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Scotiabank® Gold American Express® Card: Eat Well Travel Smart

Scotiabank® Gold American Express® Card
7.4Card score In my wallet
Annual fee
$120
Earns
Up to 6x Scene+
FX fee
None
Network
American Express
By JasonMay 28, 2024 · 3 min read

A night in Belleville for the total eclipse was paid entirely with points from groceries and takeout. For a minimalist like me, it’s a no-brainer.

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Who doesn’t love food and travel?

If you don’t, please leave my blog.

Just kidding.

But seriously, isn’t dining out and exploring new destinations top priorities for Millennials and Gen Z?

In this post, I’ll be revealing my favourite credit card that complements this lifestyle:

Scotiabank® Gold American Express® Card, a game-changer for Canadians looking to maximize their dining and travel experiences.

Earn Big on Groceries and Restaurants

Imagine earning 5-6% back in rewards every time you shop for groceries, dine at your favourite omakase spot, or order food delivery on a lazy Sunday afternoon?

With the Scotiabank® Gold American Express® Card, you can.

For a minimalist like me whose primary expenses are groceries and the occasional dining out, it’s a no-brainer.

This card gives 6 Scene+ points per dollar spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and FreshCo.

(We’ll talk about Scene+ points in detail later, but for now consider it as 1 Scene+ point = $0.01)

Scotiabank Scene+ credit card earning rates: 6X points at grocery stores, 5X at dining, 5X at entertainment
Scene+ cardholders earn bonus points on groceries, dining, and entertainment purchases.

For example during my grocery run last weekend, I earned 508 points from a $84.71 purchase, just by paying with my Scotiabank® Gold American Express® Card.

A FreshCo purchase of $84.71 earning 6x Scene+ points on the Scotiabank® Gold American Express® Card
My Scotiabank® Gold American Express® Card earning 6 points per dollar at FreshCo.

Plus, I earned an extra 400 points from the promotions run by the grocery store itself.

Powerade sports drinks on retail shelf in red, blue, and orange flavours with Save 24¢ promotion signageOatmeal Crisp cereal boxes on supermarket shelf, including Triple Berry and Almond flavours at FreshcoCheetos Crunch snack variety pack display with promotional price label at retail store
Powerade variety pack at Freshco with loyalty points promotion.

So in total, that's 908 points earned, which is worth about $9.

That’s more than a 10% return on my spending, which is extremely generous.

You might be wondering…

What if I don’t grocery shop much but dine out and order food delivery?

Don’t worry, this card has got you covered.

Whether you’re dining out at your favourite restaurant or ordering some chicken nuggets on UberEats after a party night,

you will earn 5 points per $1 spent.

Other grocery stores earn 5 points per $1 too, and so do movies, theatre and live events.

Pad Thai with shrimp, crispy noodles, bean sprouts, and green onions on white plate

Redeem Easily on Travel Purchases

How many times have you been frustrated when you finally tried to book a trip using your hard-earned points?

Confusing currency, complex redemption process, strict rules can be overwhelming.

Luckily, with the Scotiabank® Gold American Express® Card, it’s INCREDIBLY EASY.

You can literally book a trip however you want on sites like Expedia, Booking.com, Airbnb, etc at a rate of 1 cent per point. (or 100 points = $1)

Simply charge the payment to the card, and then redeem points to offset the expense.

For example, I made a trip to Belleville last month to see the total eclipse.

I booked one night at Hampton Inn & Suites Belleville for $109.88 and paid with my Scotiabank® Gold American Express® Card.

Credit card transaction details screen showing $109.88 Hampton Inn & Suites charge in Belleville, Ontario

Once the transaction posted, I simply signed in to my Scotiabank account, and redeemed 10,988 points for this purchase.

Scotiabank online banking applying 10,988 Scene+ points to a $109.88 Hampton Inn stay
Applying Scene+ points to the hotel charge in Scotiabank online banking.

It took maybe 5 mouse clicks in total, and that was it!

Few days later the amount showed up as statement credit, covering my hotel bill.

Mobile app transaction details screen showing -$109.88 charge to BYOT in Toronto, Ontario

I know this wasn’t some aspiring trip in the Maldives or anything,

but the fact that all I did to earn these points was to simply use the card for filling up my hungry stomach for the past few months is quite impressive.

When travelling to Asia, these points go even further due to more affordable hotel options.

With the same amount of points from above, I could’ve stayed for almost a week in a hotel with a pool and complimentary breakfast in Thailand.

Modern hotel courtyard with reflecting pool, contemporary architecture, and plated Asian cuisine in foreground
Dining by the pool at this contemporary Southeast Asian resort.

Other Perks & Benefits

There are even more benefits with this card,

but since I want to keep this article short, I’ll briefly list them:

  • Earn 3 Scene+ points per dollar spent on gas, daily transit and eligible streaming services.
  • The 6x, 5x and 3x rates apply to purchases made in Canada, up to $50,000 in combined spending a year (then 1 point per dollar).
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Access to Amex Offers
  • Strong travel insurance

Honestly, it’s like The Giving Tree of credit card.

American Express card offers page showing Turo, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Shangri-La Hotels promotions

Final Thoughts

With high returns on groceries and dining, easy travel redemption, and a host of other perks,

the Scotiabank® Gold American Express® Card is a robust card that every Canadian should definitely look into.

It’s a game-changer for food and travel lovers.

I highly recommend giving it a try to see how it can transform your food and travel adventures!

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