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BMO Just Dropped a New Travel Card – And It's Pretty Decent
July 1, 2025
BMO Bank just launched their BMO Escape Credit Card, and honestly? It's not bad. They're clearly going after travelers who want solid rewards without all the complicated bells and whistles. Let me break down what's actually worth knowing about this thing.
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "19850", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Travel-Related Rewards"} ]]
The Welcome Bonus is Solid
You'll get 45,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 in your first three months. That's basically $450 in value if you're using BMO's points at face value, which isn't terrible at all. It's like getting a 9% return on that initial spending spree.
The catch? There's a $150 annual fee right from day one. No "first year free" deal here, so you're paying upfront.
How You'll Actually Earn Points
Here's where it gets interesting:
- 4 points per dollar on flights and dining (the good stuff)
- 3 points per dollar on hotels, tours, and cruises
- 2 points per dollar on Ubers, taxis, and rental cars
- 1 point per dollar on everything else
But here's the kicker – those bonus rates max out at $3,000 per category each quarter. So if you're a heavy spender, you'll hit those caps pretty quickly and drop back to 1x points.
The Benefits Are Actually Useful
Airport Lounges
You get Priority Pass membership with two free visits per year. If you've ever been stuck in a crappy airport terminal, you know this is clutch. There are over 1,300 lounges worldwide, so you'll probably find one wherever you're flying.
Monthly Hotel Credits (This is Cool)
Instead of giving you one big annual credit that expires, they give you $20 back every month when you spend at least $200 on hotels. That's up to $240 per year, and it's way easier to actually use than those "spend it or lose it" annual credits.
TSA PreCheck Reimbursement
They'll cover up to $100 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS. Not groundbreaking, but hey, free money.
No Foreign Fees
Zero foreign transaction fees, which is pretty much standard these days but still nice to have confirmed.
The Annoying Part
Right now, you can only apply in person at a BMO branch. Yeah, it's 2025 and you still have to physically go somewhere. Kinda weird, but maybe they want to have that face-to-face conversation to explain everything.
How Does It Stack Up?
This card is basically BMO's answer to the Chase Sapphire Preferred, but with a twist. The monthly hotel credit thing is actually pretty smart – it's easier to use $20 monthly credits than remember to use a $300 annual credit before it expires.
The 4x on dining and flights is competitive, and the Priority Pass membership at this price point is solid. But those quarterly caps are going to annoy people who spend big.
Who Should Get This Card?
This makes sense if you:
- Travel regularly but aren't a crazy high spender
- Actually stay in hotels frequently (to trigger those monthly credits)
- Want Priority Pass without paying The Platinum Card® from American Express (See Rates & Fees) fees
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "106", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Serious Points on Flights"} ]]
- Are already a BMO customer and like keeping things simple
- Don't want to deal with Chase's complicated transfer partners
Who Should Skip It?
Pass on this if you:
- Spend way more than $3,000 per quarter in bonus categories
- Rarely stay in hotels (those monthly credits will go to waste)
- Don't have a BMO branch nearby
- Already have a travel card you're happy with
The Bottom Line
Look, this isn't going to revolutionize travel rewards, but it's a pretty solid middle-ground option. The monthly hotel credits are genuinely clever, and the earning rates are competitive enough. BMO is clearly trying to carve out their own space instead of just copying what everyone else is doing.
Is it the best travel card ever? Nah. But for the right person – someone who travels regularly without going overboard – it could actually work really well. Just wish they'd let you apply online like it's 2025.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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