I love credit cards so much! v7.0 - 2025 (see first page for add'l details)

[orangecuse]

It happened when a credit or something got added to I think the biz plat. It triggered a bunch of people buying it within the last 2 months and then all the people that forgot to use it.

I haven't seen anyone on reddit think the reason is because it was figured out and that's why. They do think they are really out given the timing of it all.

In the end the money is still with hilton. I'll use mine organically this quarter and then my Aspire in may at a waldorf. Maybe I'll find a use for the Surpass in London, staying at the westminster curio.

We booked that same hotel for London!

 

[orangecuse]

Also- anyone have experience recs near Park Ridge National Park in Canada or Whistler in the summer months?

Also also- is it impossible to find rooms for 4 in Dublin or Southampton? We have two rooms booked for now but wasn't sure if I was missing a trick.

 

[afan]

We booked that same hotel for London!

When do you go? Have you figured out how your getting there from the airport? It's the one thing I'm struggling with figuring out. I need to start figuring out what I'm doing each day. All my big pieces are booked. Going to meet up with a dis friend that live near london too.

Also need to figure out Versailles and Paris aside from the catacombs. It's my one must do because it was the one must do in 2018 we didn't get to do because they were on strike the day we were going which we didn't find out until we got there. So it'll be planned for my 1st morning just in case

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Hey all, Happy New Year! I have been AWOL; it turns out there is such a thing as too much travel! Who knew?

I shared about Iceland in October. Fantastic as always.

November we went to Grand Cayman and tried the new Hotel Indigo that opened next to the Kimpton Seafire. We knew in booking it that we'd always go back to the Seafire, it was a more, check it out for family/friends type deal. And while the hotel was beautiful and the suite they upgraded us to was lovely, and the f&b was actually quite good, we found it boring compared to the Seafire next door. But it's nice to have more f&b options close by. So if you haven't stayed at the Seafire, honestly, I would book it on points soon, because I think it's a steal that will increase in cost and I think it's only a matter of time. The Hotel Indigo and Seafire are now at the same pricepoint, so I think the Kimpton will increase in price. Since you can buy points often at .005 and cardholders get the fourth night free, you're essentially paying $263/nt + $80/nt resort fee. It's a comparative steal to anything comparable.

In December we went to Disney for 3 nts just before Christmas. That was our highest cost trip for the year, per person, per day. We did stay at the Poly and splurged for a lake view room, which ended up being a perfect third floor view of the fireworks and castle. We really do love the Poly. The new Island Tower is also beautiful and modern (didn't stay- just checked it out). We rented through DVC Rental Store and saved a ton over rack rates. For park tix, I have been collecting discounted gcs, so we saved that way as well. But even so, yikes! We did really like being able to do our Lightening Lane purchases a week in advance. It was a perfect trip and just the right amount of time.

Our trip to Hermitage Bay in Antigua is coming up shortly, so I'm excited to report back on that stay, booked through Hilton as part of their new partnership with SLH.

Also, thanks to everyone who gave advice on Alila Ventana for my son's belated honeymoon. They had an amazing time and a VERY nice upgrade to the Pacific House Suite, thanks to @platamama generously sharing GOH status.

This is such an amazing group and I'm ever grateful to be part of it. Cheers to 2025 everyone!

 

[AndreaDM]

How far in advance did you book? I wonder if they release rooms closer to date? I'm not seeing anything even for late January stays right now. Are you diamond/gold? If so, there's breakfast included right? Did the lounge access have food/drinks? Assuming no room upgrade either since you mentioned the room is small.

We booked in May for a Sept. stay. We are gold so got the free breakfast which was quite nice, but did not get upgraded so no lounge access. I did ask about an upgrade based on my status, but was told there was no room at the inn.

One thing that irked me that I just remembered, we grabbed some sandwiches for lunch one day and brought them back to the hotel, we sat down in the lounge area (the bar didn't even open until later) but were told we could not sit there to eat. Our room did not have a table and chairs, only a desk area with one chair so that was annoying.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

When do you go? Have you figured out how your getting there from the airport? It's the one thing I'm struggling with figuring out. I need to start figuring out what I'm doing each day. All my big pieces are booked. Going to meet up with a dis friend that live near london too.

Also need to figure out Versailles and Paris aside from the catacombs. It's my one must do because it was the one must do in 2018 we didn't get to do because they were on strike the day we were going which we didn't find out until we got there. So it'll be planned for my 1st morning just in case

You can take the Lizzie line to Bond Street, then transfer to the Jubilee line and take that 2 stops to Westminster; depending on how much luggage you have, you could walk from there to the Curio or take a taxi. I'd suggest downloading the TFL app -- it provides very accurate directions and has a detailed map of the London tube. The cost for the tube would be 13.30 quid. I'd avoid the Heathrow Express because it is $$$, you'd still have to transfer to the tube and the Lizzie line is almost as quick and it's quite nice (relative to the Picadilly line).

 

[MsOnceUponATime]

New situation for me - applied for a CIC on 1/1, heard nothing so assumed denial, but got a letter today asking to verify my TIN (SSN). Letter says I can take it into a Chase branch to fax it for free. It's not like I don't have any current open Chase cards, weird.

Letter is dated 1/1; we did not have mail delivery here Monday or Tuesday due to the snowstorm, so it could have come earlier. Says I need to reply within 14 days of 1/1. Guess I will walk it over to a branch tomorrow.

I had this happen too for the first time ever with only two open biz cards. Unfortunately I recieved the letter after I'd left for vacation, and it all fell over the holidays, and I wasn't able to get into a Chase. Not sure what to do now except accept defeat and move on.

 

[afan]

You can take the Lizzie line to Bond Street, then transfer to the Jubilee line and take that 2 stops to Westminster; depending on how much luggage you have, you could walk from there to the Curio or take a taxi. I'd suggest downloading the TFL app -- it provides very accurate directions and has a detailed map of the London tube. The cost for the tube would be 13.30 quid. I'd avoid the Heathrow Express because it is $$$, you'd still have to transfer to the tube and the Lizzie line is almost as quick and it's quite nice (relative to the Picadilly line).

Does Google maps work well? I found it far easier in Tokyo to use it than to use the separate app I had for trains and platforms, once I sorted out how to read everything. Though my biggest issue was in Tokyo station, there was still one place I never did find. I think I was on top of it at one point but could never figure out how to get downstairs and back to that part. I went all over that place too. Can't even remember what it was, I looked more than once too since I stayed at the hotel there.

 

[wanderlust7]

Can you close a boa biz card via sm or do you have to call? It's on my list to do next fri.

I think you have to call. Have read that you need to specifically ask for an AF refund too. Seemed to be true because the rep had to do separate transactions for the corporate and card AF refunds.

 

[afan]

I think you have to call. Have read that you need to specifically ask for an AF refund too. Seemed to be true because the rep had to do separate transactions for the corporate and card AF refunds.

That's why I'm canceling on the 17th, I got the card on the 16th so the af won't have posted. It was such a pain to get last year that I don't even want to wait for it to post.

 

[sky13]

Do you think taking my adult ds to Sentosa Island would be worthwhile? I didn't go last time because not much there piqued my interest (we are not into US). Would it make sense to go and just walk around?

If I go to Sentosa I'm usually there for Universal Studios (which is very small compared to Orlando)! Though I pop in there on occasion for various random things.

It's not hard to get there at all - I usually take the MRT to Harbourfront then walk along the boardwalk to Sentosa (free entry if you enter by foot) - the alternative is to take the Sentosa Express train that connects Vivocity (the shopping mall directly above Harbourfront MRT station) to a few spots in Sentosa (not sure of price, maybe $4 or so, it's not too expensive). (Vivocity is also a fairly decent mall that I enjoy wandering around, and it has quite a lot of food options - but it can get very crowded on weekends!)

So yes you could go there and walk around... But I think it depends on what you might want to do, wandering around can be tiring, and the attractions are a bit spread out over the place.

For what it's worth, my 2 cents on some of the attractions...

Adventure Cove - I rather like this though the last time I went was years ago. It's basically your standard waterpark with a lazy river and a wave pool...

SEA aquarium - I've only been once but I enjoyed it when I went!

Zipline and Luge - both look fairly cool, I've always wanted to do them but never got around to doing so!

Beaches - fun for a bit of a wander around, there's a tiny island ("southernmost point of continental Asia") connected to one of the beaches that you can get to using a bridge that I rather like wandering to. Though this might be due to nostalgia - back when I was in school we sometimes had school field trips to Sentosa and we seemed to always be wandering around this island/bridge. (Sentosa now is extremely different from when I was in school, but this island/bridge is still there!)

Cable car - I can't comment as the last time I took this was when I was a kid. It's also an extremely expensive way of getting to Sentosa compared to walking or taking the Sentosa Express in...

 

[LynnTH]

@LynnTH Were you able to get the SUB on both March/October Triple Cash apps for yourself & the July/November Triple Cash apps for DH? Asking because looking at the Footnotes for that card is says "One-time $750 cash back will be awarded if eligible". Thanks

Yes. Received bonuses on both.

Edit: Received on Mine. Still have about $400 to meet SUB on DH's.

 

[LynnTH]

Just paid off $15,600 for our Europe Trip. Split between 4 Cards. 2 of DH's and 1 for each kid.
DH Ink - Met SUB
DH US Bank Triple Cash - Have $400 left to meet SUB
DS Ink - Met SUB
DD Ink - Put $4000 towards her SUB.

So, of course - now I need to look for a new card. Since DH just had 2 new cards - probably my turn. Have no idea what to get next!

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Does Google maps work well? I found it far easier in Tokyo to use it than to use the separate app I had for trains and platforms, once I sorted out how to read everything. Though my biggest issue was in Tokyo station, there was still one place I never did find. I think I was on top of it at one point but could never figure out how to get downstairs and back to that part. I went all over that place too. Can't even remember what it was, I looked more than once too since I stayed at the hotel there.

I use Google maps at home, but for London I find the TFL app much better for public transport (I still use Google maps for walking). Just be aware that the times the TFL app says require walking is very exaggerated (i.e. if it says 10 min walk to your hotel it's probably more like 3-5).

 

[jujubiee4]

Bruges is really pretty. You can take a canal cruise there and there's no need to book it in advance (refreshing change from most other destinations where you need to pre-book everything). There are a lot of chocolate shops there. Nine are part of the Bruges Guild and they are all really great. I bought some at one of them for my DM and DD and both have told me it was the best chocolate they have ever tasted. Of course, I forgot to buy some for me to try.


I have noticed that a lot of hotels are playing games with those base level rooms. Have you tried searching for a longer stay? Or a shorter one? That's how I eventually was able to book the WA Amsterdam when they were playing games with availability.

We will be stopping here. My kids are dying to take a canal trip so knowing you dont have to book
it is nice to know. Also I heard about the chocolate shops. DD was hoping to find a place that has
chocolate tour. Heard of any?

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

No retention offer on Amex plat for DH. Did not try for one last year. Will try again.

If looking for something to buy on Dell, we tried the Phillips Hue lighting, specifically the Hue Lightbars that go behind the tv or to light up a bookcase. We (surprisingly) really like them. If you use them to light a bookcase or something besides the tv, fyi, the pack of 2 lightbars only comes with one plug, so instead buy two individual lightbars. Canceling our last biz plat this month, so had to use those credits up asap.

 

[elgerber]

Still no reply from my US Bank app, looking for a backup option. Have a fair amount of spend coming so if US Bank comes through I think I could pull off both. Looking at a citi AA biz. Has anything changed on those since the traain days? Looking at the site and I am seeing stuff about having to join AA Business account and the points posting to the business account. Is that different than before? Do the points still go to your personal AA account?

 

[orangecuse]

When do you go? Have you figured out how your getting there from the airport? It's the one thing I'm struggling with figuring out. I need to start figuring out what I'm doing each day. All my big pieces are booked. Going to meet up with a dis friend that live near london too.

Also need to figure out Versailles and Paris aside from the catacombs. It's my one must do because it was the one must do in 2018 we didn't get to do because they were on strike the day we were going which we didn't find out until we got there. So it'll be planned for my 1st morning just in case

We go in September! I think we are planning a black cab just to have the "classic" experience once. We will probably use the tube the rest of the time. I think if you do the non-express tube you can change trains just once though.

I haven't decided what we will do yet either! We have two days before we head to Southampton and a day on the back end before we go to Dublin. I want to get over to the Tower of London so I am thinking that for the last day.

 

[AndreaDM]

We go in September! I think we are planning a black cab just to have the "classic" experience once. We will probably use the tube the rest of the time. I think if you do the non-express tube you can change trains just once though.

I haven't decided what we will do yet either! We have two days before we head to Southampton and a day on the back end before we go to Dublin. I want to get over to the Tower of London so I am thinking that for the last day.

Just wanted to share our experience in September. We arrived to LHR early Sunday morning and the train we planned to take to our hotel was not running on Sundays. We could have taken another one then transferred to a bus, but with all our luggage that was not an option. The guy at the info desk called us a car, ended up being around $90. In retrospect, I think there was some kind of partnership there, but we were exhausted and just wanted to get to the hotel asap.

 

[trenty]

RENTAL car question:
In the past, I have always declined insurance coverage when paying with the CSP. Lately, when picking up the car, the agents have on insisted adding liability insurance. One time I got around that by giving my personal auto policy information. Another time it was just a one-day rental so I paid for the liability insurance.

I am renting a car again next week and plan to pay with my CSP. What is everyone here doing when renting and using CC insurance to cover? I know the CSP does not cover liability. Should I just give my personal auto info and not mention "my credit card has coverage."? Is the liability insurance necessary? I read online somewhere that this is EXTRA liability coverage and the rental car company already has some built in - but not sure how true this is.