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

[georgina]

Thanks! I didn't even think about getting multiple currencies to make up the minimum. Just checked with TD Bank, and the minimum is $250 but they do allow several currencies to make up the minimum, so that's cool. The bad part: they don't have 2/3 of the currencies I need - Cambodian Riel and Vietnamese Dong

We don't use our AAA membership much, but DH needed quite a bit of Philippine pesos for his last trip and they were able to supply it in a day or two. I don't know what their minimum was.

 

[georgina]

OK, world travelers, a group we are traveling with uses Qatar airlines as a partner. They give Avios points. Do I need to set up an avios account before we travel?

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Just back from Peru. Will post a trip report soon, but in the meantime I give you llamas and alpacas.

 

[GZanta77]

That's what's weird, I'm not trying to book anything exotic. Just one night at BOS. It looks like they're taking reservations 324 days out which is super random.

Then I also checked Starlight Yellowstone and it looks like they released all of May 2026 at once but they're not rolling forward to June at all and will likely (I'm guessing) release the whole month at once as well.

So just a theory - but the soccer world cup is next June/July. I have noticed many chain hotels in host cities (BOS is one) are showing no availability for that timeframe. Might be something to do with contracts with the tournament.

 

[WinterSolider]

Did you just use your bank? Or do you have a preferred company you like?
I ordered Yen from TD Bank when we went to Japan. I’m thinking of doing the same when we go to Asia later this year, but if I recall there was a minimum order amount on TD, and it’s probably more than I need for some of the countries we’re going to.

Why wouldn't you just use an ATM once you get to the country of travel?

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

OK, world travelers, a group we are traveling with uses Qatar airlines as a partner. They give Avios points. Do I need to set up an avios account before we travel?

I would set up a Qatar privilege club account. You should also set up a British Airways acct. In the future you can transfer your avios back and forth freely between these accts.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

We don't use our AAA membership much, but DH needed quite a bit of Philippine pesos for his last trip and they were able to supply it in a day or two. I don't know what their minimum was.

Thanks! Didn't think of AAA... I'll have to get in touch with them and see if that works for us.

Why wouldn't you just use an ATM once you get to the country of travel?

Will definitely do that in Singapore. Vietnam is probably fine for that also; they have a lot of 7-11s around and that's what we've used in Japan before to do the same. But Cambodia is kind of a big question mark in my mind. I guess it would just make me feel better landing with at least SOME currency in each country, and then replenish as needed.

 

[georgina]

I would set up a Qatar privilege club account. You should also set up a British Airways acct. In the future you can transfer your avios back and forth freely between these accts.

Thanks. I did set up the privilege acct, don't think we have BA ones yet. I think I have flown BA once, in 1989!

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Wow, 20-30 min is more than I was expecting, actually! Will have to give ourselves plenty of time to get back to the gate if we decide to hit up the lounge! Our flight is rather early in the morning (8:25, I think) so i'm hoping the Capital One lounge won't be crowded, but we'll definitely check the wait list before we Venture (haha, punny) over there.

There's a tram involved and a lot of walking. It could be less than that. But I think you'll want to give yourself time. That was also to/from the Spirit gates, which can be a small hike in and of itself, LOL. I'd have to look and see when we flew home in May. I think it was probably around noon or so. But yeah, there was a wait.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Thanks. I did set up the privilege acct, don't think we have BA ones yet. I think I have flown BA once, in 1989!

There is a 30 day waiting period to transfer between the two, so always good to register for one now.

Here’s how a BA acct could come in handy if you never plan to fly BA:
1. If a bank runs a transfer bonus to BA, you can use those avios on Qatar or another avios airline
2. You can book AA flights through BA

 

[reliev]

So just a theory - but the soccer world cup is next June/July. I have noticed many chain hotels in host cities (BOS is one) are showing no availability for that timeframe. Might be something to do with contracts with the tournament.

im trying to go its June-July i had to book the day it opened, then it was gone, i was trying to book a better hotel than the Hyatt Regency there but i may be priced out
for boston it seems to be june 13,15, 19, 23, 26, 28. july 9.

 

[djmeredith]

Does anybody have good places to stay in Rome, Venice and Florence? Starting to plan a trip to those 3 cities next summer and just looking for any recommendations from those who have been there. Thanks!

In Rome, I loved Margutta 19. It's a small luxury boutique on a quiet little street that is tucked away but close to Spanish Steps. At the time it was part of Hyatt (IIRC) and I got a suite using points. I don't think it's affiliated with Hyatt anymore.

Has anyone had weird issues with Hilton inventory lately? Their rooms have historically populated at 53 weeks out but now I'm seeing rooms that should be bookable sold out a year in advance, and there's no way that it's accurate.

Yes, I've been researching June dates in several European countries and am running into the same problem.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Anyone have a hack for using the Visa/MC GC when buying something (DGC) online? I tried registering the cards and Im still getting denied. I tried loading the card to PayPal and the cards denied and now show "unavailable" on PP site.

So an update to this. I was checking late tonight to be sure there were no funds held on these cards and it was giving me an error to call. When I called she said the card was locked and cant be unlocked because the cards cannot be used via PayPal. She said they are mailing me new cards. This is new to me I thought PayPal was the workaround for buying things online with them.

 

[havaneselover]

Why wouldn't you just use an ATM once you get to the country of travel?

I'm on excursions in Norway through Disney Cruise Line. I have no idea whether or not I'll find an ATM. And I want small bills. I will bring my C1 debit card just in case (probably fine for London and Brugges).

 

[WinterSolider]

So just a theory - but the soccer world cup is next June/July. I have noticed many chain hotels in host cities (BOS is one) are showing no availability for that timeframe. Might be something to do with contracts with the tournament.

$%!&

That's definitely what it is. If I keep scrolling I see availability come alive late July and August even.

 

[afan]

$%!&

That's definitely what it is. If I keep scrolling I see availability come alive late July and August even.

I'm hoping that's why I'm not seeing JAL award seats on AA when I was a month ago for may 2026. My return flight has me frustrated enough, I really only have a plan a for these which isn't good.

 

[WinterSolider]

I'm hoping that's why I'm not seeing JAL award seats on AA when I was a month ago for may 2026. My return flight has me frustrated enough, I really only have a plan a for these which isn't good.

Luckily I don't think my TrueBlue redemption in domestic economy from Boston to Bozeman will be inundated with soccer fans.

I'm just going to have to wake up reeeeeeeeeally early that morning to get from central Connecticut to Logan for a 7:30 flight if I can't get into the Hilton.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

With talk of the World Cup, is anyone trying to get tickets to a game? I'm signed up for a FIFA account and I submitted the form for interest in tickets awhile back. My hubby is a HUGE soccer fan and it's his dream to see a WC game live. We are hoping to get tickets in Atlanta to one of the group stage weekend games, June 21 or 27. At this point, we don't care who we see, just that we can get tickets, but this whole lottery system has us nervous. Anyone else hoping to get tickets? We can stress together, lol.

 

[reliev]

With talk of the World Cup, is anyone trying to get tickets to a game? I'm signed up for a FIFA account and I submitted the form for interest in tickets awhile back. My hubby is a HUGE soccer fan and it's his dream to see a WC game live. We are hoping to get tickets in Atlanta to one of the group stage weekend games, June 21 or 27. At this point, we don't care who we see, just that we can get tickets, but this whole lottery system has us nervous. Anyone else hoping to get tickets? We can stress together, lol.

I can explain.
Basically, there is many, many lotteries. Right now there is single-game tickets for the first round, if you want to go to the final 8 games right now the only way to go is a package. When I tried this for the Brazil World Cup the final 2 games were out after this round. as they sell more they will open up the later games. thats why im speculatively booking and hoping I get the tickets. Also, the less you buy IE single game ticket,s the less of a "discount" you get. You also can't choose the teams besides that one game US is definitely playing at in Los Angeles you have to choose by venue. Right now, only hospitality single games are going on they are expensive 1350 a ticket+
What happened when I tried for the Brazil World Cup is the better seats got sold out by these packages, so you were left with the 400-500 section of seats(think nosebleeds) Resale is very much miss because fifa is very much into charging as much as possible. They usually cancel the tickets and ban the person from all the games as a punishment, only to flip the tickets themselves lol. Im hoping to go to 8 games without the package. But the single game tickets are supposed to go on sale in september I beleive its the 10th, and its going to be the same way you buy 8 games then 4 then 2, then one, they all go in rounds, im sure its going to depend on how many they sell but they want to sell you as many tickets as possible. I am getting old so I think this is my only chance to go in the US and its always been a dream of mine, but like some things, I may be priced out. Sorry for the longer-than-usual rant. I would sign up for a fifa account and give them the deposit (its refundable) its the only way to get invited to the lotteries. There is one coming up in September and then November,but last time for Brazil at least most of the finals was sold out by then. Also to edit since im really passionate about this by December from what i remember for world cup a lot of tickets were just gone if that makes sense. I heard Qatar wasn't like this but Brazil is passionate about football and I guess people didnt want to visit for 6 weeks there. This seems more doable to me. Also the next world cup after this is in 3 continents, so thats going to get expensive the one after is in Saudi Arabia.
TLDR register for September hopefully, they drop the hospitality requirements.

 

[afan]

Luckily I don't think my TrueBlue redemption in domestic economy from Boston to Bozeman will be inundated with soccer fans.

I'm just going to have to wake up reeeeeeeeeally early that morning to get from central Connecticut to Logan for a 7:30 flight if I can't get into the Hilton.

True. Being in seattle I'm glad I'm not planning any June trips that could complicate it. Will be interesting if our airport breaks any pax records between the soccer and cruise pax.

I'm less than 20 miles from dt seattle but I don't think it'll affect us. Not a soccer fan, I tried, so I'll be staying away.