The Strata Premier is Citi's travel card and the one that makes the rest of its points useful. For 95 dollars a year it pays 3 points on the things most people spend on every week, adds a big rate on Citi's own travel portal and, unlike its no-fee sibling, lets you move points to airlines and hotels. This guide goes through what Citi lists in October 2026 and the arithmetic behind the fee.
The card at a glance
- 3x
- Everyday categories
- 10x
- Citi Travel
- 95 dollars
- Annual fee
- 0
- Foreign transaction fee
Air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging
Hotels, car rentals and attractions
As recorded in the card library
Citi lists none
How points are earned
| What you buy | Points per dollar | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels, car rentals and attractions on Citi Travel | 10 | Booked through Citi's own portal. |
| Air travel, and hotels booked outside Citi Travel | 3 | Hotels booked on Citi Travel earn the 10x instead. |
| Restaurants | 3 | Category rules are in Citi's terms. |
| Supermarkets | 3 | Category rules are in Citi's terms. |
| Gas and EV charging stations | 3 | Category rules are in Citi's terms. |
| All other purchases | 1 | Includes anything that does not match a category. |
- ThankYou points
- Citi's points currency. Several Citi cards earn it, and they can share one account.
- Citi Travel
- Citi's booking site, where the 10x and the hotel benefit apply.
- Transfer partner
- An airline or hotel programme that accepts your points at a set ratio.
Redeeming and transferring
Citi lists booking flights, hotels, car rentals and experiences on Citi Travel, Shop with Points at merchants such as Amazon, PayPal and CVS, gift cards and cash back. Reviewers note that these redeem at a fixed 1 cent a point. The better value is the transfer: Citi lists partners including American Airlines, JetBlue, Virgin Atlantic, Cathay, Eva Air, Choice Hotels and The Leading Hotels of the World, with a minimum transfer of 1,000 points.
For where points tend to go further, see where to send flexible points in 2026, and for the cent value see what points are worth in cents.
Does it beat a flat 2 percent card?
At 1 cent a point it is close, because 3 points on half your spending and 1 on the rest averages about 2 percent before the fee.
For how this card sits among Citi's others, see the Citi ThankYou lineup in 2026.
Eligibility and the application
Citi's page says the welcome offer is not available if you currently have, or previously had, a Strata Premier account, and that other factors such as your history of opening and closing cards can also decide it. The offer amount changes, so this guide does not quote it.
Check your Citi history
List the Citi cards you have held and any new account bonuses you received.
Read the offer on Citi's page
Read the points, the spending required and the time allowed.
Plan the transfer
Decide which partner you would use before you apply, since transfers are where the value is.
Is it right for you?
Fits you
- You spend on restaurants, supermarkets, gas and flights, and book hotels through a portal.
- You will transfer points to an airline or hotel programme.
- You travel abroad and want no foreign transaction fee.
Think twice
- You would redeem at a fixed 1 cent, where a no-fee 2 percent card does the same without a fee.
- You do not want to book hotels through Citi Travel, where the 10x and the benefit apply.
- Your spending sits outside its categories, where it earns 1 point.
See also how to price a sign-up bonus.
Questions people ask
What earns the most points?
Citi lists 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on Citi Travel, and 3 points per dollar on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas and EV charging stations. Everything else earns 1 point per dollar.
What can I redeem points for?
Citi lists flights, hotels, car rentals and experiences on Citi Travel, transfers to travel partners, Shop with Points at merchants such as Amazon and PayPal, gift cards and cash back. Reviewers note cash and most other uses redeem at a fixed 1 cent each.
How does the 100-dollar hotel benefit work?
Once per calendar year you get 100 dollars off a single hotel stay of 500 dollars or more, excluding taxes and fees, when you book through Citi Travel. Citi says it is applied instantly at the time of booking.
Does it charge foreign transaction fees?
No. Citi's page says there are no foreign transaction fees on purchases, which is the main difference from the no-fee Strata card, which does charge one.
Can I combine points with my other Citi cards?
Yes. ThankYou points from the Strata, Strata Premier and Custom Cash can sit in one account, and only the Premier or Elite lets you transfer them to airlines. See the ThankYou lineup guide.
Sources
Written from these pages and checked against them on October 9, 2026. Programs and rules change, so check the provider’s current terms before you decide.
Cards in this guide
General information, not financial, legal or travel advice. Your own card terms and the provider’s current rules always come first.