How it works:

Earn 4 points†† for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases during the first 90 days (until $10,000 is spent annually in the applicable category). Plus, get up to 10,000 MBNA Rewards points as an introductory bonus: 5,000 bonus points†† ($25 in cash back value) after you make $500 or more in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening and 5,000 bonus points†† ($25 in cash back value) once enrolled for paperless e-statements within the first 90 days of account opening.

The earn rate is also excellent for a no annual fee credit card. After the Welcome Bonus ends earn 2 points‡ for every $1 spent on eligible purchases on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases – these earn rates apply until $10,000 is spent annually in the applicable category. 1 point‡ for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.

When redeeming your MBNA Rewards for Travel, your points are worth 1 cent each — so 10,000 points works out to $100 in travel. A big plus: when redeeming gift cards or merchandise, your points are still valuable, as they’ll fall in the .80-.90 cents per point range. You can cash out your points for statement credit, but the value decreases to .50 cents per point.

The Details

• Annual Fee: $0
• Income Eligibility: N/A
• Credit Score Required: Fair;Good
• Welcome Bonus: Earn 4 points†† for every $1 spent on eligible restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases during the first 90 days and up to 10,000 bonus points††. Terms and conditions apply.
• Interest Rate on Purchases: 19.99% | Interest on Cash Advances: 24.99% | Interest on Balance Transfers & Access Cheques: 22.99%✪

‡, ††, ✪, ***, Terms and Conditions apply.

This offer is not available for residents of Quebec. For residents of Quebec, please click here.

Sponsored advertising. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) and TD is not responsible for the contents of this site including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete information on this MBNA credit card, please click on the “Apply Now” button.

The Toronto-Dominion Bank is the issuer of this credit card. MBNA is a division of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. ®MBNA and other-trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

Comparison of the Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada

*Terms and conditions apply.

†Terms and conditions apply.

The offer for the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is not available for residents of Quebec. For Quebec residents, please click here.

How To Redeem Travel Rewards

It really depends on the rewards program attached to your credit card. Some exchange dollars spent into points or miles (e.g., $1 spent = 1.5 miles earned), while others allow you to directly cash in points to make a purchase.

The process of redeeming points varies too. For instance, with the Scotiabank Passport® Visa Infinite* Card, you log in to their website and apply any number of accumulated points to offset any travel cost charged onto your credit card. Other credit cards have a travel portal for redemptions. With Aeroplan or AIR MILES, you log in to their website and redeem your points directly for a specific travel reward. Either way is fine – the key is to choose a travel credit card that has a redemption process that isn’t overly complicated.

Why Get a Travel Credit Card?

Whether you’re a frequent traveller or planning a big trip for the future, a travel rewards credit card can offer big benefits to you. It’s one of the fastest and easiest ways to save money on travel-related expenses.

Here’s how it works: when purchasing everyday expenses on your travel credit card, you earn points for every dollar spent on the card. Once you accumulate a certain number of points, you can redeem your points for travel-related rewards. Depending on the card, these points or rewards can be cashed in for travel-related expenses, such as flights, hotels, car rentals, parking, baggage fees, cruises, vacation packages, excursions – whatever you want!

Another big bonus is that travel rewards credit cards often come with comprehensive travel insurance, which may include coverage for travel medical, trip/cancellation, baggage theft/loss, flight delay, collision/damage for car rental, and so forth. That means that if you use your travel credit card to pay for your trip, you may not need to purchase a separate travel insurance policy. However, make sure to read the fine print to understand everything that’s included (or not included) in the policy.

How To Choose a Best Travel Credit Card

There is no one travel credit card that’s designed for all travellers. You need to carefully compare the rewards structure of each program and choose something that best suits your lifestyle.

Are you saving up for a one-time round-the-world flight purchase? Or do you prefer to put your points towards ongoing travel expenses, like baggage costs or hotel stays? The choice is yours, but there are a few key features to look for in a travel rewards credit card:

• A generous welcome bonus
• How easily and quickly you can earn points based on your personal spending habits
• Ease of points redemption
• A reasonable annual fee
• Additional travel benefits such as insurance and lounge access

When looking at all the products on the market, consider your lifestyle and compare these key features. It will make choosing a travel credit card much easier. No matter which you choose, don’t forget to pack the plastic in your wallet before leaving for your trip. Bon voyage!

The Best Credit Cards by Category:

• The Best Credit Cards in Canada
• The Best AIR MILES Rewards Credit Cards in Canada
• The Best Aeroplan Credit Cards in Canada

This post was not sponsored. The views and opinions expressed in this review are purely my own.

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information click the Apply now link. Conditions apply.