Best Credit Card For International Travel in 2021

There are millions of people in the world who have to travel frequently, either for work or as a hobby. Travelling in this day and age can easily burn a big hole in your pocket, especially if you do that often. On top of that, if you’re travelling abroad, the amount you end up spending might be quite a few lakh rupees. This includes airfare, hotel stays, car rides, dining expenditure and shopping, amongst other things. This is where a travel credit card and its benefits come in because they are designed keeping in mind the requirements of a traveller. They have a number of benefits that help you earn money through cash backs and rewards that are provided every time you make a purchase or avail of a service while you’re travelling. Most of the travel credit cards are partnered with airlines that reward you with air miles on using your travel credit card. These credit cards also offer discounts on hotel bookings and restaurants, which can eventually help you save up a lot of money. Not just that, having a travel credit card can also mitigate any problems pertaining to currency conversions, which is a very common issue for travellers. Therefore, if you are a person who travels a lot and ends up spending quite some money on travelling, a travel credit card can save you a fortune. Additionally, benefits like exclusive lounge access at airports can also make your journey more luxurious than ever. 

Best Credit Cards for International Travel

A number of banks have introduced dedicated credit cards that come in handy when you’re travelling in India or abroad. Know about some of the best ones.

•  JetPrivilege HDFC Bank World Credit Card
  
  This is undoubtedly one of the best credit cards to own if you’re a travel addict, or if you have to travel a lot for work. The JetPrivilege HDFC Bank World Credit Card works in conjunction with Jet Airways to provide the cardholders with exclusive offers and privileges. With this card, you can earn air miles known as JPMiles, which can be then used to buy flight tickets. You can redeem your miles to get flight tickets from Jet Airways and its partner airlines like Etihad Airways, Air France and Air Canada. Thanks to their Priority Pass Membership, card holders can also enjoy exclusive lounge privileges like high-speed internet at more than 600 airports worldwide.

• Air India SBI Platinum Card
  
  If you are a frequent traveller, the Air India SBI Platinum Card is a lifesaver for you. With a nominal entry fee of only Rs. 1,499, this is an excellent choice for an entry-level card. The card is partnered with Air India, meaning every time you fly with Air India, your rewards are accelerated. For every Rs. 100 spent on buying an Air India ticket using this card, you get up to 15 reward points. 

• Standard Chartered Ultimate Card

  Not just for avid travellers, this is also a great credit card for anyone who likes to spend a lot of money while travelling to places. As a welcome gift, the card offers up to Rs. 10,000 as cashback when you book tickets on MakeMyTrip within your first 90 days. For people who like to buy duty-free products while travelling, this card offers 5% cashback on duty-free purchases. It also gives cardholders access to lounges in major airports across India.

• Bajaj Finserv RBL Bank World Plus Supercard
  
  This is by far an excellent choice for an international credit card if you love both travelling, shopping and spending overseas in general. It allows the cardholders to earn as much as 20 points for every Rs. 100 spent abroad in shopping or dining. As welcome rewards, you are gifted about 20,000 reward points that can amount up to Rs. 6,000 when redeemed. Depending on your annual spending, the bank also offers you bonus rewards every year which might add up to 20,000 points again. Other perks of this great travel card include fuel surcharge waivers and eight free domestic lounge visits every year.

• MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card
  
  A lot of people use MakeMyTrip to book hotels for their trips, and this credit card from ICICI Bank is one of the best options for them. As a welcome gift, the credit card holders are given a cash reward of Rs. 1,500 that can be redeemed on MakeMyTrip. Cardholders are also given a Lemontree Hotel voucher worth Rs. 2,500. Another reason why the card is so great is that it does not require you to pay an annual fee. The card also gives special offers while using OLA.

Talking about versatile credit cards, the Bajaj Finserv RBL Bank SuperCard is a great one to own. The card allows you to withdraw interest-free cash from ATMs and also helps you earn a massive amount of reward points. The reward points can be redeemed for flight tickets, hotel bookings and vouchers. How to get this credit card? You can apply for it online, without any hassles on the Bajaj Finserv website, provided you meet the minimum eligibility criteria.

With privileges like air miles for every air trip, cashback on duty-free purchases, special offers on hotels and restaurants, and exclusive access to lounges at airports across the world travel credit cards can make travelling easier and more convenient. Renowned banks like HDFC, SBI and RBL have their own trademark travel credit cards that make for the best travel cards in 2021. Choose a card from the list given above, and make your international travel experience even more delightful.