Scotiabank Travel & Lifestyle Credit Cards Review

The first and foremost pro of this card is the recent added bonus. As of September 1, 2022 you are able to earn 40,000 bonus Scene+™ points and first year annual fee waived. That's up to $1,320 in value. Apply now though, because this offer ends on April 30, 2023.

As we mentioned, there are no foreign transaction fees when you use this card. This is a huge benefit for anyone that does a lot of international travel. Those hidden fees and expenses add up, so this extra incentive makes a difference.

This card provides access to 1200 airport lounges across the world. You get six free annual passes per year so why not spend your time waiting for your flight in comfort? 

To further help with travel, the card comes with various types of travel insurance, such as lost luggage and travel emergency medical coverage. You can redeem your points on any airline, and each point is worth 1% off of a travel purchase. 

You’ll earn 3x the Scene+ points for each dollar charged to your account on all eligible purchases at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés TradItIon, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

Furthermore, you gain two times the number of points for other eligible groceries, entertainment, transit, and dining purchases.

In short, this card is a traveller's dream. 

Unfortunately, this card does have a high annual fee of $150, making it one of the pricier options. You need to make at least $60,000 per year as an individual to qualify, so this might be out of reach for many travellers.

The travel insurance is limited to those under the age of 65, making this a less accessible option for many Canadians, especially snowbirds.

You may also get more rewards and points from normal daily purchases then other cards. 

Other than that, this card is solid, if simple. 

This card has a reward system that's easy to understand. You get one point for every purchase that you make. It's as simple as that. You also get 5% off of your travel as long as you book through the Scotia Rewards® Travel Service.

When you use this service, it's easy to book your next trip and you know that you're going to get the best deal. There are also no travel restrictions or hidden limitations. You can go anywhere, anytime. 

Your points can also go towards various forms of merchandise and travel rewards. 

You get great travel insurance with this card for a lower-than-average annual fee of $110. As a bonus, you can get up to a 25% discount on car rentals.

From the time you book your ticket to the journey home, this card makes a great addition to any traveller's wallet.

So what's not to love about this handy little card?

While the travel insurance options are great, travel emergency medical insurance is limited to people under the age of 65. This is unlike the other travel card options. 

The insurance is also limited to the first 31 days of your trip. Insurance options may be limited if you have a pre-existing condition as well. 

While the annual cost of the card is comparatively low, people on budgets may want something with an even lower fee. This is often the case for younger travellers. 

This is a great card for someone who wants most of the perks of the Infinite card but for a slightly lower fee. If you're over the age of 65, though, consider choosing a different card if emergency travel medical insurance is important to you. 

Let's talk about a massive pro to this card. Effective September 1, 2022, you are able to earn up to a whopping 45,000 bonus Scene+™ in your first year. That's an additional $850 towards travel. That's going to go a long way towards your next travel purchase. Not only that, but your annual fee is waived in year one. However, it's recommended to apply now as this offer ends on April 30, 2023.

While this wasn't the case in the past, the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card no longer charges foreign transaction fees. As we mentioned previously, this is a gamechanger for people who engage in a lot of international travel. The fees add up. 

Bonus: This also applies to online purchases. Does your website of choice not offer Canadian dollars as an option? No problem. Shop with ease and know that you're not paying more than you have to on international purchases. 

While many purchases get you the standard one point per dollar, this one also has options for more points potential. You get three points for every dollar that you spend on gas, transit, and select streaming services. 

You'll earn 6x the Scene+ points for each $1 charged to your account on all eligible purchases at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, FreshCo, Voilà by Sobeys, Voilà by IGA, Voilà by Safeway, Chalo! FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, IGA West, Les Marchés Tradition, Rachelle Béry and Co-Op.

You receive a 25% discount on rental cars, as well as a discounted priority pass membership to make your airport time a little more enjoyable. 

As with the other cards, you get a good amount of travel insurance as well as complimentary concierge service.

The minimum income requirement is $12,000, making this a very accessible card.

So with so many pros, what are the cons to having this card?

To get those 25,000 initial points, you need to spend $1,000 in the first three months. While this might be simple for most spenders, because of the lower income requirements, not everyone may spend that much on average. 

While this card does offer generous travel insurance, the emergency medical insurance leaves something to be desired in comparison to the other cards depending on who you are.

It offers only 25 consecutive days of coverage in comparison to the Visa's 31. That said, it does offer coverage to those aged 65 and older, but only for 3 consecutive days. 

Coverage for trip cancellation or delay is covered, but only up to $1,500 per person which may be limiting for some travellers, and that's only when 75% or more of the costs were paid through the card. 

This used to be one of the more affordable card options at only $99 per year, but the price has gone up. It now sits at the average of $120 per year. While the lack of foreign transaction fees more than make up for this additional cost for frequent travelers, the upfront cost may put off more frugal ones. 

This card, as of right now, offers a hefty sign-on bonus. You can receive 30,000 points for the first eligible purchase, making this the most tempting sign-on offer yet. You can convert some of these points (or any of the points that you earn with this card) to SCENE movie points if you aren't in a position to travel at the moment. In fact, as of September 1st, 2022, you can earn up to an additional $2,500 in value in your first 14 months. This is also includes up to 70,000 bonus Scene+ points. Again, this and many other offers end on January 3, 2023, so it's wise to sign up quickly.

After the initial points, you earn one point for every dollar you spend on most purchases. For groceries, entertainment, dining, and gas, you earn four times that, or four points per dollar. Those points add up fast!

When it comes to using those travel points, there are no blackout dates. You can use these points anytime, anyplace. You also get 10 complimentary visits to over 600 airport lounges around the world. Sit back and relax at the airport for your next trip.

You receive all of the standard benefits of the Scotia Rewards® Travel Service, and you enjoy complimentary concierge service on top of that. You're a valued member of the club. 

You will also receive purchase insurance as well as price protection insurance. This means that if the price of your purchase drops in price within 60 days of purchase, your card can reimburse you by up to $100 per item (with a limit of $500 per year). 

You get all of the travel insurance benefits of the other Scotia Rewards cards, including hotel burglary insurance, lost baggage insurance, emergency medical insurance,  and more. 

If you have any trouble, you get 24/7 access to a help center so there's always someone available to answer your call.

So what's not to love about this comprehensive little card? You save a ton of money on travel, points are easy to accrue, and you can use them for so many things.

That travel insurance is tempting and that initial bonus is to die for. 

Well, the annual fee can be a problem for some people. It's $399 per year for this card, making it one of the most expensive options in Canada. This is a huge upfront cost that many people will shy away from before they even look at the benefits. It isn't accessible.

The minimum credit limit is $10,000 which is also inaccessible for more frugal spenders. 

While this card is awesome for frequent travelers who spend a lot of money on their work trips, vacations, and overall travel needs, it isn't accepted everywhere, so you need to check ahead of time so that you don't end up in an uncomfortable situation with your card.