In May 2024, Citi enhanced the existing Citi Premier® Card and rebranded it as the Citi Strata Premier® Card, keeping many of the core features but adding stronger travel protections and extra earning opportunities.
It has an annual fee of US$95.
Key Travel Perks & Benefits
Here are the major travel-related features & benefits of the Citi Strata Premier Card:
| Benefit | What it offers | Limitations / What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Generous Reward Earning Rates | • 10× ThankYou Points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions when booked via Citi Travel. • 3× ThankYou Points per dollar on: air travel, other hotel purchases not booked via Citi Travel, restaurants, supermarkets, gas & EV charging stations. • 1× on all other purchases. | To maximize, you’ll want to use the Citi Travel portal for hotels/car rentals/attractions. For non-portal hotel purchases, you get the 3× rate. Also check whether “EV charging station” classification works in your markets. Sometimes the merchant category matters. |
| Annual Hotel Benefit | Once per calendar year: $100 off a single hotel stay of at least $500 (before taxes & fees), when booked through Citi Travel. Applied at booking. | You need to make a qualifying stay (room rate ≥ $500 — excluding taxes/fees), booked via the Citi Travel platform. You only get this once per calendar year. If your hotel spend is typically well under that, it might be hard to use. |
| No Foreign Transaction Fees | Purchases abroad do not incur the typical ~3% fee. Good for travel overseas. | Useful especially for international travelers; one less fee to worry about. Always check if the hotel or merchant charges any “foreign service” fees separately. |
| Travel Protection & Insurance | Several protections are included: • Trip Cancellation & Trip Interruption (Common Carrier) • Trip Delay coverage • Lost or Damaged Luggage • Rental Car Damage / Collision (MasterRental Coverage) | These protections are usually “secondary,” meaning they kick in after any coverage you may get elsewhere (airlines, other insurance). Also check the thresholds (how long delay, how much travel was prepaid, what qualifies, whether you must pay with the card). Terms & limitations apply. |
| Point Transfers to Airline & Hotel Partners | You can transfer ThankYou Points to many airline and hotel partners. This gives more flexibility and often more value per point if used well. | The redemption rate and value depends heavily on the partner and how you use the points. Not all partners will give high value. Always run the numbers (e.g. what would a flight cost in points vs cash) to see if the transfer makes sense. Also, sometimes there are caps or minimums. |
| Flexible Redemption Options | Beyond point transfers, you can redeem points for travel via Citi Travel, get statement credits, use for gift cards, or shop with points. | Redemptions outside travel often yield lower “cents per point” value. If your goal is maximizing “bang for points,” travel redemptions or partner transfers are usually better. |
| Miscellaneous Perks | • “Citi Entertainment” – presale / special access to events. • Contactless payments, digital wallet compatibility, and $0 liability on unauthorized purchases. | These are “nice to have” perks rather than headline grabbers. They add value, but likely lower priority unless you use them. |
New Enhancements (from the 2024 Refresh)
The May 2024 update brought in several upgrades. Highlights include:
- The new 10× points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel.
- Addition of travel protection benefits (trip cancellation/interruption, trip delay, lost/damaged luggage, car rental coverage).
- Added earning on EV charging stations (3× points) as part of the everyday bonus categories.
How to Maximize Value
To get the most from the Citi Strata Premier:
- Use Citi Travel for big travel spends. Hotels, car rentals, attractions booked via Citi Travel earn 10× points and can trigger the $100 annual hotel benefit.
- Time your hotel stays. If you know you’ll have one large hotel stay for $500+, try to use that once per calendar year via the portal to claim the hotel discount benefit.
- Stack bonus categories. Use the card for gas, groceries, dining, and EV charging — those 3× categories can really help boost point accrual even when not traveling.
- Transfer points when it makes sense. If you have award-flight or hotel loyalty programs you use, transferring might get you more “value per point” rather than simply redeeming via the portal or for statement credit.
- Check the details of the protection benefits. Know what qualifies, how far ahead you must purchase travel, whether you must pay with the card, what “common carrier” means, etc.
- Avoid unnecessary fees. Since there are no foreign transaction fees, use the card abroad instead of a card that charges them.
- Watch the timing of the welcome bonus. If eligible, the signup bonus (for example, spending $4,000 in first 3 months) is a major chunk of value up front.
What to Watch Out For / Limitations
- The $95 annual fee. Even though many of the perks can offset that, you’ll want to make sure your usage justifies paying it.
- For the hotel benefit, the $500 minimum stay requirement can be high depending on where and how you travel.
- Travel protections are secondary in many cases, meaning other coverage (travel insurance, airline/hotel policy) may need to be used first.
- The best point value often comes from transferring points to partners, which requires knowing how to extract value from those partners.
- With the “new” enhancements, some users may find older offers no longer apply, so be sure your account has the updated benefits.
Who This Card is Best For
The Citi Strata Premier is a solid option if you:
- Travel occasionally but want good perks even when not traveling frequently.
- Spend enough on hotels, car rentals, and attractions to take advantage of the 10× portal rate and the $100 hotel credit.
- Want flexible redemption options (travel, partners, statement credits).
- Prioritize lower fees compared to premium travel cards with higher annual fees but more luxury perks.
It’s less optimal if you:
- Travel very infrequently and won’t get much hotel/travel spending.
- Prefer a card loaded with luxury travel perks (airport lounge access, elite status, etc.).
- Don’t want to deal with transfer partners or maximizing redemptions.
The Citi Strata Premier delivers a compelling blend of rewards, protections, and perks for travelers and frequent spenders.
With the right usage — booking through the portal, leveraging the hotel credit, and making smart point redemptions — it’s quite easy to more than justify the $95 annual fee.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Citi Strata Premier® Card?
The Citi Strata Premier is an upgraded version of the Citi Premier Card that offers stronger travel protections, bonus categories, and flexible point redemptions for travelers and everyday spenders.
2. How much is the annual fee for the Citi Strata Premier Card?
The card charges a $95 annual fee, which is relatively low compared to premium travel cards.
3. Does the Citi Strata Premier Card charge foreign transaction fees?
No. The card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a great option for international travelers.
4. What are the bonus categories for earning ThankYou Points?
You earn:
- 10× points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel
- 3× points on air travel, other hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
- 1× point on all other purchases
5. How does the $100 annual hotel credit work?
Each calendar year, you get $100 off a single hotel booking of at least $500 (before taxes/fees) when booked through Citi Travel.
6. Is the $100 hotel benefit applied automatically?
Yes, the discount is applied automatically at the time of booking if the stay qualifies.
7. Can I transfer Citi ThankYou Points to travel partners?
Yes. ThankYou Points can be transferred to a wide range of airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 ratio.
8. What are the best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou Points?
Transferring points to airline and hotel partners typically gives the best value, especially for international business or first-class flights.
9. Can I redeem Citi ThankYou Points for cash back?
Yes, but the redemption value is usually lower compared to using points for travel or transfers.
10. Does the Citi Strata Premier Card come with travel insurance?
Yes. It includes trip cancellation and interruption protection, trip delay coverage, rental car insurance, and lost or damaged luggage coverage.
11. Are the travel protections primary or secondary?
Most travel protections are secondary, meaning they kick in after any coverage you may have from the airline, hotel, or your own insurance.
12. Does the Citi Strata Premier Card provide airport lounge access?
No, this card does not include lounge access. For that benefit, you would need a premium card like Citi Prestige (discontinued in the U.S.) or competitors like Amex Platinum.
13. Is there a welcome bonus for new cardholders?
Yes. Citi often offers a signup bonus such as earning 60,000 ThankYou Points after meeting a minimum spending requirement within the first three months. The exact bonus may vary over time.
14. Do ThankYou Points expire?
Points do not expire as long as your account is open and in good standing. If you close the account without transferring or redeeming points, you may lose them.
15. Can I add authorized users to the Citi Strata Premier Card?
Yes, you can add authorized users at no additional cost. Their spending also earns ThankYou Points.
16. Is the Citi Strata Premier Card good for everyday purchases?
Yes. The 3× points on groceries, dining, and gas/EV charging make it rewarding for daily use.
17. How do I access Citi Travel to book hotels and rentals?
You can log into your Citi account and use the Citi Travel portal online or by phone to make bookings and earn enhanced rewards.
18. What credit score is typically required to qualify?
Most applicants will need a good to excellent credit score (typically 700+ FICO) to be approved.
19. Can I use this card with mobile wallets?
Yes. The Citi Strata Premier Card supports digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
20. Who is the Citi Strata Premier Card best suited for?
It’s best for travelers who want strong earning rates, flexible redemptions, and useful travel protections without paying the high annual fees of premium luxury cards.
