Best Credit Cards for International Travel 2026

With the right travel credit card, cardholders can save significantly on their travel spends through complimentary memberships, accelerated rewards and more. While most of the travel cards offer accelerated benefits on travel spends, only premium credit cards offer benefits like unlimited lounge visits, low forex markup fees and decent value-back through reward redemption for travel spends. Given below are some of the premium travel credit cards for international travel that can enhance your savings:

1. HDFC Infinia Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 12,500 + Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee: Rs. 12,500 + Applicable Taxes

Key Features & Benefits

• Complimentary Club Marriott Membership and exclusive dining benefits at ITC Hotels
• Unlimited international and domestic lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders
• Comparatively low forex markup fee of 2%
• 5 reward points per Rs. 150 spent across all categories
• 10X rewards on SmartBuy spends (including travel bookings)
• Use reward points to make travel bookings via SmartBuy Platform or convert into Airmiles at a 1:1 ratio
• Exclusive concierge service for travel booking assistance, dining referral, golf course referral and more
• Unlimited complimentary golf games at participating golf courses in India and abroad

 

One of the best premium credit cards in India, HDFC Infinia makes a worthy addition to an international traveller’s wallet owing to its low forex markup fee, unlimited international lounge visits and the option to convert reward points into Airmiles at a 1:1 ratio. The earning rate on the card is also good, which allows travellers to spend more, earn more and then utilize the earned rewards to save on their travel spends. However, this is an invite-only card that is offered to select customers of HDFC Bank. So, cardholders who are not eligible for Infinia and want to avail similar benefits can apply for HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card.

Suggested Read: Best Zero Forex Markup Credit Cards

2. ICICI Emeralde Private Metal Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 12,499 + Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee: Rs. 12,499 + Applicable Taxes

Key Features & Benefits

• Complimentary Taj Epicure Membership for the first year
• Unlimited complimentary international and domestic lounge access
• Refund of up to Rs. 12,000 in a year on 2 air travel or hotel booking cancellations
• Low forex markup fee of 2%
• 6X rewards on flights/vouchers and 12X rewards on hotel bookings through iShop
• 6 reward points per Rs. 200 spent
• EaseMyTrip vouchers worth Rs. 3,000 each on reaching annual spending milestone of Rs. 4 Lakh and Rs. 8 Lakh
• Unlimited golf games and lessons every year

 

ICICI Emeralde Private is a suitable choice for those who frequently travel abroad, as they can avail free international lounge access as many times as they want. The forex markup fee on most credit cards is 3.5%, but Emeralde Private charges only 2%, which makes foreign spends cheaper for cardholders. Additionally, EaseMyTrip vouchers as milestone benefits, flight & hotel booking cancellation cover and concierge services add to the benefits. Overall, this credit card is a rewarding option for consumers who spend significantly on travel and lifestyle categories.

3. Axis Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 30,000 + Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee: Rs. 30,000 + Applicable Taxes

Key Features & Benefits

• Up to 60 EDGE reward points per Rs. 200 spent on Travel EDGE portal
• Redeem rewards against partner airline or hotel loyalty points at a 5:4 ratio
• Unlimited complimentary international lounge visits through Priority Pass
• Unlimited visits to select domestic airport lounges on spending Rs. 50,000 in the previous 3 months
• 4 additional guest visits each to international & domestic lounges every year
• Low forex markup fee of 2%
• 4 complimentary airport meet & greet services in a year
• Any one voucher worth Rs. 5,000 from Luxe gift card, The Postcard Hotels gift voucher or Yatra gift voucher
• Up to 35 EDGE reward points per Rs. 200 spent

 

Axis Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card is exclusively designed for Axis Bank’s Burgundy clients. Cardholders can earn accelerated rewards on travel spends and redeem them against partner airlines or hotel loyalty points at a 5:4 ratio. Besides this, other benefits like unlimited lounge visits with free guest visits, low forex markup fees, complimentary meet & greet services and travel vouchers enhance the card’s overall value for frequent travellers. However, consumers who are not eligible for Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card can consider applying for Axis Magnus Credit Card with similar travel benefits at a lower annual fee.

4. HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 10,000 + Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee: Rs. 10,000 + Applicable Taxes

Key Features & Benefits

• Up to 10X reward points on spends at HDFC Bank’s SmartBuy Platform (including travel spends)
• Convert reward points into Airmiles at a value of 1 Reward Point = 1 Air Mile
• Use reward points to book hotels/flight tickets through Smartbuy portal at 1 Reward Point = Rs. 1
• Unlimited airport lounge access worldwide for both primary and add-on cardholder
• Low forex markup fee of 2%
• Priority check-in and baggage assistance through Fast Track Airport Experience
• Exclusive discounts at leading spas, salons, gyms etc. such as Sarva Yoga, Eyewearlabs, Round Glass Living, Tattva Spa, SleepyCat, Himalayan Hideaway, Neemrana Hotels, etc.
• Complimentary annual memberships of Club Marriott, Times Prime, Amazon Prime, MMT BLACK Elite Tier and three-month Swiggy One on spending Rs. 1.5 Lakh within the first 90 days or upon first-year fee realization
• 2 monthly vouchers from cult. fit Live 1-month membership or BookMyShow or TataCLiQ or Ola vouchers worth Rs. 500, every month on spends of Rs. 80,000
• 6 complimentary golf games per quarter across the finest courses in the world
• 5 reward points per Rs. 150 spent

 

HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card offers benefits similar to HDFC Infinia Card. The card justifies its high annual fee with benefits like accelerated rewards on travel spends, unlimited lounge access, low forex markup fees, exclusive services at airports, complimentary memberships and more. Frequent travellers can save on their travel spends by redeeming the accumulated rewards against travel bookings through the SmartBuy portal or convert them into partner airlines or hotel loyalty points at a 1:1 ratio. While Infinia is an invite-only card, consumers who want to avail similar benefits but are not eligible for it can consider applying for this credit card at a comparatively lower annual fee of Rs. 10,000.

5. YES Marquee Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 9,999 + Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee: Rs. 4,999 + Applicable Taxes

Key Features & Benefits

• Unlimited international lounge visit for primary and add-on users
• 24 domestic lounge visits in a year for primary and add-on users
• 8 complimentary domestic or international lounge visits in a year for guests
• Low forex markup fee of 1%
• 36 reward points per Rs. 200 on online spends
• 18 reward points per Rs. 200 on offline spends
• 10 reward points per Rs. 200 on wallet loading, rental, utility bill, insurance and other government payments
• 40,000 reward points as welcome benefit on the payment of joining fee
• Complimentary ETPrime subscription worth Rs. 3,199

 

YES Marquee is a premium credit card that helps international travellers save on their spends made in foreign currency, with a low forex markup fee of only 1%. Moreover, the card also offers unlimited international lounge visits for primary as well as add-on users along with up to 8 free guest visits, which makes it one of the best credit cards for overseas travel. Besides this, cardholders can earn 2X rewards on online spends, including travel expenses, along with the base reward rate of 18 points per Rs. 200 on offline spends, allowing cardholders to save significantly on their travel spends. This credit card is a suitable option for frequent international travellers looking for an all-rounder card with decent benefits on the travel category.

6. Axis Atlas Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 5,000 + Applicable Taxes
Annual Fee: Rs. 5,000 + Applicable Taxes

Key Features & Benefits

• 5 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent on monthly travel spends of up to Rs. 2 Lakh
• 2 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent across monthly travel spends above Rs. 2 Lakh
• 2 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent across other categories
• Redeem EDGE Miles through the Travel EDGE platform at a 1:1 ratio
• Value of 1 EDGE Mile = 2 Partner Points; except for 2 EDGE Miles = 1 Marriott Bonvoy Point
• Up to 12 international lounge access in a year*
• Up to 18 domestic lounge access in a year*
• Milestone benefit of up to 5,000 EDGE Miles*
• Welcome benefit of up to 2,500 bonus EDGE Miles

*Subject to annual spends.

Axis Atlas is one of the best credit card for international travel, with accelerated rewards on travel spends and the reward redemption ratio of 1:2 for partner airlines or hotel loyalty points. Besides this, cardholders can also save on their travel expenses through the Travel Edge portal by redeeming the accumulated miles for travel bookings at a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, a good frequency of complimentary international and domestic lounge visits adds to the card’s overall value. With up to 10% value-back on travel spends, this card turns out to be a suitable option for frequent travellers looking to save on their travel expenses.