Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
Top picks for Citi Travel from our scoring engine.
Rankings are generated by our algorithm based on earn rates, point valuations, fees, and benefits — not paid placement. We don't accept compensation to rank cards higher. How we rank
Ranked by earn rate and redemption value, statement credits minus annual fees (weighted against a typical $30,000/year in total card spend), shopping portal bonuses when we recognize the merchant, matched benefits and promotional earn boosts, co-brand fit for this brand. The ¢ per dollar column is the reward rate at Citi Travel. Order can differ from that column because ranking adds the adjustments above.
Citi Strata Premier Card earns the top spot for Citi Travel purchases at 6.2¢ per dollar on hotels — a $95 annual fee. We ranked every card in our database against Citi Travel purchases using the same scoring engine that powers our search. See the note above the list for what drives order versus the ¢ per dollar column. Cards 4–10 are still solid picks; they just trade off some headline earn rate for fewer fees, broader networks, or simpler redemptions.
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Citi Strata Premier Card earns 6.2¢ per dollar on hotels when you shop at Citi Travel, the highest marginal rate in our list for this brand. At 6.2¢ per dollar, rewards cover the $95 fee after about $1,540 a year in Citi Travel spending. To come out ahead of Citi Strata Credit Card (2.3¢), you'd need about $2,440 a year here. It's the right pick if you want maximum earn rate on this category and don't mind paying for a premium card.
Side-by-side view of the ranked picks.
| Card | Travel Rate | Effective Value | Annual Fee | Fee Offset | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Strata Premier CardCiti | 10x ThankYou Points | 6.2¢/$ | $95 | — | mastercard |
| Citi Strata Elite℠ CardCiti | 1.5x ThankYou Points | 2.4¢/$ | $595 | $597.50 | mastercard |
| Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite MastercardCiti | 12x AAdvantage | 3.2¢/$ | $695 | — | mastercard |
| Citi Strata Credit CardCiti | 3x ThankYou Points | 2.3¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| My Best Buy® Visa® CardCiti | 1% cash back | 1.0¢/$ | $0 | — | visa |
| Citi Double Cash CardCiti | 5% cash back | 2.1¢/$ | $0 | — | mastercard |
| Costco Anywhere Visa Card by CitiCiti | 3% cash back | 1.2¢/$ | $0 | — | visa |
| Citi / AAdvantage Globe MastercardCiti | 2x AAdvantage | 0.2¢/$ | $350 | $50 | mastercard |
Extra points or cash back when you pay with these cards — not statement credits.
Statement credits or cash applied to your bill at Citi Travel, separate from earn rate.
Other brands in Travel where the top picks above also earn well.
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