No nonsense card for international travel?

[theglobalinvestor]

What is a good no nonsense card for international travel with decent rewards and low/no forex markups?

I'm fed up with Axis and can't keep up with their ridiculousness.

Should also be available in small towns and not restricted to few major metros like hsbc,etc.

Approx 20L+ spends per year on international travel.

Thanks in advance.

 

[HumorSimpson]

@telescope @m4b @BVC

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

What is a good no nonsense card for international travel with decent rewards and low/no forex markups?

I'm fed up with Axis and can't keep up with their ridiculousness.

Should also be available in small towns and not restricted to few major metros like hsbc,etc.

Approx 20L+ spends per year on international travel.

Thanks in advance.

If you’re looking for just low forex only and reward rate one card is good choice. It’s LTF.

Other cards to consider are RBL world safari card, Regalia Gold.

As the spends are on higher side you can consider trying to HDFC Infinia or DCB.

 

[telescope]

If spending online then sbi cashback is good enough. It has positive return after markup. For offline I personally use zero markup cc such as scapia and nxwave. Both of these don't have any reward for international spends.

IDFC wow is zero forex and also some rewards are there (negligible), but it is secured cc.

Otherwise if you can get infinia, it's good for international spending.

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

If spending online then sbi cashback is good enough. It has positive return after markup. For offline I personally use zero markup cc such as scapia and nxwave. Both of these don't have any reward for international spends.

IDFC wow is zero forex and also some rewards are there (negligible), but it is secured cc.

Otherwise if you can get infinia, it's good for international spending.

Good to consider IDFC Zero forex cards like WOW and Mayura, but I guess WOW card is a FD based (Secured one) right?

I don’t recommend Uni NX wave due to their reporting to CIBIL as loan. (Not sure how they’re reporting now earlier they were reporting as Loan)

 

[telescope]

Good to consider IDFC Zero forex cards like WOW and Mayura, but I guess WOW card is a FD based (Secured one) right?

I don’t recommend Uni NX wave due to their reporting to CIBIL as loan. (Not sure how they’re reporting now earlier they were reporting as Loan)

Wow is secured fixed deposit based cc.

My cibil is showing nx wave as cc.

 

[theXfactor]

What is a good no nonsense card for international travel with decent rewards and low/no forex markups?

I'm fed up with Axis and can't keep up with their ridiculousness.

Should also be available in small towns and not restricted to few major metros like hsbc,etc.

Approx 20L+ spends per year on international travel.

Thanks in advance.

Infinia. No issues with acceptability and with its GVP program you will see a positive reward on forex.

 

[theglobalinvestor]

Thanks guys. I've had infinia for over 10 years now. I guess the takeaway is not to get sidetracked by social media hype and bait and switch marketing by the likes of axis atlas, magnus, etc. Stick to what works and remember the grass only appears greener on the other side.

 

[anujdit]

You can try YES Private card (0% mark-up) too, along with Infinia + Global prog (1% back)

 

[theXfactor]

Thanks guys. I've had infinia for over 10 years now. I guess the takeaway is not to get sidetracked by social media hype and bait and switch marketing by the likes of axis atlas, magnus, etc. Stick to what works and remember the grass only appears greener on the other side.

Yes. I have other cards too having lower markup. I personally realised that Infinia always makes real sense on acceptability and rewards front and more so with its GVP. If you are holding Infinia already then no point in getting carried away with cards offering 0% or 1% markup.
By default Infinia offers 3.3% value back and 1% real cash on your statement up to 1k/month on forex.
DCB is great too barring its acceptability in certain countries overseas.

 

[drsel]

You can try YES Private card (0% mark-up) too, along with Infinia + Global prog (1% back)

For yes private is the return for international 3% or 5% ?
Forex markup 0.59%?

 

[theXfactor]

For yes private is the return for international 3% or 5% ?
Forex markup 0.59%?

International transactions: 5% value back, 0.5% markup. 50k joining fee & 11k+ annual fee.
Not sure of any impact of recent devaluations on this card.

 

[ujjwal2024]

For yes private is the return for international 3% or 5% ?
Forex markup 0.59%?

any axis card recommendation from your side as I am making a notes on credit card uses, your input on axis card uses on international spend will be helpful

 

[drsel]

International transactions: 5% return if you use the earned points for flights on Yes Bank portal.,
0.59% markup.
Nearly 4.41% profit, probably the highest return for forex spends, beating infinia and all the rest.

59000 joining fee is compensated with 2 lakh points, so 9000 cost/loss
11800 renewal fee, no compensation, 11800 cost/loss

 

[theXfactor]

International transactions: 5% return if you use the earned points for flights on Yes Bank portal.,
0.59% markup.
Nearly 4.41% profit
59000 joining fee is compensated with 2 lakh points, so 9000 cost/loss
11800 annual fee, no compensation, 11800 cost/loss

Could yes points be converted into statement credit or cash?

 

[drsel]

No no,

Could yes points be converted into statement credit or cash?

60% less value, 2% instead of 5% return on international foreign spend

 

[sourpai]

From a pure return perspective on forex spends, (any type of spends online or offline)

M4B above 1.5L (11.64%) > Reserve with m4B (10.23%) > Burgundy Private (6%) > Axis Olympus (5.88%) > Yes Private (4.41%) > Reserve without m4B (4.23%) > M4B below 1.5L (2.44%) > Infinia DCB with GVP (1.97%) > Rest

 

[SaurabhThakar]

What is a good no nonsense card for international travel with decent rewards and low/no forex markups?

I'm fed up with Axis and can't keep up with their ridiculousness.

Should also be available in small towns and not restricted to few major metros like hsbc,etc.

Approx 20L+ spends per year on international travel.

Thanks in advance.

I have similar International spend as you mentioned and my go to Card is Infinia. Try to get any Infinia , if short on eligibility then get DCB.

 

[vishalgupta2]

Axis Olympus (erstwhile Citi Prestige) is good with 8 points/100 INR rewards on international spending.

Being on Visa platform acceptability is fantastic. Many countries like Singapore also let you use Visa cards for public transport.

 

[theXfactor]

Folks, look at the fee and/or the TRV for M4B, Yes Private, Olympus etc etc. That’s a cost for what you get directly or indirectly which could also be an opportunity cost. If someone is already holding such cards, then it’s a no brainer and would be a great value for international transactions. Just that ppl may not maintain that kind of TRV or pay fee for such cards just to be used internationally. The point is if you force yourself to get these relationships/huge fee based cards just for the purpose, it will result into negative returns from value per se.