I love credit cards so much! v6.0 - 2023 & 2024 (see first page for add'l details)

[palhockeymomof2]

Informed delivery shows an envelope from Barclays for p2. The status screen doesn't show denied, so I am hoping this means there is something we can fax/mail/email in for verification.
of course with my mail, I might not actually see if for a few days.

Edited, nope, they want a phone call only. That's not likely going to happen, so no Barclays AA card for him.

My DH wouldn’t call either so I can sympathize with you…

 

[Mardigras2025]

Hi All! Wondering if there any travel cards or other cards that you might recommend to me for an upcoming trip in March to Disneyland and Aulani that I will be booking soon with some upfront purchases. I currently only have two cash back cards (Citi Double Cash Mastercard and Amex Cash Preferred), so I do not have experience with travel points.

I rented DVC points, so no hotel expenses to charge, but am purchasing flights and Disneyland tickets for a large group.

About $7,254 is current pricing with flights on a mix of Delta, Hawaiian, and United (may cut some costs with cheaper options, wait it out a little longer, use some miles to bring that down just a little bit). Tickets would be $3,076.Then we will have food expenses when there if we can get them, including princess brunch, WoC dessert party, and a character breakfast.

Is another card worth it, or would the simplicity of my cash back cards be fine? We do not travel extensively as a family and this will certainly be our only major trip in 2025, but in 2026 we will ramp up to 1-2 trips per year as the kids are getting older (they will be 6 and 4 for this trip).

I travel for work and accrue miles through a variety of airlines (not at a major hub, so I fly without strong loyalty - but most of my miles are with Delta). With work travel, I use a corporate card and we cannot use personal cards.

Thank you! Sorry if I didn't do the format correctly or if this needs to be moved or deleted.

 

[GZanta77]

Hi All! Wondering if there any travel cards or other cards that you might recommend to me for an upcoming trip in March to Disneyland and Aulani that I will be booking soon with some upfront purchases. I currently only have two cash back cards (Citi Double Cash Mastercard and Amex Cash Preferred), so I do not have experience with travel points.

I rented DVC points, so no hotel expenses to charge, but am purchasing flights and Disneyland tickets for a large group.

About $7,254 is current pricing with flights on a mix of Delta, Hawaiian, and United (may cut some costs with cheaper options, wait it out a little longer, use some miles to bring that down just a little bit). Tickets would be $3,076.Then we will have food expenses when there if we can get them, including princess brunch, WoC dessert party, and a character breakfast.

Is another card worth it, or would the simplicity of my cash back cards be fine? We do not travel extensively as a family and this will certainly be our only major trip in 2025, but in 2026 we will ramp up to 1-2 trips per year as the kids are getting older (they will be 6 and 4 for this trip).

I travel for work and accrue miles through a variety of airlines (not at a major hub, so I fly without strong loyalty - but most of my miles are with Delta). With work travel, I use a corporate card and we cannot use personal cards.

Thank you! Sorry if I didn't do the format correctly or if this needs to be moved or deleted.

OK - I'm gonna pick on one sentence in your post

Is another card worth it, or would the simplicity of my cash back cards be fine?

Yes and Yes.

Yes another card(s) is worth it - to me anyway. I look at your post and in the simplest terms I see 'Need to spend $10,000+' ......and my brain instantly says 'New credit cards with sign up bonus (SUB)'. For example, you could potentially get an Amex Delta Gold card and a Citi Strata Premier and you would easily meet the MSR for the SUB on both cards and net about $1500 in value from the points. (I only picked those cards due to the ecosystems you are already in, but there are many choices)

However, for various reasons, some folks are unable to frequently open new cards and chase SUBs, or they just don't want the hassle of constantly looking for new cards, or they really like the tangible benefit of cashback........

In which case, Yes, the simplicity of your cash back cards is fine.

However, as you have mentioned that you anticipate travel increasing in 2026 and beyond, now would be a great time to start accumulating points/miles to help offset those future expenses.

 

[babyready]

Second the recommendation on Tevas!! I have both the Originals, which I wear to places like the lake and beach, and then I have the Hurricanes (which have more of an adventure gripping sole) which I wore to Costa Rica for our waterfall hike and also the hiking trail at Los Altos, and they worked perfectly! Highly recommend... super comfy also! And comes in cute colorways

For hiking boots, I highly recommend Columbia Newton Ridge boots! Mine have been through all 5 Utah national parks, Yellowstone/GTNP, Colorado, Hawaii Volcanoes & Haleakala, etc. They've probably seen over 100 miles of hiking trails, they've been through mud and rain and snow, and they have held up great. They are very comfortable for my feet. Once I retire my current pair, I'll be getting another!

I totally impulse bought those boots a couple of days ago and they should be arriving next week! Glad to hear good things! My feet have become extremely finicky so I return a lot of shoes, unfortunately.

@babyready the 2 places i looked at were about 10% more then if I booked from the hotel directly not a big deal but paying ahead was at least to me I'm so used to paying it later, then if the point value goes up or down I can decide to pay cash or points this makes you pay up front.

That is good to know. I hate how much more things cost through the portal, it kills most deals for me.

 

[Sheree]

Happy Saturday!

hopefully spending goes down but...

myself and P2 are both 3/24 (not counting Inks). Just closed 2 of his INKs.

he's an AU on my 25 year old Hilton Amex. Does that preclude him NLL from a new amexx? if not, what would you suggest? I have Plat which I need to keep til June, then will probably close, don't get value from it

we just opened JB, Citi ASA and Barclay's AA, met all SUBs already
have CSR

we each have about 200k AA miles, I hve 500k Hilton points, Marriot is low but I don't find them useful. Closed IHG 2 years ago,
thinking WOH, or a United Card or a new currency

may wait til January but wanted to get ideas

not sure what Strata is or any BofA.

had venture X, didn't love it

appreciate it

 

[hsmamato2]

CSR PYB question..... do I have to pay the entire amount of the charge with points? If so,dang it, I didn't want to do that..... I had thought I could partially use some points to do this,and I could have split my insurance bills up if this is the case

 

[Cfabar1]

Just some pushback... We have lots and lots of cards.... Am starting to cull the herd... Just too many to keep track of - and then the other users get confused which ones they are supposed to use...

That said, am always still on the hunt for a good signup bonus as long as I am staying below 5/24...

 

[IFlossU]

DW's two biz plats show enrolled. Does buying Hilton GC's online trigger the credit?

Try and let us know.

Bought 2 gift cards yesterday using my and DHs accounts. I assume it will work, but we’ll find out soon.

Reporting back with DP on new Biz Platinum Hilton $50/quarterly credit. I just received an email from Amex that I received my $50 Hilton credit. I purchased gift cards across 2 Biz Plats on December 12th. On my statement it shows as RBG Hilton Gift Card. Credit hasn’t hit my account yet, but the email is a pretty good sign it will credit as expected.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

CSR PYB question..... do I have to pay the entire amount of the charge with points? If so,dang it, I didn't want to do that..... I had thought I could partially use some points to do this,and I could have split my insurance bills up if this is the case

From what I see on my CSR, when I go to use PYB it comes up with enough points to cover the whole charge.
I wonder if you transfer points off your CSR to another card just keeping the number of points you want to use on the CSR if it will let you just use those points to PYB

 

[hsmamato2]

From what I see on my CSR, when I go to use PYB it comes up with enough points to cover the whole charge.
I wonder if you transfer points off your CSR to another card just keeping the number of points you want to use on the CSR if it will let you just use those points to PYB

oooohhhhh that's an interesting idea- ETA- just did this.... worked great to use the amount I wanted to 'spend' on this so thank you! I wonder if I should give it a day before switching the rest back....

 

[palhockeymomof2]

oooohhhhh that's an interesting idea- ETA- just did this.... worked great to use the amount I wanted to 'spend' on this so thank you! I wonder if I should give it a day before switching the rest back....

So glad it worked….i don't think it matters if transfer them back now…but if you dont need to can’t hurt to wait

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex 1st Quarter 2025 categories
Norwegian Cruise lines
Grocery Stores(excluding Walmart & Target)
Fitness clubs & Gym memberships
Hair, nails & spa services

 

[StephPlum]

Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex 1st Quarter 2025 categories
Norwegian Cruise lines
Grocery Stores(excluding Walmart & Target)
Fitness clubs & Gym memberships
Hair, nails & spa services

I was waiting for a NCL offer / deal. Thanks.

 

[afan]

Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex 1st Quarter 2025 categories
Norwegian Cruise lines
Grocery Stores(excluding Walmart & Target)
Fitness clubs & Gym memberships
Hair, nails & spa services

Wish my hair gal took cards, though it probably wouldn't code right anyway. It's a salon but they all do their own schedules and payments.

 

[GZanta77]

I was waiting for a NCL offer / deal. Thanks.

There's an Amex offer for NCL on one of my cards. Think its $200 back when spending $1,000 but not 100% sure.

 

[StephPlum]

There's an Amex offer for NCL on one of my cards. Think its $200 back when spending $1,000 but not 100% sure.

Thanks. I checked and I have Carnival and Regent offers but no NCL.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I’ve seen reports on FB groups of the credits fully posting for the new Amex Biz Plat Hilton credit for buying a GC.

 

[KPK02090]

I like my Tevas for wet climates, my kids prefer crocs (ugh!) Unless you want more of a hiking boot. Then, I am not very helpful because I am still in the market myself! Other travel ideas could be belt/shoulder bags (like Kavu or Cotopaxi)? Maybe power banks or ear buds for stockings. I gifted my oldest a Kindle before a big trip once and she loved it so much because she does tons of reading on trips and all those books take up so much room. My other kids could not care less and that would not have been a good gift for them, though!

Last Christmas I tried to give them some things for our trip to Japan. Nice cosmetic bags, special lenses for iphone, a gadget that you can clip your phone to on the plane to watch movies, things like that. I considered a travel journal/notebook but didn't really find what I was looking for.

Second the recommendation on Tevas!! I have both the Originals, which I wear to places like the lake and beach, and then I have the Hurricanes (which have more of an adventure gripping sole) which I wore to Costa Rica for our waterfall hike and also the hiking trail at Los Altos, and they worked perfectly! Highly recommend... super comfy also! And comes in cute colorways

look at Keens as well. great water sandals and hiking boots, very comfortable

I 2nd Columbia for actual hiking boots, used them in Ieland

Thank you for the suggestions!! I love my tevas I wear them all summer and to WDW. I was also looking at keens and leaning towards getting them for the kids, but I read bullet ants can be a problem in Costa Rica if your shoe isn’t fully enclosed.
Did anyone have issues with ants?

 

[chattadisser]

Wish my hair gal took cards, though it probably wouldn't code right anyway. It's a salon but they all do their own schedules and payments.

Mine takes cards but they process through square so it codes as a personal business rather than a salon. Oh well, at least there is the grocery category.

 

[hsmamato2]

So.... asking for a friend I'm thinking buy 'anytime' fare on swa, TC for CSR will get used,and it's fully refundable if needed,right?