Is the Strata Premier Card Annual Fee Worth It?

• Written by Rafaela Stålbalk Klose
  

  Rafaela Stålbalk Klose

  Personal finance, lifestyle, family budgeting, wealth building, retirement planning

  Rafaela Stalbalk Klose is a versatile communications professional and writer with over 14 years of experience in copywriting, editing and content strategy. With a strong foundation in journalism and marketing, she creates clear, engaging content that makes complex topics easy to understand and connects with audiences across digital platforms. Born in Brazil, raised in Sweden and now based in Los Angeles, Rafaela brings a multicultural, global perspective to her work. She explores generational differences, financial habits and the evolving costs of the American Dream, helping individuals and families take control of their finances, make confident decisions and navigate their digital and financial lives with ease. Adaptable and creative, she thrives at the intersection of content, marketing and storytelling, delivering work that builds trust, drives engagement and supports Gen Digital’s mission to empower people to manage and protect their digital and financial well-being.

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• Edited by Emily Gadd
  

  Emily Gadd

  Credit Cards, Personal Finance, Health & Wellness

  Emily Gadd is an SEO editor, responsible for writing about personal finance and credit cards. She got her start writing and editing at Healthline. She is passionate about creating educational content that makes complex topics accessible. Emily lives in Seattle with her husband and two cats.

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• Last Updated Apr 3, 2025

The Citi Strata Premier® Card is a popular option for those looking to earn rewards on everyday spending. Especially for those who spend a lot in key categories like travel, dining, gas and groceries.

While the card comes with a $95 annual fee, it offers a range of benefits that can easily justify the cost if used effectively.

Elevated Rewards

10x Point Categories

You will earn 10x points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. There are no caps or limits on this 10x reward rate so cardholders who are able to book through CitiTravel regularly will rack up points extremely fast.

3x Point Categories

One of the biggest selling points of the Strata Premier Card is its 3x points on key spending categories such as air travel, hotel purchases, dining, gas stations (including EV charging stations) and groceries. If these are part of your regular expenses, you can quickly accumulate points.

For example, if a cardholder spends $1,000 annually on qualifying travel, $2,000 on gas and $4,000 on groceries and dining, they will earn 21,000 points. When redeemed through the Citi ThankYou Points program, this is equivalent to about $210 in rewards. Add in any other miscellaneous spending and it’s clear that frequent users can build up a substantial number of points over the course of a year.

You will earn 1x points on all of your other purchases.

Welcome Bonus

New cardholders can earn a 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of opening the account.

This bonus is redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com. This is a major perk for frequent travelers or those who have upcoming big expenses. For cardholders who can hit the spending target, this bonus alone justifies the annual fee multiple times over within the first year.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

If you travel internationally often, foreign transaction fees can become expensive. The Strata Premier Card helps by waiving these fees, which typically hover around 3% for international purchases.

For instance, making $3,000 worth of purchases overseas can save you around $90 in fees.

$100 Annual Hotel Savings

The Strata Premier Card also offers $100 off a hotel stay of $500 or more when booked through the Citi ThankYou Travel portal. This benefit is available once per year.

For frequent travelers, this perk alone can make the card worthwhile. Just book through the portal and the discount is automatically applied, making it an effortless way to save.

Travel Partners and Point Transfer Options

The Strata Premier Card really stands out for its travel partners and point transfer options. You can transfer Citi ThankYou points to a variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs.

Some of the top partners include Wyndham Hotels, AeroMexico, JetBlue and Air France/KLM.

Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty

The Strata Premier Card gives you some solid protection when you make purchases. If something you buy gets damaged or stolen within 120 days, you’re covered for up to $1,000 per claim.

Plus, the card extends the manufacturer’s warranty on eligible items by two years, which is great for those big-ticket purchases. These perks can really come in handy and save you money in case something goes wrong with your stuff.

Is the Fee Worth the Benefits?

Deciding if the Strata Premier Card’s $95 annual fee is worth it really depends on how you spend. If you frequently travel, eat out and spend on gas or groceries, the 3x points you earn in these categories can easily rack up rewards. Add in the $100 hotel savings benefit and you’re already ahead of the annual fee.

Plus, the welcome bonus in the first year makes the card a no-brainer. If these perks match your lifestyle, the Strata Premier Card definitely offers more value than its cost. Learn more about the Strata Premier Card benefits.