If you travel abroad often, it's essential to have a credit card that provides benefits on international use. The right credit card can help you earn rewards on international transactions, enjoy complimentary lounge access, access discounted bookings, and avail exclusive privileges. Keep reading to discover the best credit card for international travel.
While all credit cards can be used internationally based on the prescribed credit limit and terms & conditions, it's crucial to consider the fees and charges associated with international usage. Therefore, it's important to have a credit card that offers a low foreign currency markup fee, reasonable cash advance charges at international ATMs, and additional benefits such as access to international lounges, discounted flight tickets, and enhanced rewards for transactions outside India. Here, we've compiled a list of some of The Best credit cards for international use to make your travel experience hassle-free:
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| SBI Elite Credit Card | Rs. 4,999 |
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| IDFC First Wealth Credit Card | Nil |
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| HDFC Diners Club Privilege Credit Card | Rs. 2,500 |
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| RBL World Safari Credit Card | Rs. 3,000 |
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| AU Zenith+ Credit Card | Rs. 4,999 |
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| InterMiles HDFC Bank Signature Credit Card | Rs. 2,500 |
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| Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card | Rs. 350 |
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The SBI Elite Credit Card is a premium credit card that provides a range of benefits in various categories, including travel, movies, dining, international transactions, and more. It stands out as one of the best credit cards for international use in India. Here are some of the key features and benefits of this credit card:
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Why is this suitable for international travel?
The SBI Elite Credit Card is great for frequent international travelers. It has a low fee for currency exchange,
helping you save money on transactions outside India. You also earn more reward points on your international spending.
Plus, you get access to international airport lounges, which is a bonus if you travel abroad a lot. The free memberships
for Club Vistara, Trident Privilege, and Trident Red Tier add extra savings on your travel expenses.
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The IDFC First Wealth Credit Card is free for life and gives you rewards, travel perks, and lifestyle benefits. It also has a low fee for transactions in foreign currencies. If you're looking for a card that offers travel benefits worldwide, this one's a good choice. Some of its key perks include:
*Cash advance fee of only Rs. 250 per transaction.
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Why is this suitable for international travel?
If you enjoy traveling abroad, The IDFC First Wealth Credit Card is a great choice. It gives you cool perks
like a low fee for spending in foreign currencies, free access to international lounges at airports, special
services at the airport, and you can take out cash without paying interest. What's even better is that you get
all these benefits without having to pay an annual fee. So, picking this credit card for your international trips
makes a lot of sense.
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The HDFC Diners Club Privilege Credit Card is a top-notch card that comes with lots of perks for travel and lifestyle. When you have this card, you also get free memberships for cool brands like Amazon Prime, Times Prime, Dineout, and others. Here are the details about this credit card:
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Why is this suitable for international travel?
The HDFC Diners Club Privilege Credit Card is great for its low forex markup fee and various perks like
free memberships and lounge access. However, it doesn't provide extra rewards specifically for international
transactions. If you're looking for a card with basic international travel benefits and a low forex fee,
then this card is a good choice for you.
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The RBL World Safari Credit Card is designed primarily for travelers who frequently journey abroad. It stands out as one of the best credit cards for international use due to its 0% forex markup fee. Here are some other key details about this credit card:
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Why is this suitable for international travel?
The RBL World Safari Credit Card is great for using internationally because it doesn't charge any extra
fees (0% forex markup fee) for spending in other currencies. Unlike many premium cards that have lower
fees, this one has no extra charge. Plus, it gives you free access to international lounges, which is
handy if you travel abroad a lot. But keep in mind, most of the perks with this card are geared towards
international travel. So, if you're a frequent traveler looking to save on your overseas spending, this
card is a good fit.
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The AU Zenith+ Credit Card is an upgraded version of the Zenith Credit Card, packed with premium perks such as luxury brand vouchers, exclusive hotel memberships, increased rewards, a lower forex markup fee, and many more. Here are some of the standout benefits of this credit card:
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Why is this suitable for international travel?
The AU Zenith+ Credit Card is made for people who travel a lot and spend big. What sets it apart for
international use is the low forex markup fee of only 0.99%, a perk usually found with very fancy cards. Plus, you
get 16 free visits to both domestic and international lounges every year using Priority Pass. For those who love
Taj hotels, the complimentary Taj Epicure Membership, valued at Rs. 25,000, is a fantastic bonus for those who
spend a lot. In a nutshell, it's a good card for international travel, giving you more rewards for spending
abroad, a low forex fee, lounge access, and other travel goodies.
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The InterMiles HDFC Bank Signature Credit Card is great for getting value back on your travel spending through InterMiles. It stands out as one of the top credit cards for international travel. You earn InterMiles with every transaction, and you can use them for future bookings. Here are some more details about this credit card in India:
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Why is this suitable for international travel?
The InterMiles HDFC Bank Signature Credit Card is a solid choice for those into international travel. It scores
well in rewarding you and cutting down costs on your travel bookings. You also get the perk of international
lounge access through the free Priority Pass Membership. However, it's worth noting that, like many other credit
cards, it doesn't stand out in terms of benefits for international transactions, carrying a standard forex
markup fee. In essence, if you're keen on a credit card that helps you save on your global adventures, this
one fits the bill.
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The Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card is a special card that works with EaseMyTrip for great perks on your bookings. But it's not just about travel – you also get benefits for other transactions. With this credit card, you get instant discounts when you make travel bookings. Here are more details:
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Why is this suitable for international travel?
The Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card is perfect if you're a frequent traveler who often books
through EaseMyTrip. It stands out by providing immediate discounts, a departure from the usual reward points
system seen with most co-branded credit cards. The best part? No need to worry about hitting a minimum spending
limit to enjoy discounts on hotel or flight bookings. If you're all about straightforward benefits on your travel
expenses without dealing with reward points, this credit card is a great fit for you.
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When picking a credit card for spending abroad, remember that many cards work internationally. Yet, some go the extra mile, giving you perks to save money. Here's what to think about when choosing The Best International credit card:
In addition to the cards mentioned earlier, there are a few other super premium credit cards perfect for international use. These cards not only feature a low forex markup fee but also provide extra perks for international transactions like bonus rewards, lounge access, complimentary memberships, and more. Here's the list of such International credit cards:
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| IndusInd Legend Credit Card | Joining fee: Rs. 9,999 (Nil if applied through MybankingTips) |
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| ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card | Rs. 12,000 |
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| Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card | Rs. 50,000 |
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| HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card | Rs. 10,000 |
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| SBI Aurum Credit Card | Rs. 9,999 |
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Top Credit Cards in India