IndusInd Bank’s Indulge Credit Card is the bank’s super-premium offering that has evolved over the past few years. Recent enhancements add useful lifestyle benefits, while core features remain tailored to a specific audience. This review covers the card’s fees, rewards, design, benefits and practical suitability.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Fees
- Design
- Rewards
- Dining Benefit
- Airport Lounge Access
- Golf Benefit
- Bookmyshow Benefit
- Forex Markup Fee
- Other Benefits
- My Experience
- Bottomline
Overview
| Type | Super Premium Credit Card |
| Reward Rate | 1.5% |
| Annual Fee | 45,000 INR + GST = 53,100 INR |
| Best for | Golf & dining benefits |
| USP | Unlimited Golf rounds |
The Indulge card is positioned for a narrow segment of customers who prioritise luxury lifestyle benefits such as premium hotel vouchers, golf access and curated dining offers. For users seeking the highest possible rewards on everyday spends, competitors may offer stronger rates.
Fees
| Joining Fee | 45,000 INR + GST (more options available) |
| Welcome Benefit | Equivalent Welcome Voucher |
| Renewal Fee | 10,000 INR + GST |
| Renewal Benefit | Nil |
| Renewal Fee waiver | On spending >20 lakhs |
IndusInd’s super-premium cards are known for high joining fees that are offset in part by substantial welcome vouchers for stays and shopping. Indulge is available at multiple fee points:
- 45,000 INR + GST
- 90,000 INR + GST
- 180,000 INR + GST
The highest fee option removes the renewal fee, avoiding the steep spend requirement of 20 lakhs to waive renewal. Welcome vouchers change periodically; typical offerings include Oberoi or Postcard hotel vouchers plus additional vouchers that can deliver strong value if you use them for premium stays.
Design
Beyond metal cards, Indulge stands out with a 22K gold inlay incorporated into its face. The design is understated and elegant; the gold element reads as a tasteful accent rather than an ostentatious flourish. In hand, the card feels premium and well finished.
Rewards
| SPEND TYPE | REWARD POINTS | REWARD RATE |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Spends | 1.5 RP’s on every 100 INR | 1.5% |
| Select Category Spends | 0.70 RP’s on every 100 INR | 0.70% |
- Select Categories: Utility bill payments, insurance premiums, government services, education fees, rental payments.
The base reward rate of 1.5% is modest for a card in this segment. Select categories earn a lower rate. Rewards apply to both domestic and international spends, though the forex markup makes overseas use uneconomical (explained later).
Dining Benefit
- Get Rs.3000 off on EazyDiner / twice a year.
- T&C: Cooling period between two transactions: 6 months
A recently added dining benefit offers up to Rs.3,000 off on EazyDiner twice a year, effectively saving up to Rs.6,000 annually. This can be valuable for frequent fine-dining customers. However, terms have been tightened, so confirm current T&Cs with the bank before relying on the offer.
IndusInd has also run limited promotions such as PayEazy discounts on IndusInd cards from time to time.
Airport Lounge Access
| ACCESS TYPE | ACCESS VIA | ACCESS LIMIT |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Visa | 6/Qtr |
| International | Priority Pass | Unlimited |
The card includes domestic lounge access via Visa (six per quarter) and unlimited international lounge access through Priority Pass. While generous, guest access is not complimentary on the primary card’s Priority Pass; some competing premium cards include complimentary guest access, which is a useful feature for travellers.
Golf Benefit
- Complimentary Limit: Unlimited games/lessons
- Spend requirement to unlock golf benefit: 25,000 INR in previous billing cycle.
- Max. bookings at a time: 3
Golf access is a headline feature: once unlocked by a minimum prior-cycle spend, cardholders receive complimentary rounds and lessons. This makes the card especially appealing to regular golfers. Note that a cap of three simultaneous bookings was introduced, where previously there was no such limit.
Bookmyshow Benefit
- Offer: Buy one get one
- Valid on: Movie bookings
- Max. Cap: Rs.700 off on movie ticket + 50 INR on f&b for every 2 tickets
- Monthly limit: 3 tickets per month
The BookMyShow buy-one-get-one cinema offer remains useful if you frequently purchase tickets that are priced higher than typical rates, though other IndusInd products have introduced completely free ticket schemes that may be more attractive for some users. The F&B credit is modest.
Forex Markup Fee
- Forex Markup Fee: 1.8% + GST = 2.12%
- Reward rate on Intl. Spends: 1.5%
- Net result: -0.62% (effective loss)
Because the forex markup is higher than the reward earned on international spends, using Indulge abroad leads to a net loss. If you travel often, consider a card with no or lower forex markup for better value on overseas transactions.
Other Benefits
- Add-on Cards: Up to five add-on cards are permitted. Add-on cards include domestic lounge access but do not receive complimentary Priority Pass international lounge access.
- No Pre-set Spending Limit (NPSL): The card operates with a regular credit limit like other IndusInd cards. The NPSL feature can extend spending modestly—typically around 3% above the assigned limit—so it is not a full no-limit product.
My Experience
After several months of use, the Indulge card delivers a premium, well-executed experience. Rewards are modest, but lifestyle benefits such as golf and curated hotel vouchers provide tangible value for the right user. Periodic reward promotions from the bank can temporarily boost earnings on select spends.
Bottomline
- Cardexpert Rating: 3.7/5
IndusInd Indulge is best suited to cardholders who prioritise luxury lifestyle perks—premium hotel vouchers, unlimited golf access and dining privileges. For frequent international travellers or those seeking a top-tier rewards rate on everyday spending, other premium cards may offer better returns. If you plan to invest heavily in a high joining fee, compare features against alternatives such as the IndusInd Pioneer Heritage card and other premium offerings to ensure the benefits align with your lifestyle.
If you hold IndusInd’s super-premium cards, feel free to share your experiences in the comments.