Lena Hayes
TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Review
The TD Platinum Travel Visa Card is a mid-tier travel rewards card from TD designed for Canadians who want a mix of flexible travel rewards, everyday earn potential, and a welcome bonus — all without the higher fees or income thresholds of premium cards. With the current offer, you can get up to 50,000 TD Rewards Points plus a first-year annual fee rebate. It’s a solid option for travellers and everyday spenders alike.
Quick highlights
- 🎁 Welcome bonus: 15,000 TD Rewards Points on first purchase + 35,000 more when you spend **$1,000 in first 90 days** + first-year annual fee rebate.
- ✈️ Elevated earn rate for travel booked via Expedia® for TD: 6 TD Rewards Points per $1.
- 🍎 Elevated earn rate on groceries, dining and transit: 4.5 points per $1.
- 💡 Regular purchasing: 1.5 points per $1 on most other purchases.
- 🛫 Travel insurance coverage when booking travel via the card (delay, trip interruption, baggage, some medical, rental car CDW, etc.).
- 🧳 Flexible redemption: redeem TD Rewards points for travel, statement credits, everyday purchases, Amazon.ca, or Starbucks benefits.
Why we like the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card
This card strikes a balance between low commitment and useful rewards. With a modest annual fee and a generous welcome bonus, it gives new or occasional travellers a nice boost without locking them into a premium-card commitment.
More importantly, it uses a flexible point currency (TD Rewards) and lets you redeem in many ways — travel, statement credits, everyday purchases, Amazon.ca, even Starbucks. That flexibility makes the card useful whether you fly often or rarely.
For people who occasionally book travel — especially through Expedia® for TD — the 6 pts/$ earn rate can meaningfully accelerate point accumulation. Combined with the welcome bonus and fee rebate, first year value can be quite compelling.
Pros
- Strong welcome bonus — **50,000 TD Rewards Points total** + first-year fee rebate makes first year highly valuable.:contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
- Decent earn rates on travel, groceries, dining, and everyday purchases.
- Points are very flexible — redeem for travel, statement credits, everyday purchases, Amazon, and more.
- Travel protections included (flight delay, baggage, rental car coverage) which is rare on a low-fee card.
- No strict income requirement compared with premium cards — more accessible for many users.
- Good first-year value thanks to fee rebate and bonus — low downside if you cancel after the first year (though you lose points already earned/redeemed).
Cons
- Welcome bonus is time-limited and may change; ongoing value depends heavily on how often you travel or use bonus categories.
- The best earn rates require travel booked through Expedia® for TD — less ideal if you prefer other booking platforms.
- Point value tends to be lower if redeemed for non-travel redemptions (like merchandise or gift cards).
- Insurance is more basic than on premium cards — less comprehensive medical or “luxury travel” perks.
- Standard interest rates — carrying a balance erases any rewards value quickly.
Rewards program
The TD Platinum Travel Visa earns TD Rewards Points, which can be used for travel, statement credits, everyday purchases, Amazon.ca, Starbucks conversions and more through the TD Rewards ecosystem.
- Travel via Expedia® for TD: 6 points per $1 spent.
- Groceries, dining & public transit: 4.5 points per $1.
- Recurring bills / streaming / media: 3 points per $1.
- Other purchases: 1.5 points per $1.
How to maximize rewards
-
Use the card for travel via Expedia® for TD.
That unlocks the 6 pts/$ rate — highest earn rate available on this card. -
Put grocery, dining, and transit spend on this card.
These earn 4.5 pts/$, which is strong compared with typical cash-back rates. -
Use the card for recurring bills or streaming subscriptions.
That nets 3 pts/$ — a modest but steady earn that adds up over time. -
Take advantage of the first-year fee rebate and use the welcome bonus.
If you meet the $1,000 in 90-day spend along with first purchase, you get 50,000 points + waived fee — very high first-year value. -
Redeem points wisely — prioritize travel or card statement credits.
That tends to give better cents-per-point value than merchandise or gift cards. -
Don’t carry a balance.
With standard interest rates, carrying debt quickly negates the rewards value.
Insurance & benefits
The TD Platinum Travel Visa includes travel-related protections when you charge travel to the card: trip delay, baggage insurance, rental car collision/loss damage coverage, and basic travel accident protections. It also inherits the broader benefits of TD Rewards: flexible point redemptions, ability to use points for everyday spending or travel, and broad acceptance with Visa.
As with all credit-card insurance, coverage is subject to eligibility criteria, terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations described in the insurance certificate. Always review before travelling or relying on it.
Rates & fees
| Annual fee | $89, rebated in the first year under current offer. |
|---|---|
| Additional cards | TD’s standard policy — additional card fee applies (varies). See terms. |
| Purchase APR | 21.99% on purchases (as per published TD pricing). |
| Cash advance & balance transfer APR | 22.99% (or provincial equivalent, e.g., 21.99% in Quebec). |
| Grace period | Standard TD grace period when paying full balance by due date; no grace on cash advances or balance transfers. |
| Minimum payment | Standard TD cardholder agreement applies; typically percentage of balance or minimum fixed amount (varies by province and balance). |
| Foreign currency fees | Standard foreign transaction fees (~2.5%) apply on purchases in non-CAD currencies. Check TD’s disclosures. |
Best for
- ✈️ Occasional or planned travellers who want a low-fee travel-rewards card with a generous welcome bonus.
- 🛒 People who spend regularly on travel, groceries, dining or streaming and want to earn flexible TD Rewards points without needing high income thresholds.
- 💳 Canadians looking for a simple travel-rewards card with flexible redemption options for travel, statement credits or everyday spending.
- 🌍 Users who value travel insurance protection on flights, rentals and baggage without paying premium card fees.
- 🎁 First-time credit card users or infrequent travellers who want good return without overpaying in fees.
Where it falls short
- Best earn rates (6 pts/$) only apply when booking through Expedia® for TD — less useful if you prefer other booking sites.
- Points often deliver lower cents-per-point value when redeemed for non-travel items like gift cards or merchandise.
- Insurance is more basic than premium travel cards — no super-luxury perks, lounge access, or comprehensive medical coverage for extended international stays.
- Standard foreign transaction fees — not ideal for frequent international spenders outside Canada.
- To get full value, you need to use the card strategically — otherwise simpler cash-back cards may outperform it on non-travel spending.
Customer reviews
Positive feedback
“The welcome bonus plus first-year fee rebate made it easy to start using this card — I got enough TD Rewards points for a round-trip flight within months.”
“I like the flexibility: sometimes I redeem points for vacations, other times I just wipe out part of my card balance. For the $89 fee, it’s hard to beat.”
Critiques
“I rarely book travel through Expedia for TD, so I don’t get the 6 pts/$ rate often. With normal spending the returns feel meh compared with flat cash-back cards.”
“It’s fine as a starter-travel card, but if I travel more than a few times per year this card doesn’t give me enough perks — no lounge access, no premium medical coverage.”
Community insights
In Canadian personal-finance forums and travel-points communities, the TD Platinum Travel Visa is often described as a **“starter travel card”** — a low-cost way to dip your toes into travel rewards without committing to high fees or income thresholds. Many users use it as a **“gateway card”:** collect the welcome bonus, see if the redemption model works for them, then upgrade to a higher-tier card (e.g. Visa Infinite) if they travel frequently.
Others note that if you mostly spend in non-travel categories and don’t use Expedia for TD, a simple no-fee cash-back card may offer better long-term value.
AI review (straight talk)
The TD Platinum Travel Visa Card makes a lot of sense as an entry-level travel rewards card. With 50,000-point welcome bonus, fee waiver first year, and flexible redemption options, it offers strong first-year value with relatively low commitment.
Where it truly shines is for occasional travellers or those who value flexibility — you don’t need to jump into premium cash-flow requirements or high fees. That said, if you frequently travel, value concierge or lounge perks, or want comprehensive medical coverage, you may find it limiting. For heavy spenders or frequent flyers, a higher-tier travel card or specialized no-FX travel card might deliver better long-term value.
Alternatives & comparison
| Card | Annual Fee | Top Categories / Earn | Other Purchases | Key Perks | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD Platinum Travel Visa | $89 (first-year waived) | 6 pts/$ on Expedia for TD travel; 4.5 pts/$ on groceries, dining, transit | 1.5 pts/$ on other purchases | Generous welcome bonus, travel and purchase perks, flexible redemption, modest fee | Casual travellers, budget-conscious users, flexible rewards seekers |
| TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite | $139 (waived first year often) | Higher earn rates, often 8 pts/$ travel, 6 pts/$ groceries/dining | Better ongoing earn on many categories | Stronger earn, travel credit, more perks | Frequent travellers wanting more earn + flexibility |
| No-fee cash-back card | $0 | 2–3% cash back on select categories | 0.5–1% back | No fees, simplicity, broad acceptance | Light spenders, those who prefer cash to points, non-travel users |
| No-FX travel rewards card | $100–$160 | 1–2× earn, often with foreign-transaction fee waiver | 1×–1.5× earn | No FX fee, travel perks, good for abroad travel | Frequent travellers with spending outside Canada |
FAQ
What is the annual fee for the TD Platinum Travel Visa Card?
The annual fee is $89, but under the current offer the first-year fee is rebated for the primary cardholder (and potentially additional cardholders if added while the promotion is active).
What is the welcome bonus?
The current offer gives you 15,000 TD Rewards Points on first purchase, plus an additional 35,000 points when you spend $1,000 within the first 90 days — for a total of up to 50,000 TD Rewards Points, plus the first-year fee waiver.
How do rewards earn work?
You earn up to 6 points per dollar on travel booked through Expedia for TD, 4.5 points per dollar on groceries, dining and public transit, 3 points per dollar on recurring bills and media subscriptions, and 1.5 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
How can I redeem TD Rewards points?
Points are flexible — you can redeem them toward travel (flights, hotels, packages), statement credits, purchases at Amazon.ca, everyday spending, or even Starbucks (when linked).
What travel benefits are included?
The card provides basic travel insurance (flight delay, baggage, rental car coverage, etc.) when you book travel on the card. Details depend on the insurance certificate terms.
Who is this card best for?
Canadians who travel occasionally or plan a few trips per year, want flexible point redemption, and value a generous welcome offer plus modest fees — without needing premium-card income requirements.
Final verdict & ratings
Our take The TD Platinum Travel Visa Card is a strong option if you’re after a low-commitment, flexible travel-rewards card that still offers a meaningful welcome bonus and solid rewards on travel, groceries, dining and everyday spending. It’s especially appealing for people who travel once or twice a year, or who want flexibility in how they redeem points (travel, statement credits, everyday purchases, etc.).
That said, if you travel very frequently, want premium perks (lounge access, elite status, top-tier medical or comprehensive insurance), or spend heavily outside bonus categories, a higher-tier travel card or a specialized no-FX travel card may deliver better long-term value. For many Canadians — especially first-time travel-card users or occasional travellers — this card is a smart middle-ground.
| Overall | ★★★★☆ 4.2 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Rewards value | 4.1 / 5 — strong when you use bonus categories well, flexible redemption |
| Benefits & protections | 4.0 / 5 — solid travel and purchase protection for the fee |
| Fees & costs | 4.3 / 5 — modest fee, waived first year, fair rates |
| Ease of approval | 4.2 / 5 — easier to qualify than premium travel cards |
