Best Travel Credit Cards in India 2025

✈️ Introduction: Why You Need a Travel Credit Card

Traveling is fun, but it can also be expensive. From booking flights and hotels to paying for meals and shopping, your costs can add up fast. That’s where travel credit cards come in. These cards are specially designed for people who travel often—whether for work, vacation, or family trips.

This article is perfect for you if you are looking to save money on travel, enjoy free lounge access, or earn rewards and Airmiles that you can use for your next trip. You will learn everything about the best travel credit cards in India in 2025, whether you’re a frequent flyer or someone who takes a couple of trips each year. We’ve included easy-to-understand comparisons, real benefits, and how to choose the right card for your needs.

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🚀 What Is a Travel Credit Card?

A travel credit card is a type of credit card that gives you benefits while traveling. These may include:

Free access to airport or railway lounges
Extra reward points or Airmiles on travel bookings
Complimentary hotel vouchers or memberships
Discounts on flights, hotels, and food
Lower foreign currency markup fees

There are two types of travel credit cards:

Generic Travel Cards – These work for all types of travel, whether you fly with any airline or book hotels from any platform.
Co-Branded Travel Cards – These are linked with specific airlines, travel portals, or hotel chains, like MakeMyTrip, IndiGo, or Marriott.

✅ Benefits of Travel Credit Cards

Before choosing a travel card, you must know what it offers. Here’s what you usually get with a travel credit card:

✈️ Complimentary Lounge Access

Most travel cards offer free airport or railway lounge access. This means you can relax with free snacks, Wi-Fi, and charging stations before your journey.

💺 Airmiles and Reward Points

Some cards earn you Airmiles or Reward Points every time you spend. These can be used for flight tickets, hotel stays, or even class upgrades.

🏨 Hotel Stay Vouchers

Premium travel cards often give free hotel stays or membership in hotel reward programs like Marriott Bonvoy or Taj InnerCircle.

💵 Welcome & Milestone Bonuses

You get extra benefits when you join and when you reach certain spending limits. These could be free flight tickets or bonus points.

🌍 Lower Foreign Transaction Fees

Many travel cards reduce or even waive the foreign currency markup fee, which saves money when you swipe your card abroad.

🏆 Best Travel Credit Cards in India (2025)

Below are the top travel credit cards you can choose in India this year. We’ve grouped them for easier selection based on your travel style.

💳 Generic Travel Credit Cards (Best for all travelers)

These cards are not tied to any specific airline or portal, so you can use them freely.

1. Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Benefits: Lounge access (Domestic & International), EDGE Miles
Best For: Regular domestic and international travelers

2. American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Benefits: Taj stay vouchers, lounge access, Amex rewards
Best For: Premium domestic travelers

3. RBL World Safari Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹3,000 + GST
Benefits: Zero forex markup, MMT voucher
Best For: Travelers going abroad frequently

🛫 Airline Co-Branded Travel Cards

These cards are best for people loyal to a specific airline.

4. 6E Rewards XL – IndiGo HDFC Bank Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹1,500 + GST
Benefits: Free IndiGo ticket, fuel benefits
Best For: Frequent domestic flyers with IndiGo

5. KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex

Joining Fee: ₹9,999 + GST
Benefits: 10,000 KrisFlyer miles
Best For: Singapore Airlines loyalists

🏨 Hotel Co-Branded Travel Cards

These are ideal if you often stay in hotels.

6. Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹3,000 + GST
Benefits: Free night stay, Silver Elite membership
Best For: Business or leisure hotel travelers

🧳 Travel Portal Co-Branded Credit Cards

Perfect for booking travel via apps or websites.

7. MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹999 + GST
Benefits: ₹1,000 voucher, lounge access
Best For: Booking flights/hotels on MMT

8. ixigo AU Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹0
Benefits: ₹1,000 ixigo voucher, zero forex fee
Best For: Budget travelers

🚆 IRCTC Railway Travel Credit Cards

If you travel by train often, these are for you.

9. IRCTC SBI RuPay Credit Card

Joining Fee: ₹500 + GST
Benefits: Reward points on IRCTC bookings
Best For: Frequent train travelers

🧠 How to Choose the Best Travel Credit Card for You?

Before applying, ask yourself the following:

1. Do You Travel Often?

If yes, choose a premium card for higher rewards and better lounge access.
If no, go for a basic travel card with a low annual fee.

2. Domestic or International Travel?

Domestic: Look for lounge access at Indian airports.
International: Choose cards with Priority Pass or zero forex fees.

3. Airline Loyalty?

Pick a co-branded card if you use a specific airline (like IndiGo or Emirates).

4. Prefer Trains?

Choose IRCTC co-branded cards with railway lounge access.

📊 Foreign Currency Mark-Up Fees (Low/Zero Forex Cards)

Using your credit card abroad? Look at these cards:

ixigo AU Credit Card – 0% forex markup
RBL World Safari Credit Card – 0% forex markup
6E Rewards XL – 2.5% markup
HDFC Infinia/Diners Black – <2% markup

📌 Tips to Maximize Your Travel Credit Card

To get the most out of your card, follow these do’s and don’ts:

✅ Do’s

Use the card for all travel-related bookings.
Redeem points before they expire.
Check lounge access terms (quarterly/yearly limits).
Understand milestone benefits.

❌ Don’ts

Don’t pay late—interest cancels out rewards.
Don’t ignore welcome bonus expiry.
Don’t use the card for unnecessary spending just to earn rewards.

🤔 FAQs About Travel Credit Cards

Q1. What is the best travel credit card in India?

Answer: For general travel, the Axis Atlas and AmEx Platinum Travel are top picks. If you prefer airlines like IndiGo, 6E Rewards XL is ideal.

Q2. Can I use travel credit cards abroad?

Answer: Yes, especially those with low or zero foreign currency markup like RBL World Safari or ixigo AU cards.

Q3. Do travel cards give free flight tickets?

Answer: Some cards offer complimentary tickets as a welcome or milestone benefit, like the 6E Rewards XL card.

Q4. Do I get free hotel stays with travel cards?

Answer: Yes, premium cards like AmEx Platinum and Marriott Bonvoy HDFC offer hotel stay vouchers or memberships.

Q5. Is it worth paying high annual fees for these cards?

Answer: If you travel frequently, the benefits (lounge access, Airmiles, stays) often outweigh the annual fee.

🧾 Conclusion: Final Thoughts

Choosing the best travel credit card in India in 2025 depends on your travel needs. A premium international traveler will benefit more from cards like Axis Atlas or RBL World Safari, while a budget domestic traveler might prefer ixigo AU or IRCTC SBI.

Always compare the benefits vs. cost, check for welcome bonuses, reward programs, and foreign transaction fees. If used wisely, a travel credit card doesn’t just make your trip smoother—it also makes it cheaper!