Best Citibank Credit Card for Travel | Travel Points Hub
- How I Picked the Best Citi Travel Cards
- 1. Citi Premier® Card — Best Overall Citi Travel Card
- 2. Citi Double Cash® Card — Best No-Annual-Fee Citi Card for Travel
- 3. Citi Custom Cash℠Card — Best for Flexible Bonus Categories
- 4. Citi Prestige® Card — Best for Luxury Travel Perks (No Longer Open to New Applicants)
- Which Citi Card Should You Get for Travel?
- How to Maximize Citi ThankYou Points for Travel
- FAQ
If you want the best Citibank credit card for travel, the short answer is the Citi Premier® Card. It earns 3x points on air travel, hotels, and gas stations, plus 3x on dining and supermarkets, and points transfer to airline partners. But the right card depends on how you travel and how much you spend. Below, I break down the top Citi travel cards, their trade-offs, and who each one fits best.
How I Picked the Best Citi Travel Cards
I focused on four things that actually matter for travel: earning rates on travel and everyday spending, transfer partners, travel protections, and annual fees. A card can have a huge sign-up bonus but weak long-term value if it doesn't earn well on the categories you use. I also considered how easy it is to redeem points for travel, whether through Citi Travel or by transferring to partners like American Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Singapore Airlines.
Cash-back cards can be great for travel too, especially if you prefer simple redemptions. But if you want outsized value, a points card with transfer partners usually wins. The cards below cover both styles.
1. Citi Premier® Card — Best Overall Citi Travel Card
The Citi Premier is the most well-rounded Citi card for travel. It earns 3x ThankYou® Points on air travel, hotels, and gas stations, plus 3x on dining at restaurants and supermarkets. That's a strong mix for most people, since travel and food are big budget categories.
Key perks: - 3x points on air travel, hotels, gas stations, dining, and supermarkets - 1x points on everything else - Points transfer to 15+ airline partners, including American Airlines AAdvantage, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, and Singapore KrisFlyer - $100 annual hotel savings benefit (one $100 statement credit on a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through Citi Travel) - No foreign transaction fees
Annual fee: $95
Who it's for: Anyone who wants a single card that earns well on travel and everyday spending, and who values the flexibility of transferring points to airlines. If you fly at least a few times a year and eat out or grocery shop regularly, the Premier easily justifies its fee.
Watch out for: The $100 hotel benefit requires booking through Citi Travel, and some transfer partners have limited award availability. Also, the Premier doesn't offer trip cancellation or interruption insurance, which is a downside compared to some competitors.
2. Citi Double Cash® Card — Best No-Annual-Fee Citi Card for Travel
The Citi Double Cash is a cash-back card, but it can be a solid travel card if you pair it with a Citi Premier or transfer your cash back to ThankYou Points. You earn 2% total on every purchase: 1% when you buy, and 1% when you pay. That's simple and consistent.
Key perks: - 2% cash back on all purchases (1% at purchase, 1% at payment) - No annual fee - No foreign transaction fees - Cash back can be converted to ThankYou Points if you also have a Citi Premier or Citi Prestige® Card
Who it's for: Travelers who want a no-fee card for everyday spending and don't want to track bonus categories. If you also hold a Premier, you can pool your points and transfer them to airlines, which makes the Double Cash a powerful companion card.
Watch out for: On its own, it's just cash back—no transfer partners. You also won't get travel protections like trip delay reimbursement.
3. Citi Custom Cash℠Card — Best for Flexible Bonus Categories
The Citi Custom Cash is a hidden gem for travel because it automatically gives you 5% cash back on your top eligible spending category each billing cycle, up to $500 in purchases. That category can be air travel, hotels, gas stations, or even dining and groceries. You don't have to activate anything—it just works.
Key perks: - 5% cash back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to $500, then 1%) - 1% cash back on all other purchases - No annual fee - No foreign transaction fees - Cash back can be converted to ThankYou Points with a Premier or Prestige card
Who it's for: Travelers who want to earn 5% on travel one month and 5% on dining the next, without juggling multiple cards. It's also great as a companion to the Premier for boosting specific categories.
Watch out for: The $500 cap per billing cycle means you'll max out at $25 in cash back per month in the 5% category. That's fine for most, but big spenders may hit the cap quickly.
4. Citi Prestige® Card — Best for Luxury Travel Perks (No Longer Open to New Applicants)
The Citi Prestige was Citi's premium travel card, but it's closed to new applications. I'm including it because existing cardholders still get strong benefits, and it's worth knowing if you're comparing cards on the secondary market or via product changes.
Key perks (for existing cardholders): - 5x points on air travel and dining, 3x on hotels and cruise lines - $250 annual travel credit - 4th night free on hotel stays (up to two times per year) - Priority Pass lounge access - Points transfer to airline partners
Annual fee: $495
Who it's for: Existing cardholders who travel frequently and can use the 4th night free benefit and travel credit. If you're new to Citi, look at the Premier instead.
Watch out for: The high annual fee and the fact that you can't apply for it anymore. Some benefits have been diluted over time.
Which Citi Card Should You Get for Travel?
If you want one card that does it all, get the Citi Premier. It earns 3x on travel, dining, and groceries, and points transfer to airlines for potentially high value. The $95 fee is easy to offset with the $100 hotel benefit and your normal spending.
If you want no annual fee and simple cash back, the Citi Double Cash is a strong pick, especially if you pair it with a Premier to unlock transfers. The Citi Custom Cash is better if you have one category where you spend a lot each month and want 5% back.
For most travelers, the best setup is the Premier as your primary card and the Custom Cash or Double Cash as a companion. That way you earn 3x on travel and dining, and 5% or 2% on other purchases, then pool your points for airline transfers.
How to Maximize Citi ThankYou Points for Travel
Earning points is only half the game. Here's how to get more value:
- Transfer to airlines for premium cabins. Economy redemptions are fine, but business class is where you can get 2–5 cents per point. Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines are standout partners.
- Use the Citi Travel portal for simple bookings. You'll get 1 cent per point, which is okay but not amazing. Use it when you can't find award availability.
- Pool your points. If you have a Premier and a Double Cash or Custom Cash, combine your ThankYou Points into one account to reach award thresholds faster.
- Watch for transfer bonuses. Citi occasionally offers 20–30% bonuses when transferring to certain partners. That's free value.
- Avoid cash back if you have a Premier. Once you have a Premier, convert your cash back from other Citi cards into ThankYou Points instead of taking a statement credit. You'll get more flexibility and potentially higher value.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Citi Premier card good for travel?
Yes, it's Citi's best all-around travel card. It earns 3x points on air travel, hotels, gas stations, dining, and supermarkets, and points transfer to airline partners. The $95 annual fee is reasonable for the earning rates and the $100 annual hotel benefit.
Can I transfer Citi ThankYou Points to airlines?
Yes, but only if you have a Citi Premier or Citi Prestige card. With those cards, you can transfer points to partners like American Airlines AAdvantage, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Singapore KrisFlyer, and others. The Citi Double Cash and Custom Cash earn ThankYou Points but don't allow transfers on their own.
What is the best no-annual-fee Citi card for travel?
The Citi Double Cash is the best no-fee option for most travelers because it earns 2% on everything and has no foreign transaction fees. If you have one big spending category, the Citi Custom Cash can earn 5% back on that category, up to $500 per billing cycle.
Does Citi Premier have trip cancellation insurance?
No, the Citi Premier does not include trip cancellation or interruption insurance. It does offer other travel protections like baggage delay and car rental insurance, but if trip cancellation coverage is important to you, you may need a different card or separate insurance.
Can I combine Citi ThankYou Points from different cards?
Yes, you can pool ThankYou Points from multiple Citi cards into one account. This is especially useful if you have a Premier and a Double Cash or Custom Cash—you can combine points and then transfer them to airline partners.
Is the Citi Prestige still available?
No, the Citi Prestige is closed to new applicants. Existing cardholders can keep it, but if you're new to Citi, the Citi Premier is the closest alternative for travel rewards.