Best Travel Credit Cards

Best Travel Credit Cards in India for August 2026

Here is list of top travel credit cards along with detailed benefits and fees & charges:

1. Axis Atlas Credit Card

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

Key Features and Benefits:

• Welcome benefit of up to 2,500 bonus EDGE Miles
• 5 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent on monthly travel spends of up to Rs. 2 Lakh
• 2 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent on monthly travel spends above Rs. 2 Lakh
• 2 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent across all categories
• Redeem EDGE Miles through the Travel EDGE platform at a ratio of 1:1 (1 EDGE Mile= Rs. 1)
• 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*

Axis Atlas credit card is an excellent option for those who spend a substantial amount every month on travel as well as other expenses. The card offers 10% value-back on travel spends as reward points redeemable across 15+ airlines and hotels in 1:2 ratio. On spends beyond travel, users can get up to 4% value-back as 2 points per Rs. 100. Along with the highest conversion ratio, the card has a unique tier-based structure allowing high-spenders to extract maximum value from the card by reaching higher tiers with better benefits. However, being a travel credit card, the only disappointing bit is that this card charges a high forex mark-up fee of 3.5% and offers no concierge services.

*Subject to annual spends.

2. HSBC TravelOne Credit Card

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

Key Features and Benefits:

• 4 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on flights, travel aggregators, and in foreign currency
• 2 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on other categories
• 6 complimentary domestic lounge visits every year
• 4 complimentary international lounge access per year
• Exclusive discount offers on travel platforms like EaseMyTrip, Yatra, ClearTrip, etc.
• 4 complimentary golf rounds & 12 complimentary golf lessons per year
• 50% off on green fees for additional golf rounds
• 1,000 cashback, Postcard Hotels voucher worth Rs. 3,000 and 3 months EazyDiner Prime membership on spending Rs. 10,000 within first 30 days
• 10,000 bonus reward points on spending Rs. 12 Lakh or more in a year

HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is an airline-agnostic travel credit card that offers value back in the form of reward points. Cardholders can earn 4% value-back on travel spends through accelerated (2X) rewards points and redeem them with partner airlines and hotels at a 1:1 ratio, allowing them to save on their travel expenses. The card also provides exclusive discount offers on travel platforms like Yatra, EaseMyTrip, Cleartrip, PayTM, and StayVista Hotels, along with complimentary lounge access, which further enhances the value of this card for frequent travellers. Besides travel, TravelOne also offers lifestyle benefits such as complimentary golf rounds, dining discount, and more.

3. Axis Magnus for Burgundy Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 30,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee: Rs. 30,000 + Taxes (Waived off on spending Rs. 30 Lakh in the preceding year)

Key Features & Benefits:

• Luxe gift card/ The Postcard Hotels/ Yatra voucher worth Rs. 5,000 as welcome benefit
• 12 EDGE reward points per Rs. 200 spent on cumulative monthly spends of up to Rs. 1.5 Lakh
• 35 EDGE reward points per Rs. 200 spent above cumulative monthly spends of Rs. 1.5 Lakh
• 60 EDGE reward points per Rs. 200 spent on Travel EDGE portal up to cumulative monthly spends of Rs. 2 Lakh
• 35 EDGE reward points per Rs. 200 spent on Travel EDGE portal above monthly spends of Rs. 2 Lakh
• Transfer accumulated EDGE reward points to partner miles in 5:4 ratio
• Unlimited complimentary international lounge visits with Priority Pass and 4 additional guest visits per year
• Unlimited visits to select domestic airport lounges for both primary and add-on cardholders (subject to spending Rs. 50,000 in the previous three months), along with 4 guest visits per year

While Axis Magnus lost most of its value after two rounds of devaluation, Magnus for Burgundy still stands strong as a travel card due to its 5:4 conversion ratio. The base rate itself translates to 4.8% value-back on travel, reaching even higher (up to 14%) if cardholders spend beyond the pre-set threshold. This makes the card a great option for high-spenders who can spend significantly across multiple categories and redeem the accumulated points for excellent travel value across 15+ partner airlines and hotels. Unlimited domestic and international lounge access along with a limited number of guest visits, low forex mark-up fee and 4 free airport meet and greet services further enhance its value for frequent travellers.

4. HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Edition Credit Card

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

Key Features & Benefits:

• Annual memberships of Club Marriott, Swiggy One and Amazon Prime on spending Rs 1.5 lakh during the first month
• Unlimited lounge access to 1,000+ airport Lounges in India and across the world for primary and add-on card members
• 5 reward points on spending Rs. 150
• Up to 10X reward points on SmartBuy
• 2X reward points on weekend dining
• 6 golf games per quarter across selected courses in the world
• Low forex markup fee of 2%
• 10,000 bonus reward points on min. quarterly spends of Rs. 4 Lakh

HDFC Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card offers premium features to justify its high annual fee, starting with a strong reward rate of 3.33% across all spends including travel, unlimited airport lounge access, and other travel benefits like a low forex mark-up fee of 2% and concierge services to assist with travel plans and more. While it is ideal for international travellers, the card also offers decent benefits on other lifestyle categories, such as dining, movies, golf, and more. Overall, HDFC DC Black not only find a place in the list of best travel credit cards in India but also caters to lifestyle spends on dining, shopping and entertainment, which also make it a great all-rounder credit card.

5. IDFC FIRST Gaj Metal Credit Card 

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

Key Features and Benefits:

• 50 reward points per Rs. 150 spent on hotel bookings 
• 25 reward points per Rs. 150 spent on flight bookings 
• 5 reward points per Rs. 150 on other categories
• 3 reward points per Rs. 150 spent internationally
• 1 reward point per Rs. 150 spent on insurance, utilities, rent, government, wallet load, railways, Fastag and education

IDFC FIRST Gaj Metal Credit Card is a premium metal credit card designed for consumers who value travel rewards, lifestyle benefits, and higher reward accumulation on premium spends. With a joining fee and annual fee of Rs. 12,500, this card is best suited for frequent travellers, high-spending professionals, and individuals who regularly book hotels, flights, and make international transactions. Cardholders can earn 50 reward points per Rs. 150 on hotel bookings, 25 points on flight bookings, 5 points on regular categories, and 3 points on international spends. 

6. Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 3,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee: Rs. 3,000 + Taxes

Key Features and Benefits:

• 5,000 EDGE Miles as joining benefit and 1,500 EDGE Miles on card renewal
• 5 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent on Travel EDGE portal and at direct airline websites/counters
• 2 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent on other spending categories
• 1 EDGE Mile = 1 Partner Point
• Up to 8 international airport lounge visits per year, 2 per calendar quarter
• Up to 32 domestic lounge visits for Visa cardholders and up to 24 domestic lounge visits for Mastercard users every year

Axis Bank Horizon Credit Card offers EDGE Miles with a 5% value-back on travel bookings and a base rate of 2% on other card spends. Though the value-back on travel spends is similar to that offered by Axis Atlas, Horizon offers this 5% rate only on Travel EDGE platform and standalone airline platforms. Axis Horizon’s EDGE Miles to travel points conversion ratio of 1:1 is quite good, but lower than Axis Atlas (1:2). Moreover, Axis Horizon offers a significantly high number of complimentary domestic lounge visits, without any spend-based condition. Substantial value-back on travel spends, lounge access and bonus EDGE Miles on renewal together make it one of the best travel credit cards in India.

Quick Read: Best Lounge Access Credit Card

7. IndusInd Bank Avios Visa Infinite

Joining Fee: Rs. 10,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee: Rs. 5,000 + Taxes

Key Features & Benefits:

• 6 Avios for every Rs. 200 spent at select preferred international destinations for PoS transactions
• 5 Avios for every Rs. 200 spent on Qatar Airways & British Airways website and app
• 3 Avios per Rs. 200 spent on all other categories, except utilities, insurance, govt. services and education
• 1 Avios per Rs. 200 on spends across utilities, insurance, govt. services and education
• 10% off on flight booked through Qatar Airways, on choosing Qatar Airways Privilege Club as the preferred airline
• 10% additional discount for Privilege Club members on all flights originating from India, if booked via Qatar Airways platform
• Low forex markup fee of 1.5% (at preferred destinations) and up to 36,000 Avios as milestone benefit
• 2 complimentary meet-and-greet services per year at leading international airports
• 2 international, with complimentary Priority Pass membership, and 2 domestic lounge visits every quarter

This Visa Infinite Credit Card is a premium credit card tailored for those who travel frequently. What sets this card apart is its unique partnership with two airlines, Qatar Airways and British Airways, offering flexibility compared to other co-branded airline cards. Cardholders can get up to 3% value-back on travel spends through accelerated rewards along with exclusive benefits based on their choice of airline and travel destinations. In addition to airline-specific perks, the card offers a generous number of complimentary lounge visits each year and a low forex mark-up fee. Overall, it is a well-rounded option for frequent flyers who prefer flexibility across these two airlines along with premium travel benefits.

8. BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium

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

Key Features and Benefits:

• Etihad Guest Silver tier status on 1st card spend and upgrade to Gold tier on making the 1st spend on Etihad.com within the first 6 months
• 6 Miles per Rs. 100 spent on Etihad Airways
• 2 Miles per Rs. 100 spent domestically and internationally
• Zero forex mark-up fee on international transactions
• 500 bonus Miles if the sum of any 4 monthly transactions is Rs. 50,000, once per month
• 4,000 bonus Miles on Rs. 3 lakh quarterly spends, once per quarter
• 24,000 bonus Miles on Rs. 12 lakh annual spends, once per year
• 1,000 bonus Miles on flying twice with Etihad in a year, once per year
• 12 domestic and 8 international airport lounge access

BOBCARD Etihad Guest Premium majorly offers value back through the rewards program. The card offers accelerated value-back of 6% in the form of Etihad Guest Miles on Etihad Airways spends and comes with up to 47,000 bonus miles as milestone benefit every year. In addition to the rewards, it comes with complimentary airport lounge access without any associated spend-based condition. When it comes to international spends, this card does not charge any forex mark-up and offers 2% value-back as miles. Moreover, the cardholders can also earn bonus miles as welcome benefit and get Etihad Guest membership on joining as well. Those looking for similar benefits but at a lower annual fee can also opt for this card’s base variant BOBCARD Etihad Guest.

9. Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card

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

Key Features & Benefits:

• 2.5 Skywards Miles on every Rs. 100 spent
• 1 Skywards Mile on every Rs. 100 spent on insurance & utility
• Unlimited complimentary domestic lounge visits
• Unlimited complimentary international lounge and spa visits at select airports in India via Dreamfolks Pass
• Buy one ticket and get up to Rs. 750 off on the second ticket, 4 times every month via BookMyShow

Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Credit Card is designed specifically for frequent Emirates flyers, offering a range of travel-related benefits. Cardholders can earn up to 2.5 Skywards Miles on every spend and later redeem them for flight bookings or upgrades through Emirates. The card also offers unlimited complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access, along with free spa sessions—making it a good option for frequent international travellers who prefer flying with Emirates.

10. Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 3,000 + Taxes
Annual Fee: Rs. 3,000 + Taxes

Key Features & Benefits:

• 1 Free Night Award, Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status and 10 Elite Night Credits as welcome benefits
• 8 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent on travel, dining & entertainment
• 2 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent on all other applicable purchases
• 12 complimentary lounge access each year outside India
• 12 complimentary lounge access within India at both domestic and international terminals every year
• Up to 3 Free Night Awards every year as milestone benefits

Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Card is designed for travellers who prefer staying at Marriott-owned properties. From rewards on activation to milestone benefits, this card offers multiple ways to earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy Points. These points can be used for travel services or to book stays at luxury hotels like St. Regis, JW Marriott, Le Méridien, Sheraton, and many more participating properties. In addition to the perks at Marriott hotels, the card also offers a generous number of complimentary international and domestic lounge visits, making it a valuable option for frequent travellers.

11. MakeMyTrip ICICI Credit Card

Note: The card is offered as a dual proposition with Mastercard and RuPay.

Joining Fee: Rs. 999 + Taxes
Annual Fee: Rs. 999 + Taxes

Key Features and Benefits:

• MMT voucher worth Rs. 1,000 and MMTBLACK Gold Membership for the first year
• MMT voucher worth Rs. 1,000 on the payment of annual fee
• Unlimited 6% MyCash (12 myCash per Rs. 200) on hotel bookings via MakeMyTrip
• Unlimited 3% MyCash (6 myCash per Rs. 200) on flights, holiday packages, cabs & bus bookings via MakeMyTrip
• 1% myCash (2 myCash per Rs. 200) on all other spends*, including domestic & international spends outside MakeMyTrip
• 8 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every year
• 1 complimentary international airport lounge visit in a year
• Low forex markup fee of 0.99%
• Buy 1 ticket and get 25% off (Max. Rs. 150) on the second ticket on BookMyShow, once a month each on Mastercard & RuPay variant

The card is a replacement of two other ICICI Bank co-branded cards with MakeMyTrip: MMT ICICI Platinum and MMT ICICI Signature. MMT ICICI Bank Credit Card offers exclusive benefits on MakeMyTrip with up to 6% value back on travel bookings, a welcome voucher, and an impressive reward structure. All rewards earned are transferred to the MMT account as My Cash that are redeemable for travel bookings on MakeMyTrip at a value of 1 My Cash = Rs. 1. In comparison to the previous variants, the card offers a higher reward rate and privileges like a low forex mark-up fee that make it suitable for not just domestic but also international travellers. However, the benefits on the card can be maximized only by restricting the travel bookings to MakeMyTrip.

12. Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

Joining Fee: Rs. 350 + Taxes
Annual Fee: Rs. 350 + Taxes

Key Features and Benefits:

• 20% discount (Max. Rs. 5,000) on domestic hotel bookings at EaseMyTrip
• 20% discount (Max. Rs. 10,000) on international hotel bookings at EaseMyTrip
• 10% discount (Max. Rs. 1,000) on domestic flight bookings at EaseMyTrip
• 10% discount (Max. Rs. 5,000) on international hotel bookings at EaseMyTrip
• 10 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent at standalone airline/hotel websites, mobile apps or outlets, except any travel aggregators
• 2 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on other categories
• 2 complimentary domestic lounge visit per year

Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card offers the highest benefits on your bookings via EaseMyTrip. With this card, you can get a direct discount on your flight and hotel bookings without any minimum transaction limit. The card offers benefits similar to Yatra SBI Card by offering discount along with reward points. However, Yatra SBI Card comes with a minimum transaction limit. While co-branded cards like MMT ICICI Platinum restrict their benefits to the MMT portal only, this card offers accelerated rewards on travel spends other than the EaseMyTrip portal as well. This is an ideal option if you want to earn basic travel benefits and don’t want to pay a high annual fee.

13. Ixigo AU Credit Card

Joining Fee: Nil
Annual Fee: Nil

Key Features and Benefits:

• Zero forex markup fee
• 10% off on hotel bookings, up to Rs. 1,000 once per month via Ixigo
• 10% off on bus bookings, up to Rs. 300 once per month via Ixigo
• 10% discount on flight bookings, up to Rs. 1,000 per month via Ixigo
• 16 complimentary domestic railway lounge access every year
• 1 complimentary international lounge access every year
• 16 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every year
• 20 reward points for every Rs. 200 spent on train bookings via Ixigo
• 10 reward points for every Rs. 200 spent online
• 5 reward points for every Rs. 200 spent offline
• Bonus 1,000 reward points and Ixigo money vouchers worth Rs. 1,000 as welcome benefits

Ixigo AU Credit Card targets people who frequently travel by bus and train. With direct discount on Ixigo spends and accelerated reward points on online spends, cardholders can save on their travel bookings other than Ixigo as well. Also, the discount on Ixigo spends can be availed every month, making it a suitable option for frequent travellers. If you are a beginner or an Ixigo loyalist, this credit card can be a great way to save on travel spends, especially if you do not have any other credit card. However, apart from a zero forex markup fee, this card does not offer any benefits on international travel, which might be a drawback for some consumers.

14. Federal Scapia Credit Card 

Joining Fee: Nil
Annual Fee: Nil

Key Features and Benefits:

• 20% Scapia Coins on all the travel bookings made on the Scapia app
• 10% Scapia Coins on online and offline transactions worth Rs. 20 or more made across all merchants in India via Visa card
• Redeem the accumulated reward points at a value of 5 reward points = Rs. 1
• Zero forex markup fee
• Unlimited domestic airport lounge access on spending minimum Rs. 20,000 per month

Federal Scapia Credit Card is a travel-focused lifetime free credit card designed for users who frequently travel and prefer earning rewards on everyday spending. With zero joining and annual fees, it offers strong value for travellers. Cardholders can earn 20% Scapia Coins on travel bookings through the Scapia app and 10% Scapia Coins on eligible online and offline transactions across merchants in India. The card also offers zero forex markup, making it suitable for international spends. It is best suited for frequent travellers who want travel benefits, lounge access, and rewards without paying annual fees. 

15. YES BANK Paisabazaar PaisaSave Credit Card

Joining Fee: Nil (Limited Period Offer)
Annual Fee: Nil (Limited Period Offer)

Key Features and Benefits:

• 6% cashback on all travel and dining spends
• 1% cashback on other categories, including UPI transactions
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver across all petrol pumps (Max. Rs. 250 per month)
• Annual fee waiver on spending Rs. 1.2 Lakh in a year

YES BANK Paisabazaar PaisaSave Credit Card is one of the best travel credit cards due to its accelerated 6% cashback without any brand restrictions. While most travel cards either offer value-back through air miles or are co-branded, offering direct cashback without limiting any brand makes YES PaisaSave Credit Card stand out among other travel cards. Although the accelerated cashback is capped at Rs. 3,000, cardholders can still earn unlimited base cashback after reaching this spend threshold, leading to significant savings. Overall, this credit card is a suitable option for frequent travellers looking for a cashback card with a low annual fee and decent benefits on travel and dining spends.