Citi Travel Portal is a scam

I've already seen a few posts that claimed Citi Travel Portal hotels were more expensive.

But the deception runs deeper.

Not only is the "base rate" (i.e. not including taxes) more expensive, but the base rate doesn't include the "Pay at check-in" amount that's added in during checkout.

BUT THE DECEPTION RUNS DEEPER!

Their Citi Strata Premier card has a promotion that takes $100 off of $500, but the promotion only triggers if BASE COST (without taxes or pay at check-in) is $500+. A "$247/night" hotel doesn't trigger the promotion, but taxes and "pay at check-in" brings total above $600. Essentially, this means I have to spend $610+ to get $100 off, WHICH because of the above deceptive practices, ends up being marginally cheaper, if at all, than just booking normally elsewhere.

I ran the experiment using Citi Portal, Chase Portal, and Booking.com
Hotel: Catalonia Gran Via BCN
Guests: 2 adults, 1 child
Dates: Aug 1-3
Room Type: Standard Triple
TOTAL PRICE –
Chase Portal: "$238/night", taxes included, $43.43 fees due at property, TOTAL = $519.21;
Booking.com: "$217/night", taxes not included, $84 in taxes, TOTAL = $521 due at property;
Citi Portal: "$247/night". taxes not included. Taxes $49.39; Pay at checkin $59.10, TOTAL = $602.38;