If you’re looking for a premium credit card without paying high fees, the RBL World Safari Credit Card and the IDFC First Bank Ashva Credit Card are two strong options to consider. Both are mid-tier cards with almost identical annual fees and come loaded with travel, lifestyle, and rewards benefits. However, they are targeted at different types of users. While the RBL World Safari Card focuses more on international travel and comes with zero forex markup, the IDFC First Bank Ashva Card is better suited for those who want a well-rounded card with solid reward points, lounge access, and entertainment perks. If you’re confused about which one to pick, continue reading for the key features, benefits, and differences between the two.
Fee Structure Comparison
Both the RBL World Safari Credit Card and the IDFC First Bank Ashva Credit Card fall under the same fee range, making them easy to compare. The RBL World Safari Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹3,540 (including GST), while the IDFC First Bank Ashva Credit Card charges ₹3,539 (including GST).
With the RBL World Safari Card, you get a MakeMyTrip voucher worth ₹3,000 as a welcome gift, which can be used to book flights or hotels. On the other hand, the IDFC First Bank Ashva Card gives you 2,500 reward points plus ₹2,000 cashback, provided you complete at least four transactions of ₹500 or more within the first 60 days.
What is the Best Credit Card for Rewards? RBL World Safari or IDFC First Ashva?
The reward-earning criteria on each of these cards are very different, but the redemption is quite similar, and so is the value of each respective point, at ₹0.25. Here’s a quick look at how the two cards compare:
| Particulars | RBL World Safari | Ashva |
| Earning Reward Points | 2 TPs/₹100 Spent on All Eligible Categories5 TPs/₹100 Spent on Travel Categories | 1RP/₹150 for Insurance and Utility Spends3X RPs on Rent, Education, Wallet Loads, and Government Transactions5X RPs on All Other Eligible Transactions Up until Spends of ₹20,000 per month10X RPs after Hitting ₹20,000 Milestone and on Birthday Spends |
| Reward Point Redemption | Travel Points can be Redeemed for Flight/Hotel Bookings, Shopping, Gift Vouchers, etc., at RBL rewards (1 Travel Point = ₹0.25) | Reward Points can be Redeemed on any Online Transaction on the Payment Screen, Redeemed at Some Offline Merchants, Used to Buy Gift Cards, or Used to Buy OTT Memberships (1 Reward Point = ₹0.25) |
The IDFC First Ashva Credit Card offers higher reward potential for those who spend over ₹20,000 per month or make varied payments like rent and education. If you want to maximise points on your high spending, the Ashva Card is the right choice.
Travel Perks and Free Lounge Access
With the RBL World Safari Credit Card, you get eight free domestic lounge visits per year and two international lounge visits annually via Priority Pass, plus travel insurance worth up to USD 50,000. It also stands out with zero forex markup.
On the other hand, the IDFC First Ashva Card provides up to 16 domestic lounge visits a year and eight international visits via DreamFolks, if you spend ₹20,000 monthly. It also includes railway lounge access, roadside assistance, trip cancellation protection, and other helpful travel add-ons. However, it does charge a 1% forex fee on international spends.
| Particulars | RBL World Safari | Ashva |
| Domestic Airport Lounge Access | 2 Complimentary Domestic Lounge Visits Allowed Each Quarter; 8 Visits Annually | 4 Free Domestic Lounge Visits Allowed Each Quarter; 16 Visits Annually (on Making Spends of ₹20,000 Each Month) |
| International Airport Lounge Access | 2 Complimentary International Lounge Visits Allowed Each Year via Priority PassGet 1 Additional Visit per Quarter on Spending ₹50,000 + in the Last Quarter | 2 Complimentary International Lounge Visits Allowed Each Quarter via DreamFolks; 8 Visits Annually (on Making Spends of ₹20,000 Each Month) |
| Railway Lounge Access | N/A | 4 Complimentary Visits Each Quarter (on Making Spends of ₹20,000 Each Month) |
| Travel Insurance | A Travel Insurance Cover Worth Up to USD 50,000 | Complimentary Roadside Assistance Worth ₹1,399Free Trip Cancellation Protection (Worth Up to ₹25,000 Twice a Year) |
| Forex Markup Fee | 0% | 1% |
If you travel internationally often and want to save on forex fees, the RBL World Safari Card is a smart pick. However, for regular domestic travel and added travel protection, the IDFC Ashva Card offers greater benefits. The 1% forex markup on the Ashva Credit Card is still reasonably low compared to the 3.5% current ongoing markup on other credit cards in the market.
It is also worth noting that the accelerated reward rate with the Ashva Card is 10X after a user spends ₹20,000, which gives an effective reward rate of 1.6%. In this case, IDFC performs better than RBL, as the latter has no reward points for international spends.
If you are on an international trip, and you hit the ₹20,000 milestone, you can earn a reward rate (1.6%) slightly higher than the forex markup (1% + GST) that you will be paying.
Lifestyle Perks and Other Benefits
The following table compares the lifestyle perks that are offered with each of these cards.
| Particulars | RBL World Safari | Ashva |
| Movie Benefits | N/A | BOGO Offer on BookMyShow (Max Discount of ₹800 per Month) |
| Golf Benefits | 4 Free Golf Rounds and 12 Golf Lessons per Year (Valid Only for Mastercard Variant Users) | 2 Free Golf Rounds/Lessons (on Making Spends of ₹20,000 in a Statement Cycle) |
| Milestone Benefit | 10,000 Travel Points on Spending ₹2.5 Lakh+ in a Year15,000 Travel Points on Spending ₹5 Lakh+ in a YearGift Vouchers Worth ₹10,000 From Popular Brands on Annual Spends of ₹7.5 Lakh | 7,500 Reward Points on Spending ₹8 Lakh+ in a Year |
Bottom Line
Both the RBL World Safari and IDFC First Bank Ashva Credit Cards are strong mid-tier options, each offering great value for their annual fees. The RBL World Safari Card is ideal for people who travel abroad often. Its zero forex fee, easy travel point system, and international lounge access make it perfect for global use. On the other hand, the IDFC First Bank Ashva Card is better for those who want a more all-around credit card. It gives more lounge visits, higher rewards on regular spending, and extra lifestyle perks like movie offers and golf access. It also includes railway lounge access and travel protection benefits, which are great for frequent travelers within India.
In the end, your choice should depend on your spending habits. If you’re focused on travel abroad, go for RBL World Safari. If you want more perks for everyday and domestic use, the IDFC Ashva Card is a better fit.
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