Best travel credit cards in Canada of 2024

Money.ca rates all credit cards on a numeric scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest rating, respectively. Money.ca’s proprietary scoring formulas break down the confusing language, complex points, rewards and earn rates to give you the real data that caters to your needs first, not ours.

Our partnerships have no impact on our ratings, which are solely determined by the merits of each card. To learn more about how we researched and ranked these cards, read our full credit card review methodology.

So, which card is best for international travel? The CIBC Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is our top pick for the best travel card thanks to the huge amount of Air Canada benefits it provides. Maple Leaf Lounge access is free, plus six complimentary visits to other lounges through Visa, free checked bags on Air Canada, Canadian security fast pass, and more. All told, the first-year value of the card is nearly $1,400.

Key features of this travel reward credit card:

Annual fee: $139 (Free with CIBC Smart Plus™ Account. $50 for each additional card (up to 3).)

Earn rates: 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries and with Air Canada directly, including through Air Canada Vacations®; 2 points at over 150 Aeroplan partners and more than 170 online retailers through the Aeroplan eStore; 1 point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases.

Travel insurance: Flight delay, baggage delay, trip cancellation/interruption and travel accident emergency insurance; purchase protection and extended warranty protection; auto rental collision damage.

Extra travel features: Book flight rewards for fewer points through Aeroplan; complimentary Avis Preferred Plus upgrade; 24-hour Visa Infinite concierge

The Scotiabank Platinum American Express® Card provides an excellent first-year value. Beyond that first-year value, however, is a robust travel card that provides extensive travel insurance, charges no foreign transaction fees, complimentary airport lounge access and more.

Key features of this travel reward credit card:

Earn rates: 2X the Scene+ points for every $1 spent on all eligible purchases; 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on hotel and car rental bookings through Scene+ Travel.

Travel insurance: Flight delay, baggage delay, trip cancellation/interruption, travel accident emergency insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection, and auto rental collision damage. The card also features hotel/motel burglary coverage and mobile device coverage of up to $1,000.

Extra travel features: Hertz #1 Club gold membership, 10 complimentary airport lounge passes per year and premium concierge service.

Aeroplan is the most popular travel reward program among our readers, and the Aeroplan card that currently brings the most value for its annual fee is the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card.

If you're looking for the best credit card for points, and you love Aeroplan, this is the card for you.

Key features of this travel reward credit card:

Earn rates: 1.5 Aeroplan points† for every $1 spent on eligible everyday purchases such as groceries, gas, and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®) made with your card. Every other purchase earns 1 point† per $1 spent.

Travel insurance: Up to $2M travel medical coverage for 21 days for those under the age of 65 with additional top-up coverage available†. Trip cancellation and interruption†, delayed and lost baggage†, and flight/trip delay insurance† also included.

Extra travel features: Free checked bag when flying Air Canada (share free first checked bags with up to 8 travel companions).†

TD Expedia travel: Be sure to book your travel with expediafortd.com to find amazing deals and offers exclusive to TD card holders

TD credit score: As a Visa Infinite card, you'll need your credit score to be in the "very good" range to increase your likelihood of approval.

Aeroplan estore login: Log in to the Aeroplan estore to find discounts and savings exclusive to Aeroplan members—save on flights, link to partners for better redemptions, and more.

More details:

• 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†

• You get travel† and car rental insurance†, included with the card as well as additional VIP perks such as a free first checked bag for the cardholder and travel companions (up to eight) on the same reservation for Air Canada originated flights† and more.

• Get an annual fee rebate for the first year†.

To receive the first-year annual fee rebate, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening and you must add your Additional Cardholders by January 6, 2025.

The CIBC Aventura® Gold Visa* Card is a great option for any frequent travelers and spenders thanks to its impressive welcome bonus, lounge access, modest annual income requirements and a first year free for new accounts (and a $139 fee after that).

Key features of this travel card:

Regular earn rates: Earn 2 points for every $1 spent on eligible 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; and 1 point for every $1 spent on all other eligible purchases†

Travel insurance: Full suite of travel insurance, including travel medical insurance, common carrier accident protection, hotel burglary insurance, flight and baggage delay coverage, purchase protection, and more.

Extra travel features: Visa Airport Companion Program membership + 4 free lounge entries annually; no blackout dates when booking award travel; NEXUS◊ application fee rebate†

Those who appreciate comfy furnishings, good food, and drink during a long flight layover might be inclined to drift into an airport lounge—but lounging gets pricey if you don’t have free access privileges. First, there’s the per-entry fee, usually around $30 or so. And many airport lounges require you to pay an annual membership fee as well. Frequent travellers/loungers can avoid these ballooning costs by using the BMO Ascend World Elite®* Mastercard®*, which grants complimentary membership in Mastercard Travel Pass provided by Dragon Pass with 4 annual complimentary passes. That feature alone is worth as much as the card’s annual fee.

Why we like the card:

The lounge access feature has high real-world value: entrance with DragonPass will normally cost $32 USD each, and the BMO card’s 4 annual passes can be used either for the cardholder or a guest. And Dragon Pass isn’t some obscure program with a few random hole-in-the-wall lounges at airports you’ll never stop in. It’s one of the largest lounge networks in the world, with about 1,300 lounges worldwide.

Lounge access aside, the card also offers a number of other features that are a godsend to travellers, like a thorough set of travel insurance* and very respectable sign-up BMO reward bonus points*.

Key features of this travel card:

Earn rates: 5x the points for every $1 spent on eligible travel purchases,* 3x the points for every $1 spent on eligible dining and entertainment purchases and recurring bill payments,* 1 point for every $1 spent everywhere else.*

Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance*

Airport lounge access: Complimentary membership in Dragon Pass,* with 4 annual complimentary passes.

The Amex Cobalt is Money.ca's pick for the best credit card in Canada as its one of the best credit cards for points on everyday purchases.

Key features of this travel card:

Earn rate: Earn 5x the points per $1 spent on eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery (think cafes, restaurants, bars, and more), earn 3x the points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada (e.g. Apple TV+, Crave, Disney+, Netflix, Spotify and more), earn 2x the points on eligible ride shares, transit & gas in Canada (think taxis, flights, subway, trains, etc.) and earn 1 point per dollar spent on everything else. 1 additional Membership Rewards point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings via American Express Travel Online

Insurance: Out of province/country emergency medical insurance, travel accident, flight delay, lost luggage, hotel burglary, rental car insurance and more—the Cobalt comes packed with travel insurance. It'll even pay up to $1,000 for mobile device insurance in the event of theft, loss, or accidental damage anywhere in the world (you just have to have bought your phone with the card within 2 years from date of incident).

Learn more in our Amex Cobalt review.

Read more: Best American Express cards in Canada

The lustre of a huge sign-up bonus tends to dim down after the first year ends, and it’s not worth holding onto a card if it doesn’t have long-term value. That’s what makes the Scotiabank Gold American Express® card stand out: Its regular, daily earn rates are so high that it gives permanent value far and above its annual fee.

Why we like the card:

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® card rewards spending in the categories that the average person drops most of their money on, like 6X Scene+™ points on every $1 CAD you spend in Canada at Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, Foodland, and more eligible grocers.¹ Plus, earn accelerated rates at restaurants, other eligible grocery stores, bars and food delivery in Canada (5X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD spent); and eligible gas, select streaming services, and transportation (5X Scene+ points for every $1 CAD) in Canada. There are two fine-print details that really make the card’s earn rates stand out:

• Unlike many American Express cards, these high earn rates are valid for both stand-alone stores *and* chain stores

• Aside from earning huge rewards domestically, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® card is also a big asset for spending overseas, because it waives foreign transaction fees while still earning 1X Scene+ point for every $1 on purchases made in a foreign currency.

Key features of this travel rewards credit card:

Earn rates: Earn 6x Scene+ points¹ on every $1 you spend at Sobeys, Safeway, Freshco, Foodland and more; 5x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend on dining, food delivery, food subscriptions and other eligible grocery stores; 5x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 you spend in Canada eligible entertainment purposes. Includes movies, theatre and ticket agencies stores.; 3x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible gas and daily transit options, including rideshares, buses and subways, 3x Scene+ points¹ for every $1 CAD you spend in Canada on eligible select streaming services; and 1 Scene+ point¹ on all other purchases

Travel insurance: The card includes a range of travel insurance coverage, earning it a place on our list of the best credit cards for travel insurance.

No foreign transaction fees: The usual 2.5% fee on foreign currency purchases is waived

Flexible point redemption policy: Book flights, hotels and a wide variety of other travel services through Scotiabank, or order through another travel platform and then apply the points you’ve earned after the charge shows up on your card statement. Points can also be redeemed to cover travel taxes and booking fees, which is a rarity among Canadian travel credit cards.

Learn more by reading our complete Scotiabank Gold American Express® card review.

If you’re looking to earn travel rewards but aren’t ready to commit to a credit card with an annual fee, the American Express® Green Card is an excellent place to start. As we mentioned, this credit card has no annual fee, and you can request up to 9 supplementary cards for additional cardholders to supercharge your earnings rate. When you use this credit card, you’ll earn one point per dollar spent on everything. There are no complicated rewards schedules or earnings categories, making it easy to calculate your expected rewards within a year.

You can redeem your membership points in a variety of ways, not just travel. You can use your membership points to pay for purchases on your credit card statement, book travel with American Express Travel Online through the Flexible Points Travel Program, buy merchandise, gift cards or make purchases directly through Amazon.ca.

Why we like the card:

On top of this card's generous welcome offer (see above), cardholders have access to American Express invites, allowing exclusive access to a wide variety of exclusive opportunities, including early and reserve ticket sales, early access cinema screenings, and priority lines and bar access at major Canadian theatres.

Key features of this travel card:

• Earn rates: 1 point earned per dollar spent with no maximum earning limit.

• Point transfers: Change points to other popular travel reward programs, like Aeroplan and Avios, at a 1:1 transfer rate.

• Extra features: Zero liability, 24/7 customer service, American Express presale ticket access, reserved ticket access, Front of Line E-Updates, American Express Experiences – Cardmember Offers and Events, additional special access for all members

• Annual fees: $0

Learn more in our Amex Green Card review.

Foreign transaction fees—the 2.5% penalty that credit cards charge every time you make a purchase in a non-Canadian currency—are a huge waste of money for Canadian travellers. Unfortunately, most Canadian credit cards still charge this fee, and technically the Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard® does as well. But the Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard® more than makes up for that by giving cardholders 3% back on all eligible purchases made in U.S. dollars.. This not only makes up for the 2.5% fee, but it also results in a 0.5% cashback surplus on your U.S. travels.

Why we like the card:

The Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard® is a more appealing option for frequent U.S. travellers than other no foreign transaction fee cards in Canada because most cards in that category merely waive the foreign transaction fees without giving the extra cash back on top. And aside from giving cash back on U.S. dollar transactions, the Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard® also yields 1.5% in cash back rewards on purchases in CAD$.

It’s unusual for any credit card to offer this much cash back on all purchases, both foreign and domestic, but this is all the more impressive given that the card has no annual fee. Plus, it offers some travel insurance protections, as well as complimentary membership to Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass granting access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide at $32 USD per person per visit.

Key features of this travel card:

• U.S. currency cash back: 3% back on all eligible purchases made in U.S. dollars.

• Local cash back: 1.5% cash back rewards on all purchases in CAD$ (unlimited)

• Paid access to airport lounges

• Some travel insurance

Learn more by reading our complete Rogers™ World Elite® Mastercard® review.

The generalization that Visa and Mastercard are more widely accepted than Amex is not necessarily the case abroad like it is in Canada. American Express carries a lot of prestige and has a large network in foreign countries, and before travelling it’s best to check on a country-by-country basis about which card processors are most widely accepted. Merchants in some areas may inexplicably tend to support Mastercard over Visa, for example. For more, read our guide on where Amex is accepted in Canada.

Out-of-province medical coverage is what most refer to when they say they want the best insurance that their credit card can provide. Medical coverage is measured by the amount of time it covers you while you’re travelling and the maximum age limit that it covers. Aside from out-of-province medical coverage, it’s also good to have insurance for delays and interruptions, your baggage, rental car and other potential liabilities. The best cards combine all into one, like the Desjardins Odyssey® World Elite® Mastercard or the Scotiabank Gold American Express®.

There are travel cards in Canada accessible to applicants with credit scores in the mid-600 range or higher. These travel cards designated for those with average/fair credit scores likely won’t feature the most sought-after travel perks, like lounge access or extensive travel insurance, but they should at least earn some travel rewards or miles for regular spending. Keep in mind that your credit score will also affect your credit limit. For more read our best credit card for fair credit guide.

It’s best to minimize the number of credit card applications you make within a period of a few months. Each credit card application review will typically require a hard credit check, and many hard credit checks in a short period could damage your credit score and suggest to a potential lender that you aren’t creditworthy.

Mastercard Travel Pass is a suite of travel-related benefits and services available to eligible Mastercard cardholders in Canada. The program, provided by DragonPass, aims to enhance your travel experience by offering a range of perks and conveniences. From discounted transportation and accommodation to exclusive access to dining and entertainment options, Mastercard Travel Pass has you covered.

What are the top benefits of Mastercard Travel Pass?

One of the key features of Mastercard Travel Pass is the airport security fast track and lounge visits. As a member, you'll have the privilege of fast-track access through airport security, saving you valuable time. Moreover, you'll have access to over 1,300 global lounges across Canada, including nearly 10 airport lounges. This means you can relax and unwind in comfort before your flight.

Additionally, you'll have access to dedicated travel information to keep you informed of the latest travel policies.

How does Mastercard Travel Pass work?

If you are eligible, you can enroll in the Mastercard Travel Pass program by visiting the Mastercard website. The enrollment process typically involves providing personal and card information. Once enrolled, you must activate your Mastercard Travel Pass by downloading the dedicated mobile app (available in the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android) or accessing the program's website. This will allow you to access the available benefits and services.

Not all Mastercard products are eligible for the Travel Pass program. It is an optional extra offered by some banks for premium travel cards, such as the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege Card. To determine if you qualify, it is important to check with your card issuer or review your card's terms and conditions.

Using Mastercard's Travel Pass is straightforward:

- Use the Travel Pass app to find the airport lounge you are interested in.

- Show your membership at the lounge entrance to enjoy free* access.

- Track your lounge visits and remaining visits through the app.

Mastercard Travel Pass terms and conditions to know

Some banks offer Travel Pass to the primary cardholder and one authorized user. This means that both you and your joint cardholder will receive your own set of visits.

Guests are welcome in select DragonPass lounges (LoungeKey lounges) but must be an eligible Travel Pass member to enter. Additionally, guests may be charged a guest fee of $32 USD unless the account holder redeems one of their complimentary visits.

Complimentary lounge access passes reset each January. Unused passes do not roll over, so planning your travel carefully is important to avoid missing out on free lounge access and more.

*See your card's terms and conditions for more information on applicable charges.

More: The best lounge access credit cards in Canada 2024