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

[SouthFayetteFan]

I don't want to upset Chase so I will probably just wait the whole year. Would Chase even consider a PC from CSP => CS if you also hold a CSR? Would it circumvent the 1 Sapphire rule considering you already have both?

The 1 sapphire rule is only to restrict bonuses, not PCs so I don’t think it would come into play here.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

If you have your dates and destination set, it's probably a good idea to book your Marriott hotel now with the points advance option (if you don't yet have the points) to lock in the points pricing, especially if your hotel is going up an awards category and with the implementation of peak pricing coming.

yeah waiting on school schedule to be approved so we know when our break is next school year. won't have it in time

 

[Lain]

@Lain did you at least get the referral bonus for the BGR?

Yup! And I guess if I don’t get the SUB, I still have a first year no fee card that can earn me two 20k MR referral bonuses.

 

[pillow]

Shocker of shockers, Marriott is changing 71 Cat 5 to Cat 6. Go figure. DW and I had been talking about whether to keep the Premier Plus with the $95 AF posting since there was no retention offer. This makes it a lot easier. For NYC, the only remaining Cat 5 in a good central-ish location that I can see is the Marriott Midtown East. I love that area but many other tourist trip reports I've read aren't keen on it because it's much quieter.

Bummed about the NYC changes. Was really looking forward to staying at the Residence Inn.

 

[MrPTato]

Ha ha. I adjust mine with the app. DH probably doesn’t know there’s an app. Then there was the time we went to WDW in March and turned the heat down and I forgot to check the app before we flew home. Turns out it was 55 degrees IN the house. The power had gone out (and come back on but the furnace always needs to be reset) If I had checked from FL I could have sent someone over.

Not sure if she knows about the app either. She has the pin to change it but what a pain in the bottom to do it. She will just usually put on another layer. I wish the nest had a hold feature instead of going in and totally changing the calendar settings.

 

[MrPTato]

My cat actually goes to the potty outside 100%, no litter box for us!

Lucky!

 

[MrPTato]

Cats are so easy to leave for a week without anyone having to check on them

This is why we have cats and no dog. Water, food, and fresh boxes and we are good to go.

 

[pillow]

A question for the Alaska Air experts: what is the best way to get points (besides the Alaska Air credit card)? Transfer MRs? Or any way to use other airlines' points (I have a lot of American and United points)?

Gift cards dot com is on their shopping portal. The portal has a bonus going right now too - 400 extra I think. Not huge points but they add up.

Also xfer from Marriott.

 

[Haley R]

This is why we have cats and no dog. Water, food, and fresh boxes and we are good to go.

Yes! It makes it so easy to travel. And I don’t have to walk them in the winter lol

 

[striker1064]

I was toying with going under 5/24 to get the Marriott business card for the FN but the upcoming changes to the categories for the NYC properties means I won't be doing that now. I still may go for a Hyatt card down the line though and if I do that then I may upgrade my current Marriott to a Ritz Carlton card.

You actually can still get Marriott Biz over 5/24. Looks like it's about to disappear though, so get it now if you want it.

 

[hsmamato2]

Just a spot check, seeing

NYC
Residence Inn Central Park and Times Sq going up from Cat 5 (35k standard) to Cat 6 (50k standard)

Anaheim/Disneyland Resort
Residence Inn Anaheim going up from Cat 5 to 6.
Four Points Anaheim going up from Cat 3 to 4.
And increases for other farther hotels

Hawaii
Sheraton Waikiki going up from Cat 6 to 7 (60k standard).
Sheraton Princess Kaiulani going up from Cat 5 to 6.
Marriott Waikiki going up from Cat 5 to 6.
Residence Inn Maui Wailea going up from Cat 5 to 6.

No bueno.

boo. this helps me feel better about dumping my spg card with the 35k free nite attached...even less I'll need it for....

 

[miztressuz]

We are HersheyPark frequenters as we have APs but we usually stay at the Fairfield in Hershey. We tried the Courtyard last visit I but will be going back to Fzirfield. Before I got into Marriott we always stayed at theComfort Suites inHummelstown or the Comfort Inn right by the KMart. Where is the SpringHill? Since I am a fed, I look for the gov’t rate where possible. I currently have the Fairfield booked for Easter weekend for Springtime in the Park but the prices are ridiculous for the following weekend when the park is only open to APs.

I've wondered about the Fairfield, I'll keep that in mind. The SpringHill is across the street down RT 39, by the classic car museum. (https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/harsh-springhill-suites-hershey-near-the-park/) There's a Quality Inn right next to it and a Hampton Inn at the next intersection. Just a few minutes drive away from the park entrance. We usually stay on that side of Hershey Park Dr as family is up the road but the event is at the country club this year so we may branch out. Sucks that even the Fairfield is 35k too, usually they are one cat down but location location location I'd probably pass on the Courtyard too, at least the Springhill and Fairfield include breakfast for that rate.
We've stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on Walton across from the Kmart, too. Hubby has it in his head that he doesn't like the mattress there but I don't have a problem with it. Honestly, I think it's just because it's not his Marriott so I try to book that but when I can't he gets the IHG if we need to be close.

 

[Judique]

I've wondered about the Fairfield, I'll keep that in mind. The SpringHill is across the street down RT 39, by the classic car museum. (https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/harsh-springhill-suites-hershey-near-the-park/) There's a Quality Inn right next to it and a Hampton Inn at the next intersection. Just a few minutes drive away from the park entrance. We usually stay on that side of Hershey Park Dr as family is up the road but the event is at the country club this year so we may branch out. Sucks that even the Fairfield is 35k too, usually they are one cat down but location location location I'd probably pass on the Courtyard too, at least the Springhill and Fairfield include breakfast for that rate.
We've stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on Walton across from the Kmart, too. Hubby has it in his head that he doesn't like the mattress there but I don't have a problem with it. Honestly, I think it's just because it's not his Marriott so I try to book that but when I can't he gets the IHG if we need to be close.

Another use for my 35k certificate stash! I keep wanting to go to Hershey just to check it out but have never been there. There are almost always some kind of special ticket deal.

And for anyone of a certain age (62) using cash versus points, I've noted that the senior discount when offered by Marriott usually is the best rate by a few dollars. I always check AAA and senior. And, these are usually cancelable rates which I try to book.

 

[Alexle2007]

I've wondered about the Fairfield, I'll keep that in mind. The SpringHill is across the street down RT 39, by the classic car museum. (https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/harsh-springhill-suites-hershey-near-the-park/) There's a Quality Inn right next to it and a Hampton Inn at the next intersection. Just a few minutes drive away from the park entrance. We usually stay on that side of Hershey Park Dr as family is up the road but the event is at the country club this year so we may branch out. Sucks that even the Fairfield is 35k too, usually they are one cat down but location location location I'd probably pass on the Courtyard too, at least the Springhill and Fairfield include breakfast for that rate.
We've stayed at the Holiday Inn Express on Walton across from the Kmart, too. Hubby has it in his head that he doesn't like the mattress there but I don't have a problem with it. Honestly, I think it's just because it's not his Marriott so I try to book that but when I can't he gets the IHG if we need to be close.

I’ll keep that one in mind. We’ve never stayed in that area. We like The downtown area since we typically go to Devon’s Seafood and Steak and DS loves Duck Donuts!

 

[Alexle2007]

Another use for my 35k certificate stash! I keep wanting to go to Hershey just to check it out but have never been there. There are almost always some kind of special ticket deal.

And for anyone of a certain age (62) using cash versus points, I've noted that the senior discount when offered by Marriott usually is the best rate by a few dollars. I always check AAA and senior. And, these are usually cancelable rates which I try to book.

We LOVE it and next summer there is going to be major changes with Chocolate Town coming at the main entrance. We started off with APs to Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster and then as DS aged out we did DW and HersheyPark APs and now that he is all about the roller coasters it’s HP only. The water park is awesome in the summer time. I bet your GDs would love DW.

 

[Jaime4004]

Hmmm, I think I've missed something. I thought I had stayed up to date on the thread lately, but maybe not. SPG cards are increasing the annual fee for existing cards? How much is it going up? I assumed it was for people getting new cards, but the fee can change once you have one? We have two amex SPG biz cards with the $95 fee. That is worth it to me, but not any higher than that...

 

[amalone1013]

My CIP SUB posted!


I'm at work this weekend, so I have a big To Do list for myself involving multiple phone calls... yayyyyyy.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I haven't seen that one, so funny!

My 6 year old likes to talk to Alexa. Today, she asked her what her favorite letter is (it's "A" - for obvious reasons). My favorite is "Alexa, where's the remote?". "Try under the couch."

Too cute about your daughter! And lol on under couch—I hadn’t heard that.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Everyone who was considering the residence inn and spring hills suites Charleston Riverview for 7 night certs, it is bumping to cat 5...book now if you are really interested.

ETA: I just made a ressie for 4th of July week in case. Don't have to twist my arm to get me to spend a week in chs and I don't feel confident I will be able to upgrade my cert. I am still going to try though, and if I am successful probably use it for swolphin.

 

[pillow]

Everyone who was considering the residence inn and spring hills suites Charleston Riverview for 7 night certs, it is bumping to cat 5...book now if you are really interested.

Also, for wine lovers, the Westin and Marriott in Napa are going from 50k to 60K + also the Sonoma Renaissance is doing the same. The Courtyard in SF Fisherman's Wharf is increasing from 35k. NYC devaluation + this = super bummed.