Citi Travel Credit Card Review: Is It Worth It? | Travel Points HQ
Short answer: Yes, a Citi travel credit card can be worth it—but only if you'll actually use the perks and rewards. The Citi Premier® Card, for example, offers strong earning rates on travel and dining, plus an annual hotel credit that can offset the $95 annual fee. But it's not for everyone. If you prefer simple cash back or don't travel often, a different card might serve you better. This Citi travel credit card review breaks down the details so you can decide.
What Is a Citi Travel Credit Card?
When people say "Citi travel credit card," they usually mean one of two things: the Citi Premier® Card, a mid-tier travel rewards card, or the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®, which is co-branded with American Airlines. There's also the no-annual-fee Citi Rewards+® Card, but its travel perks are limited.
For this review, we'll focus on the Citi Premier, since it's the most direct competitor to cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex Green. It earns ThankYou® Points, which you can transfer to airline and hotel partners—a key feature that makes it a true travel card.
If you're looking for a pure airline card, the AAdvantage card might be better. But if you want flexible rewards, the Premier is the one to watch.
Earning Rewards: Where the Citi Premier Shines
The Citi Premier earns 3x points per dollar on air travel, hotels, gas stations, restaurants, and supermarkets. That's one of the broadest 3x categories you'll find on any card. Most competitors limit 3x to just dining or travel. Here, you get it on everyday spending like groceries and gas, too.
Everything else earns 1x. That's not great, but it's standard for a mid-tier card.
Points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for gift cards or statement credits, but you can get much more value by transferring them to partners like Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Wyndham. For example, transferring to Turkish can get you a round-trip domestic flight for 15,000 points—a 2+ cent per point value.
If you spend $500 a month on groceries and $300 on dining, you'd earn about 28,800 points per year. That's roughly $288 in travel if you redeem at 1 cent, or more if you transfer wisely.
Perks and Benefits: What You Get
The Citi Premier comes with a $100 annual hotel credit on a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through Citi Travel. That effectively brings the $95 annual fee down to -$5 if you use it. That's a rare win.
Other perks include:
- No foreign transaction fees
- World Elite Mastercard benefits like concierge service and discounts on DoorDash and HelloFresh
- Trip cancellation and interruption protection (up to $10,000 per trip)
- Lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3,000 per passenger)
- Citi Entertainment access to presale tickets
What's missing? Airport lounge access, TSA PreCheck credits, and primary rental car insurance. For those, you'd need a premium card like the Citi Prestige (no longer open to new applicants) or a competitor like the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Still, for a $95 card, the benefits are solid—especially that hotel credit.
Redeeming Points: Flexibility Is Key
Citi ThankYou Points are the most flexible when you transfer them to travel partners. The current list includes:
- Airlines: Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air France/KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Avianca, Etihad, Qatar Airways, and more.
- Hotels: Wyndham, Choice Privileges.
You can also book travel directly through the Citi Travel portal at 1 cent per point, or use points for gift cards or cash back at the same rate. But transfers are where the magic happens.
One caveat: Citi doesn't have a domestic airline partner like United or American (except through the AAdvantage card). That's a downside if you mostly fly domestically. However, Turkish Airlines and Avianca can be used for domestic flights on partner airlines, so it's not a total loss.
If you're new to transfer partners, start with a simple redemption like Turkish for domestic flights or Wyndham for budget hotel stays. You'll quickly see the value.
Fees and Costs: What You'll Pay
The Citi Premier has a $95 annual fee. There's no fee for additional cards, which is nice if you want to add an authorized user.
Other fees to know:
- Foreign transaction fee: None.
- Balance transfer fee: 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Cash advance fee: 5% (minimum $10).
- Late payment fee: Up to $41.
Compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95 annual fee) or the Amex Green ($150), the Premier is competitively priced. And with the $100 hotel credit, it's easy to come out ahead.
Just don't carry a balance—the APR is high (typically 20%+), like most travel cards.
Who Should Get This Card?
The Citi Premier is a good fit if:
- You spend a lot on groceries, gas, and dining.
- You're willing to learn how to transfer points to partners.
- You can use the $100 hotel credit each year.
- You want a mid-tier travel card without a huge annual fee.
It's not ideal if:
- You want lounge access or premium travel perks.
- You prefer simple cash back.
- You don't travel enough to justify the effort.
If you're a frequent American Airlines flyer, the AAdvantage card might be better. But for flexible rewards, the Premier is a strong contender.
How It Compares to Other Travel Cards
Let's stack it against two popular alternatives:
Chase Sapphire Preferred: Earns 5x on travel via Chase, 3x on dining, 2x on other travel. $95 annual fee, $50 hotel credit. Citi Premier earns 3x on a broader set of categories (gas, groceries), but Chase has better domestic airline partners and primary rental car insurance.
Amex Green: Earns 3x on travel, transit, and dining. $150 annual fee, no hotel credit. Citi Premier has a lower fee and more bonus categories, but Amex has stronger customer service and offers.
Capital One Venture: Earns 2x on everything. $95 annual fee, no hotel credit. Simpler but less rewarding if you spend a lot in 3x categories.
Overall, the Citi Premier holds its own. It's not the flashiest card, but it's a workhorse for everyday spending.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Citi Premier card worth the $95 annual fee?
Yes, if you use the $100 annual hotel credit. That alone covers the fee and puts you $5 ahead. Plus, the 3x earning on groceries, gas, and dining can add up quickly. If you don't use the hotel credit, it's harder to justify—but still possible if you transfer points to partners for high value.
Can I transfer Citi ThankYou Points to airlines?
Yes. Citi partners with airlines like Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air France/KLM, Virgin Atlantic, and more. Transfers are usually 1:1, though some partners have different ratios. This is where you get the most value from your points.
Does the Citi Premier have airport lounge access?
No. The Citi Premier does not include lounge access. For that, you'd need a premium card like the Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve. The Premier is more of a mid-tier card focused on earning and flexible rewards.
What credit score do I need for the Citi Premier?
Citi typically recommends a good to excellent credit score (670+). Some applicants with scores in the 700s get approved, but a higher score improves your chances. Citi also considers your income and credit history.
Can I use Citi ThankYou Points for cash back?
Yes, but it's not the best value. You'll get 1 cent per point for cash back, gift cards, or travel booked through Citi. Transferring to partners can yield 1.5 to 2+ cents per point, so that's usually the smarter move.