Traveling gives great happiness to people and presents them with wonderful experiences and memories. But traveling is expensive and you would want to save some bucks on it. While there are multiple ways like booking in advance, looking out for cheap modes of transport, doing group travel, etc. etc., credit cards are an important tool to help you save on travel and enjoy a comfortable experience. They do so in the form of welcome benefits, cashback, rewards, lounge access, milestone benefits, gift vouchers, discounts, etc. Let us now look at some of the best travel credit cards in India for 2024.
Loaded with bonus miles, lounge access, travel membership and a host of many other privileges, the travel cards double the convenience for a traveller like you. Apart from that, these travel cards also yield substantial savings by allowing cardholders to get lucrative discounts on their spends. I have chosen one travel credit card, have you? No! Then, choose from the below list that comprises the best travel credit cards offered in India.
Top 20 Travel Credit Cards in India 2024
Common Travel Credit Cards
| Credit card | Joining fees | Renewal or annual fees | Key travel benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card |
Rs. 5000 |
Rs. 5000 |
|
|
Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card |
Rs. 3000 |
Rs. 3000 |
|
|
SBI Card Miles Prime |
Rs. 2,999 |
Rs. 2,999 |
|
|
SBI Card Miles Elite |
Rs. 4,999 |
Rs. 4,999 |
|
|
HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card |
Rs. 10,000 |
Rs. 10,000 |
|
|
RBL World Safari Credit Card |
Rs. 3000 |
Rs. 3000 |
|
|
American Express® Platinum Card |
INR 66,000 |
INR 66,000 |
|
|
Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card |
Rs. 50,000 |
Rs. 50,000 (Waived off on reaching annual spends of Rs.35 lakhs). |
|
Platform Specific Co-branded Travel Credit Cards
| Credit card | Joining fees | Renewal or Annual fees | Key travel benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
AU Ixigo Credit Card |
Rs. 999 (Waived on spends of Rs. 1000 in the first 30 days of issuing the card) |
Rs. 999 (Waived on spends of Rs. 1 lakh in the previous year) |
|
|
Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card |
Rs. 350 |
Rs. 350 (Waived off on spends equal to or greater than INR 50,000 in the preceding year). |
|
|
Yatra SBI Credit Card |
Rs. 499 |
Rs. 499, (Waived off on spending equal to or greater than Rs. 100,000 in the previous year) |
|
|
Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card |
Rs. 3000 |
Rs. 3000
|
|
|
MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card |
Rs. 1000 |
Rs. 1000 (Waived off on spending a minimum of 3 lakhs in a year). |
|
IRCTC Co-branded Travel Credit Cards
| Credit Card | Joining fees | Annual or Renewal fees | Travel benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
IRCTC RuPay SBI Credit Card |
Rs. 500 |
Rs. 300 |
|
|
HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card |
Rs. 500 |
Rs. 500 (Get a renewal fee waiver on spending Rs. 1,50,000 or more in a year) |
|
|
IRCTC SBI Card Premier |
Rs. 1499 |
Rs. 1499 (Reversal of annual fee on reaching milestone spends of Rs. 2 lakhs). |
|
Co-branded travel Credit Cards with Airline Platforms
| Credit Card | Joining fees | Annual or Renewal fees | Travel benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
IRCTC RuPay SBI Credit Card |
Rs. 500 |
Rs. 300 |
|
|
HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card |
Rs. 500 |
Rs. 500 (Get a renewal fee waiver on spending Rs. 1,50,000 or more in a year) |
|
|
IRCTC SBI Card Premier |
Rs. 1499 |
Rs. 1499 (Reversal of annual fee on reaching milestone spends of Rs. 2 lakhs). |
|
Best Travel Credit Cards in India 2024 - Other Benefits
Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card
This credit card is a great one to have in your purse and one of the best travel credit cards in India. Reputed for airline travel, the card comes with various perks like airport portals, amenities on dining, etc. Thus, enjoy rewards on every travel spend with this card.
Other features:
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Enjoy a welcome bonus of 2500 EDGE Miles upon performing the first transaction within 37 days of issuing the card.
-
Earn 2 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent across all categories. Excluded categories include fuel surcharge waiver transactions, gold/jewelry, wallet recharge, rent, insurance, fuel and utilities, and government institutions.
-
Earn 2500 EDGE miles on spending Rs. 3 lakhs per annum.
-
Earn an additional 2500 miles on spending Rs. 7,50,000 per annum.
-
Earn an additional 5000 miles on spending Rs. 15 lakhs per annum.
-
Enjoy a discount of 25% (Up to Rs. 800) on orders of minimum Rs. 2500 at dining restaurants via EazyDiner (Offer can be availed once per month).
Lounge Access:
-
Domestic: 18 complimentary airport lounge visits per year.
-
International: Up to 12 international airport lounge access every year.
Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card
The Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card is an airline agnostic card offering benefits across multiple airline travel partners such as Air Asia, Qatar Airlines, SpiceJet, and Vistara Airlines. This card is thus ideal for those who do not have preference for one brand only. Other benefits are given across categories like dining, fuel, insurance, etc. Thus, enjoy an elevated experience with this card, which is one of the best credit cards for travel in India.
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Accumulate 5000 EDGE Miles on the first transaction greater than or equal to INR 3000 within 30 days of card issuance.
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Enjoy 1500 EDGE Miles worth INR 1,500 on the completion of a year.
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Earn 2 EDGE Miles per INR 100 on all other spends.
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Enjoy a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% on fuel transactions (Up to a maximum of INR 400) between INR 400 to INR 5000.
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Get an insurance cover of INR 10 lakhs for lost card liability.
-
Enjoy an instant discount of 25% (Up to Rs. 800) on dining via EazyDiner for a minimum order value of INR 2500.
Lounge Access
-
Domestic: Up to 32 domestic airport lounge visits.
-
International: Up to 8 international airport lounge visits.
SBI Card Miles Prime
This card is a great pick for the frequent travelers through airlines. Benefits include reward points on each travel spend, milestone benefits, flight cancellation perks, insurance covers, and rewards on each spend across other categories. Thus, on the whole, this card which is one of the best travel credit cards in India enhances your travel and lifestyle experience.
Other features:
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Get 3,000 travel credits as a welcome gift.
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Earn bonus travel credits of 10,000 on annual spends of Rs. 8 lakhs.
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Enjoy an annual fee reversal on spends of Rs. 10 lakhs in a year.
-
Get a lost card liability of up to Rs. 1 lakh.
-
Enjoy a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% (With a maximum of up to Rs. 250) per month.
Lounge Access
-
Domestic: Get 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every year (With a maximum of 2 per quarter)
-
Get an extra domestic lounge visit with every spend of Rs. 1 lakh.
-
International: Get 4 complimentary international airport lounge visits every year (With a maximum of 2 visits per quarter).
Priority Pass:
-
Enjoy a complimentary priority pass membership worth $99 and get access to 1000 plus international airport lounges globally.
SBI Card Miles Elite
SBI Card Miles Elite is one of the best travel credit cards in India. It is popular for offering the lowest foreign currency markup of 1.99%. This card offers travel credits as welcome bonus, milestone bonus, and rewards on each spend. These accumulated travel points can be redeemed for air miles, hotel points, or travel bookings. Enjoy an elevated travel experience with this credit card.
Other features:
-
Earn 5000 travel credits as welcome bonus
-
Earn 2 travel credits per Rs. 200 spent across all categories apart from travel
-
Earn 20,000 bonus travel credits on annual spends of Rs. 12 lakhs.
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Enjoy annual fee reversal on spends of Rs. 15 lakhs in a year.
-
Earn a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% (Up to Rs. 500 per month per statement cycle) across all petrol pumps in India.
Lounge Access:
-
Domestic: 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every year (With a maximum of 2 visits per quarter)
-
Get a bonus domestic lounge visit on every spend of Rs. 1 lakh.
-
International: 6 complimentary international airport lounge visits every year (With a maximum of 2 visits per quarter).
Priority Pass:
-
Get a complimentary priority pass membership worth $99 and enjoy unlimited visits to 1000 plus international airport lounges globally.
HDFC Diner’s Club Black Credit Card
This HDFC Diner’s Club Black credit card offers magnificent benefits. With this card, you can travel with the airline that you love and stay at your favorite hotel. From over 150 airline partners and hotels to choose from, this card will make your travel experience exciting and attractive. Easily, this card is one of the best travel credit cards in India. Again, this card provides benefits not only across travel but also across multiple other categories like dining, golf, shopping, fitness, etc. You can enjoy complimentary memberships and gift vouchers from reputed brands like Amazon, Marriott, Cult.fit, Forbes, etc. So, feel the privilege of living a premium lifestyle with this credit card packed with several attractive benefits.
Other features:
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Earn up to 10x reward points on the SmartBuy app.
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Earn 2x reward points on weekend dining with a redemption ratio of 1:1
-
Enjoy annual memberships to Forbes, Swiggy One (3 months), Amazon, MMT Black, and Club Marriott on joining.
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Renew annual complimentary memberships on spends of Rs. 8 lakhs.
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Get any 2 vouchers worth Rs. 500 from Cult.fit Live, TataCliQ, BookMyShow, and Ola Cabs on monthly spends of Rs. 80,000.
-
Get 6 complimentary golf games in a quarter.
Lounge Access:
- Unlimited access to 1000 plus lounges both in India and abroad for both primary and add on card members.
RBL World Safari Credit Card
Unwind with your dream holiday using the RBL World Safari Credit Card. With a welcome gift voucher from the online travel giant MakeMyTrip, travel rewards on every swipe, vouchers from reputed brands like Taj Experiences, huge milestone bonuses, etc., this card is a gem to have in your wallet. Other perks include complimentary golf rounds, fuel surcharge waiver, etc. So, overall, it is one of the best travel credit cards in India.
Other features:
-
Earn 2 reward points per INR 100 spent on domestic retail transactions
-
Earn 10,000 bonus reward points on spends of INR 2.5 lakhs or more in a year.
-
Earn 15,000 bonus reward points on spends of INR 5 lakhs or more in a year.
-
Enjoy 4 complimentary rounds of green fee in a year and one golf lesson in each month.
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Get a discount of 50% on green fee beyond 4 complimentary rounds.
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Enjoy a fuel surcharge waiver on transactions (Up to a maximum of Rs. 250 per month), in the range of Rs. 500 to Rs. 4000.
Lounge Access:
-
Domestic: 8 airport lounge visits each year (With a maximum of 2 per quarter).
-
International: 2 airport lounge visits each year.
Priority Pass: Enjoy 2 complimentary lounge visits outside India per year from more than 1400 international airport lounges worldwide.
Additional lounges:
-
Get 2 additional airport lounge visits outside India on spends of INR 50,000 or more in a quarter.
American Express® Platinum Card
If you are looking for a card that can give you a luxurious stay during your travels, then, American Express® Platinum Card is the right choice. This card has everything covered right from gift vouchers for premium hotel stays to loyalty programs at elite hotels. The super premium benefits offered by this card makes it worth the fees charged. So, what are you waiting for? Apply for this credit card which has simply got to be one of the best travel credit cards in India.
Other features:
-
Enjoy an Eazy Diner Prime membership with a discount of up to 50% at premium restaurants in India.
-
Enjoy complimentary Times Ace membership that enables cardholders to access 40 plus OTT and publications including Amazon Prime Lite, Disney + Hotstar, and more.
-
Access to pre-sale tickets for some of the best events like Fashion week, Wimbledon, Grammy Award, etc.
Lounge Access:
-
Get complimentary access to more than 1300 plus lounges globally every year. The collection includes American Express lounges, Escape lounges, the Centurion lounge, Delta Sky Club lounge, and domestic partner lounge.
Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card
Treat yourself to a fabulous travel experience with this powerpacked card. Experience the chance to indulge in premium stay and dining offered by complimentary memberships like Club ITC Culinaire, Accorplus, handcrafted Club Marriott Asia Pacific membership. With more perks like VIP assistance services, low forex markup fee, concierge services, etc. this card is one of the best travel credit cards in India. Besides travel, this card also offers benefits across categories such as, golf, movies, premium restaurants, fuel etc.
Other features:
-
Enjoy 50 complimentary golf rounds every year across the best golf courses in India.
-
Save up to 25% across premium restaurants.
-
Buy one movie ticket and get a discount of up to Rs. 500 on the second ticket (This offer can be availed 5 times in a month).
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Purchase one non movie ticket and get a discount of up to Rs. 1000 on the second ticket (This offer can be availed 5 times in a month).
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Enjoy amenities like sailing, golf, unique tours, chef for a day etc. at extraordinaryweekends.com. Customers can visit http://extraordinaryweekends.com or call the concierge at 1800 103 4962 to enjoy an experience.
-
Enjoy Club ITC Culinaire membership which covers the following:
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One complimentary room upgrade
-
50% savings at all day dining restaurants.
-
Complimentary third night stay
-
25% green points on food and beverage spends.
-
-
Enjoy Accorplus membership which covers the following
-
Get a 1 night complimentary stay across the Asia Pacific region.
-
Get a complimentary room upgrade
-
Get up to 50% off on dining.
-
Get a complimentary lunch buffet for 2 across Accor hotels in India.
-
-
Enjoy handcrafted Club Marriott Asia Pacific membership
-
Enjoy a 20% discount on food and beverage
-
Enjoy a discount of 20% on Marriott hotel rates in India and on weekend rates in Asia Pacific.
-
-
Exclusive offers at international and domestic Oberoi and Trident hotels
-
Enjoy savings of 15% on Room Only Rate and Room with breakfast rate or third night complimentary.
-
-
Enjoy a discount of 15% at postcard hotels
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Enjoy a discount of 15% on the best available room rate
-
You can check in and check out any time.
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You can avail a complimentary lifestyle consultation at Goa Postcard hotels.
-
-
Enjoy a welcome bonus of 15,000 reward points.
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Earn 15 EDGE reward points per Rs. 200 spent.
-
Earn 2x rewards on international spends.
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Enjoy an annual fee waiver of Rs. 50,000 plus taxes on spends of Rs. 35 lakhs in the previous year.
-
There are no cash withdrawal charges
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Enjoy a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% (Up to Rs. 400 per month) for transactions between Rs. 400 to Rs. 4000.
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Get a rent payment fee waiver of 1% (Up to a maximum of Rs. 1,500 per transaction).
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Enjoy purchase protection insurance, loss or delay in baggage and personal documents, and credit shield of Rs. 2 lakhs, USD 500, and Rs. 5 lakhs respectively.
-
50 free rounds of golf every year across the best golf courses in India.
Lounge access:
Priority pass membership:
-
unrestricted complimentary domestic and international lounge visits for both primary and add on cardholders.
-
12 complimentary domestic and international guest visits in a year for accompanying guests.
AU Ixigo Credit Card
This is a great co-branded card to have in the wallet for travel enthusiasts. This card offers unparalleled benefits on travel like discounts and rewards on flights, bus, and hotel bookings. Get rewarded for each and every swipe online and offline. The highlight of this card is that it comes with nil forex charges. With its all round benefits, this card is one of the best travel credit cards in India and a great one to have in your wallet.
Other features:
-
Get a discount of 5% on hotel bookings (Up to Rs. 1,000) once per month via Ixigo.
-
Enjoy bonus reward points of 1000.
-
Enjoy Ixigo money vouchers worth Rs. 1,000 as welcome benefits.
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Accumulate 10 reward points per Rs. 200 spent online.
-
Accrue 5 reward points per Rs. 200 spent offline.
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Earn 4x reward points on train bookings via Ixigo.
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Earn a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% (Up to Rs. 250)on transactions in the range of Rs. 400 to Rs. 5,000 across all fuel stations in India.
Lounge Access:
-
Domestic: 16 complimentary domestic airport and railway lounge access every year.
-
International: 1 complimentary international lounge access every year.
Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card
The Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip credit card helps you to enrich your travel experience by providing exclusive travel benefits like discounts on flight, hotel, and bus bookings done via EaseMyTrip. Earn rewards with every swipe done on ticket booking and also across various other categories. Overall, this is one of the best credit cards for travel in India.
Other features:
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Enjoy an annual fee waiver of Rs. 350 on reaching milestone spends of Rs. 50,000 or more.
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Earn 2x reward points on each spend of Rs. 100 on all other categories of retail spends. You can redeem the reward points @ 2 reward points = Rs. 0.50.
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Use contactless credit cards and enjoy complete freedom of cash transactions, faster checkouts, and secure payments.
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Enjoy enhanced security for online transactions through 3D secure OTP verification.
Lounges:
-
Domestic: 2 complimentary domestic lounge access per year.
-
International: Nil
Yatra SBI Credit Card
This card is one of the best travel credit cards in India. It offers you some incredible deals on travel such as welcome vouchers on domestic and international travels, complimentary air accident cover, discounts on domestic and international flight bookings, etc. So, this card allows you to save some great bucks on your vibrant travel adventures. The card also offers benefits across dining, grocery, departmental stores, movies, entertainment, and fuel.
Other features:
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Earn 6 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on dining, grocery, departmental stores, movies, entertainment (Up to 5000 reward points per month), and international spends (Up to 5000 reward points per month).
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Get a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% (With a maximum of up to Rs. 100 every month) across all petrol pumps in India.
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Earn 1 reward point per Rs. 100 spent on all other categories.
Lounge Access:
-
Domestic: Nil
-
International: Nil
Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card
As the name suggests, this card just breathes offers including complimentary hotel stays, complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status, elite nights, free nights, etc. Marriott Bonvoy points can be accrued on partner hotel spends, reaching milestone spends, and upon every swipe with this card. Other benefits include golf, dining, entertainment, insurance cover for medical emergencies and air accidents, etc. Overall, it is one of the best travel credit cards in India due to its versatile nature.
Other features:
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Earn 4 Marriott Bonvoy points per Rs. 150 spent on dining and entertainment.
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Earn 2 Marriott Bonvoy points per Rs. 150 spent across all other categories apart from travel, dining, hotels, and entertainment.
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Get 2 complimentary golf visits per quarter across the world (Green fee waiver).
Terms and conditions:
Marriott Bonvoy points will not be credited on the following categories:
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Fuel
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Dial an EMI transaction
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Payment of outstanding balances
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Cash advances
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Smart EMI
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Government related transactions and rental transactions.
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Payment of card fees and other charges.
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Get a cover of up to $250 on delay or loss of checked-in baggage, loss of travel documents, and flight delay.
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Get an air accidental cover of up to $12,500
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Get emergency medical expenses cover of up to $ 18, 750
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Get credit shield and loss of liability cover of up to INR 100,000.
Lounge Access:
-
Domestic: 12 complimentary access within India every year
-
International: 12 complimentary access within India and outside India each year.
MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card
The greatest highlight of this card is its never expiring reward points. You can redeem them whenever you want @ 1 MyCash point = 1 INR. Get ready to enjoy endless benefits with this card. Accrue unlimited MyCash points on flights, holidays, cabs, bus bookings, and hotel bookings over and above the discounts offered by MakeMyTrip. Thus, make travel budget friendly and hassle free with this card which is one of the best travel credit cards in India.
Other features:
-
Enjoy a welcome voucher worth Rs. 1000
-
The card can be used on 2 networks - Mastercard and RuPay.
-
Reward points don’t have expiry dates.
Lounge Access:
-
Domestic: 8 complimentary access within India every year.
-
International: 1 complimentary access within India per year.
IRCTC RuPay SBI Credit Card
This card is a great one to have in your wallet if you travel frequently by train. Valueback on train ticket bookings made on the IRCTC app or the website, transaction charge waiver on rail ticket bookings etc. are some of the standout perks. Overall, it is one of the best travel credit cards in India and a good one to have if you travel frequently by train.
Other features:
-
Earn 350 welcome bonus reward points on minimum spends of Rs. 500 within 45 days of card issuance.
-
Enjoy a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% on transactions in the range of Rs. 500 to Rs. 3000.
Lounge Access:
- Enjoy up to 4 railway lounge visits in a year, with a maximum of 1 visit per quarter.
HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card
This card which is a partnership venture between HDFC Bank and IRCTC rewards you on every INR 100 spent on IRCTC railway ticket bookings and other categories as well. Other benefits include free railway lounge access, annual fee reversal on reaching milestone spends, fuel surcharge waiver, etc. This card is worth having in your wallet if you are a frequent train hopper and is one of the best travel credit cards in India.
Other features:
-
Earn 1 reward point per INR 100 spent across all other categories excluding the spends on the IRCTC ticketing website and Rail Connect App.
-
Get a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% on transactions in the range of Rs. 400 to Rs. 5000 (Up to Rs. 250 per statement cycle).
-
Get a welcome gift voucher worth Rs. 500 on doing the first transaction within 37 days of issuing the card.
-
Get a gift voucher worth Rs. 500 on reaching milestone spends of Rs. 30,000 or more per quarter.
-
Enjoy a renewal fee waiver on reaching milestone spends of INR 1,50,000 or more in a year.
Lounge Access:
- 8 complimentary visits to specific IRCTC executive lounges every year (With 2 per quarter)
IRCTC SBI Card Premier
This card offers good benefits for those who travel by train. It has a slightly higher annual fee and is the best card among other IRCTC co-branded credit cards like the IRCTC HDFC Credit Card or the IRCTC BoB. By offering a value back of 10% along with 1 reward point per Rs. 125, the card makes up for its joining fee by giving 1,500 reward points worth Rs. 1,500 against your travel bookings on IRCTC. On the whole, it is one of the best travel credit cards in India for train travel lovers.
Other features:
-
Get 1500 reward points equivalent to 1500 Rs. as welcome bonus on paying the first annual fee.
-
Earn 3 reward points per Rs. 125 spent on dining and standing instructions on utility spends.
-
Earn 1 reward point per Rs. 125 spent on other non fuel retail purchases.
-
Enjoy an annual fee reversal on spends of Rs. 2 lakhs.
-
Get a complimentary fraud liability cover of Rs. 1 lakh.
-
Enjoy a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% on transactions in the range of Rs. 500 to Rs. 4000 across all petrol pumps in India.
Lounge Access:
- Enjoy 8 complimentary railway lounge access in a year (With a maximum of 2 per quarter).
Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card
Travel in style and luxury with this card. Earn Skyward miles on every spend not just on travel but also insurance and utility spends. Enjoy premium perks through the complimentary silver tier membership and redeem the accrued skyward miles on flights, excursions, hotel stays, upgrades, and more with Emirates Skyward partners all over the world.
Other features:
-
Get Rs. 500 off for the second ticket on purchasing the first ticket on BookMyShow. This offer can be availed twice a month.
-
Get a complimentary Silver Tier membership and 5,000 Skyward miles on paying the joining fee.
Lounge Access:
- Domestic: 2 complimentary domestic lounge access per quarter
- International: 2 complimentary international lounge access per year.
Additional 2 spa sessions at select airports in India via the Dreamfolks pass.
KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex
This card is a premium credit card for those who travel frequently by Singapore Airlines. It offers great benefits like bonus KrisFlyer miles, free lounge access, and an elevation of membership tier to Kris Flyer Gold. Use this credit card and make unforgettable memories on your travels. However, this card has a high forex currency markup fee.
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Get 10,000 Kris Flyer miles on paying the annual fees and doing the first transaction within 60 days of issuing the card.
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Earn 8 KrisFlyer miles on each Rs. 200 spent on international transactions.
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Earn 6 KrisFlyer miles per Rs. 200 on other eligible spends.
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Get a credit of 10,000 Kris Flyer miles on reaching milestone annual spends of Rs. 5 lakhs.
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Enjoy a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% on transactions up to Rs. 3,000 across all petrol pumps in India.
Lounge Access:
-
Domestic: 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits in a year.
-
International: 8 complimentary international airport lounge visits in a year (With a maximum of 2 visits per quarter).
Kotak Indigo 6E Rewards XL Credit Card
This card is one of the best travel credit cards in India and has a great rewards structure. It offers accelerated reward points on Indigo spends, add on benefits, domestic lounge access, and value back on spends across other categories like dining, grocery etc. Enhance your travel experience with this card which is a good one to have in your wallet.
Other benefits:
-
Earn 3 reward points per Rs. 100 spent across categories including dining, grocery, entertainment, etc.
-
Get 2 reward points per Rs. 200 spent across other categories (Excluding wallet, rent, education, and government spends).
Lounge Access:
-
Domestic: 8 complimentary domestic lounge access every year (With 2 per quarter)
-
International: Nil
IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card
This card is a co-branded venture between IndusInd and 2 airlines namely the British and Qatar Airlines. It is a power packed travel card with multiple benefits like Avios points on achieving milestone spends, insurance covers, multiple airport perks with the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Gold membership, and a lot more. Experience thrill and joy in your travels with this premium airline credit card, which is one of the best travel credit cards in India.
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Earn 25,000 bonus Avios after reaching milestone spends of Rs. 800,000 in a year.
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Earn additional 25,000 bonus Avios after reaching a second milestone spend of Rs. 800,000 in a year.
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Enjoy lost baggage cover of Rs. 1 lakh and delayed baggage cover of Rs. 25,000.
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The card comes with insurance covers of Rs. 50,000, Rs. 25,000, and Rs. 25,000 for loss of passport, loss of ticket, and missed flight connection respectively.
-
Get a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% on transactions in the range of Rs. 500 to Rs. 10,000.
Lounge Access:
-
Domestic: Enjoy 2 visits per calendar quarter.
-
International: Enjoy 2 international lounge visits per quarter with complimentary priority pass membership.
Forex Currency Markup Fees for the Best Travel Credit Cards in India - A comparison
A forex currency markup is a fee charged over and above the exchange rate by banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions when you transact in foreign currency. This is levied to make up currency conversion costs and earn profit. When you choose a travel credit card, it is ideal to choose one with a low forex markup fee. The advantages of a low forex markup fee are as follows:
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Even a slight reduction in the percentage of forex markup fee can help you save well. For instance, a 2% markup instead of a 3% markup can help you save 100 rupees.
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For frequent travellers, various forex markup fees will add and become a substantial chunk. In this scenario, lower forex markup fee helps a lot.
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A lower markup fee keeps your costs more predictable even when exchange rates fluctuate.
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You can use the savings you obtain from low forex markup fees for other business or travel expenses. Else, you can add it to the other savings that you have.
The table below shows the forex markup fees of the 20 best travel credit cards in India
| Credit Card | Forex Markup fee |
|---|---|
|
Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card |
3.5% |
|
Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card |
3.5% |
|
SBI Card Miles Prime |
2.50% |
|
SBI Card Miles Elite |
1.99% |
|
HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card |
2% |
|
RBL World Safari Credit Card |
Nil |
|
American Express® Platinum Card |
4.13% |
|
Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card |
1.5% |
|
AU Ixigo Credit Card |
Nil |
|
Yatra SBI Credit Card |
3.5% |
|
Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card |
3.5% |
|
MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card |
0.99% |
|
IRCTC RuPay SBI Credit Card |
3.5% |
|
HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card |
3.5% |
|
IRCTC SBI Card Premier |
3.5% |
|
Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card |
3.5% |
|
KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex |
3.5% |
|
Kotak Indigo 6E Rewards XL Credit Card |
3.5% |
|
IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card |
1.5% |
How to Choose the Best Travel Credit Cards in India?
When you choose a travel credit card, consider the following parameters:
- Rewards: Check the rewards structure of the card. Credit cards reward you on flight and railway bookings, car rentals, hotel stays, etc with cashback, airmiles, and discounts. Choose cards which offer high rewards on your travel habits. Also many cards provide accelerated reward points, bonus rewards etc. It is good to choose such cards.
- Welcome benefits: Travel credit cards offer welcome bonuses in certain scenarios like reaching milestone spends within a few days of paying the activation fee, on partnering with specific travel brands, or immediately after paying the joining fee. Compare between the welcome benefits of the cards to choose one on that basis.
- Lounge Access: If you fly frequently, choose a card which offers complimentary domestic and international lounge access according to your needs. However, the number of free lounge visits will be limited. After using all the complimentary lounge access, you will have to pay for the same. But some card issuers will equip their cardholders with a priority pass, and in that case, you can get unlimited free visits or a large number of complimentary accesses.
- Co-branded cards: If you are loyal to a brand, you can choose co-branded cards which reward you on holiday bookings done with the specific brand. For instance, you have platforms like MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Air India, British Airways, etc offering cards in partnerships with banks. Those who book holidays and flights with these brands can benefit from having the respective cards.
- Annual fee: The travel credit card may give you excellent travel benefits but these benefits must be equivalent to or outweigh the fees and charges that come with the card. If the card is very expensive, then it should give something more than lounge access and air miles. For example: When you take the Axis Reserve credit card which is highly priced at Rs. 50,000, it offers complimentary multiple memberships like ITC Culinaire, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, Postcard hotels, Club Marriott Asia Pacific, Accorplus, etc.
Choose from various credit cards based on the parameters above and then zero in on the list of best travel credit cards in India. Then select the credit card most suitable for you and apply for it.
How to Apply for a Travel Credit Card Online?
Thru the bank website
Step 1: Visit the official website of the bank from which you want the credit card. Fill out some basic details asked like name, email ID, address, income, contact number, etc.
Step 2: You will get a call from a representative of the bank, and he/she will take you through the process step by step.
Step 3: The representative may also come to collect your documents at your doorstep.
Step 4: Post this, the bank will check the documents and issue the credit card after verification.
Thru the Wishfin Website
You can apply for the travel credit card through Wishfin. There are no login credentials. All you have to do is navigate to the Wishfin portal and go to the credit card section. When you mention the personal and professional details needed, the quotes of different card offers will be shown on the screen. You can apply in three ways on Wishfin.
Apply via Website
Step 1: Open the online application form available on Wishfin
Step 2: Fill the form with your personal and professional details.
Step 3: Submit the form to process your application.
Apply Through Whatsapp
Step 1: Click ‘Apply with the ease of Whatsapp chat’
Step 2: Input your mobile number and click ‘Continue with Whatsapp
Step 3: After that, you will receive a link. Click this link to join a group having Wishfin as the other member.
Step 4: Answer some questions on personal and professional levels and also on credit history.
Step 5: Submit your application.
Step 6: The bank will inspect the application before approving it.
Apply through Wishfin Chat
Step 1: Click the link ‘Use Wishfin Chat’
Step 2: Click the button ‘Start Wishfin Chat’
Step 3: The chat window pops up.
Step 4: Enter the details asked in the chat and the chatbot will take you through the rest of the application process. Follow the instructions and proceed towards completing the application.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the minimum credit score required for a travel rewards credit card?
Credit scores vary according to the card and the issuer. However, generally, the minimum credit score required is in the range of 650 to 700.
2. What are airport concierge services?
Airport concierge services offer personalized assistance to travelers at the airport.to make their journey hassle-free and convenient. Services include getting greeted at the airport by a concierge agent, carrying the luggage to the check-in counter, security clearance, lounge access, access to VIP terminals, limousine transportation, and assistance with bookings.
3. Is it worth paying fees for a travel credit card?
Yes, paying an annual fee for a travel credit card is worth it, but one should use the card judiciously to reap the maximum benefits. These cards will enable you to save a lot if you are a frequent traveler.
4. Will economy class flyers get access to airport lounges?
Usually, airport lounges are accessible only to the first class or business class flyers. But, the best credit cards for airport lounge access can enable economy class passengers also to access lounges.
5. What is the eligibility criteria to get a travel credit card?
To obtain a travel credit card, you must be an Indian citizen. Your age should be 21 to 65 years. You can either be salaried or self-employed. Besides these, the bank will check your credit score before sanctioning the card for you.
6. What are the documents required to apply for a travel credit card?
Documents required to apply for travel credit cards may vary across banks, financial institutions, and credit card companies. The generic list of documents required to apply for a travel credit cards in India are as follows:
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Identity proof: Passport, Pan card, driving license, Aadhaar card, or voter Id.
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Address proof: Utility bills, bank statements, or rental agreement.
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Salaried individuals should submit the latest salary slips or Form 16
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Self-employed individuals should submit the latest income tax returns (ITRs) with income computation proofs.
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The application form filled completely and accurately must be submitted
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Bank statements for proof of income and financial stability
