The eventful 2019 has ended and has given us a number of financial lessons. In the year 2020, these lessons would drive our finances and how we approach towards planning our expenses. There are a number of portals that will tell you about exotic destinations to choose for your vacations but no one will tell you how to plan for them smartly. In this article, we will discuss how to make your dream of unwinding at your favourite location come true using some of the best credit cards.
Booking Your Tickets using Credit Cards
A number of credit cards offer huge discounts on booking flight tickets using the credit card in the form of cashback or discounts. Such cards allow users to redeem Air Miles earned on spending using the credit card into tickets making it almost free for them to travel.
Air India SBI Signature Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 4,999 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 4,999 + GST
|
Citi PremierMiles Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 3,000 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 3,000 + GST
Read Citi PremierMiles Credit Card Review |
MMT ICICI Bank Visa Signature Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 2,500 + GST Renewal Fee: Nil
|
Travel Insurance on Your Credit Card
Travel insurance plays a vital role in case of air travel especially when you are travelling overseas. There can be flight delays, cancellations, baggage misplacement or air accidents. Travel insurance cannot return you the lost luggage but it can cover for it.
IndusInd Bank Platinum Aura Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 899 + GST Renewal Fee: Nil
|
Etihad Guest SBI
Joining Fee: Rs. 1,499 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 1,499 + GST (Reversed on spending Rs. 3 Lakh)
|
Standard Chartered Ultimate Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 5,000 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 5,000 + GST
|
Airport Lounge Access on Your Credit Card
Access to airport lounges ensures that you get to spend the time in transit during air travel with peace. Premium lounges offer refreshments, snacks, Wi-Fi, magazines, place to rest, etc. There are a number of credit cards that provide you access to it for free and if you plan to travel to a foreign destination, international lounge access will be a boon for you. Here are some of the best credit cards for airport lounge access.
HDFC Regalia First Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 1,000 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 1,000 + GST (Reversed on spending Rs. 1 Lakh)
|
ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 6,000 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 3,500 + GST (Reversed on spending Rs. 6 Lakh)
|
HDFC Bank Diners ClubMiles Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 1,000 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 1,000 + GST (Waived off on spending Rs. 1 Lakh)
|
Dining, Golf and Other Facilities on Your Credit Card
If you are looking forward to enhance your holiday experience with exclusive privileges, you can opt for credit cards that provide access to premium golf courses and other exclusive destinations at no extra cost. Some credit cards also offer huge discounts on dining at partner restaurants in India and abroad. You can select one such card if you are a foodie at heart.
HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 5,000 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 5,000 + GST (Waived off on spending Rs. 5 Lakh)
|
Low Foreign Currency Conversion Fee
When you go on a vacation overseas, there can be a number of occasions where you might have to make purchases in foreign currency. Card providers charge a fee on foreign currency conversion. Lesser the fee, better would it be for you to shop internationally. Below-mentioned are some of the best credit cards with low foreign currency conversion fee:
RBL Bank World Safari Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 3,000 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 3,000 + GST
|
YES FIRST Preferred Credit Card
Joining Fee: Nil Renewal Fee: Nil
|
HDFC Regalia Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 2,500 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 2,500 + GST (Waived off on spending Rs. 3 Lakh)
|
SBI Card ELITE
Joining Fee: Rs. 4,999 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 4,999 + GST
|
International Shopping Offers and Deals on your Credit Card
Vacations to international destinations are incomplete without shopping. When you get huge deals and discounts on shopping, you can always purchase all those gifts and accessories for yourself and loved ones. Opt for any of the cards mentioned below that offer huge discounts on shopping if you are a shopaholic:
Standard Chartered Emirates World Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 3,000 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 3,000 + GST
|
Yatra SBI Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 499 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 499 + GST
|
Concierge Services on Your Credit Card
Concierge services allow you to book table for dining, cab, travel, stay, emergency services and more just with a phone call. These services can be availed 24/7. If your card offers international concierge services, just imagine how convenient can it be to enjoy your vacation without any worries. Enlisted below are some of the best credit cards for concierge services:
HDFC Bank Diners Club Rewardz Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 1,000 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 1,000 + GST (Waived off on spending Rs. 1 Lakh)
|
SBI Card PRIME
Joining Fee: Rs. 2,999 + GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 2,999 + GST
|
Citi Rewards Credit Card
Joining Fee: Rs. 1,000+ GST Renewal Fee: Rs. 1,000 + GST (Waived off on spending Rs. 30,000)
Read the Latest Citi Rewards Credit Card Review |
Bottom Line
You can save a lot with an appropriate credit card when booking for vacations. It is always good to have a number of features in your credit card but paying for the facilities that you would rarely use is not advisable. All said and done, you should always select a card that meets most of your needs at the lowest annual fee possible.