The 5 Best Hotel Credit Cards in Canada

Welcome to the world of travel and hospitality, where the experience of staying in a luxurious (or just cozy) hotel can turn an ordinary trip into an extraordinary adventure. From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the serene beaches of Bali, the world offers an array of diverse experiences waiting to be explored. In Canada too, a country known for its diverse landscapes and vibrant cities, there’s no shortage of amazing hotels to choose from. To make your hotel stays even more delightful, let’s delve into the features of the best credit cards designed specifically for hotel enthusiasts.

The Main Features of the Best Hotel Credit Cards

Travelling can be expensive, or cheaper if you use some travel hacks. One such hack is to find a great credit card. The hallmark of the best credit cards in Canada is a generous rewards program. Look for cards that offer substantial rewards points or cashback on hotel bookings. These rewards can then be redeemed for future hotel stays, effectively reducing your travel costs and making luxury more affordable.

Moreover, some cards offer such generous welcome bonuses that you can pay for your flight almost right away! Many people love credit card churning and travel credit cards are perfect for them. You can reap the rewards of a generous welcome bonus then move on to the next credit card. Proceed with caution to avoid overindebtedness.

A top-notch hotel credit card should allow you to redeem your rewards in a way that suits your needs. Whether you prefer to use your rewards for free hotel stays, airline tickets, or even merchandise, flexibility is key. The ability to transfer rewards to various loyalty programs is also an excellent feature to have.

The best hotel credit cards often come with concierge services that can assist you with everything from restaurant reservations to event tickets. These services can truly elevate your travel experience by taking care of the little details.

Many of the best credit cards for hotels in Canada establish exclusive partnerships with hotel chains. These partnerships can provide you with special perks like room upgrades, free breakfast, and even early check-ins, giving you the VIP treatment you deserve. Some cards also grant cardholders accelerated loyalty status within their affiliated hotel chains. This status can result in better room rates, additional perks, and a more enjoyable stay.

International Considerations

For those who love to explore hotels internationally, a credit card with no foreign transaction fees is a must. These fees can quickly add up, but with the right card, you can save on every international stay and put that money towards more luxurious accommodations. Lounge membership is another great perk for travelling internationally. Cards can provide you with access to airport lounges around the world, making your travel experience even more comfortable and luxurious. This feature can be particularly valuable for frequent travelers.

Traveling always involves a bit of uncertainty, so having a credit card that offers travel insurance and protection can be a game-changer. From trip cancellation coverage to rental car insurance, these benefits ensure you have peace of mind when exploring new places.

1. TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card – Best Hotel Credit Card for the Visa Hotel Collection

With the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite, you will travel in style! Thanks to Visa Infinite benefits, you have access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection featuring over 900 properties. This means you can get credits, room upgrades, VIP guest status, late check-out, and more. Moreover, every year, you will get a $100 travel credit to cover for a hotel, motel, lodging, or other vacation purchase of $500.00 or more made with Expedia For TD. No wonder it’s one of the best travel credit cards in Canada!

The TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite card is also incredibly efficient at earning reward points. You earn 8 TD Rewards points per dollar spent when you book with Expedia for TD, which translates into a 4% cash back. You also get 6 points at grocery stores and restaurants, 4 points on recurring bill payments set up in your account and 2 points on all other purchases you make with the card. You’ll also receive an annual birthday bonus of up to 10,000 TD Rewards points! You can choose to redeem your TD Points to help pay down your credit card balance, book travel or shop on TDrewards.

This card helps you earn 50% more stars at Starbucks and get a free Uber One membership for 12 months to save on rides and meals. You’ll get $0 deliveries on eligible purchases, and 5% off eligible rides with access to top-rated drivers. TD also offers comprehensive travel insurance.

2. Scotiabank Gold American Express Card – Best for Avoiding FX Fees

Scotiabank likes to advertise itself as the “only major bank that saves you 2.5% on foreign transaction fees” on any foreign currency purchase. Only the exchange rate will apply, which is great for booking hotels in US dollars or any currency other than CAD.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express is also an amazing card for people who like to enjoy hotel stays in various Canadian cities. It earns 6 Scene+ points on every $1 you spend in Canada at major grocery stores like Sobeys and Safeway. One Scene+ point is worth 1¢, meaning you get 6% back every time you shop for groceries! But during a vacation, eating out is so much more fun! You will enjoy 5 Scene+ points for every $1 spent on dining, popular food deliveries and food subscriptions in Canada. The same rate applies for movies, theatre, and ticket agencies. Then, you get 3 points for every $1 on eligible gas and daily transit options. Let’s bet that you often use rideshares, buses and taxis while on a trip in another province. Plus, you earn 1 Scene+ point for every $1 spent on all other eligible everyday purchases.

A couple of features make this card interesting. Thanks to its affiliation to American Express Invites, you can enjoy a variety of special offers such as weekend getaway packages. Since the Scotiabank Gold American Express card offers complimentary concierge service and lounge access, you’ll have a place to relax while you wait for your flight. You can get a discount on the Priority Pass membership and access over 1200 VIP lounges around the world.

This card comes with extensive travel insurance. For instance, if your flights is delayed and you charged at least 75% of the full ticket cost to your Scotiabank Gold American Express card, you’ll be eligible for reimbursement of necessary expenses, such as hotel accommodations and meals. You’re also insured for car collision loss or damage, trip interruption or cancellation, medical emergencies, and even more. Travel insurance is something that you can supplement. If you still feel you are under-insured, you can buy travel insurance on your own.

3. RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card – Best Hotel Credit Card for Flexibility

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card is praised for its flexibility. You can book any airline and any flight with your points. There are no blackouts or seat restrictions even during peak seasons.

Slope enthusiasts who purchase one regular price lift pass at Canadian participating resorts can get a second pass for free every Friday. Participating resorts include Kicking Horse Mountain Resort (BC), Big White Ski Resort (BC), Blue Mountain (ON), Mont Tremblant (QC), and more. Now, when you fly from Ontario to BC, you’ll need to book a hotel!

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite card earns 1 Avion point for every $1 you spend, plus an extra 25% on eligible travel related purchases. You can them redeem points for hotel stays, car rentals, cruises, and more. The conversion rate is 100 points for $1. This means you will need 20,000 points to cover for a $200 hotel night. If you’d like to use your points more wisely, use them for flights. For instance, a $750 plane ticket costs only 35,000 Avion points when you book with Avion Rewards Travel. You can also convert your Avion points to other airline loyalty programs such as WestJet.

RBC’s insurance offer is less extensive that those of the TD and Scotia cards mentioned above. With this RBC card, you are covered for out-of-province/country medical emergencies, trip cancellation or interruption and car rental collision loss/damage.

4. Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card – Best Card for Lounge Access

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite credit card really shines when it comes to getting the most out of your airport lounge experience. To unlock these fantastic benefits, all you need to do is create an account with Visa Airport Companion. It is the best credit card for lounge access in the country, but it’s also pretty good for hotel reservations. It’s affiliation to Visa Infinite Hotel Collection allows you to save money by getting the best available hotel rates, automatic room upgrades and free Wi-Fi in your room.

The best part? You get six complimentary lounge visits that more than make up for the card’s annual fee. What’s even more fantastic is that you can bring along guests at no extra cost. Just keep in mind that each person uses a voucher. Once you’ve used up those six vouchers, each additional visit costs $32 USD.

And when it comes to earning rewards, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite earns up to 3 Scene+ points per $1 spent on groceries and 2 points on dining, entertainment, and transit. All your other purchases still get you one point for every dollar spent. Plus, with no foreign transaction fees, it’s a good choice for avid travelers who want not only top-notch airport lounge access but also great rewards and travel insurance protection.

5. Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card – Best Credit Card for Free Hotel Nights

The Marriott Bonvoy American Express card is the only one on this list that is co-issued by a hotel company. With this card, you earn 5 Amex points when you buy a stay at a Marriott establishment, plus the points you already earn if you are a Marriott Rewards member. Those include Marriott branded online stores and Marriott Bonvoy gift cards. You will also receive one free hotel night each year. Then, you get 2 points per $1 spent on anything else. You will have access to travel insurance and American Express Experiences.

As soon as your application is approved, you have the Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status. This status gives you 10% more points on nights and you can benefit from late check-outs, for example. You can upgrade to Gold Elite status after you charge $30,000 in net purchases to your card within one year, or when you combine 10 qualifying paid nights with the 15 Elite Night Credits (that you also get from your card). Once you have enough points, simply redeem them for free nights. There are no blackout dates at over 30 hotel brands (7,000 establishments).

In the world of travel and hotel stays, a great credit card can make all the difference. By choosing a credit card with features like generous rewards, exclusive hotel partnerships, flexibility in redemption, no foreign transaction fees, and more, you can take your hotel experience to the next level. These cards are not just financial tools but gateways to unforgettable adventures, offering you the opportunity to explore the world’s beauty and hospitality in style. So, why wait? Choose your ideal credit card and start planning your next unforgettable trip.

FAQs about the Best Hotel Credit Cards