I love credit cards so much!

[mhartman09]

Finally getting back here to catch up after our Spring break WDW trip. Woah.....80 pages to read. I'm sure that will take me a while.

 

[Albort]

Gift card?

yeah, shows egift card. was triggering the $20 offer.

 

[Lain]

I totally just burned my MS location. I think I’ll be paying my rent with a credit card to meet this last 5k in spend on SO’s SPG Biz. The fee is $55 for 1750 in rent. SO thinks plastiq is sketchy so I’m not allowed to use that. He thinks if the payment is late we would be kicked out of our apartment and living on the streets. I told him there are eviction laws and that won’t happen.

When you schedule your payment, you’re presented with a calendar where you can pick the date the check needs to arrive. Schedule it for a few days before rent is due in case there are any issues.

Plastiq has a payment guarantee that covers late fees if payment doesn’t arrive on time:

1. 
   7.4 Delivery Guarantee
   Plastiq guarantees delivery of your Payments to Recipients within the timeframes projected at time of Payment review, prior to submission. If this guarantee is not fulfilled, you are eligible for reimbursement of any late fees associated to the Payment which may have accrued between the quoted delivery timeframe and actual delivery.
   
   To obtain your reimbursement, please email guarantee@plastiq.com with the following:
   • Plastiq Payment ID
   • Proof of the due date (e.g., bill or invoice)
   • Evidence of late fees charged or owed
   Reimbursements must be claimed within thirty (30) calendar days of the Payment Processing Date, and will be issued within thirty (30) calendars days of reimbursement confirmation from Plastiq. You agree that any qualified reimbursements not claimed within this timeframe will be forfeited.
   
   This delivery guarantee will not apply for all Payments which be affected by any of the following:
   • Service provider downtime or delays, including but not limited to the United States Postal Service (USPS), Canada Post, and banking partners.
   • Recipient rejection or return of the Payment.
   • Recipient mishandling or delayed posting of a Payment.
   • Delivery failure due to incorrect or incomplete information provided by you.
   • Cancellation prior to payment delivery.

 

[gottalovepluto]

But isn't that what this hobby is all about? Making our pipe dreams come true Ahem, Singapore Suites flight next month, weekend in London just to see the Harry Potter play, Hamilton tix at face value and flying to the opposite coast to see it, weekend in DC to see cherry blossoms and getting ressies for Easter brunch at the oldest restaurant in town when they are fully booked, Iceland for Thanksgiving because, well because, why not?

Seriously though, I know the regulars here are aware of my travel habits but for the lurkers and the newbies reading this thread that may find this hobby overwhelming and the things that some of us do unattainable. Don't let it intimidate you. I started this hobby as a way to make one really expensive, once in a lifetime, dream come true trip that I wanted to do with all my heart, more affordable. I never, in a million years thought that one goal would then lead to where we are today in terms of our travel habits and what this silly, ever changing hobby has allowed us to do. I know I am waxing poetic here, but this hobby completely changed our lives, the way we view travel and what can and can't do. So far, there isn't much a "can't" in the equation. Thanks to the bloggers it isn't can or can't we, but more, how do I make it happen? Whatever it is, one of them has done it and blogged about it.

Ok, off my soapbox now. Let's go make our pipe dreams come true. I'm thinking that Venice trip is a fabulous idea and am very thankful you posted about it. Can't wait to tell DH we are going to Venice again. Oh my gosh, this is going to be so romantic

Inspirational soapbox!!! I'm one of those who was too scared to dream big but I think I've dipped my toes in by getting the 2 amex SPG cards. I'm looking at those bonuses musing that if I can catch one of those SPG sales maybe I could cover a short trip to one of those dream-looking hotels in Bora-Bora or the Maldives or some place like that. It's entirely possible I started searching up info on biz-class award tickets too... I had always dismissed that sort of thing because
1) I'm single and it's just lame for singles to travel to places like that if I can't beg a friend along with a free hotel

Now I'm happily at "screw it, I shouldn't wait to plan trips like that any longer!" My points might devalue so I can see the world no matter what my "status" in life right now​

2) I knew I would never be able to assemble enough points/cash to do any sort of dream trip, never.

Now I know better. I'm bringing my fam on their SECOND trip to WDW using bank bonuses and credit card bonuses with just over 1 year between trips (they did have to cover most of their airfare using a DL card I helped them get the bonus on last year but they had zero plans for the miles anyway, had gotten the card for free checked bags last year, and were thrilled to "get something from those miles"). Both of these WDW trips were a dream unattainable to all of us not 18 months ago.​

This hobby takes work and planning and that takes time from other things in life but it has already changed my life and I'm just barely starting out on this journey.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Finally getting back here to catch up after our Spring break WDW trip. Woah.....80 pages to read. I'm sure that will take me a while.

I had 50 after my last trip and admittedly abandoned the task after making it through about 10, there was just so much new stuff coming out each day it was too much for me.

 

[elgerber]

Help, paying property taxes with Plastiq, what do I choose for business type. Utilities, Real Estate, Other, Government???
Meeting MSR for Delta AMEX Biz

I have selected Other and typed in property tax. Will that go through OK?

 

[Lain]

Help, paying property taxes with Plastiq, what do I choose for business type. Utilities, Real Estate, Other, Government???
Meeting MSR for Delta AMEX Biz

I’d pick government (because taxes). ETA other should work too. Avoid real estate with Amex.

 

[Ngwira]

I just did the same thing but only 3 days, staying at POR, tickets bought using Citi thank you points and flights using SW gift cards and chase UR.. too many devaluations so might as well burn some points on what makes me happy-Disney!

Everything is booked. Woohoo. I ended up using Chase UR at 1.5 cents to book our park tickets and will upgrade them to annual passes once we arrive. POR Royal room-pool view came to around $600 with tax for 2 nights. Flying down on AA metal from PHL for $0 (used Chase UR) and flying back on a $60 pp rate on Southwest to Philly (used SW gift cards from Amex Platinum airline credit trick). Will save the Citi TY points for another trip. We will have three full days in the parks since we leave MCO around 11:00pm. Booked Magical Express and will be making fastpasses in seven days! ADR's booked and got everything we wanted including Narcoossee's for DH's birthday dinner. DH is thrilled to be celebrating turning 44 at WDW.

 

[Lain]

I know, I know. I have two problems. Too many options and not enough time. I'm so overwhelmed with the possibilities that I can't make any decisions!
DH wants to do Japan, so that seems like a great use of a 7 night cert for Tokyo, but then we wouldn't have time to go anywhere else, and I can't see multiple Japan trips in our near future. Same with Italy. I'd love to do Venice, but for 7 nights and no other Italy destinations? First world problems!!!

Seriously, if you want to do Japan, I would not plant yourself anywhere for 7 days as beautiful and unique as any place in Japan is. The country is so compact and easily accessible by Shinkansen and rail that you’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t plan a few days each in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and/or Hokkaido.

ETA: the last time DW and I were in Japan, we did 5 nights in Tokyo with day trips to Yokohama, Mitaka (Ghibli Museum!), Kamakura, and Mount Fuji; and 4 nights in Kyoto, with day trips to Arashiyama, Nara, and Osaka.

 

[speedyfishy]

When you schedule your payment, you’re presented with a calendar where you can pick the date the check needs to arrive. Schedule it for a few days before rent is due in case there are any issues.

Plastiq has a payment guarantee that covers late fees if payment doesn’t arrive on time:

Thanks!! I’m going to show him all this stuff tonight and maybe he will be convinced. It takes some time for him to get on board with new things. He was totally against me signing him up for cards at first, but after a little convincing and some free flights he is on board with me doing my thing. Maybe one day I’ll teach him how to manufacture spend. Lol

 

[peel]

Ok. You’ve got me. This is going on my wanderlist.

Seriously, we should all just plan to meet there with our Marriott certificates.

Seriously, if you want to do Japan, I would not plant yourself anywhere for 7 days as beautiful and unique as any place in Japan is. The country is so compact and easily accessible by Shinkansen and rail that you’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t plan a few days each in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and/or Hokkaido.

Exactly, I know! So those SPG points might come in handy for airfare and hotels over there. See what I mean? Too many options, not enough vacation time!

 

[amalone1013]

Guys, it's been 50 pages since I got my lounge situation sorted last Thursday morning...

@Albort I forgot to report to you that the coffee machine was working again.

 

[Lain]

Seriously, we should all just plan to meet there with our Marriott certificates.


Exactly, I know! So those SPG points might come in handy for airfare and hotels over there. See what I mean? Too many options, not enough vacation time!

Plenty of options! We stayed at the Westin Miyako in Kyoto, and had an amazingly serene view of the mountains surrounding Kyoto. My wife much preferred the laidback pace and all the nature of Kyoto over Tokyo. I’d love to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto that’s right on the banks of the Kamogawa river one day.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Have you made $500 in payments yet? I think this is a bit of a recent-ish change that happened maybe when they increased the promo? I was reading DoC's referral page and that seems to be how it works now as the part about getting FFDs after $500 in payments are sent is underlined.

*I'm going to note this on my plastiq link, just a reminder to everyone else to jot a note down on this too so people know they have to first make $500 in payments before getting FFDs.

Yeah, way more.

 

[Lain]

Guys, it's been 50 pages since I got my lounge situation sorted last Thursday morning...

@Albort I forgot to report to you that the coffee machine was working again.

How was the lounge?

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I know, I know. I have two problems. Too many options and not enough time.

Yep, me too. We have nothing scheduled because we can’t decide what to do.

Hawaii, Disney, ski trip, Lake Tahoe, Atlantis....

 

[Albort]

I stand with you united for the defense of PTN!! Can’t. Make. It. Through. MSEP. Betrayal. Again.

hate to brag, but my old manager i stayed in contact with just invited me to watch PTN in a Trial and adjust event this weekend! i.... cant... waaaaait!!!

 

[liloca]

I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

Unfortunately, it seems to be happening to a lot of people these days.

There’s a recent /r/churning thread from someone who recently went through the same thing that I meant to share, but I’ve been a bit under the weather so it slipped my mind.

I hope this still helps: https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/87h7us/daily_discussion_thread_march_27_2018/dwdg44n/

Thanks Lain! Yes my letter was from the fraud department as well!

 

[peel]

Yep, me too. We have nothing scheduled because we can’t decide what to do.

Hawaii, Disney, ski trip, Lake Tahoe, Atlantis....

...Australia, Iceland, Japan, Scotland, Italy, Amsterdam, France, Alaska, longer CA trip for DL...
not to mention the original plan to go to Belfast in August for a concert...

 

[Angrose]

Can't wait to tell DH we are going to Venice again. Oh my gosh, this is going to be so romantic

15 years ago, DH proposed in the middle of St. Mark's Square at sunset. A group of Italian teenage girls danced around us in celebration. Talk about romantic!

@peel @Lain I booked the JW Marriott Venice last summer, but we didn't end up staying there. We did an AirBnB instead since we wanted to be more in the middle of the action. We were only there for a few days so DH didn't think it was worth it to go back and forth from the island. I'll never forgive him for it, lol! I did a lot of research about the hotel/island. I hate to burst the romantic bubble, but you arrive by water shuttle or a private water taxi, not by gondola. The water shuttle is complimentary and takes about 20min to get to the island from St. Mark's. The private taxi costs something like $200! Yikes! It does look amazing though. Maybe someday I can convince hubby to take me there for an extended stay. We LOVE Venice!