S3 E12: Citi ThankYou® Points Overview: Cards and Sweet Spots

Click MORE to see Ad disclosuresUPDATE: Citi® is ending ThankYou® Points Sharing on May 17, 2026. If you've been pooling points with a partner, friend, or family member, May 16 is your last day to share. Remember, shared points expire 90 days after transfer — so have a plan to use or transfer them to a partner program before they expire! APRIL 2026 UPDATE: As of April 19, 2026 the transfer rates for both Choice and Preferred Hotels is reduced when transferring from Citi. New rates: 1,000 ThankYou Rewards Points are transferable for 1,500 Choice Privileges points (reduced by 500 points)1,000 ThankYou Rewards Points are transferable for 2,000 I Prefer Points (reduced by 2,000 points)For a long time, the Citi ThankYou ecosystem has lived in the shadow of other rewards programs, but some massive changes in the last year have brought it back onto my radar. Between the addition of American Airlines as a transfer partner and a brand-new premium card—the Citi Strata Elite—there is new value to unlock. I’m especially excited to dive into the Preferred Hotels partnership, which is a hidden gem for anyone who loves booking unique, independent properties using points instead of just the big corporate chains.In this episode, I’ll walk you through the current card lineup, including how to navigate calendar year credits to make sure you're getting way more value than the annual fee. We’ll also talk about my favorite hotel "sweet spots" where your points can effectively double or even quadruple in value. I’ll show you exactly how to make the most of this often-overlooked program.ACTION STEPS:Browse the Maps: If you already have points, check out the new map and database of Preferred Hotels to find high-value properties. https://katiestraveltricks.com/guide-to-booking-preferred-hotels-map/Mark Your Calendar: If you want to maximize the "triple dip," set a reminder for early December to look into the Citi Strata Elite.Stay the Course: If you are a beginner, stick to your current three-year plan and keep this info for later so you don't get overwhelmed by too many programs at once. See the three-year plan here https://katiestraveltricks.com/3-year-plan/ More Affiliate Card Offers Page: Visit this page to see more card offers available and support our work https://katiestraveltricks.com/more-affiliate-offers/ New Here? Hi, I’m Katie from Katie’s Travel Tricks! I am here to help you learn the secrets that my family has been using for over a decade, using everyday expenses and welcome offers to supercharge your points earning. When you learn to do this, you can cover entire vacations every year.Our family has been to Hawaii, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe — and more — all thanks to strategically earning and redeeming points. We've done this on a limited travel budget and now want to help you do it, too.More from Katie’s Travel Tricks🔗 Website Instagram💻 Free Course💳 Best Current Card Offers🎒 Favorite Travel GearAdvertiser Disclosure: Some of the card links and other products that appear on this podcast are from companies which Katie's Travel Tricks will earn an affiliate commission. Katie's Travel Tricks is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. The content in this podcast is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available. Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone...