CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card review

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Overall rating

First year value

$430

Get this card if you:

  • want to earn Aventura points with no annual fee
  • value travel perks, including comprehensive travel insurance
  • value a great welcome offer

Scores by category

No Annual Fee 3.7

Rewards 3.1

Travel 2.9

Welcome Bonus 1.4

At a glance

The CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card is a no-annual-fee credit card that allows cardholders to earn Aventura Points on everyday purchases, with accelerated rates for eligible travel booked through the CIBC Rewards Centre, as well as at gas stations, EV charging stations, grocery stores, and drug stores. It also comes with benefits such as purchase security and extended protection.

Highlights

$430

First year value

up to 10,000 points

Welcome bonus

$0

Annual fee

No annual fee

Interest Rates

20.99%

Purchase APR

22.99%

Balance transfer APR

22.99%

Cash advance APR

Eligibility

Good

Recommended credit score

$15,000

Required annual household income

Quick overview of the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card

Are you looking for a travel credit card with no annual fee with some handy perks and easy to earn rewards? The CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card offers new cardholders the opportunity to earn up to 10,000 points. No annual fee makes this even sweeter, then add some travel benefits, and the ability to earn rewards on all purchases, and you have yourself a pretty decent travel credit card.

Who's it the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card for?

  • Perfect for passionate travellers looking to earn rewards on everyday purchases
  • Ideal for those who want to redeem points for travel experiences
  • Great for budget-conscious consumers seeking a no-annual-fee travel rewards card
  • Suited for families who want to add up to three additional cardholders at no extra cost
  • Good fit for those beginning to build their travel rewards portfolio without financial commitment
  • Designed for shoppers who want to earn points on regular spending and convert them to travel benefits
  • Appropriate for occasional travelers who want to gradually accumulate travel rewards through everyday purchases

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Easy to earn welcome bonus
  • Points can be earned on all purchases
  • Use Aventura Points to cover full airfare including taxes and fees
  • Can book with any airline with no blackout periods and points don’t expire†
Cons
  • Lower earn rate than some other travel cards on the market

CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card welcome offer

The CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card comes with a very straightforward sign-up bonus for new accounts:

  • Earn up to 10,000 Aventura Points† for no annual fee.
  • Full welcome bonus details

    +

    Get up to 10,000 Aventura Points (up to $100 in travel value).†

    • 2,500 Aventura Points when you complete all five of these activities within 60 days of your CIBC Aventura® Visa* card account approval.†

    • 7,500 Aventura Points after you make your first purchase within the first 4 monthly statement periods.†

How to earn rewards with the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card

The welcome bonus is a great perk, but CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card cardholders can easily earn points on a daily basis based on the following structure:

  • 1 point on travel through the CIBC Rewards Centre†
  • 1 point on gas, EV charging, groceries and drug stores†
  • 1 point for every $2 spent on all other purchases†

All you have to do is shop with your card and, for those who are wondering, no your points won’t expire as long as you are a cardholder. Each point is worth about $0.0116, however the value changes based on how you choose to redeem each point.

How to redeem rewards with the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card

When it comes time to redeem your rewards, you can do so easily online. Rewards can be redeemed in a number of different ways:

  • Travel: flights, hotels, car rentals and more
  • Shopping: redeem for merchandise or gift cards through the CIBC Rewards online catalog
  • Points that pay the bills: your points can be used to pay down your credit card balance or credit card purchases moments after you make them.

As a general rule of thumb, your points go the furthest when redeemed for travel, especially since with this card you can fly on any airline with no consideration for blackout periods.

To redeem for travel or merchandise, you’ll have to log into your CIBC Rewards account or call the CIBC Rewards Centre. If you want to use your points towards a flight through the Aventura® Airline Rewards Chart, you will need to have at least 80% of the required points. You can use your points to fly with any airline with no blackout periods. Also, it’s worth mentioning that your points can be used to cover taxes and fees on flight tickets which is not common with most travel credit cards

Destination Aventura points needed Max ticket price
Canada and U.S. (short haul) Within a province, territory or U.S. state or to an adjoining province or territory or US state. 10,000 - 20,000 $400
Canada and U.S. (long haul) From and to any location in Canada or the U.S. 25,000 - 35,000 $800
Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Central America, Caribbean 40,000 - 60,000 $1,000
From Canada or U.S. to select destinations in Europe 50,000 - 70,000 $1,300
From Canada or U.S. to select destinations in Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific, Middle East or South America 75,000 - 125,000 $2,000

If you would prefer to redeem your points towards your statement balance you can do this through your CIBC online banking account. Just click ‘payment with points’.

Key benefits of the Aventura Visa Card from CIBC

  • No annual fee for the primary cardholder
  • $0 for up to 3 additional cardholders
  • Low minimum annual household income requirement of $15,000

  • Earn 1 point on travel through the CIBC Rewards Centre†
  • $100,000 in travel accident insurance coverage
  • $65,000 in rental car coverage when using the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card to book a rental vehicle
  • Flexible travel redemption options for flights, car rentals, hotels, vacation packages and more
  • Personalized travel booking assistance

CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card insurance coverage

Insurance Coverage amount
Extended warranty Any item that comes with a manufacturer's warranty automatically gets an additional 1 year of warranty
Purchase protection Items you charge to the card are protected from loss, damages and theft for up to 90 days
Out-of-province emergency travel medical insurance Those 64 or under are eligible for up to $5 million in coverage.
common carrier travel/accident Up to $100,000 coverage for loss of life or limb in a passenger vehicle/plane/ferry.
Auto rental collision and loss damage insurance This policy covers rental vehicles with an MSRP up to $65,000 for up to a 48-day rental period.

On top of the main benefits listed above, this card also comes with a few additional perks, including the following:

  • Contactless payment technology
  • Aventura mobile app access (available in both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store)
  • Online account management through CIBC Mobile Banking app
  • Access to CIBC Pace It™ installment plans for larger purchases
  • Aventura Travel Assistant, which tailors travel bookings to your needs, with no booking fees†

How does the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card compare?

Let's see how the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card compares to its competitors.

If you frequently fly with Air Canada and are looking for a great travel rewards credit card, you can consider the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card. This card helps you earn enhanced 1.5 points† for every $1 spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, grocery and direct through Air Canada® purchases (including Air Canada Vacations®). You earn 1 Aeroplan point on all other purchases†. You also get great comprehensive insurance benefits, including travel interruption, baggage protection, mobile device coverage, and more. These benefits are in addition to other great perks, such as the free 1st checked bag for up to 8 guests on the same itinerary, Visa Infinite privileges and NEXUS security fast pass credits.  

However, while the CIBC Aventura offers similar insurance benefits with no annual fee, the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, which has an annual fee of $139 (21.99% purchase interest; 22.99% cash advance interest), offers an annual fee rebate for the first year†.

Disclosures:

  • To receive the first-year annual fee rebate, you must activate your Card and make your first Purchase on the Account within the first 3 months after Account opening and you must add your Additional Cardholders while this offer is in effect.

up to 40,000 pts†

Welcome Bonus

$436

First Year Value

$0

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn up to $1,300 in value† including up to 40,000 Aeroplan points† and no Annual Fee for the first year†. Conditions Apply.

Apply Now On TD's Secure Site

If you are looking for versatile spending rewards like cash back, you can check out the CIBC Dividend Visa Card. This card is a no-fee cash back credit card that rewards you with 2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases and 1% cash back on eligible gas, EV charging, transportation, dining, and recurring payments. Additionally, you earn 0.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases. 

When it comes to comprehensive insurance benefits, this card falls short when compared to the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card as it only offers you extended protection insurance, purchase security and common carrier accident insurance.

Disclosures:

  • †Terms and Conditions Apply. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.
  • This is a digital-exclusive offer.†

    To be eligible for this offer:

    1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner/affiliate; and

    2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you.†

    This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else.

    CIBC may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this Offer if you have opened, transferred or cancelled another Dividend card within the last 12 months.†

    Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertising partners.

up to 10¢ off/Litre

Welcome Bonus

$249

First Year Value

$0

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Get up to 10 cents off per litre at participating gas stations with Journie Rewards.

Apply Now On CIBC's Secure Site

The Amex Green Card is an excellent no annual fee rewards card with a highly flexible rewards redemption program. This card allows you to earn 1x point for each $1 spent on eligible everyday purchases and an additional point for hotel and car rental bookings through the Amex travel portal. You can use your Membership Rewards points to get instant statement credit, gift cards, or convert your points to great travel loyalty programs like Flying Blue and Aeroplan, enabling you to secure fantastic travel deals. The American Express® Green Card also has no income requirements, making it easy to qualify for if you have low income.

On the other hand, the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card offers superior travel insurance benefits, making it an excellent choice for frequent travelers. This card also boasts a higher acceptance rate at stores compared to an Amex card.

Disclosures:

  • Contact American Express for the most up-to-date referral bonus figures.

    American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, (I/we) may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

10,000 points*

Welcome Bonus

$340

First Year Value

$240

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points* when you spend $1,000 on your Card within the first 3 months as a new Cardmember.*

Apply Now On American Express' Secure Site

What users say about the Aventura Visa Card

The no-fee Aventura is decent as a starter travel card. Got the 10k point welcome bonus after first purchase which was nice. Earning structure is pretty weak though - 1 point per $1 on gas/groceries and 1:2 on everything else means it takes forever to earn enough for a flight. Good to have as a no-fee option but definitely not a primary card

Reddit user u/PointsCollector92

Student credit card option: CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card for Students

CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card for Students

3.7

up to 10,000 points

Welcome Bonus

$265

First Year Value

$165

Annual Value

Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 10,000 Aventura Points† for no annual fee.

Being a student doesn't mean you have to pick a credit card that doesn't offer any rewards or benefits. In fact, student cards can help you develop responsible credit habits, and the CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card for Students is a perfect example. With this card, you'll enjoy rewards, concierge service, complimentary insurance coverage and a generous welcome bonus.

The CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card for Students comes with no minimum annual income requirement and a $1,000 minimum credit limit. And get ready for perks galore - you can take advantage of even more student benefits with a free SPC+ membership.

The student version of the CIBC Aventura Visa differs from the basic no-fee version in a few specific (and student-centric) ways:

  • Free SPC+ membership: The student version includes complimentary Student Price Card (SPC+) membership, providing discounts at hundreds of retailers and restaurants
  • Lower income requirements: While the regular card requires $15,000 minimum annual household income, the student card likely has more lenient income requirements to accommodate student financial situations
  • Credit building focus: The student card is specifically designed as an entry-level option for building credit history while in school

The CIBC Aventura Visa Card for Students also requires proof of enrollment at a qualifying post-secondary institution.

Is the CIBC Aventura Visa Card worth it?

The CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card is a decent travel card, especially considering that it is free. You can earn points on all purchases, the welcome bonus is easy to obtain, and there are a couple of handy perks and benefits. We also appreciate that this credit card allows travellers to use their rewards towards paying for taxes and fees as well, not just the actual flight itself.

The point earn rates are a little low in comparison to a couple of other travel credit cards on the market and the fact that the amount of points required to redeem for flights through the Aventura Flight Rewards Chart is not a fixed amount can make things a bit confusing when trying to figure out how to get the most for your points.

CIBC Aventura® Visa* Card eligibility requirements

In order to apply for this credit card, you need to meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Be a Canadian resident
  • Have reached the age of majority in your province
  • Have a Good credit score 
  • Have a minimum household annual income of $15,000

Disclosures:

  • †Terms and Conditions Apply. This offer is not available in Quebec.
  • This is a digital-exclusive offer.†

    To be eligible for this offer:

    1) this offer must have been directly communicated to you from CIBC or from a partner/affiliate; and

    2) you must apply for the eligible card through the link provided in the CIBC or partner/affiliate communication to you.†

    This offer is reserved for you. Please do not forward it to anyone else.

    CIBC may approve your application, but you are not eligible to receive this Offer if you have opened, transferred or cancelled another Aventura card within the last 12 months.†

    Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertising partners.

  • Résidents du Québec : Pour en savoir plus sur ce produit CIBC, suivez ce lien
Hannah Logan Money.ca writer

Hannah Logan is a Canadian freelancer writer and blogger who specializes in personal finance and travel. You can follow her adventures on her travel blog EatSleepBreatheTravel.com or find her on Instagram @hannahlogan21.

Cory Santos Credit card editor

Cory Santos is a finance writer, editor and credit card expert with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance. Cory joined Wise Publishing from BestCards, with bylines in numerous print and digital publications across North America, including the Miami Herald, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Debt.ca, AOL, MSN and Medium as well as financial podcasts like KOFE Talk.

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