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

[Judique]

And I've ended up on another travel mailing list called Triphound. I unsubscribed today after receiving the 3rd day of email.

Can't figure who dropped me on their list as I haven't signed up for anything else I can think of recently.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

DP for the Amex Green-I called and received 12.5K MRs for keeping the card-not a great value but worth it to keep Amex happy. I also went through all of my charge cards

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy 2021.

Glad to see my Amex Offers lists are manageable again after all the expired offers dropping off overnight. Sadly, the offers remaining seem to be almost all for wine or designer clothing. I mean I enjoy an occasional glass, but sooooo many offers for wine from Amex just filling space that could be occupied by much better offers. Come on, Amex - you can do better!

Between two offers, I got 13 bottles of wine for about $45, so $3.46 a bottle, delivered on my doorstep! We aren’t big drinkers, but have wine for our weekly family dinner nights. We are a family of 6, plus significant others.

——-
I’ve seen a few people post they have a hard time finding anything to buy at Sak’s for $50. I always buy my splurge department store makeup there, like Bobbi Brown, for example. And it’s nice to use shoprunner for the shipping.

 

[tink1970]

Can you provide more info on concerns about POT looking like a charge vs credit card? What is the potential impact?

I don’t use POT but see it’s an option on one of my Amex.

I had read a couple of articles on boarding area about some people being declined for Amex credit cards b/c their charge cards had the Pay Over Time (I know when Amex was offering 10K MRs to accept it, I took advantage of that). So I read DoC's article below and turned them off. I don't need a new Amex credit card right now but I don't ever want to close a door.

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/how-to-unenroll-in-american-express-pay-over-time-online/

 

[tink1970]

As for HOW 2020 was supposed to go...not going to even think about the trips that didn't occur, lol.

In Feb/Mar, DH and I went to Australia/NZ, flying F on Qantas on points (amazing!), stayed at PH Sydney on points (also amazing), enjoyed the Viking cruise to several ports in Australia and New Zealand, stayed at the Auckland Hilton on points and flew home on Virgin Australia J class on points (definitely less awesome than Qantas). Timing is everything when I look at our arrival home and the shut down of Australia and NZ.

August-flew DD to school in MA, then went to Miraval Austin for 10 days on BOGO offer on points. It was wonderful and I was fortunate to meet up with Andysol and his beautiful wife.

November-road trip to Nashville where I tried out 4 different Hyatt hotels (combination of points/$) and now have a new road trip destination when I want/need to escape my parents for a bit. I'm still craving my Holston House breakfast burrito I was also very happy to meet up with DisneyMagicGirl-disfriends are awesome!

I rescheduled my Viking cruise for 2021 since I want to wait until things are less...unsettled. I have an ABD in May that I'm pretty sure they or I will push off another year and a DCL in November I may or may not take. I'm actually really thankful that 2020 demonstrated that NOT taking a trip will not decrease my love of travel and domestic trips can be almost as rewarding as the aspirational international trips I'd been planning and dreaming about.

Here's to a happy, healthy, full of travel, joy, MRs and URs in 2021!

 

[Albort]

most my trips in 2020 were cancelled.

March - Japan (Cancelled)
July - Las Vegas (Cancelled)
September - 7 day Alaska Cruise/Reno Air Races (Cancelled)
December - 7 day Boston Cruise (Cancelled)

where i ended up going
September - Ventura Beach/Laguna Beach

 

[Haley R]

We really didn't go anywhere in 2020, but I'll share anyway:

Jan-March: Lots of weekend trips to WDW
April: Had our first baby (not travel related but a big thing for us)
July: Trip to Iowa (cancelled)
Fall: We had planned to go camping and do a short weekend trip somewhere, but cancelled both

Not exciting at all lol. The farthest we've driven from our house since March is an hour to Orlando and that was to get to the Children's Hospital. As far as next year, we plan to for sure fly to Iowa after Dh and I get our vaccines. Then I'm not sure what else we'll do. I would love to take DS to Disney, Legoland, and Seaworld. We want to do Japan, but that won't be next year. We also talked about renting an RV and driving around Florida so everything is up in the air. It's nice to have hope for travel, though.

 

[djmeredith]

I currently have 2 Chase cards (Freedom Flex and Marriott Bonvoy) and 1 SW Performance app pending review. I also plan to apply for a personal SW card next month to chase the CP. Would it be helpful if I reduced the credit limit on my recently obtained Marriott Bonvoy card to reduce my open credit amt?

 

[Albort]

I currently have 2 Chase cards (Freedom Flex and Marriott Bonvoy) and 1 SW Performance app pending review. I also plan to apply for a personal SW card next month to chase the CP. Would it be helpful if I reduced the credit limit on my recently obtained Marriott Bonvoy card to reduce my open credit amt?

yes yes yes! this is one of the things ppl suggest before applying. id do it maybe at least 30 days in advanced just to be safe.

 

[Judique]

yes yes yes! this is one of the things ppl suggest before applying. id do it maybe at least 30 days in advanced just to be safe.

And I would hold onto the already allotted credit and call Chase if I go pending. Credit allotted can always be moved around, but if you let the extra go and end up pending, what's your next move?

Just another idea, although I really have considered reducing a big chunk of my credit, just not on Chase cards.

I know there are going to be other opinions and would like to hear some of them.

editing to add: If you want to PC a card, especially upward, one thing the CSR may ask is to do a hard pull to give you a larger credit line for the PC if the card requires it.

 

[djmeredith]

@Judique Thanks for mentioning that. I had forgotten I sorta did that when I applied for the Bonvoy 2 weeks after the Flex. They had extended WAY more credit than I needed/wanted on the Flex and I had already lowered it (without thinking of this first). So when I called the recon line I explained this and she was able to basically give me that reduced credit back on the new card.

 

[wanderlust7]

2020
January - New Year's cruise on the Carnival Panorama. Saved $650 from various Amex Offers. Post cruise hotel was the Hyatt Centric Long Beach on points.
March - Ventana Inn Big Sur on Hyatt points. Got an awesome upgrade to a cottage. Crazy cpp.
April - WDW (Canceled)
June - Alaska cruise, Seattle, Central Oregon (Canceled)

Had to dig in my memory for what was canceled. Think I have it blocked out lol.

2021
April - Lake Tahoe at the Hyatt Residence Club, $260/nt for a 2 bedroom seems like a good deal! Looking to add a couple nights at the Hyatt Regency next door when I get my plat Amex Travel credits. Hope the elite nights credit if I do it through Fine Hotels and Resorts.
May - Carmel Valley Ranch, 40k/nt Hyatt points in a suite to fit 4 of us. A bit spendy, so on the fence about it.
June - Med cruise, will most likely cancel
June - Santa Barbara on Hyatt points and DLR with Bonvoy FNC and Brilliant credit. Hope DLR is open!
July - Kauai and Maui, Grand Hyatt Kauai on points and Grand Wailea with FNC
August - Santa Cruz (Hyatt points)
October - Ventana Inn Big Sur
November - Big Island, timeshare exchange to HGVC Kings' Land.
December - Japan, booked the Andaz Tokyo and the Hyatt Regency Osaka (13k/nt for a suite to fit 4). Want to go to Universal for Super Nintendo World. Will book the Hilton Tokyo Bay when it's released (currently stalking). Or maybe the Hyatt Regency Tokyo Bay if I'm getting close to a milestone award. Would have to take the shuttle to TDR though.

Have lots of Hyatt stays booked! Want to get to Globalist while doing stays I'd want to do anyways. Feeling low on UR. Missing the $3k worth I PYB'd lol.

2022
June - replacement Med cruise (very similar itinerary, 1 day less). Hope to use FNC for the Rome Cavalieri. Looking at the Park Hyatt Milan, but not sure if I can swing it on points with 6 people (taking my parents).
November - Carnival Mardi Gras

Happy New Year everyone! Hope we can get back to normal soon. May you have health, happiness, travel, and points (lots of it!).

 

[Hoosier John]

Eat, drink, and watch the sunset from Mallory Square. Walk in Hemingway's steps while reading the Old Man and The Sea as you drift off to sleep. Take a boat ride out to the Fort. Smell the flowers and revel in the fact that it's a gentle breeze and not a snow storm.

I've only been there once back in the late 80ties and we could barely afford to smell the flowers back then, so I'm probably not your best guide. But I know what I would do.

As a parrothead, Key West is Mecca. You MUST eat at Blue Heaven! The breakfast is amazing! Then we did all the stuff Jimmy sings about; Louie's Backyard, Captain Tony's, Mallory Square, Margaritaville, etc. We did the Conch Train, snorkeled, went to Hemingway's place. Then we also swam with dolphins in islamorada. I'm itching to go back to KW. It's been over 20 years since we went (and that was w/ my ex-husband, LOL).

Thank you! Judique inspired a twist on her idea: I will play a Hemmingway book on Audible during the drive. Any other suggestions welcome.

And LilSweetPeaPhoto: we will definitely hit several (if not all) of your tips.

 

[ski_mom]

Happy New Year’s Eve everyone! Last day to purchase Hilton points for double the yearly number they allow and with 100% bonus points added. That means you can get 320k total. It works out to .005 cpp. I’ve used Hilton points for redemptions in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives. The bungalows can run over $1300 a night and be booked for 95k HH points. Currently we are in Key Largo at Baker’s Cay for New Year’s Eve and my birthday which is New Year’s day. When I booked this stay the price was $6,382.58 for 5 nights. We are using 60k points per night and the 5th night is free. That’s a 2.66 cpp value. I am thinking I may pull the trigger and buy points. I’ve got an MSR to finish up on my CIU so I can inch closer to that and get 1.5 UR per dollar in the process. When things are normal again. I’d love to go back to the Maldives. In any case, I have no doubt I’d get more value than what it costs me.

Any suggestions for things to do in Key West (not Disney's Old Key West)?
Thanks in advance

can't help, but also interested in replies. Now that JetBlue have started direct service from BOS, Key West has moved up a few places on my list of places to go.

Eat, drink, and watch the sunset from Mallory Square. Walk in Hemingway's steps while reading the Old Man and The Sea as you drift off to sleep. Take a boat ride out to the Fort. Smell the flowers and revel in the fact that it's a gentle breeze and not a snow storm.

I've only been there once back in the late 80ties and we could barely afford to smell the flowers back then, so I'm probably not your best guide. But I know what I would do.

As a parrothead, Key West is Mecca. You MUST eat at Blue Heaven! The breakfast is amazing! Then we did all the stuff Jimmy sings about; Louie's Backyard, Captain Tony's, Mallory Square, Margaritaville, etc. We did the Conch Train, snorkeled, went to Hemingway's place. Then we also swam with dolphins in islamorada. I'm itching to go back to KW. It's been over 20 years since we went (and that was w/ my ex-husband, LOL).

Thanks for the talk on Key West - we are going there in late Feb / early March. Right now planning on flying into FLL, spending 2 nights in Key Largo, 5 nights in Key West and then 2 more nights somewhere on the way back to FLL.

Seeing @calypso726 post about Baker's Cay is making we want to get Hilton points lol. I assume it's too late to get new card(s)? We could meet the spend quickly with DS's tuition coming up. I've never used Hilton points before though, so don't know if this is even possible. I see they have a hammock room for 42,000 points per night, so it just got me thinking...

For our nights in Key West, we are staying at the Hyatt Centric on points. The rooms take a lot of points, but everything is very expensive this time of year, so it's seems to be either a lot of points or a lot of $$

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Happy New Year! May 2021 be more kind to all than 2020!

All the UK flights were in Business and First using Avios for 1-3 people). First are usually hard to get on BA, but I managed 7 RTs in First this year due to the pandemic. I know @calypso agrees with me that I don't mind paying taxes for BA tickets--I think of it as getting a big discount on the fare. I have 5 RTs to England on the calendar for next year all in Business or First and all on avios for 2-3 people.

Any tips on flights to England are welcome. Had a strategic planning family meeting this morning. Vacation requests include Costa Rica, Washington DC, and China. DS requested London to see his fave soccer team. I am thinking maybe spring 2022, so I have time to plan and acquire points.

It's nice to have hope for travel, though.

Yes, this. In 2020, I had very little hope for anything normal. I mean I tried to rebook some canceled stuff, but any hopes were quickly dashed. I received covid vaccination 1 before Christmas and it literally gave me hope and excitement for the future. Second vaccine in a week.

 

[Jaydee51]

Hi all , new to this thread and would love your input.
My Goal is mainly to earn cash back (to use for Disney Trips, DVC Dues and general travel) I'm open to suggestions and variations.

Cards In the past 24 Months:
May 2020 – CHASE VISA MARRIOT BONVOY (pandemic impulse to earn miles)

AUG 2019 – COMENITY BANK EXPRESS retail card (don’t need this card, should I close?)

May 2018 – SYW MC SHOP YOUR WAY SEARS MC (don’t need this card, should I close?)

May 2018 – SYNCB LOWES retail card (used for remodeling in 2018)

Would like to Earn Cash Back (open to other options)

Spending (I charge everything):

• What amount of spend would you put on a card monthly? groceries, gas, insurance, cable, cell phone, utilities, restaurants (pre-covid), travel, property taxes, home insurance, subscriptions (Netflix, Disney+), sons school, pretty much everything
• Do you currently payoff your CCs in full every month or do you carry any balances/pay any interest? YES
• What airport(s) do you typically fly out of? Miami International Airport
• Do you have a preference of Frequent Flyer program? American Airlines
• Does SOUTHWEST Airline service your airport? No
• Do you have a Hotel Rewards program preference? MARRIOT (31,481 points)
• Do you currently have travel points or miles in any program? American Airlines 181,257 miles/points, Delta 30k and spirit 35k that I will probably lose this year when I cancel card.
• What are your specific goals for churning credit cards? Cash back for Disney Trips & DVC Dues. Currently earning AA miles for trip to Europe in 2022-23 (Yes, will squeeze in Disney Paris)
• When do you plan to take these trips?

1. Feb 2021 – Berkshires for 5 days. Have not booked flight yet and can either fly AA or Spirit.
2. May 2021 - Disney Copper Creek
3. August 2021 Disney (lodging TBD)
4. November 2021 Royal Caribbean 7 day Cruise (deposits only, rolled over from 2020 postponed trip)
5. December 2021 TBD

• Who does your travel party consist of? Spouse & 4 year old son.
• Most trips just the three of us and Once a year with friends and twice a year with in-laws.

 

[wanderlust7]

Thanks for the talk on Key West - we are going there in late Feb / early March. Right now planning on flying into FLL, spending 2 nights in Key Largo, 5 nights in Key West and then 2 more nights somewhere on the way back to FLL.

Seeing @calypso726 post about Baker's Cay is making we want to get Hilton points lol. I assume it's too late to get new card(s)? We could meet the spend quickly with DS's tuition coming up. I've never used Hilton points before though, so don't know if this is even possible. I see they have a hammock room for 42,000 points per night, so it just got me thinking...

For our nights in Key West, we are staying at the Hyatt Centric on points. The rooms take a lot of points, but everything is very expensive this time of year, so it's seems to be either a lot of points or a lot of $$

42k is a good deal for Hilton points. You can get 3 nights on one SUB. The Hilton biz SUB is at 130k, the Surpass and Aspire at 150k. When is tuition due? You might get a temporary number after approval, but it doesn't always work. The Aspire would ship the fastest, but AF is $450 (which the benefits far outweigh). After you meet the spend, the points usually post within a few days.

ETA: if you can get enough points for 4 nights, you can do 5th night free. Making it an even better deal.

 

[WVMomof3]

I love seeing the posts on how much people saved and where they went with churning and every year I say I'm going to start tracking it, but never do. I know it shouldn't be that hard, but anyone want to share how they track their savings? I've done it for one or two trips, but then never put it all together.

This is my heading on my spreadsheet and the first entry to show you what I put in there. I try to use the cash price of when I would have booked the trip, but sometimes I use an estimated price based on average price I would have paid had I not had points, for example one time we did a last minute stay in DC and the price was like $400+, I think I put the value as $200. My total value since this May 2017 flight has been $25,356.49. Small potatoes to some, but I am very happy with it! We only added one redemption this year. So sad.

Date of spend	What	Details	Cash Equivalent	Points used	Type of Points
29-May-17​	Flights	5 flights Pit-Vegas (4 on pts +1Companion)	$ 665.00	31,824	Southwest RR

 

[CyndiLouWho]

May 2018 – SYW MC SHOP YOUR WAY SEARS MC (don’t need this card, should I close?)

Just to comment on this. Don't close an old card if it has no annual fee (AF). It helps your age of accounts and thus your credit score. Even more, you might be able to PC (product change) to another card more useful. I have a very old Sears MC, Citi changed it to a Sears Thank You Points card a couple years ago. They constantly send me offers for bonus points. I am currently earning 10x TYP on groceries, gas and restaurants until March. Earned over 100k TYP last year and in 2019, I earned enough for 2 -5 day tix to Disneyland (you can use TYP for Disney thru Citibank). Give them a call and see if changing your card is an option.

 

[punkin]

I don't even want to talk about everything we canceled in 2020. In 2021, I am just hoping to make good use of my southwest companion pass.

 

[havaneselover]

In 2020 I cancelled a trip to Naples, FL for Mother’s Day, a Disney Alaskan cruise (including a stop in Seattle), and a trip after Christmas to Naples.

In 2021 I’m hoping to take my kids to Naples for Easter (contingent on parents getting vaccinated). I have an 11-day Norway/Iceland Disney cruise that I’m waiting to be canceled. I’m fairly pessimistic about 2021 travel. Just think things will not be normal enough for big trips.

Dd graduates high school this year so there may be some trips to visit universities once she hears from admissions.