Best Canadian Travel Credit Cards 2026: The Ultimate Travel Hacking Guide

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We saved over $20,000 CAD on a 100-day trip across eight countries in Asia. We’re flying to Paris in 2026 on 25,000 Flying Blue miles per person and $140 CAD in taxes. We’ve slept at the InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula, the St. Regis Beijing, the Vinpearl Landmark 81, and dozens of other properties that we would never have paid cash for — all on points and free night certificates accumulated through Canadian credit cards over two to three years of deliberate everyday spending.

This is not a theoretical guide written by someone who has read about travel hacking. It is written by two Canadians who have lived it — who have held these cards, accumulated these points, made these redemptions, and learned through real experience what works and what doesn’t in the Canadian travel credit card landscape.

Everything in this guide comes from firsthand experience and genuine conviction. We only recommend cards we believe in. We tell you honestly about the ones we found underwhelming. And we give you the philosophy that underlies everything — because the right card strategy without the right philosophy produces a lot of points and very little travel.

Our Core Philosophy: Five Rules Before Any Card Recommendation

1. Both Partners Should Hold Cards in Different Programs

When two people accumulate instead of one, you build balances roughly twice as fast — and across more programs simultaneously. One partner holds the Marriott Bonvoy card while the other holds the Hilton Honors card. One earns Aeroplan while the other builds Flying Blue. Between you, your coverage is comprehensive without either person being overextended in annual fees.

We funded our entire 100-day Asia trip on balances built this way. The math is simple: two people accumulating in complementary programs creates a points war chest that one person accumulating in a single program cannot replicate.

2. Always Maximise the Welcome Bonus

The welcome bonus is the single highest-value earning event in the life of any travel credit card. A card that earns 1–2 points per dollar on everyday spending might take a year to accumulate 20,000 points organically. A welcome bonus of 50,000–100,000 points delivers that balance in the first three months.

Welcome bonuses typically require a minimum spend threshold in the first 90 days — usually $1,500–$3,000 CAD. Meet this threshold on spending you were going to do anyway. Never spend beyond your means to chase a welcome bonus.

3. Annual Fee Cards Are Worth It If You Use the Benefits

A card with a $120 annual fee that includes a $100 travel credit, a free night certificate worth $300, and lounge access worth $50 per visit is not a $120 expense — it is a net positive before a single point is earned. The question is never whether a card has an annual fee. The question is whether the benefits exceed the fee for your specific situation.

4. Always Have a Visa or Mastercard — Amex Isn’t Accepted Everywhere

American Express cards carry some of the best earn rates and benefits in the Canadian market. They are also not accepted at Costco, many independent restaurants, some grocery chains, and a significant portion of small businesses. The optimal Canadian wallet always includes at least one Visa or Mastercard alongside any Amex cards.

5. Transfer Points Strategically — Don’t Hoard

Points sitting in an account earn nothing and are subject to program devaluations that reduce their value without warning. The goal is not to accumulate points — it is to convert everyday spending into travel experiences. Transfer and redeem deliberately, at good value, toward specific trips.

The Canadian Travel Card Landscape: A Quick Map

Aeroplan (Air Canada) — Canada’s dominant frequent flyer program, part of Star Alliance. Excellent for transatlantic and transpacific flights. Earned through TD, CIBC, and American Express cards.

Marriott Bonvoy — The world’s largest hotel loyalty program covering Marriott, Sheraton, Westin, W Hotels, St. Regis, Ritz-Carlton, and many others. Earned through the American Express Marriott Bonvoy card in Canada.

Amex Membership Rewards — A flexible points currency earned through Amex Platinum and Cobalt that transfers to Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, and other partners.

Avios (British Airways Executive Club) — Transferable from RBC Avion points; excellent for short-haul European flights at distance-based pricing. Our vehicle for intra-European flying in 2026.

Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) — Earned through the Brim Flying Blue Mastercard. We flew Vancouver to Paris for 25,000 miles per person — one of the best transatlantic redemptions available to Canadians.

Tier 1: The Beginner Stack — Your First Two Cards

If you are new to travel hacking and want to start simply and effectively, these two cards build a powerful foundation.

Card 1: Amex Cobalt — The Best Everyday Earning Card in Canada

The American Express Cobalt is the card we recommend most consistently to Canadians starting their travel hacking journey.

Why it’s exceptional: The Cobalt earns 5x Membership Rewards points on eligible food and drink purchases in Canada — restaurants, cafés, food delivery, grocery stores. At 5 points per dollar on food spending, a couple spending $1,500 per month on groceries and dining earns 90,000 Membership Rewards points annually from that category alone.

The flexibility advantage: Amex Membership Rewards points transfer to Aeroplan, Marriott Bonvoy, and other partners — making the Cobalt a flexible accumulation vehicle that feeds multiple programs.

Annual fee: $12.99 monthly ($155.88 annually). At 5x on food spending, typically recouped within the first month for active users.

Welcome bonus: Up to 30,000 Membership Rewards points in the first year.

Our verdict: The best everyday earning card in Canada for food and drink spending. Should be in almost every Canadian travel hacker’s wallet.

Card 2: RBC Avion Visa Infinite — The Essential Visa Companion

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite is our recommended Visa companion card — covering the Amex acceptance gap while building a balance that transfers to British Airways Avios.

Why we hold it and recommend it: RBC Avion points transfer to British Airways Executive Club at 1:1 — and British Airways Avios with distance-based pricing deliver extraordinary value for short-haul European flights. A flight between European cities might cost only 4,500 Avios. For our 2026 trip through France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, the Avios pathway is essential.

Annual fee: $120 — offset by a $100 travel credit making the effective first-year fee minimal.

Welcome bonus: Typically 35,000 Avion points on approval.

Our honest take: The earn rate isn’t exciting but the Avios transfer destination and Visa acceptance make it the right Visa card for travel hackers focused on European travel. We’ve held this card specifically for the Avios pathway and it has delivered.

Tier 2: The Intermediate Stack — Adding Hotel Programs

Once everyday earning is covered, the next priority is hotel loyalty programs.

Card 3: Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card — The Free Night Certificate Is the Star

The American Express Marriott Bonvoy card funded more hotel nights on our 100-day Asia trip than any other single card — and it’s the one we recommend most confidently for Canadians wanting to access the world’s largest hotel network on points.

The free night certificate: The card comes with an annual free night certificate upon renewal, redeemable at Marriott properties up to a certain category. We used ours at the St. Regis Beijing when cash rates were $300 USD per night. That single redemption justified years of annual fees.

Marriott Bonvoy points: 5 points per dollar at Marriott properties, 2 points per dollar elsewhere. Redeemable across thousands of properties from budget Fairfield Inns to ultra-luxury St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton.

Elite status pathway: Holding the card contributes toward Marriott Platinum Elite status — which delivered complimentary breakfast for two and lounge access that we valued at $1,500–$2,000 USD across our Asia trip.

Annual fee: $120 — offset by the free night certificate value in almost every scenario.

Our honest take: The most consistently valuable hotel card in Canada. The free night certificate alone makes it worth holding indefinitely. We will never cancel this card.

Card 4: Amex Platinum Canada — The Premium Card Worth Its Fee

The American Express Platinum carries a premium annual fee that it justifies — but only for travellers who actively use its benefits.

Key benefits:

• $200 annual travel credit
• Priority Pass lounge membership — unlimited visits to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide
• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold status
• Strong Membership Rewards earn rate on dining and travel
• Typically 100,000+ Membership Rewards welcome bonus in promotional periods

Annual fee: $799 CAD — significant, but offset substantially by the travel credit, lounge access value, and hotel status benefits for frequent travellers.

Who it’s right for: Travellers who fly regularly, use airport lounges, and stay at Marriott and Hilton properties frequently. For a couple taking one or two significant trips per year, the benefits justify the fee.

Who should wait: If you’re new to travel hacking, start with the Cobalt and Marriott Bonvoy cards and graduate to the Platinum when your travel frequency justifies it.

Our honest take: At the right travel frequency, one of the best premium cards in Canada. The lounge access and hotel status benefits are genuinely valuable. The fee demands active use to justify.

Tier 3: The Advanced Stack — Program Diversification

Card 5: Brim Flying Blue Mastercard — The Underrated Transatlantic Weapon

We booked Vancouver to Paris for 25,000 Flying Blue miles per person and $140 CAD in taxes using this card. It earns its place in any serious Canadian travel hacker’s wallet for one specific reason: Flying Blue is one of the best transatlantic redemption currencies available to Canadians, and the Brim card is the primary Canadian pathway to building a Flying Blue balance.

The Flying Blue advantage: Air France and KLM fly directly from multiple Canadian cities to Paris and Amsterdam. Flying Blue’s monthly Promo Rewards sales discount specific routes by 20–50% in miles. When a strong promo appears on a route you want and you have miles ready, the value is extraordinary.

Ease of application: Straightforward to apply for without complex income requirements — one of the more accessible cards in the Canadian travel landscape.

Apply through our referral link: brim.flyingblue.ca?code=RP7N52

Our honest take: Not the highest earn rate card in the wallet, but the Flying Blue program access it provides is unique in the Canadian market. Essential for anyone planning European travel.

Cards We’ve Held: Honest Assessments

CIBC Aeroplan Visa Infinite — A solid Aeroplan earning card with good earn rates. The Aeroplan program itself is strong; the CIBC card is a competent vehicle for building that balance. Limitation: Aeroplan points don’t transfer to hotel programs, which limits flexibility compared to Amex Membership Rewards. Good card, not exceptional.

TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite — A reliable everyday earner we’ve held and used effectively. TD Points can be redeemed against travel purchases at a fixed value — simple and predictable, if not as exciting as transferable points currencies. Good as a Visa backup for everyday spending. Not our first choice but a solid card.

CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite — We held this card and found it underwhelming relative to alternatives. The Aventura program’s redemption value is inconsistent and earn rates on everyday spending don’t justify prioritising it over the RBC Avion or a dedicated Aeroplan card. Not a bad card — just not the best use of wallet space when stronger options exist.

The Recommended Wallet by Traveller Type

The Beginner (Starting from Zero)

1. Amex Cobalt — 5x on food and drink, flexible Membership Rewards
2. RBC Avion Visa Infinite — Visa backup, Avios transfer for European flights

Combined welcome bonus potential: 65,000+ points. Annual fee total: ~$276 (offset by RBC’s $100 travel credit).

The Intermediate Travel Hacker

1. Amex Cobalt — keep earning 5x on food
2. RBC Avion Visa Infinite — keep building Avios
3. Marriott Bonvoy Amex — add the free night certificate and hotel ecosystem
4. Brim Flying Blue Mastercard — start building Flying Blue for transatlantic flights

This is approximately our current wallet structure — covering flexible everyday earning, hotel programs, European flights, and transatlantic redemptions.

The Advanced Travel Hacker

1. Amex Platinum — lounge access, hotel status, large welcome bonus
2. Amex Cobalt — 5x food earn
3. Marriott Bonvoy Amex — free night certificate, Bonvoy points
4. RBC Avion Visa Infinite — Avios, Visa coverage
5. Brim Flying Blue Mastercard — Flying Blue miles, Mastercard coverage

Couple strategy: Split programs between partners. Partner A holds Amex Platinum + Marriott Bonvoy. Partner B holds Amex Cobalt + RBC Avion + Brim Flying Blue. Every program covered, both welcome bonuses earned, annual fee load distributed.

Common Mistakes Canadian Travel Hackers Make

Putting all points in one program. Programs devalue. Properties leave networks. Spread accumulation across at least two to three programs.

Hoarding points indefinitely. Points unused are subject to devaluation and expiry. Accumulate with a specific trip in mind and redeem deliberately.

Ignoring hotel programs. Most Canadian travel hackers focus on flight points and underinvest in hotel programs. For a couple on a long trip, hotel points can save as much or more than flight points.

Cancelling cards before the anniversary and losing the free night certificate. The Marriott Bonvoy Amex’s free night certificate is issued on card anniversary. Always time cancellation decisions around certificate issuance.

Not having a Visa or Mastercard backup. A wallet without a Visa or Mastercard creates regular earning gaps that should be accumulating points.

Redeeming points for poor value. Gift cards, merchandise, and statement credits typically deliver 0.5–1 cent per point. Always redeem for travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best travel credit card in Canada for beginners? The Amex Cobalt — the 5x earn rate on food and drink is the best everyday multiplier in the Canadian market and Membership Rewards is flexible enough to feed multiple programs as your strategy develops.

Is the Amex Platinum Canada worth the annual fee? For frequent travellers who use airport lounges regularly and stay at Marriott and Hilton properties, yes. For occasional travellers, start with lower-fee cards and graduate to the Platinum when your travel frequency justifies it.

What is the best card for Marriott points in Canada? The American Express Marriott Bonvoy card is the only Canadian credit card that earns Marriott Bonvoy points directly. The annual free night certificate makes it worth holding indefinitely.

How do I earn British Airways Avios in Canada? Transfer RBC Avion points to British Airways Executive Club at 1:1 — the RBC Avion Visa Infinite is the primary Canadian pathway to Avios, valuable for short-haul European flights.

What is the Brim Flying Blue card and is it worth it? The Brim Flying Blue Mastercard earns Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles. We booked Vancouver to Paris for 25,000 miles per person. Apply through our referral link: brim.flyingblue.ca?code=RP7N52.

Should both partners in a couple have travel credit cards? Absolutely — both partners accumulating in complementary programs is one of the most impactful structural decisions a couple can make.

Are travel credit card annual fees worth it? Almost always, if you use the included benefits. Calculate the value of benefits you will actually use before deciding.

Final Thoughts

The Canadian travel credit card landscape rewards patience, strategy, and the willingness to think across programs. The cards we’ve recommended here aren’t the flashiest options in every category — they’re the ones that have delivered real value in our real travel lives.

The Marriott Bonvoy free night certificate that covered the St. Regis Beijing. The RBC Avion points transferred to Avios for European flights. The Flying Blue miles that put us on Air France to Paris for $140 CAD in taxes. None of it required income we didn’t have or spending we wouldn’t have done anyway. It required cards, strategy, patience, and the conviction that everyday spending directed deliberately becomes extraordinary travel over time.

Start with the Cobalt and the RBC Avion. Add the Marriott Bonvoy card. Build toward the Platinum when your travel frequency justifies it. Keep both partners accumulating in different programs. Maximise every welcome bonus. Transfer strategically and redeem for travel.

The points will take you further than you think.

For how we used these cards to fund our 100-day Asia trip, read our how we saved $20,000 guide. For our 2026 Europe and Camino adventure, read our Camino and Europe plans.

Disclosure: This post contains a referral link for the Brim Flying Blue Mastercard. If you apply through our link we may receive a bonus — at no cost to you. All card recommendations reflect our genuine firsthand experience and opinion.

Follow our journey: Instagram @angeandzee | TikTok @angeandzee