In recent years, traveling has become a common part of life for many people in India. Whether it is for work, vacations, family visits, or international trips, more people are traveling than ever before. As a result, travel-focused credit cards have gained a lot of popularity because they offer benefits like airport lounge access, travel rewards, and savings on travel expenses. Among the many options available, the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card and the IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve Credit Card stand out as attractive choices for frequent travelers.
While the IDFC Diamond Reserve stands out for features like zero forex markup, travel insurance coverage, and lounge access benefits, the HSBC TravelOne focuses on rewarding travel spends with an extensive airline and hotel transfer program, accelerated rewards, and premium travel privileges.
Both cards offer different travel perks that benefit users, but they differ in rewards, fees, and additional features.
In Terms of Fees and Welcome Benefits
When it comes to fees, the IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve Credit Card is clearly more affordable, charging a joining and annual fee of ₹3,000 + GST, compared to HSBC TravelOne’s ₹4,999 + GST. The spending requirement for an annual fee waiver is also lower on the IDFC card at ₹6 lakh per year versus ₹8 lakh on the HSBC TravelOne.
However, HSBC TravelOne offers better welcome benefits. New cardholders can earn ₹1,000 cashback, a ₹3,000 Postcard hotel voucher, and a 3-month EazyDiner membership after meeting the spending requirements.
In contrast, the IDFC Diamond Reserve offers only a ₹500 gift voucher upon spending ₹5,000 within the first 30 days.
| Feature | IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve | HSBC TravelOne |
| Joining/Annual Fee | ₹3,000 + GST | ₹4,999 + GST |
| Annual Fee Waiver | On Annual Spends of ₹6 Lakh | On Annual Spends of ₹8 Lakh |
| Welcome Benefit Eligibility | Spend ₹5,000 Within 30 Days of Card Activation | Spend ₹25,000 Within 30 Days |
| Welcome Benefits | ₹500 Gift Voucher From Brands Like Amazon, BigBasket, Uber, or Lifestyle | ₹1,000 Cashback, ₹3,000 Postcard Hotel Voucher, 3-Month EazyDiner Membership |
In Terms of Reward Structure
The IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve and HSBC TravelOne Credit Card reward users differently, so the better card depends on how you spend and use your reward points. The IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve is a good option for people who spend a lot every month. It gives 3 Reward Points for every ₹150 spent, up to ₹20,000 in a billing cycle. After crossing ₹20,000, the earning rate increases to 10 Reward Points per ₹150 spent. Since each Reward Point is worth ₹0.25, higher spending can help you earn more rewards.
The HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is more suitable for travelers. It offers 4 Reward Points per ₹100 spent on flights, travel websites, and foreign currency transactions, and 2 Reward Points per ₹100 on other eligible purchases. The accelerated rewards are capped at 50,000 points per month.
HSBC cardholders can also earn extra rewards through the HSBC Rewards Marketplace. With bookings made through this platform, users can earn 24 Reward Points per ₹100 on hotels, 16 Reward Points per ₹100 on flights, and 8 Reward Points per ₹100 on car rentals. However, these bonus rewards are capped at 18,000 points in a calendar month.
The biggest difference between the two cards is how you can use the rewards. With the IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve, the value of your points is fixed at ₹0.25 per point. With HSBC TravelOne, you can transfer reward points to airline and hotel loyalty programs. This can help travelers get better value from their points, especially when booking flights or hotel stays.
So, if you travel often and want to make the most of your reward points, the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is likely to be the better choice. But if you spend heavily every month and prefer a simple reward system with a fixed point value, the IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve may suit you better.
| Feature | IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve Credit Card | HSBC TravelOne Credit Card |
| Base Reward Rate | 3 Reward Points Per ₹150 Spent | 2 Reward Points Per ₹100 Spent on Regular Purchases |
| Accelerated Reward Rate | 10 Reward Points Per ₹150 After Spending ₹20,000 in a Billing Cycle | 4 Reward Points Per ₹100 on Flights, Travel, and Foreign Currency Transactions |
| Reward Rate Cap | 3 Reward Points Rate Applicable Up to ₹20,000 Spending Per Billing Cycle | Accelerated Rewards Capped at 50,000 Points Per Month |
| Reward Point Value | 1 Reward Point = ₹0.25 | Value Depends on the Redemption Option and Transfer Partner |
| Hotel Bookings via Rewards Marketplace | N/A | 24 Reward Points Per ₹100 Spent, Capped at 18,000 Per Calendar Month |
| Flight Bookings via Rewards Marketplace | N/A | 16 Reward Points Per ₹100 Spent, Capped at 18,000 Per Calendar Month |
| Car Rental Bookings via Rewards Marketplace | N/A | 8 Reward Points Per ₹100 Spent, Capped at 18,000 Per Calendar Month |
In Terms of Airport Lounge Access
Airport lounge access is an important consideration for frequent travelers, and both cards offer this benefit in different ways. The IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve Credit Card provides two complimentary lounge visits per quarter, both domestic and international lounges. However, cardholders must spend at least ₹20,000 in a month to unlock this benefit.
In comparison, the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card offers six domestic and four international lounge visits annually, without any spending requirements.
| Feature | IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve | HSBC TravelOne |
| Domestic Lounge Access | 2 Visits Per Quarter | 6 Visits Per Year |
| International Lounge Access | 2 Visits Per Quarter | 4 Visits Per Year |
| Spending Requirement | ₹20,000 Monthly Spend Required | No Spending Requirement |
In Terms of Railway Lounge Access
When it comes to railway lounge access, the IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve Credit Card has a clear advantage. Cardholders can enjoy up to four complimentary visits per quarter at participating railway lounges across India. In contrast, the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card does not offer any complimentary railway lounge access. As a result, travelers who frequently use railways and value access to comfortable waiting areas may find the IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve to be the more rewarding option.
Bottom Line
The IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve and HSBC TravelOne Credit Card both offer travel benefits, but the HSBC TravelOne stands out for frequent travelers. It gives better rewards on flights, travel bookings, and foreign currency spending. The option to transfer reward points to airline and hotel loyalty programs also makes the rewards more useful for future trips.
The IDFC FIRST Diamond Reserve is still a decent choice for people who want a lower annual fee, zero forex markup, and railway lounge access. However, its reward system is more basic and does not offer the same flexibility for travel redemption.
For those who travel often and want to get more value from every trip, the HSBC TravelOne Credit Card is the stronger option. It helps turn everyday travel spending into meaningful savings on flights and hotels, making it a better fit for regular travelers.