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

[KPK02090]

I'm terrible at booking trips. I'm trying to plan Costa Rica for April 2025 for my family of 5 (3 teens). Would love to stay at Los Altos, but it's no longer Hyatt. It does show up in the Chase portal, but says Sold Out for the dates I want - even though it's available directly on their web site or through the Amex portal. My dates aren't very flexible - it's a school vacation week. Through the Amex portal it would be literally a million points for the week - so that's not happening. I also like the looks of Tulemar through the Chase portal, but they only have non-refundable rates and I just can't do that this far out. So now I'm thinking I'll just have to do two rooms somewhere instead of one of these with suites? I have over 800K URs, over 600K MRs, about 140K Hilton and over 300K Marriott points. Any suggestions?

 

[cdurham1]

Can someone check my reasoning -

WF Active Cash Card pays 2% on everyday spending.

If you have the Autograph Journey card (maybe just the Autograph, too) you can transfer the 2% to points instead of cash back, right?

If Choice points are worth 1ccp and they have a transfer ratio of 1:2, then the WF Active Cash is worth 4%, right?

That makes it a pretty good default for non-category spend if you specifically can stand Choice points?

And assuming their new Attune card will allow transfers and has 4% for these kinda esoteric spend categories, maybe WF becomes my new default setup.

 

[wanderlust7]

Can someone check my reasoning -

WF Active Cash Card pays 2% on everyday spending.

If you have the Autograph Journey card (maybe just the Autograph, too) you can transfer the 2% to points instead of cash back, right?

If Choice points are worth 1ccp and they have a transfer ratio of 1:2, then the WF Active Cash is worth 4%, right?

That makes it a pretty good default for non-category spend if you specifically can stand Choice points?

And assuming their new Attune card will allow transfers and has 4% for these kinda esoteric spend categories, maybe WF becomes my new default setup.

1 cpp is a big if. They can be bought for 0.79 cpp in the current sale. Link

 

[cdurham1]

1 cpp is a big if. They can be bought for 0.79 cpp in the current sale. Link

Thanks for the link! I may do that.

 

[lsutigers03]

P2 received a mailer for the Amex business gold. It says “compliment your second business” which leads me to think it is a NLL offer. Is this correct? It also says pre-approved with a personalized QR code and RSVP code. Does this mean guaranteed approval?

 

[Haley R]

We’ve started looking at domestic trips for next year instead of international just to keep our options open. Thinking Phoenix for spring break and started looking at Gatlinburg as another option. Does anyone have any advice/recommendations for Gatlinburg/Dollywood/Pigeon Forge? Mainly trying to figure out the best time of year to visit.

Also considering Cape Cod/Boston or Bar Harbor

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

We’ve started looking at domestic trips for next year instead of international just to keep our options open. Thinking Phoenix for spring break and started looking at Gatlinburg as another option. Does anyone have any advice/recommendations for Gatlinburg/Dollywood/Pigeon Forge? Mainly trying to figure out the best time of year to visit.

We live 2.5hrs from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge and go at least once every year. We’ve been in every season, but our favorite is fall. Spring would be my second choice. In my opinion, October is the best! It’s decorated super cute, and the weather is great. In Gatlinburg specifically, it’s mostly walking everywhere, so if it’s really hot, it can be a little miserable. Same with wintertime.

 

[Haley R]

We live 2.5hrs from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge and go at least once every year. We’ve been in every season, but our favorite is fall. Spring would be my second choice. In my opinion, October is the best! It’s decorated super cute, and the weather is great. In Gatlinburg specifically, it’s mostly walking everywhere, so if it’s really hot, it can be a little miserable. Same with wintertime.

Thanks for the reply! Ds will start kindergarten next fall and I’m not sure if we’ll be able to take him out of school in October. I need to check what our school district allows. Fall looks really pretty though. Do you think the summer months would be miserable?

 

[havaneselover]

I had a YouTube TV offer on Amex. Works twice and good through December. So I'll use one Ink card for June and another for July then use Amex for August and September. Also had a use Apple Pay three times get $10 back on Amex.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

Thanks for the reply! Ds will start kindergarten next fall and I’m not sure if we’ll be able to take him out of school in October. I need to check what our school district allows. Fall looks really pretty though. Do you think the summer months would be miserable?

We've been in August before, and it was really hot and humid and crowded. Although, we don't mind the heat, lol. I saw a ton of people with neck fans, and we did a short hike in the Smoky Mountains one day and people were sitting on benches saying they couldn't go on. So for some people it's really miserable. But you guys are from FL, so you're probably used to it. Summer temps in Florida aren't much different from here... it's really hot and humid every day. In June we get rain almost every day. If you can survive Disney from like May to September, you can survive Gatlinburg/PF from like June-August, haha. It's the busiest time though, I'll forewarn you. So many people in our area go on their "annual TN trip" in summer. It seems like it's a tradition for not only people in my area, but I have friends that live in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and they come down in summer too since it's kind of a central place to visit.

 

[Haley R]

We've been in August before, and it was really hot and humid and crowded. Although, we don't mind the heat, lol. I saw a ton of people with neck fans, and we did a short hike in the Smoky Mountains one day and people were sitting on benches saying they couldn't go on. So for some people it's really miserable. But you guys are from FL, so you're probably used to it. Summer temps in Florida aren't much different from here... it's really hot and humid every day. In June we get rain almost every day. If you can survive Disney from like May to September, you can survive Gatlinburg/PF from like June-August, haha. It's the busiest time though, I'll forewarn you. So many people in our area go on their "annual TN trip" in summer. It seems like it's a tradition for not only people in my area, but I have friends that live in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and they come down in summer too since it's kind of a central place to visit.

Seems like summer might not be the best choice then. We’re playing around with the idea of maybe coming this October or November instead. It depends on dh’s work since he just took so much time off for Japan.

Does October get busy too? Everything I’ve read online says October is super busy. We could do late September or early November if those would be less busy

 

[ten6mom]

Ds will start kindergarten next fall

!!!

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

Seems like summer might not be the best choice then. We’re playing around with the idea of maybe coming this October or November instead. It depends on dh’s work since he just took so much time off for Japan.

Does October get busy too? Everything I’ve read online says October is super busy. We could do late September or early November if those would be less busy

October is still busy, but I don't feel like it is AS busy as summer. Late September would likely be less busy, but you probably won't get any fall colors in the trees yet, and I don't remember when they start decorating with all the pumpkins and stuff... it may be the very tail end of September or beginning of October. Also, if you'll be going to Dollywood, I would check their hours. I think they may shorten their hours a little in fall, and the water park would be closed. So maybe it depends on what exactly you guys are most interested in doing there. If you go in summer, I think early June would be best (as some kids up north are still in school yet), and some of our mornings are still on the "cooler" side and really pleasant (like high 60s/low 70s).

!!!

Holy cow, I was thinking the same!! How is he gonna be that old already!

 

[becauseimnew]

Right when he turned 4 he turned into a terror so I can’t even imagine traveling internationally right now with him. He was a relatively easy 2 and 3 year old but 4 has hit us hard and we’ve been really struggling with him. I hope by 5 things are better but our neighbor down the street has a son turning 5 this month and she said it hasn’t gotten better for them. Dh said we should go ahead and book England but make sure everything is refundable so we might do that. I suggested to dh maybe we try 3 week-long domestic trips spread out throughout the year instead.

There are so many awesome places to visit domestically. No need to take long flights to visit new places. We love big cities with little kids because they have so many great kid museums, indoor playgrounds, aquariums.

 

[Minnie368]

We’ve started looking at domestic trips for next year instead of international just to keep our options open. Thinking Phoenix for spring break and started looking at Gatlinburg as another option. Does anyone have any advice/recommendations for Gatlinburg/Dollywood/Pigeon Forge? Mainly trying to figure out the best time of year to visit.

Also considering Cape Cod/Boston

Thanks for the reply! Ds will start kindergarten next fall and I’m not sure if we’ll be able to take him out of school in October. I need to check what our school district allows. Fall looks really pretty though. Do you think the summer months would be miserable?

We are from PA and go to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg once or twice per year. We love it there and find it so laid back and friendly. We typically go in May and October and find it can still be hot but nothing like Florida! Check for a schedule of the bike and car shows, especially the rod runs, because they can take over the whole area and it's crazy!
As far as school goes, we always took my now adult children out of school for trips. Their district allowed up to five days each school year for a family educational trip. They weren't counted absent and it wasn't even considered as an excused absence. As long as they had pre-approval from the teachers and then submitted something when we returned to demonstrate the educational value they were considered present for those days. It's worth checking to see if they offer something like that, because it was nice not to have those days counted toward their allowed number of excused absences for the year.

 

[Minnie368]

Is 50 minutes enough time for a connection in Charlotte? Flying from Pittsburgh to Cancun with a 50 min connection. Does it make a difference that it's connecting to Mexico?

 

[Haley R]

October is still busy, but I don't feel like it is AS busy as summer. Late September would likely be less busy, but you probably won't get any fall colors in the trees yet, and I don't remember when they start decorating with all the pumpkins and stuff... it may be the very tail end of September or beginning of October. Also, if you'll be going to Dollywood, I would check their hours. I think they may shorten their hours a little in fall, and the water park would be closed. So maybe it depends on what exactly you guys are most interested in doing there. If you go in summer, I think early June would be best (as some kids up north are still in school yet), and some of our mornings are still on the "cooler" side and really pleasant (like high 60s/low 70s).

Holy cow, I was thinking the same!! How is he gonna be that old already!

Thank you! I appreciate the help. The Dollywood calendar says their harvest festival starts September 9. But October looks pretty with the leaves changing color since we don’t really get that here where we live. Do you recommend staying in Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg?

He starts VPK in August (4 year preschool) and then kindergarten next year! It’s crazy.

 

[Haley R]

We are from PA and go to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg once or twice per year. We love it there and find it so laid back and friendly. We typically go in May and October and find it can still be hot but nothing like Florida! Check for a schedule of the bike and car shows, especially the rod runs, because they can take over the whole area and it's crazy!
As far as school goes, we always took my now adult children out of school for trips. Their district allowed up to five days each school year for a family educational trip. They weren't counted absent and it wasn't even considered as an excused absence. As long as they had pre-approval from the teachers and then submitted something when we returned to demonstrate the educational value they were considered present for those days. It's worth checking to see if they offer something like that, because it was nice not to have those days counted toward their allowed number of excused absences for the year.

Where do you normally stay when you go? Do you think a week is good or too long?

When I asked his VPK teacher I think she said they are allowed two unexcused absences per month. She said she would be willing to work with us if he needs to miss more though. In kindergarten I’m not sure. I think it’s the same policy but they might not be as lenient. I’ll have to check.

 

[Judique]

Thanks for the reply! Ds will start kindergarten next fall and I’m not sure if we’ll be able to take him out of school in October. I need to check what our school district allows. Fall looks really pretty though. Do you think the summer months would be miserable?

Check the school schedule and see if there are days off already built in. I never worried about mine in KG, but as they moved up the ladder we took them out before middle school for up to a week. Seems some systems are more strict than others.

Not all kids are going to easily do well with missing a week of instruction. You do have that background that might help with keeping him up with his class while he's out. Maybe discuss it with his teacher after they've had a chance to evaluate him a bit. A little 'home schooling' on vacation won't hurt.

 

[Minnie368]

Where do you normally stay when you go? Do you think a week is good or too long?

When I asked his VPK teacher I think she said they are allowed two unexcused absences per month. She said she would be willing to work with us if he needs to miss more though. In kindergarten I’m not sure. I think it’s the same policy but they might not be as lenient. I’ll have to check.

We usually rent a house through airbnb or vrbo because we're traveling with our adult children and their spouses and it works out best for us. There are a lot of great rentals in the area. We stay closer to the Pigeon Forge area than Gatlinburg just because it seems more conveniently located for us, as far as shopping and restaurants that we like. For us a week is great. We like to go to Dollywood a couple times and we just go to Gatlinburg for one day. We do a lot of hiking when we're there. Also, the cades cove driving loop is great for seeing bears especially in the spring and fall. Last year we saw so many it was really cool. A few mama bears with their cubs. I don't have much advice for the best attractions with small children though because we didn't start going there till ours were older.