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

[VGCgroupie]

I tried this last Saturday. There's a Starbucks inside a DoubleTree so I figured it would work. However, it wouldn't work for gift cards because they didn't have any--as the person working there explained, they're not an actual Starbucks franchise, they are operated by the hotel, and they don't sell gift cards. It's possible YMMV but I suspect that any Starbucks that would work for the Hilton credit is not going to have gift cards--if anyone has contrary data, I would be happy to be wrong.

I thought about getting a Starbucks drink but decided to test what @afan mentioned and get a soda at the gift shop. I was pretty certain it would work since I had to pay for it at the check-in desk. And the charge shows up as "Hilton" something or other. But so far no credit (the charge posted Monday).

Hoping you get the credit. Right now it seems credits for Amex Plat are taking a month across the board. So don’t give up hope.

 

[Judique]

I tried this last Saturday. There's a Starbucks inside a DoubleTree so I figured it would work. However, it wouldn't work for gift cards because they didn't have any--as the person working there explained, they're not an actual Starbucks franchise, they are operated by the hotel, and they don't sell gift cards. It's possible YMMV but I suspect that any Starbucks that would work for the Hilton credit is not going to have gift cards--if anyone has contrary data, I would be happy to be wrong.

I thought about getting a Starbucks drink but decided to test what @afan mentioned and get a soda at the gift shop. I was pretty certain it would work since I had to pay for it at the check-in desk. And the charge shows up as "Hilton" something or other. But so far no credit (the charge posted Monday).

Thanks for the DP. I've got a couple of easy options that may work just for drinks and snacks without going out of my way. Will let you all know if anything credits.

 

[GZanta77]

Did anyone use the offer for Chase Travel recently on Sapphire cards where you got 20,000 URs for spending $500 on hotels through Chase Travel? How long did it take to receive the 20k URs?

I made a booking 5 weeks ago and haven't received anything yet.

I posted the above 2 months ago and the points never arrived. Been getting the runaround from Chase for the last two weeks - don't seem to be making much progress - just keep getting told it has been escalated to the Chase Travel team responsible for promotions and I should hear back within 5 days. Then a week passes and they tell me the same thing. Aaaaaaaaargh!!!

Fortunately I took screenshots when I signed up for the promotion so hopefully will get the points eventually, but frustrating to have to chase Chase for them.

 

[GZanta77]

For those that previously helped me with Singapore questions, I have one more! Getting ready to book our hotel with points. Would you go with Holiday Inn Express Clarke Quay, or Holiday Inn Express Orchard Road? The shopping aspect is neither here nor there for us. We're more interested in location to public transit, and ease of getting around to places like Garden by the Bay, the airport, Chinatown, Little India, the zoo, etc. They are both rated the same on Google, reviews look good on both, I think it just depends on location preference. Will we like being in Orchard Road area or Clarke Quay area better? Is one harder to get to MRT than the other? I can't determine the answer and I need input! lol. Thanks in advance.

We stayed one night at the HIExpress Orchard Road and enjoyed exploring the area. It was Christmas though so was fun seeing all the decorations, lights etc. Nonetheless, the variety of shops and basement eateries were fun to explore.

However, overall I feel Clarke Quay is the better location for exploring. Chinatown, Fort Canning and Marina Bay are all walkable. There are a bunch of restaurants at Clarke Quay and along the river and you are within a few minutes walk of two or three subway stations. So I think my vote would go to Clarke Quay.

 

[vibbertations]

I've been toying with the idea of getting the basic Disney card to get discounts in the park. I've read the premier card just isn't the best way to go but maybe we aren't doing it right anyways. We are headed down to WDW next month. We currently have a Bank of America card that gets 1% cashback on all purchases we've had for years. My wife has a Home Depot card we use for appliance purchases at 0% over 18-24 months. The BOA card we typically pay off or carry a balance for a month or 2. We've been to Disney 10 times out of the past 12 years. Other than that we go to the lake once or twice a year and maybe a beach trip every other year. Should we just stay with the BOA card or venture out? Thanks!

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I posted the above 2 months ago and the points never arrived. Been getting the runaround from Chase for the last two weeks - don't seem to be making much progress - just keep getting told it has been escalated to the Chase Travel team responsible for promotions and I should hear back within 5 days. Then a week passes and they tell me the same thing. Aaaaaaaaargh!!!

Fortunately I took screenshots when I signed up for the promotion so hopefully will get the points eventually, but frustrating to have to chase Chase for them.

Have you completed the stay yet ? If you haven’t maybe they only post the points after the stay is completed

 

[NaptownMom]

Question about the Disney Visa, for anyone willing to answer. I want to get one mostly for the meet & greet type benefits, but my husband isn't super excited about adding a credit card to the roster (we only have an Apple card and CSR so I think he's being a little overdramatic lol). Does that card ever have promotions to get more rewards than what they publish when you sign up?

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Question about the Disney Visa, for anyone willing to answer. I want to get one mostly for the meet & greet type benefits, but my husband isn't super excited about adding a credit card to the roster (we only have an Apple card and CSR so I think he's being a little overdramatic lol). Does that card ever have promotions to get more rewards than what they publish when you sign up?

Right now the Disney fee free card is offering a $200 statement credit after spending $500 in the first 3 months…it’s usually $150.
If you have a Chase checking account, the Disney debit card also gets the meet and greet benefits

 

[eticketplease]

Are you doing the Amex biz and a Chase personal? Not sure you can do an Amex personal and a Chase personal after 91 days.

The rules have always confused me. So I defer to any experts!

But I will probably never close any of my cards unless they become useless to me. That makes it a moot point as far as I am concerned.

My research was that I could get one of the following from AMEX: Biz Bonvoy, Bonvoy Bevy or Bonvoy Brilliant

Each of these gives you 6 months to hit the required spend.

On day 91 I could then apply for one of two cards from Chase, The Bonvoy Bold or the Bonvoy Boundless.

I need to finish the Minimum spend on the Chase card first and then the AMEX to get both bonuses.

I was going to start with the personal AMEX Bonvoy Brilliant which is 185,000 for 6K spend in 6 months and then get a chase card but that is where I’m torn as I would really prefer to have points over the FNC sign up bonus but the bountiful would not give me the bonus since I would have had an AMEX Card in the last 30 days.

The boundless ($3k spend) is probably the way to go with 3 FNC @ 50K vs just 30,000 points ($1K Spend) on the Bold

Also unfortunately neither of these 2 chase cards come with an Annual FNC that I was hoping to double dip with before swapping to the Ritz card.

 

[GZanta77]

Have you completed the stay yet ? If you haven’t maybe they only post the points after the stay is completed

Yep, completed the stay 11 weeks ago. Ts&Cs say to allow 8 weeks so we are well beyond that.

 

[eticketplease]

Question about the Disney Visa, for anyone willing to answer. I want to get one mostly for the meet & greet type benefits, but my husband isn't super excited about adding a credit card to the roster (we only have an Apple card and CSR so I think he's being a little overdramatic lol). Does that card ever have promotions to get more rewards than what they publish when you sign up?

Not really rewards in terms of earnings but as a statement credit this is the best time as @palhockeymomof2 pointed out.

$400 after spending $1K on the premier card in 3 months vs $300 or $200 after $500 in spend on the regular card which is normally $150.

The Premier card is $49 while the normal card is $0 for the Annual Fee so you are getting an extra $150 in credits with the premier and then you can downgrade to the free card.

Since your husband is not crazy about the cc also mentioned earlier was if you have a chase checking account you can get a free debit card with most of the same designs for free and that will give you access to the character photos and some discounts.

 

[eticketplease]

I've been toying with the idea of getting the basic Disney card to get discounts in the park. I've read the premier card just isn't the best way to go but maybe we aren't doing it right anyways. We are headed down to WDW next month. We currently have a Bank of America card that gets 1% cashback on all purchases we've had for years. My wife has a Home Depot card we use for appliance purchases at 0% over 18-24 months. The BOA card we typically pay off or carry a balance for a month or 2. We've been to Disney 10 times out of the past 12 years. Other than that we go to the lake once or twice a year and maybe a beach trip every other year. Should we just stay with the BOA card or venture out? Thanks!

The discounts are not going to be at many dining locations but you can get some with merchandise.
The premier card would give you 2% back at disney which is better than you are getting now.

$400 after spending $1K on the premier card in 3 months vs $300 or $200 after $500 in spend on the regular card which is normally $150.
The Premier card is $49 while the normal card is $0 for the Annual Fee so you are getting an extra $150 in credits with the premier and then you can downgrade to the free card to avoid paying the fee again.

I would certainly branch out for an everyday spend card as 1% at this point is bare bones.

You may want to call BOA and see if they can product change your card to the Unlimited Cash Rewards that earns 1.5% (not much more but still something) or the Customized Credit that earns 1% like you are getting but then 3% in a category you choose.

Usually when product changing they don't pull your credit so that is a good option.

If you are looking to stay in the $0 AF Camp then Chase just upped their offer on the Chase Freedom Unlimited (CFU) which is similar to the Unlimited Cash Rewards from BOA at 1.5% on everything.

The CFU is giving $250 in points after spending $500 in the first 3 months and it also offers 0% on purchases for 15 months.

 

[wanderlust7]

My research was that I could get one of the following from AMEX: Biz Bonvoy, Bonvoy Bevy or Bonvoy Brilliant

Each of these gives you 6 months to hit the required spend.

On day 91 I could then apply for one of two cards from Chase, The Bonvoy Bold or the Bonvoy Boundless.

I need to finish the Minimum spend on the Chase card first and then the AMEX to get both bonuses.

I was going to start with the personal AMEX Bonvoy Brilliant which is 185,000 for 6K spend in 6 months and then get a chase card but that is where I’m torn as I would really prefer to have points over the FNC sign up bonus but the bountiful would not give me the bonus since I would have had an AMEX Card in the last 30 days.

The boundless ($3k spend) is probably the way to go with 3 FNC @ 50K vs just 30,000 points ($1K Spend) on the Bold

Also unfortunately neither of these 2 chase cards come with an Annual FNC that I was hoping to double dip with before swapping to the Ritz card.

I think you can get all 3 Amex cards if you wanted to. Bevy would need to be before Brilliant. Subject to Amex velocity rules of 1 credit card in 5 days and 2 in 90 days. Plus it would take up 3 of your 5 cc slots.

The Chase Boundless comes with an annual 35k FNC. It's too bad the SUB isn't great now though.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Yep, completed the stay 11 weeks ago. Ts&Cs say to allow 8 weeks so we are well beyond that.

Well that frustrating, hope you get it resolved with them soon

 

[VGCgroupie]

Question about the Disney Visa, for anyone willing to answer. I want to get one mostly for the meet & greet type benefits, but my husband isn't super excited about adding a credit card to the roster (we only have an Apple card and CSR so I think he's being a little overdramatic lol). Does that card ever have promotions to get more rewards than what they publish when you sign up?

If you bank with chase the debit card gets you all the same privileges.

 

[NaptownMom]

Right now the Disney fee free card is offering a $200 statement credit after spending $500 in the first 3 months…it’s usually $150.
If you have a Chase checking account, the Disney debit card also gets the meet and greet benefits

Didn't know that, thank you!

 

[NaptownMom]

Not really rewards in terms of earnings but as a statement credit this is the best time as @palhockeymomof2 pointed out.

$400 after spending $1K on the premier card in 3 months vs $300 or $200 after $500 in spend on the regular card which is normally $150.

The Premier card is $49 while the normal card is $0 for the Annual Fee so you are getting an extra $150 in credits with the premier and then you can downgrade to the free card.

Since your husband is not crazy about the cc also mentioned earlier was if you have a chase checking account you can get a free debit card with most of the same designs for free and that will give you access to the character photos and some discounts.

Got it, thank you!

 

[disneybirds]

Just approved for a CIU. I have a CIP and a CIC. I cancelled a CIU about a month ago. Will take care of the MSR with my q1 taxes in April.

Good to hear! I am debating applying for CIU to cover Q1 taxes as well. Currently, I only have a CIC. I cancelled a CIP about 3 weeks ago. Just alittle hesitant since I was denied back in November for the CIU.

Also got a flyer for 200 MR from Amex with $20K spend, but we tend to spend UR quicker than MR.

I need to make up my mine soon so it comes before the taxes are due!

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

We stayed one night at the HIExpress Orchard Road and enjoyed exploring the area. It was Christmas though so was fun seeing all the decorations, lights etc. Nonetheless, the variety of shops and basement eateries were fun to explore.

However, overall I feel Clarke Quay is the better location for exploring. Chinatown, Fort Canning and Marina Bay are all walkable. There are a bunch of restaurants at Clarke Quay and along the river and you are within a few minutes walk of two or three subway stations. So I think my vote would go to Clarke Quay.

Thanks! We are also leaning towards the Clarke Quay location because of the reasons you mentioned…. We could simply walk to Chinatown area, walk the river areas more easily. I’m a little concerned about night noise in the area and sleeping, but we will be there from a Monday thru Thursday, so maybe since there’s no weekend involved we would be safe. I don’t know enough about the area to know if weekdays would be noisy too though.

 

[eticketplease]

I think you can get all 3 Amex cards if you wanted to. Bevy would need to be before Brilliant. Subject to Amex velocity rules of 1 credit card in 5 days and 2 in 90 days. Plus it would take up 3 of your 5 cc slots.

The Chase Boundless comes with an annual 35k FNC. It's too bad the SUB isn't great now though.

Thanks I didn’t know about the 35k cert.

I already have 2 AMEX cards really just doing it for the 85k certificates