Top 5 travel credit cards in India

Posted on: Jul 9, 2024 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Top 5 travel credit cards in India

Travel credit cards are financial products designed to cater to the unique needs of frequent international travellers. They offer many benefits and reward points that help enhance the travel experience. These travel credit cards have features like travel insurance, credit card access to airport lounges, and other travel rewards. They help make travel more enjoyable, cost-effective, and convenient.

• Travel Rewards

Travel rewards are the ability to earn travel reward points on every purchase using your credit card. It is among the primary features of international travel cards. You can use these reward points to redeem travel-related expenses like rental cars, hotel stays, flights, etc. The reward structure might offer bonus points depending on the card. These bonus points might be for categories like entertainment, dining, or travel spending, allowing travellers or cardholders to accumulate these points quickly.

• Airport Lounge Access

You get complimentary access to airport lounges with many travel credit cards. It helps provide travellers with an exclusive and comfortable space to relax before their flight. The amenities you will generally find in lounges include complimentary beverages, food, Wi-Fi, comfortable seas, and business facilities. It allows travellers to recharge by unwinding while waiting for their flight.

• Travel Insurance

Typically, travel credit cards have comprehensive travel insurance coverage. This coverage offers protection against different risks and emergencies related to travelling. It might include coverage for trip cancellation or interruption, delayed or lost baggage, medical expenses, and travel accidents.

Having international travel insurance through credit cards offers peace of mind to all travellers. It helps them relax as they know they are financially protected in case of unforeseen circumstances during their trip.

• Additional Perks and Benefits

Travel credit cards offer many other benefits and perks besides travel rewards and insurance. These help enhance the traveller's travel experience.

These include :

• Discounts and rental insurance

• Global Entry fee reimbursement or TSA PreCheck

• Check-in privileges and priority boarding

• Hotel upgrades, late check-out, complimentary breakfast

• Concierge services

• Annual Fees and Considerations

It is essential to consider the costs related to travel credit cards, in addition to the benefits and rewards they offer. These might include interest rates and annual fees. Many travel credit cards have annual fees. These can be modest to significant and depend on the card's benefits and features. However, frequent travellers who take advantage of the card's rewards and perks often get more value than the annual fee.

Having travel insurance through credit cards offers peace of mind to all travellers. It helps them relax as they know they are financially protected in case of unforeseen circumstances during their trip.

Let us look at the best credit cards for avid international travellers:

HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card

• Complimentary airport lounge access: The primary cardholder and one accompanying guest are allowed unlimited access to international and domestic airport lounges.

• Comprehensive travel insurance: It includes coverage for baggage delay, trip interruption/cancellation, loss of travel documents, and emergency medical expenses.

• Superior travel rewards: You get 5X reward points when you spend internationally and 10X on dining and travel transactions.

• Welcome and renewal benefits: You get complimentary memberships to leading lifestyle and travel platforms.

• Exclusive lifestyle benefits: Access worldwide dining discounts, golf privileges, and premium concierge services.

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card

• Welcome benefits: Get complimentary travel vouchers! This makes this an excellent option for new cardholders.

• Travel rewards: Get 5,000 membership bonus rewards when you spend Rs. 10,000 in the first 90 days.

• Milestone perks: You can get complimentary Taj Hotel or travel vouchers when you reach annual spending thresholds.

• Travel insurance coverage: This includes coverage for accidental death, disability, flight delays, or loss of baggage while you travel.

• Complimentary airport lounge access: You can access all domestic airport lounges nationwide.

Axis Bank Vistara Infinite Credit Card

• Travel insurance: Get coverage for flight delays, personal accident insurance and lost baggage coverage.

• Welcome benefits: Get a Club Vistara Silver membership and complimentary flight tickets when you activate your card.

• Complimentary airport lounge access: Access international and domestic airport lounges with the Visa Lounge Access Program.

• Vistara Club Vistara Points: Spend Rs. 200 on the card and get 6 Club Vistara Points. You can redeem these for flight tickets, upgrades, and more.

• Additional benefits: Receive complimentary priority check-in and an additional baggage allowance when you fly with Vistara Airlines.

Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Credit Card

• Exclusive privileges: Access exclusive lifestyle and dining privileges, dedicated concierge services, and complimentary golf sessions.

• Travel rewards: Spend Rs. 100 on fuel and dining transactions and get 5X reward points. You can redeem these for hotel stays, air miles, and much more.

• Welcome benefits: Get bonus reward points and welcome rewards when you activate the card.

• Comprehensive travel insurance: This includes coverage for loss of travel documents, baggage delay, trip interruption/cancellation, and medical emergency expenses.

• Complimentary airport lounge access: Get international and domestic airport lounge access with the Visa Lounge Access Program.

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

• Comprehensive travel insurance: You get coverage for loss of documents, emergency medical expenses, baggage delay, and trip cancellation and interruption.

• Welcome benefits: You earn welcome vouchers and milestone rewards upon activating your travel credit card and reaching a certain spent threshold.

• Lifestyle benefits: Get premium lifestyle privileges like dining discounts, movie ticket offers, and concierge services.

• Complimentary airport lounge access: You can access domestic and international airport lounges for a primary cardholder and an accompanying guest.

• Accelerated rewards: Get 2X points when you spend internationally and 4X on groceries, dining, and at supermarkets.

Conclusion

The right travel credit card can enhance an international traveller's travel experience. They receive comprehensive travel insurance coverage, reward points on international spending, and access to an exclusive airport lounge. The best travel credit cards cater to the unique travel needs of frequent flyers. Choose your travel credit card carefully for your next overseas voyage. It will ensure a rewarding and seamless travel experience.

Disclaimer The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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