I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Lain]

Ouch.

Tried applying for the SPG Personal for my wife this morning, and she's still getting the pop up.

 

[GusGus16]

Evening all!

I looked in the hotel review thread and didn't see anything, so I'm asking here: anyone stayed at the Four Points Sheraton Anaheim near the entrance to Disneyland? I'm almost ready to book, except all the Internet reviews about the highway noise give me pause. Is it really that bad? We would just be there to sleep. Are the city view rooms more or less noisy?

I have a reservation in May and can report back afterwards. The hotel does get good reviews from disneytouristblog.

 

[StephPlum]

Ouch.

Tried applying for the SPG Personal for my wife this morning, and she's still getting the pop up.

Boo!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

LOL, I've done carry on only once and said never again. That was in the summer and I'm sure not tiny but summer weight clothes are easier to squish, at least in my experience. During that trip I sent clothes to the laundry at the hotel twice.

I do like to travel in the winter and DH and I have gotten to the point of having a "boots and shoes and outerwear" suitcase, even. I definitely respect hand luggage only peeps @GlamMistress @mmmears but with my bursitis, general flakiness, and tendency to often fly alone (i'd leave my bag in a restroom, I know it), checked bags work best for me.

We currently go with one checked and 3 personal/carryons (DS’s is a hard sided roller) so 4 pieces. If we do carry on only, we would have 6 pieces (1 roller bag/1 personal item each). I see advantages to both. It saves time not getting bags from baggage claim, though we’ve had stuff taken at the plane we had to retrieve from baggage claim. When moving around though, ie using a shuttle, switching hotels, storing bags after checkout, etc I find it easier to have only 4 bags to keep track of.
For WDW in March, we arrive in MCO at 6:30 pm. Carryon only will allow us to get to resort and eat more quickly, since DS gets hangry quickly. For DCL, I’m on the fence. We arrive in Vancouver at 9:30 am, so even with baggage claim, will be at our hotel before lunchtime.

 

[jhoannam]

Ouch.

Tried applying for the SPG Personal for my wife this morning, and she's still getting the pop up.

Have you thought about paying some interest, maybe they want your money? Don’t pay about $100 of the balance on one of her cards?

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I don't blame her a bit! Basically as a female I have checked bag needs. Hair, face, eyes (extra wetting solution), sunscreen, footwear. I cannot speak for every woman but I assure you my DH would agree that $50 is a small price to pay to avoid my distress if I don't have my stuff A certain person might have a reputation for her response in a certain hotel in Edinburgh when her luggage was lost and she was told "we have shops here you know."

Reminds me of my sister’s trip to Italy. She somehow forgot to pack dental floss. Of course they had it in Italy, it was just $10 for a tiny package that barely lasted the length of her vacation (my sister is an obsessive flosser, couldn’t go without)

 

[CyndiLouWho]

DH always laughs at me because I frequently travel without bringing a hairbrush I also don't use conditioner in my hair, so I just put whatever shampoo the hotel provides in it and call it a day. Finger comb it and off I go. I owned a hair straightener at one time... I wonder where that is.

I have to bring my own shampoo and body wash. I get itchy from the hotel stuff with scents and perfumes. DH has eczema and will often use the hotel stuff. Sometimes it makes his eczema flare up, sometimes it doesn’t. He’s willing to chance it. Lol

 

[miztressuz]

Ouch.

Tried applying for the SPG Personal for my wife this morning, and she's still getting the pop up.

Boooo

I'm not sure I have much hope then if they caught on to the spend trick. Ugh.

 

[Lain]

Have you thought about paying some interest, maybe they want your money? Don’t pay about $100 of the balance on one of her cards?

I really think Amex wants to see the the several thousand $/month spend that we put on DW's cards during MSR.

 

[tink1970]

Reminds me of my sister’s trip to Italy. She somehow forgot to pack dental floss. Of course they had it in Italy, it was just $10 for a tiny package that barely lasted the length of her vacation (my sister is an obsessive flosser, couldn’t go without)

In my defense, I haven't been able to find my make up (foundation), contact lens solution (gas perm) nor conditioner in the several shops on and near Princes Street in Edinburgh...I dragged DH to them ALL in December to prove my prior meltdown was warranted. He had so much fun.

 

[Psychodisney]

Hey everyone! I've been reading the thread and TPG and my head is spinning. I'm just getting the hang of this stuff, so I'm going to pick your brains if you don't mind.

We are looking at going to Disney World in about 2 years, shooting for Jan 2021. I'm dipping my toes in the water of using credit card rewards. We have a stack of points already on our two cards.
We would like go take a trip to Wyoming and Montana a couple years after the Disney trip, as well. And I will say it is likely we will end up going to Disney again!

We also like to camp, so paying for campgrounds and such is a bonus. I'm really not sure if our best bet is a travel card or a cashback style card.

The current cards and current points:
06/15 - DISCOVER it (96,234 miles)
??/16 - Chase Freedom (90,676 points)


Our spending estimates:
Utilities - $225
Gas - $275
Groceries - $350
Baby supplies - $100
Restaraunts -$180
Miscellaneous - $300

What do you suggest? I've been picking through the thread and reading a bunch on TPG. I am wondering if the Disney preferred card is the easiest thing to do, but am also now wondering about the Barclaycard Arrival Plus or the Chade Sapphire Preferred. I'm a little hesitant of a yearly fee, but I know sometimes that pays off. I'm a little lost trying to sort through everything!

I agree with the others that recommend getting the CSP. Get one for yourself, then refer P2. That would allow you to use your CF points for travel.
Like others have said, who knows if Disney properties will come back into the Chase portal. They might! Chase UR are very versatile and valuable.

Usually, the train of thought is to hit Chase first due to 5/24. But maybe these aren't the best options for you. Looks into cards like Barclay Arrival +, Capital One Venture and BOA Premium Travel. With these cards, you could "erase" (ie. take a statement credit) on travel charges. That might also help with your Disney hotels, tickets and even your campgrounds.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Thanks! I am a little uncomfortable with the Sapphire Reserve at the moment because I don't think I will use the travel credit this year. I do wish the Chase UR points were worth something at Disney! Such a bummer. I'll think about the Sapphire Preferred.

I think someone else mentioned, you can upgrade to CSR later when you need it. You won’t get the bonus, but you will get the travel credit. DH got the CSR, downgraded after a year, then upgraded this year since we have 2 vacations planned and we easily used the credit.

Hiking boots do take up a lot of space. I should switch to wearing on the plane instead of packing

I hate wearing on the plane because they are a pain taking off, sitting down to put on, tie shoes after TSA.

If I want shoes to dress up an outfit, I bring Tieks style ballet flats because they are travel friendly. Tieks are way too expensive as far as I'm concerned so I just want them to be flexible and fold-able like a pair of Tieks. Payless has a line of fold-able flats that are cute.

Unfortunately I can’t do flats. Everyone of my shoes has Dr Scholl’s inserts for cushioning and arch support. Even around the house I often wear shoes as barefoot too long gives me pain.

he Heat Tech base layers from Uniqlo work just as well,

I will check these out.

my hair is naturally straight and pretty manageable though.

So jealous. My hair is short but very wavy and prone to frizz. I always pack antifrizz serum and have to wash my hair everyday just to get it to lie down.

 

[Lain]

Boooo

I'm not sure I have much hope then if they caught on to the spend trick. Ugh.

I'm guessing I haven't spent enough on her cards. Compared to the several thousand $/month we put on her two cards during MSR, the uptick since dropping off has been only a few hundred $/month. I wish I could throw some VGCs/MCGCs on her Amex cards to boost her spend, but stores around here card me (make sure ID and CC match) when I try to buy VGCs/MCGCs, and it'd be hard to give up 4x MR at supermarkets on the Gold and 5x UR at office supply stores on the CIC to use my wife's Hilton Biz or SPG Biz anyway.

 

[kmc8826]

Ouch.

Tried applying for the SPG Personal for my wife this morning, and she's still getting the pop up.

I am so sorry! I agree they want thousands in spend...with no drop off. Maybe then and then only can you avoid the pop up. Of course then you can not get the pop up and then not also get the bonus like @schmass. I am getting more and more done with Amex.

And DH’s Hyatt went to 7-10 days so looks like that’s a denial too since he won’t call. Not worth effort. This churning game is so hard lately!

 

[Haley R]

To all my DIS friends at WDW right now...STAY DRY...today is “that day”. The day it rains all day - seems to happen one day each January trip for us. Weather shows a 100% chance of rain from 8am - 11pm. WOW. LOL

Good thing we get there tomorrow at 3 pm. The calm after the storm. Anyone there now be safe and dry though!

Good morning! I am not in WDW, nor doing anything cool... But I do have money questions!
I know someone here is using Heritage Bank because that's how I looked into it. I think I made my 10 debit transactions, am registered in estatements, had a DD. But my interest rate is still showing at .05%. The DD went through on Friday, do I have to be patient for it to change or should I be spazzing out (because currently I'm spazzing out).

Dh said once the charges go through, not pending anymore, the interest % should change. We just got our transactions yesterday (needed two more) and ours is still at 0.05%.

 

[platamama]

Good morning! I am not in WDW, nor doing anything cool... But I do have money questions!
I know someone here is using Heritage Bank because that's how I looked into it. I think I made my 10 debit transactions, am registered in estatements, had a DD. But my interest rate is still showing at .05%. The DD went through on Friday, do I have to be patient for it to change or should I be spazzing out (because currently I'm spazzing out).

I'm pretty sure @Haley R is using them. From my recollection @platamama and @Albort was involved in that conversation, so maybe one of them can help.

But I would think if the DD just went through on Friday you may have to wait until Monday to see the changes.

I'm sure it's @Haley R who has the Heritage Bank account. (Ironically, even though I posted about the bank, I don't have a Heritage account myself but have been meaning to open one for months!) I believe she's on vacation right now since she posted about HP Live recently.

ETA: Nvm I see she's replied!

 

[MrPTato]

Ouch.

Tried applying for the SPG Personal for my wife this morning, and she's still getting the pop up.

*dislike*

 

[Alexle2007]

I hate wearing on the plane because they are a pain taking off, sitting down to put on, tie shoes after TSA.

This is where GE or TSA pre-check come in handy. No shoe removal

 

[speedyfishy]

I'm guessing I haven't spent enough on her cards. Compared to the several thousand $/month we put on her two cards during MSR, the uptick since dropping off has been only a few hundred $/month. I wish I could throw some VGCs/MCGCs on her Amex cards to boost her spend, but stores around here card me (make sure ID and CC match) when I try to buy VGCs/MCGCs, and it'd be hard to give up 4x MR at supermarkets on the Gold and 5x UR at office supply stores on the CIC to use my wife's Hilton Biz or SPG Biz anyway.

If you weren’t in an MS wasteland I’d suggest MSing the Hilton Biz for a free night.

 

[MrPTato]

I have to bring my own shampoo and body wash. I get itchy from the hotel stuff with scents and perfumes. DH has eczema and will often use the hotel stuff. Sometimes it makes his eczema flare up, sometimes it doesn’t. He’s willing to chance it. Lol

I have the same issue with eczema on the scalp. Head and Shoulders is good for when I'm not sweating. I have special Rx shampoo and lotion for Disney because of the heat and sweat.