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

[mom2febgirls]

It looks like I'm going to be at 70 Marriott nights by the end of the year. We are going to be visiting Rome and Greece next year and I'm wondering if a mattress run to reach Titanium would be worth it. I can book 5 nights at a local fairfield in late December for 50,000 points.

Would you do it?

 

[wanderlust7]

Thanks! I don’t have enough Chase points, or the advanced MR ability currently, so it looks like the .6 cent/point for MRs is my only real hope right now (cries in wasted points). Lots of strategy to think about in the next couple months though. I got the targeted 200k Amex Biz Gold a couple weeks ago and was on the fence, and now it has dropped to 175.

Since you're looking at biz cards, the CIU/CIC are at 90k for $6000 spend, no AF. The elevated bonus is probably ending soon.

The MR‘s only cash out at one cent per point with a platinum card as well as the business checking account or the 1.1 cents with the Schwab platinum and business checking account.

If you just have a business checking account, it raises the redemption from $0.006 cents to $0.008 cents per point

Good catch! I forgot you need biz plat + biz checking. For the Schwab, you only need the Schwab brokerage to open the card in the first place.

 

[AJruns]

Since you're looking at biz cards, the CIU/CIC are at 90k for $6000 spend, no AF. The elevated bonus is probably ending soon.



Good catch! I forgot you need biz plat + biz checking. For the Schwab, you only need the Schwab brokerage to open the card in the first place.

I just did the Ink Cash elevated bonus, but those points are all going to Hyatts on a 3 week Asia trip in June/July. I have the Amex Plat and Biz Plat so it sounds like adding a checking account could help, but while I have a legitimate business it’s “just” dog walking and dogsitting so I had never considered the checking account angle. The biz gold multipliers and coupons don’t do much for me but I would get it just for the sub. The advantage of Cap1 for me is that my P2 is not in my household (my mom), and those points are the easiest to share so between the two of us it would have been easy to erase a big travel spend.

 

[wanderlust7]

I just did the Ink Cash elevated bonus, but those points are all going to Hyatts on a 3 week Asia trip in June/July. I have the Amex Plat and Biz Plat so it sounds like adding a checking account could help, but while I have a legitimate business it’s “just” dog walking and dogsitting so I had never considered the checking account angle. The biz gold multipliers and coupons don’t do much for me but I would get it just for the sub. The advantage of Cap1 for me is that my P2 is not in my household (my mom), and those points are the easiest to share so between the two of us it would have been easy to erase a big travel spend.

I find the biz gold $20 credit pretty easy to use. I buy third party GC at Staples online. Can usually get 14 months of credits on 1 AF, so I figure the effective AF is $95.

You can get a bonus on the biz checking. There are some targeted elevated offers out there, but I think the minimum is 30k MR.

 

[reliev]

So DCL question . i called costco for early booking for DCL cruises they told me i have to call the first time, does that mean i have to call everytime? Also, at what time do they open the calls for early bookings?

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

It looks like I'm going to be at 70 Marriott nights by the end of the year. We are going to be visiting Rome and Greece next year and I'm wondering if a mattress run to reach Titanium would be worth it. I can book 5 nights at a local fairfield in late December for 50,000 points.

Would you do it?

I wouldn't; platinum status gets you free breakfast (you already earned this for next year), which to me at least, is the biggest benefit. You don't say when you're traveling, but if it's over the summer it's unlikely you'll get an upgrade since it's peak season. Not sure what properties you're looking at or for how many nights, so not sure if you could potentially use any NUAs, but again, during summer it's unlikely that popular properties would honor NUAs.

 

[mom2febgirls]

I wouldn't; platinum status gets you free breakfast (you already earned this for next year), which to me at least, is the biggest benefit. You don't say when you're traveling, but if it's over the summer it's unlikely you'll get an upgrade since it's peak season. Not sure what properties you're looking at or for how many nights, so not sure if you could potentially use any NUAs, but again, during summer it's unlikely that popular properties would honor NUAs.

Thanks. We're going in September/October. For Rome, I'm debating between the Pantheon Iconic or the W. For Athens the King George or Grande Bretagne.

 

[cruisehopeful]

So DCL question . i called costco for early booking for DCL cruises they told me i have to call the first time, does that mean i have to call everytime? Also, at what time do they open the calls for early bookings?

I don't know what time the phones open. The Costco website doesn't distinguish your Castaway status. If you are booking early because of Castaway status, you have to call to book. As soon as the cruise is on sale for the general public, you can book online.

Another way to book early (and this is what I did when booking through Costco), is to book online on the DCL website as soon as your status can book. Immediately after that or within 30 days, follow the instructions on the Costco travel website to transfer the booking to Costco. You'll get the exact same Costco cash card as if you booked through them.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Thanks. We're going in September/October. For Rome, I'm debating between the Pantheon Iconic or the W. For Athens the King George or Grande Bretagne.

Will be you be booking the King George or Grande Bretagne on points? I was looking at both for my 4 nights in Athens (got back a few wks ago) and the cash prices were insane. I ended up booking the Athens Capital MGallery hotel (Edit collection) -- it's directly across the street from the Grande Bretagne, was half the cost and it was AMAZING. The KG and GB look very nice and if you don't mind the cost I'm sure you'd love either!

 

[VGCgroupie]

Does anyone know if you get the standard cash back when you buy Amex Gift Cards via their website? Trying to decide if buying with the recent Amex offer is worth it. It may not be for me if you dont get the standard % back on the card

 

[eticketplease]

Does anyone know if you get the standard cash back when you buy Amex Gift Cards via their website? Trying to decide if buying with the recent Amex offer is worth it. It may not be for me if you dont get the standard % back on the card

Was wondering the same since they it is a gift card since they are the ones selling lol

 

[VGCgroupie]

My Barclays Hawaiian card under offers has an extra 3x points on grocery and gas up to 2400 points. Others received an extra 5x points. I activated mine via the website, others did app, so if you have the app Id check that first.

 

[reliev]

Does anyone know if you get the standard cash back when you buy Amex Gift Cards via their website? Trying to decide if buying with the recent Amex offer is worth it. It may not be for me if you dont get the standard % back on the card

Was wondering the same since they it is a gift card since they are the ones selling lol

So I bought these 5+ years ago. They were a REAL pain to use, as much as I want some free points (I'd use it for a bill). I remember it being tough. I couldn't use it on Amazon, my electric bill, etc, because of the weird holds it had. They even have a code on the website for a free 12-day trial or something similar. Im going to pass because i remember there being a few dollars left on both my cards last time and I didnt think it was worth the squeeze.

 

[VGCgroupie]

So I bought these 5+ years ago. They were a REAL pain to use, as much as I want some free points (I'd use it for a bill). I remember it being tough. I couldn't use it on Amazon, my electric bill, etc, because of the weird holds it had. They even have a code on the website for a free 12-day trial or something similar. Im going to pass because i remember there being a few dollars left on both my cards last time and I didnt think it was worth the squeeze.

I would try to flip into Disney Gift Cards and of that failed I was going to just use them directly to pay my DVC dues.