Eligible purchases made directly with Air Canada® including Air Canada Vacations®
2 Aeroplan pts/$1
FLY FREE
Updated Jul 2026
Travel Rewards
Turn your daily expenses into your next vacation. Compare cards with high earn rates and travel insurance.
TRAVEL REWARDS
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Compare Top Travel Rewards Cards
Comparing results based on your preferences.
Auto-updates
Annual Fee
$599
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
TD Canada Trust
Best For
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Premium
]
[
Rewards
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $2660
Aeroplan
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 85,000 Aeroplan points ($3,000 estimated value).
Highlights:
Airport Lounge Access
•
Travel Medical Insurance
•
Free Checked bag
•
Mobile Device Insurance
+5 more
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$599
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
$150,000
Household Income
$200,000
Credit Score
—
Add. Card Fee
$199
Annual Fee
$399
Purchase
9.99%
Cash Adv.
9.99%
Scotiabank
Best For
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Low Interest
]
[
Premium
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $2461
Scene+
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 80,000 bonus Scene+ points in the first 14 months.
Highlights:
No Foreign Transaction Fees
•
Airport Lounge Access
•
Travel Medical Insurance
•
Mobile Device Insurance
+6 more
Purchase APR
9.99%
Cash Advance APR
9.99%
Annual Fee
$399
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
$12,000
Household Income
—
Credit Score
—
Add. Card Fee
$99
Annual Fee
$149
$0
1st yr Fee Waived
Purchase
14.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
TD Canada Trust
Best For
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Business
]
[
Rewards
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $1963
1st Yr Free
Aeroplan
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 60,000 Aeroplan points + First-year fee waived for you and 2 employees.
Highlights:
Travel Medical Insurance
•
First-Year Fee Waived
•
Free Checked bag
•
Mobile Device Insurance
+6 more
Purchase APR
14.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$149
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
—
Household Income
—
Credit Score
—
Add. Card Fee
$49
Annual Fee
$150
Purchase
20.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
Scotiabank
Best For
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Premium
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $1674
Scene+
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 60,000 bonus Scene+ points with minimum spend.
Highlights:
No Foreign Transaction Fees
•
Airport Lounge Access
•
Travel Medical Insurance
•
Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver
+6 more
Purchase APR
20.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$150
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
$60,000
Household Income
$100,000
Credit Score
—
Add. Card Fee
$50
Annual Fee
$139
$0
1st yr Fee Waived
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
TD Canada Trust
Best For
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Rewards
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $1657
1st Yr Free
TD Rewards
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 165,000 TD Rewards Points + First-year fee waived.
Highlights:
Airport Lounge Access
•
Travel Medical Insurance
•
First-Year Fee Waived
•
Mobile Device Insurance
+6 more
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$139
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
$60,000
Household Income
$100,000
Credit Score
—
Add. Card Fee
$50
Annual Fee
$599
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Adv.
23.99%
BMO Bank of Montreal
Best For
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Balance Transfer
]
[
Premium
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $1549
Welcome Bonus: Up to $2,300 including up to 200,000 points and NEXUS Statement Credit
Balance Transfer: 0% Balance Transfer for 12 months (2% transfer fee).
Highlights:
Airport Lounge Access
•
Travel Medical Insurance
•
Mobile Device Insurance
•
Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver
+6 more
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
23.99%
Annual Fee
$599
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
$150,000
Household Income
$200,000
Credit Score
—
Annual Fee
$139
$0
1st yr Fee Waived
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
TD Canada Trust
Best For
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Rewards
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $1532
1st Yr Free
Aeroplan
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 45,000 Aeroplan points + First-year fee waived.
Highlights:
Travel Medical Insurance
•
First-Year Fee Waived
•
Free Checked bag
•
Mobile Device Insurance
+6 more
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$139
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
$60,000
Household Income
$100,000
Credit Score
—
Add. Card Fee
$75
Annual Fee
$199
$0
1st yr Fee Waived
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Adv.
23.99%
BMO Bank of Montreal
Best For
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Premium
]
[
Rewards
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $1507
1st Yr Free
Welcome Bonus: Up to $2,400 in value including 70,000 VIPorter points and a round-trip companion pass
Highlights:
Airport Lounge Access
•
Travel Medical Insurance
•
First-Year Fee Waived
•
Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver
+6 more
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
23.99%
Annual Fee
$199
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
$80,000
Household Income
$150,000
Credit Score
—
Annual Fee
$149
$0
1st yr Fee Waived
Purchase
19.99%
Cash Adv.
22.99%
TD Canada Trust
Best For
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Business
]
[
Rewards
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $1489
1st Yr Free
TD Rewards
Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 200,000 TD Rewards Points + First-year fee waived for you and 4 employees.
Highlights:
Travel Medical Insurance
•
First-Year Fee Waived
•
Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver
•
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
+6 more
Purchase APR
19.99%
Cash Advance APR
22.99%
Annual Fee
$149
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
—
Household Income
—
Credit Score
—
Add. Card Fee
$49
Annual Fee
$599
Purchase
21.99%
Cash Adv.
21.99%
American Express(Canada)
Best For
[
Travel Rewards
]
[
Business
]
[
Premium
]
Est. 1st Yr Value: $1442
Aeroplan
Welcome Bonus: Up to 90,000 Welcome Bonus Aeroplan points
Highlights:
Airport Lounge Access
•
Travel Medical Insurance
•
Free Checked bag
•
Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver
+6 more
Purchase APR
21.99%
Cash Advance APR
21.99%
Annual Fee
$599
Foreign Tx Fee
—
Personal Income
—
Household Income
—
Credit Score
—
Add. Card Fee
$199
Showing 10 of 30 cards
More Premium Travel Cards
Explore other highly-rated options you might have missed.
PC Financial
Rogers Bank
CIBC
RBC Royal Bank
Servus Credit Union
Welcome Bonus
Annual Fee: $150
Purchase Int: 20.99%
1st Yr Value
$280
View Offer
Desjardins Group
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Upgrade Your Travel Experience
The right travel card does more than just earn points—it protects your trip, saves you fees, and upgrades your comfort level.
Comprehensive Trip Protection
Travel cards often include valuable insurance suites that would cost significant money to purchase separately. Coverage like Trip Cancellation, Flight Delay, and Lost Baggage insurance protects your financial investment if things go wrong. Importantly, many cards also include Travel Medical insurance, which is essential for Canadians traveling abroad. You can also decline the expensive collision insurance at rental car counters, relying on your card instead. This coverage alone can justify an annual fee.
Foreign Currency Savings
Savvy travelers specifically look for cards with "No Foreign Transaction Fees." Standard credit cards charge a 2.5% surcharge on every non-Canadian currency purchase, which adds up quickly on a trip. By using a No-FX card, you save that fee on every meal, hotel, and souvenir you buy abroad. For a $2,000 trip spend, that is $50 kept in your pocket. It ensures you get the real exchange rate, not an inflated one.
Airport Luxury & Comfort
Premium travel cards unlock access to airport lounges worldwide through programs like DragonPass or Priority Pass. Instead of waiting at a crowded gate, you can relax in a quiet lounge with complimentary food, drinks, and Wi-Fi. Some cards also offer benefits like priority security screening at Canadian airports or Nexus application fee rebates. These perks transform the most stressful parts of travel into a comfortable, VIP experience. It makes the journey as enjoyable as the destination.
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Cash Back
Simple, flexible earnings.
No Annual Fee
Great value, zero cost.
SPEC SHEET
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ISSUERS
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LOYALTY PROGRAMS
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PAYMENT NETWORKS
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CARD LEVELS
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KNOWLEDGE BASE
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Compare Top Travel Rewards Cards Cards and financial strategy.
Disclaimer: Information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Terms subject to change by issuers.
If you close a credit card account, you may forfeit any unredeemed points associated directly with that card. However, if the points are held in a separate loyalty program account (like Aeroplan or Air Miles), they generally remain safe. Always check the forfeiture policy before closing an account.
Most Canadian credit cards charge a fee (typically 2.5%) on top of the exchange rate for any transaction made in a currency other than Canadian dollars. Cards marketed as 'No Foreign Transaction Fee' generally waive this 2.5% surcharge, though the exchange rate itself is still determined by the card network (Visa/Mastercard/Amex).
Credit card travel insurance can provide valuable coverage, but it often has limitations regarding trip duration (e.g., 15 days) and the traveler's age (often under 65). It may also exclude pre-existing medical conditions. We strongly advise reviewing your certificate of insurance to ensure the coverage meets your specific medical needs before traveling.
Some loyalty programs (like Aeroplan or Scene+) allow for points pooling or transfers between family members, sometimes for free and sometimes for a fee. Check the specific terms and conditions of your loyalty program to see if transfers are permitted.
For most personal credit cards, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) typically treats cash back as a 'discount' rather than income, meaning it is generally not taxable. However, rewards earned on business credit cards or through banking signup bonuses may be treated differently. RateBuddy recommends consulting a tax professional for your specific situation.
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