Best Credit Cards for a Thailand Trip in 2026 (Low Forex Picks)

The best credit card for a Thailand trip is one with zero or low forex markup, because most Indian cards add 3.5% to every baht you spend. Lifetime free options like Federal Bank Scapia and AU ixigo charge 0%, and if you want international lounge access too, RBL World Safari and HDFC Regalia Gold are the stronger picks. Here's the shortlist with the numbers that matter.

Why forex markup is the number to watch

When you swipe an Indian card in Bangkok, the bank converts baht to rupees and adds a markup. On a standard card that's 3.5%, and GST is charged on the markup as well.

On a ₹1,00,000 trip budget spent by card, that's how the markup alone stacks up:

Forex markup	Cost on ₹1,00,000
3.5% (most standard cards)	₹3,500
2%	₹2,000
0.99%	₹990
0%	₹0

That ₹3,500 is before GST. A zero-markup card saves you that outright, and some of them still earn rewards on top. For a deeper look at how these fees add up, see hidden costs in forex markup.

The shortlist

1. Federal Bank Scapia: best lifetime free all-rounder

• Fee: Lifetime free
• Forex markup: 0%
• Rewards: 10% in Scapia Coins on eligible spends, which is about 2% in value (5 Coins = ₹1). 20% Coins on flights and hotels booked in the Scapia app, about 4% in value.
• Lounge: Unlimited domestic lounge access on ₹5,000+ monthly spend. No international lounge.

For most Thailand travellers, this is the default pick. You pay no markup and still earn roughly 2% back, redeemable against flights and hotels in the Scapia app. The catch is that Coins only work inside the app. View the Scapia card.

2. AU Small Finance Bank ixigo: lifetime free with an international lounge visit

• Fee: Lifetime free
• Forex markup: 0%
• Rewards: 1.25% base rate
• Lounge: 1 international lounge visit a year via Priority Pass (on request), 2 domestic visits per quarter on ₹50,000+ prior-quarter spend, and 8 railway lounge visits a year

A good second option, especially if you'd like one Priority Pass visit for your outbound flight. You also get a ₹1,000 ixigo Money voucher and 1,000 points on your first transaction within 30 days. View the AU ixigo card.

3. RBL World Safari: zero forex plus Priority Pass

• Fee: ₹3,000, waived on ₹3,00,000 annual spend
• Forex markup: 0%
• Rewards: 5% on travel spends in miles
• Lounge: Priority Pass with 2 international visits a year (an extra visit unlocks on ₹50,000+ prior-quarter spend), plus 2 domestic visits per quarter on ₹35,000 prior-quarter spend
• Welcome: ₹3,000 MakeMyTrip voucher

This card suits people who travel abroad more than once a year. Note that international spends don't earn travel points, so think of it as a no-markup card with lounge access rather than a rewards accelerator abroad. Our RBL World Safari review has the detail.

4. MakeMyTrip ICICI Bank Credit Card: best for booking the trip

• Fee: ₹999, waived on ₹3,00,000 annual spend
• Forex markup: 0.99%
• Rewards: 6% myCash on MakeMyTrip hotels, 3% on MakeMyTrip flights and holidays, 1% elsewhere
• Lounge: 1 international visit a year via Priority Pass; 2 domestic visits per quarter on ₹75,000 prior-quarter spend

If you book your Bangkok flights and Phuket hotels on MakeMyTrip, this card earns well on the booking itself and charges under 1% on spends in Thailand. myCash only works on MakeMyTrip. View the card.

5. HDFC Regalia Gold: best if lounges matter most

• Fee: ₹2,500, waived on ₹4,00,000 annual spend
• Forex markup: 2%
• Rewards: 5 points per ₹200 (about 1.25% on travel redemptions)
• Lounge: 6 international visits a year via Priority Pass; 3 domestic visits per quarter on ₹60,000 prior-quarter spend

Regalia Gold isn't the cheapest card to spend on in Thailand, but 6 Priority Pass visits cover a couple's outbound and return trips with room to spare. Use it at airports and pair it with a zero-markup card for spending on the ground. See our Regalia Gold review.

6. DCB Bank Niyo Global: zero forex without an income check

• Fee: Lifetime free
• Forex markup: 0%
• How it works: Secured against a lien on a DCB Niyo savings account; your limit is 90% of the lien amount (₹5,000 to ₹25 lakh)

A practical option for students, freelancers or anyone who can't get an unsecured travel card. View the card, or read Scapia vs Niyo Global.

Summary table

Card	Annual fee	Forex markup	International lounge	Best for
Federal Bank Scapia	Free	0%	None	Everyday spending in Thailand
AU ixigo	Free	0%	1 a year	Free card plus one lounge visit
RBL World Safari	₹3,000	0%	2 a year	Frequent international travellers
MakeMyTrip ICICI	₹999	0.99%	1 a year	Booking via MakeMyTrip
HDFC Regalia Gold	₹2,500	2%	6 a year	Lounge access
DCB Niyo Global	Free	0%	None	No income proof

Fees and rates reflect BestCard's latest card data. Issuers change travel benefits often, so check the issuer site before you apply.

How to choose

• Spending ₹50,000 or more in Thailand? Get a zero-markup card. The savings alone beat most rewards rates.
• Want lounge access? Carry a Priority Pass card for the airport and a zero-markup card for spending.
• Booking through one platform? Match the card to the platform: MakeMyTrip ICICI for MakeMyTrip, Scapia for the Scapia app.
• Apply at least a month before travel. Approval, card delivery and enabling international usage take time. Our guide to international usage controls explains how to switch it on.

Tips for using your card in Thailand

1. Always pay in baht. If a terminal offers rupees, decline. That's dynamic currency conversion, and the rate is almost always worse.
2. Carry some cash. Street food stalls, night markets, tuk-tuks and smaller shops are often cash-only. ATM withdrawals on a credit card attract cash advance fees and interest from day one, so withdraw with a debit or forex card instead.
3. Watch for TCS rules. Rules on tax collected at source for international spends have changed over the years. Check current rules with your bank or read our TCS explainer.
4. Carry two cards on different networks. If one is declined or blocked, you have a backup.

For a broader comparison of zero-markup options, see our zero forex markup cards list. To find the right travel card for your own spending, try the BestCard matcher.