Best Travel Credit Cards in India 2026: 8 Cards, Forex From 0%

Most travel credit cards cost you money the moment you swipe them abroad. A card with a 3.5% forex markup adds 18% GST on top, so every ₹1 lakh you spend in Bangkok or Dubai costs you ₹4,130 before a single reward point lands. If that card earns 1% back, you're still ₹3,130 down.

That's why lounge access counts and "up to 10X" headlines are the wrong place to start. The number that decides whether a travel card pays for itself is how much you spend abroad in a year, set against the fee and the markup.

A paid card only beats a free zero-forex card once your foreign spend is high enough for its rewards to cover its fee. For the IDFC FIRST Mayura, that's about ₹4.25 lakh a year abroad, and only if you redeem points through IDFC's travel portal. Below that, a lifetime-free card does the job better.

So this page gives you two answers. One for the average traveller who goes abroad once or twice a year, and one for the heavy international spender. Both come with the math.

Best Travel Credit Cards in India: Quick Comparison (September 2026)

Forex markups attract 18% GST, so 1% is really 1.18%, 2% is 2.36% and 3.5% is 4.13%.

Our Pick for Most Travellers: Scapia Credit Card

If you go abroad once or twice a year, get the Scapia card. It costs nothing to hold, it charges 0% forex markup, and it gives unlimited domestic lounge access in any month after you've spent ₹20,000 on it. Our credit card lounge access guide lists which other cards still give visits without a spend condition.

Scapia doesn't earn any Scapia Coins on international spends. You pay no markup abroad, but you don't earn anything either. The value comes from what you avoid: on ₹1.5 lakh spent abroad in a year, a 3.5% markup card would have charged you ₹6,195.

At home, the card earns 10% in Scapia Coins on eligible spends, and 5 coins are worth ₹1, so that's 2% back. Travel booked inside the Scapia app earns up to 20% in coins, which is 4%. But these coins can only be spent on bookings in the Scapia app.

Scapia is now issued by Federal Bank, Bank of Baroda and Axis Bank. Just know that the dual-network (Mastercard + RuPay) version may count as two cards. Axis customer service confirmed this. Check our Axis Scapia launch coverage for details. Our Scapia credit card review covers how the coins and the lounge rule work day to day.

Our Pick for Heavy International Spenders: YES Bank MARQUEE

If you put ₹5 lakh or more a year on foreign currency, the YES Bank MARQUEE is the card to hold. It's the rare premium card where the rewards abroad are bigger than the markup.

Offline spends abroad earn 18 YES Rewardz points per ₹200, which is 2.25% when you redeem for flights or hotels at ₹0.25 a point. The markup is 1% + GST, so 1.18%. That leaves you about 1.07% ahead on every rupee you spend abroad. International online spends earn 36 points per ₹200, so 4.5%, which puts you 3.3% ahead after markup.

Also, the ₹9,999 (+GST) joining fee comes back as 40,000 points, worth ₹10,000 on flights or hotels. The ₹4,999 (+GST) renewal fee comes back as 20,000 points, worth ₹5,000. So, the card really costs you about ₹1,800 in year one and about ₹900 a year after that.

It isn't for everyone, though. YES Bank asks for about ₹30 lakh of annual income, domestic lounge visits need ₹1 lakh of spend in the previous quarter, and points are worth only ₹0.15 on vouchers. Our YES Bank MARQUEE review collects what cardholders say about redemption.

What Each Card Returns on a Real International Trip

Here's a sample trip for two: ₹60,000 of return flights booked in India on the airline's own website, plus ₹90,000 spent abroad in local currency on the hotel, food, shopping and cabs. That's ₹1.5 lakh in total.

Regalia Gold, a card many people buy "for travel", loses money on this trip because its 2.36% markup is bigger than its 1.25% reward rate.

Let’s get into the details:

• MARQUEE earns 36 points per ₹200 online and 18 per ₹200 offline, at ₹0.25 a point.
• Mayura earns 10 points per ₹150 on spend above ₹20,000 a month (we're assuming your usual spends already cleared that) but only 5 points per ₹150 on international spends.
• Infinia earns 5 points per ₹150, worth ₹1 each on SmartBuy flights and hotels.
• Regalia Gold earns 5 points per ₹200, worth ₹0.50 each on SmartBuy.

The break-even number for each recommendation

For the average traveller, there's nothing to break even on. Scapia costs ₹0, so every trip is a saving against whatever card you'd otherwise use abroad.

For the heavy spender, here's ₹5 lakh a year spent abroad (offline) on each card:

• YES Bank MARQUEE: 45,000 points worth ₹11,250, minus ₹5,900 markup, minus about ₹900 net renewal fee. You're about ₹4,450 ahead.
• IDFC FIRST Mayura: 16,667 points. Through IDFC's travel portal that's ₹8,333, minus the ₹7,079 fee, so about ₹1,250 ahead. Redeem for vouchers at ₹0.25 and you're about ₹2,900 behind.
• A typical 3.5% card: ₹20,650 in markup alone.

MARQUEE's renewal fee is covered on foreign spend alone from about ₹84,000 abroad a year. Mayura needs about ₹4.25 lakh abroad (travel-portal redemption) or ₹8.5 lakh (vouchers) before its fee is paid back.

Not sure a travel card is even the right card for how you spend? The Monzy recommender matches a card to your actual monthly spends in about 30 seconds.

Ankur Warikoo explains this in detail — worth watching before you decide.

2026 Devaluations That Determined These Picks

Almost every card on this page changed at least once in 2026. The most influencing change came from IDFC FIRST. Forex markup dropped to 0% on every card from 9 September, but from 26 October only seven cards keep earning points on international spends. Those are Ashva, Mayura, Gaj, FIRST Private, FIRST WOW!, FIRST WOW! Black and IndiGo IDFC FIRST.

Every card and date is in our 2026 Indian credit card devaluation tracker.

One trap applies to every zero-forex card. If a shop or ATM abroad offers to charge you in rupees, say no. That's dynamic currency conversion, and it can add back up to 5%. Pay in local currency, not rupees, when you're abroad.

⚠️ Make sure to check how the merchant is coded: a TechnoFino user on the Mayura was charged a 1% utility fee on a ₹50,000 foreign purchase because the merchant was coded as a utility.

All Credit Cards for Travel

Here's every travel-benefit card we track, grouped by bank. Each group opens with what changed at that bank this year, so you know which benefits still hold before you read the card list.

Top Travel Cards by HDFC Bank

HDFC tightened its travel cards in 2026. Regalia Gold now needs ₹60,000 of spend in the previous quarter for its 3 domestic lounge visits, and Infinia Metal needs ₹18 lakh a year (or ₹50 lakh relationship value) just to stay open. The Infinia fee is still waived at ₹10 lakh, and at 2% forex with unlimited lounges it stays the strongest HDFC card if you can clear that bar.

HDFC Credit Cards with Travel Benefits

If you're considering ICICI's flagship travel offering, our ICICI Emeralde review covers the real-world lounge access and reward experience. HDFC Diners Club Black is another card to consider.

Top Travel Cards by SBI Card

SBI pulled back some travel protections, including complimentary air-accident insurance, last year. Its reward redemption updates from April 2026 still keep the premium Miles and ELITE cards in the mix for travellers who like control over how they redeem.

SBI Credit Cards with Travel Benefits

Top Travel Cards by ICICI Bank

ICICI moved most of its travel cards to spend-gated lounges from 1 July 2026: the MakeMyTrip and Adani One cards now need ₹75,000 of spend in the previous quarter. Emeralde still gives unlimited lounge access without a spend condition.

Travel credit cards- ICICI

Top Travel Cards by Axis Bank

Axis cut Accor, Marriott and Qatar Airways from its transfer partners in April 2026, which removed most of the value Magnus and Atlas were famous for. New Atlas applications are also paused. If you already hold one, our Axis Atlas review helps you decide whether to renew.

Axis Bank Credit Cards with Travel Benefits

Not sure you qualify for a premium travel card yet? Check what's realistic at your salary tier.

Top Travel Cards by Kotak Mahindra Bank

Kotak adjusted spend thresholds for fee waivers and travel perks recently, but its premium cards still reward steady flyers who hit their quarterly targets.

Kotak Credit Cards with Travel Benefits

Top Travel Cards by RBL Bank

RBL hasn't released major travel policy updates this year. The World Safari card still charges 0% forex markup, and the rest of the range suits people after moderate lounge benefits.

RBL Bank Credit Cards with Travel Benefits

Top Travel Cards by IDFC FIRST Bank

IDFC FIRST cut forex markup to 0% on every one of its credit cards on 9 September 2026. From 26 October, only Ashva, Mayura, Gaj, FIRST Private, FIRST WOW!, FIRST WOW! Black and the IndiGo card keep earning points on international spends.

Our IDFC FIRST zero-forex breakdown shows which cards gain and which lose.

IDFC Bank Credit Cards with Travel Benefits

Top Travel Cards by IndusInd Bank

IndusInd moved lounge access on its premium cards to a previous-quarter spend condition from April 2026, with thresholds between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹5 lakh depending on the card. Celesta and Pinnacle still suit frequent business travellers who spend at that level.

If you fly Qatar Airways or British Airways often, also look at the Avios Visa Infinite, covered with the rest of the range on our IndusInd Bank credit cards page.

Top Travel Cards by American Express

Amex cut the Platinum Travel card twice in 2026. From 10 September the ₹1.9 lakh milestone is gone, and from 1 October each quarter's 2 domestic lounge visits need ₹1 lakh of spend in the previous quarter. At 3.5% forex markup, it isn't a card to use abroad.

Here's the Amex Platinum Travel devaluation math at ₹2 lakh, ₹4 lakh and ₹7 lakh a year. Amex also discontinued its Reward Multiplier bonus-points portal on 30 September 2026, so extra points now come through ShopWise e-vouchers.

Amex credit card line-up:

• American Express Platinum Travel Card
• Amex Platinum Charge Card
• Amex Gold Card (for mixed travel and lifestyle use)

American Express Credit Cards with Travel Benefits

Top Travel Cards by Yes Bank

YES Bank kept the MARQUEE's forex markup at 1% when it revised card charges in June 2026, which is why it's our pick for heavy international spenders. The PaisaSave card adds 6% cashback on travel spends for lighter use.

Top Travel Cards by AU Small Finance Bank

AU's ixigo card was devalued last year with reduced lounge access. It still works for rail travellers and people just starting out.

The AU card that makes the cut for travel:

• AU ixigo Credit Card

Top Travel Cards by Equitas Small Finance Bank

Equitas Small Finance Bank has one travel card, the PowerMiles. It charges a 2% forex markup, gives 2 domestic and 1 international lounge visit every quarter, and returns roughly 4.5% on international spends before the markup. The ₹5,000 fee is waived at ₹4.8 lakh of annual spend, and the card asks for ₹18 lakh of annual income. Its miles transfer to airline and hotel partners isn't live yet and is slated for March 2027.

The Equitas card that makes the cut for travel:

• Equitas PowerMiles Credit Card

Top Travel Cards by Federal Bank

Federal Bank's Scapia card doubled its lounge condition to ₹20,000 a month in February 2026, and Axis Bank now issues its own Scapia card. Both are lifetime free with 0% forex markup. Federal Bank also took over Standard Chartered's card accounts from 31 July 2026.

Take a close look at these:

• Federal Bank Signet Credit Card
• Federal Imperio Credit Card
• Federal Scapia Credit Card

Top Travel Cards by Standard Chartered Bank

Standard Chartered sold its standalone credit card accounts to Federal Bank, effective 31 July 2026, so check which bank now services your card before you travel.

Cards that suit frequent travellers:

• Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card
• Standard Chartered EaseMyTrip Credit Card

Top Travel Cards by Bank of Baroda

Bank of Baroda's travel benefits have stayed stable this year, which counts for something in a year of cuts.

BOB cards that hold steady for travellers:

• Bank of Baroda Eterna Credit Card
• Bank of Baroda Varunah Card

Top Travel Cards by HSBC Bank

HSBC continues to offer decent lounge benefits and international spending perks, which suit salaried travellers who spend abroad.

Worth exploring:

• HSBC Cashback Credit Card
• HSBC Platinum Card

Top Travel Cards (Other Banks)

A few smaller issuers also offer travel cards that give decent value for the fee, if you want simple perks without a premium card's conditions.

These are the ones worth checking:

• Bank of Maharashtra Titanium Card
• South Indian Bank Visa Signature

Stacking Strategy for Maximum Travel Benefits in 2026

One card rarely covers every part of a trip well. I usually keep one card for lounge access, one zero-forex card for trips abroad (Scapia or an IDFC FIRST card), and one simple cashback card for everything else.

The split matters because the best card for booking a flight at home is rarely the best card to swipe abroad. HDFC Infinia or Regalia Gold earn well on SmartBuy flight bookings, but both charge 2% + GST on foreign spends. Scapia charges nothing abroad but earns nothing there either.

For example, a free Scapia card for spends abroad and an HDFC Infinia or Regalia Gold for SmartBuy flight bookings at home covers both sides without paying a markup on either.

FAQs about travel credit cards in India

Which is the best travel credit card in India in 2026?

For most people, the Scapia credit card. It's lifetime free, charges 0% forex markup and gives unlimited domestic lounge access after ₹20,000 of spend in the previous month. If you spend ₹5 lakh or more abroad a year, the YES Bank MARQUEE returns more, because its 2.25% offline reward rate beats its 1.18% markup.

Which travel credit cards have no annual fee?

Scapia is lifetime free with 0% forex markup. IDFC FIRST WOW! is also lifetime free with 0% markup, but it needs a fixed deposit. IDFC FIRST WOW! Black costs ₹750 + GST and is waived once you spend ₹1.5 lakh a year.

Which credit card is best for international travel?

A zero or low forex markup card. Scapia and IDFC FIRST cards charge 0%, and YES Bank MARQUEE charges 1% + GST. Avoid using a 3.5% markup card abroad: with GST it costs ₹4,130 on every ₹1 lakh you spend.

Which credit card is best for booking flights?

It depends on where you book. Scapia gives up to 20% in coins (4% value) on flights booked in the Scapia app. HDFC Infinia earns 5 points per ₹150, worth ₹1 each on SmartBuy flights. Axis Atlas earns 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on direct airline bookings, but new applications are paused.

Is a zero-forex card worth it if it doesn't earn rewards abroad?

Yes, for most travellers. Scapia earns nothing on international spends, but it also charges no markup. A card with a 3.5% markup and 1% rewards leaves you ₹3,130 worse off on every ₹1 lakh spent abroad.

Do travel credit cards still give free lounge access in 2026?

Most do, but only after you spend. Scapia needs ₹20,000 in the previous month, HDFC Regalia Gold ₹60,000 in the previous quarter, and Amex Platinum Travel ₹1 lakh a quarter from 1 October 2026. HDFC Infinia is one of the few with unlimited access and no quarterly spend condition.

Which travel cards were devalued in 2026?

Amex Platinum Travel, HDFC Regalia Gold, the Axis Magnus and Atlas, and IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve all lost value in 2026. Scapia raised its lounge spend condition to ₹20,000 a month, and ICICI's MakeMyTrip and Adani One cards now need ₹75,000 a quarter for lounges.

Before your next trip, check two things on the card you're carrying: the forex markup on its fee schedule, and whether last month's or last quarter's spend has unlocked the lounge. Those two lines decide more of your trip's cost than any headline reward rate.

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Disclaimer

This is our honest read, not formal financial advice. We’re not your advisor, and before you act on anything big, run it past a professional. But here's exactly how we'd think about it.