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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Citi launches Strata Elite premium travel credit card. Should you add it to your wallet?
Citi is launching a new premium rewards credit card: the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card. With a $595 annual fee, this card joins other luxury credit cards in catering to jetsetters looking to maximize travel savings and perks. But a unique bonus rewards structure and specific benefits for American Airlines — including the ability to transfer Citi ThankYou points to AAdvantage miles — helps the Citi Strata Elite Card stand out for some frequent flyers. Citi Strata Elite Card details The Citi Strata Elite has a $595 annual fee, which is steep for any cardholder. However, it is in line with other premium travel cards on the market today. It's also a step up from the issuer's former top-tier travel card, the $495 Citi Prestige Card. That card hasn't accepted new applications since 2021, but if you've been a longtime Citi cardholder, you may want to compare it to Citi's new premium option. Here are the details: Welcome bonus You can get a lot of value as a new cardholder with the Citi Strata Elite's welcome offer. But how much you earn depends on how you apply. When you apply online and get approved, you can earn 80,000 bonus ThankYou points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. If you decide to go in-branch to a Citi location and get approved, you can earn an even higher 100,000 bonus points after spending the same $4,000 within the first three 12x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on 6x points on air travel booked on 6x points at restaurants every Friday and Saturday night 3x points at restaurants any other time 1.5x points on all other purchases These rewards categories can help you rack up Citi ThankYou points toward future travel, but there are some restrictions. First, you'll only earn bonus points on travel booked through the Citi Travel portal — up to 12x points (or 6x for flights) is a solid multiplier, but if you prefer to book directly or through another third-party service, you'll only get the minimum 1.5x on your travel spending. Dining at restaurants is another common category you'll find among travel rewards cards, but the Strata Elite works a little differently. You'll get a standard 3x at restaurants, which increases to 6x every weekend between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. ET on both Friday and Saturday. If you eat out a lot on the weekends, this can be a great boost, but all other daytime and weeknight meals will only earn the regular 3x A common way to make up for a card's steep annual fee cost is through annual benefits, and the Citi Strata Elite is no exception. Here are a few benefits to expect with this card: Up to $300 annual hotel credit for stays of two nights or more booked through Citi Travel each calendar year Up to $200 annual Splurge Credit, which applies to purchases at your choice of up to two eligible brands each calendar year: American Airlines, Live Nation, Best Buy, 1stDibs, and Future Personal Training Up to $200 annual Blacklane credit for global chauffeur service (up to $100 from January through June and another $100 from July through December) Up to $120 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee every four years Four American Airlines Admirals Club passes each calendar year Transfer Citi ThankYou points to American Airlines AAdvantage miles Complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership No foreign transaction fees These benefits may be especially lucrative for frequent American Airlines flyers. You'll get four passes per year to American Airlines Admirals Club lounges. American Airlines sells one-day passes to its lounges for $79, so if you fly the airline enough to use all four passes, that's already worth $316 each year. And with the ability to transfer the points you earn to American Airlines miles, you'll have extra flexibility when you're ready to book award flights. Annual credit card perks like this can add up to major savings each year, but only if you actually use them. It always pays to compare your spending and travel preferences to any card's benefits to make sure you can keep maximizing your value you get a Citi Strata Elite Card? If you're already a Citi cardholder, you may benefit from using this card in combination with other Citi points-earning cards. For example, you can use the Strata Elite to maximize travel spending through Citi Travel and at restaurants (especially on weekends) while using the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card to earn 3x points on everyday purchases at supermarkets and gas stations. Then, combine the points from both cards when you want to book a trip. In addition to redeeming ThankYou points for travel through the issuer, Citi has a number of airline and hotel partners you can transfer your points to, including Air France KLM Flying Blue, JetBlue TrueBlue, Avianca LifeMiles, Choice Privileges, Wyndham Rewards, and more. While the American Airlines AAdvantage program wasn't previously a Citi transfer partner, you can now transfer your Citi Strata Elite points to the airline. If you're a regular American Airlines flyer or already have elite status within the program, this can be a great way to make the most of your ThankYou points. However, there are some potential drawbacks to keep in mind. Like we mentioned above, you're limited to booking travel through Citi Travel if you want to earn the highest rewards rate offered. Other travel credit cards often have more flexibility to earn points and miles with other booking options. The value you'll gain from the card's benefits will also depend a lot on your spending. If you often fly with American Airlines, you can nearly recoup the annual fee cost just from the Admirals Club lounge passes and choosing American Airlines for your annual Splurge Credit. But other credits may be more difficult to maximize if the eligible brands aren't already in your regular budget, for example, or you already get airport lounge access with another premium cards to consider Today's credit card market has multiple great options for maximizing rewards on travel while getting great benefits. If you travel often and don't mind paying a steep annual fee for perks like lounge access, travel credits, status perks, and more, make sure to consider these cards as well: Why we like it: After its recent overhaul, the Chase Sapphire Reserve now carries the highest annual fee among the cards on this list. It also has one of the most flexible annual travel credits available today, offering up to $300 in statement credits for any travel purchases charged to your card. Like the Citi Strata Elite, this card also has airport lounge access perks, a fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, hotel credits, and more. While its highest 8x rewards category also requires booking travel through the issuer's Chase Travel portal, you can still earn 4x points with the Chase Sapphire Reserve when you book directly with hotels and we like it: The Platinum Card is also expected to undergo a refresh later this year, but current cardholders can get plenty of benefits while traveling for a $695 annual fee (see rates & fees). These include airport lounge access, up to $200 in airline fee credits for incidental charges with your choice airline, up to $200 in statement credits for select prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Travel, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Hilton Honors Gold status, and many more. Like the Citi Strata Elite, you'll get the best Amex Platinum rewards when you book through the issuer — 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. But you can earn the same rate on flights booked directly with airlines, too (up to $500,000 spent on combined flight purchases each year).Why we like it: Among premium travel card options, the Capital One Venture X has the lowest annual fee — but that doesn't mean it's lacking in value. You can earn boosted rewards for booking travel through Capital One Travel on top of a flat 2x miles on every purchase. As for benefits, there's a $300 annual travel credit you can also use on Capital One Travel purchases, plus airport lounge access, a 10,000-mile bonus every year starting on your first anniversary, and article was edited by Alicia Hahn. Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank's website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
CNN
5 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Earn up to 80,000 SkyMiles with these Delta Amex business card offers
CNN Underscored reviews financial products based on their overall value. We may receive a commission through our affiliate partners if you apply and are approved for a product, but our reporting is always independent and objective. This may impact how links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit to learn more. With Delta Air Lines's current welcome offers on their suite of business credit cards, savvy business owners or frequent Delta flyers can receive some serious travel savings. Currently, small business owners can earn up to 80,000 bonus Delta SkyMiles — enough for multiple domestic round-trip flights or even a one-way business-class ticket to Europe. Here's a closer look at the new Delta credit card offers. Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $4,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of opening the account. Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees). Welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of opening the account. Annual fee: $350 (see rates and fees) Welcome offer: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of opening the account. Annual fee: $650 (see rates and fees) Based on the points valuations of frequent flyer website The Points Guy, Delta SkyMiles are worth 1.15 cents apiece, but the exact value can vary depending on your route and travel dates due to Delta's dynamic pricing system. Here's how it breaks down. 60,000 miles: $690 in flight value 70,000 miles: $805 in flight value 80,000 miles: $920 in flight value If you're not a business owner or prefer a credit card for personal use, Delta and American Express also offer four consumer cards. These range from no-annual-fee options to premium products with exclusive travel perks. Here's a quick look at the current offers on each. Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: Earn 10,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $1,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of opening the account. $0 introductory annual fee (see rates and fees). Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Earn 50,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $2,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of opening the account. $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees). Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn 60,000 bonus SkyMiles after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of opening the account. $350 annual fee (see rates and fees). Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of opening the account. $650 annual fee (see rates and fees). Delta's boosted welcome offers on its business credit cards are some of the most rewarding we've seen and can add serious value to your travel budget if you qualify. With up to 80,000 miles on the table — and personal card offers also available — now could be a great time to add a Delta Amex to your wallet. The following FAQs have been answered by CNN Underscored travel editor and credit card expert Kyle Olsen. Am I eligible for more than one welcome bonus offer? Am I eligible for more than one welcome bonus offer? You can earn multiple Delta SkyMiles American Express welcome bonuses but only once per specific card product. That means you can't get the bonus again if you've already received it for the same card, even if you close and reapply. But you can earn bonuses across different Delta Amex cards (like Gold, Platinum, Reserve or Business versions), as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. In 2024, Amex introduced new restrictions that may prevent you from getting a bonus on one Delta card if you've had another, though rules vary by card and aren't always reciprocal. To improve your odds, it's often best to apply for lower-tier cards first. Amex will usually show a pop-up warning during the application process if you're not eligible for a bonus, allowing you to back out. Always check the latest terms before applying. Which is the right Delta Amex business card for me? Which is the right Delta Amex business card for me? The right Delta Amex business card comes down to how often you fly and what perks matter most to you. Go with the Gold if you travel occasionally and want solid benefits like a free checked bag and priority boarding with a low annual fee. Choose the Platinum if you fly more often and want extras like a companion certificate and travel credits. Opt for the Reserve if you travel frequently and value premium perks like lounge access and a first-class companion certificate. As with all CNN Underscored articles, our coverage of travel rewards and credit cards is rooted in independent, objective reporting and real-world experience. This piece was written by our travel editor Kyle Olsen, a Delta Gold Medallion member who has personally navigated the SkyMiles program since 2016. His firsthand insights are helpful for travelers looking to make the most of these business credit card offers. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Swap pricey summer getaways for these UK hidden gems
With the cost of living crisis continuing to hit people's wallets, many travellers are looking to stay closer to home for their summer holidays. Indeed, nearly three-quarters (71%) of Brits say cost is a key factor in choosing staycations over trips abroad, according to Mintel. Meanwhile, many holiday-makers are increasingly concerned about their carbon footprint and looking at alternatives to flying, making staycations popular. To avoid navigating sky-high flight prices, scrambling to find accommodation abroad and having to do lots of background research into potential hidden costs of a foreign trip, here are four 'dupe' holiday locations that channel the vibes of popular – and often pricier – far-flung destinations. 1. Choose Staithes, Yorkshire over Cinque Terre, Italy Italy's Cinque Terre is popular among tourists for its narrow streets, pastel villages and rich history. A slightly quieter and cheaper UK alternative could be Staithes – a charming Yorkshire fishing village with similar coloured cottages, winding cobbled streets and panoramic coastal views. Read more: How to save money on your holiday to Switzerland as Women's EURO 2025 kicks off Enjoy fresh fish and chips after exploring the cliffside along the Cleveland Way or go fossil hunting on the beach when the tide is out. With cheaper accommodation options and free activities such as beach-combing and hikes, Staithes is a lesser-known alternative to the popular Italian staycation. 2. Opt for Fowey, Cornwall instead of Santorini, Greece With its whitewashed houses and turquoise waters, the Greek island of Santorini is a top pick as a honeymoon destination for newlyweds. Fowey in Cornwall is a great alternative for couples looking for a cosy retreat with beautiful sunsets in the UK. With many Instagrammable hotspots, Fowey has a dreamy aesthetic with pastel cottages and estuary walks. For a romantic excursion, you can even kayak to a hidden beach. The peninsula is served by trains arriving at Par, followed by a short bus ride. You can stay at a harbourside Airbnb for a little over £100/night while enjoying a fresh crab sandwich for less than a fiver. 3. Explore Portmeirion, Wales instead of Portofino, Italy Italy's Portofino lures travellers with its luxury yachts and glamorous Riviera atmosphere. For an equally dreamy escape closer to home, head to Portmeirion; a unique Welsh village that feels like the Mediterranean, sandwiched between Snowdonia's mountains and the sea. Portmeirion was designed in the 1920s to mimic an Italian coastal town; it entices visitors with its candy-coloured villas, distinct architecture and hidden gardens. Take a direct train from London Euston to Bangor, then a short 30-minute taxi to Portmeirion. Stay at a quirky cottage for £90/night and stroll the peaceful estuary, explore subtropical woodlands, or relax on the quiet nearby beaches without the crowds of its Italian counterpart. Hike the Gwyllt woodland trails or visit Harlech Castle. To get a taste of Italy, there are also a number of highly-rated gelato spots in Portmeirion. 4. Swap Skye in Scotland for Dungeness, Kent For travellers on a tighter budget who want to experience the dramatic landscapes of Scotland's Isle of Skye, Dungeness in Kent offers a similar sense of peaceful isolation at a fraction of the cost and distance. Both offer dramatic landscapes dotted with decaying fishing boats that seem frozen in time. While Skye has its jagged peaks and peat bogs, Dungeness also offers dramatic contrasts, featuring vast shingle ridges and saline marshes. This part of the Kent coast is also Britain's only desert. Read more: How to save money on a holiday to Dubai Each destination is also known for its rich wildlife, with Skye home to puffins, sea eagles and red deer, while Dungeness has over 600 rare plant species, from samphire to lichens, in its protected wetlands. However, getting to Skye in the Inner Hebrides can be tricky given its remote location and may come with the disadvantage of crowds in peak season, with accommodation costing over £120/night. On the other hand, Dungeness is relatively reachable by train or car from across the UK and seaside Airbnbs can start at £60/night. It's a great dupe for those looking to explore a remote and striking coastal location without the complex in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
15-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Got2Go.com Revolutionizes Ticketing and Travel with Exclusive Go+ Membership
launched its Go+ Membership ($99/year), offering savings on event tickets (up to 24% off 100,000+ events) and travel. Members get up to 40% off hotels and 15% off vacation rentals from 110,000+ global accommodations. This all-in-one platform provides waived booking fees, simplifying planning. United States, July 15, 2025 -- a premier platform for tickets and travel, has announced the launch of its revamped Go+ Membership, designed to significantly enhance the way users access event tickets, accommodations, and vacation rentals. Unmatched Savings on Event Tickets At the forefront of offerings is its comprehensive ticketing platform, granting users access to over 100,000 events annually, including concerts, sports, theater performances, festivals, and more. With the Go+ Membership, ticket buyers enjoy discounts of up to 24%, providing unmatched value to event-goers and entertainment lovers. Whether fans are heading to major sporting events, popular music festivals, or sold-out theater shows, ensures they secure their tickets with substantial savings. Comprehensive Travel Solutions Beyond event tickets, offers travelers extensive choices, including more than 110,000 vacation rentals, hotels, and unique accommodations globally. Go+ members gain exclusive discounts of up to 40% off hotels and up to 15% off vacation rentals, making travel more affordable and enjoyable. A Membership Built for Convenience and Value The Go+ Membership, priced at $99 annually, allows users unlimited access to ongoing savings, waived booking fees, and exclusive instant-access promo codes. It streamlines travel and event experiences, enabling members to easily plan, book, and save throughout the year. A User-Friendly, All-In-One Platform simplifies event attendance and travel planning through its intuitive, user-friendly platform. Customers can effortlessly search, buy, and sell event tickets, book accommodations, and even host their properties to generate additional income. Every step is designed with customer ease and satisfaction in mind. Expanding Horizons continually broadens its offerings, recently integrating hotel bookings into its already extensive accommodation portfolio. Users now have even greater options for planning their perfect getaway or attending events nationwide. Committed to Excellence 'We're dedicated to transforming the ticket-buying and travel booking experience,' said founder Rosario 'Craig' Musumeci. 'Our goal is to eliminate hidden fees and provide genuine savings and seamless experiences to our customers.' With its innovative Go+ Membership and robust platform offerings, is poised to redefine the landscape for event enthusiasts and travelers alike. Join and Save Today Discover significant savings on your next event or vacation. Join Go+ Membership now at and elevate your experiences with unmatched discounts. Contact Info: Name: Srdan Kravic Email: Send Email Organization: Got2Go Website: Release ID: 89164745 Should any problems, inaccuracies, or doubts arise from the content contained within this press release, we kindly request that you inform us immediately by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our dedicated team will promptly address your concerns within 8 hours, taking necessary steps to rectify identified issues or assist with the removal process. Providing accurate and dependable information is at the core of our commitment to our readers.
