What is The Reserve by Citi Travel?
Editor's Note
Travelers who earn Citi ThankYou Rewards points and carry premium Citi credit cards can now elevate their next hotel stay by booking premium accommodations through The Reserve by Citi Travel.
This new portal‑only collection offers VIP extras at upscale properties worldwide.
Here's what The Reserve offers, how to book and how it compares with Citi's Hotel Collection.
Related: Citi Strata Elite: Citi finally adds a premium travel card — was it worth the wait?
What is The Reserve by Citi Travel?
The Reserve is Citi Travel's highest‑tier hotel portfolio, replacing the Luxury Collection. It features 4 1/2- to 5-star properties and is designed to compete with premium hotel collections from other card issuers, such as American Express' Fine Hotels + Resorts.
When you book a property that's part of Citi's The Reserve collection, you'll receive:
- $100 experience credit: Redeem toward dining, spa or other charges; once per stay (services offered will vary by property).
- Daily breakfast for two.
- Complimentary Wi-Fi: Included unless a resort fee already covers it.
- Room upgrade: Granted at check‑in, subject to availability.
- Early check‑in and late checkout: Both are subject to availability.
The Reserve rates are only available to cardholders of the new Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees), Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees) and the Citi Prestige® Card (no longer available to new applicants).
Note that the recently rebranded Citi Strata℠ Card is not eligible for The Reserve bookings or benefits.
The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The Citi Strata Elite Card is offering 75,000 Citi ThankYou Rewards points after $6,000 in spending within three months from account opening.
The Strata Elite card includes (up to) a $300 annual hotel credit that applies to a single prepaid hotel stay (minimum two-night stay) when booked through Citi Travel, which makes it easy to offset the card's $595 annual fee.
Want to see how The Reserve compares to other issuers' luxury collections? Citi's perks mirror Amex's and Chase's luxury hotel booking offerings, yet access requires a lower credit card annual fee.
How to book The Reserve by Citi Travel hotels
Here's how to book The Reserve properties:
- Log in to your Citi account and open the Citi Travel portal.
- Search destination and dates — look for the blue "Reserve" tag next to eligible properties.
- Choose the Reserve rate when selecting a room; prepaid or promotional rates at the same hotel will not include perks.
- Pay with an eligible Citi card or split payment with ThankYou Rewards points.
- Save your confirmation — it itemizes breakfast and the $100 credit in case the front‑desk staff needs proof.
Note that The Reserve bookings are processed by Rocket Travel by Agoda and generally post as online‑travel‑agency transactions. You'll still earn ThankYou Rewards points for your spending, but most hotel loyalty programs will not grant hotel points or elite‑night credit for OTA reservations.
Related: What you need to know about direct vs. third-party travel bookings
What are the differences between Citi's The Reserve and Citi's Hotel Collection?
The Reserve includes every Hotel Collection perk and then adds two lucrative benefits to your stay: a flexible $100 credit and a potential room upgrade. If you planned to purchase breakfast at the hotel anyway, The Reserve benefits can top $150 in value on a single‑night stay, which is especially attractive if you apply the Strata Elite's $300 annual hotel credit.
Here is a breakdown of the differences:
| Perk | The Reserve | The Hotel Collection |
|---|---|---|
Type of properties included | Luxury and flagship hotels | Upper-upscale and high-comfort hotels |
Daily breakfast for two | Included | Included |
Complimentary Wi-Fi | Included | Included |
Early check-in/late checkout | Based on availability | Based on availability |
Room upgrade | Space-available | Not offered |
On-property credit | $100 experience credit | None |
Related: Citi ThankYou Rewards adds Preferred Hotels & Resorts as new hotel transfer partner
Bottom line
The Reserve by Citi Travel lets eligible Citi cardholders enjoy exclusive benefits at luxury hotels worldwide without the hefty annual fees associated with some rival cards.
Stack the $100 property credit, complimentary breakfast and upgrade potential with the Strata Elite's yearly hotel credit, and you can transform a weekend getaway into a luxe experience at minimal out‑of‑pocket cost.
Book The Reserve rate, bring the right card and enjoy the perks.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.