A Quick Guide to Holiday Travel with PC Financial®
Key Points
Spend time planning your trip today to avoid stress tomorrow
Save money and stay secure while you’re away from home
Add some balance to your holiday budget with rewards on purchases
Whether it’s a lively family get-together abroad or a blissful beach getaway, travel is one great way to make the most of the holiday season.
As you plan your vacation, a little preparation can go a long way to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. This includes staying a step ahead of unexpected costs like currency exchange, travelling smart with the right insurance and reliable cards in your wallet, and earning rewards on all your purchases, both before and during your trip.
Here are some PC Financial® tips to help you enjoy convenient and easy holiday travel.
Basic holiday travel tips to keep things festive and stress-free
Thinking ahead (and strategically) can help you avoid unexpected costs, manage your budget, stay secure and ultimately enjoy your time off. So, let’s look at some travel-sized tips that can help your holiday plans take off without a hitch.
1. Make a pre-trip checklist This is the first step to ensuring your holiday goes smoothly. But you’ll want to think beyond just packing your bags. Your list should include essentials like travel notifications (so you're always in the loop about flight changes), updated emergency contacts (for peace of mind, knowing help is just a call away), and a detailed “must-make-it-in-the-suitcase” inventory (to ensure nothing vital is forgotten, saving you from buying duplicates on the road). Taking these proactive steps can help you avoid unnecessary stress and extra costs, like overweight luggage fees.
2. Build in a "buffer day" (or half-day) before big plans Schedule a little time on either end of your trip for unexpected travel delays, time to unpack and settle in, or simply decompress before or after the holiday rush.
3. Keep your budget realistic Creating long-lasting memories shouldn’t mean months of paying off debt. Build a detailed budget (opens in a new window) and do your best to stick to it. Remember, planning ahead can help you avoid surge pricing this time of season or recurring charges on foreign exchange transactions (more on this to come).
4. Communicate expectations & responsibilities If you're visiting family or traveling in a group, discuss important logistical details before arrival and if staying at a rental or hotel, review accommodation amenities and conditions. Who's cooking? What's the gift exchange plan? Are there quiet hours?
5. Have an offline backup Before leaving home, download any entertainment, tickets, maps, etc. Putting important documents, like your boarding pass, in a designated folder on your phone. This allows easy access when you’re on airplane mode or find yourself without cell service.
6. Strategic snacking & hydration Packing healthy snacks and a reusable water bottle is an easy way to avoid expensive airport food and stay hydrated, especially when you’re not on your regular meal schedule.
Pulling off plans this time of year is easier with a trusted companion. From booking flights and accommodations to taking local transit, a PC Financial® credit card or PC Money™ Account sets you up for seamless and secure spending anywhere you go.
Earn PC Optimum™ points on virtually every dollar spent With a PC Financial® card, you can earn points faster when you fill your cart with holiday meal must-haves, restock your medicine cabinet for the chilly season, fill up your tank for a road trip, or even make purchases abroad. It’s the perfect excuse to redeem for something special you and your family can enjoy after a busy travel season.
Digital Convenience
Tapping to pay isn’t just easy, it can be more secure. No need to walk around busy holiday destinations with a large amount of cash when you have your PC Money™ Account card handy.
Ready to go beyond points earning? Let’s look at the true value of a travel-ready credit card or bank account and figure out which is right for you.
Seamless spending, superior rewards: Your PC Financial® travel companion awaits
PC Money™ Account: Your smart choice for FX-free spending
Did you know the perks and security features that come with the no monthly fee PC Money™ Account (opens in a new window) are hard at work even while you’re on vacation? From no foreign exchange transaction fees for shopping abroad1 to notifications on account activities, it’s your “border-free spending companion” designed for seamless international spending. And there’s no shortage of day-to-day benefits you’ll enjoy, like our everyday interest rate you can rely on as you build your savings or earning PC Optimum™ points when you pay your holiday bills2.
Pro Tip: For easy digital access, add your card to your Apple or Google wallet. But in the unfortunate instance that you lose your physical card, a quick tap in the PC Financial® app immediately locks it, protecting your funds without the stress of cancelling your entire trip.
PC® Mastercard®: Rewarding every step of your journey
With the no annual fee PC® Mastercard®, (opens in a new window) every travel expense (flights, accommodations, meals, souvenirs, etc.) helps your PC Optimum™ points earnings take off!
Wondering if you can use this credit card in other countries? The short answer is yes. The long answer is, with features like Concierge Services3, Travel Emergency Medical Insurance3, Identity Theft Assistance Service3 and Car Rental Collision/Loss Damage Waiver Insurance3, you can confidently use your card anywhere you go!
And unlike some travel rewards cards that look great until it’s time to redeem (blackout dates, limited availability for flights or hotels, navigating complex online portals etc.), making the most of your PC Optimum™ points is easy and convenient. You can redeem4 your points in-store or online, anytime you like. Pro Tip: Many travel rewards (or everyday rewards) cards come with an annual fee, meaning you must spend a certain amount just to 'recoup' before you see a net benefit from your rewards. With the no annual fee PC® Mastercard®, every point you earn is a bonus, maximizing the value of your holiday spending right from the very first dollar!
PC Insiders™ World Elite® Mastercard®: Travel with confidence and premium perks
If “points earning pro” is how your friends or family describe you, then you won’t want to miss the PC Insiders™ World Elite® Mastercard®. (opens in a new window)
Not only does it earn the most PC Optimum™ points possible on your everyday purchases (groceries, health & beauty, gas and more), but it’s got all the perks you need and none you don't want. This includes all the great travel features you just read about with the PC® Mastercard®.
Pro Tip: PC Optimum™ points are all about flexibility and putting you in control. On top of using your points for groceries and more, you can redeem instantly for a statement credit to help pay down your monthly credit card balance5.
So, let’s lay out everything before we pack it all up.
If you’re looking to embrace smarter travel this holiday season, remember that with PC Financial®, you’re not just adding another card to your wallet. You’re choosing a travel companion that makes your money go further, your experiences more rewarding, and every journey a little more worry-free.
†Value shown is for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary based on individual savings, deposits and purchase behaviour. This calculation includes regular engagement with the PC Optimum™ program, offers and promotions, with points earned converted at a redemption rate of 10,000 points = $10 worth in rewards.
††Total value estimate is based on PC Optimum points™ earned on purchases with a PC Financial® World Elite® Mastercard® at stores that participate in the PC Optimum™ program. For illustrative purposes only; results may vary based on individual spending behaviour.
Total and category spending estimates are for illustrative purposes only; results vary based on individual spending.
*Interest is calculated daily at the current rate on the total closing savings balance in the PC Money™ Account and paid monthly to the savings balance. It is a simple interest calculation. Interest rates are annual and subject to change without notice. Visit pcfinancial.ca for current rates and more information.
1Earn a bonus of 1,000 PC Optimum™ points for each of up to five bill payments of $50 or more to unique payees, per calendar month, made using a valid PC Money™ Account. Bonus points will be awarded to your PC Optimum™ account within 2-3 weeks of a successful bill payment.
2Earn a monthly bonus of up to 5,000 PC Optimum™ points when you deposit funds to your PC Money™ Account using automatic payroll or pension direct deposits. Payroll or pension deposits totaling between $1,500 and $2,999 within a calendar month will earn a bonus of 2,000 PC Optimum™ points, and deposits totaling greater than $2,999 will earn an additional bonus of 3,000 PC Optimum™ points, for a maximum monthly bonus of 5,000 PC Optimum™ points. Limited to one bonus per customer, per month, even if you have multiple PC Money™ Accounts. The classification of a direct deposit as a payroll or pension direct deposit is determined solely by President’s Choice Bank. Interac e-Transfer® services, electronic funds transfers, and other forms of deposits or transfers to your account do not count towards this bonus. Bonus points will be awarded to your PC Optimum™ account within 2-7 business days of when you meet the minimum direct deposit amount(s).
3Earn at least 5 PC Optimum™ points per dollar on qualifying purchases with your PC Money™ Account, wherever your card is accepted. Earn 10 PC Optimum™ points (5 regular PC Optimum™ points plus a bonus of 5 PC Optimum™ points) per dollar on qualifying purchases at participating Loblaw banner stores, Shoppers Drug Mart® stores, Joe Fresh® stores, and Esso™ and Mobil™ stations in Canada. Bill payments, electronic funds transfers, account fees and interest are not qualifying purchases for the purpose of earning PC Optimum™ points. PC Optimum™ points will be deducted for any credits or returns. President's Choice Bank reserves the right to cancel, change or extend regular and bonus points earning rates at any time. Account must be in good standing at time of qualifying transaction and awarding of points.
4Information about fees for special requests and services for the PC Money™ Account is available here.
5Everyday transactions include an unlimited number of completed electronic fund transfers, withdrawals at PC Financial® bank machines, self serve bill payments, and purchases in Canadian dollars. For information about daily and transactional dollar value limits on everyday transactions, and fees for other available transactions/services, please see here.
6Statement credit redemptions are available to primary cardholders of an eligible PC® Mastercard® account ("Account") and holders of an eligible PC Optimum™ account, both of which must be open and in good standing at the time of redemption. With this offer, you may redeem PC Optimum™ points using your PC Financial® online account for a statement credit applied against the current balance on your Account. Statement credits are not applied against a specific purchase or other transaction. PC Optimum™ points may be redeemed solely in the increments set out in your PC Financial® on line account and for redemption value up to the current balance of your Account, or an amount equal to 500,000 PC Optimum™ points, whichever is lower. The applicable redemption rate will be specified in your PC Financial® online account at the time of redemption. You acknowledge and understand that the PC Optimum™ points redemption rate applicable to this offer may vary from the redemption rate available for other redemption types or offers. For other redemption rates, please refer to your PC Optimum™ Program Terms & Conditions at the URL noted below, or the terms of the specific redemption offer. Once a redemption has been authorized pursuant to this offer, it cannot be changed, cancelled or reversed. Redemption credits from this offer will lower your Account balance, but a redemption is not considered to be a payment on your Account, and you will remain responsible for making a payment of the minimum payment amount specified on your statement by the due date indicated, even if your redemption has reduced your Account balance below your minimum payment amount (including reducing your Account balance to $0.00). Credits may take up to 3 business days to post to the Account. This offer is nontransferable, may not be combined with any other offer, and is subject to change or cancellation without notice to you. This offer and all redemptions pursuant to it are subject to the PC Optimum™ Program Terms & Conditions available online at www.pcoptimum.ca/company-policy/terms-and-conditions.
