In India, travel credit cards have become very popular amongst frequent travelers and people who enjoy other premium lifestyle experiences. Travel Credit Cards offer a variety of benefits that make every trip more rewarding. These cards not only help users earn miles, points, and exclusive perks but also enhance the overall travel experience by providing access to airport lounges, discounts, and travel insurance. As travel continues to be a key part of people’s lives, travel credit cards have evolved to cater to a wide variety of needs, from luxury hotel stays to global flight bookings.
The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card are among the most popular travel credit cards in India.
About the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card
The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is a great card for travel-related spending. The card is on the Mastercard network, which means it is globally accepted; cardholders will not have to worry about acceptability issues and can enjoy Mastercard World Platform benefits, such as complimentary golf, holiday discounts, and more.
The HSBC TravelOne credit card has an annual fee of ₹4,999 + GST, which is waived off if a user completes spends of ₹8 lakh or more in a year. As a part of the joining bonus, cardholders get the following –
- ₹1,000 Cashback
- PostCard Hotel voucher worth ₹3,000 (valid for guests staying at the hotel)
- 3-Month EazyDiner Membership (on Spending ₹10,000 Within 30 Days of Card Issuance)
- 3,000 Points on Spending ₹1 lakh Within 90 Days (limited time offer valid till 31 December 2025)
Cardholders earn 4 Reward Points for ₹100 spent on flights, travel, and transactions made in foreign currency. These accelerated Reward Points are capped at 50,000 points each month, after which a regular reward rate applies: 2 Reward Points per ₹100 for all other eligible spends.
The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card offers a range of lifestyle benefits designed to enhance your travel and leisure experiences. Cardholders can enjoy movie and dining discounts through Zomato, providing savings on their dining and entertainment expenses. Additionally, the card provides periodic discount offers on leading travel platforms like ClearTrip, Yatra, StayVista, and more, making it easier to plan and book your trips at a lower cost.
For golf enthusiasts, the card also includes four complimentary golf rounds and twelve golf lessons each year, offering exclusive access to premium golf facilities and enhancing your leisure activities.
About the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card
The Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card is a co-branded card specifically tailored for individuals who frequently stay at Marriott hotels. It allows cardholders to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, which can be redeemed for free night stays, upgrades, dining discounts, and more at Marriott’s vast network of properties worldwide. The card is on the Diners Club network, which means that users can avail themselves of Diners Club exclusive offers like priority check-in, exclusive dining offers, a luxury spa, and more.
Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹3,000 + GST. HDFC does not offer any spend-based waiver for the annual fee on this card. For the welcome bonus, the card offers-
- One free night stay at Marriott Hotels(valid for one year)
- Silver Elite Status in the Marriott Bonvoy Program
The card allows users to earn Marriott Bonvoy points based on their spending. For retail purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, you can earn 8 reward points per ₹150 spent up to a monthly spend limit of ₹10 lakh. After reaching this limit, the earning rate drops to 2 reward points per ₹150 spent. For travel, dining, and entertainment, you earn 4 reward points per ₹150 spent up to a monthly limit of ₹5 lakh. Once this limit is surpassed, the earning rate decreases to 2 reward points per ₹150 spent. For other eligible expenses, you earn 2 reward points per ₹150 spent. However, for grocery spending, you will earn 2 reward points per ₹150 up to a monthly cap of ₹1.5 lakh, after which no reward points are earned.
The Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card offers several premium lifestyle benefits that cater to both leisure and luxury preferences. Cardholders can earn accelerated 4 reward points (RPs) on dining and entertainment expenses, maximizing rewards on these everyday spends. Additionally, the card provides up to 4 Free Nights at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, allowing for complimentary stays at participating properties. For golf lovers, the card offers 2 complimentary golf course accesses and 2 golf lessons per quarter, enhancing the overall experience with exclusive access to golf facilities. These benefits make the card ideal for those who enjoy fine dining, travel, and recreational activities.
HSBC TravelOne or HDFC Marriott Card – Which is More Rewarding?
Let us first compare the reward rates offered by both of these travel-oriented credit cards.
| HSBC TravelOne | HDFC Marriott Bonvoy | |
| Reward Rate | Assuming the Value of 1 Reward Point = ₹0.50, this Card Offers 2% Rewards for Travel and International Spends (4 Reward Points/₹100 for Flights, Travel Platforms, and International Spends) | Assuming the Value of 1 Marriott Bonvoy Point = ₹0.50, this Card Offers 2.66% Rewards for Spends at Marriott (8 Marriott Bonvoy Points/₹150 for Spends at Marriott Hotels) |
The HSBC TravelOne and HDFC Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards have distinctly different reward structures. The HSBC TravelOne Card allows cardholders to earn Reward Points that can be transferred to multiple airline and hotel partners such as United Airlines and Accor. In contrast, the HDFC Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card exclusively offers Bonvoy Points on purchases, which limits cardholders to a single redemption option. Overall, the HSBC TravelOne Card provides much greater diversity in terms of reward point redemption compared to the HDFC Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card.
Key Differences
Here is a list of differences side by side to help you evaluate the cards better-
| Features | HSBC TravelOne Credit Card | Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card |
| Joining/Renewal Fee | ₹4,999 + GST | ₹3,000 + GST |
| Welcome Benefits |
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| Rewards Rate |
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| Lifestyle Benefits |
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| Airport Lounge Access |
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| Foreign Currency Markup | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Insurance Cover |
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Bottom Line
Both cards provide great rewards and benefits, but they serve different types of travelers. HSBC TravelOne is designed for those seeking a broader travel rewards program, especially for international travel. At the same time, the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card is perfect for those who prefer staying at Marriott properties in India and across the globe and want to earn loyalty points that can be redeemed for stays and other hotel-related benefits.
The comparison here can help you determine which of the two best suits your travel style and needs.