Best Travel Credit Cards in India [2025 Edition]

If you’re someone who frequently travels for business or leisure, choosing the right credit card can elevate your travel experience — from free airport lounge access and air miles to travel insurance and hotel discounts. In 2025, travel credit cards have become more competitive than ever, offering Indian users premium benefits with no or low annual fees. This guide curates the best travel credit cards in India [2025], tailored to your lifestyle and spending pattern.

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Why Trust CardMela?

CardMela is founded and operated by professionals with real banking experience, including a Senior Manager at Punjab National Bank and an MBA in Finance. We handpick cards only after thoroughly analyzing:

• Reward structure
• Airport lounge network
• Forex markups
• Travel insurance and perks
• Real-life cardholder feedback

Unlike other websites, we only recommend credit cards currently active and listed on CardMela.com.

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What Makes a Travel Credit Card Great in 2025?

A travel credit card isn’t just about flight bookings anymore. Here are the must-have features:

• Domestic + International Lounge Access
• Low Forex Markup Fees
• Accelerated Air Miles & Hotel Points
• Insurance for Trip Delays, Lost Baggage, etc.
• Airline-specific Partnerships

Let’s dive into the best cards of 2025.

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1. Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card

Best For: Frequent International Travelers

Why It Stands Out: The Axis Atlas is a tiered travel card that adapts to your travel frequency. Earn EDGE Miles on every transaction and redeem them for flights and hotel stays. Includes Priority Pass membership and complimentary international lounge access.

Key Features:

• Earn up to 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 spent
• Up to 18 international lounge visits annually (based on tier)
• Complimentary travel insurance up to ₹1 crore
• 1.5% forex markup, lower than many premium cards
• Convert EDGE Miles to air miles with partners like Air Asia, Vistara

Annual Fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Waiver: On reaching ₹7.5 lakh annual spend

Apply Now!

Related: Axis Bank Credit Cards for Travel in India – Full Comparison

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2. HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card

Best For: All-Round Travel + Lifestyle Benefits

Why It Stands Out: Combining travel and luxury, Regalia Gold offers lounge access, travel vouchers, and solid rewards on general spending. It’s ideal for salaried professionals and frequent domestic travelers.

Key Features:

• Domestic & international lounge access (12/year via Priority Pass)
• Welcome benefits worth ₹2,500 (flight/hotel vouchers)
• Travel concierge and insurance cover
• Milestone rewards worth up to ₹12,000 annually

Annual Fee: ₹2,500 + GST
Waiver: Spend ₹3 lakh/year

Apply Now

Related Read: Best Credit Cards for Salaried Employees in India 2025

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3. Club Vistara IDFC FIRST Credit Card

Best For: Vistara Frequent Flyers

Why It Stands Out: Co-branded with Vistara, this card earns CV Points for every transaction and helps you upgrade faster to business class.

Key Features:

• Complimentary Vistara economy ticket on joining
• Earn up to 6 CV points/₹200 spent
• Vistara Silver Tier Membership (priority check-in, extra baggage)
• Up to 4 domestic lounge accesses/year

Annual Fee: ₹4,999 + GST
Waiver: N/A

Apply Now

External Source: Vistara CV Program Details

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4. SBI ELITE Credit Card

Best For: SBI Loyalists Wanting Premium Travel Perks

Why It Stands Out: With complimentary memberships (Priority Pass, Club Vistara), this card gives well-rounded travel and lifestyle rewards.

Key Features:

• Up to 6 international lounge visits/year
• Free Trident Privilege Red Tier membership
• 10,000 bonus reward points on joining
• ₹5,000 Yatra voucher on milestone spending

Annual Fee: ₹4,999 + GST
Waiver: Spend ₹10 lakh/year

Apply Now

Related Blog: Best Cashback Credit Cards in India 2025

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How to Choose the Right Travel Card in India?

Before you apply, ask yourself:

Question	Why It Matters
Do you travel more within India or abroad?	Choose cards with matching lounge access.
Airline loyalty?	Go with Vistara or co-branded cards.
Spending per year?	Check if you can waive annual fee.
Are you salaried or self-employed?	Some cards need ITR proof.
Do you use cards for UPI/travel portals?	Look for portal-based rewards.

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Hidden Costs You Must Watch Out For

• Forex Markup Fee: Ideally 2% or less. Atlas and Regalia Gold offer lower markups.
• Reward Redemption Limitations: Some cards restrict travel partner conversions.
• Lounge Network Access: Only Priority Pass gives international coverage.
• Card Acceptance Abroad: Visa and MasterCard are more widely accepted than Rupay.

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Who Should Get a Travel Credit Card in 2025?

• Frequent flyers (especially Tier 1 city residents)
• Professionals spending ₹25,000+ monthly via credit card
• Business owners with frequent hotel bookings
• Families who travel twice a year and want free lounge access

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Internal Links You Should Explore:

• Top Credit Cards for Students in India 2025
• Best Credit Cards for Food Delivery in India 2025
• Full Review: Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card

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External Sources for Authority:

• HDFC Bank Travel Cards
• Axis Bank EDGE Rewards
• Air Vistara CV Program
• RBI Credit Card Guidelines

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Conclusion: Which Card Should You Choose?

Card	Best For	Lounge Access	Forex Fee
Axis Atlas	Frequent intl flyers	18/year intl	1.5%
Regalia Gold	Mix of travel + lifestyle	12/year	2%
Club Vistara IDFC	Vistara loyalists	4/year	3.5%
SBI Elite	SBI users, vouchers	6/year	3.5%

Choose based on how often you fly, what airlines you prefer, and your spending threshold. If you’re unsure, CardMela’s smart comparison tools can help you pick based on salary, UPI usage, and annual spending.

Explore All Credit Cards →

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About the Author

H. K. is a Financial Analyst and the founder of CardMela.com. With 10+ years of banking experience and an MBA in Finance, he helps users make smarter financial decisions backed by real-world data and ground-level banking knowledge.