I love credit cards so much!

[miztressuz]

So far, knock on wood, the Marriott points changes have been working out for me. I was checking out Vancouver for pre trip and there's a couple places I can use the 35k free nights from the SPG Biz and the Marriott Biz pre cruise thanks to some decreases. (I forget who mentioned it but thanks to whoever shouted out about the Delta change. That seems super convenient!) Post cruise hubby had a thought for Sonoma and I see a couple places nearby that we can use the 25k night from the Marriott Premier. All the options are showing around $200/night potentially so $279 for 5-600 dollars in rooms, I'm ok with that. Even better if we can get away with getting the nights and then canceling without paying the AF. (but still not sure, might keep the cards. that's next years problem)

But not sure on the Sonoma night(s) yet, who knew it costs roughly the same to fly Alaska > CA as Alaska > PA? Obviously not I. I had assumed it'd be cheaper to fly somewhere on the west coast back from Alaska and then just use SW to get home. Checking some flight options and it's only a few dollars more to just fly straight back. I was really looking forward to checking out somewhere in CA but now I'm having a hard time justifying the extra expense of the split trip even though we could cover it.

 

[striker1064]

I'm pleasantly surprised with the Marriott Biz upgrades. Happy to see it will get the 35k annual free night. We take frequent weekend trips to Philadelphia and New York City, and there are several good options at that rate assuming we don't travel at peak times.

I don't use it for daily spend so I can't comment on that part.

 

[DisneyMandC]

So far, knock on wood, the Marriott points changes have been working out for me. I was checking out Vancouver for pre trip and there's a couple places I can use the 35k free nights from the SPG Biz and the Marriott Biz pre cruise thanks to some decreases. (I forget who mentioned it but thanks to whoever shouted out about the Delta change. That seems super convenient!) Post cruise hubby had a thought for Sonoma and I see a couple places nearby that we can use the 25k night from the Marriott Premier. All the options are showing around $200/night potentially so $279 for 5-600 dollars in rooms, I'm ok with that. Even better if we can get away with getting the nights and then canceling without paying the AF. (but still not sure, might keep the cards. that's next years problem)

But not sure on the Sonoma night(s) yet, who knew it costs roughly the same to fly Alaska > CA as Alaska > PA? Obviously not I. I had assumed it'd be cheaper to fly somewhere on the west coast back from Alaska and then just use SW to get home. Checking some flight options and it's only a few dollars more to just fly straight back. I was really looking forward to checking out somewhere in CA but now I'm having a hard time justifying the extra expense of the split trip even though we could cover it.

Yup, I'm thinking the Marriott changes will work in my favor too. Already seeing several good options for our AZ trip next April. Even a JW Marriott in Tucson!

 

[miztressuz]

Should be interesting to see what Chase/Marriott decides to do with that $99 AF after 8/26. It looks like the Marriott Biz+ will have the same benefits as the SPG Biz, but carries a $99 AF vs. $95 AF, respectively. It likely won't impact me because my first year AF is waived and the Marriott Biz is on the chopping block come renewal time.

Yeah I've always been confused on that. As far as I could see the Marriott biz only had a few more spend categories, so not sure how they justified the $14 increase over the Premier. Now that the Premier Plus is $95 and it's counterpart is also $95, it would make sense for it to be $95 as well. Or maybe they figure the 4x back on shipping justifies the extra $4 now.

 

[amalone1013]

Can anyone help me figure out why I earned Marriott points for the room I booked ON points for my grandpa at the beginning of the month?

+420 Points
(350 Base + 70 Elite + 0 Extra)

There were no room charges or anything... This is my first Marriott point earning that's not from the credit card sign up or the twitter promo, so I'm curious.

 

[Lain]

Yeah I've always been confused on that. As far as I could see the Marriott biz only had a few more spend categories, so not sure how they justified the $14 increase over the Premier. Now that the Premier Plus is $95 and it's counterpart is also $95, it would make sense for it to be $95 as well. Or maybe they figure the 4x back on shipping justifies the extra $4 now.

The post-8/1 SPG Biz will have 4x on shipping too --

This is a card that American Express already offers, though it will receive new benefits as of August 1, 2018. The card has a $95 annual fee (waived the first year), and will offer 6x points at SPG and Marriott Hotels, 4x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, on wireless shipping services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and U.S. shipping purchases, and 2x points on all other purchases.

On top of that, the card will offer the following perks:

• Receive an anniversary free night certificate every year that can be redeemed at a property that retails for up to 35,000 points per night
• Receive complimentary Silver status, and receive Gold status when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year ($35,000 as of 2019)
• Starting in 2019, receive 15 elite qualifying nights towards status annually
• Receive free premium in-room internet access at Marriott and Starwood hotels
• Receive free Boingo wifi

https://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2018/04/18/new-starwood-amex-credit-cards/

Yep, looks the same as the Marriott Biz+.

 

[hsmamato2]

Seems to be a lot of Lowes gift cards on sale. Staples = 10% off, Gyft.com = 10% off, Swych = 12.5% off.
@hsmamato2 if you need something else, u should buy something else. buy something else for 10% lowes(ie gift cards for other places).

I've noticed this lately too. lots of Lowes sales..... I hit the staples sale yesterday for $300 Lowes gc, since I also used the amex offer so effectively saved about 20% off those..... now I need to head to Lowes today or tomorrow, and use a "pro" coupon(spend $150,save $15) that I also got in conjunction with my 10% deal on my other Amex,making it another 20% off purchase (but I can't use this coupon on gc,so I need to make actual purchase)
Then I need to get gc for whatever I have left to max my Lowes Amex offer...(prob around $750 still) and then the plan is to use the gc after that!

 

[miztressuz]

The post-8/1 SPG Biz will have 4x on shipping too --

This is a card that American Express already offers, though it will receive new benefits as of August 1, 2018. The card has a $95 annual fee (waived the first year), and will offer 6x points at SPG and Marriott Hotels, 4x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, on wireless shipping services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and U.S. shipping purchases, and 2x points on all other purchases.

On top of that, the card will offer the following perks:

• Receive an anniversary free night certificate every year that can be redeemed at a property that retails for up to 35,000 points per night
• Receive complimentary Silver status, and receive Gold status when you spend $30,000 on the card in a calendar year ($35,000 as of 2019)
• Starting in 2019, receive 15 elite qualifying nights towards status annually
• Receive free premium in-room internet access at Marriott and Starwood hotels
• Receive free Boingo wifi

https://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2018/04/18/new-starwood-amex-credit-cards/

Yep, looks the same as the Marriott Biz+.

Missed that... back to

Although, wait, the Marriott will still do internet/cable too in addition to wireless, right? I don't see that on SPG. But still...

ETA: yeah, just checked the chart, still internet/cable. (not that I care, one of these days i'll have worked off our prepay and can use the CIC finally.) but also glossed over losing trip cancellation/interruption insurance the first time. wasn't too surprised with the price protection given Chase lately, but it's a travel card? take away trip cancellation on a travel card but give it to the Freedom card? guess that one way to lower their ins premiums.

 

[Judique]

Okay, it's July in Maryland and it won't stop raining!!! What's up with that anyway?
This is the month where when I go to the beach, I'm escaping 95 degrees at home for a nice cool 90-85 at the beach in Ocean City. It's 77 and raining here right now.

The beach is looking much better but still the highs are only 80ish and 20% chance of rain one day, sunny on Friday and more rain Saturday. Our hotel has an indoor pool so not too worried and they have a great outdoor pool with a super kids area.

There's the greek festival at the convention center this weekend, so we'll get dinner there one night - rosemary chicken and roasted potatoes - yummy, plus lots of baklava. Other restaurant night will be Shark on the Harbor - my daughter's favorite. 3rd night is undecided but could involve crabs. Maybe we'll drive down to Chincoteague which means a Hawaiian chicken croissant at Sugar Bakers bakery. I have the old people's National Parks pass, so we will go to Assateague as well, watch the horses, walk the beach. I like to go by Wallops Island visitor center on the way to Chincoteague as they sometimes have interesting stuff going on.

The Chincoteague pony swim is today and the auction is tomorrow, so most of the action should be over by the weekend. I may have to rethink this as I don't want to spend time in traffic.

Edit: connection to churning and credit cards: 2 points nights and 1 free Chase night at Holiday Inn and Suites on 17th Street. Plus assorted gas gift cards bought with offers.

 

[disneybirds]

Oh, I do see it under my coupons now. I didn't earlier. Dumb question, but what is with not buying bread and milk? Or do you just mean, don't do a small trip next?

Sorry, I meant just running in to buy bread and milk! I don't want to waste it on a small grocery run.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Sorry, I meant just running in to buy bread and milk! I don't want to waste it on a small grocery run.

I'm bummed because I won't be buying groceries for another 10 days since we'll be on vacation starting tomorrow night I need to buy water and powerade for my horse show, but that's it.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I have 3 cards with annual fees of $85, $95 and $99. I can easily use the nights in my travels even with Marriott's changes and the cost of each room being the under $100 'fee' makes them reasonable to me. Driving down the east Coast into Florida you don't find Marriott rooms for under $100, so for me there are savings to keeping all 3 cards, with the SPG and it's offers being the top pick. Too bad Chase wouldn't expand their offers a bit. Each card will easily save me $50 a night on a room. The 35K point cards will save me closer to $200 plus if I use them in Clearwater, which I am in the habit of visiting as a side trip on my Disney visits.

It all adds up to making my wanderings affordable.

And, I'm waiting to catch that luxury card for other higher point options.

Regarding Clearwater...I was just looking at some places there last night.
Hilton- not so great reviews
Hampton inn-new and great reviews
Doubletree N Redington- good reviews , cheap!


Stayed at any? If not what places do you like? And weather for thanksgiving, yay or nay? We have done Marco island for thanksgiving but it is further south.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I'm about 99.99999% sure I would take the upgrade to the SW priority card, so I feel impatient looking for an email haha. Am I missing anything here?

• I just paid $34 for my AF (Plus card) after my retention offer and got my 3k anniversary points
• They refund 'unused' portion of AF - my AF posted June 1st so assuming I get 9-10mths refunded I'd get $51.75-$57.50 back
• Charged new $149 AF, so total AFs is $126.50-$132.25
• I get $75 credit
• I get 5k points for upgrading (worth $70)
• As for the boarding upgrades, there's just the two of us and we ended up spontaneously paying for them 3 or 5 times so far this year... still looking at as a perk though instead of monetary value.

Most importantly, I'm just hanging around until I can apply for CIP in October, and then theoretically when we try for DHs companion pass for 2019-2020 I can refer him, same as I'd planned with my plus card. And hopefully the darn bonuses will go up And my Plus card is only 1 year old, so I don't care about resetting the anniversary date or getting another SW bonus yet.

thinking about doing this as well...my anniversary date is in August...was planning on calling for a retention offer once the points hit.
My daughter received the offer, looks like it’s good until 9/30 and the link worked for my card information even though I didn’t get an offer..unless it went into my spam
Reading about the $75 credit..it looks like it can be used for EBCI, but I’d want to confirm that since we use points for our flights

 

[amalone1013]

All this talk about people benefitting from the Starriott changes made me think of our trip next summer... I've been playing around with hotels around Port Canaveral for a night and they all feel high... you know, because it's June... and I just remembered that we should be getting 4 free night certs by October... that I could use! Counting those rooms as $95 instead of the $150+ I'm seeing currently. I was going to use URs for the ILs for sure, but I could even cash out URs to "pay" the fee and come out ahead!

 

[wendow]

When does the SPG biz perk of lounge access end? And why are all the Sheraton hotels I look at so outdated with only mediocre reviews??

 

[trenty]

thinking about doing this as well...my anniversary date is in August...was planning on calling for a retention offer once the points hit.
My daughter received the offer, looks like it’s good until 9/30 and the link worked for my card information even though I didn’t get an offer..unless it went into my spam
Reading about the $75 credit..it looks like it can be used for EBCI, but I’d want to confirm that since we use points for our flights

Not sure about EBCI, but I believe (not sure - so double check) it can be used for the $5.60 taxes and fees charged when booking with RR points.

 

[SBWB48]

Okay, it's July in Maryland and it won't stop raining!!! What's up with that anyway?

Nice to see another MD-er

Gyft makes no sense sometimes. After hearing the stories from @DaveL and some others, I still tried it and had no issues with the first couple of purchases (bought $100 from HD, a $50 and $25 from WM). Thought I was in the clear, NOPE. My $25 WM purchase today is "under security review" Really? So $100 HD and $50 WM previously were fine, $25 gets flagged for a security review. Called and was told someone needs to review my account to confirm it's me. Recommended that I link my FB or Google ID account for improved verification odds Seriously?? Social media accounts make my Gyft account more secure, but not the verified mobile number??? Um, ok...

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Not sure about EBCI, but I believe (not sure - so double check) it can be used for the $5.60 taxes and fees charged when booking with RR points.

The exclusions specifically mention the upgraded boarding..which they list as A1-A15 and in flight purchases....so I believe the EBCI and $5.60 should qualify for the $75 credit...but who knows

 

[SBWB48]

When does the SPG biz perk of lounge access end? And why are all the Sheraton hotels I look at so outdated with only mediocre reviews??

Unfortunately, August 1 I believe, along with all the other changes. Agree on the Sheratons, one of the reasons I opted to go with Hyatt House when we went to DL last month (apart from distance), but the ones I've looked up elsewhere had the same issue. I'm a stickler for "new" and renovated properties

 

[LynnTH]

Ok. So, I have not gotten much into Plastiq or Venmo or any MS'ing. Going to try dipping my toes I a bit. We just closed on a Re-fi beginning of the month. Waiting on info for our new Mortgage Company. (I had our last mortgage already set up to be auto deducted every month so didn't want to mess that up..). But now I think would be a good time to start using Plastiq. Let me know if I have this right..

1. DH has CIP and this will get us 3X Points on Plastiq?
2. Paying Mortgage with CIP is totally legal and not against any of the rules.
3. I can just set up payment to be auto deducted each month.
4. Payment will be around $2200 a month. So at 2.5% my fees would be $55 a month or $660 a year. That in turn would earn 79,200 UR's a year (at 3x points), which I can transfer to CSR for redemption value of 118,800 points. Is that correct. Anything I am missing??