Travel gift cards offer an exciting getaway to memorable adventures, whatever your preferences or interests are. Choices include gift cards from Air Canada, Delta, and Flight Centre. For accommodations, you have Hotels.com, Airbnb, and Expedia gift cards.
These prepaid cards, which come with a monetary value or a service attached to them, are flexible and can be used according to the recipient’s wants. Due to this flexibility, your travel-loving gift card recipients who love exploring new destinations can experience more personalized escapades.
Below is a list of some of Canada’s best travel gift cards, how they work, where to buy them, and ways your recipients can redeem them.
Key Takeaways
- The best travel gift cards in Canada include Air Canada, Delta, and Flight Centre. For accommodations, the most popular include Hotels.com, Airbnb, and Expedia travel gift cards.
- Gift card recipients can redeem various travel services, such as flights, tickets, airfare, vacation packages, hotels, rooms, tours, cruises, spa treatments, amenities, and extras.
- Redeem travel gift cards by going to the provider’s website or app and entering the card details and security code when booking or making a purchase.
Best Travel Gift Cards in Canada
We compiled the best travel gift cards you can give your loved ones for any occasion, from birthdays to anniversaries, graduations, or any significant event.
Best Flight Gift Cards
Air Canada
Air Canada offers reloadable travel gift cards ranging from $25-$2,000. Available for online purchase through distributor Buyatab Online, Air Canada gift cards can be redeemed at aircanada.com for airline tickets or travel options.
Delta
Gift cards from Delta Airlines, with amounts from $100-$1,000, are redeemable for any Delta flight worldwide and vacation packages, including airfare. Buy the flight gift cards from a pre-designed gift catalogue, or personalize them with your photo or a personal message.
Flight Centre
Flight Centre offers customizable travel gift cards that you can purchase here in the amounts between $10 and $5,000. Your recipient can use the gift cards on flights, hotels, tours, cruises, and other travel redemptions.
WestJet
WestJet plastic and e-gift cards are available for purchase online in any denomination between $25 and $5,000 and in-store at participating stores across Canada, including Loblaws, Sobeys, and Dollarama.
Flightgift
Flightgift is a personalized travel gift card you can redeem for a flight with any of its international airlines. Available in physical and e-gift cards, the amounts range from $50 to $20,000. The customizable cards are valid for two years and are available in 15 currencies.
CheapOair
CheapOair offers customizable gift cards for all occasions that you can purchase in any amount from US$100-$1,000 in increments of US$100. Recipients can redeem these no-expiry gift cards towards airfare purchase on CheapOair.
Hawaiian Airlines
Gift cards from Hawaiin Airlines are available in digital and physical varieties that you can purchase online or in-store in any dollar amount from $50-$2,000. Recipients of these gift cards can choose from 35+ destinations offered by these no-expiry gift cards.
Best Gift Cards for Accommodation
These are some of the best gift cards you can buy for booking accommodation.
Hotels.com
Hotels.com, the hotel arm of Expedia, offers plastic and e-gift cards that recipients can use at thousands of destinations worldwide. Available in $10-$2,000, these prepaid cards have no expiration dates or fees.
Airbnb
Airbnb offers digital and physical gift cards you can buy online and at participating stores. The customizable, no-expiration date Airbnb gift cards are available in $100-$500 denominations. They can be used for any Airbnb stay or Experience or toward the purchase of qualifying Airbnb goods and services.
Expedia
Expedia does not currently offer typical gift cards you can buy and redeem for travel bookings. Sites like Giftly offer Expedia gift cards that recipients can redeem for hotel reservations in over 500,000 hotels worldwide. Gift amounts range from US$25-$1,000.
Small Luxury Hotels
Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) offers e-gift cards for any occasion that recipients can redeem for room reservations in over 500 luxury hotels in various countries worldwide. SLH gift cards are available in US$50, US$100, US$200 and US$500 denominations.
Coolstays
Coolstays offers gift vouchers for holiday accommodations in any of its 2,300+ properties in the UK, Europe and anywhere in the world. Valid for two years, these customizable gift cards are available in denominations between £100 and £2,000.
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott’s loyalty program, offers customizable gift cards that recipients can redeem for stays, spa days, culinary experiences, and others. The cards are available in US$25-US$2,000 amounts.
Hilton
Hilton gift card recipients can use the cards for stays, food and drink, spa packages, amenities, and extras at any of Hilton’s hotel and resort brands worldwide. The cards have no expiry date and are availabe in denominations of $25, $50, $100, $250, and $500.
Fairmont
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts gift cards offer stays in various destinations, restaurants, spa treatments, and more. These electronic and plastic cards can be used on property or online. The no-expiry cards are available in $100, $250, $500, $750, and $1,000 denominations.
Best Western
Gift cards from Best Western Hotels & Resorts (BWH) are reloadable travel cards you can purchase in various currencies. Recipients can redeem them at any BHW hotel that accepts these gift cards as payment. Card amounts range from $25-$1,000.
Four Seasons
Available in denominations from $250-$2,000, Four Seasons travel gift cards are customizable. Recipients can redeem them for overnight stays, dining, spa treatments, and others at any Four Seasons hotel and resort worldwide.
Best Cruise Line Gift Cards
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises offers prepaid digital gift cards that recipients can redeem for cruise bookings made in US dollars or onboard spending accounts. Available in various designs, the gift cards are available for purchase in any denomination between US$25 and US$2,000.
Holland America Line
The Holland America Gift Card is ideal for use towards onboard purchases or existing or future bookings. The customizable gift cards can be purchased in any amount between US$5 and US$2,000.
CruiseDirect
CruiseDirect provides customizable gift certificates, with recipients having the option to choose from over a dozen cruise lines. The cards are available in increments of $50, $100, $250, $500, and $1,000.
Carnival Cruises
The Carnival Cruise prepaid gift cards are available in the amounts of $100-$1,000 and can be used towards the purchase of Carnival cruises or redeemed for gifts, drinks or other shipboard purchases.
Celebrity Cruises
Travel gift cards from Celebrity Cruises can be applied toward new bookings. Also available on Amazon, they come in increments of $25, $50, $100, $250, and $500, with no expiration or fees.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean gift cards are no-expiry prepaid cards your recipients can use toward cruise bookings, shore excursions, specialty dining, spa services, etc. Values range from US$50-US$2,000.
Other Best Travel Gift Cards
Uber
Uber gift cards let users get an Uber ride in minutes or have meals from their favourite restaurants delivered. Gift card values range from $15-$500, with no expiration dates or fees.
Lyft
Lyft gift cards are ideal for getting rides quickly and easily. Gift amounts are from $25-$100. Available on Amazon, these gift cards can be bought online or at retail locations.
Eurostar
Gift vouchers from Eurostar can be used to book tickets and are valid for one year from the date of purchase. Voucher amounts range from $25-$500. They are available in the US, the UK, Belgium, France and Netherlands.
Amtrak
Amtrak digital and physical gift cards come with amounts ranging from $25 to $500. They can be redeemed at amtrak.com, in the app, or at the station and can only be used for Amtrak tickets to over 500 destinations.
City Unscripted
City Unscripted e-gift cards are customizable flight gift cards in denominations from $50-$500 and can be customized for any occasion. Card recipients are entitled to private and personalized city tours with a local guide.
Virgin Experience
Virgin Experience e-gift cards can be used towards any of the 4,600+ experiences on the Virgin Experience Gifts website. Gift card amounts range from $100-$500, with no expiration date.
OneTravel
OneTravel travel gift cards are e-gift cards that can be used towards OneTravel airfare purchases. The cards are available in denominations of US$100-US$1,000 and can be personalized for various occasions.
Spafinder
Spafinder spa and salon gift cards are available in electronic and physical forms that you can personalize according to the occasion. The cards have no expiration date and can be used at thousands of locations. Card amounts range from US$25-$500.
How Travel Gift Cards Work
Travel gift cards function as prepaid (and sometimes reloadable) cards that you buy and present to family and friends to cover expenses related to travel. The cards often come with a predetermined monetary value and may have expiration dates.
Card recipients use them to book flights, vacation packages, cruises, accommodations, rental cars, and other travel-related services. They can redeem the gift card value by providing the card details when booking through participating airlines, hotels, or travel agencies.
Where to Buy Travel Gift Cards
The best travel gift cards in Canada can be purchased online at the provider’s website, at online marketplaces like Amazon or physical locations, including retail stores like Walmart and Target. Delivery is instant when buying electronic gift cards. Plastic gift cards may take a few days, depending on the provider.
How to Redeem Travel Gift Cards
To redeem e-gift cards for travel, go to the gift card provider’s website (or use the app) and navigate to the page for redeeming gift cards. Enter the gift card details during the purchase or booking process.
In some cases, recipients may redeem the travel gift card by presenting the card at the point of sale. Alternatively, they may call the customer service number on the back of the travel gift card and ask for help regarding the redemption process. Recipients may also need to provide the security code and their personal information when redeeming the card.
FAQs
What is the best gift card for international use?
The Mastercard gift card is among the best gift cards for international use. It can be redeemed in 200 countries and used to pay for travel, dining, entertainment and shopping in online and physical stores. Another option is the Visa travel gift card, which is also accepted worldwide.
Is there a prepaid gift card that can be used internationally?
Visa and Mastercard offer prepaid gift cards that recipients can use anywhere in the world and are available in multiple currencies. Once the prepaid card is loaded with funds and activated, the holder can shop using it in any location that accepts Visa or Mastercard payments.
Can I buy a gift card for someone in another country?
It is possible to purchase a gift card for an individual in another country. To do so, choose a gift card accepted in the country where the person lives.
Are airline gift cards a good idea?
Giving flight gift cards is a practical idea since booking trips can sometimes be tricky. The recipient can choose a travel date, pick a preferred destination, and go with their airline preference.
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