$110 Annual fee The Desjardins Odyssey Gold Visa is a fine card, but offers uninspiring rewards rates given the annual fee.
Instead, it would appeal to anyone who wants premium insurance coverage on a lower budget. It offers a strong package with features usually only seen on cards with higher annual fees and higher income requirements.
Bonuses & Fees
This card has no welcome bonus, and no first year fee reduction.
Instead, the annual fee is $110. Additional cards cost $30 per year, a fee which is waived if you’re a Desjardins banking member.
Earning Rewards
This card offers 2% back on restaurants, entertainment, transit, and recurring payments.
On all other purchases, you’ll earn 1% back.
Rewards are denominated in Desjardins BonusDollars, which are worth a fixed value of $1.
Redeeming Rewards
BonusDollars can be redeemed 1:1 for all sorts of things, including statement credit, travel bookings, gift cards, or into your Desjardins investment accounts.
Because the points have a fixed value and are so easy to redeem, I’d treat this card like a cash back card.
Perks & Benefits
The card offers half price admission to the Desjardins Odyssey Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau Airport, located in the international departures terminal.
Also, the Desjardins Odyssey cards offer car rental benefits, including no young driver surcharge, no fee for additional drivers, Hertz Five Star status, and discounts on luxury car rentals. Visa Infinite cardholders can get a discount of up to 25% at Hertz or 10% at Dollar and Thrifty on regular car rentals.
Insurance Coverage
The card offers top-tier emergency medical insurance when travelling out of your home province. Cardholders are covered for up to $5,000,000 in damages, for trips up to 60 days, up to age 75.
- Age 59 and under: trips up to 60 days
- Age 60 to 64: trips up to 31 days
- Age 65 to 75: trips up to 15 days
The card can be used for insurance on award tickets. Coverage is valid for trip cancellation or trip interruption, as long as the fees were paid using the credit card. Lost or stolen baggage is covered under the emergency medical policy, which doesn’t require the trip to be paid on the card at all.
This card also extends travel insurance to the cardholder’s grandchildren, if they are travelling together.
The card’s car rental insurance grants coverage for cars valued at up to $85,000, higher than the industry standard for this type of insurance. Paired with discounts on luxury car rentals, this could make for some memorable road trips!
Finally, the card has mobile device protection. If you buy your phone or tablet with this card, you’ll be covered for up to $1,000 for two years, in the event of loss, theft, or accidental damage.