CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card Review

I signed up for (yet) another credit card! Here’s my CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite card review.

Reviewing through my credit card statements for 2021 brought me temporary shame. I was a bit embarrassed by the sheer number of credit cards that I applied for (and closed) in 2021. My credit score dropped by quite a bit and I actually even got declined a few times for credit card applications.

After a few months of healing my credit score, I was at it again and tried my ‘luck’ applying for credit cards. Anyway, I was approved for this one, hurray!

I actually had this card back in 2018 but they updated it and I applied again in 2022.

Again, if you can’t pay off your balances getting a credit card for the benefits won’t be beneficial at all.

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Welcome BOnus

One of the main reasons I signed up for this credit card is because of the welcome bonus. You can get 20,000 Aventura points on your first purchase.

After the first purchase, if you spent $1000 monthly you can get 1250 Aventura points each monthly statement for another 15,000 Aventura points.

That makes it 35,000 Aventura points in total.

CIBC states that 35,000 Aventura points is equivalent to about $800 in travel value.

Personally, spending $1000 a month for 1250 Aventura points isn’t as worth it as the low yield low effort first purchase spend to get 20,000 Aventura points, so I don’t think I’ll be participating in trying to get 35,000 Aventura points for this one.

Annual Fee

The annual fee for this premium CIBC Aventura card is $139.

There is a first year free rebate of $139 (meaning this card is free for the first year).

Additional cards are $50 for an additional card with 3 supplementary cards max.

Eligiblity Criteria

The minimum annual income for this card is $60,000.

You could also have a household income of at least $100,000.

CIBC Aventura Infinite Features

The most attractive thing about this CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite is the free Priority Pass membership and 4 Lounge passes.

People may be ready to travel again (or feel more comfortable) being triple vaccinated and all.

This credit card includes four free lounge visits per membership year for yourself and accompanying guests. After that, it is $32USD per lounge visit.

A Priority Pass membership is normally $99 USD/ year. And four lounge visits are included which makes it an additional $128 USD value.

There are over 1300 Priority Pass lounges available globally.

Lounge visits are great because of the free food and drinks that you can enjoy before you board your flight. One time I had green curry and rice before a flight and it was delicious! Definitely saves you a lot of money from having to buy expensive and overpriced airport food.

To enrol after you receive your card, you have to visit the Priority Pass website.

You’ll receive your digital card right away to use at lounges that accept the digital card (download the Priority Pass app), and the physical Priority Pass card in a few weeks.

The other great thing is that they reimburse your NEXUS program application or renewal. If you purchase your NEXUS renewal on the credit card, they will give you a statement reimbursement of up to $100 CAD for your NEXUS card. You can get a rebate once every 4 years.

Finally, closer to home, CIBC has partnered with Journie Rewards (Chevron gas stations) to give you up to 10 cents off per litre.

You can get 3 cents off per litre for being a Journie Rewards member and an additional 7 cents off per litre when you get to 300 Journey Reward points.

I recently signed up for Journie Rewards and I think I have two chocolate bars waiting for me already in addition to two free premium car washes at Chevron!

Earning Aventura Points

Aside from the first purchase, to earn Aventura points it is pretty straight forward.

You get 1 Aventura point for every $1 you spend on the card.

You get 1.5 Aventura point for every $1 you spend at eligible grocery stores, gas stations, and drug stores.

Finally, you get 2 Aventura points for every $1 you spend on travel but only travel purchased through the CIBC Rewards Centre.

Aventura Points Redemption

How much do Aventura points get you?

• 10,000-20,000 Aventura points gives you one economy class ticket within a province or adjoining province (max ticket price $400)
• 25,000-35,000 Aventura points gives you long call Canada and US destinations except Hawaii and Alaska (max ticket price $800)
• 40,000-60,000 Aventura points gets you to Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, Centra America, and the Carribbean (max ticket price $1000)

Right now, until June 15, 2022 there is a promotion where your Aventura points are worth DOUBLE (meaning you need less to redeem). In order to access this promotion, you have to make a travel purchase and redeem via Shopping with Points.

CIBC Aventura Infinite INsurance

There are a number of insurance benefits that come with this card.

• Hotel Burglary Insurance
• Mobile Device Insurance (you have to purchase your device with this credit card, and it covers up to $1000 in the event of loss, theft, or accidental damage up to 2 years after purchase)
• Trip Cancellation/ Trip Interruption Insurance
• Out of Province Emergency Travel Medical Insurance
• Flight Delay and Baggage Insurance
• Auto Rental Collision/ Loss Insurance
• $500,000 Common Carrier Accident Insurance
• Purchase Security and Extended Protection Insurance

With a little planning ahead, traveling costs can be offset a bit with perks like the free Priority Pass airport lounge food.

Hopefully as restrictions begin to open up and people feel more comfortable traveling by air or going to airports, this credit card will be useful for your traveling plans.

Do you have the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite? What is your CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite review?

You may also be interested in:

• CIBC New Account Promotion