Citi ThankYou Rewards adds Preferred Hotels & Resorts as new hotel transfer partner
Adding to its already lengthy portfolio of hotel transfer partners, Citi ThankYou Rewards is now a transfer partner of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Preferred Hotels & Resorts offers a collection of over 650 luxury boutique properties in more than 80 countries.
You can now transfer your Citi points to the hotel's loyalty program, I Prefer Hotel Rewards, at a 1:4 ratio. This means that for every 1,000 Citi ThankYou Rewards points you transfer, you'll get 4,000 I Prefer points.
Currently, Citi is also a transfer partner of four hotel loyalty programs (or five, if you count Virgin Red Airlines + Hotels), including:
- Accor Live Limitless (2:1 transfer rate)
- Choice Privileges (1:2 transfer rate)
- The Leading Hotels of the World's Leaders Club (5:1 transfer rate)
- Wyndham Rewards (1:1 transfer rate)
While I Prefer may not be on your radar, Citi is the first major credit card rewards currency to partner with the hotel loyalty program. But is it worth it to transfer to and redeem your hard-earned ThankYou Rewards points with Preferred Hotels & Resorts?
Transfer Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Preferred Hotels & Resorts
In 2023, Preferred Hotels & Resorts revitalized its I Prefer loyalty program, making it easier for members to track their rewards earnings and book future stays online with points. Though Preferred Hotels & Resorts, which is part of Preferred Travel Group, has a much smaller portfolio compared to World of Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott, award stays at some hotels start at just 15,000 points per night, per the loyalty program's website.
However, when searching for award availability on the Preferred Hotels & Resorts website, only three hotels displayed award prices, even though there are over 500 hotels participating in the I Prefer loyalty program. Whether it's a mistake on the website's end or not, a non-user-friendly experience is definitely something that would deter me from transferring my Citi points.
But is this a good transfer partnership, even when factoring out the tech issues? It depends on the room rate and the cost of points needed to book. For example, award prices for a stay at the Inn by the Sea, an oceanfront luxury property in Maine, start at 100,000 I Prefer points per night.
For a two-night stay in a traditional room in March, you would pay $848.48 (including taxes and fees). If I were to book this with points, I would pay 200,000 I Prefer points plus $68.38 in taxes and fees. Therefore, to book this two-night stay with Citi ThankYou Rewards points, I would need to transfer 50,000 points.
TPG values Citi ThankYou Rewards points at 1.8 cents per point, per our October 2024 valuations, which means we value 50,000 points at $900. Since the cash price for a two-night stay in a traditional room at this hotel is less than $900, this redemption would not be maximizing my Citi points.
However, a garden suite at this property would cost $1,032.87 (including taxes and fees) for the same two-night stay. If I were to book this room with I Prefer points, it would cost the same as a traditional room: 200,000 points plus $68.38 in taxes and fees. Based on our valuations, transferring my Citi points to I Prefer for this redemption would give me a good value for my points.
Additionally, if you see a Preferred Hotels & Resorts property that catches your eye, you may be able to book that hotel using Choice points. Choice Privileges has a partnership with more than 300 Preferred Hotels & Resorts that allows Choice members to book award nights starting at 20,000 points.
Though this partnership underwent a bit of a devaluation this summer, you can still find some good deals. Plus, Citi is a transfer partner of Choice Privileges at a 1:2 rate; therefore, for every 1,000 Citi points you transfer, you'll receive 2,000 Choice points.
Related: How to choose a hotel credit card
Best credit cards to earn Citi ThankYou Rewards points
If you're wanting to earn Citi ThankYou Rewards points, here are the cards offering lucrative welcome bonuses:
- Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Citi Strata℠ Card (see rates and fees): Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases with your card within three months of account opening.
If you hold the Citi Prestige® Card, you can also transfer your ThankYou Rewards points to Citi's airline and hotel transfer partners. However, this card is no longer accepting new applications.
The information for the Citi Prestige has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
While Citi continues to expand its transfer partner portfolio, adding I Prefer to its list, the hotel loyalty program's website is not super easy to navigate, with award prices only showing a list of three hotels. That has to be a tech mistake, right? Either way, a 1:4 transfer ratio is pretty decent, but it's best to compare cash rates versus how many points you'll need for your award redemption.
As always, TPG does not recommend transferring points without a specific redemption in mind and without finding availability on the hotel's and/or airline's website first. Points transfers are irreversible, so the last thing you want to do is to be stuck with a bunch of points that you can't use.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $6,000 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $6,000 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.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.