Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Sign-up bonus
- 10X points on select Citi Travel®
- 3X points bonus categories
- Transfer partners
- No foreign transaction fees
- Annual hotel credit
- Travel Protections
- Purchase Assurance Plus
- Extended warranty coverage
Cons:
- Annual fee
- High APR
- No intro 0% APR
- You must spend at least $500 on a single hotel booking, excluding taxes and fees, through the Citi Travel® portal to earn the $100 annual hotel benefit
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
Rewards
- 10x Points on Select Citi Travel®: Earn 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel®.
- 3x Points Categories:
- Air Travel & Other Hotel Purchases
- Restaurants
- Supermarkets
- Gas & EV charging Stations
- 1x Points on all other purchases.
Redemption Options
- Flexible Redemption: Redeem points for cashback, gift cards, travel, purchases at Amazon.com, PayPal checkout, and more.
- Travel Partner Transfers: Points can be transferred to select airline and hotel partners, though transfer ratios may vary.
Fees and APR
- Annual Fee: $95.
- Regular APR: 19.49% - 27.49% Variable APR.
- Balance Transfer Fees: $5 or 5% of each transfer amount, whichever is greater.
- Foreign Transaction Fee: None.
Annual Credits
$100 Annual Hotel Credit: Receive $100 off one hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) each calendar year when you book through Citi Travel®. The discount is applied instantly at checkout.
Travel Benefits
The Reserve by Citi Travel®: Curated hotel collection offering benefits such as daily breakfast for two, a $100 on-property credit (varies by property), and select perks like upgrades or late checkout when available. Benefits apply when booking an eligible Reserve rate through Citi Travel.
Travel Protections
- Trip Delay Protection: Get reimbursed for eligible expenses like meals and lodging if your trip is delayed for a covered reason.
- Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance: Get reimbursed for non-refundable travel costs if you need to cancel or cut your trip short due to a covered reason. Applies to airfare, ferry, train, bus, and cruise tickets when purchased with your card.
- Lost or Damaged Luggage: Get reimbursed for eligible expenses if your checked or carry-on luggage is lost or damaged during your trip.
- MasterRental® Coverage (Car Rental): Get coverage for damage or theft of a rental car when you pay for the rental with your card and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver.
Purchase Protections
- Purchase Assurance Plus: Covers eligible new purchases against damage or theft.
- Extended Warranty: Get extra warranty protection at no cost on eligible items you purchase with your card.
Convenience Features
- Authorized Users: Add authorized users at no cost and earn rewards on their purchases.
- Digital wallet compatible: Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay.
- Entertainment Access: Citi Entertainment® (presale ticket access and occasional exclusive events).
- Citi Travel®: Integrated travel booking portal (book flights, hotels, car rentals, and attractions using your eligible Citi card, points, or a combination of both).
Buy Now, Pay Later Options
Citi® Flex Pay: Buy now and pay over time with fixed monthly payments on eligible purchases of $75 or more, while still earning points on your purchases.
Additional Features
- Identity Theft Assistance: Mastercard ID Theft Protection (identity monitoring alerts and guided recovery support).
- Card Lock: Citi Quick Lock (temporarily blocks new purchases while allowing recurring transactions).
- Free credit score access.
Terms and Conditions
Click Apply Now to see the terms and conditions.
EarnSmart Rewards Strategy
Maximize Your Rewards
- Citi Double Cash®: Unlimited 2% cashback on all purchases, with rewards that can be combined with Citi Strata Premier® points.
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect (travel/transportation): Add 4X Points on travel, gas, and EV charging to complement Strata Premier’s broader travel rewards.
- Chase Freedom Flex®(5% quarterly rotating categories): Provides quarterly rotating 5% category, creating additional opportunities to earn elevated rewards throughout the year.
Upgrade Within Citi
Citi Strata Elite℠: A premium-tier option with elevated rewards, travel perks, and luxury benefits for cardholders seeking a more comprehensive travel experience beyond Citi Strata Premier®.
Alternatives
- Chase Sapphire Preferred®: A strong alternative for travelers who value Chase Ultimate Rewards®, with up to 5X points on travel, 3X points on dining, gas, EV charging, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, plus access to valuable airline and hotel transfer partners.
- Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠: A compelling alternative for travelers who want a straightforward premium travel rewards card with up to 5X points on travel purchases, 3X points on restaurants, and access to airline and hotel transfer partners.