Best Travel Credit Cards in Canada for 2026
An unbiased comparison of every top travel card in Canada
The American Express Cobalt Card is the best travel credit card in the country. In fact, due to its unbeatable rewards, it's also the best overall credit card in Canada.
Other best travel credit cards include the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, which offers a birthday points bonus and great value on Airbnb gift cards, and the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, which includes Canada's best credit card travel insurance package.
×9 Award winner 
GC: $100
9x Award winner ×7 Award winner GC: $20
7x Award winner 
These top travel credit cards were selected by our unbiased, data-driven Genius Rating system for offering the best benefits for frequent travellers. This includes lucrative travel rewards, comprehensive insurance, valuable travel perks (airport lounge access, hotel upgrades, etc.), and reasonable annual fees to balance it all out.
In this article, you'll find thorough overviews of each of these travel cards, detailed notes on the factors to consider when choosing your own card, and brief reviews of common travel perks.
Key Takeaways
- Travel credit cards provide high returns, excellent insurance, and premium perks, but they may demand high annual fees and income requirements.
- The best travel credit card for you depends on your spending, vacation habits, and insurance needs.
The best travel credit cards in Canada
Our Gold award for the best travel card in Canada goes to the American Express Cobalt Card, largely thanks to its fantastic rewards return rates.
Our Silver award goes to the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard. In addition to an average return of 2.86%, you'll get up to 15k bonus points on your birthday.
And our Bronze award goes to the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, which features luxurious travel perks as well as a huge welcome bonus.
| Credit card | Annual fee | Average return | Insurance coverage | FX fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | American Express Cobalt Card | $191.88 | 4.5% | 10 types | 2.5% |  $100 GeniusCash + Up to 15,000 bonus points (terms) |
| #2 | MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard | $120 | 2.86% | 12 types | 2.5% | $20 GeniusCash + 30,000 bonus points (terms) |
| #3 | RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege | $399 | 2.91% | 12 types | 2.5% | Up to 70,000 bonus points (terms) |
Canada's best travel credit card: American Express Cobalt Card
×9 Award winner GC: $100 9x Award winner 
The American Express Cobalt Card earns multiple awards per year, largely thanks to its earn rate of 4.5%, which is essentially unbeatable by any other Canadian card. Plus, it earns highly valuable Amex Membership Rewards. This program offers more than 30 redemption options.
A major benefit is the ability to transfer your points to several travel rewards programs at a 1:1 or equally valuable ratio. The following points transfers can get you as much as 2 cents per point (CPP):
- Aeroplan
- Air France / KLM Flying Blue
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Delta SkyMiles
- Etihad Guest
- Hilton Honors
- Marriott Bonvoy
Since the American Express Cobalt Card comes with travel perks like complimentary hotel room upgrades, late check-outs, and a US$100 credit at properties in The Hotel Collection, this card can really help reduce your vacation costs.
Grab a couple of tickets to your favourite shows through Amex's Front Of The Line program, or choose from the specially curated events and offers through Amex Experiences, to make your vacation the most fun, most valuable one yet.
And with 10 types of insurance, you can relax, knowing you're fully covered for just about any emergency that could occur while away from home, from a flight delay to theft of items from your hotel room.
Best travel card silver winner: MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard
×7 Award winner GC: $20 7x Award winner 
The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard delivers up to 5 MBNA Rewards Points per $1 spent, making it an attractive option for everyone, especially Mastercard loyalists. Cardholders are rewarded with bonus points each year on their birthday, too – an extra 10%, based on what you earned throughout the past year.
Many other travel rewards cards offer significantly lower returns on rewards when you opt to use your points for anything other than travel, which can be limited to a single travel portal with blackout dates and other limitations. But the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard offers unique flexibility. You can redeem points for e-gift cards at approximately the same rate as booking travel through MBNA. You can even find options that contribute to your next trip, like Esso/Mobil and Airbnb gift cards.
As a World Elite Mastercard, this MBNA card offers amazing access to valuable travel perks, including complimentary concierge services, exclusive event tickets, and airport lounge access. Cardholders are offered a Dragonpass membership, which provides access to more than 1,400 lounges in over 800 airports around the world – though you'll still have to pay the entry fee.
As a true travel card should, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard has a solid insurance package, too. The 12 insurance types even include mobile device insurance, which is surprisingly rare.
Best travel card bronze winner: RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege offers one of the most valuable welcome bonuses of any credit card, worth up to $1,631 when redeemed through Avion's Air Travel Redemption chart. Plus, the average earn rate for RBC's valuable Avion Rewards is an impressive 2.91%.
As a Visa Infinite Privilege cardholder, you'll also enjoy the exclusive benefits offered by the Visa Infinite Privilege program, like airport lounge access, complimentary luxury hotel upgrades, and opportunities to book exclusive events or restaurants.
The card also grants elite status at 60+ Sandman and Sutton Hotels, and you'll have 24/7 access to free concierge services. Travellers will appreciate the VIP treatment they get when flying, and foodies will love the complimentary year of DoorDash access.
And, like any good travel credit card, the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege doesn't skimp on insurance. In fact, it's the best Canadian credit card for travel insurance, offering 12 insurance types, including 31 days of unlimited emergency medical insurance.
How the Genius Rating ranks top travel credit cards
Our Genius Rating system uses a refined, math-based algorithm to rank each of the
How we found Canada's best travel credit cards
To identify the best travel credit cards in Canada, we examine over 126 credit card features, broken into 7 main categories. Then, we run the information through our algorithm to determine each card's Genius Rating, assuming monthly spending of $3,000.
To select the top travel cards, we prioritized rewards to get you to your destination faster.
Here's a look at how we weigh all the categories for travel cards:
- Rewards: 54%
- Fees: 13%
- Perks: 11%
- Insurance: 11%
- Interest: 5%
- Approval: 3%
- Acceptance: 3%
Learn more about our Genius Rating methodology
How to choose the right travel credit card
The best travel cards offer strong travel rewards, extensive insurance, and additional travel perks.
When selecting the right card for you, be sure to factor in your unique lifestyle and preferences. Do you appreciate a good airport lounge? Choose a card with generous airport lounge access. Are you planning to shop with your card abroad? You may prefer to focus on cards without foreign exchange fees.
Consider all the factors that determine a card's Genius Rating: rewards, fees, approval, perks, insurance, interest, and acceptance.
Rewards
A credit card's average rate of return will give you a general idea of what you can expect to get back. In particular, you should look at the rate of return in your top spending areas and choose a card with the best returns for those categories.
None of our top picks for travel cards offer less than 2% in average returns, but the American Express Cobalt Card's rate is an astonishing 4.5%, offering the biggest bang for your buck by far.
The redemption value and opportunities are also important to consider. For instance, both the American Express Membership Rewards and Avion Rewards programs allow you to transfer your points to several other points programs.
MBNA Rewards doesn't offer point transfers, but you can redeem your points for travel-related gift cards from brands like Airbnb and Esso/Mobil.
Tip: When selecting an e-gift card, look for a point value over 1 CPP, or as close as you can get! In the example below, the $200 Airbnb gift card for 19,805 points offers the best value.
Not sure what your rewards are worth? Check out the creditcardGenius Rewards Points Calculator.
Tip: No matter what credit card you use, you could be earning bonus cash back on top of your card's rewards. Input your monthly spend in the GeniusCash app, and level up to earn real cash.
Fees
While it's true that nobody enjoys paying a hefty annual fee, it's also true that low- and no-fee cards typically offer fewer benefits (though not always). Therefore, you'll need to weigh which is more important for you: a low fee or more premium perks.
Sometimes, it's not as straightforward. For instance, you'll pay a higher annual fee with the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, but the American Express Cobalt Card, which has a moderate annual fee, actually nets you more rewards.
This chart shows how the 3 best travel credit cards' annual fees compare:
Note: In every province except Quebec, the MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard's fee is charged in monthly installments.
To help you decide if a particular card with an annual fee is worth it, weigh the rewards, perks, and insurance it offers.
If you're looking for a no-fee travel card, check out our picks for Canada's best no-fee travel credit cards.
When considering fees for travel credit cards, don't forget about foreign transaction fees. When you make a purchase in a foreign currency, most credit cards charge an extra 2.5%. Unfortunately, all of the best travel credit cards in Canada charge this fee, but Scotiabank offers several excellent credit cards with no foreign exchange fees.
Perks
Credit card perks are another key consideration for choosing a travel credit card. Of our top 3 travel credit cards, the best card for perks is the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege.
By choosing the right card, you can make your journey unforgettable with extras like:
Airport lounge access: Some travel credit cards offer complimentary access to airport lounges so you can relax in a quiet space and grab some food before your flight. Even cards that don't offer free passes may give you access to networks like Priority Pass, which gets you lounge access for a fee regardless of ticket class.
- The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard card and RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege both offer airport lounge access.
- The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege includes 6 free lounge visits.
Priority airport services: Some cards also offer priority services for boarding and security (at select airports) to make your travel experience smoother.
- The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege offers airport retail and restaurant discounts.
- The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard doesn't come with any unique airport access, but Mastercard offers Fast Track lanes at select international airports.
Free checked bags: Many airline-branded cards include one free checked bag for the cardholder and others travelling on the same reservation.
- None of the top 3 travel cards in Canada offer free checked bags.
- The National Bank World Elite Mastercard reimburses checked bag fees (or other airline costs like ticket upgrades) through its $150 annual travel credit.
- The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard offers free bags on WestJet flights.
Travelling with a group? The WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard doesn't just get you a free checked bag – you can extend this benefit to up to 8 other travellers. Just make sure everyone is on the same reservation, using your WestJet ID.
Companion vouchers: Airline-branded cards may offer companion vouchers, usually after you spend a certain amount on the card. Sometimes the vouchers are free, and sometimes you'll need to pay a set amount, but used right, they can save you a lot of money.
- None of the top 3 travel cards in Canada offer companion vouchers.
- If this perk is important to you, check out the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Credit Card instead.
Exclusive travel offers: Some cards will get you access to exclusive deals or early access to promotions – like discounted hotel stays – that may not be available to the public.
- The American Express Cobalt Card offers Amex Experiences, which includes pre-sale and reserved ticket access to popular concerts.
- The MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard gives you access to Priceless Experiences, including exclusive restaurant reservations.
- The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege gets you hotel benefits around the world through the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection.
As usual, more perks mean higher annual fees. After all, they're luxuries, not must-haves. Before you pay $399 for the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, make sure you'll get enough value out of its many perks.
Learn how much your credit card benefits are worth.
Insurance
Most travel cards offer travel-related insurance coverage, but check to make sure you're getting the right coverage for your needs – especially if you're a senior.
When determining whether a card is worth its fee, consider the value of its insurance package. Yes, it can provide peace of mind knowing that your healthcare will be taken care of, but it can also save you thousands of dollars on cancelled airline tickets, damaged merchandise, rental cars, and more.
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege adds an extra $653 of estimated value in insurance alone, while other travel credit cards offer $400 – $450 worth of insurance.
Here's a look at this RBC card's extensive insurance package:
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege
| Extended Warranty | 2 years |
| Purchase Protection | 120 days |
| Mobile Device | $1,500 |
| Travel Accident | $500,000 |
| Emergency Medical Term | 31 days |
| Emergency Medical Maximum Coverage | unlimited |
| Emergency Medical over 65 | 7 days |
| Trip Cancellation | $2,500 |
| Trip Interruption | $5,000 |
| Flight Delay | $1,000 |
| Baggage Delay | $750 |
| Lost or Stolen Baggage | $2,500 |
| Hotel Burglary | $3,000 |
| Rental Car Theft & Damage | Yes |
Please review your insurance certificate for details, exclusions and limitations of your coverage.
Interest rates
Especially if you tend to carry a balance, prioritize cards with lower interest rates. Many people focus only on a card's purchase rate, but the cash advance and balance transfer rates can be just as important, depending on how you plan to use your credit card.
Travel cards aren't especially known for their low interest rates, but comparing them will still help. The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege, for instance, has a slightly lower purchase rate than either the American Express Cobalt Card or MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard.
Approval
There's not much point in even applying for a card if you know you don't meet the eligibility criteria. Therefore, it's important to review the requirements of your desired card(s) before making the decision to apply.
There are more credit cards than you think that don't have any income requirements, including many American Express cards – and the American Express Cobalt Card is one of them. On the other hand, cards included in premium programs like Visa Infinite and World Elite Mastercard tend to have higher income criteria.
Credit score is important, too. The better your score, the better the odds of approval. While there are still valuable options for those with lower credit scores, you'll at least want to be aware of your score before submitting applications.
Acceptance
Nobody wants to get stuck trying to make a purchase with a credit card that isn't accepted by the retailer. It's frustrating and, sometimes, embarrassing.
American Express cards probably have much wider acceptance than you realize, but Visa and Mastercard have their limits too, especially if you're travelling abroad. Either way, knowing where and how you can use your card can help you avoid complications.
How travel credit cards work
Travel credit cards are a type of rewards credit card where points yield the most value when redeemed for travel, including airline tickets, hotel stays, and rental cars. Knowing the best ways to earn and redeem points is key to maximizing value.
How to earn rewards
Travel credit cards award points either at a low, flat rate (e.g., 1 point per $1 spent on anything) or at a high rate in a small number of spending categories (e.g., 5 points per $1 spent on gas and groceries only).
If your shopping habits are all over the place, you'll get the most use out of a flat rate card like the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege. If you spend most of your money on groceries and restaurants, the American Express Cobalt Card or MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard will be a better fit.
Whatever you do, make sure your transactions count toward your rewards by verifying their merchant category codes.
How to redeem rewards
Once you've accumulated enough points, it's time to get your tickets, reserve that room, book that car, or whatever the case may be. But not all rewards are created equal.
Generally, the most valuable travel rewards are accessed through your credit card issuer's official travel portal. Aeroplan users book through Air Canada, TD Rewards collectors use Expedia For TD, and so on.
In other cases, like the Amex Membership Rewards program, the best travel rewards lie in points conversions to other loyalty programs like Aeroplan, Hilton Honors, or Marriott Bonvoy.
Maximizing your travel credit card's potential
To get the most from your travel credit card, details like signing up for promotional emails and carefully choosing how you redeem your rewards can be crucial.
Here are a few ways that you can ensure you're using your card to its fullest potential:
- Pay for all travel purchases with your card. Chances are, your card offers rewards for just about every travel-related expense you encounter, from big things like passage on a cruise ship to smaller details like the fee for the carry-on you want to take on your flight.
- Sign up for emails and watch for promotions. You might be surprised by the offers you see, such as a recent promo for 50% more Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights booked within a certain timeframe.
- Actually, take advantage of the luxuries your card unlocks. Use the rental car discounts, request a hotel upgrade at check-in, breeze through airport security with a NEXUS card (one that you received a rebate for, obviously) – and don't forget lounge access if your card offers it.
- Whichever type of rewards your card earns, make sure that you redeem for the most valuable option – which, usually, is for flights or other travel-related purchases. This may mean transferring your points to another program. With American Express Membership Rewards, for instance, transferring to Marriott Bonvoy Rewards provides incredible value.
- Most importantly, do your best to pay your credit card balance on time and in full every month. If you're unable to do this, a low interest or balance transfer credit card is likely a better fit. After all, you want to be sure that all those perks and benefits are worth more than what you pay for the card in fees and interest.
FAQ
What is the best travel credit card to get right now?
The American Express Cobalt Card is currently the best travel credit card in Canada. It has an incredibly high earn rate, includes a comprehensive insurance package, and offers hotel credits. It also earns American Express Membership Rewards, which offer multiple high-value redemption options.
Which Canadian credit card has the best rewards?
In addition to being the best travel credit card, the American Express Cobalt Card is the best rewards credit card in Canada. This card earns at an average return rate of 4.5%, giving it serious earning power. At a monthly spend of $3,000 across various categories, that works out to an estimated $1,620 in annual rewards.
Who offers the best travel card?
American Express offers the best travel card, the American Express Cobalt Card. The 4.5% earn rate is very high, the insurance package is quite extensive, and at $15.99, the monthly fee is reasonable. Plus, redemption options through American Express Membership Rewards are both surprisingly flexible and very valuable.
What are the downsides of travel credit cards?
While travel credit cards pack plenty of perks, there are a few important downsides to keep in mind. Booking flights with points can come with restrictions on airlines, seat assignments, and travel dates. And if you rarely travel, the value may be harder to justify – non-travel redemptions typically earn a lower return on your points.
Which bank credit card is best for travelling?
The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege is one of the top 3 travel cards in Canada and, therefore, the best bank card for travelling. However, Scotiabank, BMO, and TD each offer competitive travel cards, all of which are very valuable, particularly if you're a current customer with one of them.
Is getting a travel credit card worth it?
A travel card is well worth it if you're a frequent flyer or someone who genuinely loves perks like lounge access, airport upgrades, and concierge services. If you don't travel all that often, though, you may find better value in a cash back, low-fee, or low-interest card – particularly one that rewards your highest spending categories.
Which credit card is best for travel protection?
We named the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege the best credit card for travel insurance. It comes with 12 types of coverage, including 31 days of unlimited emergency medical insurance, where other travel cards only provide up to $5 million in coverage. Seniors have a full week of medical coverage too, which is, unfortunately, quite unusual.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone. No bank, credit card issuer, rewards program, or other entity has reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website. Our credit card scores and rankings are based on our Rating Methodology that takes into account 126+ features for each of 242 Canadian credit cards.
