I love credit cards so much! v4.0 - 2021 (see first page for add'l details)

[elgerber]

I have attempted and given up on planning European trips many times because of this. I can never seem to find rooms available on points and that have 2 beds. Or even rooms that would connect.

We found sofa beds in every city so we were good. In Lincoln, Edinburgh and York on points with bed and sofa bed

 

[CyndiLouWho]

finding rooms with 2 beds for dh, dd and I.

This is definitely an issue. Even some of the larger "king suite" or junior suite" available have a rollaway bed for the 3rd person. Not the most comfortable way to spend vacation.

 

[iujen94]

I think we have a whole different budget. Unfortunately I don't have a million plus points in any currency to afford those hotels. I'm looking at decent but much cheaper places. The other issue is many of the hotels are not bookable on points. They show points per night but when I click through there are no points rooms available.

If looking at Marriott properties, make sure to check under the “package” price tabs, if you want your kid(s?) in a separate room. Many places have a family package of buy one room, get the second at 50% off - and breakfast is usually included too.

oh, and I second the suggestion above to check out London Dungeon!

 

[mmmears]

Ok my London travel peeps, I asked for recommendations before, but it's been a while and although I thought I bookmarked them, I can't find all the wonderful recs everyone made. Fingers crossed we'll be going in March for Spring Break.

Things to do: Football game, Harry Potter tour top our list. Churchill War Rooms? Not sure if DS(13 by then) will be into it though he likes history. I'd like to see Buckingham Palace, but do we need to do Kensington Palace too? Big Ben, Westminster Abbey?
Places to stay? I'm struggling to find anything bookable with Marriott or Hyatt points, found Hilton but not sure location is good.

DD was that age the first time she was in London and she loved the Churchill War Rooms. It's really interactive and really cool. Also British Museum (mummies and more in the Ancient Greece and Egyptian rooms), Tower of London (a bit hit), Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and we also had high tea and went to a show (Lion King). Last time we went we checked out the WB HP studio tour and it was amazing. Totally worth the time (we went in the late afternoon since everything seemed to close around 5 and the studio was open late so we didn't miss much touring time).

There's a Hyatt that often has rooms available - the issue could be the number of people. I like staying in Mayfair or near Hyde Park Corner, but that's a personal preference.

This is definitely an issue. Even some of the larger "king suite" or junior suite" available have a rollaway bed for the 3rd person. Not the most comfortable way to spend vacation.

Unfortunately, a rollaway for DD was the best I could at most of the hotels we have stayed at in Europe. I know it's not the most comfortable, but kids are young and resilient. Also, check to see if you can find a base room for 2 on points. I was able to negotiate with the hotels directly after I booked a standard room on points (I offered to pay the difference for a larger room that slept 3 and it worked). With travel still sluggish, I think you'll find it easier than I did to get it to work.

 

[platamama]

Ok my London travel peeps, I asked for recommendations before, but it's been a while and although I thought I bookmarked them, I can't find all the wonderful recs everyone made. Fingers crossed we'll be going in March for Spring Break.

Things to do: Football game, Harry Potter tour top our list. Churchill War Rooms? Not sure if DS(13 by then) will be into it though he likes history. I'd like to see Buckingham Palace, but do we need to do Kensington Palace too? Big Ben, Westminster Abbey?
Places to stay? I'm struggling to find anything bookable with Marriott or Hyatt points, found Hilton but not sure location is good.

We went to London when DD was 10, and we stayed in the County Hall area (there is the London Marriott County Hall there, although we stayed at Park Plaza because I had the Club Carlson card with BOGO) and it was a pretty convenient location. Walking distance from Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and an easy walk to Waterloo station to get around the greater London area. We went to the WB Studios to see the Harry Potter stuff and that was great for us HP fans. The London Dungeons and London Eye are in the immediate area too - tourist traps, but we did them anyway. Your DS might like the Dungeons, I thought they were funny but they could be scary if you're easily scared (10yo DD did fine).

 

[GZanta77]

Doubletree London Victoria or Tower Of London; or Hilton London Euston

Of those - I would definitely choose Victoria from a location point of view.

 

[GZanta77]

I think we have a whole different budget. Unfortunately I don't have a million plus points in any currency to afford those hotels. I'm looking at decent but much cheaper places. The other issue is many of the hotels are not bookable on points. They show points per night but when I click through there are no points rooms available.

Yes - I was going to suggest the Waldorf or the Metropole, then I saw how many points they were looking for in late March and was shocked. It was only about 5 years ago I got 2 nights at the Waldorf for 40,000 points/night (and that was in the summer).

 

[chattadisser]

This is definitely an issue. Even some of the larger "king suite" or junior suite" available have a rollaway bed for the 3rd person. Not the most comfortable way to spend vacation.

Yeah was trying to avoid a rollaway although when I was in London at 17, I slept on a rollaway and don't remember it being bad. Our larger problem is needing either 4 in one room or 2 rooms. I haven't found many rooms in Europe that sleep 4 without being "family rooms".

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I know some people have suggested using Venmo to meet MSRs with Chase, but I would be very careful of this after they changed their terms in April and listed person to person payments as potential cash advances. Some have posted that it works for them. I personally am too risk adverse.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/chas...s-as-cash-advance-could-include-bank-funding/

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Thanks for all the suggestions for activities and lodging! You guys are the best!

 

[amcc]

I also was approved for Venture X this morning with a very high credit limit!!

I imagine that this has been discussed here somewhere but I saw tonight that Disney's Art of Animation was on the Capital One portal so would qualify for the $300 credit or could be erased with points. I didn't see any other Disney hotels. For this card, I really like the AirBnB/vacation rental yearly credit since this is where we stay on most of our trips (including Europe - easy to find places for 3+ people).

 

[wanderlust7]

I imagine that this has been discussed here somewhere but I saw tonight that Disney's Art of Animation was on the Capital One portal so would qualify for the $300 credit or could be erased with points. I didn't see any other Disney hotels. For this card, I really like the AirBnB/vacation rental yearly credit since this is where we stay on most of our trips (including Europe - easy to find places for 3+ people).

Unfortunately, the vacation rental credit is only for the first year. Would be nice if it was yearly!

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thanks @palhockeymomof2 for highlighting these new Southwest Offers!

Earn 50,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Earn an additional 50,000 points after you spend $12,000 on purchases in the first 12 months from account opening.

This is an ALL TIME HIGH offer on personal cards as best I can remember. As always, please consider using a link on DISchurners to reward the community if you don't have access to any other link. For those sharing links, these need to be updated to show the new offer!

And you might want to revisit this recent comment I made if you are trying to think through all of this:

Just an FYI, these all-time high Southwest offers are showing an "expires 12/1/2021" date now.

If you were on the fence, it would be best to make a decision soon!

 

[Alexle2007]

Any hotel suggestions for San Juan? We have 2 nights pre-cruise and 2 nights post-cruise. I currently have the Marriott booked pre and Caribe Hilton for post.

 

[pinkxray]

How do I find out when my CSR $300 travel credit resets? I looked through all my card benefits and don’t see it. I thought it reset in Oct. but it doesn’t say anything like $300 remaining. It just says that groceries and something else can count until Dec.

 

[pinkxray]

Another question..
I am horrible at AMEX rules. I have an offer for Raymour and Flanagan on three cards. 2 platinums and my DD’s gold. $115 back from $750. We are about to spend $4000 there. Can I use all 3 offers or is that a no from Amex? I thought if I couldn’t I would get the already added to another card error when attempting to add?
I am trying to read the terms but my mind starts wandering after a few words. It says one per something but does that mean one per card, one per Amex member?

 

[becauseimnew]

How do I find out when my CSR $300 travel credit resets? I looked through all my card benefits and don’t see it. I thought it reset in Oct. but it doesn’t say anything like $300 remaining. It just says that groceries and something else can count until Dec.

The travel portal, Under benefits.

 

[becauseimnew]

Another question..
I am horrible at AMEX rules. I have an offer for Raymour and Flanagan on three cards. 2 platinums and my DD’s gold. $115 back from $750. We are about to spend $4000 there. Can I use all 3 offers or is that a no from Amex? I thought if I couldn’t I would get the already added to another card error when attempting to add?
I am trying to read the terms but my mind starts wandering after a few words. It says one per something but does that mean one per card, one per Amex member?

Only one offer per SSN.

 

[pinkxray]

Only one offer per SSN.

Thank you! Dd is an AU on my platinum but has her own acct set up for her gold. Does that count as a separate acct since she had her own social security number attached? Not a big deal, just trying to figure out what cards to use.

 

[becauseimnew]

Thank you! Dd is an AU on my platinum but has her own acct set up for her gold. Does that count as a separate acct since she had her own social security number attached? Not a big deal, just trying to figure out what cards to use.

Yes, you each can use the offer ones. I would attach your offer to the Plat account not associated with your DDs card. Sometimes when I attach an offer to my DD’s gold the offer disappears from my Plat.