These impressive Canadian travel credit cards can help turn your everyday spending into flights, hotels and more. The post The best travel credit cards in Canada for 2025 appeared first on MoneySense.
To be one of the best travel credit cards in Canada on our list, the card must combine strong earn rates with perks like lounge access, no foreign transaction fees and travel insurance coverage. We’ve compiled this list of the top cards in this category to help you get started.
Best travel credit cards in Canada
Popular travel credit cards in Canada
Compare your travel card options with our interactive tool and filter credit cards based on rewards value, annual fees, income requirements and more. Use this tool to compare credit card options, or keep scrolling for our editors’ top picks.
MoneySense award winners
We break down the pros and cons of our gold, silver and bronze-winning travel credit card picks. Scroll further for other good options, including the best airline credit card and best no-fee alternative.
Gold: Scotiabank Gold American Express
At a glance: The Scotiabank Gold American Express is Canada’s best all-round travel credit card. It comes with unbeatable rewards and benefits, including up to 6 points per dollar on groceries and 5 points on dining, food delivery and entertainment—plus the ability to redeem points retroactively for purchases made within the past 12 months. With comprehensive travel insurance, no foreign transaction fees and exclusive American Express perks, this card is the perfect companion for both everyday spending and your next adventure.
Silver: American Express Cobalt
At a glance: With outstanding earn rates in broadly-defined, popular spending categories, the American Express Cobalt card is a travel rewards beast. Points are easy to redeem and flexible, and you can increase their value by transferring them to other travel loyalty programs. It comes with a comprehensive insurance package.
Bronze: MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard
At a glance: You’re sure to rack up points quickly with the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard. In addition to earning 5 MBNA Rewards points per $1 spent across five categories—restaurant, grocery, digital media, membership and household utility purchases—cardholders get an annual birthday bonus of 10% of the points earned in the last 12 months. Happy birthday to you!
Best airline credit card: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
At a glance: The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite tops our list of best Aeroplan credit cards in Canada for its easy redemption process and extras like the $100 Nexus fee rebate. Plus, if you frequently spend on Uber rides and deliveries and/or are a regular at Starbucks, you could stretch your rewards even further with this credit card.
Best no-fee travel credit card: American Express Green Card
At a glance: One of our best no-fee cards in Canada, the American Express Green Card earns points on your everyday spending, which can be redeem for card statement credits, gifts cards, merchandise and/or travel. Or you can transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to other frequent flyer or rewards programs. This is notable because by transferring to a program like Aeroplan, you can boost the value of your points significantly.
Frequently asked questions
Different types of travel credit cards
Generic travel rewards credit cards
Some credit cards in Canada offer you the ability to earn rewards on everyday purchases and other purchase categories, which can be redeemed towards a wide variety of things, including travel. This means you are not necessarily limited to booking through certain airlines when redeeming your points on flights. You may also be able to transfer your credit card points to an airline rewards program, such as with the American Express Cobalt.
Airline rewards credit cards
Some travel credit cards offer rewards with specific airlines where your points’ redemption values may vary, such as the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite credit card. When you accumulate enough points, you can book a flight or vacation package with affiliated airlines like WestJet or Air Canada. Keep in mind though that the value of your points can depend on the date of your flight and your destination.
Hotel rewards credit cards
Hotel rewards credit cards offer you the ability to redeem your points towards a hotel stay, and to earn points when you book at affiliated hotels like Marriott or Delta, or earn perks such as room upgrades or free breakfasts when you book eligible hotel stays. If you frequently book hotels for work or travel, consider a hotel rewards credit card like the Marriott Bonvoy American Express.
Deciding between ravel credit card features
When choosing a travel credit card, there are many valuable perks beyond rewards points and booking redemption options, including flights, hotels and car rentals. Here are some benefits to look out for before applying for a travel credit card.
Travel insurance coverage: You can save thousands in the event of medical emergencies, trip interruptions or lost baggage. Most credit card travel insurance programs cover short trips (up to 15 days) with options for extended protection. Coverage is often reduced for those over 65, so it’s important to verify whether the card’s insurance limits align with your travel plans and age. (Read about how to know if your credit card comes with enough travel insurance coverage.)
Airport lounge access: Enjoy a relaxing pre-flight experience with airport lounge access, a valuable perk offered by many premium travel cards. Some cards include free or discounted passes to lounges through programs like Priority Pass, Visa Airport Companion Program and Dragon Pass. Lounges provide amenities like complimentary snacks, beverages, Wi-Fi and comfortable seating areas. (Read more about credit cards with airport lounge access.)
Hotel discounts and upgrades: Many travel credit cards offer exclusive discounts or perks when booking with certain hotel chains, like Marriott, Hilton or boutique chains. Benefits can include discounts on standard rates, room upgrades or even free nights after a certain number of bookings. These discounts and perks can make your travels more luxurious while saving you money.
No foreign transaction (FX) fees: FX fees can add up quickly, especially when traveling frequently or making purchases in different currencies. Some travel credit cards waive these fees (typically around 2.5%) or lower them, saving you money on each transaction. (Read more about no foreign transaction fee credit cards.)
Roadside assistance coverage: If you’re planning a road trip, roadside assistance can offer peace of mind in case of unexpected issues, like a flat tire, empty gas tank or a towing emergency. Many travel credit cards offer such perks for free or at a discounted rate. (Read more on credit cards with roadside assistance coverage.)
Rental car insurance: Rental insurance can protect you from high out-of-pocket expenses in case of collision or loss damages to rented vehicles. Many travel credit cards offer coverage for rental cars, which could mean you can skip the rental company’s costly insurance add-ons. Make sure to confirm the extent of the coverage and exclusions, as terms vary widely. (Read more about car rental insurance coverage with credit cards.)
What travel points program is best?
Not all travel reward programs are created equal. So how do you choose the right one for you?
As noted above, it’s important to understand that travel rewards programs can be broken down into two basic types: Consistent and chart-based.
It’s worth noting that in rare cases, like the American Express Membership Rewards Program, you might get to choose to redeem points for travel based on either a consistent system or as a chart-based system.
Many of the big banks in Canada offer consistent points travel reward programs. They’re aimed at people who want to operate within a simple program with an easy-to-understand redemption process. So, people who dislike complicated programs will appreciate consistent rewards.
Chart-based programs can be considerably more complicated—but also potentially more valuable in rewards. Since the number of points needed to redeem for a flight isn’t consistent, using the rewards chart strategically can help you stretch the value of your points and net a higher return when flying on certain routes, and even for booking premium seats or business class. These programs are more popular with personal finance enthusiasts and left-brain thinkers.
Compare travel credit cards rewards points values
Here’s how the best travel reward programs stack up against each other.
How many travel rewards points do you need for a flight?
Let’s breakdown the value of a travel reward for multiple travel reward programs in Canada.
How many Aeroplan points you need for a flight?
Aeroplan’s chart system uses Miles to measure the minimum point redemptions. For short flights within North America, you’d need at least 6,000-22,500 points for an Economy flight, 35,000 to 70,000 points for North America and Atlantic zones, and so on.
How many Air Mile Dream miles you need for a flight?
Air Miles does not have a set flight chart. The number of Air Miles Dream miles needed for a free flight varies significantly as pricing is based on demand and what carrier and class you select. On average, 1 Air Mile point is worth 12.1 cents in travel rewards.
How many Avion points you need for a flight?
Premium Avion cardholders need at least 15,000 points for a flight within or near your province or territory, at least 35,000 points for a flight within North America, 65,000 points for a flight to Europe and 100,000 points for other destinations around the globe.
How many Amex points you need for a flight
Using the American Express fixed points program, you’d need at least 15,000 points for a short flight within North America, 20,000 points for a flight from a Canadian province or territory to a nearby U.S. State, 40,000 points for a longer North American route, 50,000 points for a vacation destination and at least 60,000 points for Europe or 100,000 points for other continents.
How many Scene+ points you need for a flight?
1 point is worth 1 cent. For a $300 airline ticket, you’d need 300,000 Scene+ points.
How many BMO Rewards points you need for a flight?
You can redeem your points for a statement credit towards flights. 1 BMO Rewards point is worth 0.7 of a cent in travel rewards.
How many TD points you need for a flight?
You need a minimum of 200 points for a redemption through Expedia for TD. 1 TD Rewards point is worth 0.5 cents in travel rewards.
How many MBNA rewards points you need for a flight?
You can redeem a minimum of 10,000 points for a $100 statement credit on travel.