travel credit card hdfc

Travel credit cards 

There are several travel credit cards available in India that can help make your travel dreams a reality while providing various benefits and rewards!

Best Travel credit cards

HDFC Regalia Credit Card

• Travel friendly

Joining Fee - Rs. 500 Annual Fee – Rs. 500

HDFC Regalia Credit Card is one of the most popular travel credit cards in India. It offers numerous benefits, including airport lounge access, travel insurance, and rewards points for travel-related expenses. This card is ideal for frequent travelers who want to enjoy the luxury of airport lounges and earn rewards on their travel expenses.

• Complimentary airport lounge access : HDFC Regalia Credit Card provides free access to airport lounges in India and abroad, making your travel more comfortable and enjoyable.
• Travel insurance : This card offers travel insurance coverage of up to Rs. 1 crore in case of flight delays, baggage loss, or any other travel-related mishap.
• Rewards points : HDFC Regalia Credit Card provides 4 reward points for every Rs. 150 spent on travel-related expenses, which can be redeemed for hotel bookings, flight tickets, or shopping.
• Fuel surcharge waiver : This card offers a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% on fuel transactions up to Rs. 5000

HDFC Regalia Credit Card is a perfect choice for frequent travelers as it provides exclusive travel benefits, including airport lounge access, travel insurance, and rewards points for travel-related expenses.

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card

Joining Fee - Rs.100 + GST (monthly) Annual Fee - Nil

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card is a premium travel credit card that provides exclusive benefits to travelers. This card offers airport lounge access, complimentary golf rounds, and rewards points for travel-related expenses. This card is ideal for those who travel frequently and enjoy luxury experiences.

• Lounge access : Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card provides free access to airport lounges in India and abroad, making your travel more comfortable and enjoyable.
• Flight discounts : This card offers up to 15% discount on Vistara flights booked through the Vistara website.
• Rewards points : Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card provides 4 reward points for every Rs. 200 spent on travel-related expenses, which can be redeemed for hotel bookings, flight tickets, or shopping.
• Fuel surcharge waiver : This card offers a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% on fuel transactions up to Rs. 4000.
• Airport lounge access : ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card offers complimentary access to airport lounges in India and abroad, making your travel more comfortable and enjoyable.
• Golf rounds : This card provides two complimentary golf rounds per month at select golf courses across India.
• Rewards points : ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card provides 2 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on travel-related expenses, which can be redeemed for hotel bookings, flight tickets, or shopping.

ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card provides exclusive travel benefits, including airport lounge access, golf rounds, and rewards points for travel-related expenses, making it an ideal choice for frequent travelers who enjoy luxury experiences.

Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card

Joining Fee - Rs. 3000 + GST Annual Fee - Rs. 3000 + GST

Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card is designed for frequent travelers on Vistara airlines. This card offers benefits such as lounge access, discounts on flights, and rewards points. This card is ideal for those who travel frequently on Vistara airlines and want to earn rewards on their travel expenses.

Axis Bank Vistara Signature Credit Card is a great choice for frequent travelers on Vistara airlines, as it offers exclusive benefits such as lounge access, flight discounts, and rewards points.

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card is a premium travel credit card that offers a range of travel benefits and rewards. This card provides travel vouchers, complimentary airport lounge access, and rewards points for travel-related expenses. This card is ideal for those who travel frequently and want to enjoy luxury experiences.

• Travel vouchers : American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card provides travel vouchers worth Rs. 10,000 on spending Rs. 4 lakhs in a year, which can be redeemed for flights or hotel bookings.
• Airport lounge access : This card offers complimentary access to airport lounges in India and abroad, making your travel more comfortable and enjoyable.
• Rewards points : American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card provides 1 reward point for every Rs. 50 spent on all transactions, which can be redeemed for hotel bookings, flight tickets, or shopping.
• Fuel surcharge waiver : This card offers a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% on fuel transactions up to Rs. 10,000.

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card is a great choice for frequent travelers who want to enjoy luxury experiences and earn rewards on their travel expenses.

SBI Elite Credit Card

Joining Fee - Rs. 4,999 + GST Annual Fee - Rs. 4,999 + GST

SBI Card Elite is a premium travel credit card that provides exclusive benefits and rewards to travelers. This card offers travel vouchers, airport lounge access, and rewards points for travel-related expenses. This card is ideal for those who travel frequently and want to earn rewards on their travel expenses.

• Travel vouchers : SBI Card Elite provides travel vouchers worth Rs. 5,000 on spending Rs. 5 lakhs in a year, which can be redeemed for flights or hotel bookings.
• Rewards points : SBI Card Elite provides 2 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on all transactions, which can be redeemed for hotel bookings, flight tickets, or shopping.
• Fuel surcharge waiver : This card offers a fuel surcharge waiver of 1% on fuel transactions up to Rs. 4,000.

SBI Card Elite is a great choice for frequent travelers who want to enjoy exclusive benefits and rewards on their travel expenses.

Benefits of Travel Credit Cards

Complimentary Airport Lounge Access : One of the most significant benefits of travel credit cards is that they offer complimentary airport lounge access. This means that you can relax in the lounge before your flight and enjoy free food, drinks, and Wi-Fi.

Travel Insurance : Most travel credit cards offer travel insurance, which covers you in case of any mishap during your trip. This includes medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost luggage.

Rewards Points : Travel credit cards also offer rewards points for travel-related expenses. These rewards points can be redeemed for various benefits such as cashback, gifts, or air miles.

Discounts and Offers : Travel credit cards also come with a host of discounts and offers on dining, shopping, and entertainment. These discounts and offers can help you save money during your trip.

Fuel Surcharge Waiver : Most travel credit cards offer fuel surcharge waiver, which means that you don’t have to pay any extra fees when you use your card to pay for fuel.

Documents Required to Apply for a Travel Credit Card

• Recent Passport sized photo
• ID Proof (Voter ID/PAN Card/Aadhar)
• Address Proof
• Income Proof (Payslip, Salary Certificate)
• Bank Statements with salary credit4

How to apply for Travel credit cards at Fincover?

• Log onto “Fincover.com”
• Click on the Credit Cards tab
• Click on the apply now link given at the top
• You need to enter some details as requested
• You would need to submit the documents required 
• Once done, an application ID will be sent to you to track your application status.

Travel credit cards

Cashback credit cards

Rewards credit cards

Shopping credit cards

Fuel credit cards

Lifestyle credit cards

Students credit cards

Lifetime free cards

Business credit cards

Instant approval cards

Rupay cards upi

Balance transfer cards

• Market Trends
• Current News
• Infrastructure
• Locality Trends
• Seller Corner
• Commercial Realty
• Budget 2022
• Budget 2023
• Budget 2024
• Coronavirus
• Citizen Services
• Personal Finance
• Construction Know-How
• City Transport
• PG / Co-Living
• Celebrity Homes
• Famous Monuments
• Green Homes
• Home Automation
• Home Improvement
• Shopping Hubs
• Rent Receipt Online
• Pay Rent Online
• Rent Agreement Online
• Personal Loan
• Personal Loan EMI Calculator
• Personal Loan Eligibility Calculator
• Web Stories

Home » Must Knows » Personal Finance » Top HDFC travel credit cards 2023

Top HDFC travel credit cards 2023

Credit cards offer a convenient method for cashless transactions, such as household purchases, dining and rent payment s. Credit cards are beneficial for meeting travel expenses. Travel credit cards are designed specifically to provide maximum benefits to frequent travellers. HDFC Bank provides a range of travel cards with rewards, cash points and numerous other benefits. We look at the top 7 travel credit cards by HDFC Bank.

Table of Contents

See also: 5 best IndusInd Bank credit cards for maximum benefits

Best HDFC Travel Credit Cards in 2023

Hdfc regalia gold credit card.

The Regalia Gold Credit Card by HDFC Bank provides complimentary travel memberships, vouchers and domestic and international airport lounge access. Its reward points can be converted to air miles for additional travel benefits. There is an exclusive Gold catalogue with offers from premium brands. As a welcome benefit, 1000 reward points are offered on annual fee payment.

• Complimentary Club Vistara Silver Tier and MMT Black Elite membership on Rs 1 lakh spent within the first 90 days
• A gift voucher worth Rs 2,500 on joining
• Vouchers worth Rs 1,500 on quarterly spends of Rs 1.5 lakh
• 5X reward points with Marks & Spencer, Myntra, Reliance Digital and Nykaa
• 4 reward points per Rs 150 retail expenses
• 12 complimentary domestic and international lounge accesses in India
• Flight vouchers of Rs 5,000 on annual spends of Rs 5 lakh and additional voucher worth Rs 5,000 on spends of Rs 7.5 lakh
• Priority Pass for self and add-on members on completing four retail transactions
• Dining program with special offers at premium restaurants across top cities
• Up to 6 complimentary annual lounge accesses outside India with Priority Pass
• Accidental air death cover of Rs 1 crore

See also know about: HDFC credit

InterMiles HDFC Bank Signature Credit Card

HDFC Bank offers this co-branded credit card with several benefits for frequent travellers. Cardholders can avail of discounts on hotel and flight bookings. Get additional discount privileges on Etihad Airways and lounge access. Reward points can be redeemed on travel bookings on the InterMiles platform.

• 3,000 InterMiles on spending Rs 6,000 within the first 30 days of joining or card renewal
• 5,000 InterMiles on Rs 90,000 retail spends within the first 90 days
• InterMiles Silver membership for the first year
• DineOut Passport membership with dining offers
• 16 complimentary annual Visa or MasterCard lounge visits
• Flight discount vouchers of Rs 750 and up to Rs 2,000 hotel discount vouchers on joining and renewal
• 12 InterMiles per Rs 150 spent on every flight or hotel booked on InterMiles website
• 6 InterMiles per Rs 150 retail spend
• 5X bonus InterMiles for Etihad Airways tickets booked through the InterMiles website
• 5% off on Etihad Airways economy and 10% off on business tickets booked on InterMiles website
• Priority Pass membership worth US$ 99 with up to 5 international annual lounge visits

6E Rewards XL IndiGo HDFC Credit Card

This card is offered by HDFC Bank in association with Indigo Airlines, which enables cardholders to save on travel expenses. One can avail of complimentary IndiGo tickets and benefits, such as priority check-in, free meal, quick baggage claim and preferred seat. Moreover, one can save on groceries, dining and restaurant expenses.

• Rs 5,000 Accor hotel vouchers on joining fee payment
• 5% 6E rewards on IndiGo
• 3% 6E rewards on grocery, entertainment and dining
• 2% 6E rewards on all other spends
• One complimentary flight ticket worth Rs 3,000 and a 6E prime add-on on three transactions each in the first three months
• 8 complimentary annual domestic airport lounge visits
• Discounted IndiGo tickets convenience fee of Rs 150 per pax

InterMiles HDFC Bank Diners Club Credit Card

The InterMiles HDFC Diners Club Credit Card enables cardholders to avail of InterMiles benefits on every expense and use rewards for future travel bookings. It offers special discounts on flight and hotel bookings through Etihad Airways.

• InterMiles Gold membership on joining
• 15,000 InterMiles on Rs 1.5 lakh retail expenses within the first 90 days
• Flight and hotel discount vouchers on joining and renewal fee payment
• 10,000 InterMiles on spending Rs 20,000 within the first 30 days
• 16 InterMiles per Rs 150 spent on flight or hotel bookings on InterMiles website
• 8 InterMiles per Rs 150 retail spends
• Up to 25% off on dining bills paid through DineOut Pay
• 10% off on Etihad Airways business and 5% off on economy tickets booked on InterMiles website
• 5X bonus InterMiles for Etihad Airways tickets booked on InterMiles website
• Unlimited airport lounge access in India for primary cardholders
• Unlimited complimentary golf games/coaching at select courses worldwide
• Air accident insurance cover of Rs 2 crore and travel insurance cover of up to Rs. 55,000

HDFC Diners Club Privilege Credit Card

HDFC Bank offers the Diners Club Privilege Credit Card, a premium credit card that offers several travel and lifestyle benefits. One can avail of complimentary memberships to Times Prime and Swiggy One on spending Rs 75,000 within the first 90 days.

• Up to 8 complimentary annual airport lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders
• Up to 10X rewards on domestic and international flight and hotel bookings on SmartBuy
• 5X reward points on spending through Swiggy and Zomato
• Buy one, get one free BookMyShow weekend ticket twice a month
• 4 reward points per Rs 150 spent
• 2% foreign currency mark-up
• Rs 1,500 worth of Marriott Experience/Decathlon/Barbeque Nation or other vouchers on quarterly spends of Rs 1.5 lakh
• Accidental air death cover of Rs 1 crore and oversees hospitalisation cover of up to Rs 25 lakh
• Up to 20 % off on restaurant bill payments through Swiggy DineOut
• Up to Rs 50,000 travel insurance cover on baggage delay

Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card

The Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank credit card is a co-branded card with special benefits and privileges for Marriott customers. The card provides a complimentary Silver Elite status, enabling users to avail of dining offers, free stays and discounted hotel stays.

• 8 complimentary annual golf games at select golf courses in India and abroad
• 1 reward point on the SmartBuy reward portal for flight and hotel bookings
• 8 complimentary airport lounge access for primary and add-on cardholders worldwide
• 4 reward points for every Rs 150 spent on the card
• Up to 10x reward points on SmartBuy spends
• 5X reward points per Rs 150 on Swiggy and Zomato purchases
• Buy one get one on BookMyShow movie tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows

HDFC Bank RuPay IRCTC Credit Card

HDFC IRCTC RuPay Credit Card is a co-branded credit card offered by HDFC Bank in partnership with IRCTC. One can avail of cash points on every spend, with several benefits, such as complimentary railway lounge access.

• Amazon voucher worth Rs 500 on first transaction within the first 30 days
• 8 complimentary access to IRCTC Executive Lounges(two per quarter)
• Cash points that can be redeemed for IRCTC travel bookings and other options
• Zero liability protection for lost/stolen cards, if reported to the bank on time
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver on spending between Rs 400-5,000, up to Rs 250 per billing cycle

Is the airport lounge free for HDFC regalia?

One can avail of 12 complimentary lounge access at domestic and international terminals in India with the HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card.

What is the use of a travel credit card?

Travel credit cards offer several benefits, such as reward points and discounts on travel purchases. These include complimentary airport lounge access and discounts on flight and hotel stays.

Which is the best travel card for India?

Some popular travel credit cards include HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card, Club Vistara IDFC First Credit Card and MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Signature.

Which HDFC credit card is the best?

If you are looking for travel benefits, you can apply for one of the top HDFC Bank travel credit cards.

Do travel credit cards have fees?

Most travel credit cards have an annual and joining fee, which will vary depending on the type of card.

How to avail of HDFC Bank credit card offers?

Visit the official HDFC website. Go to the credit card section to view all the features and facilities. After a transaction is completed through the credit card, the reward points or cashback are automatically credited to your credit card account.

Can you apply for more than one credit card from the same company?

One can apply for more than one credit card from the same or different companies.

• 😃   ( 0 )
• 😐   ( 0 )
• 😔   ( 0 )

Harini is a content management professional with over 12 years of experience. She has contributed articles for various domains, including real estate, finance, health and travel insurance and e-governance. She has in-depth experience in writing well-researched articles on property trends, infrastructure, taxation, real estate projects and related topics. A Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics, Harini prefers reading motivational books and keeping abreast of the latest developments in the real estate sector.

Related Posts

HDFC Millennia Credit Card: All you need to do know.

HDFC Regalia Credit Card: All you need to know.

Top cashback credit cards.

5 best credit cards to be used in stores.

All about HDFC credit card eligibility and features.

Induslnd Bank Credit Card services: Types, eligibility, documents required, and how to apply.

Recent Podcasts

• Credit Card
• HDFC credit card
• HDFC Travel Credit Card

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

15 Best Travel Credit Cards of April 2024

ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2024 || Best rewards credit cards || Best airline credit cards || Best hotel credit cards

A travel rewards credit card brings your next trip a little closer every time you use it. Each purchase earns points or miles that you can redeem for travel expenses. If you're loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain, consider getting one of that company's branded credit cards. Otherwise, check out the general-purpose travel cards on this page, which give you flexible rewards that you can use without the restrictions and blackout dates of branded cards.

Some of our selections for the best travel credit cards can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.

250+ credit cards reviewed and rated by our team of experts

80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance

100+ categories of best credit card selections ( See our top picks )

Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics ( Methodology )

NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity .

Show summary

NerdWallet's Best Travel Credit Cards of April 2024

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for Flexibility + point transfers + big sign-up bonus

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for Flat-rate travel rewards

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Best for Travel portal benefits

Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Best for Cash back for travel bookings

Chase Freedom Flex℠ : Best for Cash back for travel bookings

American Express® Gold Card : Best for Big rewards on everyday spending

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card : Best for Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for Luxury travel perks

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card : Best for Business travelers — bonus rewards + big sign-up offer

Citi Premier® Card : Best for Triple points on multiple categories

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : Best for Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, and for balance transfers

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for Bonus travel rewards + high-end perks

World of Hyatt Credit Card : Best for Hotel credit card

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card : Best for Travel rewards for rent payments + no annual fee

United℠ Explorer Card : Best for Airline card

Best Travel Credit Cards From Our Partners

Find the right credit card for you..

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Flexibility + point transfers + big sign-up bonus

Flat-rate travel rewards, travel portal benefits, cash back for travel bookings, big rewards on everyday spending, bonus rewards + no annual fee, luxury travel perks, business travelers — bonus rewards + big sign-up offer, triple points on multiple categories, flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, and for balance transfers, bonus travel rewards + high-end perks, hotel credit card, travel rewards for rent payments + no annual fee, airline card, full list of editorial picks: best travel credit cards.

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, and for balance transfers

One of the best no-annual-fee travel cards available, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card gives you a solid rewards rate on every purchase, with points that can be redeemed for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Bank of America® has an expansive definition of "travel," too, giving you additional flexibility in how you use your rewards. Read our review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Our pick for: Bonus travel rewards + high-end perks

The high annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives many potential applicants pause, but frequent travelers should be able to wring enough value out of this card to more than make up for the cost. Cardholders get bonus rewards (up to 10X) on dining and travel, a fat bonus offer, annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and a 50% boost in point value when redeeming points for travel booked through Chase. Points can also be transferred to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read our review. 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our pick for: Flexibility + point transfers + big sign-up bonus

For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review. 

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Our pick for: Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories — restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, streaming and more. Read our review.

Citi Premier® Card

Our pick for: Triple points in multiple categories

The Citi Premier® Card earns bonus points on airfare, hotels, supermarkets, dining and gas stations. There's a solid sign-up bonus as well.  Read our review.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Road trips

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is one of the most generous cards on the market if you're taking to the skies or the road, thanks to the quadruple points it earns on travel and purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations. It's also a solid card for everyday expenses like groceries, dining and streaming, and it comes with ongoing credits that can offset its annual fee:  $0 intro for the first year, then $95 .  Read our review .

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Travel portal benefits

Capital One's premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you're willing to do your travel spending through the issuer's online booking portal. That's where you'll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Our pick for: Cash back for travel bookings

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. On top of all that, new cardholders get a 0% introductory APR period and the opportunity to earn a sweet bonus. Read our review.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers bonus cash back in quarterly categories that you activate, as well as on travel booked through Chase, at restaurants and at drugstores. Category activation can be a hassle, but if your spending matches the categories — and for a lot of people, it will — you can rack up hundreds of dollars a year. There's a fantastic bonus offer for new cardholders and an intro APR offer, too. Read our review.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Our pick for: Luxury travel perks

The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty annual fee, but travelers who like to go in style (and aren't afraid to pay for comfort) can more than get their money's worth. Enjoy extensive airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars a year in travel and shopping credits, hotel benefits and more. That's not even getting into the high rewards rate on eligible travel purchases and the rich welcome offer for new cardholders. Read our review.

American Express® Gold Card

Our pick for: Big rewards on everyday spending

The American Express® Gold Card can earn you a pile of points from everyday spending, with generous rewards at U.S. supermarkets, at restaurants and on certain flights booked through amextravel.com. Other benefits include hundreds of dollars a year in available dining and travel credits and a solid welcome offer for new cardholders. There's an annual fee, though, and a pretty substantial one, so it's not for smaller spenders. Read our review.

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card

Our pick for: Rewards on rent payments

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card stands out by offering credit card rewards on rent payments without incurring an additional transaction fee. The ability to earn rewards on what for many people is their single biggest monthly expense makes this card worth a look for any renter. You also get bonus points on dining and travel when you make at least five transactions on the card each statement period, and redemption options include point transfers to partner hotel and loyalty programs. Read our review.

PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Credit union rewards

With premium perks for a $95 annual fee (which can be waived in some cases), jet-setters will get a lot of value from the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card . It also offers a generous rewards rate on travel purchases and a decent flat rate on everything else. Plus, you’ll get travel credits and a Priority Pass membership that offers airport lounge access for $32 per visit. Read our review.

United℠ Explorer Card

Our pick for: United Airlines + best domestic airline card

The United℠ Explorer Card earns bonus rewards not only on spending with United Airlines but also at restaurants and on eligible hotel stays. And the perks are outstanding for a basic airline card — a free checked bag, priority boarding, lounge passes and more. Read our review.

» Not a United frequent flyer? See our best airline cards for other options

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Our pick for: Hotel credit card

Hyatt isn't as big as its competitors, but World of Hyatt Credit Card is worth a look for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road. You can earn a lot of points even on non-Hyatt spending, and those points have a high value compared with rival programs. There's a great sign-up bonus, free nights, automatic elite status and more. Read our review.

» Not a Hyatt customer? See our best hotel cards for other options.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Our pick for: Small business — bonus categories + big sign-up offer

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠. You also get bonus rewards on travel expenses and common business spending categories, like advertising, shipping and internet, cable and phone service. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply .

Are you in Canada?

See NerdWallet's best travel cards for Canada.

OTHER RESOURCES

How travel rewards work.

Modern-day adventurers and once-a-year vacationers alike love the idea of earning rewards toward their next big trip. According to a NerdWallet study , 68% of American adults say they have a credit card that earns travel rewards.

With a travel rewards credit card, you earn points or miles every time you use the card, but you can often earn more points per dollar in select categories. Some top travel credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , offer bonus points on any travel spending, while the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card grants bonus points when you use the card at Marriott hotels, grocery stores, restaurants or gas stations.

Not all points and miles earned on travel rewards credit cards are the same:

General-purpose travel credit cards — including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , the American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — give you rewards that can be used like cash to pay for travel or that can be exchanged for points in airline or hotel loyalty programs. With their flexible rewards, general-purpose options are usually the best travel credit cards for those who don't stick to a single airline or hotel chain.

Airline- and hotel-specific cards — such as the United℠ Explorer Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Card — give points and miles that can be used only with the brand on the card. (Although it's possible in some cases to transfer hotel points to airlines, we recommend against it because you get a poor value.) These so-called co-branded cards are usually the best travel credit cards for those who always fly one particular airline or stay with one hotel group.

How do we value points and miles? With the rewards earned on general travel cards, it's simple: They have a fixed value, usually between 1 and 1.5 cents per point, and you can spend them like cash. With airline miles and hotel points, finding the true value is more difficult. How much value you get depends on how you redeem them.

To better understand what miles are worth, NerdWallet researched the cash prices and reward-redemption values for hundreds of flights. Our results:

Keep in mind that the airline values are based on main cabin economy tickets and exclude premium cabin redemptions. See our valuations page for business class valuations and details about our methodology.

Our valuations are different from many others you may find. That’s because we looked at the average value of a point based on reasonable price searches that anyone can perform, not a maximized value that only travel rewards experts can expect to reach.

You should therefore use these values as a baseline for your own redemptions. If you can redeem your points for the values listed on our valuations page, you are doing well. Of course, if you are able to get higher value out of your miles, that’s even better.

HOW TO CHOOSE A TRAVEL CREDIT CARD

There are scores of travel rewards cards to choose from. The best travel credit card for you has as much to do with you as with the card. How often you travel, how much flexibility you want, how much you value airline or hotel perks — these are all things to take into account when deciding on a travel card. Our article on how to choose a travel credit card recommends that you prioritize:

Rewards you will actually use (points and miles are only as good as your ability to redeem them for travel).

A high earning rate (how much value you get in rewards for every dollar spent on the card).

A sign-up bonus (a windfall of points for meeting a spending requirement in your first few months).

Even with these goals in mind, there are all kinds of considerations that will influence your decision on a travel rewards credit card.

Travel cards are for travelers

Travel cards vs. cash-back cards.

The very first question to ask yourself when choosing a travel credit card is: Should I get a travel card at all? Travel credit cards are best for frequent travelers, who are more likely to get enough value from rewards and perks to make up for the annual fees that the best travel credit cards charge. (Some travel cards charge no annual fee, but they tend to offer lesser rewards than full-fee cards.) A NerdWallet study found that those who travel only occasionally — say, once a year — will probably get greater overall rewards from cash-back credit cards , most of which charge no annual fee, than from a travel card.

Flexibility and perks: A trade-off

Co-branded cards vs. general travel cards.

Travel credit cards fall into two basic categories: co-branded cards and general travel cards.

Co-branded cards carry the name of an airline or hotel group, such as the United℠ Explorer Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card . The rewards you earn are redeemable only with that particular brand, which can limit your flexibility, sometimes sharply. For example, if your credit card's co-branded airline partner doesn't have any award seats available on the flight you want on the day you want, you're out of luck. On the other hand, co-branded cards commonly offer airline- or hotel-specific perks that general travel cards can't match.

General travel cards aren't tied to a specific airline or hotel, so they offer much greater flexibility. Well-known general travel cards include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . Rewards on general travel cards come as points (sometimes called "miles" but they're really points) that you can redeem for any travel expense. You're not locked into using a single airline or hotel, but you also won't enjoy the perks of a co-branded card.

Evaluating general travel credit cards

What you get with a general travel card.

The credit cards featured at the top of this page are general travel cards. They're issued by a bank (such as Chase or Capital One), carry only that bank's name, and aren't tied to any single airline or hotel group. With these cards, you earn points on every purchase — usually 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, sometimes with additional points in certain categories.

Issuers of general travel cards typically entice new applicants with big sign-up bonuses (also known as "welcome offers") — tens of thousands of miles that you can earn by spending a certain amount of money on the card in your first few months.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best credit card sign-up offers

What do you do with those points? Depending on the card, you may have several ways to redeem them:

Booking travel. With this option, your points pay for travel booked through the issuer's website, using a utility similar to Orbitz or Expedia. For example, if points were worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed this way, you could book a $400 flight on the issuer's portal and pay for it with 40,000 points

Statement credit. This lets you essentially erase travel purchases by using your points for credit on your statement. You make travel arrangements however you want (directly with an airline or hotel, through a travel agency, etc.) and charge it to your card. Once the charge shows up on your account, you apply the necessary points and eliminate the cost.

Transferring to partners. The card issuer may allow you to transfer your points to loyalty programs for airlines or hotel chains, turning your general card into something like a co-branded card (although you don't get the perks of a co-brand).

Cash back, gift cards or merchandise. If you don't plan to travel, you can burn off your rewards with these options, although you'll often get a lower value per point.

Airline and hotel cards sharply limit your choice, but they make up for it with perks that only they can offer, like free checked bags or room upgrades. General travel cards, on the other hand, offer maximum flexibility but can't provide the same kinds of perks, because the banks that issue them don't operate the airlines or hotels. Still, there are some noteworthy perks on general travel cards, including:

Travel credit. This is automatic reimbursement for travel-related spending. Some top travel credit cards offer hundreds of dollars a year in travel credit.

Trusted traveler reimbursement. More and more travel credit cards are covering the application fee for TSA Precheck and Global Entry, programs that allow you to move through airport security and customs more quickly.

Airport lounge access. Hundreds of lounges worldwide operate separately from airlines under such networks as Priority Pass and Airspace, and several general travel cards offer access to these lounges.

Points programs

Every major card issuer has at least one travel card with a points program. American Express calls its program Membership Rewards, while Chase has Ultimate Rewards® and Citi pays in ThankYou points. Wells Fargo has Wells Fargo Rewards, and U.S. Bank has FlexPerks. Bank of America® travel cards offer points without a fancy name. Travel cards from Capital One, Barclays and Discover all call their points "miles."

These programs differ in how much their points are worth and how you can use them. Some offer the full range of redemption options, including transfers to loyalty programs. Others let you use them only to book travel or get statement credit.

» MORE: Travel loyalty program reviews

Evaluating airline credit cards

What you get with an airline credit card.

Airline credit cards earn "miles" with each purchase. You typically get 1 mile per dollar spent, with a higher rate (2 or more miles per dollar) on purchases with the airline itself. (Some airline cards have also begun offering extra miles for purchases in additional categories, such as restaurants or car rental agencies.) These miles go into the same frequent-flyer account as the ones you earn by flying the airline, and you can redeem them for free flights with the airline or its alliance partners.

Co-branded airline cards typically offer sign-up bonuses (or welcome offers). But what really sets them apart are the perks they give you. With some cards, for example, the checked-bag benefit alone can make up for the annual fee after a single roundtrip by a couple. Common perks of airline cards include:

Free checked bags. This commonly applies to the first checked bag for you and at least one companion on your reservation. Some cards extend this perk to more people, and higher-end cards (with higher annual fees) may even let you check two bags apiece for free.

Priority boarding. Holders of co-branded airline credit cards often get to board the plane early — after the airline's elite-status frequent flyers but before the general population. This gives you time to settle in and gives you a leg up on claiming that coveted overhead bin space.

In-flight discounts or freebies. You might get, say, 25% off the cost of food and beverages during the flight, or free Wi-Fi.

Airport lounge access. High-end cards often include a membership to the airline's airport lounges, where you can get away from the frenzy in the terminal and enjoy a complimentary snack. Some less-expensive airline cards give you only limited or discounted lounge access; others give you none at all.

Companion fares. This perk lets you bring someone with you for a lower cost when you buy a ticket at full price.

A boost toward elite status. Miles earned with a credit card, as opposed to those earned from actually flying on the airline, usually do not count toward earning elite status in an airline's frequent-flyer program. However, carrying an airline's high-end card might automatically qualify you for a higher tier within the program.

The biggest U.S. airlines — American, United and Delta — offer an array of credit cards. Each airline has a no-annual-fee card that earns miles on purchases but provides little in the way of perks (no free bags or priority boarding). Each has a high-end card with an annual fee in the neighborhood of $450 that offers lounge access and sumptuous perks. And each has a "middle-class" card with a fee of around $100 and solid ongoing perks. Southwest offers three credit cards with varying fees; smaller carriers may just have a single card.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best airline credit cards

Choosing an airline

Which airline card you get depends in large part on what airline you fly, and that's heavily influenced by where you live. Alaska Airlines, for example, has an outstanding credit card, but the airline's routes are concentrated primarily on the West Coast. So it's not a great option for those who live in, say, Buffalo, New York, or Montgomery, Alabama.

If your local airport is dominated by a single airline, then you're probably flying that carrier most (or all) of the time by default. Delta, for example, is the 800-pound gorilla at Minneapolis-St. Paul and Salt Lake City. United has the bulk of the traffic at Newark and Washington Dulles. American calls the shots at Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth. That airline's credit card may be your only realistic option. If you're in a large or midsize market with frequent service from multiple airlines, you have more choice.

» MORE: How to choose an airline credit card

Evaluating hotel credit cards

What you get with a hotel card.

Hotel credit cards earn points with each purchase. As with airline cards, you typically get more points per dollar for purchases from the co-brand partner, and some cards also give bonus points in additional categories. (Hotel cards tend to give you a greater number of points overall than airline cards, but each individual point is generally worth less than a typical airline mile.) Similar to the airline model, the points you earn with the card go into the same loyalty account as the points you earn from actually staying at a hotel. You redeem your points for free stays.

Hotel cards usually offer a sign-up bonus, but like airline cards, they really make their bones with the ongoing perks. Common perks on hotel cards include:

Free nights. Several cards offer this perk, which can make up for the card's annual fee. You may get a free night automatically every year, or you may unlock it by spending a certain amount within a year. In the latter case, it comes on top of the points you earn for your spending.

Upgrades and freebies. Cardholders may qualify for automatic room upgrades when available, or free or discounted amenities such as meals or spa packages.

Early check-in/late check-out. No one likes having to cool their heels in the hotel lobby waiting for 3 o'clock to check in. And no one likes have to vacate their room by 11 a.m. when their flight doesn't leave till evening.

Accelerated elite status. Some hotel cards automatically bump you up a level in their loyalty program just for being a cardholder.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best hotel credit cards

Choosing a hotel group

If you decide to go the hotel-card route, you'll need to decide which hotel group gets your business. Hotels aren't as market-concentrated as airlines, so if your travels take you mostly to metropolitan areas, you'll have a decent amount of choice. Keep in mind that even though there are dozens of nationally recognizable hotel brands, ranging from budget inns to luxury resorts, many of them are just units in a larger hotel company, and that company's card can unlock benefits across the group.

Marriott, for example, includes not only its namesake properties but nearly 30 other brands, including Courtyard, Fairfield, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton and Westin. The Hilton family includes DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn and Waldorf-Astoria. InterContinental includes Holiday Inn, Candlewood, Staybridge and Crowne Plaza. Wyndham and Choice have more than 15 mid-tier and budget-oriented brands between them.

HOW TO COMPARE TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS

No travel rewards credit card is going to have everything you want. You're going to be disappointed if you expect to find a high rewards rate, a generous sign-up bonus, top-notch perks and no annual fee. Each card delivers value through a different combination of features; it's up to you to compare cards based on the following features and choose the best travel credit card for your needs and preferences.

Most of the best travel cards charge an annual fee. Fees in the range of $90 to $100 are standard for travel cards. Premium cards with extensive perks will have fees of $450 or more. Weigh the value of the rewards and perks you'll get to make sure they'll make up for the fee.

Can you find good cards without an annual fee? Absolutely! There are no-fee options on our list of the best travel credit cards, and we've rounded up more here . Just be aware that if you go with a no-fee travel card, you'll earn rewards at a lower rate, your sign-up bonus will be smaller, and you won't get as many (if any) perks.

Rewards rate

Rewards can be thought of in terms of "earn rate" and "burn rate".

The earn rate is how many points or miles you receive per dollar spent. Some general travel cards offer flat-rate rewards, meaning you get the same rate on all purchases, all the time — 2 miles per dollar, for example, or 1.5 points per dollar. Others, including most co-branded cards, offer a base rate of maybe 1 point per dollar and then pay a higher rate in certain categories, such as airline tickets, hotel stays, general travel expenses or restaurant meals.

The burn rate is the value you get for those points or miles when you redeem them. The industry average is about 1 cent per point or mile. Some cards, particularly hotel cards, have lower value per point on the "burn" side but give you more points per dollar on the earning side.

When comparing rewards rates, don't just look at the numbers. Look at the categories to which those numbers apply, and find a card that matches your spending patterns. Getting 5 points per dollar seems great — but if those 5X points come only on purchases at, say, office supply stores, and you don't spend money on office supplies, then you're getting lousy value.

Sign-up bonus

Travel cards tend to have the biggest sign-up bonuses — tens of thousands of points that you earn by hitting a certain amount of spending. But there's more to consider when comparing sign-up bonuses than just how many points or miles you earn. You must also take into account how much you have to spend to earn the bonus. While cash-back credit cards often require just $500 to $1,000 in spending over three months to unlock a bonus, travel cards commonly have thresholds of $3,000 to $5,000.

Never spend money you don't have just to earn a sign-up bonus. Carrying $3,000 in debt for a year in order to earn a $500 bonus doesn't make economic sense — the interest you'll pay could easily wipe out the value of the bonus.

Finally, keep in mind that the biggest bonuses will come on cards with annual fees.

Foreign transaction fees

A good travel card will not charge a foreign transaction fee. These fees are surcharges on purchases made outside the U.S. The industry standard is about 3%, which is enough to wipe out most if not all of the rewards you earn on a purchase. If you never leave the U.S., then this isn't much of a concern, but anyone who travels abroad should bring a no-foreign-transaction-fee card with them.

Some issuers don't charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards. Others charge them on some cards but not all.

International acceptance

Not all travel credit cards are great companions for international travel. While Visa and Mastercard are good pretty much worldwide, you may encounter limited acceptance for American Express and, especially, Discover, depending on the destination. This doesn't mean world travelers should dismiss AmEx and Discover. Just know that if you take one of these cards with you overseas, you'd be smart to bring along a backup in case you run into acceptance problems. (Having a backup card is good advice within the U.S., too, really.)

Travel protections

Consider which travel protections — car rental insurance , trip cancellation coverage , lost baggage protection — are important to you.

"Rewards" are what you get for using a credit card — the points earned with each transaction and the bonuses you unlock with your spending. "Perks" are goodies that you get just for carrying the card. There's a very close correlation between the annual fee on a card and the perks you get for carrying it. Cards with no annual fee are all about rewards and go very light on perks. Premium cards with annual fees of $450 or more are laden with perks (although sometimes their rewards aren't too special). Midtier cards (in the $100 range) tend to have solid rewards and a handful of high-value perks.

Assuming you take advantage of them, the perks often make up for the annual fee on a card quite easily. This is especially true with co-branded cards. Free checked bags can pay for an airline card several times over, and a free night is usually worth more than the fee on a hotel card. When comparing the perks of various cards, be realistic about which ones you will and won't use. Sure, that card may entitle you to a free spa package the next time you're at a five-star hotel, but how often do you stay at five-star hotels?

SHOULD YOU GET A TRAVEL CARD? PROS AND CONS

Pros: why it's worth getting a travel card.

The sign-up bonus gives you a big head-start on travel. Bonuses on the best travel credit cards typically run $500 or more — enough for a roundtrip ticket in many instances.

Perks make travel less expensive and more relaxing. You won't have to worry about cramming a week's worth of clothes into a carry-on if your travel credit card gives you a free checked bag (or automatically reimburses you for the bag fee). Hate the crush of travelers in the terminal? Escape to the airport lounge. Renting a car? Use a travel card that provides primary rental car insurance.

Rewards get you closer to your next trip with every purchase. Spending money on the mundane activities of daily life has a silver lining when you know that every $1,000 you spend will knock $10 or $20 off the cost of that future beach vacation or trip home to see Mom and Dad.

No foreign transaction fee can mean big savings. Take just any old credit card with you on vacation outside the U.S., and $1,000 worth of purchases can cost you $30 off the top due to the foreign transaction surcharge. Good travel cards don't charge this fee.

"Double dipping" gives you more points on travel purchases. Buy a plane ticket or book a hotel room, and you'll earn loyalty points or miles regardless of how you pay. Use the right credit card, though, and you'll earn even more points and miles on top of those.

Strategic redemption can multiply your value. With cash-back credit cards, 1 cent is worth 1 cent, and that's just how it goes. The points and miles on many travel credit cards have variable value based on how you redeem them — booking travel with them vs. transferring them to a partner, booking domestic vs. international flights and economy vs. business class, staying at budget hotels vs. high-end resorts, and so on.

Cons: Why a travel card might not be for you

The best cards charge annual fees. In many cases, the value you get from a credit card more than makes up for the annual fee. But some people are dead set against paying a fee under any circumstances. If that's you, your options in travel cards will be sharply limited, and you won't get the perks that provide a big portion of the value on many cards.

Sign-up bonus spending requirements can be steep. A bonus worth $500, $600 or $700 is attractive, but only if you can afford to earn it with spending you were going to do anyway. If you have to amass thousands of dollars in debt and then pay interest on it, it's not worth it.

Travel cards aren't ideal for infrequent travelers. In the first year with a travel card, you're probably going to come out ahead: You can earn a big sign-up bonus, and several popular cards waive the first year's annual fee, too. In subsequent years, though, you'll break even on that fee only if you use the card enough to make up for it (with the rewards you earn and redeem and the perks you use). Infrequent travelers are more likely to get more total rewards from a cash-back card with no annual fee.

Cash back is simpler and more flexible. Some travel cards allow you to redeem your rewards only for travel. Others give you poor value unless you redeem for travel. Still others have complicated redemption options, making it hard to get the most out of your rewards. With cash-back credit cards, you can use your rewards on anything, you know exactly how much your rewards are worth, and redemption is usually simple.

Rewards cards tend to charge higher interest rates. If you regularly carry a balance from month to month, a travel credit card — or any rewards credit card — probably isn't your best choice. The interest you pay is eating up the value of your rewards. You're better off with a low-interest card that reduces the cost of carrying debt.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TRAVEL CARD

Maximize your rewards with the following tips:

Plan your credit card application around a big purchase to earn the sign-up bonus.

Seize every opportunity to pick up the tab, especially if your travel credit card pays bonus rewards on dining; your friends can pay you back while you collect rewards.

Redeem rewards for travel instead of gift cards, merchandise or (in most cases) cash back to get the best value.

Join the loyalty program associated with a co-branded card — a frequent-flyer or frequent-guest program.

Shop for essentials in your card’s online bonus mall or through its exclusive offers, if available, to get extra rewards.

OTHER CARDS TO CONSIDER

It’s worth considering whether a travel credit card is even right for you in the first place. A NerdWallet study found that cash-back credit cards often earn more money — even for many travelers.

If you carry a balance from month to month, the higher interest rates typically charged by rewards cards can cancel out any rewards earned. If you have a good credit score, you're better off with a low-interest credit card that can save you money on interest.

A good travel credit card shouldn't charge foreign transaction fees, but there are good non-travel cards that also don't charge them. See our best cards with no foreign transaction fee .

If you value transparency and flexibility in your rewards, you can't go wrong with a cash-back card — and you can still use the rewards for travel, if you want.

Finally, if you're still not sure what's right for you, take a look at our best rewards credit cards for options beyond travel and cash back.

NerdWallet's Sam Kemmis contributed to this article.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .

Last updated on April 19 , 2024

Methodology

NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best travel rewards credit cards based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of travelers. Factors in our evaluation include each card's annual fee, foreign transaction fees, rewards earnings rates, ease of use, redemption options, domestic and international acceptance, promotional APR period, bonus offers, and cardholder perks such as automatic statement credits and airport lounge access. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

Travel credit cards earn points (sometimes called miles) each time you buy something. The standard earning rate is 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, and many cards give you extra points for certain purchases, particularly travel expenses. The value of a point depends on the card that earned it and how you redeem it, but a good rule of thumb is to assume each point is worth an average of about 1 cent.

Your points accumulate in a rewards account, where you can use them to pay for travel. Most cards let you book travel directly using a portal similar to those at online travel agencies or on airline and hotel websites, but instead of paying cash, you pay with your points. Depending on the card, you may also have the option of booking travel any way you want, paying for it with the card and then cashing in your points for a credit against those expenses.

Points and miles are just different names for the same thing: the currency used in a travel rewards program. Some travel credit cards call them points, some call them miles.

Airline frequent flyer programs have long used the term “miles” to refer to the rewards you earn for flying. That’s because at one time, you really did earn rewards according to how many miles you flew — the longer the flight, the more miles you earned. Nowadays, most domestic airlines give out “miles” based on how much you spend, not how far you fly, so they’re really just points. (There are a few exceptions, though, notably Alaska Airlines.)

Especially when it comes to redeeming your rewards, there’s no difference between points and miles. The number of points or miles you need is based mostly on the cost of what you’re redeeming them for. It takes more than 500 miles (value about: $5) to get a free 500-mile flight!

The value of a point or mile depends on the card you earned it with and how you redeem it. A common rule of thumb is to assume that each point or mile is worth an average of 1 cent, although you can certainly get a much higher (or lower) redemption value. See our travel loyalty roundup page for NerdWallet’s current valuations for airline miles and hotel points.

Travel credit cards fall into two main categories: co-branded and general-purpose.

• Co-branded travel cards carry the name of an airline or hotel chain. The rewards you earn on the card can typically be redeemed only with that brand (or maybe its partners). Co-branded cards limit your flexibility, but because they are issued in partnership with an airline or hotel, they can give you special perks, like free checked bags or room upgrades.

• General-purpose travel cards are issued by a credit card company and are not directly tied to any particular airline or hotel. They earn points in the issuer's own program, such as American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards® or Citi ThankYou. These points are a lot more flexible, as you can use them to pay for a range of travel expenses, including flights on any airline or stays at any hotel. However, they don’t offer the airline- or hotel-specific perks of co-branded cards.

Travel cards — like rewards cards in general — typically require good to excellent credit for approval. Good credit is generally defined as a credit score of 690 or better. However, credit scores alone do not guarantee approval. Every issuer has its own criteria for evaluating applications.

About the author

Sara Rathner

• Best Credit Cards
• Lifetime Free
• Forex Credit Cards
• RuPay Credit Cards
• International Travel

• Railway Lounge

• Credit Card Guides
• Credit Card News
• Offers & Rewards
• Credit Score Guide
• Credit Card Limit
• Lounge Access

Planning to Apply for an HDFC Credit Card? Here is a All You Need to Know

HDFC Bank, as you must be aware, is the largest and the most popular credit card issuer in the country. HDFC credit cards are known for the discounts that they offer in partnership with e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart. Being the largest card issuer in the country, HDFC has a portfolio of over 25 credit cards suitable for all types of customers- from frequent flyers to shopaholics; HDFC Bank has a credit card for everyone. In this article, we will help you figure out the best HDFC credit card for you based on your spending habits.

Best HDFC Credit Card for Beginners

While none of HDFC Bank’s credit cards is LTF (lifetime free), the bank does offer a few credit cards that come with a nominal annual membership fee and offer a decent reward rate. Although these cards do not offer many additional privileges like airport lounge access, insurance covers, etc., these cards are best suited for young professionals and new to credit individuals. HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card and HDFC EasyEMI Credit Card are the two most popular credit cards by the bank in the entry-level segment-

• HDFC MoneyBack+ Credit Card: The MoneyBack+ Card by HDFC is a beginners credit card by the bank. The card comes with a joining fee of Rs. 500 plus GST and offers a reward rate of up to 3.33% on partner online brands, including Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy and Big Basket. MoneyBack+ Card is a cashback card, and the cashback is required as CashPoints- 2 CPs per Rs. 150, 5x CPs on EMI spends at partner merchants and 10x CPs on the aforementioned partner stores (1 CP = Rs. 0.25). The CashPoints earned can be redeemed for products from HDFC’s catalogue, flight/hotel bookings, can also be transferred to the programs like partnered airlines’ frequent flyers or can be adjusted as cashback against the card’s statement balance.
• HDFC EasyEMI Credit Card: It is another entry-level credit card by HDFC Bank. The key feature of the EasyEMI card is that all purchases of more than Rs. 10,000 can be automatically converted into instalments (EMIs) to be repaid over the next 9 months (interest rate and processing fee applicable). EasyEMI Card also comes with a joining fee of Rs. 500 + GST and offers 5% cashback on Amazon, Flipkart and on hotel/flight bookings, 2% cashback on other online purchases and 1% cashback on offline purchases with the card.

Best HDFC Lifestyle Credit Cards

Lifestyle credit cards are mid-range credit cards that, apart from offering a decent reward rate, also offer some additional benefits such as airport lounge access, discount vouchers, insurance cover, etc. The annual membership fee of lifestyle credit cards is more than that of entry-level cards but less than that of premium credit cards. HDFC Regalia Credit Card and Millennia Credit Card are two of the most popular lifestyle credit cards by the bank.

• HDFC Millennia Credit Card: Millennia Credit Card is another trendy credit card by the bank. As the name suggests, the card targets millennials, most of whom are new to credit young professionals. HDFC Millennia Credit Card comes with a joining fee of Rs. 1,000 (plus GST) and offers a cashback of up to 5% at partner online merchants, including popular names like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Uber and Zomato and 1% cashback on all other online/offline spends with this credit card. Apart from cashback, you also get 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits per year with the Millennia Credit Card (max 2 visits per quarter).
• HDFC Regalia Credit Card: It is arguably the most popular lifestyle credit card in India. With an annual fee of Rs. 2,500 + GST, the Regalia Credit Card falls in the sub-premium segment. Regalia Credit Card earns 4 Reward Points per Rs. 150 spent and up to 10x Reward Points on SmartBuy. Being a lifestyle credit card, apart from Reward Points, you also get a number of other benefits like complimentary domestic/international airport lounge access, dining benefits, and insurance benefit with HDFC Regalia Credit Card. To learn more about the HDFC Regalia Credit Card, you may refer to our detailed review of the Regalia Card here.

Best HDFC Travel Credit Cards

All of the travel credit cards by HDFC Bank are cobranded credit cards, i.e. offered in collaboration with an airline partner or a frequent flyer program, HDFC does not provide any generic travel credit card. Two of the best travel credit cards by HDFC Bank are 6E Rewards XL – IndiGo HDFC Bank Credit Card and Intermiles HDFC Diners Club Credit Card.

• 6E Rewards XL – IndiGo HDFC Credit Card: It is one of the two IndiGo cobranded credit cards by HDFC Bank. Earn Reward Points as 6E Rewards on all spends with the card- 15% 6E Rewards on IndiGo features products, 5% 6E Rewards on spends on IndiGo, 3% 6E Rewards on entertainment, dining and grocery, 2% 6E Rewards on all other spends with the card. Since it is the most premium of the two IndiGo cobranded cards offered by the bank, you get 8 complimentary domestic lounge access with max capped at 2 visits per quarter under the MasterCard airport lounge access program and also a lower forex mark-up fee of just 2.5% of the transaction amount.
• InterMiles HDFC Diners Club Credit Card: It is a premium travel credit card by HDFC Bank. As it is evident from the name, it is an InterMiles co-branded credit card and therefore you earn Reward Points as InterMiles. The card earns you 8 InterMiles per Rs. 150 spent and 2x InterMiles on flight bookings via the InterMiles flight booking portal. Since it is a premium travel credit card and comes with a joining fee of Rs. 5,000 + GST, the card also entitles you to other benefits like complimentary InterMiles Gold Tier membership, unlimited airport lounge access, exclusive discount offers from Etihad Airways, complimentary Dineout Passport membership and many other benefits.

Best HDFC Premium Credit Cards

As far as premium credit cards are concerned, HDFC Bank offers two super-premium credit cards- Infinia Credit Card Metal Edition and Diners Club Black Credit Card. Both these credit cards are very popular among HNIs (High Net Worth Individuals) and offer a very similar reward rate.

• HDFC Infinia Credit Card Metal Edition: It is the most premium offering by the bank. Infinia Credit Card Metal Edition comes with a membership fee of Rs. 12,500 per annum (plus GST) and earns you 5 RPs for every Rs. 150 spent with the card (reward rate of up to 3.33%) and up to 10x Reward Points on SmartBuy. Also, since it is a super premium credit card, you also get many other add-on benefits like unlimited complimentary domestic and international airport lounge access, unlimited golf games, attractive hotel and dining offers, complimentary insurance cover and many more that one expects from a premium credit card.
• HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card: The Diners Club Black Credit Card is the second most premium card offered by HDFC Bank after Infinia. Diners Club Black Credit Card comes with a joining fee of Rs. 10,000 +GST and just like Infinia Credit Card, offers a reward rate of up to 3.33% on regular spends and 10x reward rate on spends via SmartBuy. Apart from earning Reward Points, being a premium credit card, Diners Club Black Credit Card also offers a plethora of additional privileges like unlimited complimentary international and domestic airport lounge access, complimentary golf games, insurance benefits, dining and hotel discounts, and many more.

Bottom Line

For the majority of individuals looking for an HDFC credit card, one of the aforementioned 8 credit cards will definitely fit their financial needs as these are the best curated HDFC credit cards best suited for customers with different spending patterns. These are also the most popular HDFC cards in their respective categories. For example, HDFC Infinia Credit Card is the most popular super-premium credit card and the Regalia Credit Card is the most popular lifestyle credit card by the bank, therefore there is a higher likelihood of getting offers on these credit cards. However, if you want more choice, you may find the features and benefits of all the 25+ credit cards offered by HDFC Bank here and make your mind accordingly.

Write A Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Find the perfect credit card in India by comparing the most rewarding options in one place!

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions

Contact Info

© Copyright 2024 Card Insider

Made With ❤ in India.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

You are being redirected to an external/third party website. Please note that IndiGo cannot be held responsible for content and privacy policies on such website.

• Select Flight
• Fare Difference
• Seat Selection

Get Members Benefit.

Get Members Benefit. Sign Up

• 6E Rewards NEW
• Search FAQs

Select Language

Please select your preferred language

• English - EN

HDFC Bank Credit Cards

Benefits that are truly 6e.

Joining & Annual Fee

6E Rewards @ ₹500

6E Rewards @ ₹Zero

6E Rewards XL

6E Rewards XL @ ₹1500

6E Rewards XL @ ₹Zero

Welcome Benefits

Free Air Ticket

Free 6E Prime addon

6E Rewards Earning

Dining, entertainment, and grocery

Other spends(including fuel)

Aditional Benefits

8 domestic airport Lounge access

12 golf lessons & 4 rounds of green fees

Annual Fees

6E Rewards ₹500

6E Rewards XL ₹1,500

Free air ticket

Other spends (including fuel)

Additional Benefits

Rs 150 discounted convenience fee on IndiGo

Dining, grocery and entertainment

Other spends

Free 6E Prime Addon worth Rs 899

Free Gift Vouchers

50% on a Stay at Accor Hotels

Rs 1000 on dining with Accor Hotels

Total of Rs. 1000 worth vouchers from Budweiser, Samsonite and Nissin

Other Benefits

Rs 100 as discounted conv. fee on IndiGo

1% Fuel surcharge waiver

Domestic Airport Lounge Access

On Feature Partners

Terms and Conditions applicable to 6E Rewards HDFC Bank Co-brand Credit Card

• Welcome benefits can be availed only by Members and their Nominees, post annual fee realisation, and are valid for six months from the date of issuance.
• Complimentary IndiGo air ticket will be issued for redemption towards base fare, post completion of three (3) transactions every month for the first three (3) months . The ticket can be redeemed for bookings made on IndiGo website or mobile app in INR only.
• 6E Rewards can be earned on eligible spends in multiple of hundreds and no earning/s will be applicable on IndiGo for group, corporate, SME (Small / Medium Enterprises), and/or agent bookings.
• No earnings of 6E Rewards on loading of prepaid payment instruments. Earnings of 6E Rewards on insurance,rent payments,fuel etc. transactions (including any capping ) are subject to the terms and conditions set by HDFC Bank time to time.
• Bonus 6E Rewards will be valid for six months from the date of issuance.
• Complimentary IndiGo air ticket will be issued for redemption towards base fare, post completion of  three (3) transactions every month for the first three (3)  months. The ticket can be redeemed for bookings made on IndiGo website or mobile app in INR only.
• 6E Rewards can be earned on eligible spends in multiple of hundreds and no earning/s will be applicable on IndiGo for group, corporate, SME, and/or agent bookings.
• Complimentary Domestic Airport Lounge access is permitted twice in every quarter, at select airports.
• Complimentary 12 golf lessons and four rounds of green fees in a year (applicable only for card issued on Mastercard network).
• For 6E Rewards Program terms and conditions, Click here.

<p>By clicking on the hyper-link, you will be leaving <a href="https://www.goindigo.in/">www.goindigo.in</a> and entering website operated by other parties. IndiGo does not own, control or supervise such website, and bears no responsibility for them.</p>

By clicking on the hyper-link, you will be leaving www.goindigo.in and entering website operated by other parties. Indigo does not own, control or supervise such website, and bears no responsibility for them

Help Center

Avoid long queues at the airport and travel hassle-free with Web Check-in. Passengers flying domestic sectors can Web Check-in at any time up to 48 ho... Read more

Customers carrying more than the allowed baggage limit will be charged the following excess baggage fees at the time of check-in:... Read more

Visit the View/Change bookings option on the homepage of our website which has a list of features that allow you to retrieve and re-print your itinera... Read more

Kiosk Check-in is a convenient way for passengers to check-in using IndiGo kiosks located at the airport. Passengers can select their preferred seat a... Read more

Currently, the tickets are non-transferable, hence, name changes on a confirmed reservation are not permissible. You will need to cancel your ticket a... Read more

• On domestic flights you can cancel/ refund till 3 hours prior to flight departure • On international flights you can cancel/ refund till 4 hours pri... Read more

Complete your profile

Your profile details are incomplete, please update your profile to help us serve you better.

Still there? Session has timed out

Select departure city, select arrival city, select passenger(s).

• Adult(s) (>12 years) Book extra seat(s) for less and travel with more space, comfort & 10 kg extra baggage allowance. Add Double/Triple Seat Add Double Seat 1 + 1 Seat Select 1 Double Seat 2 Double Seat 3 Double Seat 4 Double Seat Add Triple Seat 1 + 2 Seat Select 1 Triple seats 2 Triple seats 3 Triple seats
• Children (2 to 12 years) Add Double/Triple Seat Add Double Seat 1 + 1 Seat Select 1 Double Seat 2 Double Seat 3 Double Seat 4 Double Seat Add Triple Seat 1 + 2 Seat Select 1 Triple seats 2 Triple seats 3 Triple seats
• Infant(s) (3 days to 2 years)

Select travel dates

Select your nationality.

Citizens of Nepal and Maldives are eligible for tax exemption/reduction, as per applicable laws, on the airfare. In order to avail such tax exemption/reduction, passengers must declare their correct nationality at the time of booking. In case citizens of Nepal or Maldives intend to travel with any foreign nationals, such citizen (passenger) are requested to kindly book tickets for accompanying foreign national (passengers) in a separate PNR/ticket. Once selected, the nationality cannot be changed at any point during the booking process.

Select Departure Airport

Select destination airport.

• English English
• தமிழ் தமிழ்
• বাংলা বাংলা
• മലയാളം മലയാളം
• ગુજરાતી ગુજરાતી
• हिंदी हिंदी
• मराठी मराठी
• Business Business
• बिज़नेस बिज़नेस
• Insurance Insurance

The Financial Express

• Mutual Funds
• Stock Market Stats
• Gold Rate Today
• AP SSC 10th Result 2024 Live
• TSBSE Live Updates
• Top Indices Performance
• MP Board Result Live
• Loksabha Election
• Budget 2024
• Stock Market Quotes
• Mutual Fund
• Stock Stats
• Top Gainers
• CaFE Invest
• Investing Abroad
• Gold Rate in India
• Silver Rate in India
• Petrol Rate in India
• Diesel Rate in India
• Express Mobility
• Banking & Finance
• Travel & Tourism
• Brand Wagon
• Entertainment
• Web Stories
• Auto Web Stories
• Infographics
• Today’s Paper
• International
• Edits & Columns
• Personal Finance Print
• PRIVACY POLICY
• TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Top 5 credit cards for airport lounge access in India – Know key features, benefits and annual fees

Industry experts said the average cost for banks per customer lounge visit at airports used to be rs 600 in 2022, and it has now surpassed rs 1,000 in 2024, making cards with this feature more lucrative for travellers..

Credit cards offer several benefits like cashback, miles, vouchers, discounts, free priority pass membership, etc, to attract customers. One of their prominent offerings is free airport lounge access at select airports in the country and abroad. The facility of airport lounge access is available not only on travel credit cards but also on some other premium cards issued by banks.

Industry experts said the average cost for banks on per customer lounge visit at airports used to be Rs 600 in 2022, and it has now surpassed Rs 1,000 in 2024, making cards with the free lounge access feature more lucrative for travellers.

The best perk such cards bring with them is a free lounge access benefit, allowing travellers to spend time in a relaxing environment at bustling airports. At select airports, they are also served complimentary snacks and drinks in these lounges.

Also Read: CIBIL score 700 good or bad? How to get personal loan with low credit score in India

Take a look at top 5 credit cards providing lounge access at select airports in India and abroad, as per paisabazaar.com.

Source: Paisabazaar.com

1. HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card

HDFC Diners Club Privilege Credit Card offers a free lounge access facility to its customers. If you’re looking to earn high rewards and multiple benefits at a reasonable annual fee, you can go for this card. There are several other benefits like shopping, travel, rewards and more on this card.

HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card Fees

The joining fee for HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card is Rs 2,500. Its annual fee is also the same, Rs 2,500, but the bank waives this charge if your spending on the card is more than Rs 3 lakh in the previous year.

HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Credit Card Key Benefits

You can enjoy access to over 1,000 airport lounges globally using this HDFC Bank card and receive 12 complimentary airport lounge visits annually, for both domestic and international travel. Complimentary lounge access is also provided to add-on card members.

2. SBI Elite Credit Card

SBI Elite Credit Card is considered as one of the best credit cards with free airport lounge access facility. The card also offers several other benefits across multiple categories. This card gives you a high reward rate and a low foreign exchange mark-up fee of 1.99%

SBI Elite Credit Card Fees

SBI Elite Credit Card’s joinig fee is Rs 4,999 and the annual fee is also the same.

SBI Elite Credit Card key benefits

You get a complimentary Priority Pass Membership valued at $99 and also six complimentary visits to international lounges, with a maximum of two visits per quarter. You also receive two complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter.

3. Axis Bank Select Credit Card

Axis Bank Select Credit Card is a lifestyle card but offers a free access to aurport lounges. This card stands out among its competitors as it comes at a low fee. The card also offers benefits to movie goers, shoppers, diners and more. Users get reward points on each purchase and also bonus points on reaching spending milestones

Axis Bank Select Credit Card Fees

Axis Bank has kept Rs 3,000 as joining fee and the same amount as annual fee for customers.

Axis Bank Select Credit Card key benefits

This card gives a complimentary Priority Pass Membership and allows 6 complimentary international lounge visits annually, apart from two complimentary domestic lounge visits per quarter.

4. SBI Prime Credit Card

SBI Prime Credit Card is considered as one of the best airport lounge access credit cards in India, The card offers international as well as domestic lounge access.

SBI Prime Credit Card Fees

SBI Prime Credit Card charges Rs 2,999 as joining fee and the same ammount as annual fee. The annual charge is waived if spending crosses 3 lakh in the previous year.

SBI Prime Credit Card Benefits

Wit this card, you get four complimentary visits to international priority pass lounges outside India (maximum 2 per quarter), and 8 complimentary domestic lounge visits in a year (2 visits per quarter).

5. HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card

HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card offers a lounge access facility for both primary as well as add-on cardholders. The card also comes with other benefits on travel, shopping and dining. You can also use reward points against the exclusive Gold Catalogue, for travel bookings and even convert them to Air Miles.

HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card Fees

HDFC Bank has fixed the joining fee for this card at Rs 2,500 and the annual fee as same. Cutomers are charged annually Rs 2,500, which gets waived on spending Rs 4 lakh in a year.

HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card Benefits

You can enjoy six complimentary airport lounge visits per year outside India via Priority Pass for both primary and add-on card members on completing minimum four card transactions. The card also offers 12 complimentary airport lounge visits per year within India.

Get live Share Market updates, Stock Market Quotes , and the latest India News and business news on Financial Express. Download the Financial Express App for the latest finance news.

Related News

Photo gallery.

5 UP Board Result 2017 class 10 topper: Tejaswi Devi tops with 95.83 pct; Yogi Adityanath to award Rs 10,000 to every girl who passed

4 Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita quits govt: What we know so far

6 Top 6 World’s most expensive cars cost over Rs 300 crores combined: Cars for the planet’s richest

Latest News

Tata Magic Bi-Fuel launched to celebrate 4 lakh sales

The Half-Yearly Report Card of Muizzu’s Foreign Policy

IPL 17 advertising sees significant growth with 59% increase in categories and 38% rise in advertisers compared to IPL 16, reveals TAM report

TBSE Telangana Inter Result 2024: When and where to check the result; Check all the details here

Price drop alert! OnePlus Nord CE 3 gets cheaper by Rs 2,000 after OnePlus Nord CE 4 launch — check details

Trending topics.

• IPO’s Open and Upcoming 1
• Stock Analysis
• Financial Literacy
• NSE Top Gainers 1908
• NSE Top Losers 637
• BSE Top Gainers 2790
• BSE Top Losers 1257
• NSE 52-Week High 120
• NSE 52-Week Low 6
• BSE 52-Week High 229
• BSE 52-Week Low 14
• NSE Price Shocker
• NSE Volume Shocker
• BSE Price Shocker
• BSE Volume Shocker
• NSE Sellers
• BSE Sellers
• Silver Rate Today
• Petrol Rate Today
• Diesel Rate Today

• New Terms of Use
• New Privacy Policy
• Your Privacy Choices
• Closed Captioning Policy

Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by  Factset . Powered and implemented by  FactSet Digital Solutions .  Legal Statement .

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. FAQ - New Privacy Policy

Today's 15- and 30-year mortgage rates hold steady | April 19, 2024

Thinking about taking out a mortgage loan here are the current mortgage rates and the top factors that influence them..

Mortgage rates fluctuate almost daily based on economic conditions. Here are today’s mortgage rates and what you need to know about getting the best rate. ( iStock )

The interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 7.500% as of April 19, which is unchanged from yesterday. Additionally, the interest rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is 6.625%, which is also unchanged from yesterday.

With mortgage rates changing daily, it’s a good idea to check today’s rate before applying for a loan. It’s also important to compare different lenders’ current interest rates, terms, and fees to ensure you get the best deal. 

Rates last updated on April 19, 2024. Rates are based on the assumptions shown here . Actual rates may vary. Credible, a personal finance marketplace, has 5,000 Trustpilot reviews with an average star rating of 4.7 (out of a possible 5.0).

How do mortgage rates work?

What determines the mortgage rate.

• How to compare mortgage rates 
• Pros and cons of mortgages 

How to qualify for a mortgage

How to apply for a mortgage, how to refinance a mortgage.

• How to access your home’s equity

When you take out a mortgage loan to purchase a home, you’re borrowing money from a lender. In order for that lender to make a profit and reduce risk to itself, it will charge interest on the principal — that is, the amount you borrowed.

Expressed as a percentage, a mortgage interest rate is essentially the cost of borrowing money. It can vary based on several factors, such as your credit score , debt-to-income ratio (DTI), down payment , loan amount, and repayment term.

After getting a mortgage, you’ll typically receive an amortization schedule , which shows your payment schedule over the life of the loan. It also indicates how much of each payment goes toward the principal balance versus the interest.

Near the beginning of the loan term, you’ll spend more money on interest and less on the principal balance. As you approach the end of the repayment term, you’ll pay more toward the principal and less toward interest.

Your mortgage interest rate can be either fixed or adjustable. With a fixed-rate mortgage, the rate will be consistent for the duration of the loan. With an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the interest rate can fluctuate with the market.

Keep in mind that a mortgage’s interest rate is not the same as its annual percentage rate (APR). This is because an APR includes both the interest rate and any other lender fees or charges.

Mortgage rates change frequently — sometimes on a daily basis. Inflation plays a significant role in these fluctuations. Interest rates tend to rise in periods of high inflation, whereas they tend to drop or remain roughly the same in times of low inflation. Other factors, like the economic climate, demand, and inventory can also impact the current average mortgage rates.

To find great mortgage rates, start by using Credible’s secured website, which can show you current mortgage rates from multiple lenders without affecting your credit score. You can also use Credible’s mortgage calculator to estimate your monthly mortgage payments.

Mortgage lenders typically determine the interest rate on a case-by-case basis. Generally, they reserve the lowest rates for low-risk borrowers — that is, those with a higher credit score, income, and down payment amount. Here are some other personal factors that may determine your mortgage rate:

• Location of the home
• Price of the home
• Your credit score and credit history
• Loan type (e.g., conventional or FHA)
• Interest rate type (fixed or adjustable)
• Down payment amount
• Loan-to-value (LTV) ratio

Other indirect factors that may determine the mortgage rate include:

• Current economic conditions
• Rate of inflation
• Market conditions
• Housing construction supply, demand, and costs
• Consumer spending
• Stock market
• 10-year Treasury yields
• Federal Reserve policies
• Current employment rate

How to compare mortgage rates

Along with certain economic and personal factors, the lender you choose can also affect your mortgage rate. Some lenders have higher average mortgage rates than others, regardless of your credit or financial situation. That’s why it’s important to compare lenders and loan offers.

Here are some of the best ways to compare mortgage rates and ensure you get the best one:

• Shop around for lenders: Compare several lenders to find the best rates and lowest fees. Even if the rate is only lower by a few basis points, it could still save you thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.
• Get several loan estimates: A loan estimate comes with a more personalized rate and fees based on factors like income, employment, and the property’s location. Review and compare loan estimates from several lenders.
• Get pre-approved for a mortgage: Pre-approval doesn’t guarantee you’ll get a loan, but it can give you a better idea of what you qualify for and at what interest rate. You’ll need to complete an application and undergo a hard credit check.
• Consider a mortgage rate lock: A mortgage rate lock lets you lock in the current mortgage rate for a certain amount of time — often between 30 and 90 days. During this time, you can continue shopping around for a home without worrying about the rate changing.
• Choose between an adjustable- and fixed-rate mortgage: The interest rate type can affect how much you pay over time, so consider your options carefully.

One other way to compare mortgage rates is with a mortgage calculator. Use a calculator to determine your monthly payment amount and the total cost of the loan. Just remember, certain fees like homeowners insurance or taxes might not be included in the calculations.

Here’s a simple example of what a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage might look like versus a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage:

15-year fixed-rate

• Loan amount: $300,000
• Interest rate: 6.29%
• Monthly payment: $2,579
• Total interest charges: $164,186
• Total loan amount: $464,186

30-year fixed-rate

• Interest rate: 6.89%
• Monthly payment: $1,974
• Total interest charges: $410,566
• Total loan amount: $710,565

Pros and cons of mortgages

If you’re thinking about taking out a mortgage, here are some benefits to consider:

• Predictable monthly payments: Fixed-rate mortgage loans come with a set interest rate that doesn’t change over the life of the loan. This means more consistent monthly payments.
• Potentially low interest rates: With good credit and a high down payment, you could get a competitive interest rate. Adjustable-rate mortgages may also come with a lower initial interest rate than fixed-rate loans.
• Tax benefits: Having a mortgage could make you eligible for certain tax benefits, such as a mortgage interest deduction .
• Potential asset: Real estate is often considered an asset. As you pay down your loan, you can also build home equity, which you can use for other things like debt consolidation or home improvement projects.
• Credit score boost: With on-time payments, you can build your credit score.

And here are some of the biggest downsides of getting a mortgage:

• Expensive fees and interest: You could end up paying thousands of dollars in interest and other fees over the life of the loan. You will also be responsible for maintenance, property taxes , and homeowners insurance.
• Long-term debt: Taking out a mortgage is a major financial commitment. Typical loan terms are 10, 15, 20, and 30 years.
• Potential rate changes: If you get an adjustable rate , the interest rate could increase.

Requirements vary by lender, but here are the typical steps to qualify for a mortgage:

• Have steady employment and income: You’ll need to provide proof of income when applying for a home loan. This may include money from your regular job, alimony, military benefits, commissions, or Social Security payments. You may also need to provide proof of at least two years’ worth of employment at your current company.
• Review any assets: Lenders consider your assets when deciding whether to lend you money. Common assets include money in your bank account or investment accounts.
• Know your DTI: Your DTI is the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward your monthly debts — like installment loans, lines of credit, or rent. The lower your DTI, the better your approval odds.
• Check your credit score: To get the best mortgage rate possible, you’ll need to have good credit. However, each loan type has a different credit score requirement. For example, you’ll need a credit score of 580 or higher to qualify for an FHA loan with a 3.5% down payment.
• Know the property type: During the loan application process, you may need to specify whether the home you want to buy is your primary residence. Lenders often view a primary residence as less risky, so they may have more lenient requirements than if you were to get a secondary or investment property.
• Choose the loan type: Many types of mortgage loans exist, including conventional loans, VA loans , USDA loans , FHA loans , and jumbo loans. Consider your options and pick the best one for your needs.
• Prepare for upfront and closing costs: Depending on the loan type, you may need to make a down payment. The exact amount depends on the loan type and lender. A USDA loan, for example, has no minimum down payment requirement for eligible buyers. With a conventional loan, you’ll need to put down 20% to avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI). You may also be responsible for paying any closing costs when signing for the loan.

Here are the basic steps to apply for a mortgage , and what you can typically expect during the process:

• Choose a lender : Compare several lenders to see the types of loans they offer, their average mortgage rates, repayment terms, and fees. Also, check if they offer any down payment assistance programs or closing cost credits.
• Get pre-approved: Complete the pre-approval process to boost your chances of getting your dream home. You’ll need identifying documents, as well as documents verifying your employment, income, assets, and debts.
• Submit a formal application: Complete your chosen lender’s application process — either in person or online — and upload any required documents.
• Wait for the lender to process your loan: It can take some time for the lender to review your application and make a decision. In some cases, they may request additional information about your finances, assets, or liabilities. Provide this information as soon as possible to prevent delays.
• Complete the closing process: If approved for a loan, you’ll receive a closing disclosure with information about the loan and any closing costs. Review it, pay the down payment and closing costs, and sign the final loan documents. Some lenders have an online closing process, while others require you to go in person. If you are not approved, you can talk to your lender to get more information and determine how you can remedy any issues.

Refinancing your mortgage lets you trade your current loan for a new one. It does not mean taking out a second loan. You will also still be responsible for making payments on the refinanced loan.

You might want to refinance your mortgage if you:

• Want a lower interest rate or different rate type
• Are looking for a shorter repayment term so you can pay off the loan sooner
• Need a smaller monthly payment
• Want to remove the PMI from your loan
• Need to use the equity for things like home improvement or debt consolidation (cash-out refinancing)

The refinancing process is similar to the process you follow for the original loan. Here are the basic steps:

• Choose the type of refinancing you want.
• Compare lenders for the best rates.
• Complete the application process.
• Wait for the lender to review your application.
• Provide supporting documentation (if requested).
• Complete the home appraisal.
• Proceed to closing, review the loan documents, and pay any closing costs.

How to access your home’s equity 

If you need to tap into your home’s equity to pay off debt, fund a renovation, or cover an emergency expense, there are two popular options to choose from: a home equity loan and a home equity line of credit (HELOC) . Both a home equity loan and a HELOC allow you to borrow against your home’s equity but a home equity loan comes in the form of a lump sum payment and a HELOC is a revolving line of credit.

These two loan types have some other key similarities and differences in how they work:

What is a rate lock?

Interest rates on mortgages fluctuate all the time, but a rate lock allows you to lock in your current rate for a set amount of time. This ensures you get the rate you want as you complete the homebuying process .

What are mortgage points?

Mortgage points are a type of prepaid interest that you can pay upfront — often as part of your closing costs — for a lower overall interest rate. This can lower your APR and monthly payments. 

What are closing costs?

Closing costs are the fees you, as the buyer, need to pay before getting a loan. Common fees include attorney fees, home appraisal fees, origination fees , and application fees.

If you’re trying to find the right mortgage rate, consider using Credible. You can use Credible's free online tool to easily compare multiple lenders and see prequalified rates in just a few minutes.