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If you’re looking to maximize how far and wide you can travel, it’s no secret that skillfully using the right travel rewards program can pay off with big bonuses. In particular credit cards offering travel rewards can yield thousands of dollars’ worth of free travel every year.

Travellers looking for the best travel rewards credit card should look no further than the American Express Gold Rewards Card, which has been recognized as the best travel card, according to consumer website Travel Rewards Canada.

"We are so happy that our Gold Rewards Card has been recognized by Rewards Canada as the Best Overall Travel Reward Card," said Megan McKee, Vice President, Consumer Card Services, American Express Canada. "This win is indicative of our continuous commitment to provide our Cardmembers with exceptional products that offer outstanding travel benefits and best-in-class service."

The card, issued by American Express Canada, earned top billing for its rewards flexibility, opportunity to earn a welcome bonus and ease of redemption. American Express credit cards earned top billing in four of the six categories in the annual credit card survey.

The survey, now in its eight year, investigates more than 75 different credit cards offering travel rewards for Canadians and evaluates various factors including cost of ownership, rate of return, the associated loyalty program (co-brand), ease of redemption, Card acceptance, partnerships, issuing bank and benefits.

This year, survey results are divided into six categories, including: Top Travel Rewards Card Overall, Top Travel Points Credit Card (with annual fee), Top Travel Points Credit Card (with no annual fee), Top Hybrid Travel Credit / Charge Card (with annual fee), Top Airline Credit / Charge Card and Top Hotel Points Credit Card.

The results are as follows:

Top 5 Cards Overall

American Express Gold Rewards Card
The card earned top billing for its travel rewards flexibility, its 25,000-point sign-up bonus and its annual fee waiver for the first year. The card allows travellers to use points for virtually any kind of travel.

Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite MasterCard®
For travellers who don’t need to convert points or prefer to use MasterCard in lieu of American Express, this card provides a 2 per cent return on all eligible spending.

BMO World Elite MasterCard
For travellers who don't need to transfer points to existing programs and also want a card that gives them access to airport business class lounges when travelling, this card offers a 2 per cent return towards travel on all eligible spending.

Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card (from American Express)
Despite the Marriott acquisition of Starwood Hotels, the SPG point program should remain in effect for at least a year, so travellers can continue to earn Starpoints to redeem for hotel stays. The card also allows card members to convert Starpoints for rewards points on 30 airline programs around the world.

RBC Visa Infinite Avion
One of the most popular cards in Canada, this card allows travellers to book any travel or convert points to airline rewards on such carriers as British Airways, Cathay Pacific, American and WestJet.

Top Travel Points Credit Card (with annual fee)
Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite MasterCard®
BMO World Elite MasterCard
Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card

Top Travel Points Credit Card (with no annual fee)
American Express Blue Sky Credit Card
Capital One® Aspire Travel™ Platinum MasterCard®
American Express Air Miles Credit Card
BMO Air Miles MasterCard
CAA Rewards MasterCard

Top Hybrid Credit / Charge Card (with annual fee)
American Express Gold Rewards Card
RBC Visa Infinite Avion
The Platinum Card from American Express
Diners Club Club Rewards MasterCard
RBC Visa Platinum Avion

Top Airline Credit / Charge Card
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card
WestJet RBC World Elite MasterCard
CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite Card
MBNA Alaska Airlines World Elite MasterCard
RBC® British Airways Visa Infinite

Top Hotel Credit Card
Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Visa
MBNA Best Western Rewards MasterCard

About Travel Rewards Canada
For more than 15 years, website Travel Rewards Canada has reviewing the best travel rewards programs, including credit card rewards. In 2009, the site launched its annual Canada’s Top Travel Rewards Credit Card survey.  For more information, visit www.rewardscanada.ca/topcc2016.

About American Express Canada
In Canada, American Express operates as Amex Bank of Canada and Amex Canada Inc. Both are wholly owned subsidiaries of the New York-based American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc., the largest operating unit of the American Express Company. American Express opened its first offices in Toronto and Hamilton in 1853. For more information on the American Express Gold Rewards Card, visit www.americanexpress.com/ca/en/content/gold-rewards-card/

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