Synopsis: This article discusses the best credit cards in India that give cashback rewards in addition to travel benefits in terms of airport lounge membership, low or no forex charges, and travel redemption. The users select the most appropriate card to use depending on their expenditure and travelling requirements.
Credit cards are no longer about offers or discounts but a single package comprising cashback, travelling, and lifestyle benefits. To tourists and savvy users, the most desired card can be one that can save them money in their daily operations as well as provide extra comfort during their travels. The inclusion of such characteristics as airport lounge access, zero forex markup, travel redemption, and other features makes particular cards shine.
1. IndusInd Tiger Credit Card
- Joining Fee: ₹0 (No joining fee)
- Annual Fee: Lifetime free
Benefits
- Earn up to 6 reward points per ₹100 spent (tiered based on annual spending)
- Reward points redeemable at ₹0.40 per point for cash, vouchers, or travel
- Domestic Airport Lounge Access: 8 visits/year
- International Lounge Access: 2 visits/year via Priority Pass
- Complimentary Golf: 4 rounds or lessons annually
- Entertainment: 1 free movie ticket every 6 months (up to ₹500) redeemable via BookMyShow
- Discounted forex fee: 1.5% on international transactions
To apply for the card, please visit the Official Website
2. Scapia Federal Credit Card
- Joining Fee: ₹0 (No joining fee)
- Annual Fee: Lifetime free
- UPI Compatibility: Supports UPI payments via the Scapia app
Benefits
- Earn 10% rewards on all eligible merchant spends across India.
- Earn 20% rewards on all travel bookings made via the Scapia app.
- UPI spends: Earn 5% rewards on UPI transactions of ₹500 or more.
- Coins are credited on the statement date and redeemable via the Scapia app.
- Use Scapia Coins to book flights, hotels, buses, trains, stays, and more. Access 5 lakh+ stays and global airline options
- Redeem without caps: pay 100% of your travel booking with Scapia coins.
- Unlimited domestic lounge access (with monthly spend criteria of ₹20,000 across Visa + RuPay).
- Airport perks of free dining, shopping, or spa services at 100+ domestic airports, with up to ₹1,000 rewards back with a monthly spend of ₹20,000 across Visa + RuPay
- International airport perks: Earn up to ₹2,000 back on duty-free dining/shopping with a ₹50,000+ international flight booking via the Scapia app.
- 0% forex markup on international spends
To apply for the card, please visit the Official Website
3. HSBC RuPay Cashback Credit Card
- Joining Fee: ₹499
- Annual Fee: ₹499
- Annual fee waiver: (spend more than ₹200,000 per year)
Benefits
- ₹500 cashback on first spend of ₹10,000 via HSBC Mobile Banking within 30 days
- ₹250 Amazon e-gift voucher on card issuance via online application (T&Cs apply)
- Discounts on flights & hotels via Cleartrip up to ₹6,000 (with codes)
- Earn 10% cashback on dining, grocery, and food delivery spends
- Earn 1% cashback on other eligible spends
- Cashback is capped monthly (₹400/month)
- ₹250 cashback on first 2 UPI transactions (₹250+ each)
- 12% discount on Myntra (Sundays, min spend ₹4,000)
- Paytm bill payment discount (5% up to ₹150)
- 10 complimentary airport lounge visits (8 domestic + 2 international) per year
- 0% forex markup on international spends (valid until 30 June 2026)
4. BOBCARD Eterna Credit Card
- Joining Fee: ₹2,499
- Annual Fee: ₹2,499
- Joining Fee Waiver: Joining fee waived on ₹25,000 spend in the first 60 days
- Annual fee waived on ₹2.5 lakh annual spend
Benefits
- FITPASS Pro membership (12 months) worth up to ₹48,000 (activation within 60 days)
- Earn 15 Reward Points per ₹100 on premium categories such as dining, travel, online, and international spending.
- Earn 3 Reward Points per ₹100 on base category spends
- 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25 cashback
- 10,000 Reward Points on spending ₹50,000 within first 60 days
- 20,000 Reward Points on annual spending of ₹5 lakh
- Total milestone benefit value: 30,000 Reward Points (₹7,500)
- Unlimited domestic airport lounge access (quarterly spend criteria of ₹40,000)
- Forex markup: 2% on international transactions
To apply for the card, please visit the Official Website
5. RBL Bank World Safari Credit Card
- Annual Fee: ₹3000 + GST
Benefits
- 2 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on eligible domestic retail transactions.
- 5 Reward Points for every ₹100 spent on eligible travel purchases.
- No Reward Points on international purchases.
- 10,000 bonus Reward Points on annual spends of ₹2.5 lakh.
- 15,000 bonus Reward Points on annual spends of ₹5 lakh
- A voucher worth ₹10,000 from brands such as Taj Experiences, Amazon, Croma, Myntra & MakeMyTrip on an annual spending of ₹7.5 lakh.
- Complimentary Priority Pass membership with 2 international lounge visits per year.
- 8 domestic lounge visits/year (2 per quarter with ₹35,000 quarterly spend)
- ₹3,000 MakeMyTrip welcome voucher
- Complimentary travel insurance
- Forex markup: 0% on international transactions
To apply for the card, please visit the Official Website
Also Read: Top 6 Mid-Tier Credit Cards to Earn Up to ₹1,300 Cashback Every Month
Comparison table
| Card | Fee | Cashback / Rewards | Lounge Access | Forex Fee | Best For |
| IndusInd Tiger | ₹0 | Up to 6 RP/₹100 | 8 domestic + 2 international | 1.5% | Balanced travel + lifestyle |
| Scapia Federal | ₹0 | Up to 20% travel, 10% spends, 5% UPI | Unlimited domestic (spend-based) | 0% | Frequent travelers |
| HSBC RuPay Cashback | ₹499 | 10% + 1% (₹400/month cap) | 8 domestic + 2 international | 0% (limited) | Cashback users |
| BOBCARD Eterna | ₹2,499 | Up to 15 RP/₹100 | Unlimited domestic (spend-based) | 2% | Premium spenders |
| RBL World Safari | ₹3000 + GST | Travel-focused RP + milestones | 8 domestic + 2 international | 0% | International travelers |
Conclusion
Cashback plus travel credit cards provide two advantages to users because they help users save money on daily costs while improving their travel experience. The best card for you depends on your spending and travel patterns between Scapia’s lifetime-free option, HSBC’s cashback card and BOBCARD Eterna’s premium rewards card. You should assess your monthly usage, annual spending and travel frequency to select a card that provides the most value according to your specific lifestyle needs.
Written by Ameet S
