CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card review

How the Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege earns points

This card earns 3 Aventura points per dollar on travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre (CIBC by Expedia), and 2 points per dollar on dining and entertainment, transportation, gas and EV charging, and groceries. Everything else earns 1.25 points per dollar, a strong base rate that keeps unclassified spending from earning too little.

Here’s an example. A household spending $800 a month on groceries, $400 on dining and entertainment, $300 on gas, $200 on transportation and $1,500 on everything else would earn 5,275 points a month, or 63,300 a year. Booking $3,000 of travel a year through the Rewards Centre adds 9,000 points, for 72,300 in total.

The welcome offer

New cardholders can earn up to 80,000 Aventura points. The offer pays 25,000 points after $3,000 of spending and 25,000 more after $6,000 of spending, both within your first four statement periods. A further 30,000 anniversary points require $25,000 in net purchases in your first 12 statement periods.

The anniversary target works out to about $2,083 a month. The example household spends $3,200 a month on the card, so it would qualify, but lighter spenders should plan for the first 50,000 points only.

Travel credit, lounges and airport perks

The card includes a $200 annual travel credit, six complimentary airport lounge visits a year through Visa Airport Companion, and two NEXUS application fee rebates. At select Canadian airports you also get Priority Security Lane access and airport parking discounts, along with 24/7 Visa Infinite Privilege concierge and luxury hotel benefits.

Because Aventura points aren’t tied to one airline, these perks work alongside whichever carrier you fly most.

Fees, interest and the fine print

The annual fee is $499, or about $41.58 a month. Using the $200 travel credit brings the net cost to $299. Additional cards cost $99 each, for up to nine, so adding two cardholders would add $198 a year.

Foreign currency purchases carry a 2.5% fee, so $1,000 spent abroad costs about $25 extra. Purchases are charged 21.99% interest and cash advances 22.99%; paying the full balance each month avoids purchase interest.

Insurance coverage

The insurance package is one of the card’s main strengths, covering travel, rental cars and your devices. Limits, age rules and exclusions are in the certificate, so read it before you travel.

• Out-of-province emergency travel medical
• Trip cancellation and trip interruption
• Flight delay and baggage
• Car rental collision and loss damage
• Hotel burglary
• Common carrier accident
• Mobile device insurance
• Purchase security and extended protection

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

The card suits frequent travellers with high everyday spending who will use the travel credit, lounge visits and NEXUS rebates, and who prefer flexible points to an airline program.

If you travel once a year or less, most of the perks would go unused and the $499 fee is hard to justify. People who spend heavily in foreign currencies may also prefer a card without a foreign transaction fee.

How it compares

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege costs $399 a year and earns a flat 1.25 points per dollar on all purchases. It’s $100 cheaper, but it doesn’t match this card’s 2x everyday categories.

If the premium perks aren’t essential, the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite costs $139 a year, earns 2 points per dollar on travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre, and offers up to 35,000 Aventura points as a welcome bonus.

Before you apply

This card is aimed at applicants with excellent credit, and the recommended credit score is 760 or higher. CIBC makes the final decision based on your full credit profile. Confirm the current offer, fees and benefits on the CIBC website before you apply.