Credit Cards By Issuer
Best Cards By Type
Credit Card Reviews
Popular Guides
Business Credit Cards By Type
Business Credit Card Reviews
Popular Business Credit Card Guides
Airlines
Airport Lounges
Hotels
Popular Travel Guides
Get Started
Credit Card Points
Airline Miles
Hotel Points
Advertiser Disclosure
Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we may receive financial compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.
Advertisement
Andrew Kunesh
Content Series Lead
187 Published Articles 25 Edited Articles
Countries Visited: 43U.S. States Visited: 36
Jessica Merritt
Senior Editor & Content Contributor
250 Published Articles 917 Edited Articles
Countries Visited: 4U.S. States Visited: 23
Stella Shon
Senior Features Editor
263 Published Articles 1071 Edited Articles
Countries Visited: 30U.S. States Visited: 32
We may be compensated when you click on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.
I generally avoid booking travel through credit card portals, as it can be more challenging to change these reservations. Typically, you have to contact the portal, not the operator, to process changes or cancellations.
However, Citi Travel makes things a bit easier. Rental cars are usually flexible until pickup, and most changes can be processed online when you book with Citi Travel.
As such, I’ve started using my Citi Strata Elite℠ Card to book some of my car rentals. Its most interesting — and lucrative — bonus category is earning 12 points per $1 on hotels, attractions, and rental cars booked through Citi Travel.
These bonus points are so good that sometimes I even book through the portal, even when it’s slightly more expensive than booking directly. Here’s when you should (and shouldn’t) use the Citi Travel portal to book rental cars.
Advertisement
The Citi Strata Elite card launched earlier this year as Citi’s reentry into an increasingly competitive premium credit card market. The card has a lower annual fee than some of its competition at $595.
The card includes a Priority Pass™ Select airport lounge membership and 4 American Airlines Admirals Club passes per year. Plus, it offers a suite of benefits and statement credits, including a $300 annual hotel benefit, a $200 Splurge Credit that can be used at various merchants, and $200 in annual Blacklane statement credits for premium limousine rides in major cities worldwide.
The card also shines in its earning rates. You can earn up to 12 Citi ThankYou Points per $1 on Citi Travel bookings, 6 points per $1 when you dine between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Eastern time on Fridays and Saturdays (3 points per $1 all other times), and 1.5 points per $1 on all other purchases. This makes it easy to earn ThankYou Points toward your next big redemption.
Right now, the Citi Strata Elite card is offering a huge welcome bonus offer that’s worth up to $1,600:
The Citi Strata Elite card is Citi's most premium card built for frequent travelers and foodies.
The Citi Strata Elite card is a great option for frequent travelers, foodies, and those who are fans of the Citi ThankYou Rewards ecosystem thanks to its combination of bonus categories, perks, and annual credits.
There are 2 other cards in the Citi Strata portfolio if you don’t want to pay a large annual fee. The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card has a $95 and earns a respectable 10 points per $1 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel, while the $0-annual-fee Citi Strata℠ Card earns 5 points per $1 on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel.
With my Citi Strata Elite card, I effectively earn a 19.2% rebate on rental cars based on our Citi ThankYou Point valuation of 1.6 cents per point. However, it’s possible to get even more value if you redeem for business class flights and other expensive travel, such as last-minute airfare, by leveraging Citi’s suite of airline and hotel transfer partners.
I’ve largely stayed away from booking hotel stays through Citi Travel because they aren’t usually eligible to earn hotel points or elite nights. However, rental cars are more intriguing for me, as I can often earn rental car points and utilize elite benefits when booking through a third-party provider. Additionally, bookings are usually flexible until pickup, so I can change or cancel them online without issue.
Advertisement
It’s also worth noting that the Citi Strata Elite card includes a variety of travel insurance benefits, including MasterRental car rental coverage. This coverage is secondary for cars rented in your country of residence and primary for cars rented abroad.
In other words, if you damage a rental car at home, you’d have to claim on your personal car insurance policy first. Abroad, you can first claim damage charges on your Citi Strata Elite card’s MasterRental rental car coverage. This coverage applies when you charge your rental car to your Citi Strata Elite card and decline the loss and damage waiver offered by the rental car company.
With these benefits in mind, I’ve started exclusively booking rental cars on international trips through Citi Travel with the Citi Strata Elite card. This way, I can earn 12 points per $1 spent on my rentals and still travel with peace of mind knowing that the card’s rental car insurance offers primary coverage.
These earnings can add up quickly. For example, in September, I rented a car with Budget in Toulouse, France. I booked the car through Citi Travel, prepaying $215.76 for the 4-day rental and earning 2,589 ThankYou Points. Given our ThankYou Point valuation of 1.6 cents per point, that’s like getting a $41.42 rebate.
That said, when traveling in the U.S., I still rent cars directly and charge my rentals to other credit cards that offer primary rental car coverage. It would be better to claim my card’s insurance if I damage a rental car, since it won’t affect my car insurance premiums.
Living in New York City — which has some of the highest car insurance premiums in the country — makes this critical, as my premium is already high, even with a clean driving record.
A number of credit cards offer primary rental car coverage at home and abroad. If you rent cars often, check out our complete guide to the best credit cards for rental car coverage to find the right card for your travel habits.
A downside to renting a car through Citi Travel is that you cannot use corporate rates offered by your employer, professional association, or alumni organization when you book. However, setting aside these rates, I’ve found that Citi Travel often prices similarly to booking rental cars directly.
For example, the cheapest 4-day round-trip rental car at Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman (GCM) costs $167.32 when booked directly with Europcar.
The price remains the same, $167.32, through Citi Travel, and offers a nice haul of 2,008 Citi ThankYou Points when prepaid with the Citi Strata Elite card. Both bookings are flexible and can be refunded with no fee.
Likewise, this weeklong economy rental with a manual transmission from Zurich Airport (ZRH) costs $362.38 when booked directly with Enterprise.
The cost is $364.92 for the same rental car when booked through Citi Travel. This is $2.54 more expensive than the direct booking, but the 4,379 ThankYou Points (worth $70) more than offset this minor price discrepancy.
Of course, Citi Travel’s rental car rates may not always match the direct rates. Likewise, corporate codes or other discounts may offer additional savings when booking directly. Ultimately, it’s always worth comparing prices and factoring in the value of the ThankYou Points you’d earn before you book. Even if it’s a bit more through Citi Travel, getting an effective 19.2% rebate in the form of ThankYou Points is nothing to scoff at.
Earning 12 points per $1 on rental cars booked through Citi Travel with the Citi Strata Elite card can make your next rental car even more rewarding. Based on our valuation of 1.6 cents per ThankYou Point, this is worth at least 19.2% back on your rentals. It’s so rewarding that I’ve changed how I book rental cars when I’m traveling on international vacations.
But since the card only provides primary rental car coverage for rentals outside of your home country, those with a personal auto insurance policy may want to charge their domestic rental cars to a different card. An insurance claim for a damaged rental vehicle could raise your insurance premium and, in turn, negate your earnings.
The information regarding the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Citi Strata℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Was this page helpful?
Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs but now lives in Queens, New York.
He’s a lifelong traveler and took his first solo trip to San Francisco at the age of 16. Fast forward a few years, and Andrew now travels just over 100,000 miles a year, with over 40 countries, 20 travel credit cards and 3 airline statuses under his belt. Andrew was formerly a Senior Editor at The Points Guy and CNN Underscored.
INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE™
Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts…
Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.
We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.
We Recommend
Platinum Card® from American Express
Platinum Card® from American Express
Welcome Offer: As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.
Top Partner Offers
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Platinum Card® from American Express
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Advertisement
Advertisement
Upgrade your travel experience
Privacy Policy | All Guides | Terms & Conditions | Web Accessibility Policy | Cookie Policy | Press & Mentions
© 2025 Upgraded Points™, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Upgraded Points, LLC and its website, UpgradedPoints.com, provides information on credit cards, reward programs, travel information and ancillary information concerning travel and credit cards. The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax or legal advice.
Upgraded Points, LLC uses reasonable efforts to maintain accurate information on the site — and prior to applying for any credit card offers found on UpgradedPoints.com, all visitors should review other features of such credit cards including but not limited to interest rates, annual fees and transaction fees, and should determine the suitability of such credit cards considering their own individual financial position.
Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we may receive financial compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. For more information on our advertisers and how we make money, see our advertising policy here. In addition, as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The content featured on UpgradedPoints.com has not been influenced, provided, or reviewed by the credit card companies mentioned. Any and all options, reviews, comments and analyses are the responsibility of the author(s) and not any Advertiser or credit card issuer.
