Winners of the 2023 Prince of Travel Awards!

During the period of December 2023, you’ve each had the accidental to formed your votes successful the 2023 Prince of Travel Awards, the 4th variation of our yearly awards to admit excellence successful travel, hospitality, loyalty programs, and recognition cards.

We’re excited to denote the winners of the 2023 Prince of Travel Awards successful each 30 grant categories, on with immoderate thoughts and impressions astir the results.

Credit Cards

Best Overall Travel Rewards Credit Card

• Winner: American Express Platinum Card

Once again, the American Express Platinum Card has been honoured with the rubric of Best Overall Travel Rewards Credit Card. It emerged victorious with 35% of the vote, with the American Express Cobalt Card and the TD® Aeroplan Visa Infinite* Card taking 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.

This Canadian recognition paper offers cardholders a broad suite of benefits, specified arsenic unlimited lounge access, Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, a $200 yearly question credit, and the caller $200 yearly eating credit.

Even with a emergence successful its yearly interest this twelvemonth from $699 to $799, the extended perks, generous invited bonus, and invaluable American Express Membership Rewards points were capable to support this paper astatine the apical of the list.

Best No Annual Fee Credit Card

• Winner: CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card

With implicit 40% of the ballot share, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card has again won this category.

As the lone Aeroplan co-branded recognition paper successful Canada with nary yearly fee, it’s a large entry-level paper for anyone looking to gain Aeroplan points without incurring immoderate costs twelvemonth aft year. Indeed, it’s besides an denotation of however overmuch the assemblage values Aeroplan points compared to currency backmost and different points currencies.

Plus, cardholders payment from preferred pricing connected Air Canada Aeroplan redemptions, which tin beryllium a bully dainty erstwhile the flights terms retired astatine the little extremity of the dynamic spectrum.

As 1 of TD and Aeroplan’s flagship recognition paper products, determination are galore reasons wherefore the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has been voted arsenic Canada’s Best Airline Credit Card with implicit 58% of the ballot share. It’s besides 1 that we urge for each Canadian travellers, and particularly to anyone who flies Air Canada with immoderate frequency.

In 2023, we saw fantastic invited bonuses disposable connected the card, immoderate of which were astatine an all-time precocious oregon came with a first-year yearly interest rebate. The card’s 1.5x earning complaint successful meaningful categories makes it a large paper to usage for mundane spending, and its escaped archetypal checked container connected Air Canada flights tin effect successful meaningful savings implicit the people of the year, particularly for families.

If you haven’t added this paper to your wallet yet, beryllium definite to instrumentality a look astatine the existent offer, which is acceptable to expire connected January 3, 2024.

Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card

• Winner: Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

Scotiabank swept the podium successful this category, arsenic it remains the champion Canadian issuer of question recognition cards with no overseas transaction fees.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card was voted arsenic the champion of the champion erstwhile it comes to cards with nary overseas transaction fees, taking successful 56% of the vote. Cardholders tin besides instrumentality vantage of six escaped lounge visits and extended security sum arsenic immoderate of the card’s ongoing perks.

It’ll beryllium absorbing to spot if immoderate different Canadian banks instrumentality announcement of Scotiabank’s dominance successful this class to disturbance up immoderate contention successful 2024. Until then, if you’re looking for a large paper to usage for overseas transactions, look nary further than the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card.

Best Premium Credit Card

• Winner: American Express Platinum Card

For the 2nd clip this year, the American Express Platinum Card has been voted the best-in-show astatine the 2023 Prince of Travel Awards, with conscionable implicit 46% of the votes.

Premium recognition cards bid higher yearly fees and connection a suite of perks to assistance warrant the added expenses. The Amex Platinum Card continues to pb the mode erstwhile it comes to added benefits for cardholders.

Despite an yearly interest of $799, cardholders tin look to the yearly $200 question and eating credits and lucrative Amex Offers to find worth passim the year.

For predominant travellers, it’s alternatively hard to find a large airdrome without astatine slightest 1 lounge that you tin access, and anyone who books currency fares for concern people oregon First Class tin instrumentality vantage of the International Airline Program.

Best Small Business Travel Rewards Credit Card

• Winner: Business Platinum Card from American Express

The Business Platinum Card from American Express wins this class handily, arsenic it offers invaluable benefits similar unlimited lounge access, a $200 question credit, and Marriott Gold status for travelling concern owners. Plus, earning a accordant 1.25x MR points crossed each categories makes it a large campaigner for non-categorized concern spending.

As with past year, the American Express Aeroplan Business Reserve Card comes successful a distant 2nd place, with question benefits that are arguably weaker than the Business Platinum’s. However, for the concern proprietor looking for Maple Leaf Lounge entree and exclusive perks with Air Canada, the Amex Aeroplan Business Reserve Card is surely a worthwhile enactment to consider.

It’s worthy noting that the RBC Avion Visa Infinite Business ranked successful 3rd spot this year, possibly owed to its 1.25x basal earning complaint and the quality to redeem Avion points astatine an elevated complaint for concern people flights.

Best Cash Back Credit Card

• Winner: CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card

Canada’s currency backmost recognition paper scenery is marked by a bid of reasonably competitory players, with nary wide victor among them. As we’ve seen successful erstwhile years, it was a beauteous adjacent contention this clip around.

On apical this twelvemonth is the CIBC Dividend® Visa Infinite* Card, which came successful with 23% of the votes. With a 4% instrumentality connected eligible gas, EV charging, and market purchases,† and a reasonably broad security bundle for a currency backmost card, this paper has been voted arsenic Canada’s best.

Last year’s victor, the Scotiabank Momentum Visa Infinite Card, was conscionable down with 22% of the votes, and past we had a adjacent contention betwixt the SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express and the precocious revamped Rogers World Elite Mastercard duking it retired for third, with the SimplyCash coming retired conscionable ahead.

Our results erstwhile again exemplify however choky the contention is for currency backmost cards successful Canada, and hopefully 2024 adds adjacent much substance to the fire.

Best Overall Mastercard

• Winner: WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard

With the HSBC World Elite Mastercard being closed to caller applications arsenic of Fall 2023, the apical spot for Canada’s Best Overall Mastercard was up for grabs successful 2023.

Last year’s runner-up, the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard, took apical spot this twelvemonth with 25.9% of the ballot successful a showdown with the up-and-coming MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard, which took 24.5% of the vote. 

With its annual companion voucher, escaped archetypal checked bags connected WestJet flights, and the emergence of a record-high invited bonus precocious successful the year, the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard is simply a indispensable for anyone who flies with WestJet.

It’ll beryllium absorbing to spot however this class plays retired adjacent year, particularly with MBNA Rewards teasing that members volition be capable to transportation points to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan successful 2024. And if the card’s impermanent promotion for earning 5x MBNA Rewards points astatine wholesale clubs similar Costco becomes permanent, we mightiness conscionable spot contention heating up erstwhile it comes to Canadian Mastercard products.

Best Overall Visa Credit Card

• Winner: TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card

In different landslide victory, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card erstwhile again reigns ultimate arsenic Canada’s Best Overall Visa Credit Card successful the Prince of Travel Awards.

Its dominance successful this class tin beryllium attributed to its generous invited bonus, 1.5x class earning rates, wide acceptance, preferred pricing connected Air Canada Aeroplan redemptions, $100 NEXUS credit, and coagulated question insurance, including connected Aeroplan redemptions.

Best Credit Card for Frequent Flyers

Best International Award Sweet Spot

• Winner: 55,000 Aeroplan points for Vancouver–Tokyo concern class

As we saw successful 2022, Prince of Travel loyalists person voted Aeroplan’s saccharine spot of 55,000 points for concern people flights betwixt Vancouver and Tokyo arsenic the champion of the best.

It’s worthy noting that 2023 saw immoderate ongoing challenges with ANA grant availability done Aeroplan; however, awards look to person returned to inventory, though contention amongst Miles & Points enthusiasts connected immoderate way to Japan these days is rather fierce.

However, if you’re capable to find grant availability, you’ll beryllium handsomely rewarded with ANA’s outstanding estimation arsenic a five-star airline, and you’ll apt not privation the formation to travel to an end.

Best Domestic Business Class successful Canada

• Winner: Air Canada 787 Signature Class

For different year, Air Canada’s 787 Signature Class merchandise has won handily implicit the astir identical products connected the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330.

With lie-flat seats, dimming windows, and a quiescent ride, it’s easy the champion mode to alert crossed Canada successful comfort, time oregon night.

Best Domestic Economy Class successful Canada

• Winner: Air Canada

Air Canada has been voted arsenic the Best Domestic Economy Class successful Canada, taking successful 47.6% of the votes. 

Canada’s largest hose offers passengers the astir prime erstwhile it comes to home flights, including a scope of craft with assorted configurations. 

However, it’s worthy noting that Porter Airlines came successful astatine 2nd spot with 34.3% of the vote, and WestJet astatine a distant 3rd with 12.8%. 

Porter Airlines has been successful the headlines passim 2023, arsenic it has taken transportation of caller Embraer E195-E2 jets and is launching caller routes seemingly each different day. With a 2-2 configuration, escaped Wi-Fi, a rapidly expanding network, and complimentary brew and vino for each passengers, it’ll beryllium absorbing to spot however the 2024 results instrumentality shape.

Best International Business Class

• Winner: Qatar Airways Qsuites

Qatar Airways Qsuites has been voted arsenic the Best International Business Class merchandise by Prince of Travel’s readership.

The Doha-based hose continues to person accolades for its fantabulous hard product, consistently outstanding brushed product, and immense way network.

As we’ve seen before, ANA’s “The Room” concern people took 2nd place, which is besides an outstanding mode to alert to oregon from Japan.

Best International First Class

• Winner: Emirates First Class

For the past fewer years, this grant has alternated betwixt Emirates First Class and Singapore Airlines Suites Class. Last year, Singapore Airlines had the honour; however, Emirates First Class has been voted arsenic 2023’s Best International First Class successful the Prince of Travel Awards.

With copious amounts of caviar and a ablution successful the sky, Emirates’s opulent and ostentatious First Class acquisition continues to beryllium a instrumentality favourite.

As airlines proceed to rotation retired caller First Class cabins, we’ll beryllium keeping an oculus connected however you ballot successful the years to come.

Best Airport Lounge successful Canada

• Winner: Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto

For the 2nd twelvemonth successful a row, the Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto has been voted arsenic the Best Airport Lounge successful Canada successful the Prince of Travel Awards.

Indeed, Air Canada’s astir premium lounges, including its counterpart successful Vancouver, are besides wide considered to beryllium amongst the champion successful North America. 

As you mightiness expect, the entree argumentation is overmuch much exclusive than Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges, arsenic you request a paid Air Canada concern people ticket, a Business Class (Flexible) Aeroplan redemption, an Emirates First Class ticket, oregon the invite-only American Express Air Canada Card to enter.

However, arsenic agelong arsenic you’re eligible, you’re surely successful for a dainty earlier your flight.

Best International Business Class Lounge

• Winner: Air Canada Signature Suites Toronto & Vancouver

After a second-place decorativeness successful the 2022 Prince of Travel Awards, the Air Canada Signature Suites Toronto & Vancouver person overtaken the Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge successful Doha for the honour of Best International Business Class Lounge.

Whereas the Doha lounge is vast, Air Canada’s Signature Suites are intimate, which possibly swayed the votes successful their favour.

Best International First Class Lounge

• Winner: Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge Doha

Once again, the Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Class Lounge has emerged arsenic the victor of Best International First Class Lounge, with 28.6% of the vote. With phenomenal dining, slumber rooms, and a jacuzzi, it’s an acquisition similar nary different successful airports worldwide.

Coming successful conscionable down with 28.4% of the vote, is the Singapore Airlines Private Room experience. Third spot was besides a adjacent call, with the Lufthansa First Class Terminal edging retired the Air France La Première Lounge with 17.5% versus 16.9% of the vote, respectively.

Best City Hotel successful Canada Bookable connected Points

• Winner: The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto

When it comes to redeeming points for aspirational metropolis hotels successful Canada, this year, you’ve chosen The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto arsenic the number-one prime with 26.5% of the vote.

Last year’s winner, the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, came successful conscionable behind, with 25.8% of the vote.

All properties nominated successful this class autumn nether the Marriott Bonvoy umbrella, which isn’t astonishing fixed that it remains the astir accessible edifice points programme successful Canada. 

Best Resort successful Canada Bookable connected Points

• Winner: Westin Whistler

It appears that Prince of Travel readers emotion a travel into the mountains, arsenic the Westin Whistler has erstwhile again been bestowed with the honour of Best Resort successful Canada Bookable connected Points. 

This doesn’t travel arsenic overmuch of a surprise, however, since currency rates successful Whistler are often sky-high, and it tin marque for invaluable redemption astatine immoderate constituent passim the year.

Best Aspirational Hotel Bookable connected Points

• Winner: St. Regis Maldives Vommuli

This year, the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli has taken the crown from perennial favourite Al Maha Desert Resort Dubai arsenic the Best Aspirational Hotel Bookable connected Points.

With its stunning overwater villas, exceptional spa, and azure-blue waters, galore Canadian Miles & Points enthusiasts aspire to publication a imagination travel astatine the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli.

Conclusion

With the winners announced, the 2023 Prince of Travel Awards person concluded. Our sincere acknowledgment goes retired to each who participated successful the voting process present astatine the 4th yearly Prince of Travel Awards.

Keep an oculus retired connected our societal media channels for the announcement of the victor of a prepaid integer $100 acquisition card.

This year, determination was immoderate question successful the grant winners; however, we’d emotion to spot recognition paper issuers, loyalty programs, and question partners measurement up their crippled to marque adjacent year’s iteration adjacent much competitive.

We anticipation you’ve enjoyed voting successful the 2023 Prince of Travel Awards, and we privation you a precise rewarding twelvemonth successful 2024.