Top Travel Credit Cards 2024
So, as December sneaks up on us, it’s the perfect time to think about that year-end getaway. If you travel a lot, having the right credit card is a game changer since it hooks you up with awesome rewards and special travel perks. Whether you’re racking up air miles, chilling in lounges for free, or dodging those forex fees, travel credit cards are a must-have for smart travelers.
The SBI Card MILES series is one of the highly popular among frequent travelers. You can convert your rewards into air miles and hotel points, plus you get access to airport lounges—eight times a year in the country and six times internationally. Moreover, if you spend ₹12 lakh in a year, you score ₹20,000 in travel credits and, if you spend ₹15 lakh, you can get that annual fee waived.
This card gives you six travel credits for every ₹200 spent, comes with a low forex mark-up of just 1.99%, and has air accident cover up to ₹1 crore. There are three versions of it — SBI Card MILES ELITE, PRIME, and MILES — and the annual renewal fees are between ₹1,499 and ₹4,999, plus GST.
RBL Bank also has World Safari Credit Card ideal for international travelers. Along with this, it consists of a MakeMyTrip voucher of ₹3,000 on signing up the new card members and never charges foreign currency transaction fee. The card provides user points that can be given in exchange for booking airline tickets and hotels. Membership privileges of lounge access are there along with eight domestic and two international lounge visits per year. Issuance and renewal fee of this particular card is ₹3,000, plus GST.
The American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card offers a luxurious experience in the form of four complimentary visits every year to domestic airports. Upon joining, users receive a welcome bonus in the form of 10,000 membership reward points. Beyond these facilities, users will receive voucher rewards on stays at select Taj SeleQtions and Vivanta hotels after crossing certain spending thresholds. Nevertheless, the card has joining and renewal fees of ₹3,500 and ₹5,000 respectively, GST is not applied.
So, check it out: Axis Bank’s Atlas Credit Card has this cool tiered reward system with silver, gold, and platinum levels. You can rack up five EDGE miles for every ₹100 you spend, and you even get free lounge access for up to 18 times domestically and 12 times internationally each year. The annual fee? It’s ₹5,000 plus GST.
For airline-specific benefits, the 6E Rewards XL – IndiGo HDFC Bank Credit Card is for frequent flyers of IndiGo airlines. Cardholders get free domestic air tickets and the IndiGo Prime add-on after they have completed three transactions within three months of card activation. Other benefits include eight free domestic lounge visits a year. The joining and renewal fee for this card is ₹1,500, plus GST.
The KrisFlyer SBI Card is a co-branding with Singapore Airlines. It gives 80,000 KrisFlyer miles a year, and bonus miles from 3,000 to 10,000 for spending milestones. The lounge access is available in domestic as well as international and that is eight visits each year. It includes air accident death coverage and reward points redeemable for Singapore Airlines flights and upgrades. The KrisFlyer SBI Card has an annual fee of ₹2,999 and that of the KrisFlyer SBI Card Apex is ₹9,999 plus GST.
Hotel lovers prefer the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card linked to Marriott hotels. These cards feature discounts on room stays and dining offers besides one night free every year. Complimentary visits to the lounge stand at 12 domestic and international visits, and reward points are received at the rate of eight for every ₹150 spend.
Joining and renewal are charged at ₹3,000 along with GST. If you want to make the most of your travel credit cards, you actually need to choose the one that fits your travel style. Once you start using the card, you should find out what the minimum spend is required for you to earn rewards like free lounge access or vouchers. And keep track of the reward points expiration dates so that you do not miss the opportunity to redeem your points for cash.
Timely bill payments are essential to avoid interest charges and late fees that could outweigh the card’s benefits.
A travel credit card is beyond just paying a bill – it is an access road to saving and leveling travel experiences. Choosing the right credit card will earn you some neat perks, so every adventure will be an even happier one.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. Please check the terms and conditions of individual credit cards before applying.
Read More: 10 Smart Credit Card Uses: Boost Your Finances and Avoid Debt!
Braj Verma is a resident of Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh and is a content writer and freelancer by profession. He has a degree in Political Science from Barkatullah University, Bhopal. He has expertise in subjects like credit cards, banking, loan, insurance, political analysis and digital marketing.