How Citi Prestige Maximizes Your Stay at the World's 100 Best Hotels
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Each year as part of its World's Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure releases a list of the 100 best hotels in the world (as decided by the travel publication's readers), with remote resorts — like a five-star eco-friendly resort at the edge of Chile and a faraway luxury fishing lodge in the New Zealand wilderness — being a major trend this year.
As you might expect, these are some of the most unique properties you can book — which means you generally can't redeem your hotel points for a free stay. Fortunately, the Citi Prestige card offers some relief, in the form of a tremendous 4th Night Free benefit. For example, a one-bedroom villa at the #1 property on the list, Nihiwatu, which is located in Sumba, Indonesia, will run you $650 per night during the low season, plus 11% in taxes ($71) and a 10% service charge ($65). If you book through Citi Prestige, you'll get the fourth night free, including taxes (but not the service charge). That'll bring the total cost of a four-night stay down from $3,146 to $2,425.
While the majority of the hotels on the list are smaller, independently owned properties, two points-hotels did make the cut — you can book a stay at Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Peru's Sacred Valley (#74), an SPG Category 5 property priced from 12,000 Starpoints per night, or The St. Regis Bali Resort (#35), an SPG Category 7 property, from 31,500 Starpoints per night (as this particular hotel doesn't have base rooms). Many of the others listed can also be booked through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts if you're an Amex Platinum cardholder.
Despite the potential lucrative benefits when booking through Amex FHR, you'll still come out ahead with Citi Prestige — the card's 4th Night Free perk is the most valuable card benefit out there, assuming you like to stay at luxury hotels. TPG Editor-in-Chief Zach Honig got a $1,490 rebate for a four-night stay at Amanpulo in the Philippines, so there's clearly incredible value to be had. You can also consider booking your stay with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which lets you earn 2x points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.