Canadian Travel Hacking

Month: July 2017

  • TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card – 6% Cash Back on select categories for the first 3 months And First Year Free

    I am shocked as to the high-quality credit card bonuses and offers the last quarter.

    TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Card has a great offer for a free first year.

    When you apply for and receive the card you’ll earn 6% cash back in the first free months on gas, grocery and recurring bill payments.

    The 6% maxes out after $3,500 in spending in those categories for a maximum return of $210.

    The card does not cost you anything for the first 12 months.

    Features:

    • Earn 3% in Cash Back Dollars on eligible grocery Purchases and gas Purchases, and on regularly recurring bill payments set up on your Account
    • Earn 1% in Cash Back Dollars on all other Purchases made with your Card
    • Redeem your Cash Back Dollars to help pay down your Account balance whenever you please – the choice is yours!
    • Your Cash Back Dollars never expire as long as your account is open and in good standing.
    • Emergency Road Services with the Deluxe TD Auto Club Membership
    • Travel with confidence with Travel Medical Insurance
    • Complimentary Visa Infinite Concierge service available 24/7

    Here is a link for more info.

  • Limited Time Increase – Earn 25,000 Starpoints with the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express

    This is the card that we use on a daily basis because of the high earn rate and the flexibility!

    American Express has upped the sign-up bonus to earn 25,000 Welcome Bonus Starpoints after you charge $1500 in purchases to your Card in your first three months of Cardmembership.

    So if you take the 25,000 Starpoints you get with the sign up, and combine Aeroplan’s 35% transfer bonus you actually end up with 40,500 Aeroplan Miles!

    This offer runs from July 18 to October 18 so take advantage of it now before you forget and give yourself more time to enjoy those points! Also I don’t agree with many who think this card is ending in November.

    This offer ends October 18, 2017.

    Here is a roundup of some of the benefits:

    • You can earn 2 Starpoints for every dollar of eligible purchases charged to the Card at participating SPG®* and Marriott Rewards®* hotels from November 15, 2016 through November 15, 2017
    • Earn 1 Starpoint for every $1 in all other purchases charged to the Card.
    • Receive a Free Weekend Night Award when you reach $40,000 in purchases each year.
    • Enjoy an automatic upgrade to Starwood Gold Preferred Guest membership when you reach $30,000 in purchases each year.
    • As a Cardmember, you could earn more Starpoints by referring a friend. For each approved referral you could earn a referral bonus of 10,000 Starpoints.

    The last benefit is the most intriguing. If you apply for this card and refer the card to friend’s and family you will receive a bonus of 10,000 Starpoints! 

    I recommend this card to anyone getting started in travel as the points are flexible and can be transferred to airlines or even to Marriott on a 3:1 basis (i.e. this is worth 75,000 Marriott points).

    Here is a link to apply.

  • 35% conversion bonus to aeroplan miles from Hotel Miles (July 17-Aug 21)

    Aeroplan told me about a new bonus available.

    Starting today until August 21st, members can convert their hotel points and earn 35% more miles!

    The hotels include:

    • Starwood Preferred Guest
    • Marriott Rewards
    • Hilton Honors
    • Club Carlson
    • Best Western Rewards
    • Wyndham Rewards
    • Coast Hotels
    • Choice Hotels
    • Le Club Accor
    • Shangri-La

    Here is a great idea to try:

    • Transfer 180 000 Amex Membership reward points into 90 000 Starwood Points
    • Transfer 90 000 Starwood Points to 270 000 Marriott points
    • Use the travel package to get 120 000 miles + 42,000 miles aeroplan (promotion) + 7 nights certificate for a Category 1-5 hotel.

    Here is a link to the promo.