Synopsis: In this article, we pit the YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave against the HSBC Live+ to see which one actually puts more money back in your pocket in travel and dining expenses. The list covers even the hidden UPI rules to the secret of the ₹3,000 monthly cap. Find out the breakdown of each detail below and all the math behind these attractive cards.
When you skim through all the list of credit cards that offer the best return for your travel and dining spends, you might find yourself in a bit of a confusion. This ambivalence is valid as the reward structure of every card is different and the rewards are in various formats such as reward points, saving points, and many more.
In this article we have brought, after thorough research, the best travel and dining credit card respectively YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave and HSBC Cashback Card. Read on to learn everything about reward value, intricate earning structure and above all – how much of a savings and return you can earn by using both?
1) YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave
- Joining Fees: Nil
- Annual Fees: ₹499 (applicable from the second year)
- Annual Fee Waiver: Waived on annual spend of ₹1.2 Lakh.
- Reward in: Reward Point where 1 Reward Point = ₹1
Travel Benefits
- 6% flat cashback on all travel expenses including airlines, IRCTC, and hotel chains (Taj, Marriott, Radisson)
- Applicable across major platforms like MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, and Airbnb
Dining Benefits
- 6% cashback on all dining and food delivery apps like Zomato, Swiggy, and EazyDiner.
- It covers both fine dining and quick service restaurants.
Additional Perks
- 1% Unlimited Cashback on all other spends
- 6% accelerated cashback is capped at ₹3,000 per month.
- No redemption fee and points are redeemed 1:1 meaning 1 Reward Point = ₹1 directly into your statement credit.
2) HSBC Cashback Card (Live+)
- Joining Fees: ₹999+ taxes
- Annual Fees: ₹999+ taxes
- Annual Fee Waiver: Waived on annual spends of ₹2 Lakh
- Reward in: Cashback
Travel Benefits
- 4 complimentary domestic airport lounge access per year (capped at one per calendar quarter).
- 1.5% unlimited cashback on international spends and travel bookings (non-accelerated).
Dining Benefits
- 10% accelerated cashback on all dining and food delivery (Zomato/Swiggy) with a monthly cap of ₹1,000.
- up to 15% discount at over 200+ partner restaurants via the Live+ Dining Programme.
Additional Perks
- 10% Grocery cashback on both online (Blinkit, BigBasket) and offline (Reliance Fresh, DMart).
- Base Rate of flat 1.5% unlimited cashback on all other eligible spend
- Welcome Bonus of ₹1,000 cashback/voucher upon spending ₹20,000 within the first 30 days.
Also Read: Is Using Multiple Credit Cards a Bad Idea? Pros, Cons and What You Should Know
Comparison Table at a Glance
Why YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave is the best choice for Travel and Dining:
It offers a significantly higher monthly cap of ₹3,000. While the percentage is 6% (lower than HSBC’s 10%), you can spend up to ₹50,000 in a month on flights and hotels. It is the better choice for those with expensive tickets and travel expenses who want a simple, cashback card with no to minimal restrictions.
Why HSBC Cashback Credit Card is the best choice for Travel and Dining:
It is basically an ideal card for dining and grocery spend for many city dwellers. The 10% return is unbeatable for monthly food and household bills. Additionally, it provides actual travel utility through complimentary lounge access which is missing on the PaisaSave card.
Which One is Best?
A wise answer would be based on one’s spending habits. Both the cards come with their own unique returns. On one side YES Bank PaisaSave offers a ton of benefits for those who spend a significant amount on travel and hotel bookings. And on the other side HSBC Live+ brings accelerated cashback for dining along with airport lounge access. It is a safe answer to say that one can own both the cards. However, if that is not an option then after a thorough evaluation while also keeping the spending pattern in check, you can choose one on your own and decide who wins this race.
Final Thoughts
The concluding words would be – both the cards are ideal for travel and dining but are catered to different kinds of spenders. Thus, if you happen to be the one who needs respite in long travel days then HSBC’s lounge access could be the saviour and spelling of YES Bank Paisabazaar PaisaSave, it is an ideal choice if you want heavy returns of frequent travel, hotel, and dining. It is the cardholder who decides in reality who is actually the best choice for them.
FAQs
Yes, it provides 1% unlimited cashback on UPI spends when using the RuPay variant.
It requires a spend of ₹2 Lakh annually and it is easy or not depending on the cardholder’s spending nature.
Yes, grocery apps like Swiggy Instamart and Blinkit qualify for the 10% rate.
Written by Kenbi Riba
