Traveling is loved by many, be it a millennial or a Gen-Z. Everyone wants to explore new destinations within the country and abroad. Sticking to a budget while planning a trip is very much needed. You don’t want to overspend now, do you? Just imagine you went on an international trip, overspent than what you had initially planned, and now all your finances are in a frenzy. To avoid mismanaging your budget, first, don’t give into the temptation of overspending, and second, always carry a card that will help you stick to your budget and take care of your finances.
Whether you’re planning a domestic getaway or an international trip, the credit cards mentioned below will help you make the most of your travel budget while enjoying added perks along the way. Let’s explore how these rewarding credit cards can upgrade your travel experiences and help you manage your finances wisely.
ixigo AU Credit Card
If you want to travel on a budget without overspending, the ixigo AU Credit Card is the right choice for you. This card is lifetime-free for a limited time period and can be used for travel-related purchases. This co-branded card comes with exclusive benefits such as complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access and leave-out railway lounge access. People who want to save money will find this card quite pleasing with its reward system. You can earn 20 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent via ixigo, 10 Reward Points for every ₹200 online, and 5 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent offline. A welcome bonus is also provided with this card, along with discounts on flight, bus, and hotel bookings. One eye-catching perk of this card is it offers zero forex markup charges, making international transactions accessible.
IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card
The RBL Bank, in collaboration with IRCTC, has launched a credit card that mainly focuses on travel-related expenses and will help people who want to save money while on a trip. The IRCTC RBL Bank Credit Card comes with a nominal joining fee of ₹500 plus taxes, where frequent travelers can use the IRCTC portal to book train tickets and travel by railways, metros, and other public transport. The card offers 5 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on train bookings with IRCTC, providing a reward rate of 2.5% when booking train tickets through IRCTC and 2 Reward Points for every ₹200 spent on flight, cruise, and hotel bookings with IRCTC. Users also receive complimentary railway lounge access and insurance coverage for train cancellations, making daily commuting simpler and cheaper.
MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card
MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card is a co-branded credit card mostly used by people who travel regularly and want to save money on bookings. Launched by ICICI Bank and MakeMyTrip, this card comes with a joining fee of ₹999 plus taxes and offers impressive benefits for those who frequently book train and flight tickets as well as travel through MakeMyTrip. Cardholders can earn 6 myCash for every ₹200 spent on hotel bookings with MakeMyTrip, 3 myCash for every ₹200 spent on flight, taxi, and bus bookings, and 1 myCash for every ₹200 spent on retail purchases. The value of 1 myCash is ₹1. The card also comes with a complimentary MMTDOUBLEBLACK membership, providing additional discounts. People who have this card enjoy benefits such as free cancellations on flights and hotels, no-cost EMI on flight bookings, domestic and international airport lounge access, and much more. Cardholders also receive a discount voucher worth ₹500 on domestic hotel bookings through MakeMyTrip. Another feature is the low foreign currency charges, which will help users on international trips to make transactions using their ICICI credit card but sticking to their budget.
Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card
If you want to travel on a budget, the Axis Bank Atlas Credit Card is the right choice for you. Even though the joining fee is quite high, cardholders have access to multiple benefits, from complimentary lounge access to discounts at partnered restaurants. Users will earn 5 Edge miles for every ₹100 spent on travel and 2 EDGE miles for every ₹100 spent on transactions other than hotels, airlines, and the TRAVEL EDGE Portal, which can be redeemed for air miles with partner airlines such as KrisFlyer and Air India Flying Returns or for hotel and flight bookings. Cardholders can enjoy dining discounts of up to 25% and will earn welcome benefits in terms of 2,500 EDGE Miles. The card also offers Silver, Gold, and Platinum membership tiers based on annual spending, impacting renewal benefits and the number of domestic/international airport lounge accesses. With all the privileges and perks it provides, users who have this card will be able to save quite a fortune, even though it is quite expensive.
American Express Platinum Travel Card
The American Express Platinum Travel Card is a premium card that primarily focuses on travel-related transactions and for frequent travelers. It offers attractive welcome benefits, including 10,000 Membership Rewards Points and a milestone benefit of 15,000 Reward Points on annual spending of ₹1.9 lakh. You can earn 1 Membership Rewards Point for every ₹50 spent, except for fuel, insurance, utilities, cash transactions, and EMI conversion. The card provides complimentary airport lounge access, Priority Pass membership, and Taj vouchers, as well as 20% discounts at select restaurants and fuel surcharge waivers at HPCL fuel stations. This card is well-suited for people who travel frequently, want exclusive travel-related benefits, but also don’t want to spend huge amounts of money.
Bottom Line
Picking the right credit card can make your travel experiences better while helping you stay within your budget. The above-mentioned credit cards offer various benefits for budget-conscious travelers, such as earning reward points, accessing airport lounges, and getting discounts on travel bookings. You should always choose a credit card that fits your travel habits and helps you save money on every trip. Always compare the features and benefits of each card and choose the one that matches your preference. With the right credit card, you can travel freely, knowing you have somebody who is going to help you stick to the budget.