cibc aventura gold travel benefits

Credit Cards
CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card Review

The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive payment from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Advisor site. This comes from two main sources.

First , we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers. The payments we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market.

Second , we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles. These “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Advisor.

While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Advisor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card Review 2024

Published: Nov 14, 2024, 11:09am

Fact Checked

With a strong welcome bonus, a low minimum income requirement, and a flexible rewards program, the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card is a good choice for travellers who meet the minimum income requirements of more premium travel credit cards .

Plus, the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card offers a wide selection of insurance and a range of benefits, including four complimentary visits to over 1,200 lounges globally. With several ways to redeem your points, the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card is a strong travel rewards competitor.

Strong welcome bonus
Wide range of insurance coverage
Low income requirements
2.5% foreign transaction fee
$139 annual fee
Requires very good/excellent credit score

Introduction, quick facts, cibc aventura gold visa card rewards, cibc aventura gold visa card benefits, how the cibc aventura gold visa card stacks up, methodology, is the cibc aventura gold visa card right for you.

Low minimum income requirement ($15,000)
Earn up to 35,000 Aventura Points (up to $800 in travel value) in your first year
Earn 20,000 Aventura Points when you spend $3,000 or more in the first four months
One-time annual fee rebate for primary cardholders ($139)
Up to three rebates for authorized users ($50 each)
Four complimentary visits at 1,200+ lounges globally with the Visa Airport Companion Program
NEXUSTM application fee rebate (value of $100)
Earn 2 points per dollar on travel purchases
Earn 1.5 points per dollar on gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries and drugstore purchases
Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Redeem points toward flights, car rentals, hotels, vacation packages and more
Built-in travel insurance, including out-of-province emergency travel medical insurance, $500,000 common carrier accident insurance, flight delay and baggage insurance, hotel burglary insurance and auto rental collision and loss damage insurance
Consumer insurance coverage, including purchase security, extended protection and mobile device insurance
Redeem points to pay off eligible Aventura Credit Card purchases using Shopping with Points
Redeem to pay down your credit card with Payment with Points
Redeem points for merchandise, gift cards or activities
Get a free trial of Skip+ when you link your CIBC card with your Skip The Dishes account

Featured Partner Offers

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

On TD’s Secure Website

Welcome Bonus

Up to $2,900 in value† including up to 80,000 Aeroplan points†

Regular APR (Purchases) / Regular APR (Cash Advances)

20.99% / 22.99%

American Express Cobalt® Card

On American Express’s Secure Website

Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points

$155.88 ($12.99 per month)

Regular APR

MBNA True Line® Mastercard®

On MBNA’s Website

12.99% / 24.99%

The CIBC Aventura Visa Gold Card provides premium travel rewards with a low minimum income requirement of $15,000 per year and a reasonable $139 annual fee. If you have a modest income but want to earn rewards points, this card is more accessible than some of the other premium travel rewards cards on the market. However, you will need a strong credit score to qualify. This card also offers a generous welcome bonus of up to $1,368, including the annual fee, four free airport lounge visits per year and one rebate of up to $100 on your NEXUS application every four years.

Welcome bonus of 35,000 Aventura Points (up to $800 in travel value)
Low minimum annual income requirement of $15,000
Four complimentary visits at over 1,200 airport lounges globally

Earning Rewards

With the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card, you can earn two Aventura Points for every dollar spent on travel purchases through the CIBC Rewards Centre, 1.5 points for every dollar spent at eligible gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, grocery stores and drug stores. You earn one point per dollar on all other purchases. Plus, you can accelerate your savings with up to 10 cents off per litre on eligible gas purchases. If you do a lot of travelling, have an electric vehicle, and multiple people on the account earn rewards, it won’t take long to start racking up Aventura points.

Redeeming Rewards

As a CIBC Aventura Gold cardholder, you’ll find several ways to redeem your reward points. You can use your points to pay down your credit card balance with Payment with Points or contribute to financial products, including a TFSA , RRSP , brokerage account or a CIBC personal loan. You can also redeem the points you earn from shopping by signing up for CIBC Online Banking or CIBC Mobile Banking. Meanwhile, plenty of ways exist to put your points toward flights, car rentals, hotels and vacation packages. It’s also worth noting that your points don’t expire as long as your account is active, so there’s no rush to use them.

Rewards Potential

With CIBC Aventura Gold, you can earn on every purchase, including two points per dollar when you spend on travel purchases. While you can earn higher rewards with other premium travel rewards cards, you’ll typically have to pay a higher annual fee . For instance, with the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card, you can earn three points for every dollar spent on travel, but the annual fee is $499.

Based on average Canadian spending, you can earn $665.00 per year using the Aventura Gold card, or $526.99 after subtracting the $139 annual cost.

Rebate of up to $100 on your NEXUS application fee every four years
Save up to 10 cents per litre on gas at participating gas stations
Out-of-province emergency travel medical insurance and common carrier accident insurance
Up to $1,000 for repair or replacement coverage of mobile device

Interest Rates

Regular APR: 20.99%
Cash Advance APR: 22.99% (21.99% for Quebec residents)
Balance Transfer APR: 22.99% (21.99% for Quebec residents)
Cash Advance Fee: $3.50
Balance Transfer Fee: 5% of the amount being transferred
Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.5%
Annual Fee: $139 (primary), $50 (supplementary)
Any Other Fees: $29 over limit fee

CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card Vs. American Express Cobalt Card

CIBC Aventura Gold card has a slightly lower annual fee of $139 compared to the American Express Cobalt at $155.88. While CIBC waives the first-year annual fee, American Express does not.

The American Express Cobalt Card shines in a few areas. While CIBC has a modest income requirement of only $15,000, American Express has no income requirements. CIBC also requires a very good or excellent credit score to qualify, while American Express requires a good or fair credit score .

When it comes to earning rewards points, American Express takes the lead, with five points for every dollar spent on groceries, three points on streaming subscriptions, two points on gas and ridesharing and one point per dollar on everything else. CIBC offers two points for every dollar on travel purchases, 1.5 points for every dollar spent at eligible gas stations, electric vehicle charging stations, grocery stores and drug stores, and 1 point for every dollar spent on anything else.

Based on average Canadian spending, you could earn $526.99 with Aventura Gold versus $594.52 with American Express Cobalt after subtracting the annual fee.

CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card Vs. CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card

The CIBC Aventura Gold and CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite cards share several similarities. Both cards have an annual fee of $139, which is waived the first year, and share a rewards structure: Two points for travel through the CIBC Rewards Centre, 1.5 points per dollar on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries, and drugstore purchases, and one point per dollar on all other purchases.

The cards also differ in some notable ways. While CIBC Aventura Gold requires a minimum household income of $15,000, the Aventura Visa Infinite requires an individual income of $60,000 or a household minimum of $100,000. Unlike the Aventura Gold, the Aventura Visa Infinite offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

If you can meet the minimum income requirements, you might opt for the Aventura Visa Infinite, which offers more insurance for the same annual fee.

Based on average Canadian spending, you can expect earnings of $526.99 with Aventura Gold versus $527.32, after subtracting the annual fee.

CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card Vs. RBC Avion Visa Infinite

The RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card ’s annual fee is slightly lower at $120 versus $139 for CIBC Aventura Gold. While the CIBC Aventura Gold requires a minimum annual income of $15,000, the RBC Avion is higher at $60,000 per person or $100,000 per household.

While you can earn two points for travel, 1.5 points for every dollar spent on eligible gas, electric vehicle charging, groceries and drugstore purchases and one point for all other purchases with CIBC, you can only earn one point per dollar with RBC Avion on all purchases, plus an extra 25% on eligible travel related costs.

Based on average Canadian spending, you can earn $526.99 with Aventura Gold versus $164.98 with RBC Visa Avion Infinite, after subtracting the annual fee.

With lower income requirements, higher rewards and a slightly higher yearly earning potential, CIBC Aventura takes the lead.

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With this card, the scoring model considers factors such as, but not limited to, rewards rates and categories, fees, welcome bonuses, and other benefits and features. Keep in mind that what may be best for some people might not be right for you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.

The CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card might be the right choice if you want a travel rewards card with a flexible rewards program and low annual income requirements. If you don’t want to pay the $139 fee, there are a few no-annual-fee options , but they tend to come with fewer benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much income do you need for a cibc aventura gold visa card.

The CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card requires a minimum annual income of $15,000.

Does the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card offer lounge access?

CIBC Aventura Gold Visa card members get four complimentary visits to over 1,200 airport lounges globally each year.

Is the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card worth it?

It’s up to you to decide if the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card is worth it. With a generous welcome bonus, a decent selection of built-in travel insurance coverage , and a flexible rewards program, you might find it a good fit. However, if you travel more each year than this card can reward, an even more premium card might be more valuable.

Related: Best Credit Cards In Canada

Jessica is a freelance writer, professional researcher and mother of two rambunctious little boys. She holds a Master of Science degree in Cognitive Research Psychology and a Bachelor's degree in Communications and Culture. Her work has appeared at The Balance, Investopedia, Money Under 30, Time.com, Seeking Alpha, Consumer Affairs and more. When Jessica isn't writing, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.

Courtney Reilly-Larke is the deputy editor of Forbes Advisor Canada. Previously, she was the associate editor of personal finance at MoneySense. She was also managing editor of Best Health Magazine and has contributed to publications such as Cottage Life and Blog TO. She currently lives in Toronto.

Best Credit Cards
Best Travel Credit Cards
Best Cash Back Credit Cards
Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards
Best Airport Lounge Access Credit Cards
Best Aeroplan Credit Cards
Best Student Credit Cards
Best Rewards Credit Cards
Best Mastercards
Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
Best Business Credit Cards
Most Exclusive Credit Cards In Canada
Best Prepaid Credit Cards
Best TD Credit Cards
Best Low-Interest Credit Cards
Best Visa Cards
Best RBC Credit Cards
Best of Instant Approval Credit Cards
Best Cash Back Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
Best Secured Credit Cards in Canada
American Express Cobalt Review
KOHO Prepaid Mastercard Review
EQ Bank Card Review
Neo Standard Mastercard Review
TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege Review
TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Review
Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Review
MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard
Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Review
Neo Secured Credit Card Review
MBNA True Line Mastercard Review
TD Aeroplan Visa Platinum Card Review
TD Cash Back Visa Infinite Review
BMO CashBack World Elite Mastercard Review
Platinum Card From American Express Review
TD Platinum Travel Visa Card Review
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card Review
American Express Aeroplan Card Review
American Express Green Card Review
Credit Card Interest Calculator
Credit Card Minimum Payment Calculator
American Express Cobalt vs. Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
TD First Class Travel Vs. TD Aeroplan
What's The Best Day & Time To Book Flights
Air Canada Aeroplan: The Ultimate Guide
Guide To American Express Credit Card Levels
What Credit Cards Does Costco Accept In Canada?
Is American Express Better Than Visa Or Mastercard?
How To Get The Apple Card In Canada
What Happens If You Overpay Your Credit Card?
How To Redeem Aeroplan Points
Foreign Transaction Fees: How To Avoid Them
How To Spot A Credit Card Skimmer
What Is The Highest Limit Credit Card In Canada?
Benefits And Perks Of Amex Platinum Card
How Much Is The Amex Platinum Foreign Transaction Fee?
Negative Balance On A Credit Card: What To Do?
Fee Increases Here For Both Platinum Cards From Amex

More from

How to maximize scene+ points in canada, i love my american express aeroplan reserve card, but here’s why i switched to the td aeroplan visa infinite privilege card, here’s why i’ll never get rid of my marriott bonvoy american express card, how the right credit card and loyalty card can save you big on gas, the scotiabank gold american express card is highly underrated. here’s why i think more people should get it., do you need to put travel alerts on your credit cards.

$139 annual fee – First year free
15,000 CIBC Rewards points when you make your first purchase
20,000 Additional points when you spend at least $1,000 each month for the first year
Earn 2 CIBC Rewards points per $1 spent on CIBC travel
Earn 1.5 CIBC Rewards points per $1 spent on gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases
Earn 1 CIBC Rewards point on all other purchases
Visa Airport Companion Program + 4 free annual passes

The CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card is often overlooked, but it’s a generous card. The annual fee of $139 is usually waived for the first year, so you can test it out for free. In addition, the welcome bonus is usually worth around 35,000 CIBC Aventura points. Since 1,000 Aventura points are worth $10, the welcome bonus is usually worth $350. That means you’re getting $350 for free as long as you meet the minimum spend requirement.

The other obvious travel benefit is the Visa Airport Companion Program membership and four freeannual passes. The membership and passes have an annual value of $280, so again, you’re getting a lot of value here. Some people may not care about the $50 NEXUS rebate , but there’s no denying the convenience if you go through the trouble of getting approved.

Interestingly enough, the earn rate of 2 points per $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre, 1.5 points per $1 spent at gas stations, grocery stores and drugstores, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases is identical to the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite which has a significantly higher income requirement compared to the Gold card ($60,000 vs. $15,000)

I should mention that if you have a CIBC Smart Plus Account, the annual fee that comes with the CIBC Aventura Gold is waived.

CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card insurance

The CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card isn’t CIBC’s top-of-the-line travel credit card, but it still comes with a decent amount of insurance.

Travel insurance

Travel medical – $5,000,000 / 15 days if under the age of 65
Flight delay – $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined / 4 hours
Delayed/lost/stolen baggage – $500 per insured person / maximum of $1,000 / 6 hours
Auto rental collision/loss damage – 48 days / MRSP $65,000
Hotel burglary – $2,500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined
Common carrier accident – $500,000

Generally speaking, the travel insurance included with the CIBC Aventura Gold is decent, but it’s missing a few key things which is why I don’t consider it one of the best credit cards with travel insurance . There’s no trip cancellation and the card only covers you for 15 days if you’re under the age of 65 which may be a deal-breaker for some people. On a positive note, the travel medical insurance covers you up to $5,000,000 which is higher than some other travel credit cards, but it’s unlikely you’d ever need that much insurance.

Your flight delay insurance kicks in after 4 hours which is standard while delayed/lost baggage requires 6 hours before you can make a claim. Rental card and hotel burglary insurance are pretty standard but at least it’s included.

One good thing about the CIBC Aventura Gold travel insurance is that you only need to charge 75% of your travel expenses to your card for your insurance to be valid. The exception is travel medical which you get no matter what.

Purchase insurance

Mobile device insurance
Purchase security
Extended protection insurance

Mobile device insurance has become quite popular with credit cards, but the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Cards was one of the first to add it as a benefit. As long as you charge the full amount of your device to your card, you’re insured up to $1,000.

The purchase security insurance covers you from loss, theft, and damage within 90 days of your purchase. As for the included extended protection insurance, your manufacturer’s warranty is doubled, up to one additional year.

How CIBC Aventura Rewards works

CIBC Aventura Rewards is easy to understand and redeem since it takes 1,000 Aventura Points to get $10 in travel. Since the CIBC Aventura Gold earns you 1-2 points per $1 spent, your rate of return works out to be 1-2%.

That being said, you might get better value if you used the Aventura Airline Rewards Chart which is a fixed flight program. For 10,000 to 20,000 points you can claim a Canada or U.S. short-haul flight as long as it has a max base price of $400. Alternatively, a flight to Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Central America, and the Caribbean would only cost you 40,000 to 60,000 Aventura points with a max base price of $1,000. Keep in mind that sometimes CIBC has promos where it’ll take you fewer points to make a redemption.

To book your travel, you can go through CIBC Rewards account or you can call CIBC’s full-service travel agency. The benefit of calling in is that you get access to just about anything sold on Expedia or Orbitz that might not be available through the online portal such as tickets to theme parks.

How the CIBC Aventura Gold compared to others

The most similar card is the CIBC Aventura Infinite Visa which usually has an identical sign up bonus, earn rate, annual fee. Heck, even all the benefits are the same except for travel insurance which is better for the Infinite card. If you earn an income over $60,000, then get the Infinite card, but the Gold version is a hella good card.

If you’re looking to earn points as quickly as possible and you’re able to charge a lot to your card in the first few months, you may want to look at the American Express Platinum Business card instead since the welcome is worth between 75,000 – 100,000 points.

When you compare the CIBC Aventura Gold to the other cards on my list of the best travel credit cards in Canada , it really stands its ground. Every card is different, but CIBC Aventura Rewards gives you quite a bit of flexibility with your points.

Final thoughts

My CIBC Aventura Gold review is positive. For a credit card that has a low minimum income requirement, it comes packed with benefits. CIBC Aventura Rewards are easy to understand so when you’re ready to make a redemption, you won’t have any problems.

About Barry Choi

Barry Choi is a Toronto-based personal finance and travel expert who frequently makes media appearances. His blog Money We Have is one of Canada’s most trusted sources when it comes to money and travel. You can find him on Twitter: @barrychoi

12 Comments

I want to offer a differing opinion on this card. The real value is in the details of CIBC’s travel rewards program because all of the non-travel rewards are well below 1% in value. If you compare the points you have to cash against the retail value of the merchandise, I was getting returns of 0.7% and below. Travel isn’t much better. Somehow, some flights that require X pts and $Y in taxes/fees on Aeroplan require X pts and 3x or 4x $Y in taxes/fees. Very disappointing.

I just got upgraded from to the Aventura Gold. They haven’t told me if I’m getting a credit limit increase though. What credit limit does it have? Or does the credit limit depend on the person and credo score? I currently have a 5000 dollar limit and I always make a minimum payment of 300 to 400 bucks a month or more.

Your credit limit would likely carry over from your old card. You could always ask for an increase. Always try to pay the full balance whenever your statement is due. If you pay anything less, you’ll incur some pretty big interest charges.

Thank you Barry

Hi Barry, i currently use the Scotia Infinite Momentum Visa and recieve between $800-$1000 cash back each year. I don’t use any travel points cards. Would you recommend any other supplementary cards for me to sign up for (credit or travel rewards)? The SIM will still be my main card, but want to take advantage of some travel rewards as well. Keep up the great work.

I think you need to ask yourself a few questions first

– Do you enjoy travelling? No point getting a travel card if you don’t like to travel – Are additional benefits important to you such as travel insurance, lounge access, etc.? – How comfortable are you with having multiple credit cards? To maximize your points, it’s really about the sign up bonuses – https://www.moneywehave.com/the-best-travel-credit-cards-in-canada/

If you’re earning $800 – $1,000 per year in cash back with the Scotia Infinite Momentum Visa, you’re either spending a lot a year or maximizing your return on the 4% categories. Most travel credit cards only give you a 1-2% base return, but your points can be more valuable with transfer partners. E.g. With the Amex Gold card, the points are worth 1%, but if you transfer to Aeroplan, they can be worth 3-4 X more. Of course, you also need to factor in blackout dates, taxes, and if you Amex is accepted where you travel.

If you happen to fly WestJet on a regular basis, the WestJet RBC Visa Infinite card is a great card.

I also like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card since it’s a good all in one travel card. It has a decent earn rate, no forex fees, and 6 annual lounge passes. Those passes alone are worth about $450 alone.

To me, it doesn’t make sense to have a premium cash back card AND a premium travel card unless you’re getting one of them for “free” either through your bank or the first year annual fee being waived.

Thanks Barry, we usually travel once a year for 7-10 days and I don’t think we’d take advantage of the lounge access etc…probably makes sense to stick with what we have and maybe get a couple new ones to to take advantage of the sign-up bonus. Do you recommend getting a stand alone air miles or aeroplan card, not connected to a cc?

I personally think Air Miles is a terrible program. Aeroplan is okay, but their co-branded credit cards aren’t the best e.g. I think the Amex Gold Rewards card where you can transfer your points 1:1 to Aeroplan is better than the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card.

I always favour taking advantage of sign up bonuses if you can meet the minimum spend. Always go for the ones that you can use in the near future. E.g. if you know you need to fly WestJet soon, get the card since you $250 WestJet dollars, free checked bags, and a companion voucher. Even if you’re not flying a specific airline, signup bonuses are worth it e.g. the BMO World Elite Mastercard gives you $250 in points as a sign up bonus and there’s a current offer where you get a $100 travel credit when you make a minimum travel purchase of $100 within the first six months of cardmembership as long as you apply by the end of March I believe.

In other words, it’s always worth monitoring promotions and sign up bonuses.

Im a CIBC ADVENTURA PLATINUM card holder right now but they are offering me to upgrade to GOLD, Is that a Good offer or what? And does affect my credit limit?

Good is a relative term as in the end, it depends on what you want. The GOld card does give you a higher earn rate, but it also comes with an annual fee of $139, whereas the CIBC Aventura Visa has no annual fee. In theory, if you accept the upgrade, there should be no change to your credit limit. They may even increase it.

The point I’m trying to make is that you don’t need to stick with CIBC. If you’re looking for a better credit card, you should shop around.

HI, My wife intends travelling in the near future. My aventura visa platinum does no longer qualify for airport lounge passes. CIBC has asked me to upgrade to Gold or Infinity. not sure which one is better. Also can my wife use the lounge passes if I am not travelling with her.

Hey Walter,

The cards are almost identical. The Aventura Visa Infinite has slightly better benefits. Your wife can only use the lounge passes if you’re travelling with her.