I love credit cards so much! v5.0 - 2022 (see first page for add'l details)

[lfcfan]

Hi all,

If this is the wrong place for this post, please ignore.
Looking for Marriott Bonvoy points expert help. I am pretty unsophisticated with all of this but trying to learn. Here is my situation:
new Chase Bonvoy card, earned 150k points. Will use for May Swan Reserve 5 night stay.
5 nights costs 200k points (stay 4, get one night free.) I think I need to pay for the whole thing with points to get this offer?
I have the 150k bonus points, plus another 15k or so. Therefore, by my stay in May, I need to earn or buy another 35k points.

I don't want any more credit cards at this moment, but I am looking for any tips for earning points quickly.
And how do I know when there is a "sale" on points?
Also, I wonder if I would be better off just doing the 3 nights for 150k, and not trying to get the 4th night free by booking 5 nights total? (would have to pay cash for the other 2 nights/do a separate reservation.)

35k points at 12.50/pt is $437.50 (am I doing that right?). This is generally more than one night's stay, but I think with the free night, it is worth it to buy the points if I can't earn them. Anyone want to confirm my thinking? A room without fees etc is probably 270 or so per night in May (can double check.)

Thanks! Trying to think thru how I can somehow buy/use Marriott gift card now towards this stay to earn the extra points, as one example. Other suggestions are much appreciated. If I am missing some smarter way to do this, please share!

 

[reliev]

It was such a rigamarole! We just wanted the Disney tickets!

Are you using the Delta credit to cover all of your France trip? We are letting DD pick a trip anywhere, and she picked Paris, so I need to get a points strategy for the summer 2023 trip!

yeah I booked it already I'm going in less than a month *fingers crossed* I got a great deal on f tickets was like 150k points for 3 of us then they gave me 200k as credit )when I canceled for Disney)so ofc I took it!. I was able to book France Business class and get 2 nights, but then we had to reschedule, and I was able to get 3 nights (it's just me and my buddy, not the family) I figure I've been putting off the trip for years with my buddy who moving there (whos half french). It's time to do it. sorry if it's a longer TMI rant than usual just really stoked about it. The best part is with the rollover if I do one more trip like this (debating going in September again..) I might be able to squeeze of diamond so next year's trips I have a guaranteed f upgrade as well as a business class upgrade to Europe. The only downside is I couldn't take the leftover points and put them back in my account it was 200k

The best redemptions I've seen for the future if you want to go, business class, was what someone else mentioned in this thread for business for 88k via japan airlines. The flights on air France are 50-65k each way.

My plan for 2023 we are going to do Disneyland California/ Tokyo, and Disneyland Paris. or London, overzealous maybe? but I plan on using the certificates if i book another trip, so i can buy economy plus on delta and upgrade, I'm going to make a calendar and schedule it in advance if I do this.

As far as the hotel goes a lot of people prob figured it out already used to be all about Star wood I have lifetime status with them which I find worthless and I jumped ship to Hyatt, Hyatt's redemptions are 20-30k depending on the hotel for Paris. I also know that at least to me staying on Disneyland property isn't worth you can take a 30 min metro there. (besides i didnt see good point redemptions there I looked)

I've learned a lot of this thread beforehand even though most of my friends call me a points guru (there is always something I can learn) but I abandoned it as we didn't travel at all the last year. So id I would be happy to help with your planning its no issue.

Next year I have 3 big trips planned so far in my head.

 

[reliev]

Hi all,

If this is the wrong place for this post, please ignore.
Looking for Marriott Bonvoy points expert help. I am pretty unsophisticated with all of this but trying to learn. Here is my situation:
new Chase Bonvoy card, earned 150k points. Will use for May Swan Reserve 5 night stay.
5 nights costs 200k points (stay 4, get one night free.) I think I need to pay for the whole thing with points to get this offer?
I have the 150k bonus points, plus another 15k or so. Therefore, by my stay in May, I need to earn or buy another 35k points.

I don't want any more credit cards at this moment, but I am looking for any tips for earning points quickly.
And how do I know when there is a "sale" on points?
Also, I wonder if I would be better off just doing the 3 nights for 150k, and not trying to get the 4th night free by booking 5 nights total? (would have to pay cash for the other 2 nights/do a separate reservation.)

35k points at 12.50/pt is $437.50 (am I doing that right?). This is generally more than one night's stay, but I think with the free night, it is worth it to buy the points if I can't earn them. Anyone want to confirm my thinking? A room without fees etc is probably 270 or so per night in May (can double check.)

Thanks! Trying to think thru how I can somehow buy/use Marriott gift card now towards this stay to earn the extra points, as one example. Other suggestions are much appreciated. If I am missing some smarter way to do this, please share!

ill try i haven't played with Marriot in a while I've been trying to dump that currency personally.
35k points at 437 are expensive whats the 5-night rate?(in cash) have you compared cash vs points? I think 35k Marriot is prob worth 250 at best.
can you transfer Chase UR or Amex MR to tap it off? that's prob a better option

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Well that’s disappointing to hear as I’m on day 6 and feeling mostly better today.

You'll continue to get better but covid is not linear and shows ups and downs. Hope you have a mild case and recover quickly

 

[havaneselover]

Dell website is the pits. Yesterday morning I ordered $110 in xbox gift cards using Biz Platinum. Took forever but they finally showed up last night. This morning I decided to order another $110. No email, nothing in my order history so I ordered again. Got an email the second time. Have no pending Amex charge, two pending Swagbucks credits, and one order in order history from today. I'm hoping one gets delivered, but it will probably be either two or zero orders.,

 

[lfcfan]

ill try i haven't played with Marriot in a while I've been trying to dump that currency personally.
35k points at 437 are expensive whats the 5-night rate?(in cash) have you compared cash vs points? I think 35k Marriot is prob worth 250 at best.
can you transfer Chase UR or Amex MR to tap it off? that's prob a better option

Thanks!
I don't have Chase UR or Amex MR, unfortunately.
The 5 night cash rate including extra person fee, resort fee and taxes is 2332. I would never pay that for the swan reserve; would do a disney hotel instead. I purposely got the credit card to get the free nights--we are doing 5 nights at GF and wanted 4-5 nights at an Epcot resort hotel, so this is how we are doing it. I feel better about splurging on the GF when getting free nights on the other half.
It's ok if this isn't the "best" use of marriott points. Don't have any other trips coming up, and want to use them here for Disney trip. Just trying to figure out the best way to get that 5th night taken care of.

Apparently with the new card promo, I get 10x points at grocery stores, gas, restaurants, up to 2500 in first 6 months. So I can do that to get 25k points. So that will leave me with needing another 10k points. I guess I get 2x points after reaching that 2500.

Trying to figure out if buying a Marriott gift card will help somehow--6x the points there. And trying to buy points on sale versus the 12.50 per point.

 

[sinnika]

@sinnika What ever became of your (lack of) dust covers from Away? I just received our small carryon suitcases today and both came with dustcovers. One bag came with a mini pouch with a variety of power adapters, while the other did not. It was unexpected surprise!

I emailed Away, and no kidding, they responded within 3 minutes. Unfortunately, they said the power adapters/mini pouch had been discountinued, so depending on when a bag was produced, it may or may not be included.

My husband (who loves to pack and repack, roll and reroll his clothes) packed his suitcase "just to see how much could fit." Anyway, we really are excited about our new luggage.

Did your DD upgrade her CSP to CSR? I was interested to know if the offer would appear in her offers if she did.

Thanks for reminding me! I did email them but I have not gotten a response yet! And that was several days ago. I’ll email them again. DD has not upgraded her CSP. She’s coming to the states on February 9 and I will have her call Chase. It took a lot of convincing to get her on board for collecting credit card points. So I’ve got to take her slowly. Ha ha Ha. If she does upgrade and gets the reward, I’m going to ask her to purchase an away bag for me or her to make use of the credit. I personally would like another bigger carry-on with the flex. I think I can manage two carry-on suitcases as opposed to a larger suitcase. I’m planning on lots of train travel and international travel and I think two carry-on sizes would be best, especially with my age and arthritis. I do have an eBag carry-on that I love. So I may use that bag as my checked luggage and use my away bigger carry-on as my carry-on for my next trip to Germany in May. I have another trip to Germany scheduled for November, and a Disney cruise out of Dover in September. Plus 2 domestic flights in February. So I’ll really get a chance to give my new away carry-on and everywhere bag a tryout.

 

[wanderlust7]

Thanks!
I don't have Chase UR or Amex MR, unfortunately.
The 5 night cash rate including extra person fee, resort fee and taxes is 2332. I would never pay that for the swan reserve; would do a disney hotel instead. I purposely got the credit card to get the free nights--we are doing 5 nights at GF and wanted 4-5 nights at an Epcot resort hotel, so this is how we are doing it. I feel better about splurging on the GF when getting free nights on the other half.
It's ok if this isn't the "best" use of marriott points. Don't have any other trips coming up, and want to use them here for Disney trip. Just trying to figure out the best way to get that 5th night taken care of.

Apparently with the new card promo, I get 10x points at grocery stores, gas, restaurants, up to 2500 in first 6 months. So I can do that to get 25k points. So that will leave me with needing another 10k points. I guess I get 2x points after reaching that 2500.

Trying to figure out if buying a Marriott gift card will help somehow--6x the points there. And trying to buy points on sale versus the 12.50 per point.

The current promo is 3 free night certificates (up to 50k each) with the 10x in those categories. Do you have 150k points or 3 FNC? I don't recall a 150k promo on the Boundless.

Just checking since FNC can't be used with 5th night free.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Thanks!
I don't have Chase UR or Amex MR, unfortunately.
The 5 night cash rate including extra person fee, resort fee and taxes is 2332. I would never pay that for the swan reserve; would do a disney hotel instead. I purposely got the credit card to get the free nights--we are doing 5 nights at GF and wanted 4-5 nights at an Epcot resort hotel, so this is how we are doing it. I feel better about splurging on the GF when getting free nights on the other half.
It's ok if this isn't the "best" use of marriott points. Don't have any other trips coming up, and want to use them here for Disney trip. Just trying to figure out the best way to get that 5th night taken care of.

Apparently with the new card promo, I get 10x points at grocery stores, gas, restaurants, up to 2500 in first 6 months. So I can do that to get 25k points. So that will leave me with needing another 10k points. I guess I get 2x points after reaching that 2500.

Trying to figure out if buying a Marriott gift card will help somehow--6x the points there. And trying to buy points on sale versus the 12.50 per point.

Here's the important piece. You need to book all five nights consecutively on points to get the fifth night free, all on the same reservation. I'm concerned for you to wait so long to book this reservation- there may not be availability. Right now when I look in May, there are quite a few nights going for 40k per night, with maybe 50k mixed in there, so 170k for the five nights. Maybe consider booking today- you can hold your reservation doing a points advance and I believe you have 60 days to get the points into your account, but I also think there is some policy that the points per night could change during that time.

If you've already booked, always check and recheck the rates as they fluctuate, even daily.

Marriott Bonvoy sometimes offers sales up to 50% off points, if you need to just top off.

You can participate in Marriott's Eat Around Town dining program, which will get you 6,000 points in the first 60 days with their New Member Promotion

You could refer someone else for the card and earn a support bonus.

Link your Marriott Bonvoy account number to your Uber/Uber Eats account and earn Bonvoy points.



Let us know if you have questions!

 

[reliev]

Here's the important piece. You need to book all five nights consecutively on points to get the fifth night free, all on the same reservation. I'm concerned for you to wait so long to book this reservation- there may not be availability. Right now when I look in May, there are quite a few nights going for 40k per night, with maybe 50k mixed in there, so 170k for the five nights. Maybe consider booking today- you can hold your reservation doing a points advance and I believe you have 60 days to get the points into your account, but I also think there is some policy that the points per night could change during that time.

If you've already booked, always check and recheck the rates as they fluctuate, even daily.

Marriott Bonvoy sometimes offers sales up to 50% off points, if you need to just top off.

You can participate in Marriott's Eat Around Town dining program, which will get you 6,000 points in the first 60 days with their New Member Promotion

You could refer someone else for the card and earn a support bonus.

Link your Marriott Bonvoy account number to your Uber/Uber Eats account and earn Bonvoy points.



Let us know if you have questions!

agreed with this id get another Marriot card before id buy at that evaluation can you do 3 months of whatever the signup bonus is by then? if its the boundless you will get a 300$ credit too for the resort for what its worth, id go that route over buying them at that price.

 

[becauseimnew]

Thanks!
I don't have Chase UR or Amex MR, unfortunately.
The 5 night cash rate including extra person fee, resort fee and taxes is 2332. I would never pay that for the swan reserve; would do a disney hotel instead. I purposely got the credit card to get the free nights--we are doing 5 nights at GF and wanted 4-5 nights at an Epcot resort hotel, so this is how we are doing it. I feel better about splurging on the GF when getting free nights on the other half.
It's ok if this isn't the "best" use of marriott points. Don't have any other trips coming up, and want to use them here for Disney trip. Just trying to figure out the best way to get that 5th night taken care of.

Apparently with the new card promo, I get 10x points at grocery stores, gas, restaurants, up to 2500 in first 6 months. So I can do that to get 25k points. So that will leave me with needing another 10k points. I guess I get 2x points after reaching that 2500.

Trying to figure out if buying a Marriott gift card will help somehow--6x the points there. And trying to buy points on sale versus the 12.50 per point.

If you can open an Amex Green card (AF $150), you could earn 45k MR points and transfer them to Marriott. The MSR is only $2,000. The AF would be cheaper than buying points.

 

[afan]

Starting the puppy search. I want to find Dude a little doxie brother. My mom and buddy are going to be gone a lot more and after 2 weeks it's evident he needs someone besides me while I'm working or not home. Biggest thing I think is trying to figure out how to find a decent place that isn't AKC as that seems to inflate the price to ridic amounts.

I do fully support adoption however I am breed specific and without a fully fenced yard no specific rescue will approve me. I also fully support keeping breeds properly going because if we don't they'll go extinct.

 

[havaneselover]

Starting the puppy search. I want to find Dude a little doxie brother. My mom and buddy are going to be gone a lot more and after 2 weeks it's evident he needs someone besides me while I'm working or not home. Biggest thing I think is trying to figure out how to find a decent place that isn't AKC as that seems to inflate the price to ridic amounts.

I do fully support adoption however I am breed specific and without a fully fenced yard no specific rescue will approve me. I also fully support keeping breeds properly going because if we don't they'll go extinct.

I hope you find the perfect brother for Dude. And I hope when you get a puppy he's much better behaved than mine!

 

[MarBee]

Sending out an SOS to all of the experts here! Please help!
I originally booked a trip to Discovery Cove and SeaWorld for August on points through the Chase UR portal. Unfortunately I contracted Covid and had to cancel. My points were refunded quickly.
I just went on to rebook (after booking my airline tickets, hotel, etc), and I don’t see DC or SW tickets available. I’ve been on hold/transferred to/speaking with a multitude of Chase “travel specialists” who aren’t sure why they aren’t showing anymore.
Does anyone know of any other way I can use points to book these tickets? I can get any card/join any program. I’m desperate! It was my daughter’s birthday present and she’s been waiting for months, so I told her we were going. I feel so terrible I could cry.
Any help is appreciated please.

 

[afan]

I hope you find the perfect brother for Dude. And I hope when you get a puppy he's much better behaved than mine!

When Dude was a puppy he chewed through my laptop power cord when I was at work, wasn't plugged in, clearly understood what took attention away from him. I lost two pairs of shoes because I apparently didn't learn with the first pair Thankfully just and old pair of flip flops and a cheap pair of black flats. And I had to replace a discover card, totally my fault I tossed it and didn't realize it didn't end up on the bed, fair game. The puppy generally won't be alone though, so at least that will help. Dude should be a distraction if I'm not home and I'll put the pup on the same nail trim schedule as dude and just take them together.

The only concern, and not really, is accidents on the carpet. My old house had awful painted wood floors so I didn't care as long as I could clean it up. But our one covid forced purchase has been helpful and we've been happy to have it. They stopped renting carpet cleaners so Mom bought a bissell so we can clean the carpets whenever.

Sending out an SOS to all of the experts here! Please help!
I originally booked a trip to Discovery Cove and SeaWorld for August on points through the Chase UR portal. Unfortunately I contracted Covid and had to cancel. My points were refunded quickly.
I just went on to rebook (after booking my airline tickets, hotel, etc), and I don’t see DC or SW tickets available. I’ve been on hold/transferred to/speaking with a multitude of Chase “travel specialists” who aren’t sure why they aren’t showing anymore.
Does anyone know of any other way I can use points to book these tickets? I can get any card/join any program. I’m desperate! It was my daughter’s birthday present and she’s been waiting for months, so I told her we were going. I feel so terrible I could cry.
Any help is appreciated please.

Which card are you trying to use, CSR or CSP? With the change to the CSR travel portal I wonder if that's why they aren't there any more. Though I thought CSP hadn't changed yet, but could also be the issue.

Have you looked at ticket resellers like UT? I'm pretty sure they code as travel so you could at least use pyb for it. I'm sure others may have ideas of where to get them, but that's my first thought.

 

[MarBee]

When Dude was a puppy he chewed through my laptop power cord when I was at work, wasn't plugged in, clearly understood what took attention away from him. I lost two pairs of shoes because I apparently didn't learn with the first pair Thankfully just and old pair of flip flops and a cheap pair of black flats. And I had to replace a discover card, totally my fault I tossed it and didn't realize it didn't end up on the bed, fair game. The puppy generally won't be alone though, so at least that will help. Dude should be a distraction if I'm not home and I'll put the pup on the same nail trim schedule as dude and just take them together.

The only concern, and not really, is accidents on the carpet. My old house had awful painted wood floors so I didn't care as long as I could clean it up. But our one covid forced purchase has been helpful and we've been happy to have it. They stopped renting carpet cleaners so Mom bought a bissell so we can clean the carpets whenever.



Which card are you trying to use, CSR or CSP? With the change to the CSR travel portal I wonder if that's why they aren't there any more. Though I thought CSP hadn't changed yet, but could also be the issue.

Have you looked at ticket resellers like UT? I'm pretty sure they code as travel so you could at least use pyb for it. I'm sure others may have ideas of where to get them, but that's my first thought.

I’m using a CSP. I also have a CF and a Chase Business Ink. If I can book using my points through either of them I gladly will.

 

[softballpooh]

Thanks! I did put one on my application but I have also SM'd Chase to follow up to see what they have on file and to ask them to link with the RR I provided.

Following up with my post- yes, it was discovered I have two RR accounts. I've put in a request with SW and she said they will look into merging them but it would be at least Monday before anyone looked into it. And I do have two logins so I can see the points in different places and that they did credit from my SW biz card quickly.

 

[LenSnark]

Reading a few of these responses, I have a question about the Free Night Certificate that Marriott offers. I just got the Boundless and I'm racking up purchases towards the intro offer of three nights free. I figured those would just translate into 150k points that I could use at the Swan or Dolphin. I figured that this would work because even though the Swan or Dolphin during Marathon week 2023 is going to be about 60k it would still work. Was I right or are those 3 nights completely inapplicable to Swan/Dolphin because it's a level 6 hotel?

 

[wanderlust7]

Sending out an SOS to all of the experts here! Please help!
I originally booked a trip to Discovery Cove and SeaWorld for August on points through the Chase UR portal. Unfortunately I contracted Covid and had to cancel. My points were refunded quickly.
I just went on to rebook (after booking my airline tickets, hotel, etc), and I don’t see DC or SW tickets available. I’ve been on hold/transferred to/speaking with a multitude of Chase “travel specialists” who aren’t sure why they aren’t showing anymore.
Does anyone know of any other way I can use points to book these tickets? I can get any card/join any program. I’m desperate! It was my daughter’s birthday present and she’s been waiting for months, so I told her we were going. I feel so terrible I could cry.
Any help is appreciated please.

The portal recently changed to run off of cxLoyalty instead of Expedia. That's probably why unfortunately.

The CSR was still on Expedia, but I don't know if that's still the case. I no longer have the card, so can't check. If your CSP or CF are older than a year, you could upgrade it to the CSR. Annual fee would be $550, but you'd get a $300 easy to use travel credit and 1.5 cent per point redemption in the portal instead of 1.25 with the CSP.

The CSR portal can change at any time though, so that would be a risk.

Pay Yourself Back (PYB) is no longer as flexible. With a CSP, you can do Airbnb or Away luggage. With CSR you have those categories plus dining and the annual fee.

 

[wanderlust7]

Reading a few of these responses, I have a question about the Free Night Certificate that Marriott offers. I just got the Boundless and I'm racking up purchases towards the intro offer of three nights free. I figured those would just translate into 150k points that I could use at the Swan or Dolphin. I figured that this would work because even though the Swan or Dolphin during Marathon week 2023 is going to be about 60k it would still work. Was I right or are those 3 nights completely inapplicable to Swan/Dolphin because it's a level 6 hotel?

You can't use a 50k certificate when the night is 60k. 60k is the category 6 peak rate. When it's the standard rate of 50k or non-peak of 40k, then you can use the FNC.

Bonvoy is coming out with the ability to add up to 15k points to your FNC, but there's no specified date ("early 2022"). Once that comes out, you'd be able to use your 50k FNC plus 10k points to book it. BUT in March, they're going to dynamic pricing. So who knows if it'll stay at 60. Though they've said 97% will stay in the range of non-peak to peak this year.