Best starter travel card

The Citi Premier card earns 3 points per dollar on gas purchases, dining, groceries, air and hotel travel. With its simplified model and 16 airline transfer partners, the Citi Premier makes earning points for travel hassle-free.

At a glance

  • 3X Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
  • 3X Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
  • 1X Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
60,000 points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Up to 29.99% (Variable)
29.74% (Variable)
20.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
20.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
$95
  • Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets

At a glance

  • 3X Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
  • 3X Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
  • 1X Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
60,000 points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Up to 29.99% (Variable)
29.74% (Variable)
20.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
20.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
$95
  • Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
  • Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Hotels
  • Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
  • 60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards when redeemed at thankyou.com
  • No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Our Take

TPG Editor's Rating

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4/5

Overview

The Citi Premier’s 3 points per dollar spent across a wide range of popular categories is one of the more lucrative offerings in the world of points and miles. The Citi Premier comes with a $95 annual fee and is currently offering a solid sign up bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months. It also has some valuable transfer partners to make the most of your rewards. Add in access to Citi Entertainment plus a $100 hotel credit for any single-stay hotel booking that exceeds $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through the Citi travel website, there are few reasons why the Citi Premier should not be in every traveler’s wallet.

Pros

  • Earns 3 points per dollar on restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels.
  • $100 annual hotel savings benefit (on single hotel stay bookings of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, booked through thankyou.com)
  • Points transfer to 16 airline programs, from JetBlue to Virgin Atlantic.
  • World Elite Mastercard benefits, extended warranty, damage and theft protection.

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Lacks travel protections that other travel rewards cards come with

Who is this card good for?

The Citi Premier is a solid travel card choice with a plethora of travel partners and solid earning rates. Since the card earns the same number of points at gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, airlines and hotels, it’s a great pick for beginner travel cardholders who want a simplified point system.

Earning Rewards

All rewards will be earned in the form of Citi ThankYou Rewards points. Earn 3 points per dollar spent on gas station, dining, supermarket, air and hotel travel purchases. Cardholders will earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is the Citi Premier card a World Elite Mastercard?

    The Citi Premier is a World Elite Mastercard collection and receives exclusive offers from brands like DoorDash, Hello Fresh and Lyft.

  • What is Citi Entertainment?

    Citi Entertainment is exclusive to Citi cardmembers and provides special access to presale tickets for popular concerts, sporting events and more.