Are hotel credit cards worth it for NRIs?
Methodology↗
We compared all 6 cards on points-per-night value, status thresholds, India-route redemption, and welcome bonus. Three patterns emerged:
→ HSBC Taj Platinum
2 free welcome nights + Epicure membership recover the fee in one stay. Suite upgrades on weekend bookings. Only worth it if Taj is your default — otherwise multi-chain options below earn faster.
→ HDFC Infinia Metal (skip the hotel co-brand)
Infinia's SmartBuy multiplier earns 10x points (= 33 reward points per ₹100) when booking hotels through HDFC's portal — higher effective rate than Marriott Bonvoy's 8 pts/₹100, and points redeem on any chain. Better economics for stayers without a single-chain bias.
→ Amex Platinum (US/UK)
Includes complimentary Marriott Gold + Hilton Gold status. Late check-out, room upgrades, breakfast — no hotel co-brand needed. Pair with the international card you already use for daily spend.