I refer to Rogers Bank MasterCard as the best Canadian credit card for non-bonused spend and I am glad to see a promotion for free roaming, in partnership with Expedia, that is extremely underrated.
If you’re a Rogers customer, hold a Rogers Bank Mastercard, and were already planning to book travel, this is one of those offers that’s worth understanding before you click “book” elsewhere.
The Promotion (In Plain English)
Rogers Bank has partnered with Expedia through its Travel With Rewards portal to offer the following:
- 6% cashback on your travel booking, and,
- A free 30-day roam like home international travel pass.
The only condition:
- The travel booking has to be valued at over $1,000,
- The travel has to be outside of Canada
There’s no complicated enrollment process. If you meet the criteria, the benefits apply automatically.
What about free E-Sim?
Whenever roaming comes up, someone inevitably says, just get an eSim.
I’ve tried them. I don’t like them.
They’re annoying, they add friction, and when you actually need connectivity — at an airport, during a connection, or when something goes wrong — they don’t always work. Setup can be painful, switching between SIMs isn’t seamless, and support is often nonexistent.
For some people, they’re fine. For me, they’re not worth the hassle.
Roam Like Home just works. I land, turn off airplane mode, and my phone behaves exactly the way it does at home. Calls, texts, data — no tinkering, no troubleshooting, no wondering whether the eSIM will cooperate today.
Why this is a good deal?
There is no other credit card, that offers 6% cashback on travel bookings. TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite comes close. But that is only 4%. The 6% is the best in the market, and it comes with a free hassle-free roaming pass.
Why this can backfire?
There’s always a trade-off, and this is where you need to be careful.
When you book through Expedia, you’re effectively giving up direct customer support from the airline or hotel if something goes wrong. Changes, cancellations, or irregular operations usually mean dealing with Expedia first — and that can be slow and frustrating.
You’re also typically ineligible for hotel loyalty benefits. No elite perks, no points, and no recognition — which matters if you’re loyal to a specific chain.
That’s why I wouldn’t use this for every booking.
Where it does make sense is for simple, low-risk stays: one-night hotel bookings, airport hotels, or positioning stays before a flight. In those cases, the extra cash back and roaming benefit can easily outweigh the downsides, and the risk is minimal. The other use case is for boutique hotels that are not related to any particular chain. At that point in time, there is no risk, and you only have potential benefits.
Used selectively, this can be a useful tool — just not a one-size-fits-all solution.
My Take
I don’t write about every promotion that comes across my desk. Most aren’t worth the time or the mental bandwidth.
This one is different.
If you’re already planning international travel, already hold a Rogers Bank Mastercard, and already use Rogers mobility, this is one of those quietly strong offers that rewards people who pay attention.
