Hi all, new here and would love some of your expert advice!


Started researching and watching tons of Youtube videos about different cards, "trifectas", etc. After much thought I was about to sign up for Citi Strata Premier, and then Get Double Cash and Custom Cash, and eventually PC Double Cash to Custom and then get another Double Cash.


Goals: Do not travel much right now, but will be starting more. Mostly driving to destinations, VA Beach oceanfront which is an hour away, Ocean City, Outer Banks, other east coast beaches, Florida (Orlando for Disney World and Universal, eventually Sea World, Busch Gardens Tampa, and others). In the future we may incorporate flying to All Inclusive Caribbean, doing some cruises, and further down the line international travel to Italy or Ireland. But not often, and not in near future. We don't dine out much, but do occasionally with 2 kids, get take-out occasionally as well. It might equal monthly gas expense.


To maximize both SUB and accumulating points through everyday spending, I thought Citi sounded best- getting 2 Custom Cash for highest rewards which likely are gas and groceries. Other expenses include mortgage, HELOC on a rental house that we otherwise own outright, utilities, insurance, every day online spending like Amazon or other retailers, etc. We also have semi-annual property taxes, HOA, rental property expenses, and I have an LLC small business that I do part-time with not more than a few thousand total expenses per year consisting of gas/mileage, dump fees for disposal of junk, insurances, business cards/sponsorships/advertising, and dump trailer payment. Maybe $3-$4K each year total.


I thought Citi would be best, utilizing 2 Custom Cash cards for what would be highest each month- Grocery and either home improvement or dining, which ever is highest, and Strata for gas at 3% and Double Cash for everything else. Good overall coverage at 5, 3, and 2 percents, without a lot of overlap. Also, bonus that grocery includes in-store whereas Chase is online-only. We don't do that and prefer not to.


Also, the 4X redemption for I Prefer Hotels sounded good, 1 to 2 for Choice Privileges hotels, access to Wyndham and IHG partners- all sounded good. We aren't fancy and don't need luxury accommodations, find with low-mid or mid-tier stuff. Was about to start signing up, when others kept recommendating Chase


The reason kept being 2 reasons- First, that even if earning is less, more benefit with Chase for redemptions. Second being good value with Hyatt. Third being that Citi Customer service is bad, and research seems to reflect that with lots of complaints about service, false fraud alerts and rejected purchases that require waiting time to resolve having to wait for stuff in the mail. That turns me off pretty badly.


However, Chase also seems worse, for our needs, when it comes to earning with lots of overlap benefits, less point accumulation due to lower percentages like 1.5 and 2, and grocery being online-only. One benefit is that's it's VISA instead of MC, so in-person Costco we could use it.


Are the redemption benefits, especially for hotels since we don't fly much, that much better with Chase UR? For hotels, I'd be fine with Hyatt and IHG as well. Maybe down the line might add a Marriott or Hilton Card to make those hotels a better option since as I understand it, you get less point value with them. I'd love to be able to use points to stay on-site at WDW Swan or Dolphin hotels.


So- better to go with Citi for more point accumulation and customized to match our spending categories, or Chase for, as I've been told multiple times, better point redemption and better service?


Citi would be Strata Premier, Double Cash, and Custom Cashes. Chase would be Sapphire Reserve, Freedom Flex, and Freedom Unlimited. Hopefully Bilt 2.0 once they release their new cards in 2026 to cover mortgage and maybe other household/taxes/insurance stuff. Currently have old Barclay Arrival Plus and Wells Fargo Active Cash.


Thanks!