Travel Credit Cards: Pick by Forex, Lounges and Travel Earn

My honest take on travel credit cards

If a trip abroad left a few thousand rupees on your statement you cannot explain, that was likely the forex markup. Most people pick a card for lounges or miles. Judge it on three numbers instead: forex markup, lounge gate, and travel earn.

Start with forex. On ₹1 lakh spent abroad:

• 3.5% plus GST, about 4.13%, which users report on Axis Atlas: about ₹4,130.
• 2% on HDFC Regalia Gold: ₹2,000 before GST, about ₹2,360 with it.
• 0.99% on MakeMyTrip ICICI: about ₹990 before GST, and international spends earn 1% back.
• 0% on Scapia: no markup.

The common mistake: assuming a travel card is cheap abroad. Atlas earns 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on travel bookings, worth ₹1 each inside Axis, so 5%, yet users report about 4.13% when you spend overseas with it. Book on the travel card; pay abroad with a low-forex one. For a card-by-card list, read our guide to credit cards for travel in India.

Zero forex markup credit cards, worked out

A zero forex markup credit card saves money on every foreign currency payment. Scapia is lifetime free with 0% markup, and its Visa card earns 10% in coins on eligible spends, about 2% in value. ixigo AU also charges 0%, but international spends stopped earning rewards on 22 December 2024; your saving is the markup you avoid. On a ₹2 lakh holiday, that is about ₹7,000 before GST against a 3.5% card. IDFC FIRST has zero forex cards too; see our IDFC FIRST zero forex markup roundup. Always pay in the local currency, not rupees.

Travel credit cards with lounge access: check the gate

The spend gate, not the count, decides entry.

• Scapia: unlimited domestic visits after ₹20,000 of spend in the preceding month; no international lounges listed.
• ixigo AU: 2 domestic visits a quarter after ₹50,000 in the previous quarter, primary cardholder only, plus 1 Priority Pass visit a year on request.
• MakeMyTrip ICICI: 2 domestic visits a quarter after ₹75,000 in the previous quarter, about ₹25,000 a month.
• Regalia Gold: 3 domestic visits a quarter after ₹60,000 in the previous quarter, plus 6 Priority Pass visits a year outside that gate.

If you will not cross the gate, ignore the lounges. Compare more lounge access credit cards.

Best credit card for flight booking and miles

Take a ₹3 lakh year on Atlas: ₹2 lakh of flights and hotels earns 10,000 miles, ₹1 lakh of other spend earns 2,000, and the ₹3 lakh milestone adds 2,500. That is 14,500 miles, about ₹14,500 at ₹1 each, against about ₹5,900 for the renewal with GST. Users report Axis may have paused new applications; see our Axis Atlas review. HSBC TravelOne earns 4 points per ₹100 on flights and travel aggregators, with the ₹4,999 + GST fee waived above ₹8 lakh a year, but charges 3.5% on foreign currency spends. For airline co-brands, see air miles credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

Which credit card has zero forex markup?

Scapia, issued by Federal Bank, is lifetime free with 0% markup. ixigo AU also charges 0%, though its international spends earn nothing, and several IDFC FIRST cards are zero forex too.

What are the forex charges on credit cards?

Many Indian cards charge 3.5% plus GST on the markup, about 4.13%, or ₹4,130 on ₹1 lakh. Travel cards go lower: 2% on Regalia Gold, 0.99% on MakeMyTrip ICICI and 0% on Scapia.

Which credit card is best for international travel?

Use two: a zero forex card for spending abroad and a card that earns well on bookings. For most people, that is Scapia overseas and MakeMyTrip ICICI, or Atlas if Axis still accepts applications, for booking.

What are the HDFC Regalia credit card forex charges?

Regalia Gold charges a 2% forex markup, about ₹2,360 with GST on ₹1 lakh. The classic Regalia is closed to new applicants; check its MITC if you hold one.

This is my honest read, not formal financial advice. Forex and lounge rules change often, so check the MITC before you fly.

Credit Card Information Compiled by: Abhijeet Kumar | Reviewed by: Anmol Ratan Sachdeva