How to Travel to Rome from Canada on Points

You can easily travel to Rome from Canada on points

Rome is widely considered a fantastic travel destination. It is a city rich in history, art, and culture, making it a captivating place to visit. Rome offers a unique blend of ancient ruins, such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, alongside world-renowned landmarks like the Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica.

The city’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and wandering through its charming streets can feel like stepping back in time. Rome is also famous for its stunning architecture, including the iconic Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and the Spanish Steps.

Furthermore, Rome is renowned for its delicious cuisine, with an abundance of pizzerias, gelaterias, and traditional Roman trattorias offering mouthwatering dishes. Exploring local markets and trying authentic Italian food is a highlight for many visitors. Rome provides endless opportunities for sightseeing, shopping, and experiencing the dolce vita lifestyle. Just remember to plan your visit well, as Rome can get crowded, particularly during peak tourist seasons.

Unfortunately, the cost of traveling to Rome is expensive, and many Canadians simply view a vacation to this beautiful Italian city as out of their price range.

Fortunately, here in Canada, we have access to travel programs that can reduce the cost of your Italian vacation by upwards of 80%, leaving more money in your pocket, and more freedom to experience some of the world-class excursions that Rome has to offer. 

In this post, we’ll show you how you can travel to Rome from Canada on points, and the different ways to earn and use your travel points to ensure you’re getting MAXIMUM value on your redemption. 

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Our Theoretical Vacation

For the purposes of this exercise, we’ll be booking a 5-night, 6-day vacation focusing on a stay in downtown Rome

Our theoretical stay will be 5 nights at the Meridien Hotel in Rome, a 4 Star hotel operated by Marriott.

We’ll show an itinerary for 1 individual. If you are traveling with someone, your traveling companion can use the same credit cards suggested below to earn even more points.

FLIGHT CASH VALUE

Below, we can see the cash value of an Air Canada economy, and business class ticket to Rome from Canada’s 3 major hubs (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal).

Note: prices are subject to change

HOW TO TRAVEL TO Rome FROM CANADA ON POINTS

FLIGHT OPTION #1: FLY TO Rome FROM CANADA ON POINTS WITH AIR CANADA USING AEROPLAN

Your Complete Guide to Aeroplan

Aeroplan (and Air Canada) is the most popular travel currency in Canada, so it only makes sense that we determine the amount of Aeroplan points required for our flight to Rome

Aeroplan leverages dynamic pricing, meaning redemptions show a range of points for Air Canada flights. More popular flights cost more.

Note: redemptions are subject to change

FLIGHT OPTION #1.B: USING AEROPLAN PARTNER AIRLINES TO FLY TO Rome FROM CANADA ON POINTS

While dynamic pricing can be terrible, the good news is that Aeroplan has a number of partner airlines that only require a fixed number of points.

All Aeroplan partner flights to Europe are subject to this award chart:

While this seems like an easy way to redeem your points, there are a limited number of award seats made available by partner airlines, and certain airlines only release economy class award space.

THERE ARE A FEW PARTNER AIRLINES YOU CAN LEVERAGE FOR YOUR TRIP TO ROme

Lufthansa

Lufthansa operates flights from Montreal, Toronto & Vancouver to Rome, connecting through Germany

Lufthansa Airlines leverages the Aeroplan partner carrier award chart above, which in most cases means a cheaper flight. This is great for Economy class tickets with Lufthansa.

Unfortunately, Lufthansa only releases award space for business class flights 14-20 days in advance of the flight. While waiting for award space to open up may be difficult when planning a vacation, it usually provides the best use of your points in terms of value

Lufthansa also flies out of a number of US Cities:

• Boston
• New York
• Philadelphia
• Washington
• Detroit
• Chicago
• Atlanta
• Dallas
• Austin
• Houston
• Denver
• Los Angeles
• San Fransisco
• Seattle

Other Aeroplan Partners You Can Take to Rome

• Swiss flies out of Montreal to Zurich and on to Rome
• United Airlines flies out of Toronto to the Eastern United States, and on to Rome
• EgyptAir flies out of Toronto, to Cairo and on to Rome
• LOT Airlines flies out of Toronto, to Warsaw and on to Rome

EARNING AEROPLAN POINTS

There are 2 ways to earn a large number of Aeroplan points here in Canada:

• Transferring American Express Membership Rewards to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio
• Earning Aeroplan points directly with a co-branded Aeroplan credit card

WHICH CREDIT CARDS DO YOU NEED TO FLY TO Rome FROM CANADA ON POINTS

Regardless of whether you’re flying economy or business class, you’ll need to focus on collecting Membership Rewards and/or Aeroplan points. There are 2 credit cards that we’ll be focusing on to get you to Rome

Note: credit card signup bonuses vary over the course of the year. Please check for the latest signup offer

1. The American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card is a great way to earn Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to Aeroplan 

The $699 annual fee (which comes with a $150 rebate through GreatCanadianRebates) is offset by the following perks & benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 90,000 MR points upon spending $7,500 in the first three months
• Earn Rate: 
  • 3 MR points per dollar spent at grocery stores & at restaurants 
  • 2 MR points per dollar spent on travel and 
  • 1 MR point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $5,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $3,000
  • Hotel Burglary insurance – up to $1,000
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
  • Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • $200 Annual Travel Credit
  • $100 Nexus credit
  • Gold Status at Marriott Bonvoy & Hilton Honours
  • Complimentary valet service at the Express Park and Daily Park at Pearson Airport
• Lounge Access
  • Priority Pass (+1 guest)
  • Plaza Premium Lounges (+1 guest)
  • Delta Sky Club
  • Airspace Lounges (+2 guests)
  • Centurion Lounges
  • SwissPort Lounges (+1 guest)

While the $699 annual fee seems daunting initially, the 90,000 Membership Rewards will get you to Rome with one of Aeroplan’s partner airlines. Canadians will have to make a personal decision as to whether or not the $699 (minus the $200 travel credit) annual fee is worth spending after year two. The lounge access you receive from this card can go a long way to improving your travel experience.

2. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite. 

You can earn Aeroplan points with co-branded credit cards. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card is a great way to earn FREE Aeroplan points.

The Cost for the Card is $0 for the first year, and then $139 annually, & comes with the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 10,000 Aeroplan points upon first purchase
  • 40,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $5,000 in the first three months
  • 20,000 Aeroplan points on renewal after spending $7,500 in the first year
    • Total of 70,000 Aeroplan points
• Earn Rate: 
  • 1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on food, beverage, gas & travel
  • 1 Aeroplan point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $1,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $5,000
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
  • Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • First bag free on Air Canada flights
  • Preferred pricing when redeeming Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights
  • $100 NEXUS credit
  • Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 you spend on the card

While this card isn’t as strong as some of American Express’ top cards, we live in a world where AMEX isn’t accepted at many retail locations in Canada. As a result, it’s good to have a solid visa in your wallet as well. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite provides a great, FREE way to earn a large amount of Aeroplan points, and it can be a great backup to the high annual fee cards in the market. the 50,000 Aeroplan points will get you a free economy ticket with Air Canada.

You can read which other cards offer Aeroplan points here

FLYING TO Rome WITH AEROPLAN – FINANCIAL SUMMARY

The average value of 1 Aeroplan point is 2.1 cents per point. We will hope to receive a higher value when redeeming Aeroplan points.

	Economy	Redemption Value	Business	Redemption Value
Cash Fare	$1044		$8,244
Aeroplan Points with Air Canada	47,600	2.19 cents/point	404,300	2.03 cents/point
Aeroplan Points with Partner Airlines	40,000	2.61 cents/point	70,000	11.77 cents/point

	Economy	Redemption Value	Business	Redemption Value
Cash Fare	$960		$7670
Aeroplan Points with Air Canada	47,600	2.01 cents/point	306,500	2.50 cents/point
Aeroplan Points with Partner Airlines	40,000	2.40 cents/point	70,000	10.96 cents/point

	Economy	Redemption Value	Business	Redemption Value
Cash Fare	$969		$7,630
Aeroplan Points with Air Canada	47,600	2.03 cents/pont	295,700	2.58 cents/point
Aeroplan Points with Partner Airlines	40,000	2.42 cents/point	70,000	10.90 cents/point

As you can see, the best option to fly to Rome from Canada on points is to leverage Air Canada’s partner airlines, especially if you can source a business-class ticket (which will take some travel flexibility on your end).

FLIGHT OPTION #2 – FLY USING AIR FRANCE FLYING BLUE MILES

Your Complete Guide to Flying Blue

In the world of points redemptions, you need a certain level of flexibility. Sometimes, you’ll be planning a vacation only to find out that there is no award availability on a particular flight, or that the number of points needed has increased drastically (especially in the case of Air Canada’s dynamic pricing).

That’s why it’s great to have another option. 

We mentioned above the value of transferring your American Express Membership Rewards to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio. Thankfully, Membership Rewards can also be transferred to Air France/Flying Blue miles at a 1:0.75 ratio. 

KLM & Air France have flights to Rome out of Vancouver Toronto and Montreal which connect to Amsterdam & Paris respectfully.

Note: Air France also flies out of Ottawa & Quebec City

Note: KLM also flies out of Calgary & Edmonton

Rome – Toronto Via ITA Airways

In May 2024, ITA Airways will begin 6 round-trip flights (weekly) from Rome to Toronto. ITA Airways are bookable through Flying Blue

WHICH CREDIT CARDS DO YOU NEED TO FLY TO Rome FROM CANADA ON POINTS USING AIR FRANCE/KLM

1. The American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card is a great way to earn Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to KLM/Flying Blue

The $699 annual fee (which comes with a $150 rebate through GreatCanadianRebates) is offset by the following perks & benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 90,000 MR points upon spending $7,500 in the first three months
• Earn Rate: 
  • 3 MR points per dollar spent at grocery stores & at restaurants 
  • 2 MR points per dollar spent on travel and 
  • 1 MR point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $5,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $3,000
  • Hotel Burglary insurance – up to $1,000
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
  • Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • $200 Annual Travel Credit
  • Access to Pearson Priority Security Lane during peak operating times
  • Complimentary valet service at the Express Park and Daily Park at Pearson Airport
  • $100 Nexus credit
  • Gold Status at Marriott Bonvoy & Hilton Honours
• Lounge Access
  • Priority Pass (+1 guest)
  • Plaza Premium Lounges (+1 guest)
  • Delta Sky Club
  • Airspace Lounges (+2 guests)
  • Centurion Lounges
  • SwissPort Lounges (+1 guest)

While the $699 annual fee seems daunting initially, the 90,000 Membership Rewards will get you to Rome in either Economy or Business Class

2. American Express Gold Card

The American Express Gold Card is another great way to earn Membership Rewards.

The $250 (Reduced to $125 with a $125 rebate with Great Canadian Rebates) annual fee is offset by the following perks & benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 5,000 MR points each month you spend $1,000 in the first 12 months
• Earn Rate: 
  • 2 MR points per dollar spent on travel, grocery, drugstore & gas stations 
  • 1 MR point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $5,000,000 (15 days of coverage)
  • Car Rental Insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $1,500
  • Trip Interruption Insurance – up to $1,500
  • Flight Delay Insurance – up to $500
  • Hotel Burglary Insurance – up to $500
  • Baggage Delay Insurance – up to $500
  • Lost or Stolen Baggage Insurance – up to $500
• Perks
  • $100 Annual Travel Credit
  • Special discounts for cardholders, which are sent via email
  • $100 Nexus Credit
• Lounge Access
  • Plaza Premium Lounges (4 passes)

While the $250 annual fee seems daunting initially, the 60,000 Membership Rewards will earn you potentially multiple free flights. Canadians will have to make a personal decision as to whether or not the $250 (minus the $100 travel credit) annual fee is worth spending after year two.

HOTEL OPTION #1 = MARRIOTT BONVOY POINTS

Marriott Bonvoy points are the easiest hotel currency to collect in Canada. They also have the benefit of being a transfer partner of American Express. If you want to use points for your hotel stay, this is the easiest way to do it

If you’re traveling on points for an extended period of time, it’s you should leverage Marriott’s “Fifth Night Free” promotion, which can go a long way in enhancing the value of your vacation. 

4 nights paid for with points = 5th night free.

If your goal is to use Bonvoy points for the entire duration of your hotel stay, staying 5 nights enhances your redemption by 20%. It’s something you should seriously consider if you’re going the points route

Below we can see the cash & points value of a 5-night stay at the Meridien Hotel 

WHAT CREDIT CARDS DO YOU NEED TO STAY 5 NIGHTS IN Rome ON POINTS

1. The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card

The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card is Marriott’s sponsored card in Canada. 

Sign up here

The annual fee of $120 (reduced to $60 if you sign up through Great Canadian Rebates) is offset by the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 65,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
• Earning Rate: 
  • 5 Bonvoy Points per dollar spent on Marriott Bonvoy properties
  • 2 Bonvoy Points per dollar spent everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $500,000
  • Car Rental Damage Insurance 
  • Baggage Delay Insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • 15 Elite qualifying nights & instant Silver status within Marriott’s loyalty program
  • Annual free night, up to 35,000 points

2. American Express Business Edge

The American Express Business Edge card offers a strong signup bonus, along with strong everyday earnings.

The cost for the card is $99 ($24 with a $75 rebate through Great Canadian Rebates), & comes with the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 45,500 Membership Rewards upon spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
  • 1,000 Membership Rewards each month in which you spend $3,000
  • 10 Membership Rewards on office supplies & electronics, rides & gas, eats & drinks within 6 months of cardmembership (up to 10,000 points)
    • Total of 67,000 Membership Rewards
• Earn Rate: 
  • 3 Membership Rewards per dollar spent on eligible food & drink (groceries not included), office supplies, electronics & gas
  • 1 Membership Reward for everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • You can be insured for eligible items charged to your American Express Business Edge Card for 90 days from the date of purchase in the event of accidental physical damage or theft
  • Automatically extend the manufacturer’s original warranty up to one additional year 
• Perks
  • Occasional discounts on select products

3. American Express Business Bonvoy

The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business Card is Marriott’s sponsored business card in Canada. 

Sign up here

The annual fee of $150 (reduced to $75 if you sign up through Great Canadian Rebates) is offset by the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 75,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
  • 10,000 Bonvoy points when making a purchase during months 14-17 of cardmembership
• Earning Rate: 
  • 5 Bonvoy Points per dollar spent on Marriott Bonvoy properties
  • 3 Bonvoy Points per dollar spent on gas, dining & travel
  • 2 Bonvoy Points per dollar spent everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $500,000
  • Car Rental Damage Insurance 
  • Baggage Delay Insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • 15 Elite qualifying nights & instant Silver status within Marriott’s loyalty program
  • Annual free night, up to 35,000 points

Here are a few considerations you should make for your trip:

1. One of the best (and cheapest) ways to fly business class to Rome is with Lufthansa Airlines (or Aeroplan’s other partner airlines). Unfortunately, Lufthansa only releases award availability for business class seats 14-28 days before departure. It can be stressful/difficult for people to wait until the last minute to book a flight. If you’re one of these people, you can always book a refundable economy ticket (either with cash or points), see if any business class seats open up on a Lufthansa flight, and then subsequently cancel your refundable ticket. 

2. If you have Aeroplan elite status, this would be a great opportunity to leverage your e-upgrade credits for an Air Canada flight (if you can’t get on a partner airline), as the cost of business class Air Canada tickets can be extremely high given Aeroplan’s dynamic pricing. 

3. If you’re focused on solely flying business class, you can book an Air France/KLM award flight up to a year in advance. As you can see from the Air France /KLM table, it is in your best interest to book the discounted (65,000,000 points) award flight. This will require some flexibility, as these discounted award flights are not offered daily

4. If are satisfied with economy bookings, the American Express Platinum and the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite will be all that you need to fly to (and from) Rome

FINANCIAL SUMMARY TABLE 

Credit Cards	Sign up Bonus	1st Year Annual Fee (with GCR rebate)
American Express Platinum	90,000 Membership Rewards (108,000 Bonvoy points)	$549
TD (or CIBC) Aeroplan Visa Infinite	55,000 Aeroplan Points	$0
American Express Marriott Bonvoy	65,000 Bonvoy Points	$60
American Express Business Edge	57,000 Membership Rewards (68,400 Bonvoy Points)	$24
Total		$633

Flying economy, you can fly to and from Rome from Canada on Points, and stay 5 nights at the Meridien Hotel, all for $633 + taxes & fees.

Credit Cards	Sign up Bonus	1st Year Annual Fee (with GCR rebate)
American Express Platinum	90,000 Membership Rewards (transferred out to Aeroplan + Marriott Bonvoy)	$549
TD (or CIBC) Aeroplan Visa Infinite	55,000 Aeroplan Points	$0
American Express Marriott Bonvoy	65,000 Bonvoy Points	$60
American Express Marriott Bonvoy Business	75,000 Bonvoy Points	$75
American Express Business Edge	57,000 Membership Rewards (68,400 Bonvoy Points)	$24
Total		$708

Flying business, you can fly to Rome from Canada on Points, and stay 5 nights at the Meridien Hotel,, all for $708 + taxes & fees.

What is there to do in Rome?

Rome is a city rich in history, culture, and art, offering a plethora of activities for visitors. Here are some recommendations for things to do in Rome:

• Visit the Colosseum: This iconic amphitheater is a symbol of ancient Rome and is a must-see for any visitor. Consider taking a guided tour to learn more about its fascinating history.
• Explore the Roman Forum: The Roman Forum is a vast archaeological site that was the center of ancient Roman life. Wander through the ruins and imagine the bustling activity that once took place here.
• Throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain: According to legend, throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain ensures your return to Rome. It’s also a beautiful piece of Baroque art.
• Visit the Vatican City: Explore St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. The Vatican is a unique, independent city-state surrounded by Rome and is a treasure trove of art and history.
• Stroll through Trastevere: This charming neighborhood is known for its narrow cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and a lively atmosphere. It’s a great place to explore on foot and try some authentic Roman cuisine.
• Pantheon: Marvel at the well-preserved Pantheon, a Roman temple that has been in continuous use throughout its history. The architecture and the oculus in the dome are particularly impressive.
• Enjoy gelato: Treat yourself to some delicious Italian gelato. There are numerous gelaterias throughout the city, and it’s a perfect way to cool down while exploring.
• Climb the Spanish Steps: A popular meeting place in Rome, the Spanish Steps lead up to the Trinità dei Monti church. It’s a great spot to relax and people-watch.
• Visit the Capitoline Museums: These museums house a collection of art and artifacts from ancient Rome. The view from the Capitoline Hill is also spectacular.
• Take a walk in Villa Borghese: This large park offers a peaceful escape from the city hustle. You can rent a bike, visit the Borghese Gallery, or simply enjoy the beautiful gardens.

For tour options in Rome, please check out this link

Here is a video on things to do in Rome by YouTuber Island Hopper