As soon as malls put away Halloween decorations and transform into Holiday mode, I shun the crowds and hibernate. In spite of my mall phobia, I consider myself a savvy shopper and some of the ways I get the most value for my money include online shopping- where you can price match from the comfort of home. Another secret to being a smart shopper is choosing a credit card with fabulous rewards to help boost your purchase power. I only own credit cards in order to charge the items we have budgeted for- groceries, gas, clothing, and bills. In turn, earning rewards or points on everyday purchases that can be used for travel or future purchases.
I've been an RBC customer for 16 years, you can say I married into an RBC family- hubby has been a customer for 30 years. Recently I was invited to learn about RBC Avion cards- the Avion Infinite and Platinum Avion Cards both other super reward value for every dollar you spend.
Earning is simple and easy — You’ll earn RBC Rewards points every time you make a purchase with your RBC Avion card.
Great value and then some — Earn 1 RBC Rewards point for every dollar spent on purchases. Plus, earn bonus points when shopping through the RBC Rewards eMall™.
Premium and Extensive Insurance package including trip cancellation and protection for your trip, hotel, rental vehicle, and purchases.
Choose air travel rewards from the Air Travel Redemption Schedule starting as low as 15,000 points and fly on any airline, anytime with no blackouts, or seat restrictions†.
Book travel rewards instantly. Only the RBC Rewards program has an online booking tool that's powered by Travelocity‡.
And many more perks! 
Part of my adventure in learning about RBC Avion Card rewards included a visit to the Yorkdale Avion Holiday Boutique. It was a family-friendly refuge from the busy Saturday (post-Black Friday) crowd and the Avion Holiday Boutique experience is another one of the many benefits of being an RBC Avion Cardholder. There are four Holiday Boutique locations in Canada, open during regular mall hours for all RBC Avion Cardholders until December 31, 2013. At Yorkdale, we spent more than our fair share of time at the refreshment bar sipping complimentary hot chocolate and coffee. Part of the Avion VIP experience includes free Valet Service- normally this would cost you $15 at Yorkdale. If you have ever tried parking at Yorkdale you would understand why this service is kind of a big deal. We didn't need the concierge service during this visit, but it may be useful to people who need help making reservations at a Yorkdale restaurant. The coat check and gift wrapping areas were a welcome relief- we dropped off our items to enjoy a lunch without juggling packages. Then enjoyed the lounge again before hitting the road to travel home. Any shoppers can access the coat check and gift wrapping services, but you will be charged a fee for service- all proceeds will be donated to York-Fairbank Seniors Center.
If RBC Avion Cards are something you would like to know more about check out both the RBC Infinite Avion Card and the RBC Platinum Avion Card here. Using your Avion rewards to book travel with no blackout dates will surely put a smile on your face, I know it will inspire a happy dance when I book my next trip.
Visit my google+ album documenting the #AVIONVIP experience.
“Disclosure: I am part of the RBC Avion Holiday Boutique Blogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”