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

[reliev]

I got an email from Air France today telling me they had a third party data system they use experienced a data breach that compromised some of my info. Says they got my first name, contact info, FB acct number, and the subject line of any service emails (which I don't think I have). Anybody else get the notice?

I just changed my password, dont have fb. I always wonder, though maybe a little off topic, how many places have my passport number from scanning it at hotels and check-ins..

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

My boss gave me some expensive hiking boots (Danner?) that she bought and they didn’t fit her so there must be photos of me on Pulpit Rock in those boots. but good idea on tying them to the outside of my backpack.

No issues getting the carry on onboard. But I maybe will buy a large checked bag and international carry on next time Away has a sale.

So far so good with virgin premium economy. I’m impressed.

If you’re going up the regular route to Pulpit Rock you won’t need hiking boots, hiking shoes or even sneakers would be fine (weather dependent, of course). If you’re doing the back route with a private guide (only way to do this route, where you canoe to the trail head — a misnomer because there is no actual trail — you’ll def need proper hiking boots). I highly recommend the hidden route!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I got an email from Air France today telling me they had a third party data system they use experienced a data breach that compromised some of my info. Says they got my first name, contact info, FB acct number, and the subject line of any service emails (which I don't think I have). Anybody else get the notice?

I got it, too

I just changed my password, dont have fb. I always wonder, though maybe a little off topic, how many places have my passport number from scanning it at hotels and check-ins..

I think FB meant Flying Blue, FYI in case you thought Facebook

 

[DCLMP]

Got it. We’re premium to lhr and economy home. I can check two bags on the way there but only one at no cost on the way home. I guess worst case is I pay $75 to check the carry on on the way home. Hiking boots took up a lot of space in my medium checked bag.

I would take the hiking boots and I saw a lot of locals with hiking polls. It was raining lightly the day we went in August and it's all rock and the rocks get slippery. There is nothing to hold on to, and I saw a lot of people including myself slip and fall.

I'm in good shape a marathon runner, but I guess my balance is not as good in my old age. My 20 year old son just skipped down the mountain like it was nothing.
I was wishing I had hiking boots and some poles. Some people on our DCL excursion had both.

 

[havaneselover]

If you’re going up the regular route to Pulpit Rock you won’t need hiking boots, hiking shoes or even sneakers would be fine (weather dependent, of course). If you’re doing the back route with a private guide (only way to do this route, where you canoe to the trail head — a misnomer because there is no actual trail — you’ll def need proper hiking boots). I highly recommend the hidden route!View attachment 991605

View attachment 991606

View attachment 991607

There better not be a canoe involved! I’m not really an outdoorsy person. But I’m making an exception for Norway.

And yes the description for this excursion and Briksdal glacier says hiking shoes, not boots.

 

[hsmamato2]

hyatt.... booking on points, person checking isn't me.... I put persons name in notes as checking in earlier,should be fine,right?

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Thanks for those that weighed in on Germany. Still looking good for us to get D1, so I'm hoping it holds! Today's flight only had 2 people listed at first, now we would be 11, 12, 13 on the list (I think the BF is going). Tomorrow we sit at 5, 6, 7 with 14 open. If we don't get D1, I think we're all bailing, LOL. We have to see. This is why I hate non-rev, LOL esp at Delta where people have hire dates of 85! Can't hang w/ a 2023 hire date against people who have been at Delta longer than my BF has been alive, LOL.

I have some hotels mapped out, to be booked once we get tickets. I dug up an old iPhone 11 that has a cracked screen, got it unlocked and will pay for that to have an esim for us when out and about. We'll use our phones on wifi. But then have the iPhone 11 for when we're out and about.

So AC.....Per ChatGPT, the hotels I'm looking at have AC. Do the museums normally? What about the other attractions like castles, forts, etc. Do the buses and trains? It's going to be high to mid 80's and that might be the deal breaker for my BF to join us, and might make my son miserable too, LOL. I did just order 2 portable fans to bring with. I'm not a backpack person, but I plan on bringing a backpack to bring when we do the bus tour, and train to Austria. Will we be okay bringing that around places? I'm not a purse person normally either, LOL.

It's crazy to me that I'm trying to just throw this all together in the past few days. I've literally never looked at Germany for a trip. But I guess this is how we roll, LOL. That said, I have to cancel our Black Friday steal of a room at the Palazzo in Vegas, and our rental car today. Oh well. It's Vegas, we know we'll go again. I mean I got Zac Brown tickets and a room booked for December. I want to possibly go in Nov to see New Kids, too, LOL.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

It's crazy to me that I'm trying to just throw this all together in the past few days. I've literally never looked at Germany for a trip. But I guess this is how we roll, LOL.

Can't answer any of your questions, but just came to say I admire those of you who can pull together international trips in such a short time! I am a very Type A over planner. If I can't plan the trip 8-11 months out, we are not going! I am envious of those who can take advantage of last minute type deals as well. My brain just cannot function like that.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I would take the hiking boots and I saw a lot of locals with hiking polls. It was raining lightly the day we went in August and it's all rock and the rocks get slippery. There is nothing to hold on to, and I saw a lot of people including myself slip and fall.

I'm in good shape a marathon runner, but I guess my balance is not as good in my old age. My 20 year old son just skipped down the mountain like it was nothing.
I was wishing I had hiking boots and some poles. Some people on our DCL excursion had both.

I second this -- hiking poles are a good idea. Going down, while it should have been easier, is considerably more difficult on the knees than going up (aging sucks!). Poles will help in this regard. I can't remember if I had them or not, I'm thinking that I didn't to stay light, but wished that I did.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Thanks for those that weighed in on Germany. Still looking good for us to get D1, so I'm hoping it holds! Today's flight only had 2 people listed at first, now we would be 11, 12, 13 on the list (I think the BF is going). Tomorrow we sit at 5, 6, 7 with 14 open. If we don't get D1, I think we're all bailing, LOL. We have to see. This is why I hate non-rev, LOL esp at Delta where people have hire dates of 85! Can't hang w/ a 2023 hire date against people who have been at Delta longer than my BF has been alive, LOL.

I have some hotels mapped out, to be booked once we get tickets. I dug up an old iPhone 11 that has a cracked screen, got it unlocked and will pay for that to have an esim for us when out and about. We'll use our phones on wifi. But then have the iPhone 11 for when we're out and about.

So AC.....Per ChatGPT, the hotels I'm looking at have AC. Do the museums normally? What about the other attractions like castles, forts, etc. Do the buses and trains? It's going to be high to mid 80's and that might be the deal breaker for my BF to join us, and might make my son miserable too, LOL. I did just order 2 portable fans to bring with. I'm not a backpack person, but I plan on bringing a backpack to bring when we do the bus tour, and train to Austria. Will we be okay bringing that around places? I'm not a purse person normally either, LOL.

It's crazy to me that I'm trying to just throw this all together in the past few days. I've literally never looked at Germany for a trip. But I guess this is how we roll, LOL. That said, I have to cancel our Black Friday steal of a room at the Palazzo in Vegas, and our rental car today. Oh well. It's Vegas, we know we'll go again. I mean I got Zac Brown tickets and a room booked for December. I want to possibly go in Nov to see New Kids, too, LOL.

The trains and buses should have a/c. Castles, no. Museums should. Just do the castles in the morning and stick to a/c places in the afternoon. If you base yourselves in Frankfurt, I highly recommend Kleinmarkthalle -- amazing food! Take cash -- one of the best food stalls didn't take card payment (I learned this the hard way lol). You'll be fine with a light backpack, but be careful with your wallet in a backpack (pickpockets); if you don't plan on carrying a crossbody bag, then I highly recommend a fanny pack for your wallet -- keep it in front of you and well-secured.

 

[DCLMP]

I second this -- hiking poles are a good idea. Going down, while it should have been easier, is considerably more difficult on the knees than going up (aging sucks!). Poles will help in this regard. I can't remember if I had them or not, I'm thinking that I didn't to stay light, but wished that I did.

Going up was fun. Coming down not so much. It would have been better had it not been raining and the rocks weren't slippery. I think rain is the norm there. I've been to that port three times and it's always been raining.
My knees were fine, but my toes from hitting the front of my running shoes coming down were sore. Hiking boots may help with that.

 

[Budzooka]

Can't answer any of your questions, but just came to say I admire those of you who can pull together international trips in such a short time! I am a very Type A over planner. If I can't plan the trip 8-11 months out, we are not going! I am envious of those who can take advantage of last minute type deals as well. My brain just cannot function like that.

I’m right there with you. Planning and anticipation is half the fun!

 

[wanderlust7]

hyatt.... booking on points, person checking isn't me.... I put persons name in notes as checking in earlier,should be fine,right?

I don't know if that works. You can contact Hyatt to add a secondary guest or gift the reservation to the other person.

If you're not going, gifting is probably better. If you're both going, you might think about who can use the stay credit more. Even if you don't stay at Hyatts much, maybe one of you can use the brand for the Brand Explorer award.

 

[elgerber]

This is strange, I think. I signed up for the Instacart + with the Ink card, which got me three months. Never used. Anyway, it was due to bill last weekend, while we were camping. I totally forgot to cancel it. I got a fraud text from Chase asking if I made an Instacart charge on one of my cards, so I said no. They are now sending me a new card. I then got an email from Instacart saying my card was declined, so they cancelled the membership (which is what I wanted anyway). But this morning I got another Fraud text from Chase on another card, asking the same question on a different card. So now that card is also being cancelled and reissued. I went into Instacart and I do NOT even have a + membership anymore. The really weird part is NEITHER of the cards that I got the fraud alerts on, were listed as payment methods in my Instacart account and the one I got the first fraud alert on was not the card that was declined for payment in the email from Instacart. I removed all my cards from Instacart as a precaution.

On an off topic note, I bought an Etsy gift card on Best Buy to use a stupid Amex Gift card (I hate those things), and it's been two days, and I don't have the Etsy card yet.

 

[reliev]

Tamarac, FL. Phone number: 7542283796. Didn't need to speak to a banker/relationship manager. The person who answered the phone said "let me see if I'm able to do it" and she was after taking my name and email address.

FYI, if you go for it and already have a Citi online account: don't login before applying. I kept getting an error. Read on DOC that it doesn't give the error if you're not logged in. Then after the application is approved, it'll ask you to create an online account but know that you don't have to. If you already have an account, skip creating so you don't have to figure out how to merge them later

just tried they said someone would call me back its been 11 minutes, i realize its lunch time wish there was an easier way to get 20k bonus.

 

[calypso726]

I dunno how to describe this trip without sounding hyperbolic. I’ve never experienced anything like this. I am toying with doing it again, even at a bazillion BonBlah points. The only thing that gives me pause is that I don’t think I can top what I have experienced. We were so incredibly lucky at every turn. Another go could be just as magical and memorable, more so, or a complete and utter disappointment in comparison. Here are some pics from our last day.













This last one is what happens when you’ve ordered your Great Migration river crossing from Temu So glad we saw that amazing one earlier in the week. I understand some people don’t get to see one despite looking for one everyday that they are there.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

I dunno how to describe this trip without sounding hyperbolic. I’ve never experienced anything like this. I am toying with doing it again, even at a bazillion BonBlah points. The only thing that gives me pause is that I don’t think I can top what I have experienced. We were so incredibly lucky at every turn. Another go could be just as magical and memorable, more so, or a complete and utter disappointment in comparison. Here are some pics from our last day.

Incredible pictures you've been posting the entire trip... thanks for taking the time to post them! This is one of my Top 3 bucket list trips, so it's really cool to see it through your lens. It looks absolutely amazing! I would love to do something similar for our 25th anniversary (in 8 years). We might need at least that long to save up a bazillion points, LOL.

 

[reliev]

Looks like Chase reduced the coverage on some cards for rentals seems like it affects the csp but not CSR.
https://frequentmiler.com/chase-has...ollision-damage-waiver-benefit-on-some-cards/

 

[calypso726]

Incredible pictures you've been posting the entire trip... thanks for taking the time to post them! This is one of my Top 3 bucket list trips, so it's really cool to see it through your lens. It looks absolutely amazing! I would love to do something similar for our 25th anniversary (in 8 years). We might need at least that long to save up a bazillion points, LOL.

Thank you. Trip reports inspire me, so I try to return the favor. My top 3 trips ever are Antarctica, this one and the Galapagos. My advice, save the points and do it if it’s on your bucket list. The staff at the JWMM was amazing. Having a good camera with lens is an absolute must. I do almost everything with an iPhone and this was my first time using a real camera. I kept it on auto and was easily able to work the lens for zooming in and out. I am so glad I did not have to spend a ton of money to get this type of photo equipment and the extra weight for luggage on just one trip. I have thousands of pictures. I didn’t go to the photo studio each day to have them help me select pictures for editing. I brought a memory card reader and laptop so I knew what I’d want them to look at by the end of my trip. Today when I returned the camera we went through some of the pictures I thought might be good enough to actually print out and frame. They assisted with some very light and subtle editing in Lightroom. Beyond auto-fix in Lightroom, I would not know what to do. This was something I felt was incredibly important to have on this type of trip. Our guide was superb and had 18 years experience as a guide. When everyone else was in one spot trying to get a picture of something, he would say, this animal is probably going to do this in the next few minutes and position us elsewhere. Sure enough, his predictions were on point and we were already in the perfect place at the perfect moments. Hope this helps

 

[chattadisser]

Thank you. Trip reports inspire me, so I try to return the favor. My top 3 trips ever are Antarctica, this one and the Galapagos. My advice, save the points and do it if it’s on your bucket list. The staff at the JWMM was amazing. Having a good camera with lens is an absolute must. I do almost everything with an iPhone and this was my first time using a real camera. I kept it on auto and was easily able to work the lens for zooming in and out. I am so glad I did not have to spend a ton of money to get this type of photo equipment and the extra weight for luggage on just one trip. I have thousands of pictures. I didn’t go to the photo studio each day to have them help me select pictures for editing. I brought a memory card reader and laptop so I knew what I’d want them to look at by the end of my trip. Today when I returned the camera we went through some of the pictures I thought might be good enough to actually print out and frame. They assisted with some very light and subtle editing in Lightroom. Beyond auto-fix in Lightroom, I would not know what to do. This was something I felt was incredibly important to have on this type of trip. Our guide was superb and had 18 years experience as a guide. When everyone else was in one spot trying to get a picture of something, he would say, this animal is probably going to do this in the next few minutes and position us elsewhere. Sure enough, his predictions were on point and we were already in the perfect place at the perfect moments. Hope this helps

Seconding the thanks for posting the pictures from this trip. I was telling my DH about it and I think I may have convinced him to try for it. If you don't mind, how did you amass the Marriott points to book the JWMM? You may have mentioned it previously so, feel free to point me there if so. Some of our favorite properties are Marriotts but it's also one ecosystem that I find the hardest to amass points it. We've taken advantage of some of the point transfer bonuses in the past. Booking through points would make this trip possible, otherwise it's hard to rationalize it with cash at this point in life.