HSBC Taj Credit Card, offered in partnership with the Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL), is a co-branded hotel credit card tailored to the needs of affluent consumers who value luxury travel and hospitality experiences.
While the Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card introduced India to hotel co-branded credit cards in the mid-range segment last year, the HSBC Taj Credit Card is India’s first hotel co-branded card in the super-premium category. With an annual fee of Rs. 1.10 Lakh, it also becomes one of the costliest credit cards in India.
Exclusive Card Offers from India’s top banks are just a click away
Error: Please enter a valid number
Cardholders get exclusive benefits not just with Taj Properties but also across other hotel chains under the IHCL Group, including SeleQtions, Gateway, Vivanta, Ginger Hotels and amã Stays & Trails. A complimentary membership to Taj InnerCircle Platinum NeuPass gives access to exclusive privileges at participating hotels, further enhancing consumer experience.
Beyond hotel benefits, the card also caters to travellers’ needs with benefits such as unlimited lounge access, discount on flight ticket bookings, discount on duty-free spends and complimentary concierge service. Direct discount on some popular brands like Starbucks, Tira, PVR Cinemas, Zomato, and Swiggy provide cardholders with more opportunities to save.
On other spends, the credit card rewards its users with NeuCoins, offering 1% value-back on general spending and accelerated 3.33% value-back on hotel bookings at partnered properties. Though the returns might look quite low for a premium card, rewards should not be considered as the core benefit for this card. Maximizing returns on hotel stays should be a priority when choosing this card.
HSBC Taj Credit Card Overall Rating: ★★★★ (4/5) |
|
 |
|
| Co-branded Hotel Stay Benefits | ★★★★ (4.5/5) |
| Travel Benefit | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Rewards Program | ★★★ (3.5) |
| Lifestyle Benefits | ★★★ (3.5) |
This is an invite-only credit card, offered to individuals with a minimum annual income of Rs. 40 Lakh for salaried and Rs. 60 Lakh for self-employed. If you meet the eligibility criteria and are interested to apply, you can ‘join the waiting list’ at HSBC website.
Video: Quick Review of HSBC Taj Credit Card
Note: Details mentioned in the video have been sourced from the issuer’s website as of December 2024. For updated information, refer to this page.
Hotel Benefits
- On card activation: Free night stay (plus breakfast) at a Taj Palace hotel and 2 nights at any participating hotel
- Taj InnerCircle Platinum NeuPass membership covering benefits like priority/early check-ins, late check-outs, dedicated 24/7 Platinum concierge service, additional NeuCoin reward points, a special welcome service; happy hours; and more at participating hotels.
- Free access to India’s premier executive business club, The Chambers Lounge (12 visits/year) and Taj Club Lounge (up to 12 times a year), with tea/coffee for 2
- Unlimited room upgrades to the next level of room or suite at participating hotels(2) (on stays of up to 5 consecutive nights)
- 25% savings on the best available rate for room/suite at Taj Palaces, Safaris and other properties.
- Free 4 set meals for 2 at Taj and other participating restaurants
- 25% savings on food and beverages, including Qmin deliveries
- Complimentary 60-minute spa treatment (up to 4 a year), plus access to the sauna and steam room
- Free swimming pool access for 2 (up to 12 times a year
- Access to networking events featuring celebrated speakers, entertainment and masterclasses
Travel Benefits
- Unlimited airport lounge access globally
- Up to 5% off on Emirates flights originating in India using code ‘INHSBCT’.
- 15% savings on duty-free with AdaniOne (once per month; min order Rs. 3,000; max order Rs. 7,500).
- 4 chauffeur-driven limousine transfers a year offered via Blacklane.
Despite being a hotel credit card, the card does not lose its focus from all-round travel benefits expected out of a premium credit card: zero forex, unlimited lounge access, and a travel concierge. Additionally, unlike many cards that keep the benefits restored to primary cardholders, this card offers most of the hotel privileges for two people.
Rewards Benefits
- 5 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on participating hotel Taj, SeleQtions, Gateway, Vivanta, Ginger Hotels and amã Stays & Trails bungalows
- 1.5 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent
- 1.5 reward points = Rs. 1 in your HSBC Taj Credit Card Wallet balance
Suggested Read: Best Credit Cards in India
Lifestyle Benefits on Popular Brands
- 50% off at Starbucks 4 times a month (max total savings Rs. 150).
- 25% off at Tira (min spend Rs. 2,499; max total savings Rs. 750).
- 10% off at PVR Cinemas (On Gold Class movie tickets, food and beverages)
- 10% off at Just In Time
- 2 for 1 movie and event tickets through Book My Show (max ticket value Rs. 750 each).
- 12% off at Zomato (min spend Rs. 2,499; max total savings Rs. 500).
- 10% off at Swiggy
- 5% off at Croma (min spend Rs. 20,000; max total savings Rs. 2,000)
HSBC Taj Credit Card: Fees & Charges
| Fee Type | Amount |
| Annual Fee | Rs. 1,10,000 + Taxes |
| Joining Fee | Rs. 1,10,000 + Taxes |
| Finance charges | 3,75% per month | 45% per annum |
| Forex Markup Fee | Nil |
| Late Payment Charges | 100% of minimum payment due (minimum Rs. 250 and maximum Rs. 1,200 per month) |
For more details on HSBC Taj Credit Card fees & charges, check.
Prior to this card launch, HDFC Bank’s Marriott Bonvoy was the only co-branded hotel credit card in India. It also covers multiple hotel chains in its rewards program. However, in comparison, the Marriott Bonvoy card comes at a very low annual fee of Rs. 3,000.
Though hotel benefits are not the primary feature on most credit cards, many premium credit cards also offer features around multiple hotel chains. On that basis, considering the high fee and target segment, HSBC Taj card competes with some high-end cards as listed below:
Other Similar Credit Cards
From the below list you can easily compare & apply credit cards.
HDFC Infinia Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹12500
Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹12500
Unlimited airport lounge access for primary and add-on members
10x reward points on travel and shopping spends on Smartbuy
Product Details
- 1 RP = 1 Air Mile or Rs. 1 for travel bookings, Apple products and Tanishq vouchers purchased via SmartBuy
- Invite-only card with Club Marriott membership and 12,500 reward points on card activation & renewal
- 5 reward points on every Rs. 150 spent, including spends on insurance, utilities and education
- Access to unlimited golf coaching in India & golf games across the world with 2% forex mark-up fee
- Book 3 nights stay at participating ITC hotels and pay for 2 with 1+1 complimentary weekend buffet
American Express® Platinum Card
Joining fee: ₹66000
Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹66000
Vouchers of up to Rs. 60,000 from Taj, Reliance or Postcard Hotels on spending Rs. 50,000 in first 2 months
Complimentary access to multiple lounge access programs
Product Details
- Benefits of Rs. 44,300 at the finest hotels/resorts worldwide, like the Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Ritz-Carlton, etc.
- Access to top-tier hotel loyalty programs, like Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite, Hilton Honors Gold, Taj Reimagined Epicure, Radisson Rewards Gold, etc.
- Invitations to VIP-only events & access to pre-sale tickets & some of the best seats at Fashion Week, Grammy Award, Wimbledon, etc.
- Eazy Diner Prime membership with up to 50% off at premium restaurants in India
- Vouchers worth Rs. 35,000 from Taj Hotels, Reliance Brands Ltd., Postcard Hotels on annual spends of Rs. 20 Lakh
Axis Bank Burgundy Private Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹50000
Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹50000
Unlimited domestic & international airport lounge access
Complimentary EazyDiner Prime, Club Marriott, Accor Plus and Taj Epicure memberships
Product Details
- Free EazyDiner Prime Membership for savings up to 25% at fine dining restaurants
- 50 complimentray golf rounds every year
- Free ticket for every movie/non-movie ticket bought through BookMyShow, applicable 5 times for movies and 5 times for non-movie events
- Complimentary concierge service for 8 airport visits
- Complimentary Club Marriott, Accor Plus, and Taj Epicure memberships
Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹50000
Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹50000
Unlimited domestic & international lounge visits via Priority Pass
Low forex mark-up fee of 1.5% with 2X reward points on international spends
Product Details
- Up to 30 EDGE reward points for every Rs. 200 spent
- B1G1 offer on BookMyShow tickets with up to 5 offer tickets per month
- ITC Culinaire, Accorplus, Club Marriott & EazyDiner Prime memberships & offers on Postcard & Oberoi hotels
- 50 free golf rounds every year across select golf courses in India
YES Private Credit Card
Joining fee: ₹50000
Annual/Renewal Fee: ₹10000
Unlimited airport lounge access with 12 guest visits and 0.5% forex markup
Up to 2.5 lakh Reward points & Rs. 9,000 Oberoi voucher on joining
Product Details
- 40 and 20 Reward points per Rs. 200 spent on international and domestic purchases respectively
- $100 savings per person on Globus and Monograms vacations
- Offers at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, Parkroyal on Pickering & Shangri-la (Singapore) & Intercontinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort
- B1G1 movie offer with up to 4 free tickets with max. Rs. 250 off on each per month and 50% off, max. Rs. 1,000, on events
- 12 free domestic golf lessons with 12 free rounds of green fees for cardholders & 4 for guests per year; Offers on select international golf courses