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

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I looked at so many ryokans - my head was spinning. I finally landed on Fufu Hakone and we really liked it there. It's on the edge of Gora, so it did feel like we were far from civilization (but really it was less than a 5 min drive to Gora Station). I chose it because we wanted a private onsen and the ones at this place are indoor/outdoor (I was worried about mosquitoes so I liked that we could close it up). We chose to have a Teppanyaki dinner which was amazing, but more people choose the omakase dinner. Breakfast was really good, too. We had one Japanese breakfast and one "International" breakfast that was still pretty Japanese IMHO.

I hope this helps. There were a few others that were high on my list but one was a bit farther out from town and another seems to get really terrible reviews of their food from a number of posters.

Thanks for sharing. I am vegetarian/pescatarian (cooked fish only) and so I'm not sure what to expect food wise in Japan. A teppanyaki option sounds great. I like the idea of far from civilization. The one thing holding me back from Japan has been so much big city time. As I get more travel experience, I realize I don't want to do a large city for more than a few days.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

@*WDW*Groupie* Thanks for all the Grand Victoria info. Funny anecdote about Star Wars. I was raised in a very strict religious environment and so there were a lot of "secular" shows/movies I wasn't allowed to watch, including Star Wars. As a full grown adult in my thirties, I was walking through my living room and DH had on Star Wars. I looked at the tv and I was like "Harrison Ford was in Star Wars?" I literally had no idea.

 

[nlenguyen]

Has anyone got a chase mybonus the Past couple quarters? Mine still do not have any offers

 

[reliev]

That is one of the main reasons we left AT&T for Tmobile. We spent more than $400 on ATT International pass last year across 3 lines and thats only using it about 1 day in 3 whilst overseas.

yep, the same reason i left tmobile, they wanted $ 10$ per line at the time unless i did ach went to Google Fi (they use T-Mobile and att) plan was less too.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

What is the policy if we booked a Hyatt with free parking months ago, but now as it gets closer to the trip they’ve started charging for parking? Do we have to pay it now, even though when we booked it was free?

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Got an email from Chase saying to take advantage of their Ink Unlimited $750 SUB with $6K spend--"valid though June 7"

Is the offer changing? Anyone know to what? I was going to try for another Ink later this month (haven't had a new card since October), but maybe I shouldn't wait?

 

[becauseimnew]

What do all of you do for phone data and internet in England? In Japan we rented a mobile wifi.

We have Verizon, we just switch to the Unlimited Ultimate plan when we travel outside North America. For us it's $10 more for each line. We've used it in South Africa, Qatar, Egypt, Belize and Japan.

 

[AndreaDM]

Just my opinion. Some love the free nights as SUB but I prefer points. Be sure you have a redemption in mind for the FNCs. FNCs will usually expire 1 year after awarded and you can't top them off (ie can't book a place for 70K with a 60K cert and 10K points). As long as you have a specific redemption and time in mind, FNCs are ok. But if you want to be more flexible, points are better. Ending with Just my opinion.

I agree, DH got 4 FNCs as a SUB last year and we struggled to use them! I much prefer points.

 

[AndreaDM]

United Explorer question, I thought the AF was going from $95 to $150 and was planning to cancel that card. My AF just hit and it's $95. Anyone else have any dp on this?

 

[calypso726]

Today is our last night in Murren before heading to Zermatt. We will be checking into the Matterhorn Lodge which is bookable on the Chase UR site. While in Murren today, we visited Grimmelwald, went to Piz Gloria for lunch at the rotating restaurant and did the cliff thrill walk. The weather held so we also went paragliding. This. Was. Amazing.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Has anyone got a chase mybonus the Past couple quarters? Mine still do not have any offers

Nope, I was certain its broken for me

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Today is our last night in Murren before heading to Zermatt. We will be checking into the Matterhorn Lodge which is bookable on the Chase UR site. While in Murren today, we visited Grimmelwald, went to Piz Gloria for lunch at the rotating restaurant and did the cliff thrill walk. The weather held so we also went paragliding. This. Was. Amazing.

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OMGosh I'm LOVING your trip report! It's making me want to go back and visit all of the places you've listed.

 

[becauseimnew]

Hello everyone! life has been super busy. We just returned from Belize, had a great time. We flew SW and used the Chase travel portal for one of the two hotels. Loved the jungle part of Belize, we confirmed that we are not beach people but enjoyed scuba diving.

Finalized our trip to Italy over Thanksgiving week. We are taking my parents, it is my mom's dream to visit the Vatican.

We are down to 24K URs, fingers crossed DH can get approved for CIP.

Next summer we plan to visit Norway, plan to book the flight there when the calendar opens. Thanks to Avios transfer bonus we should have enough MRs to book 4 J tickets to Oslo on Finnair. We'll fly back in Y - either use our AA or Alaska miles for that.

 

[GZanta77]

United Explorer question, I thought the AF was going from $95 to $150 and was planning to cancel that card. My AF just hit and it's $95. Anyone else have any dp on this?

The increased AF doesn't kick in for renewals until later this year.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Still have 4 pages to catch up on, but it looks like my IHG account was hacked once again on 5/31. They took roughly 450k points and got $900 in gift cards to Target. I'm so over my loyalty accounts being hacked. It seems that was the only one to get hacked. And it's happened like twice before. Well the password now is my BF's "go to" so something I've NEVER used. We'll see how long till it gets hacked, LOL.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Did y'all see this....

For Venture X cardholders:

• Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, Venture X primary cardholders and authorized users will no longer be able to bring in complimentary guests to Priority Pass lounges. They will need to pay $35 per guest.
• Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, Venture X cardholders' guest access for Capital One lounges and Landings will change. Guests will cost $45, and children 17 and younger will cost $25. Children under 2 will still be free

Oh joy! I got the Venture X so that I could have lounge access cheaper and the BF. Now it looks like AU's won't have any access unless you want to pay $125.....first rule about fight club....don't talk about fight club. GRRR!

 

[reliev]

What is the policy if we booked a Hyatt with free parking months ago, but now as it gets closer to the trip they’ve started charging for parking? Do we have to pay it now, even though when we booked it was free?

no charge for parking if its booked on points or awards, if your globalist its hit or miss on cash.

 

[reliev]

Did y'all see this....

For Venture X cardholders:

• Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, Venture X primary cardholders and authorized users will no longer be able to bring in complimentary guests to Priority Pass lounges. They will need to pay $35 per guest.
• Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, Venture X cardholders' guest access for Capital One lounges and Landings will change. Guests will cost $45, and children 17 and younger will cost $25. Children under 2 will still be free

Oh joy! I got the Venture X so that I could have lounge access cheaper and the BF. Now it looks like AU's won't have any access unless you want to pay $125.....first rule about fight club....don't talk about fight club. GRRR!

hate to add fuel, but this is also for Priority Pass, too for AUs. you can also pay the 125 or spend 75k

 

[catsinawindow]

Did y'all see this....

For Venture X cardholders:

• Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, Venture X primary cardholders and authorized users will no longer be able to bring in complimentary guests to Priority Pass lounges. They will need to pay $35 per guest.
• Beginning Feb. 1, 2026, Venture X cardholders' guest access for Capital One lounges and Landings will change. Guests will cost $45, and children 17 and younger will cost $25. Children under 2 will still be free

Oh joy! I got the Venture X so that I could have lounge access cheaper and the BF. Now it looks like AU's won't have any access unless you want to pay $125.....first rule about fight club....don't talk about fight club. GRRR!

Hate this! Does anyone know if this is confirmed or just a rumor for now? Between this and the rumored changes to CSR, I'll be seriously rethinking my premium travel CC choices!

 

[calypso726]

OMGosh I'm LOVING your trip report! It's making me want to go back and visit all of the places you've listed.

Thanks!!! I would definitely come back and am absolutely planning to! We are only here for 7 nights. There is so much more we want to see.

I will highly recommend the paragliding if and when you come back. It was by far one of the most amazing experiences!