I love credit cards so much!

[elgerber]

I would recommend renting where you want to stay and then deciding if you like the resort and location before buying. Some resorts resonate better with some folks than others. What one person may consider the best place ever, you may feel rather "meh" about it.

I have to add here, we did what you shouldn't, we bought BWV sight unseen. Had never even walked over there. We had stayed at the YC and the BC and knew that we wanted to be in that area. BVC was brand new when we bought, and BWV was cheaper resale, so we bought there. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE it, I cry every time I walk in the lobby.
I had never seriously looked into it because of cost, then one night (oddly eating at Old Country Buffet, yes I remember distinctly, which is funny because my DH hates that place), DH says, "why haven't you looked into DVC"? Not even sure how it came up, but that was my "ding" go moment LOL, and there was no stopping me after that.
When I see the rack rates for the rooms we stay in, that further confirmation it was a great choice for us.
I have also rented out our points a few times in years we weren't going there, to pay for that years vacation elsewhere.

 

[pillow]

@pillow We're spending 5 days in Moab and that was cut down from an original 6 days. Here is what we are doing in Moab - 2 days in Arches for hiking; 1 day in Canyonlands and dead horse point state park; 1 day for ATV Tour; 1 day trip to a slot canyon and goblin state park (about an hour or so away). We are skipping white water rafting and biking and some scenic drives (looking for Dino sites). Definately think there is enough to do for 7 days.

We usually move around as well so this will be different for us too.

I love this!!!! I would also like to visit Monument Valley, but I think that might be too far to drive for a day trip.

 

[elgerber]

My husband is dying to go to Moab, but only to rent Jeeps and drive offroad for days on end.

 

[Judique]

SPG points are on sale until May 31. 35% deal. Anyone need to top off at 3 to 1 before Aug 1?

 

[pillow]

We only got to spend 2 nights in Moab on our 2 week Grand Circle trip, which wasn't nearly enough time. I think you could easily find something to do for a week, but that just seems too long knowing what else there is to see in Utah. I actually liked Canyonlands and Dead horse point more than Arches. Maybe it was because Arches was sooooooo crowded with people. We went on a hike in Canyonlands and never saw another person. I am not sure if the construction is done in Arches, but there was a lot closed there when we went, so maybe that is why the parts we saw were so crowded. Dead Horse point is so beautiful, make sure you go to the actual point, we stopped at the visitor center and thought we were at the "point" but luckily discovered it was a short drive away. I wish I knew how to add photos, I think some of the Dead horse point ones are my favorites from our whole trip.

Good info. I'm taking screen shots of all Moab comments and filing them away. I do love Utah. Spring or Fall seems key to avoid crowds and heat.

 

[Lain]

Both SPG Biz and personal are statement credits.
Personal & Biz $100/$1k spend. Plus, earn an additional $100 statement credit after your first purchase on the Card at a participating SPG® or Marriott Rewards® hotel within your first 6 months of Card Membership

I'm regretting not getting my wife the SPG Personal at 30k Starpoints while I still could. That is a terrible offer! And knowing we'll never get another shot at those 30k points because Amex will stop issuing the SPG Personal, stings.

 

[Lain]

SPG points are on sale until May 31. 35% deal. Anyone need to top off at 3 to 1 before Aug 1?

Oh, you're such a tease. And of course I see this right after lamenting our lost opportunity at 30k Starpoints!

 

[pillow]

So for those that understand elite status at SPG and/or Marriott . . . is there an opportunity for a higher status with the merger? I don't travel enough to get status anywhere, so I typically just ignore status requirements. But, given that Marriott Gold will map to Marriott Platinum, does it make sense to shoot for Gold before 8/1? This is what I have currently:

Marriott: 27 nights + 3 coming prior to 8/1 (a 4th night will be ON 8/1)
SPG: 10 nights

Total combined = 40 nights prior to 8/1.

What does this mean? Would I need 10 more nights to be classified as Marriott Gold by 8/1 which will map to Marriott Platinum under the new program. Is this worth trying to do? Just thinking through this figuring out if there is opportunity here.

 

[Judique]

Oh, you're such a tease. And of course I see this right after lamenting our lost opportunity at 30k Starpoints!

Lol! I logged in and considered buying the 30K, but then it didn't recognize my spg number. Probably because at first it auto populated with my IHG number. So now I'm having second thoughts! I can still do Marriott Biz and the new Amex card for bonuses in future. I don't really lament over many of these lost opportunities because tomorrow there will be another one, they don't stop and the CC companies just keep on trying to sweeten the pot some way.

But, I was thinking of the 'sweet spot' for SPG bookings at the high end hotels in the fall and daughter called me last night and asked if I wanted to share a booking on the NYC St Regis for Thanksgiving. I cheaped out and said no. But, the idea is obviously still circling in my brain - and - she has a lot more points than I do! I think I like 'free' on her dime better!

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

So for those that understand elite status at SPG and/or Marriott . . . is there an opportunity for a higher status with the merger? I don't travel enough to get status anywhere, so I typically just ignore status requirements. But, given that Marriott Gold will map to Marriott Platinum, does it make sense to shoot for Gold before 8/1? This is what I have currently:

Marriott: 27 nights + 3 coming prior to 8/1 (a 4th night will be ON 8/1)
SPG: 10 nights

Total combined = 40 nights prior to 8/1.

What does this mean? Would I need 10 more nights to be classified as Marriott Gold by 8/1 which will map to Marriott Platinum under the new program. Is this worth trying to do? Just thinking through this figuring out if there is opportunity here.

I was just contemplating this as well. If you don't have status with either program, the nights that you have earned will combine and map to the new program. How many stays do you have with SPG? I always found getting 10 stays easier than 25 nights because I traveled for work. I once needed just one more stay for SPG gold so I booked a room at the local Sheraton (which was maybe $80) on December 30. I checked in and then went back home. It got me gold status for the next year, which I value at more than $80.

Unfortunately, I only have 4 stays so far this year and have none planned until October unless I get more work trips that come up between now and August, I don't think I will make status this year.

ETA: So I guess what I am saying is, what is the cost to get another 10 nights and is that cost worth the status to you?

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

SPG points are on sale until May 31. 35% deal. Anyone need to top off at 3 to 1 before Aug 1?

Which cards give bonus points for this spend?

 

[Judique]

So for those that understand elite status at SPG and/or Marriott . . . is there an opportunity for a higher status with the merger? I don't travel enough to get status anywhere, so I typically just ignore status requirements. But, given that Marriott Gold will map to Marriott Platinum, does it make sense to shoot for Gold before 8/1? This is what I have currently:

Marriott: 27 nights + 3 coming prior to 8/1 (a 4th night will be ON 8/1)
SPG: 10 nights

Total combined = 40 nights prior to 8/1.

What does this mean? Would I need 10 more nights to be classified as Marriott Gold by 8/1 which will map to Marriott Platinum under the new program. Is this worth trying to do? Just thinking through this figuring out if there is opportunity here.

I was only ever gold once so I'm no expert, but with that many night credits I think you should be shooting for Platinum Elite at 50 nights before Dec 31st so you would have that status for all of 2019 - and here's where I don't know Marriott's program - is it calendar year? I think so but I haven't looked it up. And will all nights from both programs combine - hope they do for you, because if I had 37 nights by mid april - I would make a point of getting me some higher status.

 

[jhoannam]

Oh, you're such a tease. And of course I see this right after lamenting our lost opportunity at 30k Starpoints!

Me too... but I’m at 4/24 - I know it takes a while to post on my credit but I couldn’t do $11k MSR, Im going to double dip CSP/CSR. Im for sure going to get the Marriott Biz, before that goes away next month.

 

[jhoannam]

SPG points are on sale until May 31. 35% deal. Anyone need to top off at 3 to 1 before Aug 1?

I think I’ll buy some. We will need them for Hawaii in June.

 

[Judique]

Which cards give bonus points for this spend?

Not sure I understand what you are asking? These are program points from points dot com. SPG are normally 35 a thou and Marriott are 36.50 a thou - by buying SPG with any CC you get 35% more points and at conversion it's like getting 4 Marriott Rewards for 1 SPG. Or like getting the Marriott point for under $9 a thousand. And you can get a few more points by using the SPG card.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Not sure I understand what you are asking? These are program points from points dot com. SPG are normally 35 a thou and Marriott are 36.50 a thou - by buying SPG with any CC you get 35% more points and at conversion it's like getting 4 Marriott Rewards for 1 SPG. Or like getting the Marriott point for under $9 a thousand. And you can get a few more points by using the SPG card.

I mean, when you purchase points through points dot com, does it map to a bonus category for any cards? Does it post as a travel expense or get bonus on CIP or something like that? Or counts as an SPG spend, so it gets 2x SPG points through an SPG CC?

 

[afan]

Looking at my informed delivery and saw I have a welcome hit from life lock which I've never signed up for. Noticed it also has American airlines on the envelope. Quite curious to see what they've got going on. Seems like it should really just be a solicitation since they wouldn't have a way to sign you up through the ff program without you knowing.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

I'm regretting not getting my wife the SPG Personal at 30k Starpoints while I still could. That is a terrible offer! And knowing we'll never get another shot at those 30k points because Amex will stop issuing the SPG Personal, stings.

I’m a good part of the way through my SPG business. It has gone better than I would have thought. Last night I had been contemplating getting the SPG business for DH. I pulled up the offer twice and then talked myself out of it. We just don’t stay in hotels often enough. There was a tiny bit of disappointment this morning when I saw the offer was gone but meeting another spend would have been stressful. I need to put energy into learning how to maximize the cards I have. And there is always another offer and another day.

 

[platamama]

Which cards give bonus points for this spend?

Not sure I understand what you are asking? These are program points from points dot com. SPG are normally 35 a thou and Marriott are 36.50 a thou - by buying SPG with any CC you get 35% more points and at conversion it's like getting 4 Marriott Rewards for 1 SPG. Or like getting the Marriott point for under $9 a thousand. And you can get a few more points by using the SPG card.

The SPG cards give you an extra point (like Judique said). Say you buy $682.50 worth of Starpoints with your SPG AMEX (either personal or business, doesn't matter). You get 683 points for the normal 1x purchase, then an additional 683 pts for buying it with your SPG AMEX. Make sure when you buy, that you pick the Starwood AMEX option for payment.

That said, DH got the bonus points on his Starpoint purchase last month on his SPG Biz, but I have not, so I need to follow up on that.

Also check portals for points.com for extra cashback.

 

[Judique]

I mean, when you purchase points through points dot com, does it map to a bonus category for any cards? Does it post as a travel expense or get bonus on CIP or something like that? Or counts as an SPG spend, so it gets 2x SPG points through an SPG CC?

Oh, I get you now! I think we will have to wait for an answer from someone who has purchased them recently with one of those cards. With SPG cards you get 1 point per dollar for this purchase. I'm not sure what they post as on Chase cards.