Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada for 2024

WestJet RBC  World Elite Mastercard
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Annual Fee: $119
Purchases Interest Rate: 19.99%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: 21.99%
Min Income Requirement: $80000
Why Apply:

 

  • Instant sign-up bon
  • Travel light
  • Travel together
  • Full security during travel
  • Double the earnings
Recommended Credit Score:
670 900
Average to Excellent

For the completely loyal WestJet passenger, the WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard ? when used with a companion voucher ? helps deliver the most value for a travel credit card. It comes with numerous travel perks that when added together can amount to huge savings. And because it comes with an annual companion voucher and free checked bags, this credit card is best for families and couples.

  • Instant sign-up bonus - No minimum spend required. You will instantly get $450 WestJet dollars as a welcome bonus.
  • Travel light - One free checked bag for every person flying on the same itinerary as you (up to a maximum of 8 bags).
  • Travel together - Take your family or your special someone with you on a trip. The annual round trip companion voucher covers the base fare for someone who will be travelling with you. What?s also great about the voucher is that you can use it on any flight, on any schedule and on the same class fare as you are booked.
  • Full security during travel - Get covered while you travel against travel medical, trip interruption, purchase security and extended warranty, auto rental collision & loss, and more.
  • Double the earnings - Maximize your earning potential when you use the credit card and your WestJet Rewards ID when booking a flight.

A fantastic card for loyal WestJet flyers, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard pays 450 welcome WestJet dollars after your first purchase. This offsets the $119 annual fee for three years! You'll earn 2% cash back in WestJet dollars on WestJet flights or vacation packages and 1.5% on all other purchases. The card also includes a premium travel insurance package and a free checked bag. That's all great, but its best feature is the annual round-trip companion voucher. Every year, book a second ticket on your reservation for anywhere within Canada or the U.S. for just $99, plus taxes and fees. (Companion flights to other destinations available for $299 and $399).

This credit card is virtually the same as the WestJet Mastercard except that there are some income requirements. To obtain this card, you must have a minimum individual income of $80,000 or a household income of $150,000. If you don't meet either of those requirements, you can also obtain this card by having $400,000 of total investable assets. In return, you will earn more points and faster. Talk about big bucks!

 

Another benefit of this credit card is that it is paired with RBC. In Canada, RBC is one of the higher end banks that you can work with. Remember that the more high end the bank is, the more fees and costs you?ll incur. But if service is important to you, then the fees are entirely worth it.

 

The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard has its perks including travel benefits and the opportunity to work with a renowned and well established bank. Keep in mind that there is a hefty price on this card which may not be worth what you get. That being said, if you can afford it and it's worth it to you, go get this card!



TD  Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
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Annual Fee: $599
Purchases Interest Rate: 20.99%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: 22.99%
Min Income Requirement: Not Available
Why Apply:
Recommended Credit Score:
670 900
Average to Excellent

 

This is TD's most exclusive travel rewards credit card. This card carries an annual fee of $599 for the primary cardholder and $199 for additional cardholders. The annual interest rate is 20.99% on purchases and 22.99% on cash advances.


Cardholders earn Aeroplan points based on the value of each purchase made with this card. Cardholders can then use their Aeroplan points to book any seat at any time on any Air Canada flight. Holders of the Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege earn 1.5 Aeroplan points for each $1 spent on grocery, and gas purchases as well as on purchases made with Air Canada. Cardholders earn 1.25 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

As an added bonus, cardholders earn double points when they pay with their card and present their Aeroplan membership at eligible retailers and on Aeroplan.com. Additional benefits include airport lounge access, VIP Fast Track security screening at Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal-Trudeau International airports, comprehensive travel insurance, rental car discounts, concierge service, and access to exclusive deals on hotels, dining, and entertainment.

The minimum household income requirement is $200,000. Applicants must also be Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory.

The bottom line: This card is designed for discerning travelers who enjoy airport lounge access and concierge service to help with booking travel, dining, and entertainment. The annual fee is steep, but this card provides substantial value in return.



TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
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Annual Fee: $120
Purchases Interest Rate: 20.99%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: 22.99%
Min Income Requirement: $60000
Why Apply:

 

  • Generous sign-up bonus
  • Rich travel rewards
  • Flexible travel options
  • Full range of travel insurance benefits
Recommended Credit Score:
670 900
Average to Excellent

 

The product of TD's partnership with Expedia, the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card is a great card for travelers. It comes with a host of travel benefits including a flexible points program, generous sign-up bonus and impressive travel insurance coverage.

 

  • Generous sign-up bonus - For a limited time, new applicants can receive up to 100,000 TD bonus points ($800 value when redeemed for travel) 
  • Rich travel rewards- Book your flights or any form of travel on ExpediaforTD.com and get back an equivalent of 4.5% for every dollar spent. This is a lot compared to the 2% reward offered by most travel credit cards in Canada. Plus, ExpediaforTD offers the same access to flights and hotels offered by Expedia.com, giving you a lot of options for flights and hotel packages at your fingertips.
  • Flexible travel options - You can redeem your points for almost everything travel-related such as flights on any airline, hotel stays, car rentals and vacation packages. Points can also be used to cover the cost of taxes and fees as well as be used to redeem merchandise and gift cards from TD's e-store.
  • Full range of travel insurance benefits - Get fully covered and protected with a comprehensive travel insurance that includes $1,000,000 in travel medical coverage and rental car insurance.

The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card is a great travel and reward credit card with extensive insurance coverage and benefits.

The product of TD's partnership with Expedia, the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card is a great card for travelers. It comes with a host of travel benefits including a flexible points program, generous sign-up bonus and impressive travel insurance coverage.


This credit card taps into one of the largest travel tools out there - Expedia. Not only can card holders use their points to purchase travel products on Expedia for TD, when they make a purchase they earn nine points per dollar spent. That’s one of the quickest ways to earn travel points in Canada! Keep in mind that Expedia for TD has all of the flights, hotels and travel packages that the regular Expedia site has. Fortunately, there are no black out dates or other limitations when booking. Points never expire and can go towards taxes and other fees. If travel isn’t for you, you can also redeem points for merchandise and gift cards through TD. However, this way, you won’t get as much value for your purchase.

 

When you obtain the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite, you will receive a welcome offer of 20,000 points after your first purchase and 80,000 TD Points when you spend $5,000 within 180 days of Account opening. 

 

While enjoying your travels abroad, you will benefit from travel insurance as well with the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite. The main travel insurance coverage includes medical emergency, travel accidents, trip cancellation, car rental insurance, delayed or lost baggage and trip interruption. During your flights, you also can access lounges at a discounted price.

 

All of these features are great, but the card requires a $120 annual fee and income of $60,000 individually or $100,000 among the household(Annual fee waived at this time). Additional users also come with a $50 fee. The good news is that if you have a TD All Inclusive Banking Plan with $5,000 in it at all times, the annual fee will be waived. The bad news is if you dip below $5,000 in that account, you will be charged $30 per month which works out to be more than the annual fee.

 

The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite is an excellent choice for individuals who travel once a year or more because card holders will earn points quickly on regular purchases. In addition, there are an array of benefits that the card holder can benefit from. So long as you can afford the annual fee and meet the income requirements, consider getting this credit card today!

American Express Cobalt® Card
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Annual Fee: $155.88
Purchases Interest Rate: 20.99%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: 21.99%
Min Income Requirement: Not Available
Why Apply:
  • Generous first-year rewards
  • Redeem anything you want
  • Transferability of points
  • Monthly fee
  • Free supplementary card
Recommended Credit Score:
670 900
Average to Excellent

While geared towards young people, the American Express Cobalt® Card  has plenty features and benefits that make it appealing to a wide range of people. It offers 5x more points on eats and drinks from grocery shopping to dining out, and 2x points on travel and transit. Additionally, the ability to transfer points to hotel partners or to the Fixed Points Travel Program makes this the best travel credit card in Canada with a fee. If you spend a lot on food and travel, then this credit card deserves a place in your wallet.

  • Generous first-year rewards - You have the ability to earn up to 15,000 bonus points in the first year.
  • Redeem anything you want -Reward points can be redeemed for travel, restaurant, movies, and merchandise. Unlike other rewards card, you can use your points for almost anything you want.
  • Transferability of points -You can transfer points into the Marriott Bonvoy rewards system which unlocks access to amazing rewards programs like British Airways, Aeroplan, and more than 30 other airline partners. You can also transfer to the Hilton Honors rewards program at 1:1 ratio.
  • Monthly fee - Instead of paying for a one-time annual fee, you are charged every month, giving you time to test out the card and cancel it if it's not the right fit for your spending habits.
  • Free supplementary card - This usually costs an additional $50 on most rewards card. Get one for an immediate family member and boost your earning potential.

The American Express Cobalt® Card started out as a credit card designed for millennials and young professionals. Today, it’s one of the most flexible and versatile credit cards out there. In fact, it’s now commonly used by people from all walks of life because of the lucrative benefits. 

One reason the American Express Cobalt® Card is so popular is because of the quick rewards that come with it. Points can be earned on everyday purchases which is what makes the earnings accumulate so rapidly. On food and drinks, such as grocery, restaurant, food delivery, bar and cafe purchases, cardholders earn five points per dollar spent. 

On transit and travel, cardholders earn two points per dollar spent. These rewards are not limited to vacation only, cardholders will earn points when they spend on public transit, taxis and Ubers too. All other purchases earn one point per dollar spent. As you can see, no matter what your lifestyle is, you’ll quickly rack up points! 

Points can be redeemed to cover the cost of flights and accommodation with 1,000 points being equivalent to $10. Flights don’t have any blackout dates and you can choose any airline you’d like. In addition, the points can be used to cover fees and taxes. If you don’t have an upcoming trip, you can also spend your points on events through Ticketmaster at a rate of 2,000 points to $20. As you probably noticed, the rate of return is the same when you spend on travel and events which is fantastic! For less bang for your buck, you can also use your points for gift cards or merchandise purchases. 

Cardholders benefit from travel insurance as well. The insurance covers things like travel accidents, car rental insurance, medical emergencies, flight interruption or delay among others. Last but not least, cardholders gain access to American Express Invites which are limited offer, exclusive events. 

All of these benefits sound amazing but there’s a cost for all the wonderful benefits. There’s a monthly fee of $12.99, which works out to be $155.88 per year. The monthly payment makes it easy for most to manage. Also, you need to make between $60,000 and $80,000 per year and have decent credit. The only disadvantage is the cap rate on the bonus points is 30,000. Another downside to this bonus is the points can’t be redeemed in a lump sum. This means there is a delay between when you earn the points and when you can redeem them. 

That being said, the American Express Cobalt® Card is still an excellent option for those who travel a lot and make lots of eligible purchases.

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SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express
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Annual Fee: $119.88
Purchases Interest Rate: 20.99%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: 21.99%
Min Income Requirement: Not Available
Why Apply:
  • High cashback rewards
  • Complete suite of insurance and protection plans
Recommended Credit Score:
670 900
Average to Excellent

If you are comfortable with shelling out a small fee of $99 per year, then the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express is one of the best cashback rewards cards. Those who want to maximize their rewards can take advantage of the limited-time 10% cashback rewards. It also offers a comprehensive insurance package that's worth more than $100 in value.

 

Why We Like It:

  • High cashback rewards One of the highest we've seen, the 10% promo cash back is a welcome opportunity for people who have a major purchase coming up. After the four-month promotional period is up, it returns to a still high 2% cash back with no limits. Cash back is applied as a statement credit to your account each September.
  • Complete suite of insurance and protection plans This Amex card offers extensive insurance that includes insurance against rental car damage, travel accident, foreign medical, and baggage theft as well as double manufacturer's warranty and insurance against theft or damage for purchases.

The SimplyCash Preferred credit card allows you to earn while you spend. There are no categories or limitations - wherever you spend, you’ll earn cash back with no earning caps. While the credit card does come with an annual fee of $99, you’ll benefit from numerous perks in addition to cash back.

SimplyCash® Preferred Card from American Express

The American Express SimplyCash Preferred Card offers cardholders an incredible range of benefits that include high cashback rates and a referral bonus. American Express offers exceptional customer service to its cardholders, with customer care professionals that are available to answer questions and deal with card problems, such as lost or stolen cards, 24 hours a day.

Features and Benefits of the SimplyCash® Preferred Card

  • Fantastic Welcome Offer. Earn up to $400 in Statement Credits
  • Cash Back Rate. Earn 2% cash back on all purchases.
  • Up to $1,500 cashback annually for approved referrals
  • No Limit on Earnings. After the welcome offer expires, there are no limitations on earnings with the 2% rate. 
  • Travel and Shopping Insurance. Travel abroad and shop around with peace of mind. Insurance coverage includes travel accident, car rental theft and damage, buyers assurance protection and much more.
  • Entertainment Benefits. Access special event offers from American Express, such as theatre, music, fine dining, fashion and shopping.
Pros and Cons of the SimplyCash® Preferred Card

Pros
  • Cashback is earned on every purchase made with your card
  • There are no limits on the amount of cashback you can receive
  • Travel insurance limits are generous
  • Early access to concerts and other events

Cons

  • Amex isn't accepted as widely as Visa and Mastercard

The Takeaway

The American Express SimplyCash Preferred Card is an excellent option for those who are looking for a generous cashback program. Individuals who travel frequently for business or pleasure can also benefit from this card's included travel insurance, which covers accidents, medical expenses, and even lost baggage. Although this card comes with great benefits, it's important for potential users to consider the downfalls, which is the fact that some retailers across Canada don't accept American Express cards.It is always good to have a Visa or Mastercard credit card as a backup.

SimplyCash® Card from American Express
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Annual Fee: $0
Purchases Interest Rate: 20.99%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: 21.99%
Min Income Requirement: Not Available
Why Apply:

 

  • No Annual Fee
  • Awesome Welcome Offer
  • Cash Back Rate
  • Entertainment Special Access
  • Basic Insurance Coverage
Recommended Credit Score:
670 900
Average to Excellent

If you’re looking for a straightforward cash back credit card - this could be an ideal option for you! With no annual fee, earn 1.25% cash back, obtain insurance coverage and access to American Express special events. This is an ideal credit card for individuals wanting to earn cash back without making a big commitment to an annual fee.

 

  • No Annual Fee. One of the few American Express cards that comes with no annual fee.
  • Awesome Welcome Offer.  In your first 10 months as a new SimplyCash® Card from American Express Cardmember, you can earn a $10 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $300 in purchases on your Card.
  • Cash Back Rate. Once the welcome offer expires, earn 1.25% on all purchases with no limitations.
  • Entertainment Special Access. Gain access to American Express exclusive offers and experiences.
  • Insurance Coverage. Travel accident, buyer’s assurance and purchase protection insurance comes with card ownership.

SimplyCash® Card from American Express

The American Express SimplyCash® Card features no annual fees and offers cardholders a flat, unlimited cashback rate. Just as with the SimplyCash® Preferred Card, American Express offers its members the opportunity to receive a generous bonus for referrals. Its customer care professionals are available around-the-clock to address cardholder concerns and fraud protection is included with every card.

Features and Benefits of the SimplyCash® Card 
  • Earn up to $100 in Statement Credits
  • Up to $750 cashback annually for approved referrals
  • Purchase Protection Plan covers all purchases made with the card
  • Front of the Line ticket access for concerts, dining, film, and other experiences with American Express Invites
  • Built-in fraud protection and emergency card replacements
  • $100,000 travel accident insurance that includes a Buyer's Assurance Protection Plan

Pros and Cons of the SimplyCash® Card 


Pros

  • No annual fees
  • Cashback is unlimited
  • Purchase Protection Plan protects you from shopping with bad merchants
  • Early access to concerts and other events

Cons

  • Amex isn't accepted as widely as Visa and Mastercard
  • Travel benefits are reduced when compared with the SimplyCash Preferred Card


The Takeaway

The SimplyCash® Card from American Express is among the best choices for individuals who are looking for a cashback card that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Because cashback earnings aren't limited with this card and the interest rate is reasonable, this card makes a great choice for everyday use. Those who travel frequently and require comprehensive insurance may want to consider upgrading to the SimplyCash Preferred Card, as the SimplyCash card's travel insurance benefits are limited by comparison.

BMO® CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®*
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Annual Fee: $120
Purchases Interest Rate: 20.99%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: 22.99%
Min Income Requirement: Not Available
Why Apply:
Recommended Credit Score:
670 900
Average to Excellent

With an annual fee of $120, the BMO® CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* is a fancy loyalty card for Canadians with a minimum personal income of $80.000. To apply for it, you need to have a good or excellent credit score and pay $120 a year. However, you'll get the first year free, plus you'll gain access to numerous perks and benefits.

 

First, with this card, you can get 1.5% cashback on all your purchases. Second, you get unlimited cashback, with no tiers, categories or caps. Thus, you can use this card anywhere without restrictions and benefit from the amazing savings.

 

Another reason to choose this loyalty card is due to the premium perks. You can benefit from a $2 million out of country travel medical insurance, trip interruption insurance, car rental insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty. You also get free roadside assistance.

 

As a welcome offer, you can get a 5% cashback reward for the first 3 months. The BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard is definitely a great alternative to all other cash back cards out there, being considered to be one of the top loyalty cards in 2022.

Scotiabank Passport®  Visa Infinite* Card
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Annual Fee: $150
Purchases Interest Rate: 20.99%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: 22.99%
Min Income Requirement: $60000
Why Apply:
  • Amazing Welcome Offer
  • Bonus Earning Offers
  • Scotia Rewards Earnings
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees
  • Airport Lounge Access
Recommended Credit Score:
740 900
Excellent
Apply Nowlock On Scotiabank's Secure Website

 

For an annual fee of $139, card holders obtain an array of travel benefits including point travel redemption, travel insurance and airport lounge access. Scotiabank boasts about this credit card because it is the only major bank in Canada that offers a credit card with no foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

 

  • Amazing Welcome Offer. When you spend $1,100 on the credit card within the first 12 months of ownership, you’ll earn 40,000 bonus points
  • Bonus Earning Offers. If you spend $40,000 in a year with this credit card, you’ll earn an additional 10,000 points (worth about $100).
  • Scotia Rewards Earnings. Earn 2 Scotia points for every dollar you spend on groceries, dining, entertainment and daily transit. Earn 1 Scotia point for every dollar spent on other purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees. While the exchange rate of your foreign purchases will still apply, you’ll save money on foreign transaction fees which would typically be 2.5%.
  • Airport Lounge Access. A complimentary Priority Pass membership is provided with this credit card along with six free lounge visits per year.

The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite*Card offers 2 points for every $1 spent on grocery store, dining, entertainment, and transit purchases, and 1 point per $1 on everything else. That’s hardly best-in-class, so why does the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card tie for best Scotiabank travel credit card?

Two reasons: a very lucrative bonus point offer and no foreign transaction fees.

Let’s start with the bonus points. You earn 30,000 welcome points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months. That’s worth up to $300, is easy to obtain, and is a solid reason to try this card for a year.

But wait, there’s more. Every year you charge $40,000 to your Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, you’ll get 10,000 bonus points. If you can hit the $40,000 minimum each year, the 10,000 bonus points will nearly cancel out the $139 annual fee.

If that wasn’t enough, the Scotiabank Passport® Visa*doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees. It comes with a suite of travel insurance benefits, Visa Infinite benefits, and includes six free airport lounge passes.

  Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
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Annual Fee: $120
Purchases Interest Rate: 20.99%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: 22.99%
Min Income Requirement: Not Available
Why Apply:
  • Generous sign-up bonus
  • Flexible redemption options
  • Travel convenience
  • Additional protection
Recommended Credit Score:
670 900
Average to Excellent

With a generous rewards rate of up to 6 points per dollar on gas, groceries, restaurants and entertainment, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card will help make your travel plans a reality. Plus, with a flexible points program, you can book you flights on your own schedule.

  • Generous sign-up bonus -The Scotiabank Gold American Express® offers a way for new cardholders to quickly stockpile points. It lets you earn up to 45,000 bonus Scene+™ points in your first year (that’s up to $450 towards travel)   
  • Flexible redemption options - With the Scotia Rewards Program, you can book your travel with any airline or hotel through its full-service travel agency. You can use your points to cover the whole cost of the trip, including taxes and fees, or combine your points and a charge to your card. Points can also be used to book hotels and rental cars.
  • Travel convenience - Added features such as rental car discounts and hotel room upgrades are designed to make travel as convenient and comfortable as possible.
  • Additional protection - This Amex credit card provides has one of the most comprehensive travel protection benefits with insurance against flight delays and lost baggage even insurance against burglaries.

With a generous rewards rate of up to 6 points per dollar on gas, groceries, restaurants and entertainment, the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card will help make your travel plans a reality. Plus, with a flexible points program, you can book you flights on your own schedule.Excellent credit card with 7 types of travel coverage and great reward earn rates.

  • Generous sign-up bonus -The Scotiabank Gold American Express offers a way for new cardholders to quickly stockpile points. It lets you earn 45,000 bonus Scene+™ points in your first year. 
  • Flexible redemption options - With the Scotia Rewards Program, you can book your travel with any airline or hotel through its full-service travel agency. You can use your points to cover the whole cost of the trip, including taxes and fees, or combine your points and a charge to your card. Points can also be used to book hotels and rental cars.
  • Travel convenience - Added features such as rental car discounts and hotel room upgrades are designed to make travel as convenient and comfortable as possible.
  • Additional protection - This Amex credit card provides has one of the most comprehensive travel protection benefits with insurance against flight delays and lost baggage even insurance against burglaries.




Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Card
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Annual Fee: $120
Purchases Interest Rate: 20.99%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: 21.99%
Min Income Requirement: Not Available
Why Apply:
  • Free hotel stays
  • Loyalty rewards
  • Airline conversion
  • Shopping and travel protection
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Upgraded status
Recommended Credit Score:
740 900
Excellent

While geared towards hotel rewards, the Marriott Bonvoy Amex Credit Card is also a great card for travelers with a multitude of redemption options as well as valuable travel and shopping benefits. The free hotel stays are enough to pay for the annual fee. And when combined with the flexible travel points, this credit card is one of the best choices for both hotel and travel benefits.

 

  • Welcome bonus- New Marriott Bonvoy® American Express®* Cardmembers earn 50,000 Welcome Bonus points after you charge $1,500 in net purchases to your Card in your first 3 months of Cardmembership.
  • Earn 5 points for every dollar in eligible Card purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®
  • Free hotel stays – Points can be redeemed for free nights with no blackout dates at more than 7,000 affiliated hotels. Plus, this credit card gives you a Free Night Award every year after your membership anniversary.
  • Loyalty rewards – Earn 6x base points per dollar at Marriott-affiliated properties when you use the card and 11x base points per dollar for being a Marriott member. This gives you 17x points per dollar or more!
  • Airline conversion – Points are transferrable to more than 40 airlines.
  • Shopping and travel protection – Get protected against travel emergencies and accidents, car rental theft and damage, flight and baggage delay, and hotel or motel burglary.
  • No foreign transaction fees – Perfect for online and overseas purchases.
  • Upgraded status – Get complimentary Silver Elite Member Status or a fast track to Gold Elite status by spending $30,000 in a calendar year.Earn 5 points for every dollar in eligible Card purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®

As the credit card’s name implies, spending on this card allows you to collect points towards the Marriott Bonvoy Rewards Program. This loyalty program allows you to redeem points on Marriott, Delta, Renaissance, Sheraton and Westin hotels, to name a few. Points can be used towards the base cost, taxes and fees. In addition, there are no restrictions or blackout dates, you can book whichever dates you want. Last, but definitely not least, this is the only Canadian credit card that earns Marriott Bonvoy points!

 

If you don’t want to use your points for a hotel room, you can transfer your points to an airline loyalty program. There are tons of participating airline programs, including Aeroplan. Receive a 15,000 point bonus from the Marriott BonvoyTM program when you transfer 60,000 points to a frequent flyer program. There are several other uses for the points you earn using this credit card, but the hotels and flights are where you’ll get the best value. Given how many options there are, you likely won’t be redeeming your points elsewhere!

 

Card holders earn five points for every dollar spent at a Marriott property and two points for every dollar spent elsewhere. You’ll also earn 50,000 Welcome Bonus Marriott Bonvoy® points after you charge $1,500 in net purchases to your Card in your first three months of Cardmembership.

Finally, card holders receive fifteen Elite Night credits every calendar year, Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status when you spend $30,000 on your credit card in a year, guaranteed in-room internet and basic travel insurance. All of these benefits come with a $120 annual fee.

 

Unlike most AMEX credit cards, this one is not a charge card. That means that the credit card’s balance can revolve from month to month without additional repercussions. If you don’t pay your full credit card balance every month, not having a charge card is ideal. In addition, there are no income requirements aside from paying the annual fee. On the contrary, the only pitfall is that American Express isn’t as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard. This can be challenging when travelling or even using your credit card on a day to day basis.

 

Overall, the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card is one of Canada’s finest credit cards. The versatility of the credit card allows you to use your points towards hotels and flights which truly is the best of both worlds. If you’re an avid traveler, this may be the credit card of your dreams!

Platinum Card® American Express
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Annual Fee: $799
Purchases Interest Rate: -%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: N/A%
Min Income Requirement: Not Available
Why Apply:
Recommended Credit Score:
740 900
Excellent

This card is the most exclusive credit card in the market however it comes with a $799 annual fee which is one the highest for a Canadian credit cards. The Platinum Card® is perfect for those who are looking for a luxury credit card with outstanding benefits, rewards, insurances, and platinum experiences. The annual fee is high however a frequent traveler will enjoy every single benefit on this card.


Platinum Card's rewards earn rate:

  • Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible dining and food delivery in Canada
  • Earn 2 points for every $1 in Card purchases on eligible travel
  • Earn 1 point for every $1 in all other Card purchases

 
Pros

  • Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points - that’s $1,000 towards a weekend away


No credit limit:
There is no preset credit limit with this credit card

Premium airport lounge access: Complimentary access to over 1,300 airport lounges across 130 countries.

Premium insurance: The Platinum Card® offers different types of insurance like below:

  • $500,000 Travel Accident
  • Travel Emergency Assistance
  • Trip Cancellation /Trip Interruption
  • Car Rental Theft/Damage
  • Lost or Stolen Baggage
  • Flight Delay
  • Baggage Delay


Cons

High annual fees: The Platinum Card has an annual fee of $799. Each additional card is $175.

American Express® Green Card
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Annual Fee: $NA
Purchases Interest Rate: 20.99%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: 21.99%
Min Income Requirement: Not Available
Why Apply:
  • Potential to earn 10,000 Membership Reward points
  • Points can be redeemed towards eligible purchases to reduce credit card bill
  • Early access to concerts and other events
Recommended Credit Score:
670 900
Average to Excellent

American Express Green® Card

 

  • Welcome bonus: Earn 10,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in your first three months of Cardmembership
  • Cardholders earn one Membership Reward point for every $1 spent with the card
  • Points can be redeemed toward eligible card purchases, such as groceries, dining out, and streaming services
  • Front of the Line ticket access for concerts, dining, film, and other experiences with American Express Invites
The American Express Green® Card is a points card that comes with a variety of benefits. Members receive points on every purchase and can redeem them for bill credits, gift cards, travel purchases, and eligible purchases on Amazon.ca. The card also includes special access to concerts, dining, and other experiences. As with all American Express cards, the Green Card comes with 24/7 access to customer care, fraud protection, and emergency card replacements when needed.


American Express Green® Card


The American Express Green® Card is a points card that comes with a variety of benefits. Members receive points on every purchase and can redeem them for bill credits, gift cards, travel purchases, and eligible purchases on Amazon.ca. The card also includes special access to concerts, dining, and other experiences. As with all American Express cards, the Green® Card comes with 24/7 access to customer care, fraud protection, and emergency card replacements when needed.

 

Features and Benefits of the American Express Green® Card

  • Welcome bonus: Earn 10,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® points when you charge $1,000 in purchases to your Card in your first three months of Cardmembership
  • Cardholders earn one Membership Reward point for every $1 spent with the card
  • Points can be redeemed toward eligible card purchases, such as groceries, dining out, and streaming services
  • Front of the Line ticket access for concerts, dining, film, and other experiences with American Express Invites

Pros and Cons of the American Express Green® Card

Pros

Cons

  • No annual fees
  • Potential to earn 10,000 Membership Reward points
  • Points can be redeemed towards eligible purchases to reduce credit card bill
  • Early access to concerts and other events
  • No travel insurance included with this card
  • Amex isn't accepted as widely as Visa and Mastercard


The Takeaway

The American Express Green® Card is a simple, day-to-day credit card that's ideal for consumers who are after a card without annual fees. Its Membership Rewards program is a great benefit that shows appreciation for cardholders by providing access to the rewards they want most in return for using their card. While the 10,000 point bonus is a major selling point for this card, it's important for new cardholders to keep in mind that they need to spend $1,000 in the first three months to qualify for this benefit.

 

National Bank World Elite Mastercard®
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Details
Annual Fee: $150
Purchases Interest Rate: 20.99%
Cash Advance Interest Rate: 22.49%
Min Income Requirement: $80000
Why Apply:
Recommended Credit Score:
670 900
Average to Excellent
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Overview

National Bank’s most exclusive credit card is the World Elite Mastercard. Cardholders can take advantage of exclusive travel perks and earn points under the À la carte Rewards Plan at an accelerated rate. Check out the other benefits below.

Key Features and Benefits
  • Annual fee of $150 and standard interest rates
  • Earn points towards the À la carte Rewards Plan while you spend
  • Earn 1.5 points per dollar spent on net purchases up to $40,000, earn 2 points per dollar spent on net purchases between $40,001 and $80,000, and earn 1.5 points per dollar spent over $80,001 in a year
  • Eligibility for a travel expense refund
  • Unlimited access to National Bank Lounge at the Montreal-Trudeau Airport for you and a guest
  • Minimum annual income of $80,000 for an individual or $150,000 for a household, OR have a minimum of $400,000 in assets, OR be an existing client that spends at least $25,000 per year
  • Extended warranty and comprehensive travel insurance coverage included
Pros
  • Access to a special travel agency and a dedicated online store under the À la carte Rewards Plan
  • Redeem points for merchandise, gift cards, vacation packages, plane tickets, travel experiences, À la carte Extras, or credit card statement credits
  • National Bank is rated as one of the best banks for customer service support
Cons
  • Tiered points earning system under the À la carte Rewards Plan
  • Minimum annual incomes, expenditures, or savings are required to apply for this credit card
  • Minimum credit limit of $5,000

Takeaway
The World Elite Mastercard is the most luxury credit card National Bank has to offer. There are tons of exclusive benefits that come with the card, but not everyone spends enough to take advantage of the perks or is willing to pay the annual fee. If you’re more concerned with affordability, consider other National Bank credit cards.

®Mastercard, and World Elite are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. Authorized user: National Bank

Author Bio

User
Mohamed Konate

Mohamed Konate is a personal finance expert, blogger, and marketing consultant based in Toronto. He is a former financial services professional who worked at major Canadian financial institutions for many years. He managed the marketing strategy around various financial products ranging from credit cards to lines of credit. Mohamed is passionate about personal finance and holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration from the University of Quebec (Montreal) and a Master's in International Business from the University of Sherbrooke (Quebec). He is also the author of the Canadian Credit Card Guidebook.