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Updated October 2026

Best Travel Credit Cards in India 2026

Travel credit cards save you money on flights and hotels, give free airport lounge access, and cut the 2–3.5% forex markup on international spends. The right one depends on whether you travel mostly within India or abroad.

These are the best travel credit cards in India, from free zero-forex cards to ultra-premium cards.

Our picks at a glance
  1. Scapia Credit Card · 0% forex · Lifetime free
  2. Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card · Taj voucher at ₹7L · ₹5,000/yr
  3. Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank · 5% on Tata brands · ₹1,499/yr
  4. Amex Platinum Reserve℠ Credit Card · Lounges + golf · ₹10,000/yr
  5. The Amex Platinum Card® · Unlimited lounges · ₹66,000/yr
#1
Scapia
Scapia Credit Card
•••• 3382Visa / RuPay

Scapia Credit Card

Federal Bank / Axis Bank / BOBCARD · Visa / RuPay

Lifetime freeUPI readyTravel & zero forex

Why we picked it: Lifetime free, with 0% forex markup, ~4% back on travel booked in the app and unlimited domestic lounges.

  • 0% forex markup on international spends
  • 20% Scapia Coins (~4%) on travel booked in the Scapia app
  • 10% Scapia Coins (~2%) on other spends
  • Unlimited domestic lounge access

Lounge access requires ₹20,000 spend in the month. Coins redeem only on travel bookings in the Scapia app. International spends don't earn coins.

Joining feeFree
Annual feeFree
Full reviewApply now
#2
American Express
Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card
•••• 8940Amex

Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card

American Express · Amex

Travel milestones

Why we picked it: Milestone rewards plus a ₹20,000 Taj voucher for high annual spenders.

  • 10,000 bonus MR points on ₹4 lakh yearly spend
  • ₹20,000 Taj Experiences voucher on ₹7 lakh yearly spend
  • Up to 8 domestic lounge visits a year
  • Redeem points via Travel Collection

From Oct 2026, lounge visits need ₹1 lakh of spend in the previous quarter. Milestones were revised in Sep 2026.

Joining fee₹3,500
Annual fee₹5,000
Full reviewApply now
#3
HDFC Bank
Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank
•••• 7749RuPay / Visa

Tata Neu Infinity HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank · RuPay / Visa

UPI readyUPI + Tata brands

Why we picked it: Domestic and international lounge access with rewards on Air India and Taj via Tata Neu.

  • 5% NeuCoins on BigBasket, Croma, Tata CLiQ, 1mg, Westside
  • 1.5% NeuCoins on UPI via Tata Neu UPI ID (RuPay)
  • 1.5% NeuCoins on all other spends
  • Domestic + international lounge access

UPI through other apps earns only 0.5%, and UPI rewards are capped at 500 NeuCoins a month. NeuCoins can only be used within Tata brands.

Joining fee₹1,499
Annual fee₹1,499
Full reviewApply now
#5
American Express
The Amex Platinum Card®
•••• 8940Amex

The Amex Platinum Card®

American Express · Amex

Ultra-premium travel

Why we picked it: Unlimited lounges worldwide and hotel elite status, for very frequent travellers.

  • Unlimited international & domestic lounge access
  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold & Taj Epicure memberships
  • Hotel and luxury partner benefits
  • No preset spending limit

This is a charge card with a ₹66,000 + GST annual fee, so it suits very high spenders and frequent travellers.

Joining fee₹66,000
Annual fee₹66,000
Full reviewApply now

Comparison table

CardBest forAnnual feeHeadline benefitLounge
Scapia Credit CardTravel & zero forexFree0% forexUnlimited domestic (on ₹20k monthly spend)
Amex Platinum Travel Credit CardTravel milestones₹5,000Taj voucher at ₹7L8 domestic / year (spend-based)
Tata Neu Infinity HDFC BankUPI + Tata brands₹1,4995% on Tata brandsDomestic + international
Amex Platinum Reserve℠ Credit CardLounges & lifestyle₹10,000Lounges + golfDomestic + international
The Amex Platinum Card®Ultra-premium travel₹66,000Unlimited loungesUnlimited worldwide

How to choose

  • For international trips, zero forex markup saves more than most reward rates.
  • Many cards now need a minimum monthly or quarterly spend to unlock lounge access.
  • Check whether lounge access includes a guest, and whether it covers international lounges.

Still unsure? Use the card finder to see which card earns the most on your own spends.

Frequently asked questions

Which credit card is best for international travel?

Scapia is the best free card for international travel because it charges 0% forex markup. Most other cards charge 2–3.5% on every foreign transaction.

Which credit card gives free airport lounge access?

Scapia (unlimited domestic, with ₹20,000 monthly spend), Tata Neu Infinity, Amex Platinum Reserve and the Amex Platinum Card all include lounge access.

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