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Citi Strata Elite Card 2025 Review

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3 days ago

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The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card is the bank’s newest addition to its Strata line of cards and its first premium card since the Citi Prestige® Card, which is no longer available to new applicants.

The card comes with nearly $1,500 in value each year through perks like the $200 annual Splurge credit and a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. Citi is also furthering its partnership with American Airlines and offering some AA-specific perks that frequent flyers will appreciate.

CNBC Select dives into Citi’s newest premium option to see how it stacks up against a very competitive travel credit card landscape.

Good to Excellent670–850

The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card aims to brings premium restaurant rewards and travel benefits to users, including an annual hotel benefit of $300.

  • High rewards rate on travel
  • 6X on restaurants
  • Can transfer points to American Airlines at a 1:1 rate
  • Up to $200 annual splurge credit
  • High annual fee
  • Limited rewards categories

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.

  • Earn 80,000 bonus Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
  • Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
  • Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
  • Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
  • Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees

Balance transfer fee

Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

Citi Strata Elite Card review

Welcome bonus

If you’re approved for the Citi Strata Elite Card, for a limited time, you can earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening. With these points generally valued at around 1.75 cents per point by the industry, this welcome bonus is worth about $1,400, which is a great return.

This bonus is earned in the form of Citi ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed in a number of ways, from simple statement credits, to paying with points or transferring them to one of Citi’s travel partners.

Benefits and perks

The Citi Strata Elite comes with several perks, with the bulk of its value in travel and lifestyle categories.

Statement credits

  • $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more booked through Citi Travel every calendar year.
  • $200 annual Splurge credit: Every calendar year, earn up to $200 in statement credits from your choice of up to two of the following brands: 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training and Live Nation, with the option to change your selection at any time.
  • $200 annual Blacklane credit: Enjoy up to $200 in statement credits, every calendar year, when booking with Blacklane, up to $100 from January through June and up to $100 from July through December.
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit: Receive a statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for either the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.

While you do have to book via Citi Travel, the $300 hotel credit isn’t tied to any specific brand, meaning you’ll have more options. The $200 splurge credit is another welcome addition that gives you more control over how you earn rewards, letting you choose and switch between several brands, ranging from tickets to technology.

One credit that isn’t as common is the one for Blacklane, a global chauffeur service. While it might serve as a nice luxury option for special occasions, odds are that you’ll have an easier time with a taxi or public transportation.

Additional offerings

In addition to straightforward statement credits, the Strata Elite also offers some extra benefits:

  • American Airlines Admirals Club passes: Every calendar year, you’ll receive four Admirals Club Citi Strata Elite passes, good for entry to 50+ Admirals Club lounges.
  • Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership: Access to 1,500+ airport lounges worldwide for the primary cardholder and authorized users, plus up to two guests.
  • Access to The Reserve by Citi Travel: A collection of 4.5- to 5-star hotels.
  • Travel and shopping protections: Perks like trip delay protection, enhanced trip cancellation and trip interruption protection, plus lost or damaged luggage protection, MasterRental coverage, extended warranty and purchase assurance plus.
  • Mastercard World Legend benefits: The newest premium tier to the Mastercard Collection, offering priority reservations at restaurants, including in Europe through Mastercard’s partnership with TheFork, ticketing access and more.

If Citi happens to be a company you bank with, it’s possible that you could be eligible for additional savings through an offer just for Citi customers:

  • Citigold® Private Client Relationship Tier credit: Citigold Private Clients who qualify for the card will receive a first-year banking credit of $595, covering the card’s annual fee. You’ll then receive a $145 annual credit each following year, with an open and current Strata Elite card.
  • Citigold® Relationship Tier credit: Citigold Clients who qualify for the card will receive a $145 banking credit with an open and current Strata Elite card.

How to earn and redeem Citi ThankYou Points

Earning

The Citi Strata Elite has a high earnings rate when you book via the Citi Travel portal, and it offers elevated earnings rates during certain eligible times:

  • Earn 12X points on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on cititravel.com
  • Earn 6X points on air travel booked on cititravel.com
  • Earn 6X points at restaurants on Citi Nights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday, from 6 PM to 6 AM ET; earn 3X points any other time
  • Earn 1.5X points on all other purchases

What jumps out first is the very high 12X on hotels and more, but it is tied to the issuer’s travel portal, a common theme with premium travel cards. It’s also the first time we’ve seen a card that has a timed window to earn elevated rewards. It earns a higher rate at restaurants on Friday and Saturday nights, which could make your weekend date nights a little more affordable.

Redeeming

When redeeming the Citi ThankYou Points earned by your Strata Elite, you have several options to choose from, like:

  • Travel
  • Gifts cards
  • Cash back
  • Shopping via select retailers
  • Charitable donations

While options like cash back and gift cards are usually the simplest, they often don’t provide you with the best value; the highest value usually comes from taking advantage of the transfer partners offered through Citi:

  • AAdvantage® Program (1:1 ratio for Citi Strata Elite, Citi Strata Premier and Citi Prestige cardmembers)
  • ALL Accor Live Limitless (2:1 ratio)
  • Aeromexico (1:1 ratio)
  • Air France-KLM Flying Blue (1:1 ratio)
  • Avianca LifeMiles (1:1 ratio)
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (1:1 ratio)
  • Choice Privileges (1:2 ratio or 2:3 with select Citi cards)
  • Emirate Skywards (1:1 ratio)
  • Etihad Guest (1:1 ratio)
  • EVA Air (1:1 ratio)
  • JetBlue TrueBlue (1:1 ratio or 5:4 with select Citi cards)
  • Leaders Club (5:1 ratio)
  • Preferred Hotels & Resorts (1:4 ratio)
  • Quantas Frequent Flyer (1:1 ratio)
  • Qatar Airways Privilege Club (1:1 ratio)
  • Shop Your Way (1:10 ratio)
  • Singapore Airlines (1:1 ratio)
  • Thai Royal Orchard Plus (1:1 ratio)
  • Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles (1:1 ratio)
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club & Virgin Red (1:1 ratio)
  • Wyndham Rewards (1:1 ratio or 5:4 with select Citi cards)

Rates and fees

The Citi Strata Elite was built to compete with some of the most popular travel credit cards, and its $595 annual fee represents that. The card has no foreign transaction fees and a late or returned payment fee of $41. The card’s variable purchase APR ranges from 21.24% to 29.24%, depending on creditworthiness.

Card comparison

Citi Strata Elite Card vs. The Platinum Card from American Express

On the American Express site

On the American Express site

Good to Excellent670–850

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points

See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our Amex Platinum Card review. The Platinum Card® from American Express Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you’re approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)

  • Access to 1,400+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
  • Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
  • Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
  • High annual fee
  • Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.

Balance transfer fee

Foreign transaction fee

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers more value in the form of statement credits, making it a good option for those seeking direct value from the card. Amex’s Platinum also comes with hotel status upgrades and permanent access to Amex’s Global Lounge Collection, including its Centurion Lounges. While enrollment is not necessary for Centurion Lounge access, some other lounge programs within the American Express Global Lounge Collection, such as Priority Pass, do require enrollment. The Strata Elite offers a high rewards rate on restaurants and a flexible $200 Splurge credit. The ability to earn up to 12X on hotels and 6X on air travel booked through Citi Travel can help you rack up ThankYou Points very quickly and help finance even more getaways.

Citi Strata Elite Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase TravelSM promo credit

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.

  • Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
  • Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
  • You can transfer rewards to all of Chase’s travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
  • Top-tier travel and shopping protections
  • High annual fee
  • Requires a high credit score

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.

  • Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase TravelSM promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
  • Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
  • Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
  • Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
  • Member FDIC

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater

Is the Citi Strata Elite Card right for you?

The Citi Strata Elite is a great fit for those who don’t mind booking primarily through travel portals, and for American Airlines customers eager to have a card that earns rewards that can be transferred to the AAdvantage program. The card comes with up to $300 in annual hotel benefits and a flexible $200 Splurge credit, both fairly easy credits to redeem. If you’re invested in the Citi ThankYou Points system or looking for a card that earns rewards compatible with American Airlines, this card is the next perfect addition to your wallet.

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Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.





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Tips & Advices

Essential Road Safety Tips for Summer Travel

Published

1 day ago

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August 8, 2025

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Once again this year, the Highway Patrol, in anticipation of the massive summer exodus, wants to disseminate the useful vademecum to tackle and reach holiday destinations safely, advice that remains valid for any movement. Before setting off, it is good practice, first of all, to check the vehicle’s efficiency, with particular attention to the tire pressure and tread conditions which must not be less than 1.6 millimeters. Equally important, if the vehicle is equipped, is to also check the conditions of the spare wheel or otherwise the inflation kit. Check the engine fluid levels, brake pad wear, and therefore the correct functioning of all the vehicle’s lighting devices such as headlights, rear lights, brake lights, and turn signals. Equally important is the condition of the front and rear windshield wipers, whose proper functioning is essential for optimal visibility even in case of rain. The arrangement of the luggage must also be taken care of in such a way that the distribution of the loads does not unbalance the stability of the vehicle and, if using roof racks, always ensure they are well anchored. In case of transport, pets must be secured in the appropriate carriers. Before departure, avoid consuming large meals or drinking alcoholic beverages and possibly check the traffic and weather conditions along the route to be traveled. It is also reminded that it is mandatory for passengers in the front and rear seats to always wear seat belts and secure children in appropriate approved seats. For those traveling on two wheels, it is important to fasten the protective helmet properly and use protective measures. During the journey, proceed at a moderate speed, respecting the limits set by the road owner, exercising maximum caution if you decide to overtake using the appropriate lane. Traffic on the highway, the red and black flag days for August 2025. Avoid any distraction during the journey, especially using the smartphone, even for a very short moment because hundreds of meters are covered without the necessary attention. On the highway, it is reminded that it is allowed to occupy the emergency lanes only in cases of actual necessity, and if so, position the emergency triangle at least 100 meters from the broken-down vehicle, always wearing the reflective vest. Where possible, however, it is better to stop in the appropriate service areas. In any case, without further delay, contact the single emergency number (112) indicating the exact position and wait for the arrival of assistance. At the same number, all possible issues such as accidents, vehicles in trouble, objects on the road, or fires must be reported; in this regard, it is absolutely forbidden to throw cigarettes or matches out of the windows. In case of fatigue, it is advisable to reach a safe place for a stop, so as to resume normal attention conditions for safe and responsible driving. On the State Police website, in the area reserved for Italy’s Viability (https://www.poliziadistato.it/articolo/1815cb58d622d6ac985858152) the ‘Summer Exodus Plan 2025’ has been published where it is possible to find: – the intense traffic calendar (flags); – the mapping of the road and motorway sections most subject to traffic issues and related alternative itineraries (north – center – south and islands); – the geographical areas ordinarily subject to overflight by State Police and Carabinieri aircraft; – the railway police surveillance plan; – the mapping of speed detection systems (tutors) located on the motorway network.

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Tips & Advices

Mississippi school travel safety tips

Published

2 days ago

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August 8, 2025

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JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Mississippi parents and students are encouraged to stay safe while going to school and back home.

AMR in central Mississippi advised parents to teach their children the following rules to stay safe when traveling to or from school.

Getting on or off the bus:

  • Riders should stay outside the “danger zone” around the bus. The danger zone is ten feet wide all the way around the bus. For little children, say six “giant steps” At that distance from the bus, the bus driver can see a child.

  • If you drop something near the bus, first signal the driver and tell him or her. Never try to pick it up first because the driver may not be able to see you.

  • Always stay away from the wheels of the bus.

  • Hold on to the handrail on the bus.

  • Never assume other vehicles have stopped for the school bus. Keep watching for other vehicles as you walk in front of the bus.

  • If you must cross the street in front of the bus, walk at least ten feet ahead of the bus until you can turn around and see the driver.

  • Make sure the bus driver can see you.

  • Wait for a signal from the bus driver before beginning to cross.

  • When the bus driver signals for you to cross, walk across the road while also keeping an eye out for sudden traffic changes.

  • If you leave something on the bus, never go back to get it. The bus may already be moving and the driver might not see the child.

Getting to the bus stop:

  • Parents should walk smaller children to their stop.

  • Each child should be dressed in contrasting bright colors.

  • Leave home early enough to avoid running to the bus. Running to the bus can be dangerous.

  • Older children should watch the younger ones closely.

  • Children walking or standing in groups are easier for drivers to see than one child alone.

Waiting for the bus to arrive:

  • Always stand at least ten feet from the curb or edge of the road.

  • Do not run or play while waiting for the bus.

  • Do not take anything out of backpacks while waiting. That way, nothing gets dropped or blows away in the wind.

Getting on the bus:

  • Be sure the bus driver can see you and you can see the bus driver.

  • Enter the bus in a single file with the younger children first.

  • Never walk behind the bus.

While the bus is in motion:

  • Stay seated, facing forward.

  • Keep your hands to yourself.

  • Talk quietly. Don’t talk at all near railroad crossings so the driver can listen closely for sounds of a train.

  • Do not distract the driver.

  • Keep the aisles clear. Keep your belongings on your lap.

  • Do not block emergency exits with sports equipment or musical instruments.

Walking to and from school:

  • Always walk on the sidewalk when one is available.

  • Cross the street only at intersections or street corners. Do not “jaywalk.” If a crosswalk is painted on the street, use it.

  • Before you begin to cross the street, stop and look left, right and left again to spot oncoming cars.

  • If no cars are coming, it is safe for you to cross but continue looking left-right-left as you cross.

  • Do not dart into the street between parked vehicles.

Riding a bicycle to school:

  • Always wear a helmet when riding your bicycle.

  • Make sure that your helmet fits correctly.

  • Ride on the right side of the road in the same direction other vehicles are going.

  • If two or more bikers are together, ride one behind the other, not side by side.

  • Come to a complete stop before crossing each street.

  • Make sure clothes, shoes and the bicycle have reflective materials on them so drivers can see you more easily.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.



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Weather Updates Across India: Travel Disruptions, Flood Warnings And Safety Tips – Outlook Traveller

Published

2 days ago

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August 8, 2025

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Weather Updates Across India: Travel Disruptions, Flood Warnings And Safety Tips  Outlook Traveller



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