American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card vs HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card: Which is Better in 2026?

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card vs Hdfc Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card

In short: HDFC Regalia Gold has the lower annual fee (₹2,500 vs ₹5,000); Amex Platinum Travel includes 8 airport lounge visits a year + Priority Pass, HDFC Regalia Gold 3 airport lounge visits a quarter; HDFC Regalia Gold has the lower forex markup (2% vs 3.5%).

Key factsAmex Platinum TravelHDFC Regalia Gold
Annual fee₹5,000₹2,500
Joining fee₹5,000₹2,500
Annual fee waivedNot listedOn ₹4 lakh annual spend
Top reward rate3X reward points on Flipkart, Myntra, Makemytrip and 17 more5X reward points on Myntra, Reliance Digital, Nykaa and 1 more
Base rewards1 Membership Rewards Point For Every ₹505 reward points For Every ₹200
Lounge access8 airport lounge visits a year + Priority Pass3 airport lounge visits a quarter
Forex markup3.5%2%

From issuer benefit data, checked 7 Nov 2026. Milestones, welcome benefits and caps are in the full table below.

The American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card and the HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card both cater to premium users with travel and shopping rewards, but they differ in fees, reward structures, and lounge access. American Express offers higher joining and renewal fees with strong accelerated rewards on a wide range of brands and a notable Taj Stay voucher milestone. HDFC Regalia Gold has lower fees with a fee waiver on high spend and provides 5X rewards on select brands plus complimentary memberships for travel and food delivery services.

Comparison notes and quick badges use AI, grounded in the benefit data shown in the table. Confirm details on each issuer’s site.

Last updated:

Best for rewards → Too close to call
Best for travel → American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card
Best for low fee → Hdfc Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card
Best for beginners → Hdfc Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card
Feature American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card Hdfc Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card
BankAmerican ExpressHDFC Bank
NetworkAmerican ExpressMasterCard
Joining feeJoining Fee of Rs.5000Joining Fee of Rs. 2500
Annual / renewal feeRenewal Fee of Rs. 5000Renewal Fee of Rs. 2500
Annual fee waiver—Spend Rs.400000 For Renewal Fee Waiver
Top reward rate3X reward points on Flipkart, Myntra, Makemytrip and 17 more5X reward points on Myntra, Reliance Digital, Nykaa and 1 more
Base rate (other spends)Earn 1 Membership Rewards Point For Every Rs.50Earn 5 Rewards Points For Every Rs.200
Lounge — domestic8 Complimentary Airport Lounge Access Per Year3 Domestic Lounge Visits Per Calendar Quarter
Lounge — internationalComplimentary Priority Pass Membership Worth US $996 Complimentary Lounge Access Outside India
Welcome benefitWelcome Gift of 10000 Membership Rewards PointsComplimentary MMT Black Gold Membership
Milestone benefitEarn 15000 Membership Rewards points on Spend of Rs.1.90 Lakhs; Earn 25000 Membership Rewards points on Spend of Rs.4 LakhsGet Rs.1500 Vouchers on Spend Rs.150000; Get Rs.5000 Additional Flight Vouchers on Spend Rs.7.5 Lakhs
Foreign currency markup3.50% - Foreign Currency Transactions2% - Foreign Currency Transactions

Which is better for rewards?

Both cards offer accelerated rewards on popular shopping brands, but their reward structures differ. The American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card provides 3X Membership Rewards points on over 17 brands including Flipkart and Myntra, with a base rate of 1 point per Rs.50 spent. HDFC Regalia Gold offers 5X reward points on fewer brands such as Myntra and Reliance Digital, with a base rate of 5 points per Rs.200. HDFC’s rewards are capped at 5,000 points per brand, which may limit high-value earners. Overall, rewards value is comparable depending on spending patterns and preferred brands.

Which is better for travel?

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card leads in travel benefits with 8 complimentary domestic lounge accesses annually plus a Priority Pass membership valued at US $99 for international lounges. It also offers a Taj Stay voucher worth Rs.10,000 on spending Rs.4 lakhs annually. HDFC Regalia Gold provides fewer lounge visits—3 domestic per quarter and 6 international annually—and travel vouchers as milestones, including Rs.5,000 flight vouchers on spends of Rs.5 lakhs and above. The American Express card is better suited for frequent travelers seeking premium lounge access and hotel stay benefits, while HDFC Regalia Gold offers useful travel perks with more modest lounge access.

Which has lower effective cost?

The HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card is more affordable with a joining and renewal fee of Rs.2,500 each, and the renewal fee is waived on spending Rs.4 lakhs annually. In contrast, the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card charges Rs.5,000 for both joining and renewal without listed fee waivers. Additionally, American Express has a higher forex markup of 3.5% compared to HDFC’s 2%, which may increase costs for international spenders. For those prioritizing lower effective costs and fee waivers, HDFC Regalia Gold is the more economical choice.

Forex Markup Comparison

The American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card charges a 3.5% forex markup on foreign currency transactions, which is notably higher than the 2% charged by the HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card. This difference can impact the cost-effectiveness of international spending, making HDFC a better option for frequent overseas transactions.

Fee Waiver Conditions

HDFC Regalia Gold offers a renewal fee waiver if you spend Rs.4 lakhs annually, which can reduce the effective cost of holding the card. The American Express card does not list any fee waiver, so its Rs.5,000 renewal fee applies regardless of spend.

Who should pick American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card?

Consider American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card if you prioritize premium travel benefits such as extensive domestic and international lounge access, a valuable Taj Stay voucher milestone, and accelerated rewards across a broad range of popular shopping brands. This card suits frequent travelers and shoppers who can leverage its higher joining fee for richer rewards and exclusive travel perks.

Who should pick Hdfc Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card?

Consider HDFC Bank Regalia Gold Credit Card if you want a more affordable premium card with lower joining and renewal fees, a fee waiver on high annual spend, and solid accelerated rewards on select brands like Myntra and Nykaa. It also offers complimentary memberships to MakeMyTrip Black Gold and Swiggy One, making it suitable for users looking for travel and food delivery benefits along with moderate lounge access.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the joining and renewal fees for both cards?

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card has a joining and renewal fee of Rs.5,000 each, while HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card charges Rs.2,500 for both, with a renewal fee waiver if you spend Rs.4 lakhs annually.

Which card offers better lounge access benefits?

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card provides 8 complimentary domestic lounge accesses per year plus Priority Pass membership for international lounges. HDFC Regalia Gold offers 3 domestic lounge visits per quarter and 6 international lounge accesses annually.

Are there any milestone benefits on these cards?

Yes. American Express offers milestones including 15,000 and 25,000 Membership Rewards points on spends of Rs.1.9 lakhs and Rs.4 lakhs respectively, plus a Taj Stay voucher worth Rs.10,000 on Rs.4 lakhs spend. HDFC Regalia Gold provides vouchers worth Rs.1,500 quarterly on Rs.1.5 lakhs spend, and flight vouchers worth Rs.5,000 and Rs.5,000 on Rs.5 lakhs and Rs.7.5 lakhs spend respectively.

What are the top reward rates on these cards?

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card offers 3X reward points on shopping at over 17 brands including Flipkart and Myntra, with a base rate of 1 point per Rs.50. HDFC Regalia Gold offers 5X reward points on Myntra, Reliance Digital, Nykaa, and Marks & Spencer, with a base rate of 5 points per Rs.200.

Do these cards offer any welcome benefits?

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card provides a welcome gift of 10,000 Membership Rewards points. HDFC Regalia Gold offers complimentary MakeMyTrip Black Gold and Swiggy One memberships after meeting minimum spend criteria.

What is the forex markup on these cards?

American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card has a forex markup of 3.5%, whereas HDFC Regalia Gold Credit Card charges 2% on foreign currency transactions.