What is the best Citi travel credit card?

The benefits of Citibank credit cards include travel accident insurance, an annual travel credit up to $250, and a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit. These benefits are mostly found on the top-tier Citibank credit cards, though many more Citibank credit cards have contactless chip technology and no foreign transaction fees. To know which perks are included on a specific card, you’ll need to call customer service at … read full answer1 (800) 347-4934 or check the Citibank website.

Citibank Credit Card Benefits

• An annual travel credit up to $250
• A TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee credit
• Contactless chip technology
• No foreign transaction fees
• Travel accident insurance
• Travel and emergency
• Roadside assistance
• Identity theft protection

In addition to having some or all of these card perks, it’s important to remember that many Citibank credit cards also give rewards. Rewards aren’t generally considered card benefits, but having a credit card that earns great rewards can be a big asset to cardholders. As long as you use your card responsibly and maximize the various benefits that Citibank offers, you should come out well ahead of any annual fees that Citibank cards may charge.

Citi ThankYou points are worth up to 1.25 cents each, depending on which card you have and how you redeem. But a Citi ThankYou point’s value can also be as low as 0.5 cent.

Citi ThankYou points are worth most when earned with either the Citi Premier Card or Citi Prestige® Card and redeemed for travel through Citi. Travel is the most valuable redemption method for people with other Citi points credit cards, too, but you’ll only get 1 cent per point with them.… read full answer

A Citi ThankYou point’s value is lowest when redeemed for cash back. So if that’s what you’re after, you may want to consider getting a cash rewards credit card. Citi has a great one, if you’re interested: Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer.

Below, we’ll give you a complete breakdown of the various ways in which Citi ThankYou points are valued.

Citi ThankYou Points Value by Card & Redemption Method:

​​​​​​​To be clear, the Citi ThankYou Preferred group actually covers five cards: Citi ThankYou Preferred, Citi ThankYou Preferred for Students, the AT&T Credit Card and two Expedia credit cards.

The Select & Credit feature may also need some explaining. This enables you to redeem ThankYou points to pay for specific purchases that appear on your statement. Purchases in the following categories qualify: dining, grocery, clothing and department stores, gas, utilities, entertainment, and drugstores. You cannot redeem for partial purchases using Select & Credit.

Many of the redemption methods require you to have a minimum number of Citi ThankYou points. You need at least 2,500 points to redeem for a gift card, loan payment or charity donation. You also need 2,000 points for a statement credit and 10,000 for a paper check.

If you have multiple accounts earning ThankYou Points, you can pool your points for easier spending. Select “Add a Sponsor Account” when you log in to your Citi account online. Points can even be transferred to someone else’s account but will expire after 90 days if not used.

For the most part, ThankYou points do not expire for the life of the account. Your points can be temporarily suspended if you make a late payment, but you can redeem them when you bring the account back to current status.

You need to set a Citi travel notification any time you’re taking a trip. This will prevent your account from being suspended due to suspected fraud when you’re in an unusual area. You’re never required add a travel notice to your Citibank account, but it’s always a good idea for both foreign and domestic travel.… read full answer

What exactly constitutes “travel” comes down to your judgement. You don’t need to set an alert every time you drive to the grocery store. But if you’re visiting a place well outside your daily geographic radius, it’s a good idea.

You can easily add a Citi travel notification to your account online. Just sign in, click “Services” followed by “Travel Services,” and select “Add a Travel Notice.” Then, enter your travel information and submit.

Here’s how to set a Citi travel notification:

1. Sign into your Citi account online.
2. Click “Services,” then “Travel Services.”
3. Select “Add a Travel Notice.”
4. Enter your destinations as well as the dates of your departure and return.
5. Verify the phone number and email address that Citi has on file are up to date.

A travel alert lets Citi know that charges from a new location don’t mean you’re a victim of fraud. So, it helps you avoid Citi putting a temporary hold on your card while you’re away. You can cancel or update your Citi travel notification at any time by logging in and changing your information. It only takes a few minutes and could potentially prevent a major inconvenience on your trip.

If your card is declined while traveling, you can call customer service at (800) 950-5114 and enter your card number to speak to a representative who can help. Internationally, you can make a collect call to (605) 335-2222.