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CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card Review

Get ready to unlock a world of travel rewards and exclusive perks with the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card!

CIBC Aventura Gold Visa
Source: CIBC Aventura Gold Visa

The CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card is your key to a more comfortable and rewarding travel experience. With a generous welcome offer that often includes a first-year annual fee rebate and enough bonus points for a short-haul flight, this card delivers exceptional value from day one. It’s time to say goodbye to waiting in crowded airport terminals and hello to a smarter way to travel, where your everyday spending paves the way for your next adventure.

Benefits: Your Golden Ticket to Travel Perks

  1. Generous Welcome Offer: Start your Aventura journey with a massive boost! New cardholders are often greeted with a valuable welcome bonus of up to 35,000 Aventura Points. This bonus is typically tiered and includes a first-year annual fee waiver, providing incredible upfront value.
  2. Complimentary Airport Lounge Access: This is a standout feature for a “Gold” tier card! You receive a complimentary membership in the Visa Airport Companion Program (powered by DragonPass), which includes four free airport lounge visits per year.
  3. Accelerated Points on Everyday Essentials: Your daily spending quickly accumulates points. You’ll earn 1.5 Aventura Points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at gas stations, EV charging stations, grocery stores, and drugstores.
  4. Boosted Points on Travel: Get even more when booking your trips! Earn 2 Aventura Points for every $1 spent on travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre, helping you earn your next vacation even faster.
  5. NEXUS Application Fee Rebate: Breeze through airport security and border crossings! You will receive a statement credit for one NEXUS application fee (a $50 USD value) once every four years, making your travel experience smoother and more efficient.
  6. Comprehensive Travel Insurance: Travel with peace of mind. The card includes a solid suite of insurance, featuring:
    • Out-of-Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance: Up to $5 million in coverage.
    • Flight Delay and Baggage Insurance: Protection against inconvenient travel disruptions.
    • Hotel Burglary Insurance: Coverage for your personal items during your stay.
  7. Save on Gas with Journie Rewards: Link your CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card with Journie Rewards to save up to 10 cents per litre at participating Pioneer, Fas Gas, Ultramar, and Chevron gas stations.
  8. CIBC Pace It Installment Plans: For larger purchases, you can use CIBC Pace It™ to convert eligible credit card purchases of $100 or more into smaller, fixed monthly payments at a lower interest rate than your card’s standard rate, giving you more budget flexibility.
  9. Annual Fee Rebate with CIBC Smart Plus Account: If you have a CIBC Smart Plus Account, you can receive a full rebate on the card’s annual fee every year, making this premium card essentially free to hold.
CIBC Aventura Gold Visa
Source: CIBC Aventura Gold Visa

Who Can Apply: Eligibility Criteria

The CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card is designed to be more accessible than its Visa Infinite counterpart.

  • Age of Majority: You must have reached the age of majority in your province or territory of residence.
  • Canadian Resident: You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
  • Minimum Annual Income: A minimum household gross annual income of $15,000 is required.
  • Good Credit Score: While not officially published, a “Good” credit score (generally considered to be 660 or higher) is typically recommended for approval.
  • Not Undischarged Bankrupt: You must not have declared bankruptcy in the last seven years.
  • Geographic Restriction: This offer is not available to residents of Quebec.

How to Apply: Your Steps to Aventura

Applying for the CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card is a straightforward online process.

  1. Visit the CIBC Website: Go to the official CIBC Canada website.
  2. Navigate to Credit Cards: Find the “Credit Cards” section and look under “Travel Rewards” to find the “CIBC Aventura Gold Visa Card.”
  3. Review Card Details: Carefully read through the card’s features, the current welcome offer (including the first-year fee waiver), rewards structure, lounge access, insurance, the $139 annual fee, and other terms.
  4. Click “Apply Now”: Start the secure online application form.
  5. Provide Your Information: Fill out the application with your personal details and financial information.
  6. Consent to a Credit Check: As part of the application, you must agree to allow CIBC to perform a credit check.
  7. Review and Submit: Carefully double-check all your information for accuracy before submitting the application.
  8. Await a Decision: You may receive an instant decision online, or CIBC may require a few days to review your application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. What is the annual fee for this card?
    The annual fee is $139 for the primary cardholder and $50 for each supplementary card. The welcome offer often includes a rebate on these fees for the first year.
  2. How much is an Aventura Point worth?
    The value varies. You can get over 2 cents per point using the Aventura Flight Rewards Chart. For other travel bookings or merchandise, the value is typically around 1 cent per point. For statement credits, the value is lower.
  3. What travel insurance is included?
    It includes Emergency Travel Medical, Flight Delay, Baggage Delay/Loss, Hotel Burglary, and Auto Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver insurance.
  4. Does this card include Trip Cancellation insurance?
    No, a notable exclusion on the Gold card is Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance. For that benefit, you would need to look at the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card.

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