Travel credit cards
Which travel credit card is best for you?
Compare Canada's leading travel credit cards by rewards, annual fees, travel insurance, airport lounge access and everyday benefits. Find the right card for how you spend and where you travel. Cards are named by what they are best for, and every fact is checked against the issuer.
By TripRadr Editorial
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Choose a card with confidence
- Which card is best for youAnswer a few questions for three matches, then compare every card side by side.Find my best card
- Why benefits actually matterForeign fees, lounges, free bags and insurance: what each benefit is really worth.See what matters
- Explore our travel credit card guidesAeroplan vs Avion, Europe trips, lounge access, point values and more.Read the guides
The 11 cards we compare
Compare side by side →TripRadr compares Canadian travel credit cards from American Express, Scotiabank, TD, RBC, CIBC and Home Trust on annual fee, rewards, foreign transaction fee, lounge access and travel insurance. Each card has its own profile with the issuer source and the date its facts were last verified, and no card is called best for everyone.
- Amex CobaltEveryday rewards · $191.88American ExpressAmex CobaltCard shapeAMEX
- TD Aeroplan Visa InfiniteAir Canada travellers · $139TDTD Aeroplan Visa InfiniteCard shapeVisa
- RBC Avion Visa InfiniteFlexible travel · $120RBCRBC Avion Visa InfiniteCard shapeVisa
- Scotiabank PassportNo foreign fees · $150ScotiabankScotiabank PassportCard shapeVisa
- WestJet RBC World EliteWestJet flyers · $139RBCWestJet RBC World EliteCard shapeMastercard
- CIBC Aventura Visa InfiniteTravel flexibility · $139CIBCCIBC Aventura Visa InfiniteCard shapeVisa
- Scotiabank Gold AmexGroceries, no FX fee · $120ScotiabankScotiabank Gold AmexCard shapeAMEX
- TD First Class TravelGroceries and dining · $139TDTD First Class TravelCard shapeVisa
- Marriott Bonvoy AmexHotel rewards · $120American ExpressMarriott Bonvoy AmexCard shapeAMEX
- Amex PlatinumPremium travel · $799American ExpressAmex PlatinumCard shapeAMEX
- Home Trust Preferred VisaNo annual fee · $0Home TrustHome Trust Preferred VisaCard shapeVisa
Frequently asked questions
What is the best travel credit card in Canada?
No single card is best for everyone, so TripRadr names cards by what they are best for. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite suits frequent Air Canada flyers, the WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard suits WestJet flyers and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ suits people who want no foreign transaction fee and lounge visits. The RBC Avion and Amex Cobalt suit travellers who want flexible points. Use the finder above to match a card to your own travel and spending.
Which credit card is best for international travel?
Foreign transaction fees and insurance matter most abroad. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ and Scotiabank Gold American Express charge no foreign transaction fee, while most other cards here add 2.5%. The Passport also includes six lounge visits and lists medical, cancellation and delay insurance. Carry a Visa or Mastercard as well, since American Express is accepted in fewer places in some regions.
Which cards offer free airport lounge access?
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite+ includes 6 lounge visits a year, and the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite and CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite each include 4. The Amex Platinum includes Global Lounge Collection access, though from 2027 some Plaza Premium and Priority Pass visits become limited unless you spend $20,000 in a year. The WestJet RBC World Elite includes a DragonPass membership but charges US$32 a visit. Enrolment is required for the Visa programs.
Is Aeroplan better than Avion?
Neither is better for everyone. Aeroplan cards earn directly in Air Canada's program and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite includes a free first checked bag on Air Canada flights. RBC Avion points work on any airline through a fixed redemption chart and can convert to partner programs. If you fly Air Canada most of the time Aeroplan is usually the closer fit, and if you change airlines Avion is more flexible. Our Aeroplan versus Avion guide compares them in detail.
Can I use travel rewards to book vacation packages?
Sometimes, depending on the program. WestJet points can be used toward WestJet Vacations packages (and RBC lists Sunwing Vacations), and RBC Avion points redeem for other travel such as packages at 100 points per dollar. Aeroplan and other programs have their own rules, so check each program's redemption options before you plan around it. TripRadr compares vacation package prices across Canadian travel sites so you can see the cash price first.
How TripRadr compares and checks cards
Facts come from each issuer's own pages and are shown with the date they were last verified (October 28, 2026). We name cards by what they are best for, not as one overall winner. The issuer links on these pages are plain links and TripRadr earns nothing from them; if that changes they will be marked as sponsored and will not change which cards we show. TripRadr is not a lender, broker or financial adviser, and this is general information, not financial advice. See the full methodology.
Planning a trip? Compare vacation package prices, check travel rewards programs, travel insurance and buy now, pay later options. 7 guides are in the guides section.