Best Travel Credit Cards in India 2024

In 2024, the best travel credit cards in India offer a lot of benefits and rewards for travelers. These cards not only provide exclusive access to airport lounges, but also offer rewards on all travel-related expenses including flights, hotels, and car rentals. 

 

Best Travel Credit Cards in India

Best Travel Credit Cards in India offer several benefits such as travel rewards programs, airport lounge access, complimentary travel insurance, and waived foreign transaction fees. 

 

Best Credit Card	Joining Fee	Renewal Fee	Welcome Benefits
Air India SBI Signature Credit Card	Rs. 4999	Rs. 4999	Convert reward points into Air Miles
Kotak IndiGo XL Credit Card	Rs. 2500	Rs. 2500	Up to 6% rewards on spending across different categories
Axis Atlas Credit Card	Rs. 5000	Rs. 5000	Up to 12 international lounge access every year
Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card	Rs. 3000	Rs. 3000	Complimentary Club Vistara Silver membership
Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card	Rs. 4999	Rs. 4999	Up to 5 Premium Economy tickets as welcome & milestone benefits
Yatra SBI Card	Rs. 499	Rs. 499	Up to Rs. 4,000 off on flight bookings via Yatra.com
Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card	Rs. 350	Rs. 350	10% discount on domestic & international flight bookings via EaseMyTrip
HDFC Intermiles Signature Credit Card	Rs. 2500	Rs. 2500	Up to 12 InterMiles per Rs. 150 spent on flight and hotel bookings
MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Signature	Rs. 2500	Rs. 0	Up to 4 My Cash per Rs. 200 spent (1 My Cash = Rs. 1)

 

Best Credit Card for Domestic Travel

When it comes to traveling in domestic, the right credit card can enhance the experience. The best credit card for domestic travel offers perks and benefits specifically for this type of travel, including rewards for airlines, hotels, and rental cars. 

Air India SBI Signature Credit Card

The SBI Air India Signature Credit Card is highly regarded as one of the best travel credit cards in India, particularly for individuals who are dedicated Air India customers.

Annual Fee: Rs. 4,999

Renewal Fee: Rs. 4,999

 

Benefits:

1. Welcome the benefit of 20,000 reward points.

2. Bonus reward points of up to 1 Lakh upon achieving spending milestones.

3. Earn up to 30 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on Air India tickets booked on airindia.com or through the Air India mobile app.

4. Earn up to 30 reward points for yourself and 10 reward points for others when booking Air India tickets.

5. Earn 10 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on Air India tickets for yourself or others booked through Air India booking offices or call centers.

6. Earn 10 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on SuperSaver booklet purchases.

7. Enjoy 8 complimentary VISA lounge access annually (maximum 2 per quarter).

8. Lost card liability cover of up to Rs. 1 Lakh.

 

Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards XL Credit Card

If you're a frequent flyer with IndiGo, the Kotak IndiGo Ka-ching 6E Rewards XL Credit Card is an ideal option for you, offering enhanced rewards on all your purchases with the airline.

Annual Fee: Rs. 2,500 (Rs. 1,500 as an introductory fee)

Renewal Fee: Rs. 2,500 (Rs. 1,500 as an introductory fee)

 

Benefits:

1. As a welcome gift, you will receive a complimentary IndiGo air ticket valued at Rs. 3,000.

2. Earn 6 points for every Rs. 100 spent on IndiGo airlines.

3. Earn 3 points for every Rs. 100 spent on partner merchants in dining, grocery, and entertainment.

4. Earn 2 points for every Rs. 100 spent on all other categories.

5. Enjoy prime add-ons worth Rs. 899, which include priority check-in, seat selection, complimentary meal, and baggage assistance.

6. Additionally, you will have access to 8 complimentary domestic lounges each year.

Secure your travels now! Check out travel insurance plans

 

Best Travel Credit Cards with Lounge Access

Best Travel Credit Card in India with Lounge Access offers a range of benefits for frequent travelers. These cards provide access to luxurious airport lounges, free checked bags, and priority boarding, and allow travelers to relax before their flights. 

Axis Atlas Credit Card

If you frequently spend a significant amount of money on travel and other expenses each month, the Axis Atlas credit card is an outstanding choice for you.

Annual Fee: Rs. 5,000

Renewal Fee: Rs. 5,000

 

Benefits:

1. 5000 EDGE Miles will be rewarded for the first transaction made within 30 days of setting up the card.

2. Earn 5 EDGE Miles for every Rs. 100 spent on travel bookings through the Travel EDGE portal, airlines, and hotel bookings.

3. For Silver Tier members, enjoy 8 domestic and 4 international lounge visits, along with 2,500 EDGE Miles for spending Rs. 3 lakh.

4. Gold Tier members will receive 12 domestic and 6 international lounge visits, 5,000 EDGE Miles for spending Rs. 7.5 lakh, and access to airport concierge services.

5. Platinum Tier members can enjoy 18 domestic and 12 international lounge visits, 10,000 EDGE Miles for spending Rs. 15 lakh, airport concierge services, and 2 complimentary airport pick-ups.

6. Additionally, a dynamic currency conversion facility is available with a 1% markup fee.

 

Best Credit Card for Vistara Airlines

The Best Credit Card for Vistara Airlines offers exclusive perks and benefits, cardholders can enjoy priority check-in, complimentary lounge access, and accelerated miles earnings. 

Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card

The Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card is ideal for individuals who travel frequently and have a preference for Vistara Airlines.

Annual Fee: Rs. 3,000

Renewal Fee: Rs. 3,000

 

Benefits: 

1. As a welcome benefit, you will receive a free Premium Economy ticket.

2. You will also be granted a complimentary Club Vistara Silver Membership.

3. For every Rs. 200 spent, you will earn 4 Club Vistara Points.

4. These points can be used to book flights and get other upgrades.

5. Upon reaching specific spending goals, you will receive bonus Club Vistara points as well as up to 4 complimentary Premium Economy tickets.

6. You will be provided with an air accident cover of up to Rs. 2.5 Crore and a purchase protection cover of Rs. 1 Lakh.

7. Additionally, you will have the benefit of a lost card liability cover of up to 100% of the credit limit.

Secure your travels now! Check out travel insurance plans

 

Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card

The Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card is an excellent choice for individuals who want to spend a lot and have a preference for flying with Vistara Airlines.

Annual Fee: Rs. 4,999

Renewal Fee: Rs. 4,999

 

Benefits: 

1. As a welcome benefit, you will receive 1 complimentary Premium Economy Ticket Voucher, 1 Class Upgrade Voucher, and a complimentary Club Vistara Silver Membership. 

2. For each statement cycle, you will earn 6 CV Points on every Rs. 200 spent up to Rs. 1 Lakh. For spends above Rs. 1 Lakh, you will earn 4 CV Points on every Rs. 200 spent. 

3. Additionally, for fuel, insurance, utility, rent, and wallet load spends, you will earn 1 CV Point for every Rs. 200. 

4. You can enjoy up to 5 complimentary Premium Economy Class tickets in a year and earn up to 6,000 bonus CV points when you achieve certain spending milestones. 

5. Furthermore, you will receive 2 complimentary visits to domestic airport lounges and spas per quarter, as well as 1 complimentary visit to an international airport lounge per quarter. 

6. You will benefit from a low forex markup fee of 2.99%.

 

Best Credit Card for Bookings

The best travel credit card for bookings is one that offers great rewards and benefits specifically for travel and hotel reservations. With perks like bonus points for booking flights or hotel stays, access to airport lounges, and no foreign transaction fees, these cards are perfect for frequent travelers who want to earn rewards and save money on their bookings.

Yatra SBI Card

Many travel credit cards focus on providing generalized travel rewards or co-branded airline perks, there exist a few cards that have been introduced in partnership with travel portals such as Yatra.com.

Annual Fee: Rs. 499

Renewal Fee: Rs. 499 (Waived off on spending Rs. 1 Lakh in a year)

 

Benefits: 

1. Welcome vouchers worth Rs. 8,250 for Yatra, which can be used for domestic and international travel, holiday packages, and hotel bookings. 

2. Enjoy a discount of Rs. 1,000 on domestic flight bookings, with a minimum transaction of Rs. 5,000. 

3. Get a discount of Rs. 4,000 on international flight bookings, with a minimum transaction of Rs. 40,000. 

4. Avail a 20% discount on domestic hotel bookings, with a minimum transaction value of Rs. 3,000. 

5. Earn 6 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent internationally. 

6. Additionally, receive complimentary air accident cover of Rs. 50 Lakh for the primary cardholder.

 

Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

Introducing a co-branded credit card that provides incredible advantages for your EaseMyTrip bookings. By using this card, you will enjoy exclusive discounts on both domestic and international flights and hotel reservations.

Annual Fee: Rs. 350

Renewal Fee: Rs. 350 (Reversed on spending at least Rs. 50,000 annually)

 

Benefits: 

1. Get a 20% immediate deduction when booking domestic and international hotels. 

2. Enjoy a 10% instant discount on domestic and international flights. 

3. Save Rs. 125 on bus ticket bookings. 

4. Earn 10 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on standalone airline/hotel websites, mobile apps, or outlets (excluding travel aggregators). 

5. Each reward point is worth Re. 0.25 when redeemed through the Standard Chartered 360 rewards portal. 

6. Receive one complimentary domestic lounge visit every quarter and two complimentary international lounge visits per year with Priority Pass.

Secure your travels now! Check out travel insurance plans

 

Best Credit Card for Reward Points on International Travel

If you are a frequent traveler and want to make the most out of your credit card, then finding the best one for earning reward points on international travel is essential. 

InterMiles HDFC Signature Credit Card

The perfect choice for frequent air travellers is the InterMiles HDFC Signature Credit Card. With this card, you have the opportunity to redeem your InterMiles for booking flight tickets and hotels directly from the InterMiles website

Annual Fee: Rs. 2,500

Renewal Fee: Rs. 2,500 (Waived off on spending Rs. 3 lakh in a year)

 

Benefits:

1. Free InterMiles Silver Membership

2. Receive up to 8,000 bonus InterMiles when you join

3. Get a flight discount voucher worth Rs. 750 for the first year

4. Receive a hotel discount voucher worth Rs. 2,000 for the first year

5. Earn 6 InterMiles for every Rs. 150 spent on all purchases

6. Earn 12 InterMiles for every Rs. 150 spent on flight and hotel bookings through the InterMiles website

7. Enjoy a 5% discount on Etihad Airways Economy Class tickets and a 10% discount on Etihad Airways Business Class tickets booked through the Intermiles website

8. Receive a complimentary Priority Pass Membership, including 5 free visits to international lounges per year

9. Enjoy 16 free domestic lounge visits per year through the Visa Lounge Access Program (4 visits per quarter)

 

Best Credit Card for MakeMyTrip Bookings

The best credit card for MakeMyTrip bookings is a crucial choice for travelers and holidaymakers. Choosing the right credit card can help save money and maximize the enjoyment of the trip.

MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card

The MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card caters to frequent travelers who desire luxury without any compromise. This card presents exclusive advantages on MakeMyTrip, including a welcome voucher and the best rewards program.

Joining Fee: Rs. 2,500

Annual Fee: Nil

 

Benefits:

1. My Cash and MakeMyTrip holiday vouchers worth Rs. 2,500 are provided as welcome benefits. 

2. You will receive a complimentary MMTBLACK Exclusive membership. 

3. For domestic transactions outside of MakeMyTrip, customers earn 1.25 My Cash per Rs. 200 spent. 

4. For international transactions outside of MakeMyTrip, customers earn 1.50 My Cash per Rs. 200 spent. 

5. When booking flights via MakeMyTrip, customers receive 2 My Cash per Rs. 200 spent. 

6. For hotel and holiday bookings through MakeMyTrip, customers earn 4 My Cash per Rs. 200 spent.

7. You will receive 1 complimentary railway lounge access per quarter to participating lounges in India. 

8. By spending Rs. 5,000 in a quarter, customers receive 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge access. 

9. You will also receive 1 international lounge access and 1 spa session per year, at select airports in India, through complimentary Dreamfolks membership.

Secure your travels now! Check out travel insurance plans

 

Benefits of Travel Credit Card

A travel credit card can bring many benefits to individuals who frequently travel for their own or business purposes. 

• Rewards and Bonus Points: Travel credit cards often offer rewards in the form of points, miles, or cashback on purchases made using the card. These rewards can be redeemed for airline tickets, hotel stays, car rentals, or even statement credits. 

• Travel Insurance: Many travel credit cards offer various types of travel insurance coverage, such as trip cancellation/interruption insurance, lost baggage insurance, and travel emergency assistance. 

• Airport Lounge Access: Several premium travel credit cards provide complimentary access to airport lounges worldwide. These lounges offer a comfortable and relaxing environment with amenities like free Wi-Fi, food, drinks, and showers. 

• Foreign Transaction Fees: Travel credit cards usually waive or have lower foreign transaction fees compared to regular credit cards. 

 

Is it Better to Use a Travel Card or a Credit Card?

The choice between using a travel card or a credit card depends on your specific needs, preferences, and financial habits. Both types of cards have their advantages and disadvantages.

Travel Card

• Rewards and benefits: Travel cards often come with specific rewards and benefits tailored for travelers, such as airline miles, hotel points, and other travel-related perks.

• No foreign transaction fees: Many travel cards do not charge foreign transaction fees, making them a cost-effective option for international travel.

• Travel insurance: Some travel cards offer travel insurance coverage, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, rental car insurance, and more.

• Specialized features: Certain travel cards provide specialized features, such as airport lounge access, concierge services, and dedicated customer support for travel-related issues.

 

Credit Card

• Universal acceptance: Credit cards are widely accepted worldwide, making them a convenient option for all types of purchases, including travel expenses.

• Flexible rewards: Some credit cards offer cash back or flexible rewards that can be used for a variety of expenses, not just travel.

• Building credit history: Responsible use of a credit card can contribute positively to your credit history, which may be important for future financial endeavors.

• Credit limit and financial flexibility: Credit cards typically offer a higher credit limit than travel cards, providing more financial flexibility for various expenses.

Secure your travels now! Check out travel insurance plans

 

Can I Use My Credit Card as a Travel Card?

Yes, you can use a credit card as a travel card to make purchases while you're traveling. Many credit cards come with features and benefits specifically designed for travelers. 

• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Some credit cards waive foreign transaction fees, which can save you money when making purchases in a foreign currency. These fees can add up quickly, so having a card that doesn't charge them can be advantageous.

• Travel Rewards: Many credit cards offer travel rewards programs, where you earn points or miles for every dollar spent on the card. These rewards can be redeemed for travel-related expenses such as flights, hotels, rental cars, or even cash back.

• Travel Insurance: Certain credit cards provide travel insurance benefits, including coverage for trip cancellation/interruption, baggage loss, rental car insurance, and emergency medical assistance. 

• Emergency Assistance: Some credit cards offer 24/7 customer service and assistance for emergencies. This can be valuable if you encounter issues like a lost or stolen card while abroad.

• Airport Lounge Access: Premium credit cards may provide access to airport lounges, allowing you to relax and enjoy during layovers or before flights.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, travel credit cards can be valuable for frequent travelers and those looking to maximize their travel rewards. These cards offer a variety of benefits such as airline miles, hotel points, and travel insurance, making them a convenient option for booking flights and accommodations. Contact Okbima experts to buy the best travel insurance for your foreign trips.

 

FAQs

What's the point of a travel credit card?

The purpose of a travel credit card is to earn rewards, lounge access, insurance, and benefits from travel spending.

 

Is Visa or Mastercard better for travel?

Both are good for travel as both have the same acceptance, chosen based on specific card benefits and issuer network coverage.

 

Is a credit card good for international travel?

Yes, credit cards are good for international travel which offers convenient, rewards, and secure transactions.

 

Can I use a travel credit card for anything?

Yes, you can use a travel credit card for anything.

 

Can I convert travel credit to cash?

Yes, you can convert travel credit to cash but it varies by card, often limited or at a lower value.

 

Can travel credit be used for baggage?

Not directly, but you can use points or credits to cover airline fees.

 

Which is the best international travel credit card in India?

The best international travel credit cards in India are HDFC Diners Club ClubMiles and SBI Air India Classic.

 

Which is the best travel credit card with no annual fee?

The best travel credit cards with no annual fee are standard Chartered EaseMyTrip and Yatra SBI Cards.