Best Travel Credit Cards In Singapore

Travel credit cards – Key considerations

When work has you jetting across the globe, it’s nice to be able to travel comfortably. But wouldn’t it be better if you could also save money or earn some perks from your frequent travels? That’s what a travel credit card is for. To choose the best travel credit card for your needs, ask yourselves these questions first:

1. What fees will I be charged?

Most banks and card issuers in Singapore charge an annual fee on their travel credit card, which allows card holders to unlock the highest benefits on the card. Many waive off the annual fee for the first year, sometimes on the condition that the user meet a minimum spend criterion.

Apart from the annual fee, a foreign transaction fee is quite common. For every foreign currency spending on the credit card, the card holder pays around 3.25% of the transaction amount as foreign transaction fee. It’s important to be aware of these common charges before choosing a Singapore travel credit card.  

2. What are the foreign currency charges?

Say, you’re traveling on business from Singapore to China and use your Singapore travel credit card to pay for your Shanghai hotel stay in Chinese yuan. When you are billed, the amount is first converted into US dollars and then into Singapore dollars. The currency conversion rate is usually determined by the payment network (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc).

In addition, the bank/card issuer charges a foreign transaction fee (mentioned above) on each transaction. This fee has two components – a bank administrative fee and a currency conversion fee charged by the card association (a network of issuing and acquiring banks). So, if the administration fee is 2.25% and the currency conversion charge is 1%, it adds up to a 3.25% foreign transaction fee.

Sometimes, the currency conversion rate is determined not by the card network but by Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). The DCC is a service that allows overseas transactions to be processed in the card holder’s home currency at the point of sale itself (merchant, e-commerce platform, etc). However, DCC conversion rates tend to be higher, which one must be aware of.

3. Does it come with complimentary airport lounge access?

Given that international transactions incur a few charges, a good travel credit card can offset these expenses with rewards and other benefits. For example, many travel credit cards offer complimentary airport lounge access – a sought-after perk that allows you to relax in a quiet spot, enjoy a complimentary meal, maybe even take a shower before you board your flight. Beats sitting in a cramped, noisy waiting area!

Travel credit cards with lounge access might offer other benefits too, such as discounts on fares, bonus air miles, and complimentary travel insurance. Before picking a travel credit card Singapore, you might want to check how many lounge visits per year are allowed, what lounge attractions are on offer, what are the various ways in which reward points can be redeemed, and so on.

4. What about complimentary travel insurance?

A travel credit card that offers complimentary travel insurance provides financial protection during emergencies and mishaps. A good travel credit card offers coverage for accidents, medical assistance, and travel inconvenience (lost luggage, missed or delayed flight, etc). It's critical to check what is covered and what isn’t as some travel credit cards offer more protection than others.

5. What is the eligibility criteria? 

All credit cards have eligibility criteria, especially age and income requirements. Some might come with a qualifying minimum spend (you must spend the given amount in the given period to qualify for a benefit). Credit card approval is the sole discretion of the bank/card issuer, which relies on documentation and verification. Be clear about eligibility requirements to ensure your credit card aplication is approved.

Best Singapore travel credit cards and solutions for 2025

What is the best travel credit card Singapore has to offer? Well, it depends on the user's needs. If you fly a lot, one that offers the most air miles is your best bet. And if your trips involve a high volume of foreign currency spending, you’ll want a card with low foreign transaction fees.

To help you choose the best, here are the top rated travel credit cards Singapore has to offer its business clients, compared on five key travel parameters. For a wider selection, we have also included bank-provided travel solutions and debit cards:

Eligibility & pros and cons

Volopay business prepaid card

Bank-issued travel credit cards aren’t for everyone. For such clients, prepaid business cards can be a smart alternative, offering flexibility and competitive pricing. Featured here is Volopay’s business prepaid card with its pro and cons:

How to maximise rewards on your travel credit card

1. Choose the right card

Pick a travel credit card that matches your needs and spending habit. Be informed about fees, interest rates, benefits, and offers before signing up. There’s no need to break the bank to pay an exorbitant annual fee or meet the minimum spend requirement. If the card’s costs outweigh its benefits, it isn’t worth it. If you are loyal to a specific airline or hotel brand, there are many travel credit cards that offer special loyalty points. Otherwise, stick to a card that offers flexibility.

2. Redeem points on time

Make sure to redeem your points before they lapse as many reward programmes have expiry dates. Rewards on travel credit cards include points and air miles that can be redeemed for various benefits or as cashback, vouchers, and gift cards. Some cards allow you to earn points on everyday expenses (fuel, utilities, etc), which you can redeem to offset your travel costs. Familiarise yourself with rewards programmes, earning rates, and redemption options to get yourself the best credit card for travel.

3. Redeem wisely

If you have a free airfare or free hotel stay offer on your card, don’t waste it on a short flight or inexpensive hotel booking. Many cards allow you to use your points to pay part or all of your credit card bill. But if you are planning a trip (business or personal) any time soon, a wiser choice would be to save those points. Furthermore, rewards earned on a travel credit card are better spent on travel-related bookings. If you’re using them for something else (say, shopping), you’re not using your card in the best way.

4. Don’t miss out on special offers

Keep an eye out for bonus air miles, discounts, and fee waivers to make the best of your travel credit card. As seen in the table above, credit cards offer handsome welcome points and bonus miles for new sigh-ups. Travel credit cards also often have limited-period offers on flight, hotel, restaurant, and rental car bookings as well as retail store purchases. Make sure to know about your merchant partners to make the most of these deals, which helps you save money and enhance your travel experience.

5. Pay credit card bill on time and in full

You can avoid late fees by paying your credit card bill on time. And paying the full amount is advised as carrying over a balance to your next bill will incur an interest charge.

6. Monitor your spend

Don't be in such a hurry to earn points that you end up spending more than you can afford.

Know your travel credit card foreign currency fees

Overseas transactions involve foreign currency spending, which can make your expenses pile up. Use your travel credit card responsibly by keeping an eye on foreign transaction fees and currency conversion rates. Some points to keep in mind:

• Although the average foreign transaction fee charged by Singapore banks and card issuers is 3.25%, it can go up due to varying currency conversion rates.
• Some travel credit cards in Singapore offer low or zero foreign transaction fees and, therefore, a better value on foreign currency spending.  
• Additionally, some cards offer more competitive currency conversion rates than others.
• Be careful if an international transaction involves a Dynamic Currency Conversion as it might be higher.

Complimentary travel insurance matters

From lost luggage and flight delays to accidents resulting in injury or death, travel experiences can quickly turn grim. When they do, the one thing you’ll be grateful for is travel insurance. Luckily, most travel credit cards offer complimentary travel insurance with some offering better terms than others. Here’s what you need to know about complimentary travel insurance:

• Basic coverage for most credit cards includes medical expenses, accident, loss of luggage, and cancellation or interruption of trip. Additional coverage might extend to rental car bookings and travel inconvenience.
• Some cards offer a higher coverage than others. For example, most of the travel credit cards mentioned in the table above offer insurance coverage of SGD 1 million and upwards.
• Similarly, some cards might exclude certain events or impose certain conditions (age limit, minimum spend limit, coverage for primary card holder only, etc).
• The card holder must charge a percentage of their travel expenses (usually 100%) to their travel credit card for the complimentary travel insurance to take effect.
• Before picking a credit card with complimentary travel insurance, do familiarise yourself with the quality and extent of coverage as well as the claims process.

Airport lounge access benefits

Complimentary airport lounge access is perhaps the most sought after benefit offered by travel credit cards. Even in the most crowded terminals, lounges are a calming space where one can relax, work, eat, and even spend quality time with family. Most travel credit cards in Singapore offer complimentary lounge access but with varying levels of access and conditions.

• Travel credit cards in Singapore offer a set number of lounge visits per year but the number of visits varies from card issuer to card issuer.
• Some travel credit cards, such as the DBS World Business Card, offer complimentary airport lounge access.
• Some cards might have a minimum spend requirement for a lounge visit while others, like the UOB Empire World Business Mastercard, only offer paid access.
• If the card holder brings a guest, the card issuer usually charges the guest separately.
• Card holders are charged for each lounge visit after their annual quota of free visits is over.
• Lounge visits are offered per calendar year or per card membership year, depending on the travel credit card.     

Best travel credit cards in Singapore for hotel bookings

Annual fee waivers

Annual fees make up a significant portion of travel credit card charges, but most card issuers offer a full fee waiver for the first year. Leveraging these waivers can result in considerable cost savings. Here’s how credit card annual fees work in Singapore:

• Some credit cards impose a minimum spend condition on annual fee waivers, whether for the first year or subsequent years.
• The Maybank Business Platinum Visa debit Card offers an attractive two-year fee waiver. In contrast, some travel credit cards have a strict policy of no fee waivers.

Travel easy with Aspire Corporate Cards

Aspire Corporate Cards are debit cards that work just as well as the best travel credit cards in Singapore. They not only support multiple currencies but also boast zero transaction fees and competitive foreign exchange rates, making them ideal for international transactions. Furthermore, you are entitled to an unlimited number of virtual cards, one for each member of your team that they can use to fund their travel expenses. Our corporate cards are designed to appeal to frequent travellers and travel managers as they come with in-built spend limits, real-time expense monitoring, a smooth claims process for easy reimbursements, and attractive cashback offers.