Consider your spending habits and rewards when selecting the ideal credit card for travel Canada. Some cards offer higher earn rates on specific categories such as dining and food delivery services.
Some credit cards provide premium travel perks, like complimentary checked bags for you and up to nine companions on Air Canada flights, or providing a $100 NEXUS fee rebate every 48 months.
No foreign transaction fees
Credit cards without foreign transaction fees are ideal for travellers looking to avoid the high exchange rates associated with international purchases. These cards allow users to transact without incurring currency conversion fees, and often offer rewards tied to local mid-market rates as well. Furthermore, some travel-oriented credit cards even come equipped with airport lounge access and comprehensive travel insurance plans for added peace of mind when making overseas purchases.
When researching card options, it’s essential to take other fees into account, including interest rates, balance transfer and cash advance charges. Such costs could nullify any advantages gained from not incurring foreign transaction fees. Furthermore, finding one widely accepted in countries you plan on visiting is also key; while no-foreign-transaction-fee cards can be advantageous, those that provide better exchange rates with no foreign transaction fees and waived fees would provide even greater value for travelers.
Airport lounge access
Airport lounges provide travelers with various amenities while they wait for their flights. They are usually open to airline passengers, members of airlines’ loyalty programs and credit card holders; certain credit cards provide complimentary access while others require membership fees for accessing these lounges.
American Express’ Platinum Card grants access to Priority Pass’ global network of airport lounges – making the annual fee worth its while.
Earn airline miles via credit cards or loyalty programs and gain free or discounted airport lounge access by earning airline miles. Some cards also provide travel insurance coverage and no foreign transaction fees; these benefits may only apply when cardholders meet certain requirements such as earning a minimum number of points annually or flying multiple times during a year; others provide one-time lounge entry passes which can be used at most airports.
Travel insurance
Travel credit cards often provide travel insurance that protects against unexpected travel-related expenses, such as trip cancellation, lost luggage and flight delay costs, emergency medical coverage as well as trip interruption coverage.
Some of Canada’s finest travel cards feature premium travel insurance benefits, like Rogers World Elite Mastercard. It provides excellent travel and rental car coverage as well as airport lounge access and free Boingo Wi-Fi; unlike most credit cards offering travel insurance coverage, however, it doesn’t charge an annual fee!
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege is another top-of-the-line travel credit card, featuring comprehensive insurance benefits. This card covers out-of-province trips for up to 60 days – which surpasses most other cards’ coverage; additionally, seniors are included as they tend to be excluded from many policies. Furthermore, there’s trip interruption and cancellation coverage and a $1,000 baggage delay benefit which takes effect after just four hours!
Rewards
Canada’s top credit cards for travel offer an array of rewards to help reduce costs on airfares, hotel stays and other travel-related expenses. Selecting an ideal card depends on various factors including what rewards are most attractive to you; how quickly it earns its rewards back; welcome bonuses offered and earnings rates; as well as whether or not additional perks such as airport lounge access or waiver of foreign transaction fees may apply.
The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card provides a great first-year annual fee waiver and welcome bonus, earning you 1x points on purchases from Air Canada Vacations, 2x points for dining and food delivery purchases and 1 point on all other eligible purchases. Plus, its unlimited Aeroplan miles with no expiry dates!
Other benefits include the ability to transfer Aeroplan miles directly to hotels and car rental agencies; priority boarding with free checked bags on Air Canada flights; emergency medical coverage up to 60 days abroad (which exceeds the coverage offered by most credit cards); and free priority check-in on Air Canada flights.
