Travel Credit Cards Canada 2025: Rewards & Perks

Whether you’re planning a long international trip or an unforgettable cross-country Canadian holiday, the right travel credit card can be one of the most valuable items in your luggage. Travel cards let you earn rewards on everyday spending—flights, groceries, gas, dining—and often include travel protections and exclusive perks like lounge access, insurance and dining or event offers.

We recommend the Scotiabank Gold American Express as our top overall travel credit card in Canada because of its strong rewards, comprehensive insurance and absence of foreign transaction fees. Below, we outline top options across categories to help you choose the travel card that best matches your habits and priorities.

Best travel credit cards in Canada

Gold: Scotiabank Gold American Express

The Scotiabank Gold American Express is our top pick for a balanced travel card. It offers strong category bonuses—up to 6 points per dollar at Sobeys-affiliated stores, 5 points on dining and entertainment, 3 points on gas and streaming, and 1 point on other purchases. You’ll also benefit from no foreign transaction fees and generous travel insurance, including up to $1 million in medical coverage for many trips.

Key details:

• Annual fee: $120
• Welcome offer: Up to 45,000 bonus Scene+ points and other first-year value opportunities (limited-time offers may apply).
• Redemptions: Redeem Scene+ points for travel or retroactively apply points to recent travel purchases made in the previous 12 months.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Straightforward redemptions through Scene+ Travel, retroactive point application, strong travel insurance, and no FX fees.
• Cons: Fixed point value of $0.01 and limited acceptance compared with Visa or Mastercard.

Silver: American Express Cobalt

The Amex Cobalt excels at everyday categories like dining, groceries and streaming, delivering high earn rates and flexible Membership Rewards points you can transfer to airline partners to increase value.

• Annual fee: $15.99/month (about $191.88/year)
• Rewards: 5x on dining and groceries, 3x on streaming, 2x on transit and gas, 1x on other purchases
• Welcome offer: Monthly bonuses for meeting qualifying monthly spend—up to 15,000 points.

Pros and cons

• Pros: High earn rates and flexible redemptions—including transfers to Aeroplan for strong value.
• Cons: Monthly reward caps on food categories, higher annual cost than some cards, and limited merchant acceptance compared to Visa/Mastercard.

Bronze: MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard

This card offers excellent category bonuses—5 points per $1 in restaurants, groceries, digital media, memberships and household utilities—plus a birthday bonus of 10% of the points you’ve earned in the prior 12 months.

• Annual fee: $120
• Welcome offer: 20,000 bonus points after $2,000 in eligible purchases within 90 days (not available in Quebec).
• Income requirement: Typically a higher threshold applies for World Elite eligibility.

How we determine the best cards

We evaluated cards based on return on everyday spending relative to annual fees, travel-related benefits (insurance, lounge access, FX fees), redemption flexibility and unique perks. We prioritize cards that deliver practical value for frequent travellers while balancing fees and eligibility requirements.

Other top travel credit cards

If our top picks don’t match your needs, here are other notable options by category:

Best airline card: TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

This card is ideal for frequent Air Canada flyers because of Aeroplan points, free checked bags for you and companions, and other travel benefits. Rewards are geared toward travel purchases and select everyday categories.

Best no-fee travel card: American Express Green Card

The Amex Green is a strong no-fee choice, earning Membership Rewards on all purchases and offering the ability to transfer points to airline programs for higher value—making it a flexible starter travel card.

Best premium travel card: American Express Aeroplan Reserve

Aimed at loyal Air Canada customers, the Aeroplan Reserve provides lounge access, priority services, companion vouchers and strong welcome bonuses. It carries a high annual fee but rewards frequent flyers with premium travel benefits.

Best for lounge access: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +

This card pairs six free airport lounge visits each year with no foreign transaction fees and a useful Scene+ rewards structure—good for travellers who value lounge time and lower FX costs.

Best for travel insurance: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege

Standout feature: unlimited emergency medical coverage for eligible cardholders. The card also includes travel interruption, trip cancellation and other protections, plus lounge access and premium benefits.

Best for hotel rewards: Marriott Bonvoy American Express

Perfect for frequent hotel guests who want free nights, automatic elite status and the option to redeem points for upgrades, experiences and stays across Marriott hotels worldwide.

What makes a good travel credit card?

When choosing a travel card, look for:

• Strong travel insurance: Emergency medical coverage, trip cancellation/interruption, flight delay and baggage protection can save you thousands.
• Airport lounge access: Useful for frequent flyers who value space, food and quiet before flights.
• Hotel and airline perks: Status, room upgrades, companion fares and waived baggage fees add tangible value.
• No foreign transaction fees: Avoiding the typical 2.5% FX fee can make a big difference on international trips.
• Rental car and roadside coverage: Collision waiver on rentals and roadside assistance are practical travel protections.
• Flexible rewards: The ability to transfer or redeem points for high-value travel redemptions increases overall card value.

FAQs

What is the best Canadian credit card for international travel?

Cards that waive foreign transaction fees—like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite—are excellent for international travel. Also consider cards offering strong insurance and lounge access.

Can I use my Scotiabank credit card internationally?

Yes—Scotiabank issues Visa and American Express cards that generally work abroad. Notify your bank before travelling to avoid fraud holds on unfamiliar activity.

Are travel credit cards worth it in Canada?

Yes. Travel cards can provide insurance, fee savings, lounge access and rewards that offset annual fees when used strategically. Choose a card aligned with your travel frequency and spending patterns.

Compare cards carefully: evaluate earn rates, annual fees, welcome offers, insurance coverage and merchant acceptance. The best travel credit card is the one that matches your spending, travel habits and the protections you value most.