Best Travel Credit Cards Canada: American Express Bonvoy, Cobalt & Platinum

THE GEN X WANDERER / Best Travel Credit Cards Canada: American Express Bonvoy, Cobalt & Platinum

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Comparison Table

* Note that all currencies in this blog post are in Canadian Dollar.

Before reading on, give this quick comparison table between the American Express Cobalt, the Marriott Bonvoy American Express and the American Express Personal Platinum a glance, read through my post and then come back and choose which one would be best for you.

Amex Cobalt, Marriott Bonvoy, and Amex Platinum

I have been collecting points for over 15 years. I started with Marriott Bonvoy way back when it was still called Starwood in 2011, and I have been quietly hoarding ever since. We have now accumulated way past 2 million Marriott Bonvoy points, which means I have some strong opinions about the best travel credit cards Canada has to offer, and I am going to share them whether you asked or not!

Fast forward years later, and I added the Amex Platinum and the Amex Cobalt to my list.

If you have ever searched for the best travel credit cards Canada and landed on a page that reads like a bank brochure with a thesaurus, I feel your pain.

This is the version from someone who actually earns and redeems her the points. Three cards, honest perks, and a free guide (limited time only) to help you avoid the rookie mistakes I made.

Quick disclaimer: card perks, fees and welcome offers change often. Everything below was accurate at the time of writing, but please confirm the current details with the issuer before you apply. This post also contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Why I Can Talk About the Best Travel Credit Cards Canada Offers

Fifteen years is a long time to collect anything. Over that stretch my family has stayed at countless Marriott branded hotels, from reliable business stops to boutique luxury. One of my favourites and most recents was the Bisha Hotel in Toronto, and the best part is that the stay was free, paid for entirely with Marriott Bonvoy points.

If you want to see how that works, I put together a post on how to get free hotel stays.

Spoiler: it starts with picking from the best travel credit cards Canada has and then actually using them. More of our free stays are here: JW Marriott Miami Marquis, Conrad Fort Lauderdale, Courtyard by Marriott Oceanside Fort Lauderdale, Courtyard by Marriott Miami Downtown Brickell, and the biggest one, 1 week all inclusive at the Royalton Blue Waters Jamaica.

How to Pick the Best Credit Cards for Travel in Canada

Before applying for anything, ask yourself these questions.

1. Where do you really spend your money?
2. How many trips do you take in a given year? Are you even a travel person?
3. Will you use the perks, or will the perks quietly use you?
   The best credit cards for travel Canada has are only the best if they match your life. A card with a big annual fee is a bargain for one person and an expensive paperweight for another.
4. Do the points earn fast enough on the things you already buy?
5. Are the points flexible, or locked into one brand?
6. Do the perks save you real money, or just look shiny?

Here are the 3 Cards that I Use

1. American Express Cobalt: The Everyday Workhorse

If I could recommend only one card to a beginner, it would be the Cobalt. It sits on nearly every list of the best travel credit cards Canada has, and for good reason: you earn some serious points on the stuff you buy every single week.

• Welcome bonus
• (5x) Big earn rates on eats and drinks, including groceries, restaurants and food delivery
• (3x) Bonus points on streaming
• (2x) travel and transit
• Amex Membership Rewards points that transfer to several airline and hotel programs, including Marriott Bonvoy
• A low monthly fee instead of a scary annual one, and secondary card is free

The Cobalt is how many people get started with the best travel credit cards Canada has, because the points show up fast and you do not have to change your habits. You just have to stop paying for groceries with a debit card like it is 1997.

2. Marriott Bonvoy American Express: For the Hotel Obsession

This is where my journey started, so I have a soft spot. If you stay at Marriott properties even a few times a year, this is one of the best travel rewards credit cards Canada offers for hotel lovers. Marriott runs a huge portfolio, from The Ritz-Carlton, Fairmont, JW Marriott, Sheraton, Delta, Courtyards, Springhill Suites: luxury to simple stays to the kind of boutique luxury that makes you stand up straighter in the lobby.

• Welcome Bonus
• Bonvoy points on every purchase, with the best earn rate at Marriott hotels
• An annual free night certificate on your card anniversary
• 4th night free
• Marriott Bonvoy elite status, plus credits and perks toward higher tiers, such as later 2:00 – 4:00 PM checkout
• Points you can transfer to airline partners when you want flights instead

The catch is that it is built for Marriott loyalists. If you bounce between brands, a more flexible card may suit you better. However, given that they have about 35 brands, I don’t see what the problem is.

3. American Express Personal Platinum: The Big Splurge

Now for the big one. The Personal Platinum is the heavyweight of the best travel credit cards Canada offers, and the annual fee will make you wince. Whether it pays for itself depends entirely on how many perks you use.

• Giant welcome bonus will offset your first year
• Airport lounge access, including Centurion lounges and Priority Pass
• Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, (with it’s own perks like 2:00 PM late checkout) plus hotel status with other programs
• Trip Insurance, Medical, Cancellation, Interruption
• Car Rental Insurance
• An $200 annual travel credit
• An $200 dining credit from an approved dining list
• Fine Hotels and Resorts benefits, and a concierge when you want to feel fancy

Why I Cancelled My American Express Business Platinum

I had the Amex Business Platinum for three years. Then came our anniversary dinner at Jacob’s & Co, and I learned the business card does not include the $200 annual dining credit. I did the math right there at the table, mostly to avoid looking at the bill. Out went the business card, in came the personal Platinum. You can read the whole story about it here.

The lesson: read the perks before you pick. A card that looks like an upgrade can quietly leave out the one benefit you actually use.

Which of the Best Travel Credit Cards Canada Has Is Right for You?

• Start with the Cobalt if you are new to points and spend a lot on food.
• Add the Marriott Bonvoy if hotels are your thing and you like a yearly free night.
• Upgrade to the Personal Platinum if you travel often enough to use the lounges, credits and status and for their welcome bonus.

I carry more than one, because that is how you can stack points. Pick the best travel credit cards Canada has for your spending, keep the fees honest, and let the points pile up while you plan the next trip.

Is This Strategy the Same in the US?

Pretty much. The cards and perks differ, but the plan is basically the same: pick a flexible points card for everyday spending, a hotel card for stays you already take, and a premium card only if you will use the perks. If you are reading from south of the border, the best travel credit cards Canada has are a good model for what to look for at home, and my PDF applies either way.

Ready to Apply for the Best Travel Credit Cards Canada Has?

• Step 1: Grab my PDF. My guide puts it all into one pretty place easy for you to understand. It will help you turn everyday spending into free trips. It is free for a limited time, and honestly, I would not wait.
• Step 2: Apply for your credit card through my portal with FinlyWealth. Compare the cards and apply for the best travel credit cards Canada offers through my Finly link.

Why apply through FinlyWealth? I’ve been collecting points for over 15 years, and I’m happy to send you through a Canadian partner that I trust. In full transparency, I’m an affiliate partner, so if you apply through my link, I may earn a commission from FinlyWealth at no extra cost to you. That’s how I keep the lights on here! You are never obligated to use my link, and I’d rather you skip a card than sign up for one that doesn’t fit your spending. Perks, fees and offers change, so always confirm the current details with the issuer. I’m not a financial advisor, just a points nerd with strong opinions.