Are you dreaming of international travel, but worried about the payment hassles of transacting in a foreign currency? Travel credit cards are the answer! What are travel credit cards? 

As the name implies, these credit cards are specifically designed for frequent travellers. These are reward cards that offer various travel-related perks like elite member status on airlines, hotel chains, free lounge access, air miles accumulation, and more. They are ideal for all types of travellers - leisure and business. 

Travel credit cards offer accelerated rewards earning when compared to regular credit cards. Every transaction you make using the card, helps you earn travel-related rewards. Redeem the accumulated rewards for free travel or discounts on flight and hotel bookings. Another huge perk of travel credit cards is that the foreign currency transaction fee is minimum, when compared to other regular credit cards. 

With leisure travel - domestic and international - on pause, you can use your travel credit cards to earn rewards now and redeem it on your future travels. Each traveller has a distinct set of priorities. Hence, make sure to compare the features and benefits, so that you can choose the best travel credit card that suits your needs. 

Top 5 International Travel Credit Cards in India

1. Citibank Premiermiles Credit Card

Citibank provides a great option to travellers with the Premiermiles credit card. This comes with complimentary offers on air travel in partnership with more than 100 airlines around the world. Users who are frequent flyers can earn airline miles. Accumulated air miles can be redeemed against future bookings. Rewards can also be redeemed for car rentals and booking a hotel stay. Here are some of the key features and benefits of this card:

  • Use the credit card to make transactions and continue to earn air miles which can be redeemed at bookings for nearly 100 domestic and international airlines.

  • Users can choose to transfer the accumulated miles to the bank’s associate airline or a partner hotel.

  • 10,000 reward points can be availed by spending more than Rs. 1,000 within 60 days of the card issue date.

  • Renewal of the card can also earn up to 3000 airline miles.

  • 10 airline miles can be earned on every Rs. 100 expense on flight bookings, hotel bookings, car rentals at www.premiermiles.co.in.

  • 10 miles can be earned on every spending of Rs. 100 on airline bookings across the globe.

  • 10 miles can be earned on every spending of Rs. 100 at Citibank’s associate online traders.

  • 4 miles to be earned on every spending of Rs. 100 for all the other transactions made using this card.

  • The accumulated miles are valid for a lifetime. 

  • As part of the Frequent Flyer Program, users can book airline tickets across the globe and earn 10 miles per Rs. 100 worth of expenditure. It allows users to accumulate additional FFP miles to fly with the same airline in the future.

  • One frequent flyer mile can be earned on every 2 miles that you transfer to one of the following:

    • British Airways

    • Malaysian Airlines

    • Cathay Pacific

    • Qatar Airways

    • Delta Airlines

    • Thai Airways

    • Air India

    • Etihad Airways

    • Singapore Airlines

    • Eva Air.

  • Airport lounge access can be availed across the country.

Charges:

  • Interest rate is variable and could range from 37.20% to 42% p.a.

  • Annual Fee on this card is Rs. 3,000.

2. American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card

Known to be one of the best credit cards for international travel, the Platinum travel credit card lets you earn miles along with reward points. These points can be redeemed at any of the airlines. The card offers a range of benefits making it an ideal option for international travel. Here are some of the key features and benefits of this card:

  • 5000 Membership points are offered on this card as a welcome gift. These can be converted into Rs.4,000 worth of Indigo Vouchers.

  • Upon spending Rs. 1.90 lakhs per year, you can get Rs. 7,700 worth of Indigo Vouchers.

  • Expenditure worth Rs. 4 lakhs per year can earn you vouchers worth Rs. 10,000 of Taj Group and Rs. 11,800 of Indigo vouchers.

  • Free airport lounge access across 30 lounges in metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, etc can be availed with this card.

  • 3% cashback is offered on top fuel stations across the country.

  • 1 reward point can be earned upon spending of Rs. 50. This excludes cash transactions, fuel spends, expenditure related to utilities and insurance.

Fees and Interest

  • Joining Fees on this card is Rs. 3,500.

  • Interest charged is 40.2% per annum.

  • Annual Fees on this card is Rs. 5,000.

3. HDFC Bank Regalia Credit Card

HDFC Regalia credit card is an ideal choice for a vacation loan. Benefits associated with this card include dining out, entertainment, leisure travel etc. Here are some of the main benefits and features of this card:

  • A free Taj Epicure Plus membership can be availed with this card. Exclusive benefits with Taj resorts and hotels come free with the card.

  • Epicure points can be availed on food and beverage by making expenditures at participating outlets across the country.

  • Silver Membership at Club Vistara comes for free with this card. 6 club Vistara points can be earned upon spending Rs. 100 on Vistara flights.

  • Extra 5 kg luggage allowance can be availed along with priority check-in at the time of boarding.

  • 4 points can be earned on every Rs. 150 worth of transactions. This does not apply to fuel transactions.

  • 2X reward points can be earned on spending Rs. 150 for bookings via hdfcbankregalia.com, airvistara.com and expenses at stand-alone cafeterias.

  • These points can be converted into air miles and redeemed at major domestic and international airlines.

  • 2% mark-up is available on expenses made using foreign currency.

  • Expenses of minimum Rs. 400 can help fetch the benefit of 0% surcharge.

Fees and Charges

  • Annual Fee on this card is Rs. 9,999.

  • Interest rate is 23.88% p.a.

4. Axis Bank Miles & More World Credit Card

Axis Bank’s Miles & More World credit card is ideal for users who want to earn miles without any limitations on different eligible expenses. This card is designed for frequent travellers. Some of the key features of this credit card are:

  • As a welcome offer, users get 3000 miles on this card

  • A reward of 2000 miles comes on activating the card and making transactions worth minimum Rs. 50,000 in the first 60 days of the card issue date.

  • A welcome bonus of 5000 miles can be earned after making the first purchase with the card.

  • 3000 miles can be accumulated each year as part of the annual bonus scheme.

  • The card also has 4 miles per spending worth of Rs. 200.

  • 20 miles can be earned on every purchasing minimum Rs. 200 worth of movie tickets.

  • 24,000 miles can be earned on expenses of Rs. 1 lakh in a month.

  • The card also gets users free access to various Mastercard lounges across the country.

  • Refund of 2.5% surcharge can be earned on every Rs. 400- Rs. 5,000 of expenses made on fuel purchase across different petrol pumps in the country.

Fees and Charges

  • Joining Fee of this card is Rs. 3,500

  • Annual Fee charged is Rs. 3,500

  • Interest charged on this card is 2.95% per month (41.75% p.a.)

5. HSBC MakeMyTrip Signature Credit Card

HSBC bank has introduced an interesting option in the form of a MakeMyTrip Signature credit card for those who love to shop and travel. The card comes with attractive rewards and a lot of discount vouchers. Additional offers like free flight tickets can also be earned on this card. Here are some of the main features and benefits of this card:

  • 10 reward points to be earned on every Rs. 100 worth of transaction made through www.makemytrip.com.

  • 4 bonus points can be earned for every Rs. 100 worth of transactions at other associate merchant sites.

  • 15 turbo points to be earned on every Rs. 100 worth of transaction, provided the total expenditure is over Rs. 50,000 per year and is made on www.makemytrip.com.

  • For total expenditures exceeding Rs. 4 lakhs, an exclusive membership can be earned as an anniversary gift. 10,000 extra points can be earned with 2 additional vouchers of Rs. 500 of domestic flight tickets.

  • Monthly waiver of 2.5% fuel surcharge, maximum up to Rs. 250 for transactions ranging between Rs. 400 and Rs. 4,000.

  • 20% discounts can be availed on dining across major cities in the country.

Fees

Annual Fee of this card is Rs. 500

Conclusion

Frequent travellers have many options to choose from as the market is flooded with an array of travel credit cards. With plenty of choices, it can be confusing to pick the right credit card. Use this guide, to compare the features, rewards and other benefits to pick the best card that suits your travel needs.