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

[AmyAnne]

Marriott people -- so Gold status no longer gets breakfast or lounge access? That's a bummer. Also makes the Fairfield Inn (at 25,000 pts) a lot more enticing than the Sheraton (at 35,000 pts).

 

[StephPlum]

A little late to all the library talk. We have overdrive and just got Libby. I am not sure I understand the difference. I am used to Overdrive and use that platform to find and borrow the books. I usually read in my Kindle app on my ipad or on my kindle. I did just borrow an audio book and listened through Libby in the car. Anyway, we get 10 books at a time and you can return them early. I just did that because I had borrowed 2 books to read on my flight in 2 weeks but I borrowed too early, they would have expired before my trip. I returned tonight and then borrowed again. One thing you can't do is renew the eBooks. I do like real, physical books better but when I travel, it is nice to have a bunch of books on my tablet instead of taking up space in my luggage.

 

[MarBee]

Sorry, but I have another “what card should I get next” question...
DH currently is at 4/24. He has
CF, CIP, CSP, and several SW cards that I’ll be cancelling soon. Also has the SPG Amex.
I am at 5/24 and have SPG Amex, Citi AA card, CSP, CF, SW plus, SW Premier, Disney VISA, and Marriott VISA.

I was thinking of referring him for the Marriott Bonvoy card from my account but wasn’t sure if I would have to cancel his SPG Amex first or not.

We have about $4k worth of purchases coming up this Spring, so I’d like to take advantage of a good sign up bonus.
(We currently have about 100k Rapid Rewards points, 10k AA points, 150k UR points, and 135k Marriott points.)

Any suggestions or advice?

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Sorry, but I have another “what card should I get next” question...
DH currently is at 4/24. He has
CF, CIP, CSP, and several SW cards that I’ll be cancelling soon. Also has the SPG Amex.
I am at 5/24 and have SPG Amex, Citi AA card, CSP, CF, SW plus, SW Premier, Disney VISA, and Marriott VISA.

I was thinking of referring him for the Marriott Bonvoy card from my account but wasn’t sure if I would have to cancel his SPG Amex first or not.

We have about $4k worth of purchases coming up this Spring, so I’d like to take advantage of a good sign up bonus.
(We currently have about 100k Rapid Rewards points, 10k AA points, 150k UR points, and 135k Marriott points.)

Any suggestions or advice?

Since your husband is 4/24...what about applying for the other Chase business cards CIC or CIU..both have the same bonus 50k URs and a $3k MSR
Just make sure to reduce credit limits on his other chase cards if close to 50% of household income

 

[mmmears]

I've looked at the cruises but considering the amount of time I'd want to spend in Bergen and potentially go up into the mountains from there, it just wouldn't make sense. I'd also love to go up to Tromso up in the arctic circle to see the midnight sun which obviously means I want to go in late June It gets warmer in July and August from what I've read. I'd also go over to Oslo just because I'm already there so silly not to. My great grandmother that I'm named after left from Bergen and came to the US through Ellis Island. I've found her info for that. My mom's been able to trace everyone back to Norway but then it gets hard because things are digitized and/or are in Norwegian. The church's have very good records there though. My mom's parents were the first generation born in the US, everyone else came from Norway.

Yes, our trip was more like a taste of Norway. I could see us going back and seeing more of the country. FIL visited the small town his family is from, spent time in Bergen, and then I believe caught some ship and went up to the north, but the cruise part wasn't the main event on that trip. I have to say that sailing into Alesund was breathtakingly beautiful.

 

[StephPlum]

It is time for a new card for DH, the CIU. I mentioned to him the other night:
Me: Is it ok if I get you a new card?
DH: Is it for you to get points or for me to use?
Me: Points

At least he knows the right questions. He probably will get to use this one, though the main use will be to fund a PNC account. It will give him 1.5x on all purchases. I don't know if he will be able to remember to switch out with the CIC for gas.

 

[MrPTato]

I'm a little different in that I don't necessarily mind who is narrating as long as it's a good story. That being said, I'm in the minority from most who have commented here in that I do not like Jim Dale's reading of Harry Potter (why is Hermione so whiny? why on EARTH does Bellatrix have a French accent?). I really want to listen to Stephen Fry's readings, but haven't purchased those and my library doesn't have them. I also don't like Outlander, but I do think Davina Porter is a great narrator and listened to her read all 55 hours of The Mists of Avalon last year. Have you read anything by Liane Moriarty? Caroline Lee narrates her books and does a great job. She's Australian. Andy Weir's books (The Martian, Artemis) area also very well-narrated and will keep you on the edge of your seat.

My favorite audiobook is Ready Player One narrated by Wil Wheaton. I'm not sure the book is for everyone though because it delves pretty deep into being a nerd, though it is very popular so maybe I'm wrong. World War Z is also great (though scary) and features a full cast including Mark Hamill!

I like how he reads the book but this has me puzzled.

Carbon Monoxide would certainly pull the trigger for me.

I haven't escaped this year yet to any warm weather spot. I keep making plans and then finding a reason to cancel. By the time April rolls around, I'll have no reason to leave. So, will I make it through the next month? We will see.

We are planning on coming down the first weekend in April for cherry blossoms again...hoping to see more color and it be a little warmer than here in New England.

Meanwhile, over here in MA, I think this is the least snowiest winter in the 10 years I have lived here. A few more inches expected tonight.

Same in RI! It is snowing here now, though...should be done by day break.

I know, read that earlier so I'm nervous to try it!

I got one to be active again...waiting on the other.

 

[afan]

Yes, our trip was more like a taste of Norway. I could see us going back and seeing more of the country. FIL visited the small town his family is from, spent time in Bergen, and then I believe caught some ship and went up to the north, but the cruise part wasn't the main event on that trip. I have to say that sailing into Alesund was breathtakingly beautiful.

Typing this for the 3rd time since my phone keeps redirecting me to a stupid walmart page, yay for spam redirects! Thankfully the link is also broken.

I haven't done a ton of research but I know there are day boat trips to see the fjords and if I remember correctly there's a passenger ferry/ship that you can use between some places along the coast so there's at least more than just a cruise ship to see the coast etc. I also know that Choice hotels are a pretty good use of points over there and they have nicer properties with great breakfasts included, much different than what we're used to over here. So if you ever see me type here that I'm going for one of those cards you'll know I've decided to go there and that route over another chain

 

[Haley R]

A little late to all the library talk. We have overdrive and just got Libby. I am not sure I understand the difference. I am used to Overdrive and use that platform to find and borrow the books. I usually read in my Kindle app on my ipad or on my kindle. I did just borrow an audio book and listened through Libby in the car. Anyway, we get 10 books at a time and you can return them early. I just did that because I had borrowed 2 books to read on my flight in 2 weeks but I borrowed too early, they would have expired before my trip. I returned tonight and then borrowed again. One thing you can't do is renew the eBooks. I do like real, physical books better but when I travel, it is nice to have a bunch of books on my tablet instead of taking up space in my luggage.

I'm with you on having physical books. I love the feeling of a book in my hands, but it's so much easier to take an ebook around, especially if we are on a car ride in the dark. Then I can just turn my kindle app black and read in the car without bothering DH. But when I'm subbing I'd much rather have a book so it doesn't look like I'm sitting on my phone in my free time.

 

[pillow]

Typing this for the 3rd time since my phone keeps redirecting me to a stupid walmart page, yay for spam redirects! Thankfully the link is also broken.

I haven't done a ton of research but I know there are day boat trips to see the fjords and if I remember correctly there's a passenger ferry/ship that you can use between some places along the coast so there's at least more than just a cruise ship to see the coast etc. I also know that Choice hotels are a pretty good use of points over there and they have nicer properties with great breakfasts included, much different than what we're used to over here. So if you ever see me type here that I'm going for one of those cards you'll know I've decided to go there and that route over another chain

I recall reading about Choice hotels in Norway. Can you still do the book/cancel trick to “buy” points like you can with IHG? I think Hurtigruten (sp?) is the local cruise line, but when I priced it out, I thought they were expensive. My ideal trip would be to cruise 1 way and drive back 1 way. We’re probably a few years away from this one!

 

[afan]

I recall reading about Choice hotels in Norway. Can you still do the book/cancel trick to “buy” points like you can with IHG? I think Hurtigruten (sp?) is the local cruise line, but when I priced it out, I thought they were expensive. My ideal trip would be to cruise 1 way and drive back 1 way. We’re probably a few years away from this one!

I've never heard of that so I'm not sure. I know sometimes it does actually make sense to buy their points and that if you have a cheap property nearby it's often beneficial to check in and go home during one of their x points for x stays promo's. I use this blog loyaltytraveler.boardingarea.com and follow him, Ric Garrido - LoyaltyTraveler on twitter. He tends to travel to eastern europe and scandanavia on points but more on the chains or property's that are found in those countries which aren't necessarily where you'd stay at elsewhere. He left today for Warsaw and Stockholm. He's helpful with some of his points stuff but to me he also normalizes a lot of places that I wouldn't necessarily think of visiting in eastern europe.

Cruising one way and driving back would be nice. There are parts south of Bergen that would be nice to see but the drive from there to Oslo isn't necessarily what I would want to do either. I think I started figuring out how to fly into Bergen and then get to the other big city that I can't remember now on that side either by boat or car and then flying from there to Tromso and then to Oslo.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

.

 

[kmc8826]

Churning wise update: made the one charge on new Amex Green Monday. 10k MR’s posted today. The referral bonus had already posted. You were right @Lain...it was the 10k MR’s instead of offered 5k.

Puerto Rico. My husband’s brother was working there in 2007 and we went there for a week. We stayed with them so not doing fancy hotel thing, but my memory of it was of all the roaming homeless starving dogs. Hopefully that has improved. Honestly it ruined the trip for me.

 

[afan]

@amalone1013 I just found a "hidden" journal I'd stuck on top of others on a shelf that I forgot I bought a couple months ago It was on clearance at Target and it's super cute hard cover red with stylized white polka dots.

Also I'm trying to stretch out my ears I read yesterday that someone cuts the bottom of disney ears, pulls the headband out and replaces it with one from michael's. Another stretched hers on books. After examining the ends of both of my pair it doesn't seem like it'd be as easy and even though you wouldn't see the end behind my ear/hair, I'm too much of a perfectionist for the mess I know it'll look like if I did do it. So I'll see if this works, if not I may try that route. I'd like to be able to wear them without headaches and I have a small head.

 

[3 DD love princesses]

Anyone ever fly with a leg in a cast? DS 7 just broke his leg skiing (fractured tibia). They said he would be in a cast for 8-10 weeks! We have a trip to Ireland planned for April, approximately 6 weeks away. A quick google search tells me I need to buy 3 seats for him since his cast goes up over his knee!?!?!
Anyone ever have the misfortune of flying in a cast?

Measure the length of his cast. If he’s not too tall he should be ok

In restrospect, I’m a terrible source for a current DP. I’m not sure if Amex is still expediting the SPG Lux/Bonvoy Brilliant (given that it’s a $450 AF card!), or it’s using snail mail these days.

DH applied in Dec it was overnighted no problem

 

[mom2elal]

I'm a little different in that I don't necessarily mind who is narrating as long as it's a good story. That being said, I'm in the minority from most who have commented here in that I do not like Jim Dale's reading of Harry Potter (why is Hermione so whiny? why on EARTH does Bellatrix have a French accent?). I really want to listen to Stephen Fry's readings, but haven't purchased those and my library doesn't have them. I also don't like Outlander, but I do think Davina Porter is a great narrator and listened to her read all 55 hours of The Mists of Avalon last year. Have you read anything by Liane Moriarty? Caroline Lee narrates her books and does a great job. She's Australian. Andy Weir's books (The Martian, Artemis) area also very well-narrated and will keep you on the edge of your seat.

My favorite audiobook is Ready Player One narrated by Wil Wheaton. I'm not sure the book is for everyone though because it delves pretty deep into being a nerd, though it is very popular so maybe I'm wrong. World War Z is also great (though scary) and features a full cast including Mark Hamill!

I have read a few of Liane Moriarty's books and I enjoyed them. I'll have to check out the audiobooks of her others. I've also read The Martian, but not Artemis, and World War Z. I don't think Ready Player One is for me, but my dh loved it. I'm totally a nerd, but maybe not the right kind, lol? Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[mom2elal]

Hi my name is Calypso and I am addicted to audiobooks. I've been a platinum Audible subscriber for many years now and renew the platinum subscription (24 credits in 24 months) well before the 2 years is up. I drive a lot for work. Just yesterday I had to drive a little over 3 1/2 hours to Key West and back in the same day. 7 hours of driving in one day, although that isn't typical. My favorite audibooks that I will often listen to over again is The Outlander series (on my 4th re-listening of that one. The narrator, Davina Porter is outstanding. The books are loooooong and were the catalyst to my travel hacking and churning. The story made me and DH want to visit Scotland, ABD announced a new Scotland itinerary and I tried to figure out how to afford that trip, stumbled upon travel hacking and here we are.

Jim Dale, narrator of the Harry Potter series is also amazing and the books are so much better than the movies. I am Pilgrim, written by Terry Hayes is a great story. That one was recommended to me by a gentleman sitting next to me on a plane. Just about anything written by Ken Follet is a great listen as is anything by Jeffrey Archer.

They make driving so much more fun! I'll have to check out I am Pilgrim and Ken Follet. Thanks!

 

[wendow]

Also I'm trying to stretch out my ears I read yesterday that someone cuts the bottom of disney ears, pulls the headband out and replaces it with one from michael's. Another stretched hers on books. After examining the ends of both of my pair it doesn't seem like it'd be as easy and even though you wouldn't see the end behind my ear/hair, I'm too much of a perfectionist for the mess I know it'll look like if I did do it. So I'll see if this works, if not I may try that route. I'd like to be able to wear them without headaches and I have a small head.

Just curious if these are older ears or newer ones? My dd18 ordered the small world ears and just got them a couple days ago. She said the new ones are better designed for adult heads. She wore her small world ears several hours today while doing school work and said she actually forgot she had them on, which was a first.

 

[afan]

Just curious if these are older ears or newer ones? My dd18 ordered the small world ears and just got them a couple days ago. She said the new ones are better designed for adult heads. She wore her small world ears several hours today while doing school work and said she actually forgot she had them on, which was a first.

One pair is the blue sparkly bow with black sequin ears that came out in 2016 and the other are my DLP ears I got last spring. I did also read that some ears aren't as tight and holding mine up together you can see the DLP one's aren't as tight but are still too tight. I never thought to look and see how close together the ends are when I buy them.

I really like the small world ears but the price of ears has gotten crazy. At least I'd get an ap discount but still. I also don't like wearing ears my entire trip, though if they fit better that might change.

 

[wendow]

One pair is the blue sparkly bow with black sequin ears that came out in 2016 and the other are my DLP ears I got last spring. I did also read that some ears aren't as tight and holding mine up together you can see the DLP one's aren't as tight but are still too tight. I never thought to look and see how close together the ends are when I buy them.

I really like the small world ears but the price of ears has gotten crazy. At least I'd get an ap discount but still. I also don't like wearing ears my entire trip, though if they fit better that might change.

I can only wear them for a short time cause I get a headache as well. I need to try dd's IASW ones and see how they fit. She bought them on the 25% off sale they had recently but yes, the cost is still crazy, imo. She wears them around though lol, not just at Disney, so I *guess* it maybe makes more sense for her