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How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Advertising Disclosure
LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).

Advertising Disclosure

LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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American Express Disclosure
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express Disclosure

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Citi Strata Premier Card Review

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review

How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?

Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
4.6
Citi Strata Premier<sup>℠</sup> Card
Rewards Rate
10x 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 on Restaurants. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases $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. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking. Travel insurance protection: Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption (Common Carrier), Trip Delay, Lost or Damaged Luggage, MasterRental Coverage (Car Rental).
Sign-Up Bonus
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.
Extra Perks
No Foreign Transaction Fees
We receive commissions from our advertising partners. These commissions do not influence our recommendations. Click here to learn more.

Key takeaway

The Citi Strata Premier Card is a top choice for everyday spenders who want to score basic travel rewards.

Pros and cons of the Citi Strata Premier Card

Pros

  • Generous sign-up bonus
  • Bonus categories focused on more than just travel
  • Ability to transfer points 1:1 to more than 15 travel partners
  • Solid travel protections
  • No foreign transaction fee

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Travel perks are minimal

Who is the Citi Strata Premier Card best for?

For consumers who want to dabble with travel rewards but don’t do tons of traveling, the Citi Strata Premier Card offers a variety of everyday spending opportunities to earn bonus points. The card gives you generous rewards on restaurant, supermarket and gas station purchases.

You’ll earn valuable, flexible points that you can transfer 1:1 to more than 15 travel partners. For a reasonable annual fee, it’s a solid choice for people who want to save on the occasional trips they take, and don’t mind foregoing the VIP-level travel perks that some other travel cards provide.

Citi Strata Premier Card overview

    • 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.
    • Earn 10 points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
    • Earn 3 points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
    • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
    • $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. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
    • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
    • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion
  • 660 720 850
    Good / Excellent
  • Free authorized user cards
  • Access to Citi Entertainment®
  • Annual hotel savings benefit

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

20.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

20.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Annual Fee

$95

Cash Advance Fee

5% of each cash advance; $10 minimum

Foreign Transaction Fee

0%

Balance Transfer Fee

Balance transfer fee applies with this offer; 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

Benefits of the Citi Strata Premier Card

  • Valuable sign-up bonus

    A good reason to apply for the Citi Strata Premier Card is that you can earn enough points for a plane ticket or two in the first few months. 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.

  • Points are easy to earn

    While some travel cards only reward you for travel purchases, the Citi Strata Premier Card is more focused on everyday spending. You’ll earn 10x 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 on Restaurants. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases $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. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking. Travel insurance protection: Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption (Common Carrier), Trip Delay, Lost or Damaged Luggage, MasterRental Coverage (Car Rental).

    A 3X bonus on everyday purchases like groceries can really add up, especially with grocery prices so high. With Americans spending an average of $5,259 on food at home, $3,030 on dining out and $2,148 on gas annually, that’s $865 per month on just these key spending areas. At 3 points per dollar, the rewards for that spend can be worth $313 per year.

  • You can transfer points to Citi transfer partners

    Squeezing even more value out of travel rewards points is something that savvy cardholders try to do, and transferring to travel partners could be one way to do it. Citi has more than 15 travel partners to which you can move your ThankYou® Points over 1:1.

    You may be able to bump up the value of your points on certain flight or hotel bookings, making them worth potentially more than 1 cent each. Take a look at this list of travel partners to help you decide if a ThankYou® Points card like the Citi Strata Premier Card is a good choice for you:

    • Aeromexico
    • All – Accor Live Limitless
    • Avianca LifeMiles
    • Cathay Pacific
    • Choice Privileges
    • Emirates Skywards
    • Etihad Guest
    • Eva Air
    • Flying Blue
    • JetBlue TrueBlue
    • Leaders Club
    • Qantas Frequent Flyer
    • Qatar Privilege Club
    • Shop Your Way®
    • Singapore Airlines
    • Thai Royal Orchid Plus
    • Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles
    • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
    • Wyndham Rewards

  • $100 annual hotel credit

    You’ll also get a $100 hotel credit each year you hold the card. This benefit can easily outweigh the $95 annual fee. All you have to do is book a single hotel stay of $500 or more through CitiTravel.com, and you’ll get a $100 discount applied to the booking. You can pay with your card, your ThankYou® Points or a combination of the two.

  • No foreign transaction fee

    If you plan to travel abroad, the Citi Strata Premier Card is a good choice for your wallet since you can avoid foreign transaction fees. Some cards charge an average of 3% when you use them outside of the U.S. so this benefit can add up to significant savings if you like to go overseas or island hopping.

Drawbacks of the Citi Strata Premier Card

  • No lounge access or elite status

    To get VIP-level travel perks, you typically have to choose premium cards that have much higher annual fees. That said, if you’re looking for status perks for airline or hotel loyalty programs or airport lounge access, you won’t get them on this card.

  • Annual fee is not waived in the first year

    Some cards that charge an annual fee give you the first year free, however the Citi Strata Premier Card is not one of them. You’ll be charged the $95 annual fee when you get your first bill.

  • No purchase protection or extended warranty

    Another popular perk that the Citi Strata Premier Card is lacking that you may find on some rewards credit cards are those related to consumer protections. This includes getting reimbursed for damaged or stolen merchandise you purchase with the card and getting extra time on warranties for items purchased with the card.

Alternatives to the Citi Strata Premier Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

| Disclosures
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Chase's secure site
N/A
20.74% - 27.74% Variable
$95
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
  • Member FDIC
720 850
Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

For the same $95 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a stronger set of travel partners, including United, Southwest and JetBlue, as well as Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG hotels.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does not offer bonus points on gas purchases or in-person supermarket shopping, but does for streaming and online grocery delivery — making it a better choice for those who shop for food online. Lastly, the $95 annual fee provides valuable travel protections, including travel insurance, trip protection and primary auto rental insurance.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

| Disclosures
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site
Rates & Fees
N/A
19.99% - 29.49% (Variable)
$95
2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per
  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
660 720 850
Good / Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is another $95 annual fee travel card that’s a good choice for those who prefer the same rewards on most purchases (see rates & fees.)

Cardholders earn 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Also, just like the Citi Strata Premier Card, you can transfer these rewards to a variety of hotel and airline programs. However, cardholders get a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

American Express® Gold Card

| Disclosures
American Express® Gold Card*
American Express® Gold Card
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
$325
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants (on up to $50,000 per
  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
  • Terms Apply.
660 720 850
Good / Excellent
*The information related to the American Express® Gold Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

For a higher annual fee ($325), the American Express® Gold Card offers even better rewards on restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases than the Citi Strata Premier Card. You’ll earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants (on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X), Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.

You might find the higher annual fee worth it if you’re a foodie who will also take advantage of the card’s dining credit worth up to $120 each year ($10 monthly for qualifying restaurants). But for an entry-level travel card, the Citi Strata Premier Card is probably the way to go.

*To see rates & fees for American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

Is the Citi Strata Premier Card right for you?

If you want to start earning travel rewards and happen to spend a good amount on groceries, gas and dining out, the Citi Strata Premier Card could be a great fit for your wallet. You’ll start off with a generous sign-up bonus, enjoy 0% foreign transaction fees and can transfer points to a variety of travel partners. However, if you’re interested in premium travel perks — like elite status or airport lounge access — you may want to consider cards with a higher annual fee.

apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site
Rates & Fees

Frequently asked questions

The Citi Strata Premier Card typically requires applicants to have an excellent/good credit score to qualify, but Citi (like most issuers) will consider additional factors including your income, credit history and if you have other Citi cards open.

Determining if any credit card with a fee is worth it really comes down to if you are able to earn more in rewards and benefits than you pay for the card. For the Citi Strata Premier Card, that means you want to redeem at least $95 in rewards, or you can take advantage of the $100 hotel credit. Paying your card in full each month will also help ensure that you’re not paying interest charges.

The Citi Strata Premier Card is a Mastercard.

The Citi Strata Premier Card is not made out of metal.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

The information related to the American Express® Gold Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.