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Best Credit Card for International Travel

Created on 12 Aug 2023

Wraps up in 7 Min

Read by 4.7k people

Updated on 16 Dec 2024

Can you hear a soft, magical whisper from your passport inviting you to go on another exciting adventure around the world? Imagine this: you are preparing for a vacation, making sure you have everything with you, and already seeing yourself smiling broadly in front of some popular sites. 

A special companion wants to join you on your adventure: your credit card. It's eager to see new places just like you are. While you long to go to distant places and experience other cultures, the kind of credit card you get might enhance your journeys. Travelling to a distant nation may be an exciting and rewarding experience, whether it is for business, leisure, or education. But it can also be a costly and stressful one, especially if you don’t have the right payment options.

You thus require a credit card that is intended for international usage. A smart travel credit card may reduce the cost of currency exchange, provide you with rewards for international purchases, give you access to lounges and travel insurance, and make your transactions simpler and safer.

But how can you pick the finest credit card for your needs when travelling abroad when there are so many options available? Well, don't worry, fellow traveller, because we're about to reveal something amazing: the very best credit cards in India that are perfect for travellers like you.

Your credit card might become your best travel companion in this world of limitless opportunities. Let's dive into the top picks that are ready to join you on your global adventures.

Best Credit Cards for International Travel 2023

1. HDFC Bank Infinia Metal Edition Credit Card 

The HDFC Bank Infinia Metal Edition Credit Card offers a high-life experience with 12,500 reward points and a Club Marriott membership. It provides protection against accidents, emergencies, and fraud. With a 2% foreign currency exchange rate and Priority Pass program membership, this reward points-based card is suitable for premium customers seeking international travel. 

Features

Welcome Bonus

  • Get a complimentary Club Marriott membership for a year, offering up to 20% discounts for dining and staying across the Asia Pacific region.
  • Get the welcome benefit of 12,500 reward points upon fee realisation and card activation.

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

Get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India on transactions between ₹400 and ₹1,00,000

Dining and Travel Benefits

  • At participating ITC hotels, you can book a stay for three nights and pay for two. 
  • Buffets at participating ITC hotels are 1+1 free.  
  • Enjoy unlimited complimentary lounge access at domestic and international airports using Priority Pass.

Insurance Benefits

  • Get an Accidental Air Death cover worth ₹3 Crores.
  • Get an Emergency overseas hospitalisation benefit of up to ₹50 Lakhs in an emergency.
  • Get Credit Shield Cover for upto ₹9 Lakhs

Other Benefits

  • Enjoy an additional 15% off on all your bill payments via Swiggy Dineout.
  • Enjoy the benefit of the lowest markup fee of 2% on all foreign currency transactions.
  • Enjoy unlimited free golf games at prestigious courses in India and on selected international courses.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees

₹12,500

Annual Fees

₹12,500

Annual Percentage Rate

23.88%

Foreign Transaction Fees

2.00%

Eligibility

Only those who have been invited can apply for the HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card.

2. RBL Bank World Safari Credit Card 

The RBL World Safari Credit Card is a mid-category card with welcome, milestone, travel, insurance, concierge, and lifestyle benefits. It also provides reward points and brand vouchers for spending across various categories. This card is the first travel credit card offered in India that charges no markup on any foreign exchange transactions. 

Features

Welcome Bonus

Get a MakeMyTrip voucher worth ₹3,000.

Lounge Benefits

  • Enjoy two complimentary domestic lounge access every quarter.
  • Enjoy two complimentary international lounge access per year via Priority Pass.
  • You can also enjoy additional international lounge access each quarter by spending ₹50,000 or more in the previous quarter. 

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

Get a 1% waiver of the fuel surcharge on all fuel transactions between ₹400 and ₹5,000 at all petrol stations, up to a maximum of ₹100 per month.

Golf Benefits

Get 4 complimentary golf rounds and 12 complimentary golf lessons per calendar year.

Insurance benefits

Get complimentary travel insurance coverage worth USD 50,000 on international travel that covers trip delay, baggage loss, passport loss, etc.

Reward Benefits

Earn 2 travel points for every ₹100 spent on all categories and 5 travel points for every ₹100 spent on travel.
*International purchases do not qualify for travel points.

Milestone Benefits 

  • Earn 10,000 bonus travel points for spending ₹2.5 lakhs or more in an anniversary year.
  • Earn 15,000 additional travel points for spending ₹5 lakhs or more
  • Receive a gift voucher worth ₹10,000 from a selection of top brands on achieving an annual spend of ₹7.5 lakhs.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees

₹3,000

Annual Fees

₹3,000

Annual Percentage Rate

47.88%

Foreign Transaction Fees

0.00%

Eligibility

Applicant’s age should be at least 18 years, and they must have a stable source of income.

3. IDFC FIRST Bank Wealth Credit Card

IDFC FIRST Bank's Wealth Credit Card offers exclusive privileges and advantages, including fuel surcharge waiver, travel and insurance benefits, and access to airport lounges. The bank’s top-end offering, the IDFC FIRST Wealth, comes with zero annual membership fee, and a low forex markup fee of just 1.5% of the transacted amount.

Features

Welcome Bonus

  • Get a welcome voucher worth ₹500 on spending ₹15,000 or more within 90 days of card generation
  • Get a 5% cashback (up to ₹1000) on the transaction value of first EMI done within 30 days of card generation.

Lounge Benefits

Enjoy 4 complimentary domestic & international airport lounge, and spa visits per quarter, on a minimum monthly spend of ₹5000.

Travel Benefits

  • Get exclusive discounts on airport immigration services at over 450 destinations worldwide.
  • Get discounts on airport transfer limousine service in over 3000 cities across 83 countries.
  • Get access to over 900 luxury hotels around the world with premium benefits such as automatic room upgrade upon arrival, complimentary in-room Wi-Fi, VIP Guest status, etc.

Insurance Benefits

  • Air Accident Cover: ₹1 crore
  • Personal Accident Cover: ₹10 Lakhs
  • Lost Card Liability Cover: ₹50,000
  • Comprehensive Travel Insurance Cover: USD 1200

Fuel Surcharge Waiver

Get a 1% fuel surcharge waiver on transactions between ₹200 and ₹5,000.
*Maximum benefit capped at ₹400/month

Other Benefits

  • Enjoy buying one, get one offer on movie tickets up to ₹500 on the Paytm mobile app.
  • Get discounts of up to 20% at 1500+ restaurants.
  • Get up to 15% discount at 3000+ Health & Wellness outlets.

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees

Free

Annual Fees

Free

Annual Percentage Rate

42.00%

Foreign Transaction Fees

1.50%

Eligibility

Applicant’s age should be between 21 and 65 years, and they must have a stable source of income.

4. Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Card

The IDFC FIRST Club Vistara Credit Card is a premium co-branded credit card offering travel and lifestyle-related benefits to cardholders. Air Vistara had already partnered with SBI and Axis Bank for co-branded travel cards, and after that, the airline launched the Club Vistara IDFC First credit card. 

Features

Welcome Bonus

  • Get 1 Complimentary Premium Economy Ticket Voucher.
  • Get 1 One Class Upgrade Voucher.
  • Get entry to Club Vistara Silver Membership.
  • Get a complimentary 3-month EazyDiner Prime membership.
  • Enjoy a complimentary 3-month BQ Prime subscription

Reward Benefits

  • Earn 6 CV Points on spending ₹1 Lakh in each statement cycle.
  • Earn 4 CV Points on spending above ₹1 Lakh in each statement cycle.
  • Earn 10 CV Points on all dining spent on your Birthday.
  • Earn 1 CV Point on every Fuel, Insurance, Utility, Rent & Wallet Load transaction.
  • Get 1 CV Point on a transaction of ₹200
    *CV Points: Club Vistara Points

Milestone Benefits

  • Get up to 5 Complimentary Premium Economy Ticket Vouchers on achieving spending milestones.
  • A spending of ₹ 1,50,000 unlocks 1st ticket voucher.
  • A spending of ₹ 3,00,000 unlocks a 2nd ticket voucher.
  • A spending of ₹ 4,50,000 unlocks the 3rd ticket voucher.
  • A spending of ₹ 9,00,000 unlocks 4th ticket voucher
  • A spending of ₹ 12,00,000 unlocks 5th ticket voucher

Lounge Access

  • Get 2 complimentary visits to domestic airport lounges and spas per quarter.
  • Get 1 complimentary visit to the international airport lounge per quarter.

Insurance Benefits

  • Air accident insurance cover: ₹1 Crore
  • Personal Accident cover: ₹10 Lakhs
  • Lost card liability cover: ₹50,000
  • Cover for check-in baggage loss, delay of check-in baggage, flight delay, loss of travel documents: USD 1200
  • CFAR Trip Cancellation Cover: Get a refund of up to ₹10,000 on cancelling your flight and hotel bookings made with the card, on 2 cancellations per year.

Other Benefits

  • Enjoy special benefits such as four complimentary rounds of green fees golf per calendar year (up to one round per calendar month).
  • Receive golf services at a 50% discount over complimentary sessions.
  • Get 12 free golf lessons every calendar year (up to one lesson per month).

Fees and Charges

Joining Fees

₹4999

Annual Fees

₹4999

Annual Percentage Rate

42.00%

Foreign Transaction Fees

2.99%

Eligibility

Applicant's age should be at least 21 years, and their annual income should be at least ₹3 lakh.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, choosing the right credit card for international travel can help you save money, earn rewards, and enjoy perks. However, it's important to consider various factors such as your spending pattern, credit score, income level, and personal preferences before making a decision.

Thankfully, websites like Select by Finology offer a comparison tool that can help you find the best credit card for your needs. By using this tool, you can easily compare different credit cards and select the one that suits you best.

So, if you're planning to travel abroad anytime soon, make sure to visit Select by Finology and start your journey with the best credit card for international travel. With the right credit card in your pocket, you can travel the world with ease and peace of mind.