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

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Home insurance bill hit my email this morning. No claims, 32% increase, with State Farm. No policy changes I'm aware off but I haven't actually reread the policy yet this morning.

I'm insured by State Farm in Maryland.

Totally anecdotal and it's one contractor's opinion, but one contractor we talked to about our roof/siding mentioned how thorough our agent was to work with (Hanover). He said the most difficult to work with is State Farm.

 

[wanderlust7]

We were in Japan and South Korea last month. Got around to putting up my hotel reviews. Itinerary was Tokyo – Kyoto – Seoul – Sapporo. All flights and hotels were with points (or FNC) except for the Airbnb in Sapporo.

SFO – NRT JAL biz through BA was 77,250 Avios and $284 taxes. CTS – HND – SFO JAL biz through BA was 89,750 Avios, $301 taxes. Japan to South Korea flights were KIX – GMP, ICN – CTS on Korean Air economy, 7500 Delta miles and around $20 taxes. These were short flights around 2 hours, but they served hot meals!

The hotels we stayed at, linked to reviews:
Hyatt House Shibuya
Roku Kyoto
Suiran Kyoto
Andaz Seoul
Riverside Hotel Sapporo – an unmanned apartment style hotel booked through Airbnb. Not a points hotel, so no review lol.

In Tokyo, we mostly shopped and ate. We met up with DD’s BFF from school for a day. Her dad is a churner and I told him how to get JAL biz seats through BA lol. We went to TeamLab Borderless and then Shibuya with them. We did TeamLab Planets last trip. There are some similarities, but Borderless you have to wander around and find your own way to the different rooms (hoping not to miss any). Planets is very structured – one room to the next. Planets is barefoot and in water sometimes, Borderless is not. I think I prefer Planets a little more, but maybe that’s because it was my first TeamLab. Or maybe because I like structure. Maybe both lol.

Kyoto was more scenic and relaxing. The hotels were more the destination, so I put what we did in the reviews.

In Seoul, we did a lot of touristy things since it was our first time in South Korea. The DMZ tour was DH’s favorite even though you can no longer go to the JSA. I found it really interesting too; even the kids enjoyed it. My most memorable part was walking into the Third Infiltration Tunnel that the North Koreans had dug. Too bad pictures aren’t allowed in there or even the entrance to the tunnel.

DH’s second favorite was the food tour of Gwangjang Market. It ended up being a private tour since it was only us. So much food leftover! The tour guide told us to take it all, but we had no microwave at the hotel, so asked him to take it home. We got to have the delicious, twisted donuts without waiting in the huge line since the tour has an arrangement with the stall. Most amazingly of all, DD (the picky eater) ate the still squirming raw octopus legs!

My favorite area was Insadong and Ikseon-dong Hanok Village. Wish we had more time to poke around the tiny streets of Ikseon-dong, but we were rushing to the food tour. Also wish we had more time to explore Gwangjang Market as well as Namdaemun Market, which we didn’t get to.

The Seoul subway system isn’t quite as complicated as Tokyo’s. One time, DD didn’t get on the train while the rest of us did. DS tried to stop the door from closing, but it didn’t work (dangerous!). Luckily, we had gotten her an eSIM for her phone. DH figured out that only that line goes through there, so we got off at the next station and told her to get on the next train. Don’t think this would have worked in Tokyo, we would have had to go back to find her. Which would have taken longer and resulted in more anxiety!

In Sapporo, we (i.e. the kids) shopped some more. It’s a much more manageable city than Tokyo. Got to try Sapporo style soup curry, Genghis Khan BBQ (named that because the grill is the shape of his hat), and kaisendon (bowl of raw seafood over rice). Did a day trip to Otaru, where there’s a scenic canal, cute shops, and street food. It’s too bad everything closes down around 5 pm (even the restaurants on the main tourist street). We should have gone earlier.

I looked into a day tour to Furano, but it would have been an early day. I have some regrets about not seeing more of Hokkaido. Now it’s on my list to go back for a road trip and see more places. Overall, it was a great trip and I’m so grateful everyone stayed healthy!

Arashiyama:



Lovely Cheonggyecheon Stream in the middle of Seoul:



Cable car to Namsan in Seoul:



Otaru:

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I was going to open my very first Hilton card to cover some hotels when we're in Portugal for 2 weeks in January but DH also has an offer for 150K MRs to open a second Biz Gold that ends this month. Or we could go for a CIP and help rebuild our low URs. The cash rates for some of the Hilton properties seem so reasonable, like $100-$200 per night, even SLH properties. And except for Lisbon, we're moving around too much to take advantage of 5th night free (and in Lisbon, we're staying at a Hyatt). So not sure if we should just pay cash...

What would you do? On the one hand, we have an actual use for the Hilton points rn. On the other, we could pay cash and earn more MR or UR, which we find more useful

For off peak travel in Portugal, I would likely pay cash, unless the points are something like $100= less than 14k pts/nt, $200 less than 28k pts/nt. And that's sort of being generous with their worth. If you do build your URs, you could book hotels through the travel portal. Plus if you have the CSR, you could see if there are any EDIT hotels on the portal, where you'd get breakfast, credits, etc.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

So, we are traveling to London and Paris in September, flying into London and out of Paris. We are on AF coming into EWR. I'm booking our flight home from EWR (into CLE) on United and I have the option of a 3 hour layover in economy or a 5 hour layover in 1st for the same price. My instinct is to fly economy to get home asap, but on the other hand, we will be first/business for all our other flights, so going to the back of the plane will suck lol. Granted, it's less than 2 hours so not a big deal either way, I have the United card so no baggage fees. I'm assuming 3 hours is more than enough with Global Entry?

When you say layover, are you talking about a layover from EWR-X-CLE, or are you saying the amount of time you'll have in EWR, after your AF flight before your United flight? If it's the latter, I would do 5 hours. If your AF flight is delayed, you have no protection at all if you miss your United flight. United may help you out, but in no way would they be required to, as your first flight is with a different carrier. So it's always risky to book flights like that (though many of us do). You just should probably give yourself some extra time or have a backup plan.

 

[LB002]

Totally anecdotal and it's one contractor's opinion, but one contractor we talked to about our roof/siding mentioned how thorough our agent was to work with (Hanover). He said the most difficult to work with is State Farm.

We've only had one major claim, and Hannover we very good to work with.

 

[LB002]

Home insurance bill hit my email this morning. No claims, 32% increase, with State Farm. No policy changes I'm aware off but I haven't actually reread the policy yet this morning.

I'm insured by State Farm in Maryland.

Home and Auto premiums have skyrocketed this year. The higher cost of homes, cars and repairs is a main driver, as is the increase in natural disasters. I'm in the industry, so I knew it was coming, but it was an unpleasant shock to get our bill. We looked at other carriers, but we didn't find savings (we have Progressive). Also, we have had our auto policy for so long that we (supposedly) won't see an increase when we add a teen driver in 1.5 years.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

DP - P2 (DH) just applied for the CIP with support from me (P1) and was instantly approved. It always feels like winning the lottery when that happens.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

P2's Amex Marriott biz application was not approved (denial) for "maximum number and type of cards we allow." P2 closed one credit card about 24 hours prior, which would have brought him to 4 instead of 5, but guessing the system didn't have time to fully update. Is this a matter of calling recon? Not sure this card/offer is worth P2 calling in.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

DoC is reporting CIP 120k/$8k offer is now publicly available. I'll probably wait just a bit longer for the support link, even though I know I could probably match without issue.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

@wanderlust7 Great trip report. So impressed with your use of FNCs!!! My youngest kids are a similar age and we are also at that point where we really enjoy the extra space, when possible. Not necessary, but always appreciated. I also have very picky eaters. They too prefer to sleep in, rather than have the expensive hotel breakfast, which takes pressure/guilt off of me, and it's nice to have some alone time with DH. They're happy with a quick grab and go item!!!
I haven't jumped on the Japan bandwagon because I really don't enjoy large cities for more than a day or so. Your photos of more picturesque settings have me thinking...

 

[wanderlust7]

P2's Amex Marriott biz application was not approved (denial) for "maximum number and type of cards we allow." P2 closed one credit card about 24 hours prior, which would have brought him to 4 instead of 5, but guessing the system didn't have time to fully update. Is this a matter of calling recon? Not sure this card/offer is worth P2 calling in.

Yes, he would need to call to push it through. It’s usually fairly painless.

Unfortunately, it can take 30+ days for Amex’s application system to recognize canceled cards.

 

[havaneselover]

One of my colleagues is Italian and just came back from a three week visit. I mentioned I would be in Rome in June and he mentioned the Jubilee which wasn't on my radar. I think it should be fine since we'll really only be in Rome one afternoon/evening then a full day before heading to the port. But makes me think twice about visiting the Vatican.

 

[Rimmit]

Home and Auto premiums have skyrocketed this year. The higher cost of homes, cars and repairs is a main driver, as is the increase in natural disasters. I'm in the industry, so I knew it was coming, but it was an unpleasant shock to get our bill. We looked at other carriers, but we didn't find savings (we have Progressive). Also, we have had our auto policy for so long that we (supposedly) won't see an increase when we add a teen driver in 1.5 years.

The people on the coast are getting destroyed by insurance premiums. In the last couple years, my uncles condo building with 76 units on Perdido Key went from $60000 a year to insure to $600000. A literal 10x increase. The reasons you cited are exactly the reasons the premiums have got crazy.

 

[AndreaDM]

When you say layover, are you talking about a layover from EWR-X-CLE, or are you saying the amount of time you'll have in EWR, after your AF flight before your United flight? If it's the latter, I would do 5 hours. If your AF flight is delayed, you have no protection at all if you miss your United flight. United may help you out, but in no way would they be required to, as your first flight is with a different carrier. So it's always risky to book flights like that (though many of us do). You just should probably give yourself some extra time or have a backup plan.

Yes, the amount of time we'd have at EWR before heading home to CLE. I too worried about the flight from Paris being delayed and I've actually been checking and that flight is pretty much on time. But yeah having that extra cushion of time would be nice, although I know DH will just want to get home. EWR is a lounge desert, but I do have a few United club passes we could use there.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

Does anyone know if Citi AA card can be closed via SM, or does it require a phone call?

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Within 10 mins of dd (me) applying for a CIP yesterday dd (I) got an e-mail asking for proof of physical address for dd and dd's 'business'. I uploaded dd's bank statement, then called recon. Explained that bills for biz aren't in dd's name and after several minutes on hold, rep came back and said "congratulations you have been approved for a new card with a $5k CL". I then asked to have the card expedited, the rep transferred me to a different department and after identity verification, rep said card would be sent UPS for no charge. Wohoo! I will have to SM for match to 120K URs (referral link was for 100k URs)

 

[wanderlust7]

Trying to book a Delta award flight at the end of calendar with an overnight connection that makes the connecting flight the day after end of calendar. Kept getting an error trying to book online. It goes all the way to the payment step and then fails. Tried chat, who told me that I can't book it until tomorrow due to that second flight. Anyone have experience with something like this? Not sure if chat is correct or maybe I should call.

 

[afan]

Trying to book a Delta award flight at the end of calendar with an overnight connection that makes the connecting flight the day after end of calendar. Kept getting an error trying to book online. It goes all the way to the payment step and then fails. Tried chat, who told me that I can't book it until tomorrow due to that second flight. Anyone have experience with something like this? Not sure if chat is correct or maybe I should call.

That doesn't make sense and their people can be hit or miss. I booked a Delta flight for may 2025 a week or so ago, so I don't see how the change in year would matter.

Have you tried the app or doing it incognito on the computer? Probably won't matter but worth a shot.

Is it partner or all Delta metal?

 

[wanderlust7]

That doesn't make sense and their people can be hit or miss. I booked a Delta flight for may 2025 a week or so ago, so I don't see how the change in year would matter.

Have you tried the app or doing it incognito on the computer? Probably won't matter but worth a shot.

Is it partner or all Delta metal?

I've tried app, incognito, cleared cache (twice), different browers, different computers. All Delta metal. Calling now, so I'll see.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

DP on the CIP…applied from P2s support link on Monday, instant approval sent Chase a SM on Wednesday asking to be matched to the new 120,000 offer…they just responded to SM them once the $8,000 spend it met and they will give me the additional 20,000 points