The Top Credit Cards I Have in My Wallet to Earn Free Travel

Woman holding a credit card and pink wallet while shopping, representing travel rewards credit cards and earning points in Canada.

For years, I was collecting credit card points without really understanding how much they could be worth. I made the mistake of redeeming them for cashback, thinking I was getting a decent return on my spending. Looking back, I’m kicking myself at how much more value I could have gotten by using those same points for travel. I honestly wish I had learned how to leverage my points sooner.

Since then, I’ve changed the way I use my credit cards and now have three cards in my wallet that I use strategically to earn travel rewards. Between everyday purchases, bonus spending categories and sign-up bonuses, I’ve been able to earn hundreds of thousands of points that I can put towards future trips.

If you’re looking for the best travel credit cards in Canada, I’m sharing the three cards I personally use, what I use each one for and how I make the most of their rewards. If you want to get more out of your everyday spending and start earning points towards your next trip, keep reading so you can avoid some of the mistakes I made.

How Travel Credit Card Points Work

Not all credit card points are created equal, and one of the biggest things I wish I’d understood sooner is that how you redeem your points can make a huge difference in their value.

Some rewards programs let you redeem points for cashback, statement credits, gift cards or travel. While cashback might seem like the easiest option, using points strategically for flights or other travel expenses can sometimes give you significantly more value.

Checkout my guide How to Find Cheap Flights: The Ultimate Guide to Booking Affordable Airfare to find more tips on how to save when booking flights.

The trick is understanding how each rewards program works, which redemption options offer the best value and how to earn points in the first place. Once you get the hang of it, you can start making your everyday spending work towards your next vacation.

Next, we’ll look at the three credit cards I use and why each one has a place in my wallet.

The 3 Credit Cards I Use to Earn Travel Points

I don’t rely on just one credit card to earn travel rewards. I have three cards in my wallet, and I use them for different purchases depending on where I can earn the most points and which benefits make the most sense.

Rather than putting every purchase on the same card, I try to take advantage of each card’s rewards structure. Here’s a breakdown of the three cards I use, what makes each one worthwhile and how I use them to earn points towards our travels.

1. American Express Cobalt Card

The American Express Cobalt is probably the card I use most often, and I’ve had it for close to 10 years. It’s generally regarded as one of the best overall credit cards in Canada for earning travel rewards, and a big reason for that is its generous points structure.

The Cobalt also has a welcome bonus for new card members. At the time of writing, you can earn up to ~~15,000~~ 25,000 bonus Membership Rewards points (with my referral link) if you sign up before November 30, 2026 by spending at least $750 during each monthly billing period in your first year. That’s an additional 1,250 points per month, on top of the points you’re already earning through your regular purchases. The card has a monthly fee of $15.99, which works out to $191.88 per year.

One of the biggest perks is that you earn 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on eligible grocery and dining purchases. This is why it’s my go-to card for groceries. With a family of five, grocery spending adds up quickly, so earning 5x the points on purchases we’re already making is an easy way to build up a points balance without changing our spending habits.

To put that into perspective, if you spend just $1,000 a month on eligible groceries, that’s 5,000 points every month or 60,000 points over a year. And that’s without even factoring in dining purchases or the other ways you can earn points with this card. You can earn 5x points on up to $2,500 in eligible grocery and dining purchases per month, so there’s plenty of room to rack up rewards.

Another way I maximize my points is by purchasing gift cards at grocery stores that accept American Express. Instead of paying directly with my card at other retailers, I’ll often pick up a gift card while doing my groceries. For example, if I’m planning to spend $100 at H&M, I’ll buy an H&M gift card at the grocery store using my Cobalt. That way, I earn 500 points instead of the 100 points I would typically earn on a regular purchase outside the bonus categories.

I do this for stores like Home Depot, Winners, Amazon and others. Even if you’re only buying $500 worth of gift cards each month, that’s an extra 2,000 points per month or 24,000 points a year compared with earning the standard 1 point per dollar. It’s a simple way to get more out of purchases you’re already planning to make.

Another reason I love the Cobalt is that your Membership Rewards points can be transferred to airline loyalty programs, including Aeroplan, which is where things get particularly interesting for travel. Rather than redeeming points for a small cashback return, you can transfer eligible points to Aeroplan and use them towards flights. This is one of the ways you can get considerably more value out of your points.

2. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card

I originally got the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card because of its welcome bonus. It was a great way to build up my Aeroplan balance, and I also wanted a Visa in my wallet for stores that don’t accept American Express.

The welcome bonus was another big reason I chose this card. At the time of writing, TD is offering up to 50,000 Aeroplan points, plus a first-year annual fee rebate. You get 10,000 points after your first purchase, another 15,000 after spending $3,000 within 90 days, and a further 25,000-point anniversary bonus after spending $12,000 within the first year. The first-year annual fee is also rebated, making it a good opportunity to build up your Aeroplan balance without paying the usual $139 fee in the first year.

I used to rely on my PC Financial Mastercard for those purchases, but these days I almost never reach for it. I use my TD Visa instead, particularly at Loblaws banner grocery stores like Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills, which don’t accept Amex.

The card earns 1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar on eligible grocery, gas, electric vehicle charging and direct Air Canada purchases, and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. So even when I can’t use my Cobalt, I’m still earning Aeroplan points on my spending.

There are also some travel benefits that make this card worth keeping in my wallet:

Free checked baggage: You and up to eight travel companions on the same reservation can get your first checked bag free when flying on eligible Air Canada flights. With five people in our family, this can add up to significant savings.
Travel insurance: The card includes emergency medical coverage for trips up to 21 days, as well as trip cancellation and interruption, flight delay, delayed and lost baggage insurance.
NEXUS rebate: You can receive up to $100 back on an eligible NEXUS application fee once every 48 months.
Aeroplan preferred pricing: As a primary cardholder, you can access preferred pricing on eligible Aeroplan flight rewards, which can mean fewer points needed for certain flights.

Another thing I like is that the Aeroplan points I earn go directly into my Aeroplan account, so I can build that balance separately from the Membership Rewards points I collect with my Amex Cobalt.

For me, this card is less about replacing my Cobalt and more about having another way to earn points when Amex isn’t accepted, while also getting some useful travel perks when we fly.

3. American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum is a little different from my other two cards. I actually signed up for this one primarily because of its welcome bonus, which made the high annual fee worthwhile for me. It’s not necessarily a card I see myself keeping long term, but I do think it’s worth considering if you can take advantage of a strong sign-up offer.

When I signed up in spring 2026, American Express was offering a 150,000 Membership Rewards point welcome bonus, which was a huge reason I decided to get the card. Compared with the current welcome offer of 110k points if you register by November 30, 2026, it was an especially generous promotion, and it made the $799 annual fee much easier to justify.

If you sign up here with my link you can get an extra bonus of 40K points for a total of 150k points (only until Nov 30, 2026).

This is also why I don’t necessarily see the Platinum as a card I’ll keep long term. My plan was to take advantage of the generous welcome bonus, enjoy the travel benefits and get as much value out of the card as possible during the first year. If you’re considering applying, I’d keep an eye out for elevated welcome offers because the bonus can make a big difference in whether the annual fee is worthwhile.

Beyond the welcome bonus, there are some worthwhile travel perks that come with the card:

Airport lounge access: Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which can make a big difference when you’re spending time at airports.
Annual travel credit: A $200 credit towards eligible travel bookings through American Express Travel.
Hotel benefits: Access to Fine Hotels + Resorts, which can include daily breakfast for two, a property credit, room upgrades when available and guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout.
Travel insurance: Coverage for eligible trips, including emergency medical, trip cancellation and interruption, flight delays and baggage.
NEXUS credit: Up to $100 back on an eligible NEXUS application or renewal.

For me, the biggest takeaway is that you don’t necessarily need to keep a premium travel card forever to get value from it. Sometimes signing up for a card, earning the welcome bonus and making use of the benefits during the first year can be worthwhile. Just make sure you understand the annual fee, eligibility requirements and any conditions attached to the welcome offer before applying.

How I Redeem My Credit Card Points for Travel

Earning points is only half the equation. Knowing how to redeem them is where you can really make a difference in how much value you get.

One of the biggest things I wish I’d learned sooner is that you don’t always get the same value from your points depending on how you redeem them. Instead of using them for cashback or statement credits, I now focus on getting the most value out of them through travel.

One of my favourite ways to do this is by transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to Aeroplan. This allows me to combine points earned through my Cobalt and Platinum cards with the Aeroplan points I earn directly through my TD Visa.

Another tip: Don’t just search for flights directly on Air Canada’s website. There are websites that search across multiple airline loyalty programs and can sometimes find the exact same Air Canada flight for significantly fewer points through a partner airline’s rewards program. The flight is the same, but the number of points required can be very different. This is a great way to stretch your points further and get more value out of every redemption.

I use those points towards flights, which can save a significant amount of money when travelling as a family. Rather than paying the full price for five airline tickets, I can put the points I’ve accumulated towards our flights and keep more money in our travel budget for accommodation, activities and everything else.

If you’re looking for more ways to save on flights and get better value when booking your next trip, check out my guide to 10 airline travel hacks that can save you money.

I’m also putting together a separate guide on the best websites to search for flights using points, including tools that help you compare different airline loyalty programs and find the lowest point redemptions. I’ll be sharing exactly which sites I use and how to find better deals on award flights, so subscribe to my newsletter to be the first to know when the article goes live!