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

[DisneyMandC]

Yeah, I get it if that's your only options, but sometimes even if you're only in the room for 6 hours it's better to pay a little more to not stay in the meth lab wing

I've stayed in my fair share of doozies all in the name of "lesser or the two evils" (would you like the room with bed being held together with duct tape? or would you like the room with the wall of windows containing the entry door that moves when a car drives by the place (with a questionable lock)? Psych, fooled you, it's the same room! Now, would you like the drug dealing wing or the money laundering wing?...) and given a choice now I'll find a way to pay points or something, anything, to not have to make the hard calls if I can

(some people check hotel reviews, I check the 6 o'clock news for my motel choices )

THIS happened at our biggest horse show we go to every year. Warning: the description of the injury is not for the faint of heart. The robber was later caught.

There's a reference in that article to a grandmother who shot a robber at the same horse show the year before. Here's the story on THAT.

That horse show is well-known in Columbus since it's a month-long and there are a lot of people coming to it with money... LOTS of thefts!!

 

[pillow]

Working on catching up since I'm over 100 pages behind after a crazy few weeks. About 3 weeks ago I started running fever, feeling very tired and throat was burning so I headed in to urgent care thinking it was flu. Flu test was negative and dr said there was no reason to test for strep. He gave me antibiotics and cough syrup and sent me on my way. Still felt pretty bad for a few days, but things finally seemed to subside about 4 days later. Same evening I started to feel somewhat like myself I again I got a call from my mom saying my grandma was being admitted to the hospital because they thought she was having seizures. She said she was heading there (about a half hour away from where we live) and she would keep me posted,but not to worry too much because they should be able to get it under control. Just 10 minutes after we hung up she called back very frantic saying things took as turn for the worst anx the doctors didnt expect her to make it through the night. Unfortunately neither myself or my mom made it to the hospital before she passed. I was about 10 minutes away when I got a call from my aunt with the news. That was definitely a muddled evening after that, as were the next several days. Fast forward 4 more days and DS 7 tells us he had a really bad headache. I reach out to touch his head and he is burning up with a 103.8 temp. Took him in to urgent care and he was positive for flu. Got meds for him and headed home. His fever kept spiking to above 103 several times over the next 24 hours, so that was rough. So hard when kiddos are sick and there isn't much we can do for them. DH and I spent the next week rotating days off work to be with him. Luckily things started getting better around a week mark and he's just about back to himself.

Our schools are out this week for Mardi Gras, so technically he got a 2 week break for the holiday. Hoping it's not too bad getting us all babk to our normal routine by next week. With such tumultuous weeks, we have been all over the place, sleeping in and unable to sleep at night.

In CC news, I made a rookie mistake with my SW biz for CP. Already got the SUB (still can't get used to this one) on my in-flight SW Plus. Was just waiting for the one from my biz card, but I completely forgot the MSR on that one is $3000 and not $2000 like the personals. I always try to make a point to go a good bit over on MSR just in case of returns or something, but I was just about $300 shy of the $3000 when my statement cut on 2/20. Ugh. So now I have to wait until 3/20 statement for the rest of the points I need for CP. Already have flights booked for our April WDW trip and was waiting to add DH as my companion. Decided to just go ahead and use points to book him, then I'll call in once CP posts.

Off to check out the news thread on dischurners to try to catch up.

Wow rough times all around. So sorry for your loss . . . so much more difficult when unexpected.

 

[Limes96]

@mhartman09 So sorry for your loss and hope everyone else in the family gets to feeling better soon.

 

[Tikitoi]

Well shoot, I didn't get that...

ETA: It looks like when I booked a Marriott stay through Ebates last month, I got my confirmation email the day afterwards from Ebates. I'll give it until tomorrow. My account does show under Shopping Trips that I went through Ebates to the Choice Hotels portal for both of my bookings.

I think mine said takes 6 weeks but I did get a screen shot of it. As well as keeping the email of course.

 

[Limes96]

Interesting rumors about the possible Chase changes. Our two CIP billing periods ended this week so always good to be reminded to make the UR transfers ASAP.

 

[pillow]

@mmmears , look at Choice Hotels for Norway, and compare points bookings vs cash prices. I recall reading a few articles 2-3 years back from travel bloggers indicating that was the way to go in Norway. If you can get some points in your account, I THINK you can do the book/cancel trick to "buy" more points at a cheap rate. Of course that may have changed by now, but its worth checking.

 

[WVMomof3]

THIS happened at our biggest horse show we go to every year. Warning: the description of the injury is not for the faint of heart. The robber was later caught.

There's a reference in that article to a grandmother who shot a robber at the same horse show the year before. Here's the story on THAT.

That horse show is well-known in Columbus since it's a month-long and there are a lot of people coming to it with money... LOTS of thefts!!

Holy Toledo! When I first saw that pic of the spurs I thought this is not going to be good. But I fully expected another anatomy part involved, not the mouth. lol

 

[miztressuz]

THIS happened at our biggest horse show we go to every year. Warning: the description of the injury is not for the faint of heart. The robber was later caught.

There's a reference in that article to a grandmother who shot a robber at the same horse show the year before. Here's the story on THAT.

That horse show is well-known in Columbus since it's a month-long and there are a lot of people coming to it with money... LOTS of thefts!!

Yowzer is all I have to say after that. Maybe more reason to distance yourself, so you don't look like part of the show and have winnings to take
Wow, stay feisty and safe, and maybe think about keeping some spurs with you

 

[Alexle2007]

@mmmears , look at Choice Hotels for Norway, and compare points bookings vs cash prices. I recall reading a few articles 2-3 years back from travel bloggers indicating that was the way to go in Norway. If you can get some points in your account, I THINK you can do the book/cancel trick to "buy" more points at a cheap rate. Of course that may have changed by now, but its worth checking.

It unintentionally worked for me last summer. I had a reservation in OCMD and ended up canceling and kept checking my CC for the refund and checked my Choice rewards and saw my balance had jumped. I actually called Choice since I had not been expecting it.

 

[amalone1013]

(some people check hotel reviews, I check the 6 o'clock news for my motel choices )

I think my poor once not sketchy but by the prison QI is out of the running for the next trip home, as a previous trip we found a vape under the armchair in the room, a chair which has a foot of clearance underneath it That and a strange hallway encounter for DH on another trip, plus the very last trip we did one night there (nothing sketchy) and one night at the Fairfield by the airport and now DH is NE Hotel Princess

 

[DisneyMandC]

I think my poor once not sketchy but by the prison QI is out of the running for the next trip home, as a previous trip we found a vape under the armchair in the room, a chair which has a foot of clearance underneath it That and a strange hallway encounter for DH on another trip, plus the very last trip we did one night there (nothing sketchy) and one night at the Fairfield by the airport and now DH is NE Hotel Princess

That reminds me that the last time we stayed at the HoJo's, DH and I are sitting in bed and he looked at the nightstand and said "is that your Q-tip?" NO!!

 

[DisneyMandC]

Yowzer is all I have to say after that. Maybe more reason to distance yourself, so you don't look like part of the show and have winnings to take
Wow, stay feisty and safe, and maybe think about keeping some spurs with you

Don't worry, no one could ever mistake me for having money

 

[amalone1013]

That reminds me that the last time we stayed at the HoJo's, DH and I are sitting in bed and he looked at the nightstand and said "is that your Q-tip?" NO!!

Accckkkk so much worse!

 

[WVMomof3]

That reminds me that the last time we stayed at the HoJo's, DH and I are sitting in bed and he looked at the nightstand and said "is that your Q-tip?" NO!!

Couldn't like the post. So will just quote it to say EWWWWWWWWWW

 

[tink1970]

Laissez les bon temps rouler! Translation: my city and neighbors have been partying for weeks! Real translation-Let the good times roll!
Happy Mardi Gras y'all!!

 

[tink1970]

Congrats on your new AA biz card! You are officially a legit churner

Having lived in Waco for 4 years while I attended college, it's still so funny to me that people actually want to go visit there lol! It was the 'armpit' of TX for many years. Having said that, a lot of people want to go there now. If you plan to go to Magnolia, the weekdays are much calmer but there is also less going on. Weekends are crazy busy but there are food trucks and the lots of activity. Sounds like a fun road trip!

The only reason for me to visit Waco was their liquor stores since Bell County was "moist" (oh how I hate that word) back in the day. Which is odd considering the (at the time) strong Baptist influence.

I write this as I sit here trying to justify the cost of DCL to myself and DH

I can enable you with that

I realized when I was typing it out that this probably sounds miserable for most men!

Me too, frankly . The Gaines drive me batty for some reason.

If we move back to TX ever, the Waco/Temple area is where we'd hope to be.

Ugh, after two years in Temple at Scott & While, my dream TX home is south of that, although I've read New Braunfels and Fredericksburg have gotten crazy crowded too

Asking @calypso726 and anyone else who might be able to help - can you tell me what you find valuable about the Club Carlson (I think that's the name) credit cards? I'm looking at hotels in Oslo and not finding anything Hyatt or Hilton, but finding lots of Radisson Blu (which is typical for Scandinavia I think). Curious to know if it's worth getting one of these.

IIRC there something weird you have to do with your credit lines before successfully applying. In a not too distance post @calypso726 described it.

@tink1970 and anyone else who lost their Platinum Elite status over the weekend, check your Marriott accounts: Bonvoy Platinum Status Being Reinstated - FM

Sadly, still gold. Actually it's nice since I have automatic gold and now won't go crazy trying to get to plat. I'll just sit on my laurels, at gold, fovever.

I know a not too sketchy but by a prison Quality Inn if you're ever in NE


I couldn't resist.

Hey, that hotel was fine. They even Fedex'd DD's snuggy (lovey) that she'd forgotten. Crappy location, great workers iirc. Of course, having worked in prisons, brigs and detention facilities I'm not too phased by those things.

THIS happened at our biggest horse show we go to every year. Warning: the description of the injury is not for the faint of heart. The robber was later caught.

So cool! I would have loved to have been working in the ER when that patient came in.

Holy Toledo! When I first saw that pic of the spurs I thought this is not going to be good. But I fully expected another anatomy part involved, not the mouth. lol

LOL-me too!

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

So how exactly do I go about rebooking a SW flight when the price/points go down? I've only totally changed or cancelled flights.

 

[wendow]

The only reason for me to visit Waco was their liquor stores since Bell County was "moist" (oh how I hate that word) back in the day. Which is odd considering the (at the time) strong Baptist influence.

Oh yes, driving to different counties due to the wet/dry laws is a favorite past time lol!

Baylor had so much influence on the town that many restaurants like Chilis that were known as 'Chili's bar and grill' removed the 'bar' from their name. I have no idea what that is like today...Baylor has relaxed a lot...but back when we were there, it was crazy how much they dictated what went on in the town.

 

[miztressuz]

Couldn't like the post. So will just quote it to say EWWWWWWWWWW

Same!

Sounds like a good thing that HoJo got shut down, so you can't even think about going back after that

 

[mmmears]

@SouthFayetteFan, thanks for the reminder.

For newer folks to earning Chase UR points, Chase has been considering dramatic changes to the UR program for years. Don't be caught by any surprise changes!

Note that the chatter on r/churning to the above rumor is that if Chase does increase the redemption value of UR points on the CSP and CSR through their travel portals, it's very likely Chase will compensate for the additional cost to its books by seeking savings elsewhere in the UR program, including possibly ending combining UR points between no-fee cards and annual fee cards, and UR points transfers within the same household. In summer 2017, Chase surveyed customers about these and other proposed negative changes to its UR program, and rumors Chase may end UR points pooling resurfaced in spring 2018. These changes would gut the UR program as we know it. It could make a 2-Player game more difficult if partners could not combine points within the same household. It could make points earned on high bonus but no fee cards like the Chase Freedom and Chase Ink Cash, with their 5x categories, ineligible to be moved to annual fee cards like the CIP, CSP, or CSR, or make points earned on no fee cards worth less than points earned on fee cards. This is something Chase has considered and may still be planning.

See: Chase Sends Out Survey Regarding Possible Changes To Transferring Chase UR Points For 1.5¢ Travel Redemptions

[Rumor] Chase To End Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Pooling

Remember, it is highly recommended to transfer your (and any other player's) UR points when they post on any UR-card at the close of every statement onto the UR-card that gets you the highest redemption on the Chase travel portal, i.e., onto the CSR for 1.5 cpp redemption value or the CSP or CIP for 1.25 cpp redemption value. Make note of the statement closing date of all your UR cards, so when points post you can send them to your highest redemption UR card.

I'm likely to blame for this one. Have my first ever UR earning card on its way to me, with the full intent of sending all the points to DH's UR account. Of course I won't have said points for 3 months.

Before the Hilton Aspire card this was my favorite card that sits in a drawer. Rather than give you a free night somewhere at some lower category property the cards gives you 40,000 Radisson Reward points every card anniversary. The AF is $75 and DH, my mom and I each have our own card. I have never used the points for stays here in the US. However, I have used then for free stays in London, Scotland and Ireland. I just let the points pile up and when the mood strikes me to go across the pond I know I won't have hotel expenses. The card gives you gold status which allows an early check in and late check out plus a room upgrade.

My mom does not travel like we do. She has had the card as long as I have and loves the fact that when she does come with us she can have her own room paid with points for her $75 a year. She also loves the idea that at some point she can use these points that have been piling up to go on a longer vacation in Europe and have the hotel fully covered with points.

The hotel we stayed in when we went to the Harry Potter Play in London is currently $487 per night for a weekend this summer. This summer we are going to Scotland again and there are 2 Radisson Blu properties on the Royal Mile. The hotel costs are $330-$380 per night! We are staying for 2 nights. I don't mind paying $75 a year so that I don't have to worry about coming up with several hundred dollars for a hotel in Europe at any given moment. The return on the AF is far greater than any card I have with the possible exception of the Hilton Aspire.

If you get the card make sure you get the one that gives you the 40k points each anniversary. I have seen a version or an offer for one that is a free night each year. That one would be worthless to me.

Thank you so much for the explanation. I was looking last night and I saw there was one BIZ (which would be great) and 3 regular. I also kept seeing "free night" so I'll have to look again. Also would need the points this year (I think) which might make a difference. There are a few Radisson Blu hotels in Oslo that look nice, so likely that's where we will stay. Prices (cash) aren't looking so bad for Europe at the moment, but of course I have no idea what they will be when I do want to book. And I'd rather pay with points.