Best Travel Credit Cards in India: Compare Fees, Rewards & Forex Charges

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Travelling internationally can be exciting, but leaving without the right credit card means missing out on rewards and perks that could make your trips more enjoyable. Choosing the best credit card for international travel from India can help you earn points, cashback, and travel benefits every time you spend abroad.

In this guide, we’ll look at 8 of the best travel credit card options in India and break down their fees, rewards, and exclusive perks to help you find the right fit. We'll also introduce you to the Wise Travel card, which allows you to hold 40+ currencies in on card and spend without any forex markups or hidden fees.

What to look out for when choosing a credit card for travel in India

When choosing the best credit card for travelling overseas from India, it’s important to understand the costs and benefits so the card aligns with your travel and spending habits.

• Annual and monthly fees: Check whether the card’s rewards, lounge access, or partner benefits justify the cost. If a card’s benefits don’t offset its fees, a low-fee alternative may be better. For example, a travel debit card like Wise, with no monthly or annual fee, can help you avoid ongoing charges.
• Foreign transaction fees (forex markup): Look at what you’ll pay on international transactions. For many credit cards, foreign transaction fees can add about 2% to 3.5% to your overall bill where they apply.
• Cash advance fees: Using a credit card at an ATM is often expensive. Cash withdrawals can cost around 2.5% of the withdrawn amount, and interest usually starts accruing immediately (there’s typically no interest-free period for cash advances).
• Travel benefits: Compare perks like travel insurance, airport lounge access, airline miles, hotel status, or partner discounts, and make sure these are benefits you’ll actually use and value.

Comparison of the 8 best travel credit cards in India

Axis Atlas Credit Card

The Axis Atlas Credit Card¹ is often considered one of the best credit cards for flight bookings as you earn points on eligible spends that can be converted into flights, hotels, and other travel rewards. Cardholders also enjoy premium travel perks like complimentary lounge access and tier-based benefits that improve as your spending increases.

• Annual income needed:
  • Salaried: 12,00,000 INR
  • Self-employed: 15,00,000 INR
• Annual fee: 5,000 INR
• Welcome bonus: 2,500 EDGE Miles on first transaction within 37 days¹
• Miles earning rate²:
  • 2 EDGE Miles per 100 INR on eligible spends
  • 5 EDGE Miles per 100 INR on TRAVEL EDGE Portal
  • 5 EDGE Miles per 100 INR on airlines
  • 5 EDGE Miles per 100 INR on hotels
• Points expiry: 3 years⁴
• Fees:
  • Foreign currency markup: 3.50%
  • Cash advance fee: 2.50% (minimum 500 INR)

American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card⁵ is the best travel rewards credit card for elite travellers who want maximum benefits, from luxury hotel discounts to free lounge access. It also offers a generous mile-earning rate and travel insurance, giving you rewards and peace of mind wherever you travel.

• Annual income needed:
  • Salaried: 25,00,000 INR
  • Self-employed: 15,00,000 INR
• Annual fee: 66,000 INR
• Welcome bonus⁵: Taj/Luxe/Postcard gift worth up to 60,000 INR after 50,000 INR spend
• Miles earning rate:
  • 3X Membership Rewards points on international spending
  • 1 point per 40 INR
  • 5X points via Reward Multiplier
• Points expiry: No expiry
• Fees⁶:
  • Foreign currency fee: 3.50%
  • Cash advance fee: 3.50% (minimum 250 INR)

HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition Credit Card

HDFC’s Diners Club Black Metal Edition Credit Card⁷ is a premium credit card for frequent flyers who want the best credit card for airline miles and high-end travel benefits. It offers unlimited lounge access, milestone rewards, and a powerful rewards program that converts spending into Air Miles and luxury travel privileges.

• Annual income needed:
  • Salaried: 2,50,000 INR
  • Self-employed: 30,00,000 INR
• Annual fee: 10,000 INR (renewal fee waived with 8,00,000 INR annual spend)
• Welcome bonus⁷: Annual memberships for Club Marriott, Amazon Prime & Swiggy One after 1,50,000 INR spend
• Miles earning rate:
  • 5 Reward Points per 150 INR
  • Up to 10× Reward Points on SmartBuy while booking hotels
  • 10,000 quarterly bonus points after 4,00,000 INR spend
• Points expiry: 3 years⁹
• Fees:
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2%
  • Cash advance fee: 2.5% or 500 INR (whichever is higher)⁸

Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card

The Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card¹⁰ is a co-branded hotel loyalty credit card offered by HDFC Bank in partnership with Marriott Bonvoy. It’s the best credit card for travel points if you regularly stay at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

• Annual income needed:
  • Salaried: 12,00,000 INR
  • Self-employed: 15,00,000 INR
• Annual fee: 3,000 INR
• Welcome bonus¹⁰: Silver Elite status, 1 free night, 10 Elite Night Credits after 500 INR spend
• Miles earning rate:
  • 8 Points per 150 INR at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
  • 4 Points per 150 INR on travel, dining, entertainment
  • 2 Points per 150 INR on all other eligible spends
• Points expiry: 3 years⁹
• Fees:
  • Foreign transaction fee: 3.5%
  • Cash advance fee: 2.5% or 500 INR (whichever is higher)⁸

IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card

The IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card¹¹ is one of the best credit cards for international travel from India, as it lets you choose your preferred airline loyalty programme — either the Qatar Airways Privilege Club or the British Airways Executive Club. You can also choose your preferred international destination, where you can earn accelerated Avios and enjoy discounted foreign transaction fees.

• Annual income needed: Not specified
• Annual fee: 10,000 INR
• Welcome bonus¹¹: 20,000 Avios
• Miles earning rate (per 200 INR):
  • 6 Avios on POS transactions in preferred international destination
  • 3 Avios on online spending in preferred destination
  • 3 Avios on domestic or other international spending
  • 5 Avios on Qatar Airways & British Airways purchases
  • 1 Avios on utilities, government services, education, insurance
  • 3 Avios on all other spending
• Points expiry: 1 year¹²
• Fees¹³:
  • FX fee: 1.5% in preferred destination
  • FX fee: 3.5% elsewhere
  • Cash advance fee: Waived

HSBC Travelone Credit Card

The HSBC Travelone Credit Card¹⁴ is the best credit card for travel points, offering users the ability to earn accelerated rewards and exchange them for Air Miles at a 1:1 ratio. It’s better than a normal Air Miles credit card because it allows more flexible point redemption, giving travellers the freedom to choose how they want to use their points.

• Annual income needed:
  • Salaried: 600,000 INR¹⁴
• Annual fee: 4,999 INR (waived with 800,000 INR yearly spend)
• Welcome bonus:
  • Spend 10,000 INR in 30 days → Cashback + hotel voucher + EasyDiner Prime
  • Spend 100,000 INR in 90 days → 3,000 reward points
• Miles earning rate:
  • 4 points per 100 INR on flights, travel aggregators, foreign currency
  • 2 points per 100 INR on other spending
  • 10,000 bonus points for annual spends above 1,200,000 INR
• Points expiry: 2 years¹⁵
• Fees¹⁶:
  • Foreign transaction fee: 3.5%
  • Cash advance fee: 2.5% (minimum 500 INR)

MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card

The MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card¹⁷ is a co-branded travel credit card from ICICI Bank in partnership with MakeMyTrip. It’s the best credit card for international travel from India if you already use MakeMyTrip to book your holidays, as you can earn additional points on flights, hotels, and other travel-related expenses.

• Annual income needed:
  • Salaried: 2,40,000 INR
  • Self-employed: 2,40,000 INR
• Annual fee: 999 INR (waived with 3,00,000 INR annual spend)
• Welcome bonus¹⁷:
  • 1,000 INR MakeMyTrip voucher after joining fee
  • 1,000 INR MakeMyTrip voucher after annual fee
• Miles earning rate (per 100 INR):
  • 6 points on hotel spending
  • 3 points on flights, buses, cabs
  • 1 point on other retail purchases
• Points expiry: 3 years¹⁸
• Fees¹⁸:
  • Foreign transaction fee: 0.99%
  • Cash advance fee: 3.75%

Niyo SBM Credit Card

The Niyo SBM Credit Card¹⁹ is a zero-forex-markup credit card aimed at international travellers and high spenders. It offers 0% forex markup on international transactions, making it more affordable to spend overseas while still letting you earn rewards and enjoy benefits like complimentary lounge access.

This card is especially suited to people who are comfortable maintaining a linked fixed deposit (FD). It also offers the advantage of no tax collected at source (TCS) on unlimited transactions, which can be useful for high overseas spenders.

• Annual income needed: Not stated (requires minimum 5,000 INR FD)
• Annual fee: Nil¹⁹
• Welcome bonus²⁰: 2,500 Niyo Coins per referral
• Points value:
  • Earn 10% Niyo Coins (1 coin = 0.10 INR)
  • ATM withdrawal fees refunded as coins (up to 5000 coins/quarter)
• Points expiry: 12 months²⁰
• Fees²¹:
  • International ATM withdrawal fee: 423 INR + tax or 2.5%
  • Interest rate: 3% monthly
  • Late payment fee: 150 INR
  • Over-limit fee: 150 INR

Meet the Wise Travel card: 40+ currencies in one card, with no forex markups or hidden fees

With no hidden markups, the Wise Travel card is a smart way to spend abroad. You'll always get the real interbank exchange rate for conversions across 40+ currencies. Wise's transparent, low pricing, plus no foreign transaction fees or forex markups, usually means you are getting the best value for your money.

The fully digital account opening and vKYC process allows you to sign up from the comfort of your home, and there are no annual or monthly fees either. Simply order your card, show proof of your travels, load your funds, and you're all set. Plus - card orders are currently free to Indian addresses (limited time launch offer, while stocks last)! A physical Wise card enables you to make secure chip and PIN payments and get some free ATM withdrawals while you're overseas. You can also instantly freeze or unfreeze your card in the app anytime for peace of mind.

Wherever your travels take you, the Wise Travel card is the only forex card you'll need to make spending internationally simpler and cheaper.

🚀 Get a free Wise Travel card

Summary

The best travel card in India depends on your spending habits, travel frequency, and rewards preferences. Premium options like the American Express Platinum Card and HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition Credit Card are the best credit cards for international travel from India as they offer unlimited lounge access, luxury hotel perks, and generous miles.

Co-branded cards such as the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card and MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card are top contenders for the best credit card for travel points on specific platform bookings. And it's always helpful to bring along a debit card like the Wise Travel card to save on fees that your credit card charges.

1. Axis Atlas Credit Card
2. Axis Atlas Tiered Benefits
3. Atlas Credit Card Features
4. Validity of EDGE Reward Points
5. American Express Platinum Card
6. American Express Schedule of Fees and Charges
7. HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition Credit Card
8. HDFC: What is the interest rate for credit card cash withdrawal?
9. HDFC Rewards Terms & Conditions
10. Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card
11. IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card
12. IndusRewards Program
13. IndusInd Bank Credit Card Fees
14. HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
15. HSBC Credit Card FAQ
16. HSBC Important Terms and Conditions
17. MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card
18. ICICI Bank Most Important Terms and Conditions
19. Niyo Zero Forex Card
20. Niyo Coins: A Complete Guide
21. DCB Niyo Credit Card Fees