Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Review: Is It Worth It?

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is Citi's refreshed version of the popular Citi Premier® Card, offering strong value for frequent travelers and everyday spenders alike. With 3X points in some of the most popular categories—including air travel, hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and supermarkets—it’s a well-rounded rewards card that slots nicely into a ThankYou® points ecosystem.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Highlights

Point Multipliers

• 3X points on air travel and hotels
• 3X points at restaurants
• 3X points at gas stations
• 3X points at supermarkets
• 1X point on all other purchases
   

Other Benefits

• $100 Annual Hotel Savings Benefit: Save $100 off a single hotel stay of $500+ (excluding taxes/fees) once per calendar year when booked through ThankYou.com or 1-800-THANKYOU
• Access to Citi ThankYou® transfer partners
• No foreign transaction fees

Intro Bonus and Eligibility

Citi Bank has a rule that states you cannot receive an intro bonus from a card if you received a bonus from Citi within the past 24 months. It's hard to accumulate a lot of ThankYou points due to the intro bonus rule.

The Citi 24-month rule applies to the Citi Strata Premier Card. You aren't eligible for a ThankYou point intro bonus if:

• You received a new intro bonus for the Citi Rewards+®, Citi ThankYou® Preferred, Citi ThankYou® Premier/Citi Premier® or Citi Prestige® cards.

OR

•  You had Citi Rewards+®, Citi ThankYou® Preferred, Citi ThankYou® Premier/Citi Premier® or Citi Prestige® Cards that was opened OR closed* in the past 24 months.

*product changes sometimes affect this as well; usually, if your card number changes

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Calculator

Ask Sebby crunches the numbers for you to calculate the Expected Value of the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card. For the expected value of points, we derive the approximate dollar value based on the numbers you enter in the calculator. Scroll down to the end of the post to see our methodology.

The calculator below contains default figures and serve as an example only. Users should insert their own data for the most accurate results.    

Calculator Methodology

The embedded calculator below estimates the Expected Value (EV) of the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card using your annual spending. Here's how the numbers work:

1. Points Earning Assumptions
2. Multiplier categories are applied to the corresponding input fields (e.g., 3X on air travel). Points are summed based on the total spend × multiplier.
3. Point Valuation
4. You can adjust the “cents per point” (CPP) value depending on your redemption strategy:
   • 1.00¢ for statement credit
   • 1.25¢ for Citi Travel Portal
   • 2.00¢+ for airline transfer partners (adjustable)
5. Net Value Output
6. The tool subtracts the annual fee (if any) and adds any recurring benefits you use—like the $100 hotel savings—to estimate your net expected annual value from the card.

💡 Example: $5,000 in supermarket spend × 3 = 15,000 points → worth $300 if redeemed at 2.0¢/pt via transfer partners.

Citi ThankYou® Transfer Partners

Citi ThankYou points can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to a strong lineup of airline programs:

• Aeromexico
• Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific)
• Avianca LifeMiles
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• EVA Air
• Flying Blue (Air France / KLM)
• JetBlue
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Thai Airways
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

These programs open up access to high-value international redemptions, especially in premium cabins.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

What Is the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card?

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a mid-tier travel rewards credit card that earns Citi ThankYou® Points and offers solid multipliers on popular spending categories. It replaces the Citi Premier® Card and enhances the value with improved benefits, especially for frequent travelers and point optimizers.

Who Should Consider the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card?

✅ You’re looking for a flexible travel card with multiple 3X bonus categories
✅ You want access to airline transfer partners without a high annual fee
✅ You want a simple way to save $100 annually on hotels
✅ You value no foreign transaction fees for international travel

Potential Downsides

⚠️ No lounge access or major travel protections like some premium travel cards
⚠️ The hotel savings benefit is only usable once per year, and only if you book through Citi
⚠️ Transfer partners require planning and some award travel know-how

What Is the $100 Annual Hotel Savings Benefit?

Cardmembers receive $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) once per calendar year.
To use this benefit, you must book through ThankYou.com or by calling 1-800-THANKYOU.

Does the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Have Foreign Transaction Fees?

No — the card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a good pick for international travelers.

Is the Citi Strata Premier Card Worth It?

This card is best for people who:

• Spend across travel, dining, gas, and grocery categories
• Want a flexible rewards program
• Don’t need luxury perks like lounge access
• Want to transfer points to airline partners for outsized travel value

It may not be ideal if you’re only looking for cash back or prefer a premium card with luxury perks and protections.

Final Thoughts

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a solid mid-tier travel rewards card that punches above its weight if you know how to use the ThankYou® points ecosystem. Between the broad 3X categories, the $100 hotel benefit, and a strong list of transfer partners, it can easily deliver $300–$800+ in value per year depending on how you redeem your rewards.

If you’re looking to build a flexible travel strategy—without jumping into a high annual fee card—the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card deserves a spot on your radar.

The information related to the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card has been collected by AskSebby.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, vendors or companies, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.