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

[Best Aunt]

I’m not dedicated to it but it’s definitely a better deal on chase. We got club level for 51k URs. The next one is Portofino Bay which I think is also having renovations and that’s a normal queen room for 65k I believe. Then Royal Pacific is like 71k. I’m not sure it’s worth it to pay that much more for one night

I stayed at Hard Rock, Royal Pacific and Portofino Bay -- but all were a long time ago. The only thing I liked about Hard Rock was the ease of getting to the parks. The walk from Royal Pacific to the parks seemed really long (but I was heading straight to the Harry Potter section, which is in the back). The boats didn't seem to come very often. I liked the food options at RPR and PFB better than HR. I did Club Level at PFB, and the Club Room was nowhere near my room. I did not like that.

 

[LynnTH]

Got an approval email for the US Bank Triple Cash card I applied for Monday (thanks LynnTH for the posts about it). Card will arrive too late for my big January expenses, but I have 180 days to make the MSR.

I applied for this because I had written off the CIC application (that I just got a TIN verification form for). Will be interesting if that comes through also!

Glad you got the approval! Nice to have a Biz card besides Chase and AMEX to get. I am back at square one now. Just denied for another INK Card and both DH and Denied for a BOA Biz Card. UGHHH! Might have to wait a few months before applying for something - I hate not having a SUB to work on...

 

[elgerber]

Glad you got the approval! Nice to have a Biz card besides Chase and AMEX to get. I am back at square one now. Just denied for another INK Card and both DH and Denied for a BOA Biz Card. UGHHH! Might have to wait a few months before applying for something - I hate not having a SUB to work on...

its like a sickness LOL. I feel like I am running out of options also, and with that US Bank Denial, not even sure where to go.

 

[Haley R]

I stayed at Hard Rock, Royal Pacific and Portofino Bay -- but all were a long time ago. The only thing I liked about Hard Rock was the ease of getting to the parks. The walk from Royal Pacific to the parks seemed really long (but I was heading straight to the Harry Potter section, which is in the back). The boats didn't seem to come very often. I liked the food options at RPR and PFB better than HR. I did Club Level at PFB, and the Club Room was nowhere near my room. I did not like that.

We’ve stayed at Royal Pacific before and I didn’t really like it. We got a room on the bottom floor and it felt like we were in the basement. I don’t think we ever walked to the parks, we always took the boat. We’re really only staying for the express pass so it’s still worth it to me even if the room is a little beat up

 

[LynnTH]

And another CC Fail. Didn't realize the $200 Hotel Credit on AMEX Delta Plat was by calendar year. I wrongly assumed it was by Card approval date... So, I missed using it for 2024. Dang it !!

 

[LynnTH]

Oh and I just got denied for BOA Biz card (following a link from Doctor of Credit for $500 SUB). Well, now in my email is a $300 Statement Credit offer for BOA Biz with $3000 spend. Just doesn't make any sense... I usually like SUB to be $500 or over but may go for it just for something to have. Hmm...

 

[miztressuz]

I see reports of NCL AmEx offer

Spend $1,000+, get $200 back.
Exp. 4/13/2025

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/1i0apvr/comment/m6x5ols

I have final payment coming up so I could really use another one of these. We both got that one over a year ago and paid down the balance but haven't seen another since.

 

[StephPlum]

I see reports of NCL AmEx offer

Spend $1,000+, get $200 back.
Exp. 4/13/2025

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/1i0apvr/comment/m6x5ols

I have final payment coming up so I could really use another one of these. We both got that one over a year ago and paid down the balance but haven't seen another since.

Chase freedom is 5x on NCL this quarter as well.

 

[newski_mom]

I see reports of NCL AmEx offer

Spend $1,000+, get $200 back.
Exp. 4/13/2025

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/1i0apvr/comment/m6x5ols

I have final payment coming up so I could really use another one of these. We both got that one over a year ago and paid down the balance but haven't seen another since.

DH and I both had this on our Gold cards. I was looking at doing a Bermuda cruise this summer through NCL, so need to decide

I usually book through Costco, but wouldn't be able to pay with AmEx through them I guess. I might put into cruisecompete and see what I get from there or just booking through NCL would also be an option. Any other better ways of using this credit?
Definitely worth it to use both of our offers.

 

[jamesnnick]

P2 was just approved for the CIU with two Inks currently opened. We closed one on 12/27 after a previous denial in early December and were happy to be approved today. I really needed a new SUB with college tuition costs coming up!!

 

[LynnTH]

So, I think I am going to downgrade CSR to CSP (already used $300 Travel Credit). I have my trips booked for the year and don't see where I might need this in the near future. Is there a time frame of when I can upgrade again? I will be eligible for a new Sapphire Card in June. But would then need to cancel the CSP first. I don't like to be without either for transfers.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I have a mixed bag of churning/award travel stuff going on:

• still no retention offer on P2's Amex plat. Am I really going to cancel/downgrade?
• Was issued a Be Our Guest certificate for a Hilton snafu and was able to use that at an upcoming stay at WA Los Cabos Pedregal, instead of the points I had originally booked with. You book using the best flexible rate and then they charge it to Hilton corporate once you present your certificate. Reports say I should earn points as if it's a revenue stay, so crossing my fingers I'll earn 50k+ points.
• CSR had an offer for AT&T fiber (this is probably old news to y'all), $50 off two payments of $50 each. Hoping my wireless payment will trigger it, as it has in the past.

 

[catsinawindow]

Are there any CC with good SUB that offer 0% interest for a year other than the Inks and US Bank Triple Cash? DD's daycare offers a very lucrative "pay-ahead" plan where we would make almost $1000 (in addition to whatever SUB I get from the card) if I prepay $10,000 towards her tuition. I'd want to be able to continue paying monthly on the card, though. I'm going to try for an Ink, but I think my chances aren't great based on recent DP. I just got a US Bank a Triple Cash a few months ago that I'm almost done the spend on. Any other cards I could consider? Open to both business and personal.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I'm looking forward to hearing what you think of Hermitage Bay. I have 5 nights booked there this spring.

If you haven't read this very comprehensive review of Hermitage Bay from Thrifty Traveler, it's worth the read!

What room type do you have booked? When our stay got rescheduled due to their construction delays, they agreed to put us in a Hilltop Suite with pool for the inconvenience. I'd requested it since we really like a pool. But now I see that their Garden View rooms come with a plunge pool, which is the room type we technically paid for. Some other reviewers commented that the Hilltop suites are many many many steps and it would be annoying to go back and forth. So now I'm regretting the upgrade! Since they had already allocated a Hilltop Suite to us, they said they no longer have a Garden View room they could give us instead. Since I see others are paying $1000+ to upgrade to a Hilltop Suite, I'm going to try to convince myself to look at it as a once in a lifetime complimentary upgrade.

We're flying AA and I booked economy, but I just recently realized one leg is over 4 hours. Saw the upgrade banner for "as low as $90 per person" and clicked through, and it was $756/pp for that leg alone for "domestic" first. On points it was like 96k vs the 10k I paid. So I gave up on booking in first. But today I looked on a whim and saw 2 seats were left in first for 25k. Man, I grabbed those seats so fast!

 

[jujubiee4]

I'm seeing some recent denials for misc cards. On here and a couple friends of mine got recent
denials. I wonder if things are tightening up?? I'm 4/24 but before that I hadn't opened anything up in
couple of years. I've been eyeing Citi Strata. I have a Citi preferred which I rarely use. I call CS and inquire
about the card and mention I might be interested in applying. First thing she says is "I see a lot of unused
credit and activity on your current card". Made it seem like I wouldn't be approved.

 

[jujubiee4]

We're flying AA and I booked economy, but I just recently realized one leg is over 4 hours. Saw the upgrade banner for "as low as $90 per person" and clicked through, and it was $756/pp for that leg alone for "domestic" first. On points it was like 96k vs the 10k I paid. So I gave up on booking in first. But today I looked on a whim and saw 2 seats were left in first for 25k. Man, I grabbed those seats so fast!

This is amazing! Maybe I should check more often for our fall flights. Ive been checking once a week
for something. Are you opening the app or looking on your comp?

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

We have an upcoming stay at Waldorf Astoria Punta Cacique in Costa Rica for spring break (end of March). I've been following along on FT. This resort was scheduled to open February 2025. Then we saw the calendar shift to early March 2025. In November, the website changed to reflect they aren't accepting new reservations until May 1. Many guests had their reservations cancelled, with no opportunity to select new dates or rebook at the rate they originally booked at (the rate has since increased). Others reported being in contact with the revenue manager, who said they are still planning for an earlier soft opening, but didn't want to continue to accept additional new reservations. Makes sense... soft opening.

Anyway, it's now two months prior to our stay. The resort hasn't contacted me and my reservation is still active. The resort doesn't respond to any forms of contact, phone or email provided by the case I opened with Hilton guest assistance. The twitter team asked the hotel to reach out to me to confirm if they plan to honor the reservation. The resort has not responded to their requests either. Twitter team finally says, yeah, you should probably cancel or look for other lodging.

I really, really do understand construction delays. My HUGE frustration is the lack of communication or transparency. To let two additional months go by and not reach out to their guests is mind-blowing. Twitter team "we do not offer compensation for delayed openings." I pushed back about the service failure and they offered 2,000 points.


Anyway, I'm probably going to just let this trip fall through rather than try to piece something else together at another property. We're burnt out on travel.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

This is amazing! Maybe I should check more often for our fall flights. Ive been checking once a week
for something. Are you opening the app or looking on your comp?

I looked on desktop. I'm pretty stoked- can't wait to share with the hubby.

ETA: we are pretty close in

 

[afan]

I'm seeing some recent denials for misc cards. On here and a couple friends of mine got recent
denials. I wonder if things are tightening up?? I'm 4/24 but before that I hadn't opened anything up in
couple of years. I've been eyeing Citi Strata. I have a Citi preferred which I rarely use. I call CS and inquire
about the card and mention I might be interested in applying. First thing she says is "I see a lot of unused
credit and activity on your current card". Made it seem like I wouldn't be approved.

I think it depends on what misc cards are and the reasons for the denials.

Aside from chase biz I haven't noticed any tightening. Each bank has always had their rules and need to avoid depending on your credit profile. I can't get a cap 1 card, at least not the one I want. There's often issues with BofA AS biz cards.

 

[wanderlust7]

I'm seeing some recent denials for misc cards. On here and a couple friends of mine got recent
denials. I wonder if things are tightening up?? I'm 4/24 but before that I hadn't opened anything up in
couple of years. I've been eyeing Citi Strata. I have a Citi preferred which I rarely use. I call CS and inquire
about the card and mention I might be interested in applying. First thing she says is "I see a lot of unused
credit and activity on your current card". Made it seem like I wouldn't be approved.

Citi Strata is inquiry sensitive. You'll probably want to be 0/6 for the credit report they pull.