Winners of the 2024 Prince of Travel Awards!

Throughout December 2024, you had the chance to cast your votes in the 2024 Prince of Travel Awards, marking the fifth year of celebrating excellence in travel, hospitality, loyalty programs, credit cards, and e-SIM connectivity.

We’re thrilled to reveal the winners of this year’s awards across all 30 categories, along with our insights and reflections on the results.

Credit Cards

Best Overall Travel Rewards Credit Card

• Winner: American Express Platinum^® Card

Once again, the American Express Platinum^® Card has been honoured with the title of Best Overall Travel Rewards Credit Card. It emerged victorious with 29% of the vote, with the TD^® Aeroplan Visa Infinite* Card and the American Express Cobalt^® Card taking second and third place, respectively.

This Canadian credit card offers cardholders a comprehensive suite of benefits, such as unlimited lounge access, Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, a $200 annual travel credit, and the new $200 annual dining credit.

Even with a relatively high annual fee of $799, the extensive perks, generous welcome bonus, and valuable American Express Membership Rewards points were enough to keep this card at the top of the list.

Best No Annual Fee Credit Card

• Winner: CIBC Aeroplan^® Visa* Card

With over 33% of the vote share, the CIBC Aeroplan^® Visa* Card has again won this category.

As the only Aeroplan co-branded credit card in Canada with no annual fee, it serves as an excellent entry point for those looking to earn Aeroplan points without ongoing costs. This also highlights how much the community appreciates Aeroplan points over cash back and other rewards currencies.

Plus, cardholders benefit from preferred pricing on Air Canada Aeroplan redemptions, which can be a nice treat when the flights price out at the lower end of the dynamic pricing scale.

Best Airline Credit Card

• Winner: TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card

As one of TD and Aeroplan’s flagship credit card products, there are many reasons why the TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite* Card has once again been voted as Canada’s Best Airline Credit Card with over 54% of the vote share. It’s also one that we recommend for all Canadian travellers, and especially to anyone who flies Air Canada frequently.

The card’s 1.5x earning rate in meaningful categories makes it a great card to use for everyday spending, and its free first checked bag on Air Canada flights can result in meaningful savings especially in light of Air Canada’s recent changes to baggage rules for economy basic fares.

If you haven’t added this card to your wallet yet, be sure to take a look at the current offer, which you’ll need to apply and be approved for by January 6, 2025.

Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card

• Winner: Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite* Card

Scotiabank remains the best Canadian issuer of travel credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.

The Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite* Card was voted as the best of the best when it comes to cards with no foreign transaction fees, taking in 61% of the vote. With perks like six free lounge visits and comprehensive insurance coverage, it’s a standout option. Additionally, the card offers accelerated earning with 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent on groceries and dining worldwide, adding further value.

It’ll be interesting to see if any other Canadian banks take notice of Scotiabank’s dominance in this category to stir up some competition in 2025. For now, the Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite* Card remains an excellent choice for anyone seeking a reliable card with no foreign transaction fees.

Best Premium Credit Card

• Winner: American Express Platinum^® Card

For the third time, the American Express Platinum^® Card has been voted the best-in-show at the 2024 Prince of Travel Awards, with just over 46% of the votes.

Premium credit cards often come with high annual fees, and it’s usually tough to justify the cost—but that’s not the case with the Amex Platinum Card, which sets the standard for exceptional value.

Despite an annual fee of $799, cardholders can easily find value through perks like the $200 annual travel and dining credits and lucrative Amex Offers.

Frequent travellers, in particular, will appreciate the extensive lounge access available at most major airports. Plus, those booking business or First Class cash fares can take advantage of significant savings through the International Airline Program, making this card a compelling choice for discerning travellers.

Best Small Business Travel Rewards Card

• Winner: Business Platinum^® Card from American Express

The Business Platinum^® Card from American Express has once again claimed the top spot in this category, winning decisively with 42% of the vote. The card offers valuable benefits like unlimited lounge access, a $200 travel credit, Hilton Gold status, and Marriott Gold status for travelling business owners. Plus, earning a consistent 1.25x MR points across all categories makes it a great candidate for non-categorized business spending.

While the Business Platinum^® Card continues to dominate, we hope to see more competition in the business card space in 2025 to give small business owners and entrepreneurs even more options for maximizing their rewards.

Best Cash Back Credit Card

• Winner: Scotiabank Momentum^® Visa Infinite* Card

Canada’s cash back credit card market remains fiercely competitive, with no standout winner emerging among the contenders. As in previous years, this year’s race was exceptionally close.

Leading the pack is the Scotiabank Momentum^® Visa Infinite* Card, which captured 20.7% of the vote, narrowly edging out the CIBC Dividend^® Visa Infinite* Card at 20%. The Scotiabank Momentum Visa^® Infinite* card continues to impress with a generous 4% return on groceries and recurring payments.

Best Overall Mastercard

• Winner: WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard

Once again, the WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard took the top spot this year with 22.2% of the vote in a showdown with the BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard which took 19% of the vote.

With its annual companion voucher and free first checked bags on WestJet flights, the WestJet RBC^® World Elite Mastercard is a must for anyone who flies with WestJet.

It’ll be interesting to see how this category plays out next year, as we’re seeing more redemption opportunities with Flying Blue miles, and Canadians can relatively easily earn Flying Blue miles through Brim Financial’s Air France KLM World Elite MasterCard^®.

Best Overall Visa Credit Card

• Winner: RBC® Avion® Visa Infinite‡ Card

The RBC^® Avion^® Visa Infinite^‡ Card takes the crown as Canada’s Best Overall Visa Credit Card in the Prince of Travel Awards—thanks to a well-rounded mix of rewards, flexibility, and protection that resonated with the community.

Thanks to RBC Avion transfer partner ecosystem, the card’s points are becoming even more valuable for travellers who want options beyond a single program.

It also stands out on the insurance side, with strong travel coverage plus mobile device insurance of up to $1,500—a notable edge when many competing cards cap mobile device coverage at $1,000. Add in wide acceptance and an overall “set-it-and-forget-it” value proposition, and it’s easy to see why Avion earned the top spot this year.

Best Credit Card for Travel Insurance

• Winner: TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* Card

The TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* Card was once again voted as the Best Credit Card for Travel Insurance, taking in 38.3% of the vote.

The TD First Class Travel^® Visa Infinite* Card’s suite of insurance includes up to 21 days of travel medical insurance worth $2,000,000 for travellers aged under 65, and four days of coverage for travellers aged 65+. Plus, there’s trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance of up to $1,500 and $5,000 per person, as well as up to $500 in flight delay insurance and an aggregate amount of $1,000 for lost, stolen, or delayed baggage.

Interestingly, the Scotiabank Passport^®Visa Infinite* Card moved into second place with 20.6% of the vote, overtaking the National Bank World^® Elite Mastercard^®, which garnered only 16.3%. This is surprising given that the National Bank World^® Elite Mastercard^® remains the only card in Canada to provide insurance coverage for award travel bookings—a unique and valuable perk.

Best Credit Card for Frequent Flyers

• Winner: American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card has once again claimed the title of Canada’s Best Credit Card for Frequent Flyers, solidifying its position as a top choice for avid travelers.

This victory comes as no surprise, thanks to its standout features like unlimited lounge access, comprehensive travel insurance, and the ever-popular Amex Offers. These perks, among others, continue to make the Platinum Card a powerhouse in Canada’s travel credit card landscape.

Best Aeroplan Credit Card

• Winner: American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card

Canada boasts a wide array of Aeroplan co-branded credit cards, but in the Prince of Travel Awards, only one can take the top spot. This year, the American Express Aeroplan Reserve Card has once again claimed the crown, earning 29.4% of the vote.

As a premium product, the Amex Aeroplan Reserve Card offers a number of meaningful benefits to Air Canada’s frequent flyers and Aeroplan’s most engaged members: unlimited Maple Leaf Lounge access, rollover benefits for unused SQM and eUpgrades, 3x points on Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations purchases, and more.

For those aiming to achieve Aeroplan Elite Status, adding a premium Aeroplan credit card like this one to your wallet is essential to maximizing your travel rewards and perks.

Best Scene+ Credit Card

• Winner: Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite* Card

After narrowly missing the number 1 spot in our 2023 Prince of Travel Awards, the Scotiabank Passport^® Visa Infinite* Card has claimed the title as the Best Scene+ Credit Card in Canada for 2024.

This card offers impressive perks, including no foreign transaction fees and six complimentary lounge visits per year through the Visa Airport Companion Program. Cardholders also enjoy excellent earning rates, with 2 Scene+ points per dollar spent on transit, groceries, dining, and entertainment purchases worldwide.

Best American Express Credit Card

• Winner: American Express Cobalt^® Card

Ever since its debut in Canada in 2017, the American Express Cobalt^® Card has been amongst the best pound-for-pound credit cards available.

For the second consecutive year, it has been crowned Canada’s Best American Express Credit Card in a landslide victory. Its unmatched 5x earning rate at grocery stores, restaurants, and bars makes it a standout choice, especially with the versatility of MR points, which can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners.,

Plus, with a reasonable monthly fee, you won’t have to break the bank as you watch your MR balance grow.

Indeed, this card is another that we recommend for every Canadian traveller, and we don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Best Credit Card for Hotel Stays

• Winner: Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card

In Canada, we don’t enjoy the same variety of hotel co-branded credit cards as our neighbors to the south, and the winner of this category comes as no surprise.

Once again, the Marriott Bonvoy^® American Express^®* Card takes the crown as the best hotel credit card in Canada. Cardholders benefit from a Free Night Award worth 35,000 points each year, along with a strong earning rate for spending at Marriott hotels.

We really hope Canadian financial institutions recognize the demand in this market and consider introducing Hilton or Hyatt co-branded credit cards. Until then, the Marriott Bonvoy Amex Card remains unchallenged as the go-to choice.

Travel, Hospitality, and Loyalty Programs

Best Transferable Points Currency

• Winner: American Express Membership Rewards^®

As we’ve seen in years prior, American Express Membership Rewards^® has once again been crowned Canada’s Best Transferable Points Currency, securing an overwhelming 72.5% of the vote.

This predictable result underscores the dominance of American Express in the transferable points currency landscape, offering by far the most extensive array of airline and hotel partners. RBC Avion points came in a distant second with 14.2%, highlighting the significant gap between the two programs.

Best Fixed-Value Points Currency

• Winner: Scene+ Points

Fixed-value points currencies are a useful tool to have in your overall points strategy. They can be particularly useful for offsetting the cost of things like boutique hotels, independent airlines, car rentals, and cruises, that are otherwise difficult to book through loyalty programs.

For the third year in a row, Scene+ has been voted as Canada’s Best Fixed-Value Points Currency.

Scene+ is notable for the ability to book travel with any vendor, and then redeem points directly against travel expenses at a set value of 1 cent per point. There’s no need to shop through a particular portal or jump through any hoops – just book whatever you’d like, and redeem points against the cost.

Best Airline Loyalty Program

• Winner: Air Canada Aeroplan

It is no surprise to once again see Aeroplan come out miles ahead of the competition as the Best Airline Loyalty Program. Members have access to over 40 airlines, and can redeem points for flights in economy and premium cabins all over the world.

Compared to many other programs, Aeroplan also offers members plenty of opportunities to earn points through co-branded credit cards, transferable points currencies, the Aeroplan eStore, everyday partners such as the LCBO and Starbucks, and more.

Whether it’s a short-haul flight from Vancouver to Edmonton, or a long-haul flight in First Class from New York to Tokyo, Aeroplan remains the most beloved airline loyalty program for Canadians seeking to elevate their travel game.

Best Hotel Loyalty Program

• Winner: Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy remains the most accessible and most desirable hotel loyalty program in Canada. With properties across the country and throughout the world, Canadian Miles & Points enthusiasts are more engaged with Marriott Bonvoy than any other program.

Unsurprisingly, there’s been no shift in this category from previous years, largely because Marriott Bonvoy is still the only hotel chain with a co-branded credit card in Canada.

This lack of competition leaves plenty of room for growth, and Canadian travelers would greatly benefit from additional options in 2025 and beyond.

Best International Award Sweet Spot

• Winner: 55,000 Aeroplan points for Vancouver – Tokyo business class

As we saw in both 2022 and 2023, Prince of Travel loyalists have voted Aeroplan’s sweet spot of 55,000 points for business class flights between Vancouver and Tokyo as the best of the best.

It’s worth noting that over the past two years there have been some ongoing challenges with ANA award availability through Aeroplan; however, awards appear to have returned to inventory, although competition amongst Miles & Points enthusiasts on any route to Japan these days is quite fierce.

However, if you’re able to find award availability, you’ll be handsomely rewarded with ANA’s outstanding reputation as a five-star airline, and you’ll likely not want the flight to come to an end.

Best Domestic Business Class in Canada

• Winner: Air Canada 787 Signature Class

Once again, Air Canada’s 787 Signature Class product has won handily over the nearly identical products on the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330.

With lie-flat seats, dimming windows, and a quiet ride, it’s easily the best way to fly across Canada in comfort, day or night.

Best Domestic Economy Class in Canada

• Winner: Air Canada

Air Canada has been voted as the Best Domestic Economy Class in Canada, securing 42.8% of the votes.

As the country’s largest airline, Air Canada offers the most extensive network of domestic flights, featuring a variety of aircraft configurations to suit different routes and passenger needs.

Notably, Porter Airlines made significant strides this year, earning second place with 38.9% of the vote, while WestJet trailed in third with 9.7%. Porter has been making waves in 2024, launching numerous new routes and gaining global recognition as the airline with the world’s best economy class, according to the 2024 USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards.

Best International Business Class

• Winner: Qatar Airways Qsuites

Once again, Qatar Airways Qsuites has been voted as the Best International Business Class product by Prince of Travel’s readership.

The Doha-based airline continues to receive accolades for its excellent hard product, consistently outstanding soft product, and vast route network.

As we’ve seen before, ANA’s “The Room” business class took second place, which is also an outstanding way to fly to or from Japan.

Best International First Class

• Winner: Emirates First Class

For the second consecutive year, Emirates First Class has been voted as 2024’s Best International First Class in the Prince of Travel Awards with 32% votes.

Renowned for its extravagance, Emirates First Class offers an unmatched experience, complete with indulgent touches like caviar service and an exclusive shower in the sky, solidifying its status as a fan favourite.

Singapore Airlines Suites Class claimed second place with 23% of the votes, showcasing its continued appeal as a world-class luxury travel option.

Best Airport Lounge in Canada

• Winner: Toronto (YYZ): Air Canada Signature Suite

For the third year in a row, the Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto has been voted as the Best Airport Lounge in Canada in the Prince of Travel Awards.

Indeed, Air Canada’s most premium lounges, including its counterpart in Vancouver, are also widely considered to be amongst the best in North America.

As you might expect, the access policy is much more exclusive than Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges, as you need a paid Air Canada business class ticket, a Business Class (Flexible) Aeroplan redemption, an Emirates First Class ticket, or the invite-only American Express Air Canada Card to enter.

However, as long as you’re eligible, you’re certainly in for a treat before your flight.

Best International Business Class Lounge

• Winner: Toronto & Vancouver (YYZ & YVR): Air Canada Signature Suites

For the second year in a row, the Air Canada Signature Suites Toronto & Vancouver have taken the top spot in this category. The Air Canada Signature Suites bumped the Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge in Doha out of the position in 2022 and hasn’t looked back since.

Best International First Class Lounge

• Winner: Singapore (SIN): Singapore Airlines Private Room

After placing second behind the Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Class Lounge in our 2023 awards, the Singapore Airlines Private Room experience has emerged in the top spot this year for Best International First Class Lounge.

Third place was also a close call, with the Air France La Première Lounge edging out the Lufthansa First Class Terminal with 13.7% versus 13.4% of the vote, respectively.

Best City Hotel in Canada Bookable on Points

• Winner: The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto

When it comes to redeeming points for aspirational city hotels in Canada, this year, you’ve once again chosen The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto as the number-one choice with 32.2% of the vote.

All properties nominated in this category fall under the Marriott Bonvoy umbrella, which isn’t surprising given that it remains the most accessible hotel points program in Canada.

Best Resort in Canada Bookable on Points

• Winner: JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa

After back-to-back wins in 2022 and 2023, the Westin Whistler has been replaced as Best Resort in Canada Bookable on Points. This year, the honour goes to JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa.

The resort recently underwent an extensive renovation of its lobby. With its luxury rooms and suites that are combined with scenic views of Lake Rosseau, it’s no surprise to see the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa land the top spot in this category.

Best Aspirational Hotel Bookable on Points

• Winner: St. Regis Maldives

For the second year in a row, the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli has been voted by you as the Best Aspirational Hotel Bookable on Points.

With its stunning overwater villas, exceptional spa, and azure-blue waters, many Canadian Miles & Points enthusiasts aspire to take a dream trip to the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli.

Travel Technology and Connectivity

This year, we’ve introduced the e-SIM category to the Prince of Travel Awards to recognize the growing importance of digital connectivity for travellers. As e-SIMs continue to transform how we stay connected while abroad, this new category celebrates the best providers for seamless, affordable, and reliable mobile data solutions.

Best e-SIM Overall

• Winner: Airalo

Airalo earns the title of Best e-SIM Overall thanks to its extensive global coverage, competitive pricing, and user-friendly interface. Its intuitive app and seamless activation process make staying connected abroad as simple as a few taps, offering travelers an unmatched combination of convenience and reliability.

Best e-SIM for Short Trips

• Winner: Saily

Saily takes the spotlight as the Best e-SIM for Short Trips, excelling with its flexible plans and enhanced security features. With built-in ad blockers and web protection feature, Saily ensures a safe and secure browsing experience, perfect for travellers looking for peace of mind on quick getaways.

Best Value e-SIM

• Winner: Airalo

Airalo strikes again as the Best Value e-SIM, delivering affordable data packages without sacrificing quality or ease of use. Its sleek, user-focused design and competitive pricing make it the ideal choice for budget-conscious travellers seeking a high-quality e-SIM experience.

Conclusion

With the winners now revealed, the 2024 Prince of Travel Awards have officially come to a close. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in the voting process for this fifth annual celebration of excellence in travel, loyalty programs, and credit cards.

Stay tuned to our social media channels for the announcement of the winner of the prepaid $100 digital gift card!

This year brought some exciting shifts among the winners, but there’s always room for growth. We’re eager to see credit card issuers, loyalty programs, and travel partners raise the bar to make next year’s awards even more competitive and rewarding.

We hope you enjoyed voting in the 2024 Prince of Travel Awards and look forward to a fulfilling year of travel ahead. To stay connected with the latest in travel tips, rewards strategies, and exclusive offers, join our Prince of Travel membership program today and take your travel journey to the next level.

^†Terms and conditions apply. Refer to the card issuer’s website for complete, up-to-date information.