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Ranked

Best Travel Credit Cards

Air-mile transfer partners, lounge access and low forex markup.

By Nishit Kumar, Founder & Editor
Updated 17 August 2026
  1. Best overallLifetime freeLow forex markup
    Federal Bank · Visa

    Scapia Federal Bank Credit Card

    Best for international travellers who want zero forex markup without paying a fee

    Zero forex markup on international spends, with unlimited domestic lounge access on spend

    Effective return
    3.0%
    Annual fee
    Nil
    Lounge (dom.)
    Unlimited
    Forex markup
    0.00%

    Our take. On a ₹3 lakh overseas trip, zero forex markup saves about ₹12,400 against a standard 3.5% card — on a card that costs nothing to hold. Worth carrying purely as a travel card even if you never redeem a coin.

    Credsir rating
    3.9/5
    Check your eligibilityRead full review

    Min. income ₹3,00,000 · Score 730+

  2. #2
    Axis Bank · Visa

    Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

    Best for frequent flyers who transfer miles to airline programmes

    Up to 10% value back on travel spends via EDGE Miles

    Effective return
    4.5%
    Annual fee
    ₹5,000
    Lounge (dom.)
    18
    Forex markup
    3.50%

    Our take. The best domestic travel card for someone who actually books award flights. Redeem for statement credit instead and the value collapses to roughly 1% — this card only works if you use the transfer partners.

    Credsir rating
    3.6/5
    Check your eligibilityRead full review

    Min. income ₹9,00,000 · Score 750+

  3. #3Low forex markup
    HDFC Bank · Visa

    HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card

    Best for mid-premium travel and lifestyle spending

    4 reward points per ₹150, with 5x on Nykaa, Myntra, Marks & Spencer and Reliance Digital

    Effective return
    2.6%
    Annual fee
    ₹2,500
    Lounge (dom.)
    12
    Forex markup
    2.00%

    Our take. The natural step below Infinia. If you spend over ₹4 lakh a year the card is effectively free, and the 2% forex markup makes it a genuine travel card rather than a lifestyle one.

    Credsir rating
    3.1/5
    Check your eligibilityRead full review

    Min. income ₹12,00,000 · Score 750+

  4. #4Low forex markup
    HDFC Bank · Visa

    HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card (Metal)

    Best for high spenders who can use smartbuy redemptions

    5 reward points per ₹150, worth up to ₹1 each on SmartBuy flight and hotel bookings

    Effective return
    3.3%
    Annual fee
    ₹12,500
    Lounge (dom.)
    Unlimited
    Forex markup
    2.00%

    Our take. Still the benchmark super-premium card in India. The 2% forex markup alone saves ₹30,000 on ₹20 lakh of overseas spending versus a standard 3.5% card — which is more than double the annual fee.

    Credsir rating
    2.8/5
    Check your eligibilityRead full review

    Min. income ₹36,00,000 · Score 800+

  5. #5Lifetime free
    IndusInd Bank · Visa

    IndusInd Bank Tiger Credit Card

    Best for lounge access without an annual fee

    8 domestic and 2 international lounge visits a year with no spend condition

    Effective return
    1.2%
    Annual fee
    Nil
    Lounge (dom.)
    8
    Forex markup
    3.50%

    Our take. Hold it purely for the lounges. Eight domestic visits a year is worth roughly ₹8,000 at typical walk-in rates, on a card that costs nothing — the weak reward rate barely matters.

    Credsir rating
    2.3/5
    Check your eligibilityRead full review

    Min. income ₹6,00,000 · Score 750+

  6. #6
    American Express · American Express

    American Express Membership Rewards Credit Card

    Best for point maximisers who transfer to airline programmes

    Membership Rewards points transferable to airline and hotel partners

    Effective return
    2.5%
    Annual fee
    ₹4,500
    Lounge (dom.)
    0
    Forex markup
    3.50%

    Our take. Worth holding as a second card rather than a primary one. Acceptance is the constraint, not the value — but where it is accepted, the transfer partners beat most bank point programmes.

    Credsir rating
    2.1/5
    Check your eligibilityRead full review

    Min. income ₹6,00,000 · Score 750+

Effective reward rate is our own blended estimate for a typical spend mix — not the accelerated rate an issuer advertises on one category. Annual fees are shown before the 18% GST that is charged on top. Verify current terms on the issuer’s site before applying; card terms change without notice.

Data as of 15 Aug 2026Source: Issuer tariff sheets and published comparisonsPending issuer verification

Questions

How do you decide what makes this best travel credit cards list?

Every product is scored on the same fields — effective return, total cost including fees and GST, benefits, and how obtainable it actually is. The weights are published on our methodology page, and the score is computed, not assigned by an editor.

How often is this page updated?

Rate tables are refreshed weekly, and immediately after an RBI policy change or a Budget announcement. Every figure on the page carries the date it was captured and a link to its source, so you can always see how current it is.

Does Credsir get paid to rank products here?

No. We earn from partner links and advertising, but rankings come from a published scoring formula that runs identically on every product, whether we earn from it or not. Products we make nothing from appear in these lists whenever they win on the numbers.

Are these the rates I will actually be offered?

Advertised rates are the best case, reserved for applicants with a high credit score, stable income and a favourable profile. Your offer depends on your credit score, employer, income and existing obligations. Treat published rates as the floor, not the quote.

Related reading

Worth knowing.Rates, fees and terms change frequently and vary by applicant. Everything here is general information, not personalised advice. Confirm the current terms directly with the institution before you apply. How we research and rate.