I love credit cards so much!

[gottalovepluto]

So I just booked at ritz grand cayman for spring break. It is currently booking cat 7, and will covert to cat 8 next year. May as well try it while we can. *I'd like to do St Thomas, but they aren't booking right now...I guess still the hurricane damage.) I don't have enough points for the tier 5 nights/flights package. I have 300k-ish marriott and DH has 35k-ish SPG. So I guess I will just go for the hotel redemption. Now I need to research if we can smuggle in DD2 since room occupancy is 4. Surely people with 3 little kids don't buy 2 $1000/night hotel rooms. At Hilton I know they don't ever care if she is in a pack in play, but not so familiar with the other brands. I suppose I also need to ask DH about this idea, but at least I have it on hold.

The family of 5 conundrum! 5 for a table please. “That’ll be about 30 mins” Up walks family of 4. “Right this way!” ...Personally no I would not try to sneak a 2 year old into a Ritz. They advertise great kids programs, personalized service, heck some Ritz have special check-ins just for kids- they’re going to notice. Will they care when they notice? is not your ultimate question- Can you afford it if they do care and call you on it? is really the q here. The hotel policy there specifically states

• Maximum occupancy for guest rooms is three adults or two adults and two children ages 17 and under.

Even a fam of 4 if both kids are 18 need 2 rooms at that hotel! You can always contact them and explain you have 3 kid but one is only 2 do they count? (it sounds like yes since adult occupancy is only 3 but it never hurts to ask).

 

[Psychodisney]

Has anybody seen the new info on a new Hyatt card? https://thepointsguy.com/news/hyatt-revamps-co-branded-credit-card/ Looks like a great sign up bonus and earnings for those who might like Hyatt.

 

[miztressuz]

For all the Marriott Nights and Flights people, DoC points out the new travel packages have been released too: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marriott-travel-packages-announced/

As one may expect the cost of the package is going up. But there's some kind of bonus for United miles packages (10%).

 

[Lain]

Looking at planning a disneyland trip likely early 2019, wondering if anyone has opinions about the staying at the above hotels...would be my first trip to DL, or if there is some better options without using starwoods/marriott points?

In the early stages of planning the trip thinking of visiting disneyland, san diego and possibly ending the trip in phoenix/tucson, if anyone has opinions or advise. Thanks

Around Disneyland, within walking distance, you're looking at independent motels (and there are some nice ones like the Candy Cane Inn and Tropicana), Best Western Park Place Inn and Anaheim Inn (right across the street), and the Hilton Anaheim, the Starriott properties listed, and Hyatt House as far as the big hotel chains go.

Hyatt House, the Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites are new construction that all opened up in the last five years, and are literally across the street from each other and within a very walkable ~10 minutes to bag check. The Four Points by Sheraton Anaheim is a rebranding of the Hotel Menage that was renovated in 2016-17, but is farther and over the I-5 freeway overpass. The Hilton Anaheim and Anaheim Marriott are large, modern full-service convention hotels about ~10-15 minutes walk to bag check. The Sheraton Park Hotel is older and smaller, so I'm kind of surprised Marriott bumped it up 5,000 points to make it on par with the Marriott, Residence Inn, and SpringHill Suites. The Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance is also a new hotel that opened in, I believe, 2015, that has a very sizable, fun water park on property, and it's across the street from Disneyland (although not directly across the entrance) so you should have some great views of the fireworks from this hotel.

We've posted suggestions for Disneyland area hotels in this thread before, and several regulars here are visiting Disneyland this summer and can offer their thoughts.

 

[peel]

DH called Chase again to find out if they've received his license fax for his DOB verification yet, and now they're telling him it might be 1-2 weeks before it gets into the right hands. We still don't know if this will result in a CIP approval. This is crazy.

 

[platamama]

https://www.doctorofcredit.com/fide...ng-spending-accounts-get-200-bonus/#The_Offer

Anyone doing this? I just opened the accounts and transferred $200 from my discover account to the cash account. Do I need to deposit into the investing account too? Idk how investing works I just do automatic transfers to a target date fund through Vanguard lol

Wow, that must have gone up on DoC's website just after I did my daily morning check of it. Thanks! I opened one for myself, DH is ineligible since he already has accounts with Fidelity. I've been looking for a new bank anyway.

 

[miztressuz]

Looking at planning a disneyland trip likely early 2019, wondering if anyone has opinions about the staying at the above hotels...would be my first trip to DL, or if there is some better options without using starwoods/marriott points?

In the early stages of planning the trip thinking of visiting disneyland, san diego and possibly ending the trip in phoenix/tucson, if anyone has opinions or advise. Thanks

Around Disneyland, within walking distance, you're looking at independent motels (and there are some nice ones like the Candy Cane Inn and Tropicana), Best Western Park Place Inn and Anaheim Inn (right across the street), and the Hilton Anaheim, the Starriott properties listed, and Hyatt House as far as the big hotel chains go.

Hyatt House, the Residence Inn and SpringHill Suites are new construction that all opened up in the last five years, and are literally across the street from each other and within a very walkable ~10 minutes to bag check. The Four Points by Sheraton Anaheim is a rebranding of the Hotel Menage that was renovated in 2016-17, but is farther and over the I-5 freeway overpass. The Hilton Anaheim and Anaheim Marriott are large, modern full-service convention hotels about ~10-15 minutes walk to bag check. The Sheraton Park Hotel is older and smaller, so I'm kind of surprised Marriott bumped it up 5,000 points to make it on par with the Marriott, Residence Inn, and SpringHill Suites. The Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance is also a new hotel that opened in, I believe, 2015, that has a very sizable, fun water park on property, and it's across the street from Disneyland (although not directly across the entrance) so you should have some great views of the fireworks from this hotel.

We've posted suggestions for Disneyland area hotels in this thread before, and several regulars here are visiting Disneyland this summer and can offer their thoughts.

And an addendum, link to @Lain 's previous post about DL hotels with walking routes

Lain's Awesome DL Hotel Map

 

[platamama]

I actually booked in Jan/Feb before it went up in March, even though I wasn't sure if we'd be taking a trip or not... I only had enough points for 6 nights at the time, that was the only downside.

Good planning - and you got your 5th night free too!

For all the Marriott Nights and Flights people, DoC points out the new travel packages have been released too: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/marriott-travel-packages-announced/

As one may expect the cost of the package is going up. But there's some kind of bonus for United miles packages (10%).

Thanks for posting! Dang, DoC is on a roll this morning. Time to head over there and obsess... ETA: OMG it's worse than I thought.

 

[Lain]

And an addendum, link to @Lain 's previous post about DL hotels with walking routes

Lain's Awesome DL Hotel Map

I guess I’ll need to fill in hotels on the northern side of the Anaheim Resort, e.g., the Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, HoJo, the Best Westerns and other motels.

 

[hsmamato2]

So, you know we just spent 11 days in Utah, Nevada and California (mostly CA) and it did not rain ever. At all! So we wondered back and forth...does it ever rain here? Do these people know rain?? On one of our later park days (Fri or Sat), we were in the park and were amazed that it was 'misting', and that is exactly what we called it. But it didn't last long enough to be a 'downpour' (as you call it, lol). It was super quick and then ended. Is that the extent of your 'rain'?? That is just crazy if y'all don't get rain!! Why no rain

we visited in December of 2016.....and it RAINED while we were at DL.... and it was cold! we toughed it out,and the park crowds cleared nicely..... so yes it does get rainy there at times!

 

[hsmamato2]

Good planning - and you got your 5th night free too!



Thanks for posting! Dang, DoC is on a roll this morning. Time to head over there and obsess... ETA: OMG it's worse than I thought.

does any of this give indication of what new hotel categories will be? like say Disney Dolphin?

 

[miztressuz]

Thanks for posting! Dang, DoC is on a roll this morning. Time to head over there and obsess... ETA: OMG it's worse than I thought.

Yeah, I didn't really read it when I posted it, just skimmed. My it's complicated. Sounds like if you want miles some airlines go for the current packages and worry about what they do with the hotel cert later. But since they still kept categories I'm guessing they'll remap current certs to the new cats. And on other airlines maybe it's better to wait to get the increased miles? Lot's of math going on. Somehow they simplified it but made it more complex at the same time

And in more depressing news from DoC, a comment from one of the Hyatt CC announcements regarding 5/24 rule rolling out eventually to cards not current subject to 5/24 now:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/new-...does-apply-weak-upgrade-bonus/#comment-609622

 

[platamama]

does any of this give indication of what new hotel categories will be? like say Disney Dolphin?

Yes

 

[DaveL]

No backup plan yet. The big problem is with traveling with my Mom and Daughter I will have to handle all the bags ect so DME was looking really good this trip. I might just have to sit outside the door and play on the iPad.

Well just got a call from Guest Services. Said that he will be sending my concerns out to the GMs at each resort property and that there are some notes added to my account about my previous troubles and that when I check in to ask for a manager right away and not to make requests with the front desk CMs as they may not have the required access to accommodate the DND request. Told him two the four trips to the front desk I did speak to a manager. He informed me this will serve as a learning opportunity for the resort management. He offered two free nights at a value in the future for the troubles, but really only hopeful suggestions for my Oct trip. Maybe I am overreacting but not sure if I feel any more comfortable than before.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Just officially finished my CF quarterly bonus buying my $4 lunch at Kroger! Good thing I left my salad on my kitchen counter today.

Well just got a call from Guest Services. Said that he will be sending my concerns out to the GMs at each resort property and that there are some notes added to my account about my previous troubles and that when I check in to ask for a manager right away and not to make requests with the front desk CMs as they may not have the required access to accommodate the DND request. Told him two the four trips to the front desk I did speak to a manager. He informed me this will serve as a learning opportunity for the resort management. He offered two free nights at a value in the future for the troubles, but really only hopeful suggestions for my Oct trip. Maybe I am overreacting but not sure if I feel any more comfortable than before.

Maybe others will feel differently from me, but I do think that’s a really nice offer from Disney. I read your original post and totally understand your initial concerns and think Disney acted absurdly. But if there’s one company out there that I really do think takes its customers complaints to heart, it’s Disney.

And who am I kidding, I’d never say no to two free nights at disney!!

 

[miztressuz]

does any of this give indication of what new hotel categories will be? like say Disney Dolphin?

Yes, they posted the full hotel category list today as well:
https://points-redemption.marriott.com/category-change

Both swan and dolphin will be new Cat 6's for 50k a night come Aug 1. Right now they are currently 36k (12k SPG, really)

 

[platamama]

I'll be redeeming points before 8/1 for Marriott Travel Packages.

I have a week in Maui reserved, and currently I can get 120K Southwest miles (or 120K Alaska, I haven't decided which one yet) for 360K Marriott points (current Cat 8) -- that is going up to 510K Marriott points in August and with 20K FEWER air miles.

I have a 7nt hotel Cat 1-5 certificate floating right now also, that one I'll be upgrading to a Cat 8 and attaching to another hotel reservation. Right now that package costs 360K Marriott points (of which I've already paid 270K points), but will go up to 390K Marriott points in August even though the redemption rate for that property is decreasing from 40K/nt to 35K/nt. SMH

After I use these points up, I don't know if there's any reason to pursue accumulating them in the future. Wow, Marriott, just wow.

 

[peel]

Before August 1st I can get a a Category 8 cert + 100K miles for 340K, and after August 1st it will cost 750K??? I can't be interpreting this correctly.

 

[miztressuz]

I have the NY Marriott Marquis booked at 45,000 points for this December, but haven't actually "paid" yet. Do we think I need to pay in points before it increases to 50,000? Or should they honor my original point booking?

I don't think you need to pay before it increases, as long as you have the required points before the deadline (8 days? I totally forget, I have 8 days stuck in my head though) it should only take the 45k out. That said, there's a lot of IT stuff that's going to be happening between now and then so I'd make sure you have backup like screenshots or print outs, including the terms that state when you need the points, in case something screwy happens. Also check on it periodically If something goes wonky you should be able to get a service rep to make it right.

 

[Albort]

Before August 1st I can get a a Category 8 cert + 100K miles for 340K, and after August 1st it will cost 750K??? I can't be interpreting this correctly.

at those rate, im probably gonna ignore the cert all together and just do the 60k-->25k transfers.