Citi Strata Premier
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a travel rewards credit card that offers generous bonus points across several popular spending categories, making it a compelling option for individuals seeking to maximize their rewards on everyday expenses and travel purchases.
Key Features:
• Rewards Structure:
• Earn 10 points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3 points per $1 spent on air travel and other hotel purchases.
• Earn 3 points per $1 spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations.
• Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Annual Fee: $95.
• Welcome Offer: For a limited time, earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Additional Benefits:
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. The benefit is applied instantly at the time of booking.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: Make purchases abroad without incurring additional fees, enhancing the card’s appeal for international travelers.
• Travel Protections: The card offers trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay coverage, lost or damaged luggage coverage, and car rental insurance, providing peace of mind during your travels.
Pros:
• Generous Bonus Categories: The card’s 3x points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations cover a broad range of common expenses, allowing cardholders to accumulate rewards quickly.
• Valuable Welcome Offer: The substantial sign-up bonus provides a significant boost to your rewards balance, which can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, or transferred to various airline and hotel partners.
• Flexible Redemption Options: Points can be redeemed for travel, cash back, gift cards, or transferred to multiple airline and hotel loyalty programs, offering versatility in how rewards are used.
Cons:
• Annual Fee: While modest compared to premium travel cards, the $95 annual fee may not be justifiable for infrequent travelers or those who cannot fully utilize the card’s benefits.
• Booking Requirements for Maximum Rewards: To earn the highest rewards rate of 10x points, bookings must be made through CitiTravel.com, which may not align with all travelers’ booking preferences.
• Limited Domestic Transfer Partners: Citi’s list of transfer partners is heavily tilted toward international carriers, with only one domestic airline option, which may be less convenient for some users.
Considerations:
The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is well-suited for individuals who frequently spend in its bonus categories and can take full advantage of its travel-related benefits. Its combination of high earning rates, flexible redemption options, and travel protections make it a strong contender in the travel rewards card market. However, those seeking more domestic transfer partners or who prefer a card with broader travel definitions may want to explore alternative options.