ICICI Sapphiro vs IDFC Mayura vs HDFC Diners Black – Best Premium Travel Card?
Choosing between ICICI Sapphiro, IDFC Mayura, and HDFC Diners Club Black depends on your travel frequency, spending patterns, and lifestyle priorities. ICICI Sapphiro offers premium rewards with 1% international value, golf privileges, and ₹9,000 welcome vouchers at a moderate ₹6,500 joining fee. IDFC Mayura stands out with zero forex markup, unlimited lounge access on just ₹20,000 monthly spend, and ₹4,000 welcome cashback at ₹5,999 fees. HDFC Diners Club Black is the ultimate luxury card with unlimited worldwide lounge access, elite memberships (Marriott, Amazon Prime, Times Prime), and superior 3.3% rewards on SmartBuy travel bookings, though it commands a steep ₹10,000 annual fee. Each card targets different premium segments—international travelers, frequent flyers with modest spend, and ultra-high spenders seeking elite status—making this comparison essential for maximizing your premium card benefits and justifying the high annual costs.
| ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card | IDFC Mayura Card | HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card |
|---|---|---|
 ICICI Bank |  IDFC First Bank |  HDFC Bank |
| Card Network | ||
| Amex, Mastercard, RuPay, Visa | Mastercard | Diners Club |
| USP | ||
| The ICICI Bank Sapphiro Credit Card offers premium rewards with 1% value on international spends and 0.5% on domestic purchases (at ₹0.25 per reward point), plus exclusive golf privileges, lounge access, and lifestyle benefits worth ₹9,000, making it perfect for affluent travelers and premium lifestyle enthusiasts. | The IDFC Mayura Credit Card is a premium travel and lifestyle card offering zero forex markup, high reward points on everyday spends, and unlimited access to domestic and international airport lounges, perfect for frequent travelers and luxury seekers. Enjoy exclusive cashback, seamless EMI options, and comprehensive travel benefits that elevate your card experience. | A powerhouse premium credit card designed for frequent travelers and high spenders, the HDFC Diners Club Black offers unlimited worldwide airport lounge access, top-tier reward earnings, and exclusive lifestyle memberships—making it the ultimate choice for luxury, travel, and elite benefits in India |
| Annual Fee | ||
| 3500 Plus GST | 5999 +GST | 10000 Plus Apllicable Taxes |
| Joining Fee | ||
| 6500 Plus GST | 5999 +GST | 10000 Plus Apllicable Taxes |
| Welcome Benefits | ||
| Vouchers worth approximately ₹9,000 from partners like Uber, EaseMyTrip, Tata CLiQ, and Tata Croma | Cashback of ₹4,000 on any 4 transactions of ₹1,000 or above within 60 days of card generation | On paying the joining fee or spending ₹1.5 lakh within the first 90 days, you get complimentary annual memberships: Club Marriott, Times Prime, Amazon Prime, Swiggy One (3 months), and MMT Black. As a monthly benefit, on spends of ₹80,000, you get to choose two vouchers per month worth ₹500 each from TataCLiQ, BookMyShow, Uber, or cult.fit |
| Lounge Access | ||
| Domestic: 4 per quarter | International: 2 per year On spends of ₹75,000+ in the last 3 months | Domestic: 4 per quarter | International: 4 per quarter On spends of ₹20,000+ in the last month | 1 complimentary guest visit per year | Domestic: Unlimited | International: Unlimited Applicable for primary and add-on card holders |
| Reward Rate | ||
| Earn 4 reward points per ₹100 (1% value at ₹0.25 per point) on international spends, 2 reward points per ₹100 (0.5% value) on domestic spends except fuel, and 1 reward point per ₹100 (0.25% value) on fuel, utilities, and insurance spends. | 10X reward points per ₹150 on incremental spends above ₹20,000 per statement cycle, 5X reward points per ₹150 on spends up to ₹20,000, 3X reward points on rent, education, wallet load, and government transactions, and 1X reward points on insurance and utilities. | 5 reward points per ₹150 spent on regular purchases (approx. 3.3% value on travel bookings via SmartBuy), with up to 10X points on select partner spends, and 2X points on weekend dining; no points on fuel, wallet loads, rent, or select categories. |
| Interest Rate | ||
| 3.75% per month (approximately 45% per annum) | 0.75% to 3.99% per month (approximately 9% to 48% per annum) | Revolving credit interest is roughly 3.6% per month (as per standard HDFC high-end card rates; confirm via latest schedule as HDFC does not state a unique rate for this card on every document). |
| Best For | ||
| Lounge Access | Lounge Access, Travel | Dinning, Lounge Access, Travel |
| Pros | ||
|
|
|
| Cons | ||
|
|
|
| Apply Now | Apply Now | Apply Now |
Final Verdict
ICICI Sapphiro suits affluent travelers seeking golf privileges and international rewards at a mid-premium price point of ₹6,500, though lounge access is limited. IDFC Mayura is perfect for frequent international travelers who value zero forex markup and unlimited lounge access with the lowest spend requirement (₹20,000/month), offering excellent value at ₹5,999 annually. HDFC Diners Club Black is the ultimate luxury card for ultra-high spenders who can justify ₹10,000 fees with unlimited worldwide lounges, elite memberships, and superior SmartBuy rewards. Choose Sapphiro for golf and balanced premium benefits, Mayura for maximum travel value with modest spend, or Diners Black if you’re a high spender seeking absolute elite status and unlimited global lounge access.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which card offers unlimited airport lounge access: ICICI Sapphiro, IDFC Mayura, or HDFC Diners Black?
HDFC Diners Club Black provides truly unlimited domestic and international lounge access for both primary and add-on cardholders with no restrictions. IDFC Mayura offers 4 domestic and 4 international visits per quarter (16 total annually) on ₹20,000 monthly spend. ICICI Sapphiro provides only 4 domestic and 2 international visits annually on ₹75,000 quarterly spend. For unlimited global access, Diners Black is unmatched.
2. What is the best premium card for international travelers with zero forex charges?
IDFC Mayura is the only card among these three offering zero forex markup, saving you 3.5% on all international transactions compared to standard forex fees. ICICI Sapphiro and HDFC Diners Black charge typical forex markups. If you frequently travel abroad or make international purchases, Mayura’s zero forex benefit alone can justify its ₹5,999 annual fee, potentially saving thousands on overseas spending.
3. Which card has the lowest joining fee: ICICI Sapphiro, IDFC Mayura, or HDFC Diners Black?
IDFC Mayura has the lowest fees at ₹5,999 for both joining and annual charges. ICICI Sapphiro charges ₹6,500 joining and ₹3,500 annual fee. HDFC Diners Club Black has the steepest at ₹10,000 for both joining and annual fees. However, consider welcome benefits—Sapphiro offers ₹9,000 vouchers, Mayura gives ₹4,000 cashback, and Diners Black provides elite memberships worth ₹15,000+.
4. What are the reward rates comparison: ICICI Sapphiro vs IDFC Mayura vs HDFC Diners Black?
HDFC Diners Black offers the highest reward rate at 3.3% on SmartBuy travel bookings and 10X on partners. ICICI Sapphiro provides 1% on international spends but only 0.5% domestically. IDFC Mayura offers 10X points on incremental spends above ₹20,000 monthly but complex redemption. For travel bookings via SmartBuy, Diners Black dominates; for international transactions, Sapphiro excels; for incremental spending, Mayura rewards well.
5. Which card provides better welcome benefits: golf privileges, cashback, or elite memberships?
HDFC Diners Black offers superior welcome benefits with elite annual memberships (Club Marriott, Amazon Prime, Times Prime, MMT Black, Swiggy One) worth ₹15,000+ collectively. ICICI Sapphiro provides ₹9,000 in vouchers plus golf privileges. IDFC Mayura gives straightforward ₹4,000 cashback. If you’ll use elite memberships actively, Diners Black delivers maximum value; for immediate spending vouchers, Sapphiro wins; for simple cash returns, choose Mayura.
6. What’s the minimum monthly spend required for lounge access on these premium cards?
IDFC Mayura has the lowest threshold at ₹20,000 per month (₹60,000 per quarter) for lounge access qualification. ICICI Sapphiro requires ₹75,000 quarterly spend (₹25,000/month average). HDFC Diners Club Black offers unlimited lounge access without any minimum spend requirement whatsoever. For travelers with moderate spending patterns, Mayura offers the most accessible lounge benefits; Diners Black removes spend requirements entirely for unlimited access.
You might also be interested in:
Latest Blogs
Club Vistara IDFC FIRST vs HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card Comparison
IDFC FIRST WOW vs Tata Neu Plus SBI Card: Best Pick?
HDFC Regalia Gold vs Tata Neu Plus: Which Card Wins?
ICICI Sapphiro vs Axis Reserve Credit Card: Which Premium Card Wins?
IndiGo Kotak XL vs IndiGo Kotak Credit Card
Airtel Axis Bank Credit Card vs Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card: Which Cashback Card is Best in 2025?
Latest Comparisons
Flipkart SBI vs Axis Bank Credit Card – Best for Online Shopping Rewards?
IDFC FIRST Select vs Federal Bank Scapia vs IndusInd Tiger – Best Lifetime Free Card?
HDFC Regalia Gold vs ICICI Sapphiro vs SBI ELITE – Best Premium Card?
SBI SimplySAVE vs SimplyCLICK Credit Card – Best for Rewards?
HDFC Millenia vs Tata Neu Plus vs Swiggy Credit Card – Best for Rewards?
ICICI Sapphiro vs IDFC Mayura vs HDFC Diners Black – Best Premium Travel Card?