Bremo › Credit Cards › Travel Rewards

Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards in Canada 2025

Updated: March 2026 | Reviewed by the Bremo editorial team

Travel rewards credit cards are the fastest way to fly for less or stay in hotels for free. In Canada, the best travel cards earn points or miles on everyday spending, come with valuable travel insurance, and let you redeem for flights, hotels, and car rentals. Here's what's worth carrying in 2025.

Key tip: The best travel cards can yield 4–6 cents per dollar spent when optimized for premium flight redemptions — significantly better than any cash back card's 1–4% return.

Top Travel Cards at a Glance

Card	Program	Best For	Annual Fee
Amex Cobalt	MR Points → Aeroplan	Flexible transfers	$155.88/yr
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite	Aeroplan	Air Canada flights	$139
Scotiabank Gold Amex	Scene+	Flexible travel + grocery	$120
RBC Avion Visa Infinite	Avion/Avios	Global partner transfers	$120
Amex Platinum	MR Points	Luxury travel perks	$799
CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite	Aeroplan	Air Canada travel	$139
WestJet RBC World Elite MC	WestJet Dollars	WestJet flights	$119

Best Travel Cards — Detailed Reviews

Best Overall

American Express Cobalt Card

The Cobalt's 5x on food and drinks, combined with Amex Membership Rewards' flexible transfer partners, makes it Canada's top card for travel hackers. Transfer MR points to Aeroplan at 1:1 — and when Amex runs transfer bonuses (30–40% extra), the value is exceptional.

5x MR points on food and drinks (restaurants, cafes, food delivery, grocery)
2x on travel, transit, and gas
Transfer 1:1 to Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, British Airways Avios
Monthly fee: $12.99 ($155.88/year)
Comprehensive travel emergency insurance

Best Aeroplan Earner

TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

For Air Canada loyalists, this is the card to hold. Earn points on every purchase, access Aeroplan's huge redemption network including 45+ airline partners, and enjoy market-leading travel insurance valued at $300+ annually.

1.5 pts/$ on groceries, gas, Air Canada purchases
1 pt/$ on everything else
Up to $500 in annual welcome miles common
Travel medical, trip cancellation, and car rental insurance
Annual fee: $139 (often waived first year)

No FX Fees + Travel

Scotiabank Gold American Express

Unique in that it has no foreign transaction fees — making it excellent for international travel. Scene+ points are redeemable for virtually any travel booking through Scotiabank's portal at 1 cent per point.

6x Scene+ points on dining, food delivery, entertainment
5x at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway
3x on gas, transit, streaming
No foreign transaction fees
Annual fee: $120

American Express Platinum Card

Canada's premium travel card for frequent flyers. The $799 fee is steep but the benefits — $200 travel credit, airport lounge access worldwide (Centurion, Priority Pass, Plaza Premium), hotel upgrades, and comprehensive travel insurance — are genuinely worth it for the right traveler.

3x MR points on dining and travel
$200 annual travel credit
Airport lounge access (Centurion + Priority Pass + Plaza Premium)
Fine Hotels & Resorts upgrades and amenities
Annual fee: $799

How to Get Maximum Travel Value

1. Earn on Everyday Spending, Redeem for Premium Flights

The math works best when you earn points on mundane daily spending (groceries, gas, dining) and redeem them for business class flights. A $5,000 business class ticket that costs 60,000 Aeroplan miles means you got ~8 cents per point — far better than cash back.

2. Use Transfer Bonuses

Amex regularly offers 30–40% transfer bonuses to Aeroplan. Stack points until a bonus runs, then transfer. This can increase your effective point value by a third.

3. Book During Redemption Sales

Air Canada and Aeroplan occasionally reduce mileage requirements for specific routes. Subscribe to Aeroplan newsletters and points deal sites to catch these.

Travel Insurance — What's Typically Included

Premium travel cards generally include:

Emergency medical insurance (up to $2M–$5M)
Trip cancellation and interruption
Flight delay coverage (meals, hotel)
Lost or delayed baggage
Rental car collision and loss damage waiver
Common carrier accident insurance

This insurance coverage alone can be worth $300–$500/year if purchased separately.

Earn Cash Back Without a Credit Card — KOHO

KOHO's prepaid Mastercard earns cash back on groceries and gas without the risk of credit card debt. No credit check, no annual fee. Use code 45ET55JSYA for a sign-up bonus.

Get KOHO Free — Use Code 45ET55JSYA

Bottom Line

The Amex Cobalt is the best travel rewards card in Canada for most people — high earn rates, flexible transfers, and modest annual fee. For Air Canada-specific travel, TD or CIBC Aeroplan cards are your best bet. The Scotiabank Gold Amex is unbeatable for zero foreign transaction fees plus travel point earning.