Synopsis: Choosing a travel card does not imply high annual rates, other features to look at are the rewards, cashbacks and redemption flexibility to help travelers in selecting a credit card that is best suited to their convenience.
A travel credit card is an essential for a frequent flyer, but high annual rates at an average of Rs 10,000 can dull their appeal. In 2026, two stand-out options for the best rated travel cards below an annual fee of Rs 10,000 are Axis Horizon and HSBC TravelOne. Both the credit cards are designed for travel spends based rewards without burning a hole in your pocket.
Axis Horizon Credit Card
Card overview: the Axis Horizon Credit card is a travel focus card designed for frequent flyers which would benefit them from travel experience with low annual fees. This card delivers strong rewards with a reasonable pricing of annual rates below Rs 10,000.
- Joining Fee: Rs 3,000 + GST
- Annual/Renewal Fee: Rs 3,000 + GST
Features and benefits
- A welcome bonus of 5000 EDGE Miles on the transactions done within the first 30 days of card activation.
- 2 international lounge visits and 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits with the Visa Card variant and 6 lounge visits with the MasterCard variant.
- Insurance for lost card liability cover of Rs 10 lakhs.
- Wednesday offers of 15% off on flights and hotel via MakeMyTrip, 10% off via Swiggy and 10% off up to Rs 1,000 on Tira.
HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
Card overview: the HSBC TravelOne Credit card is a mid-ranged travel card that is focused travel perks designed based on the needs of the cardholder. With its mix of reward points, welcome bonuses, lounge access, and travel discounts, it’s positioned as a strong contender for frequent flyers and travel planners.
- Joining Fee: Rs 4,999 + GST
- Annual/Renewal Fee: Rs 4,999 + GST
- Annual fee waiver: annual fee waived off on spending Rs 8 lakhs in the previous year.
Features and benefits
- Welcome rewards of Rs 1,000 cashback, Rs 3,000 on postcard voucher and 3 months complimentary membership with EazyDiner Prime.
- 6 complimentary domestic and 4 international lounge visits in a year.
- Save 15% on international and domestic holiday bookings via MakeMyTrip, Paytm and ClearTrip and up to 20% off on selected Duty-Free stores in India.
- Discounts on movies, events and dining with the Zomato app.
Comparison between Axis Horizon and HSBC TravelOne
| Feature | Axis Horizon Credit Card | HSBC TravelOne Credit Card |
| Joining Fee | Rs 3,000 + GST | Rs 4,999 + GST |
| Annual/Renewal Fee | Rs 3,000 + GST | Rs 4,999 + GST (waived on Rs 8 L spend) |
| Annual Fee Waiver | No standard waiver | Rs 8 lakhs spent in the previous year |
| Travel Reward Rate | 5 EDGE Miles per ₹100 on travel via Axis Travel EDGE & airline sites; 2 EDGE per ₹100 on others | 4 Reward Points per ₹100 on flights, travel aggregators & foreign currency; 2 on other spends |
| Welcome Bonus | 5,000 EDGE Miles on first spend (conditions apply) | First 30 days spend 10k: Rs 1,000 cashback, 3 months EazyDiner prime membership |
| Domestic Lounge Access | Up to 8 visits per quarter (Visa); 6 visits per quarter (Mastercard) | 6 domestic lounge visits per year |
| International Lounge Access | 2 international lounge access per quarter | 4 international lounge visits per year |
| Reward Redemption | EDGE Miles can be redeemed for flights/hotels or transferred to partners | Reward points can be converted 1:1 to airline miles or hotel points |
| Travel Discounts & Perks | Dining & travel portal offers via Axis Bank Dining Delights Program | 15% travel booking discounts on partners + other lifestyle offers |
| Best For | Frequent flyers who value high lounge access & simple miles | Travelers who spend more and can get annual fee waiver + flexible point redemptions |
Also read: Axis Atlas vs IndusInd Avios Infinite: Which is Best Travel Credit Card for 2026?
Which card should you choose?
Choose the Axis Horizon Credit Card if:
- Greater lounge access with lower annual fees.
- Frequent traveller who books flights via Axis Travel EDGE.
- Prefer simple rewards with higher lounge visits.
Choose the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card if:
- If you can spend a total of Rs 8 lakhs a year to waive off the annual fee.
- You value flexible point redemption with airlines and hotel partners.
- You want decent travel rewards and additional offers like dining or travel booking discounts.
In conclusion
Both the credit cards charge a low amount of fees for their travel benefits which makes both the cards high in demand. The Axis Horizon wins in terms of costs and lounge access, while the HSBC TravelOne holds an upper hand in terms of better value for big spenders thanks to waiver opportunities.
