Best Credit Card for Travel in India

In an era where travel has become integral to our lives, finding the right financial tools to enhance our experiences is crucial. Among the many options available, travel credit cards have emerged as a popular choice for frequent flyers and wanderlust enthusiasts. Whether travelling for business or leisure, you can make your trips more enjoyable and economical by choosing the right credit card. A travel credit card can help you earn rewards on your travel expenses, get discounts on flights and hotels, enjoy complimentary lounge access, save on foreign currency conversion fees, and get travel insurance and other benefits. These cards not only offer exciting rewards and benefits but also provide a sense of financial security while exploring the world.

But how do you choose India's best travel credit card for 2024? There are many factors to consider, such as the annual fee, the reward rate, the redemption options, the co-branded benefits, the eligibility criteria, and the customer service. So, to help you out, we have compiled a list of the top 5 travel credit cards in India for 2024 based on these factors.

Best Credit Card for Travel India

1. Axis Bank Vistara Signature

The Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card is just like having a loyal travel companion by your side. In association with Air Vistara, this high-end co-branded card offers a delightful surprise—a complimentary Club Vistara Silver membership.

Being a travel credit card, it provides a wide range of travel advantages, such as free domestic airport lounge visits, benefits from travel-related insurance, free flights, a free Club Vistara Silver Membership, etc.

Features

Welcome Bonus	One complimentary premium economy class air ticket  Complimentary Club Vistara Silver Membership.
Travel Benefits	Earn bonus Club Vistara points and upto 4 complimentary premium economy tickets as a milestone benefit.
Reward Point Benefits	Earn 4 CV points for every ₹200 spent on Club Vistara Signature Credit Card.
Insurance Benefits	Insurance covers upto ₹1 lakh for loss of baggage, travel documents, or delay in check-in baggage.
Dining Benefits	Get a 25% discount of up to ₹800 at partner restaurants across India.
Lounge Benefits	Complimentary access to domestic lounges up to 2 times per quarter.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fee	₹3000
Annual Fee	₹3000
Annual Percentage Rate	52.86%
Foreign Transaction Fee	3.50%

Eligibility

Applicant’s age should be between 18 and 70 years, and their annual income should be at least ₹6,00,000.

2. Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

The Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card can be your gateway to the best travel deals! This co-branded gem between Standard Chartered Bank and EaseMyTrip, India's leading online travel portal, offers exclusive discounts on bookings, complimentary lounge access, and an annual fee waiver. So, travel smart and save big with the Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card.

Features

Discount Benefits	Enjoy a flat 20% instant discount on domestic and international hotel bookings (up to ₹5000 and ₹10000, respectively).  Get a flat 10% off on domestic and international flight bookings (up to ₹1000 and ₹5000, respectively).  For bus ticket bookings of ₹500 or more, you can get a discount upto ₹125.
Reward Benefits	For booking reservations through independent hotel and airline websites, apps, and shops, you receive 10x rewards for every ₹100 spent.  For every ₹100 spent on any other category of retail purchases, you receive 2x reward points (2 reward points = ₹0.50).
Lounge Benefits	Get one domestic and two foreign lounge visits per calendar quarter.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees	₹350
Annual Fees	₹350
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)	45%
Foreign Transaction Fee	3.5%

Eligibility

Applicant’s age should be between 21 and 65 years, and they must have a stable income.

3. SBI ELITE Credit Card

If you are looking for a premium credit card that offers you a range of benefits across travel, shopping, movies, and more, you might want to consider the SBI ELITE Card. This card lets you earn reward points on all your purchases, which can be redeemed for air miles, gift vouchers, or cashback.

You also get complimentary movie tickets worth ₹6,000 every year, free lounge access at domestic and international airports, a low foreign currency markup fee of 1.99%, and a Club Vistara Silver membership.

Features

Welcome Bonus	E-vouchers from any of the participating brands, such as Yatra, Aditya Birla Fashion, Hush Puppies/Bata, Pantaloons, and Shoppers Stop, worth ₹5,000.
Travel Benefits	Complimentary access to domestic and international airport lounges Free membership to Club Vistara and Trident Privilege Red Tier.
Reward Benefits	Earn 2 Reward Points on every ₹100 spent on retail purchases and enjoy a rewarding 5X Reward Points on dining, departmental stores, and grocery purchases (2.5% reward rate).
Zero Liability Protection	Get a ₹1 lakh insurance cover that is effective from 48 hours before the loss of the card to 7 days after reporting the loss.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver	1% fuel surcharge waiver for each transaction between ₹500 and ₹4000 (max benefit of ₹250 per month).

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees	₹4,999
Annual Fees	₹4,999
Annual Percentage Rate (APR)	42%
Foreign Transaction Fee	1.99%

Eligibility

If the applicant is self-employed, then he/she must be aged between 21 to 60 years, whereas if the applicant is a salaried individual, then he/she must be aged between 18 to 65 years. In both cases, the minimum monthly income of the individual should be ₹60,000.

4.  American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card

With its focus on travel and lifestyle benefits, the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card is a must-have for avid travellers. The card offers attractive welcome bonuses, accelerated reward points on travel spends, and exclusive discounts on hotel bookings. Additionally, its tie-ups with leading airlines and hotel chains ensure that you enjoy a seamless travel experience from start to finish.

Features

Welcome Bonus	Get 10,000 Membership Rewards Points redeemable for Flipkart or Amex travel.
Travel Benefits	E-vouchers worth ₹10,000 from Taj, Vivanta, and SeleQtions Hotels,
Milestone Benefits	Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards Points worth up to ₹4,500 on spending ₹1.9 lakhs in a year. Earn 25,000 Membership Rewards Points worth up to ₹7,500 on spending ₹4 lakhs in a year.
Lounge Benefits	Enjoy 8 complimentary visits per year (two complimentary visits are permitted every quarter) to airport lounges across India.
Dining Benefits	Get exciting discounts of up to 20% every time you dine at select restaurants.
Fuel Surcharge Waiver	No surcharge on fuelling up at HPCL fuel stations.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees	₹3,500
Annual Fees	₹5,000
Annual Percentage Rate	42%
Foreign Transaction Fee	3.5%

Eligibility

Applicant’s age should be at least 18 years, and their annual income should be a minimum of ₹6,00,000.

5. HDFC Bank Diners Club Premium Credit Card

The HDFC Bank Diners Club Premium Credit Card is a premier financial companion that combines luxury, convenience, and remarkable benefits. With this card in your wallet, you gain access to a world of exclusive privileges, including airport lounge access, travel concierge services, accelerated reward points, and attractive discounts on dining and lifestyle experiences.

Features

Welcome Bonus	Get 2,500 reward points.
Travel Benefits	Get upto 6 Complimentary access to 1000+ lounges Worldwide You can convert reward points to miles on Jet Airways, Air India and Singapore Airlines (1 reward point = 0.50 air miles)
Reward Benefits	Earn 4 reward points for every ₹150 you spend For flight and hotel bookings, Diners Privilege/ Diners ClubMiles/ Diners Premium/ Diners Rewardz card members can redeem upto a maximum of 70% of booking value through Reward Points.
Insurance Benefits	₹1 crore air accident insurance ₹25 lakhs medical emergency insurance ₹50,000 travel insurance for baggage delay/loss ₹9 lakhs credit liability cover.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees	₹2,500
Annual Fees	₹2,500
Annual Percentage Rate	43.20%
Foreign Currency Markup	2.0%

Eligibility

If the applicant is self-employed, then he/she must be aged between 21 to 65 years and should have a minimum annual income of ₹7.2 Lakhs.
Whereas if the applicant is a salaried individual, then he/she must be aged between 21 to 60 years and should have a minimum monthly income of ₹60,000.

Conclusion

Choose the right travel credit card to make your travel plans less expensive and stressful. We have provided information about the top 5 travel credit cards for 2024 in India, catering to different types of travellers. Compare them based on your preferences and select the one that suits you best. Use Select by Finology's smart comparison tool and apply online through our secure platform.