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Citi Strata Elite℠ Card Overview

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

A deep dive into Citi's new premium travel card and its powerful earning structure.

Author: Shannon Lopez
|
Reviewed by: Taevann Calloway
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Benefits Accurate as of: Sep 25, 2025

PREMIUM TRAVEL CARD

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Citi Strata Elite Card
Apply now

at the issuer's secure site. Terms & restrictions apply.

Why we love this card: The Citi Strata Elite enters the premium travel space with a bang, offering an incredible 12x earning rate on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through the Citi travel portal.

Estimated First-Year Value: $1,500+, plus miles on your spend

- Includes a 80,000-point sign-up bonus (worth at least $800), and over $700 in annual credits.

Annual Fee

$595

 

Sign-Up Bonus

75,000 points

 

Est. Annual Value

$700+

Includes annual travel credit

Rewards Rates
12x Points 6x Points 3x-6x Points
On hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked via CitiTravel.com. On air travel booked via CitiTravel.com, and restaurants from 6pm-6am Friday and Saturday evenings. On restaurants at any other time.

Why you may want the Citi Strata Elite Card

  • $700+ Annual Credits: $300 hotel benefit when booked through CitiTravel.com, $200 splurge credit at select merchants, and a $200 Blacklane® credit.
  • Powerful Bonus Categories: Earn 6x-12x ThankYou® Points on CitiTravel.com portal bookings and a solid 3x-6x on restaurants.
  • Travel Protections: Comes with a suite of travel insurance benefits, including Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection and Trip Delay Protection.
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit: Receive up to a $100 statement credit for the application fee every 4 years.

Redeeming ThankYou® Points

Citi ThankYou® Points are flexible and can be used in a variety of ways:

  • Transfer to partners: Get potentially outsized value by transferring your points to over 15 airline and hotel partners, including Avianca LifeMiles, Flying Blue, and Choice Privileges.
  • Book travel: Redeem your points for flights, hotels, and more directly through the Citi Travel portal at a value of 1 cent per point.
  • Gift cards and cash back: Redeem points for gift cards or as a statement credit, typically at a value of 1 cent per point or less.

Citi Strata Elite Card Alternatives

For a simpler travel credit and lounge access...

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a direct competitor with a higher annual fee but offers a very flexible $300 annual travel credit and includes a Priority Pass Select membership for lounge access. Its points are very valuable, especially when transferred to hotel and airline partners or redeemed for travel through the Chase portal.

  • Why you might prefer it: Superior lounge access, a more flexible travel credit, and access to valuable transfer partners like World of Hyatt.
  • Why you might stick with the Strata Elite: The Strata Elite has a lower annual fee and a higher rewards ceiling on its own travel portal bookings.

For the ultimate premium perks...

The Platinum Card® from American Express is the top choice for travelers seeking the most extensive lounge access (including Centurion Lounges) and a long list of luxury statement credits.

  • Why you might prefer it: Unbeatable lounge access, premium hotel status, and over $3,000 in potential statement credits.
  • Why you might stick with the Strata Elite: The Strata Elite offers a much lower annual fee and a simpler rewards structure without having to track multiple credits.

Want to find the perfect travel credit card, just for you? Visit our Credit Card Finder to get your best match.

Final Thoughts

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card is a strong contender in the premium travel card market. It's particularly well-suited for travelers who are comfortable booking through a travel portal to maximize the incredible 12x and 6x rewards rates. The $700 in annual credits help offset the annual fee.

Bottom Line: If you're a Citi loyalist or a travel portal power-user, the Strata Elite's earning potential is tough to beat.

Apply for the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

at the issuer's secure site. Terms & restrictions apply.

PREMIUM TRAVEL CARD

Citi Strata Elite℠ Card

Apply now
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Now that you have a good handle on goals and the available savings products out there, you’re ready for Savings 102 where it’s time to choose the right product to meet your specific savings goal.