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
- 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
Our Take
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.