Best Citi Credit Card for Travel and Dining | Travel Points HQ
If you want one card that earns serious points on both flights and restaurant bills, the Citi Premier® Card is the best Citi credit card for travel and dining for most people. It offers 3x ThankYou® Points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets, plus a $100 annual hotel credit that effectively lowers the $95 annual fee to zero. That combination is hard to beat. But "best" depends on how you travel and how much you spend. The Citi Prestige® Card (no longer open to new applicants) still wins for frequent flyers who book through Citi, while the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is a sleeper pick if you want 5% back on your top spending category each month. Below, I break down each option, compare their strengths, and help you pick the right one for your wallet.
Why the Citi Premier Wins for Most People
The Citi Premier® Card is the sweet spot. It earns 3x points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations. That means your dinner out and your next flight both earn the same high rate. Points transfer to airline partners like American Airlines AAdvantage®, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, and Singapore KrisFlyer, plus hotel partners like Wyndham Rewards. You also get a $100 annual hotel savings benefit on a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through Citi ThankYou Travel. That credit brings the $95 annual fee down to $5 net. If you spend $500 or more on hotels once a year, the card pays for itself. The Premier also has no foreign transaction fees, which is essential for travel and dining abroad. For a mid-tier card, the earning rates are excellent. The main downside is that it doesn't include airport lounge access or travel insurance like trip cancellation, but for pure points earning, it's the best Citi credit card for travel and dining for most casual and frequent travelers.
Citi Prestige: The Premium Option (If You Can Get It)
The Citi Prestige® Card is no longer open to new applicants, but if you already have it, it remains a powerhouse. It earns 5x points on air travel and dining, 3x on hotels and cruise lines, and 2x on entertainment. The $495 annual fee is steep, but it comes with a $250 travel credit each year, airport lounge access (Priority Pass), a 4th night free benefit on hotel stays, and a $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. For someone who dines out frequently and travels several times a year, the 5x on dining is unmatched by any other Citi card. The 4th night free alone can save hundreds on a multi-night hotel stay. However, since you can't apply for it anymore, it's mostly relevant if you're grandfathered in or looking at the secondary market. For new applicants, the Premier is the more practical choice.
Citi Custom Cash: The 5% Wildcard
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is not marketed as a travel card, but it can be surprisingly effective for dining. It automatically earns 5% cash back on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle, up to $500 in purchases. Eligible categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, travel, and more. If you spend $500 a month on dining, that's $25 back each month, or $300 a year. For travel, you could use it for transit or gas, but the cap limits its usefulness for big purchases. The card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, so it works abroad. The catch is that you only get 5% on one category per month. If you want a dedicated dining card to complement a travel card, the Custom Cash is a solid no-annual-fee option. But for a single card that covers both travel and dining broadly, the Premier is better.
Citi Double Cash: Simple but Less Powerful
The Citi® Double Cash Card is a classic cash back card: 1% when you buy, 1% when you pay, for a total of 2% on everything. It has no annual fee and no category bonuses. You can convert your cash back to ThankYou Points if you also have a Premier or Prestige card, which makes it a good companion card for non-bonus spending. But on its own, it earns only 2% on travel and dining, which is far below the Premier's 3x or the Custom Cash's 5%. If you want a simple, no-frills card and don't want to track categories, Double Cash is fine. But it's not the best Citi credit card for travel and dining if you want to maximize rewards on those specific expenses.
How to Choose the Right Citi Card for You
Start with your spending. If you spend more than $500 a month on dining and travel combined, the Premier's 3x points will likely beat the Custom Cash's capped 5%. If you spend less than $500 a month on dining, the Custom Cash might give you a higher return on that category, but you'll need a separate card for travel. Consider your travel habits. If you fly frequently and book hotels, the Premier's transfer partners and hotel credit add value. If you're loyal to a specific airline or hotel, check if Citi transfers to that program. Finally, think about annual fees. The Premier's $95 fee is easy to justify with the $100 hotel credit. The Prestige's $495 fee requires you to use the travel credit, lounge access, and 4th night free to break even. For most people, the Premier is the best Citi credit card for travel and dining because it balances earning power, flexibility, and a low effective annual fee.
Maximizing Your Citi ThankYou Points
Once you have the right card, make the most of your points. Transfer them to airline partners for outsized value, especially for international business or first class. Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles can be great for United flights, while Singapore KrisFlyer is excellent for Singapore Airlines premium cabins. If you prefer simplicity, you can book travel through the Citi ThankYou Travel portal at a fixed value (usually 1 cent per point). But transfers often yield 2 cents or more per point. Also, stack your cards: use the Premier for travel and dining, the Custom Cash for a 5% category, and the Double Cash for everything else. Just remember that you can only transfer points to partners if you have a Premier or Prestige card. The Double Cash alone doesn't allow transfers. So if you want maximum flexibility, keep a Premier in your wallet even if you use other cards for daily spending.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Citi credit card for travel and dining?
The Citi Premier® Card is the best overall for most people. It earns 3x points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets, and its $100 annual hotel credit offsets the $95 annual fee. The Citi Prestige® Card is better for big spenders who can use its 5x dining and 4th night free benefit, but it's no longer open to new applicants.
Does the Citi Premier have foreign transaction fees?
No, the Citi Premier® Card has no foreign transaction fees. That makes it a good choice for international travel and dining abroad.
Can I transfer Citi ThankYou Points to airlines?
Yes, but only if you have a Citi Premier® or Citi Prestige® card. You can transfer points to partners like American Airlines AAdvantage®, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Singapore KrisFlyer, and others. The Citi Double Cash® and Citi Custom Cash℠ cards do not allow transfers on their own.
Is the Citi Custom Cash good for dining?
Yes, if dining is your top spending category each month. It earns 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases in your top eligible category, which includes restaurants. However, the $500 cap means it's less useful for heavy spenders or for travel purchases.
What is the annual fee for the Citi Premier?
The Citi Premier® Card has a $95 annual fee. It also offers a $100 annual hotel savings benefit on a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through Citi ThankYou Travel, which effectively offsets the fee.
Can I have both the Citi Premier and Citi Custom Cash?
Yes, you can hold multiple Citi cards. Many people pair the Premier for travel and dining with the Custom Cash for 5% back on a different category, like groceries or gas. Just note that Citi has application rules like 1/24 and 2/65 that may affect approval.