How You Can Get Over $1,000 of Travel Value With the Right Travel Credit Card
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite credit card is one of Canada's most popular. Found out why their welcome offer stacks up to big rewards.
Sandra Macgregor
The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* credit card is among one of Canada’s most popular travel reward credit cards. It should come as no surprise because it’s packed with a generous welcome offer, attractive travel-friendly perks, and point-earning categories guaranteed to get your travel plans on track faster than ever before.
Best for Travel
based on spending $2,200/mo after the annual fee
- Earn rewards
1pt – 2pts / dollar spent
- Welcome bonus
45,000 points (a $900 value)
- Annual fee
see Details
Perks of the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card
Perks | Details | |
---|---|---|
Lounge access | Included | You’ll gain complimentary passes to airport lounges. The number of passes and lounges you have access to will vary. |
Waived foreign transaction fees | Not included | A surcharge that credit card holders pay for purchases made in a foreign currency (typically 2.5%). |
Travel accident insurance | Up to $500,000 | If you suffer a loss as a result of an accidental bodily injury sustained while occupying a common carrier, you are eligible for this coverage. |
Travel emergency medical | Up to $5,000,000 for 15 days (under 65) | If you require urgent medical care while on a trip outside of your home province, you will be covered for any eligible medical expenses incurred. |
Car rental insurance | MSRP of up to $65,000 for 48 days | Credit card rental car insurance usually covers theft, loss and damage to your rental car in the case of an accidental collision. |
Trip cancellation | Up to $5,000 per occurrence | If you have to cancel your trip before it’s even started, your prepaid travel costs will be covered up to a maximum amount if the cause of cancellation is eligible for the insurance. |
Trip interruption | Up to $2,000 per occurrence | If your trip has to be cut short or is delayed after the scheduled departure date, you will be covered up to a maximum amount for an eligible cause of interruption or delay. |
Flight delay insurance | Up to $500 per occurrence | If your flight departure is delayed by a certain number of hours, you’ll be reimbursed a certain amount for necessary and reasonable expenses. |
Baggage loss insurance | Up to $1,000 per occurrence | If your checked bag cannot be located by a common carrier, you’ll be reimbursed for a portion of the replacement cost of lost personal property. |
Baggage delay insurance | Up to $1,000 per occurrence | If your checked bag is not delivered within a specified time upon your arrival, you’ll be reimbursed for the cost to replace essential items. |
Hotel/motel burglary | Not included | Provides protection, while you’re checked in, for your personal belongings when left unattended in your room up to a certain dollar amount. |
Mobile insurance | Up to $1,000 per occurrence | Reimburses a portion of your cell phone in the event it’s damaged or lost. Device coverage is limited to a certain period of time after purchasing with your credit card. |
Purchase assurance | Up to 90 days | Automatically protects new purchases by insuring them for 90 days from the date of purchase in the event of loss, theft or damage. |
Extended warranty | One additional year | Either doubles the length of the item’s manufacturer’s warranty coverage or extends it by 1 year, whichever is less. |
Price protection | Included | If, within a certain amount of time of purchasing an item, its price drops or you find an identical item offered for a lower retail price than what you paid, you will be reimbursed for the difference. |
Other perks
- This offer is not available for the residents of Quebec.
- Welcome Offer: Join and get up to $1,400 in value including a first year annual fee rebate!† Here’s how you can get up to $1,400 in value
- Get up to 45,000 Aventura Points (up to $ 900 in travel value†):
- 15,000 Aventura Points when you make your first purchase†
- 30,000 Aventura Points when you spend $3,000 or more in the first 4 monthly statement periods†
- Get a one-time annual fee rebate ($139) for you (the primary cardholder) and up to three authorized users ($50 each): up to $189 value.†
- Elevate your airport experience with 4 complimentary visits at 1,200+ lounges globally through Visa Airport Companion Program: up to $261 in value.†
- Plus, get a NEXUS◊ Application Fee rebate†: A $67 value†
- Plus, enjoy extra valuable travel benefits.
- Travel when it’s right for you – your Aventura Points don’t expire†
- Redeem your Aventura Points for more than travel with our Shop With Points/Pay with Points features†
- Travel local – Aventura Points can be redeemed for more than just flights – use your points for hotels and car rentals for a weekend getaway
- 2 points for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre†
- 1.5 points for every $1 spent at eligible gas stations, EV charging, grocery stores and drug stores†
- 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases†
- Save on gas with CIBC and Journie Rewards Link and use your CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card with Journie Rewards to save up to 10 cents per litre† at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations.†
- This is a digital-exclusive offer.†
- To be eligible for this offer, 1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner/affiliate; and 2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you.† This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else.
- CIBC may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this Offer if you have opened, transferred or cancelled another Aventura card within the last 12 months.†
- †Terms and Conditions Apply
Ratehub’s take
The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card really ramps up rewards for everyday purchases such as gas and groceries. It also provides extensive insurance coverage, lounge access, and a Nexus rebate, proving to be a great travel companion for travelers.
Pros
- Access to airport lounges: Enjoy four complimentary visits at over 1,200 lounges globally through the Visa Airport Companion Program
- Extensive insurance coverage: Enjoy a comprehensive insurance package from mobile device insurance to emergency travel medical insurance
- Additional rebates and perks: Receive a NEXUS application fee rebate
Cons
- Low point earn rate: Other rewards cards offer higher points per spending category
- Income requirement: A minimum personal income of $60,000 may may be prohibitive to some
- Annual Fee: An annual fee of $139 is high compared to others on the market
- Limited travel redemption options: You’ll have to use the CIBC Rewards Centre to book travel with your points, whereas with other cards you can experiment with other providers and platforms to get the most value
Eligibility requirements
Minimum credit score: 725
Minimum income: $60,000/yr
Interest rates
Purchase interest: 20.99%
Cash advance: 22.99%
Balance transfer: 22.99%
Annual fee
$139
Points breakdown on everyday spending
With the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card, you get 2 points for every $1 you spend on travel (which includes flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals and vacation packages) when you purchase it through the CIBC Rewards Centre.
You’ll also get 1.5 points for every $1 you spend at eligible gas stations, EV charging stations, grocery stores and drug stores. (You can even rev-up your savings by getting up to 10 cents off per litre of gas at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar and Chevron gas stations when you link your card with Journie Rewards.) Additionally, you’ll earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Obviously, your overall point-earning capacity changes depending on your spending habits. It’s important to note that points are worth the most when you redeem them for flights but you can redeem points for other things like cruises, rental cars, vacation packages and even merchandise or gift cards. You can even put your points toward your CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card balance or towards a different CIBC financial product. Points never expire and there are no blackout dates, which means you can fly any airline and select any seat. Use your points for hotels and car rentals too.
Sign up bonus
When you sign up for the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite credit card, you’ll be eligible to take advantage of an incredible welcome bonus. New cardholders can earn up to 45,000 Aventura, with up to $900 in travel value. You earn 15,000 Aventura Points when you charge your first purchase to the card. Plus, you can get an extra 30,000 Aventura points when you spend a minimum of $3,000 in the first 4 month statement periods.
Furthermore, new cardholders will enjoy a first-year annual fee rebate for themselves, as well as for up to 3 authorized users. That saves you (the primary cardholder) $139 in your first year, and up to three authorized users ($50 each (up to $150 value). That means that you can get up to 45,000 Aventura points, with up to $900 in travel value. Clearly, with its impressive travel point-earning potential, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card will get you to your destination faster.
But wait, there's more...
- Designed with frequent fliers in mind, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card also comes with lots of prime perks globetrotters will love.
- One of the most coveted benefits for travel lovers is airport lounge access.
- The CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card not only includes the complimentary Visa Airport Companion Program, which includes four free airport lounge visits per year.
- You’ll get access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide and can expect to enjoy great lounge perks like free meals and beverages, shower areas and possibly even napping areas and spa access.
- The Visa Airport Companion Program and four free airport lounge visits are valued at $261.
But that’s not all, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card also has travel insurance perks, like trip cancellation insurance, flight delay and baggage insurance, rental car coverage and more. Two of the most outstanding insurance benefits are emergency travel medical insurance (up to $5 million for 15 consecutive days for those under the age of 65) and mobile device insurance. Mobile device coverage is a unique perk among Canadian credit cards and is an incredibly useful and potentially a cost-saving extra.
The bottom line
If you love to travel and want a card that will get you to your destination faster and more affordably, then the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card is a smart pick.