Your guide to CIBC’s travel credit cards in 2026

If you’re looking for a CIBC travel credit card, you might be overwhelmed by the choice: CIBC offers 14 travel credit cards, split between the Aventura and Aeroplan rewards programs, and for individuals, businesses and students. However, this means that you are likely to find an option tailored for you - this guide will help you find the card that will get you to your travel goals as quickly as possible.

We’ll also introduce you to Wise, a multi-currency account designed to make your money go further once you’re abroad.

What are the key benefits with CIBC’s credit cards for Canadian travellers?

CIBC offers a range of credit cards with different perks. If you’re looking for a credit card to support your travels, you’ll want an Aeroplan or Aventura card, which each have their own reward systems¹. The card which works best for you depends on the benefits you want to earn from your card: Aeroplan points can be used to purchase flights - particularly with AirCanada - without blackout periods². Aventura points are more flexible and include travel bonuses³.

Aventura Cards

CIBC offers 8 Aventura cards, 6 of which are aimed at individuals⁴:

• CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card
• CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card
• CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card
• CIBC Aventura Visa Card
• CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Students
• CIBC U.S. Dollar Aventura Gold Visa Card

CIBC gives you plenty of choice when choosing an Aventura card. Depending on the card and your purchases, you can earn up to 3 points per 1 CAD spent, with bonus points on signup.

You can use Aventura points to help fund a variety of travel related rewards, which include flights, hotels, cruises, package holidays and more. Your points can also cover taxes and other fees⁵, and, if you don’t have enough, can be topped up with cash. To see how many points you’ll need, you can use the Aventura Airline Rewards Chart. Note that only CIBC Aventura Infinite Visa Privilege cardholders can use their points for business class travel⁶ - this restriction doesn’t apply to Aeroplan cards.

For example, a flight from Toronto to Paris, which costs up to 1,300 CAD before taxes and fees, will cost you between 50,000 and 70,000 Aventura points⁷. You can redeem them in the CIBC rewards centre.

Aventura points are designed to be flexible - so, as well as travel related perks, you can also use them on a variety of other benefits including⁸:

• Credit card purchase payments
• Paying down your Aventura credit card balance
• Payments or contributions to eligible Aventura credit card financial products
• Buying gift cards

As such, whilst Aventura cards are primarily aimed at travellers, they’re worth considering if you have other goals in mind, as you can choose to use your points on any number of perks.

Aeroplan Cards for individuals

CIBC offers four Aeroplan credit cards for individuals⁸:

• Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
• Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Card
• Aeroplan Visa Card
• Aeroplan Visa Card for Students

With these cards, you can earn up to 2 points per 1 CAD spent with AirCanada, and up to 1.5 points per 1 CAD spent on other eligible purchases. You can also earn up to 100,000 Aeroplan Points when you apply.

Aeroplan points are designed to help you travel - you can redeem them for⁹:

• Flights
• Hotels
• Car rentals
• Vacation packages
• Activities and travel experiences

You can also use your points on both travel and non-travel related merchandise and gift cards. You can redeem your points for flights directly through AirCanada, including for flights with partner airlines. AirCanada does not restrict flights or seats you can use your points on, and lets you mix points and cash, allowing you to redeem points however works best for you.

For example, a one way economy ticket to Paris is likely to cost between 35,000 and 60,000 points. Whilst the number of points required may increase if you want to fly during a high-demand period, you can use the Aeroplan Points Predictor tool for an estimate of the number of points needed for any given flight¹⁰. Alternately, you can use the Aeroplan Points Finder to find a destination based on the number of points you’ve already got.

Travel cards for businesses

There are four CIBC travel credit cards for businesses - two Aventura travel credit cards, and two Aeroplan travel credit cards:

• CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business
• CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business Plus
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Plus Card

With one of these, you can earn up to 70,000 Aventura points, or 75,000 Aeroplan points as a sign-up bonus when you use your card. You can also pool points with your personal card, giving you rewards faster¹¹.

The CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Business and CIBC Aeroplan Visa Business Card both require a minimum annual income of 35,000 CAD, but to get the Plus versions of each, you’ll need to undergo credit approval, which varies by business.

You can generally add up to 9 additional cardholders for the Aventura Visa Card for Business¹², Aventura Visa Card for Business Plus¹³ and the Aeroplan Visa Business Card¹⁴, for an additional 50 CAD per card per year, but for the Aeroplan Visa Business Plus card, you can add up to 15 extra cards, with the first year being rebated for 3 of them¹⁵.

Travel cards for Students

CIBC offers two travel credit cards for students:

• CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Students
• CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card for Students

These cards give you access to all the perks of the Aventura or Aeroplan rewards system, all for no annual fee.

What are the costs associated with CIBC’s travel credit cards?

Most CIBC travel credit cards come with an annual fee, as well as additional fees depending on the type of card you have, and how you plan on using it. The table below shows a range of fees you may be charged, but make sure to check the fee schedule for a full list.

If you use your card for payments in foreign currencies, CIBC charges a 2.5% fee on any conversions. They also set their own rate, and may make a profit from this¹⁷, by selling currencies for more than they buy them. This is a type of hidden fee, called an exchange rate markup, and means you may receive less foreign currency than you’d get with the mid-market rate (what you’d see if you search the exchange rate online). This fee is in addition to the upfront fees you’re charged.

As a result, whilst a CIBC credit card might be an effective way to earn points and pay for travel related expenses in CAD, such as flights, it’s unlikely to be the most cost-effective way to make purchases abroad. To make the most of your travels, it’s a good idea to also use a foreign currency specialist like Wise.

Pay with your Wise Card in 140+ countries

If you’re looking for a travel credit card, you’ll probably need to make purchases in foreign currencies whilst travelling. Whilst a travel credit card can help get you abroad, it’s also important to have the right card whilst you’re outside Canada: the Wise Card might be for you.

With Wise, you can pay in over 140 countries, using the mid-market rate, with an upfront fee, so you know exactly what you are paying for your conversion. Unlike many other financial institutions, Wise does not hide fees through foreign exchange markups, giving you peace of mind when travelling abroad. You can use Wise’s online currency converter to see how much your conversion will cost.

You can hold up to 40 currencies from your Wise account, and can convert manually or automatically between them when the exchange rates are favourable, using the smart conversion tool. Alternatively, if you don’t have a balance in the currency you’d like to spend in, Wise will automatically take it from the balance with the lowest fees - making sure that you always get the cheapest conversion.

To sum it up

If you’re looking for a CIBC travel credit card, you’ve got lots of choices, depending on whether you’re an individual, business or student: you’re likely to find an option tailored to your situation. Depending on whether you want flexibility with your points, or a dedicated credit card to help you achieve your travel goals, you can choose between the Aventura and Aeroplan rewards programs.

Generally, these credit cards are designed for spending at home in Canada - they can help pay for travel through points, but once you’re abroad, you’ll also want a card with foreign currency specialist like Wise. With a Wise account, you can spend with peace of mind, knowing exactly how much your currency conversion is costing you, to avoid any nasty surprises when you get home.

Sources verified on 15 June 2026