The Meridian Visa Infinite* Travel Rewards Card is Meridian's top-tier card geared towards travellers. It's worth considering for its insurance benefits on cash travel bookings, especially for seniors who travel with their grandchildren.

Bonuses & Fees

The Meridian Visa Infinite* Travel Rewards Card currently comes with a welcome bonus of 7,000 Meridian Rewards Points, which are awarded after two billing cycles from approval.

Meridian Rewards Points can be redeemed for up to 1 cent per point, making the welcome bonus worth up to $70.

This card comes with a $99 annual fee, which is rebated for the first year as part of the current offer.

You can also order supplementary cards which carry a $30 annual fee, but are also waived for the first year.

Earning Rewards

The Meridian Visa Infinite Travel Rewards Card earns Meridian Rewards Points as follows:

• 6 Meridian Rewards Points per $2 spent on purchases made outside Canada in foreign currencies
• 3 Meridian Rewards Points per $2 spent on all other eligible purchases

If you redeem Meridian Rewards Points at 1 cent per point, you are looking at an earning rate of 3% on foreign transactions, and 1.5% on all other purchases. However, it’s important to note that the card comes with a 2.5% foreign currency conversion fee on all purchases in foreign currencies outside of Canada, which you should factor into the valuation of your rewards.

Redeeming Rewards

Your Meridian Rewards Points can be redeemed in a variety of ways, including the following:

• Merchandise rewards
• Travel awards
• Account credit and gift card rewards

You can redeem your points for most redemptions online. However, if you want to redeem Meridian Rewards Points for vacation packages, or cruises, you have to call in at 1 (833) 998-4692. The amount your Meridian Rewards Points are worth will depend on what you are looking to redeem your points for. It’s possible to get value as high as 1 cent per point, which is what you should aim for if you'd like to maximize your rewards.

Perks & Benefits

The card comes with all of the standard Visa Infinite* benefits, including:

• Visa Infinite Concierge
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection
• Visa Infinite Dining Series
• Visa Infinite Wine Country Program

Insurance Coverage

The Meridian Visa Infinite* Cash Back Card offers the following insurance benefits:

• Travel Accident Insurance up to $1,000,000 per person in the event of accidental death or injury
• Travel Emergency Medical Insurance up to $5,000,000 per insured person per trip
  • Age 59 and under: trips up to 48 days
  • Age 60 to 64: trips up to 23 days
  • Age 65 to 75: trips up to 15 days
• Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption/Delay Insurance up to $2,000 per person
• Delayed and Lost/Damaged Baggage Insurance of up to $500 per trip (delay) or $1,000 per trip (loss, theft, or damage)
• Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Insurance up to 48 consecutive days
• Mobile Device Insurance up to $1,000
• Purchase Protection Insurance up to $10,000 per item for 90 days from the purchase date
• Extended Warranty Insurance doubling the original warranty to one additional year up to $10,000 per item
• Price Protection Service reimburses the price difference if a lower price is found within 60 days of purchase of to $100 per item
• 24/7 Travel Assistance Service 

This card also extends insurance to the cardholder's grandchildren, if they are travelling together. Intergenerational coverage applies to trip cancellation, lost baggage, emergency medical assistance, and common carrier accident protection. While the card has decent insurance for trip interruption and baggage issues, you have to pay for the full ticket price with the card. That means that award tickets aren't covered, as a mix of points and cash.