Best Credit Cards for Travel in India

Axis Atlas is one of the best travel credit cards due to its 10% value-back on travel spends. Here are the top 5 travel credit cards in India for frequent travellers with benefits like air miles, complimentary lounge access, low forex markup and overall travel value.

Top 5 Travel Credit Cards in India

Axis Atlas Credit Card

Earn up to 10% air miles on travel spends
Strong point-to-mile conversion ratio of 1:2
Up to 12 international lounge visits
Up to 18 domestic lounge visits
Bonus 10,000 miles every year

Best For: Frequent flyers seeking value from air miles

Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card

Earn 5% air miles on travel spends
1:1 point-to-mile conversion ratio
Strong airline & hotel transfer partners
Up to 32 domestic lounge visits every year

Best For: Flexible air miles redemption

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

Up to 12% value-back on travel spends
4% value-back on flights & travel aggregators
Up to 15% off on travel platforms, like Yatra, EaseMyTrip, etc.
1:1 point-to-mile conversion ratio

Best For: Frequent overseas travellers

Axis Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card

Up to 24% value-back on travel spends
Up to 8.75% value-back on other spends
5:4 point-to-mile conversion ratio
Unlimited lounge visits worldwide
Low forex mark-up fee of 2%
4 airport meet & greet services every year

Best For: Premium travel & lifestyle benefits

HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition Credit Card

Up to 33.33% value-back on travel spends
33% value-back on other spends
1:1 point-to-mile conversion ratio
Unlimited lounge visits worldwide
Low forex mark-up fee of 2%
Club Marriott & MMT BLACK Elite Tier memberships

Best For: International travellers seeking overall travel value

How to Choose the Right Travel Credit Card

Identify your travel style

Identify which type of traveller you are:

International traveller
Domestic traveller
Occasional traveller

Focus on rewards & air miles

Keep a note of:

How many air miles you can earn?
Point-to-mile conversion ratio
Transfer partners of the card issuer

Check forex markup fee

Most cards charge around 3.5% forex markup fee
Look for cards with lower or zero forex markup fee

Look at lounge access benefits

Check:

Domestic airport lounge visits per quarter or year
International lounge access (Priority Pass, etc.)
Spend requirements to avail domestic lounge access benefits

Compare Co-branded vs Generic Cards

Co-branded cards

Offer benefits on partnered brands (airlines/travel portals)
Best for brand loyal customers

Generic travel cards

Offer equal value across all brands
Better for flexible air miles redemption

Check overall value

Compare annual fee vs benefits offered
Check whether you can recover the fee through rewards, miles, and travel perks

Key Consideration
The best travel card is the one that matches: Your travel frequency Your spending pattern Your redemption preferences

Key Consideration

The best travel card is the one that matches:

Your travel frequency
Your spending pattern
Your redemption preferences

Top Category-wise Travel Credit Cards in India

Best Credit Cards for Air Miles

Credit Card	Annual Fee	Key Feature
Axis Atlas Credit Card	Rs. 5,000	5% EDGE miles on travel spends
Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card	Rs. 3,000	5% EDGE miles on travel spends
HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card	Rs. 10,000	Up to 33.33% value-back on travel spends
Axis Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card	Rs. 30,000	Up to 24% value-back on travel spends

Best Co-branded Travel Credit Cards

Credit Card	Annual Fee	Key Feature
IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite Credit Card	Rs. 5,000	Benefits on 2 airlines: British & Qatar Airways
Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card	Rs. 10,000	2.5% miles on travel + other spends
MakeMyTrip ICICI Credit Card	Rs. 999	6% rewards on hotel bookings

Best Credit Cards for International Travel

Credit Card	Annual Fee	Key Feature
HDFC Infinia Credit Card	Rs. 12,500	3.33% value-back on travel + other spends
ICICI Emeralde Private Credit Card	Rs. 12,499	3% value-back on travel + other spends
Axis Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card	Rs. 30,000	14% value-back on travel + other spends

Best Credit Cards for Lounge Access

Credit Card	Annual Fee	Key Feature
Axis Magnus Credit Card	Rs. 30,000	Unlimited lounge visits worldwide along with guest visits
HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card	Rs. 10,000	Unlimited lounge visits globally
Axis Atlas Credit Card	Rs. 5,000	18 domestic + 12 international lounge visits yearly

Best Credit Cards for Zero Forex Markup

Credit Card	Annual Fee	Key Feature
Federal Bank Scapia Credit Card	Rs. 0	Unlimited domestic lounge visits
Ixigo AU Credit Card	Rs. 0	10% off on travel spends at ixigo
IDFC FIRST WOW! Black Credit Card	Rs. 750	Up to 16.7% value-back on travel spends

FAQs

Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card is considered one of the best travel credit cards in India because it offers strong air miles earning, good airport lounge access, and multiple airline and hotel transfer partners.

Travel credit cards mainly offers air miles or rewards, airport lounge access, discounts on flights and hotel bookings, low forex charges on international spends, and other travel perks.

A travel credit card is specifically designed for travel-related benefits such as travel bookings, lounge access, and more, whereas a regular credit card is more focused on general spends rewards like cashback, shopping discounts, and everyday purchases.

You should choose air miles if you frequently travel and prefer redeeming points for flights or airline loyalty programs. Reward points are better if you want more flexibility, as they can be used for cashback, vouchers, or multiple categories beyond just travel.

Travel credit cards are best suited for users who travel frequently, including regular domestic flyers, international travellers, and business professionals who often book flights and hotels.