I love credit cards so much!

[Lain]

Seeing reports of orders HH-Amazon orders being cancelled. C’est la vie I’m safe so far but my optimism has dropped a lot since orders weren’t cancelled last time.

ETA: this DoC user had their MRs charged instead despite specifically selecting HH points. Ouch!! They seem to have gotten caught right when the redemption was reverting to its normal level. https://www.doctorofcredit.com/hilt...mazon-pathetic-0-2¢-per-point/#comment-679426

Nope, Amazon canceled orders last time too. Charging against MRs instead of HH is new though.

 

[striker1064]

I really liked Andy before he became a mod...but he's been a train wreck IMO since they tabbed him to the mod duties.

That job has to take a lot out of a person. So much whining. I can understand. Upside, Andy is a Disney guy too - we've discussed DVC on reddit before, which he also owns.

DH and I each used a free Marriott night certificate to book the Residence Inn at Central Park which is a 35K/night property.

That, IMO, is the best deal in NYC. I was frankly shocked that hotel is a 35k property. I've been wanting to stay there for years - in all my (embarrassingly extensive) research of NYC hotels, it's one of the nicest hotels in the city below a 4*-5* hotel price.

 

[calypso726]

That, IMO, is the best deal in NYC. I was frankly shocked that hotel is a 35k property. I've been wanting to stay there for years - in all my (embarrassingly extensive) research of NYC hotels, it's one of the nicest hotels in the city below a 4*-5* hotel price.

We drove past it on our Uber ride to the airport on the last trip. I liked the location and thought I had read somewhere that it was a 35k/night property where we could use the free night cert. I was kind of shocked too when I realized exactly where it was located. DH even said, "Are you sure?" when I told him I thought that might be the Residence Inn that is bookable with one of our free night certs. We've kept the Marriott cards for years just to use the free night certs at off property Disney stays. Now, it is even more valuable to us. I like occasional weekend getaways in NYC to catch a show. Actually using it for that is like Christmas just came early.

 

[amalone1013]

https://old.reddit.com/r/awardtravel/comments/a10210/hyatt_explorist_upgrade_for_free/

sounds risky but comments say its legit. u only give your hyatt #.
seems like a 90 day only unless u make the nights.

Just sent, hopefully it works out!

Ah, I probably would have done this for our stay Saturday night...

 

[Judique]

That job has to take a lot out of a person. So much whining. I can understand. Upside, Andy is a Disney guy too - we've discussed DVC on reddit before, which he also owns.



That, IMO, is the best deal in NYC. I was frankly shocked that hotel is a 35k property. I've been wanting to stay there for years - in all my (embarrassingly extensive) research of NYC hotels, it's one of the nicest hotels in the city below a 4*-5* hotel price.

Great information, thanks! Don't tell Marriott - they'll make it 60K.
@calypso726 - can we have a quick hotel review on your stay there?

 

[miztressuz]

Ok, this is all making more sense now. I couldn't fathom why they would require her to get a Red card for the discount...

So, I could use whatever card I want to buy the discounted Target GC's on the 10% off sale, and then we can use those whenever we use our 20% off coupon and her 10% TM discount? Or I shouldn't even do that and just get the Target GC's at Lowe's?

Also, I thought Target TM's used to get their 10% off on Disney GC's but I guess they changed that?? It was one of the first purchases I tried lol! Got my Red card 5% but no employee discount.

Yes, we screwed employees too with the GC discount If you check out the help link there, it goes on to say what the discount is and what's excluded and the GC is clearly listed unfortunately.

And technically you could buy the discounted Target GC with another card and give them to her to use and be ok since you are not the employee, but that's breaking the spirit of the policy and still circumventing it. However as long as you don't buy them and then hand them to her right in line in front of everyone, you're probably ok. I'd probably do it.

 

[hsmamato2]

I would NOT RISK this move unless you're happy getting stuck with the Hilton points. Any delays and this "glitch" going away again leaves you high and dry.

Also...you may want to check that math. 13cpp, lol? Did you mean 1cpp or 1.3cpp or something significantly lower

(you are right though, it is a GREAT use of Hilton points if you already have them)

I'm a little muddled by why this is a good use of hilton points vs straight hotel redemptions?

 

[striker1064]

We drove past it on our Uber ride to the airport on the last trip. I liked the location and thought I had read somewhere that it was a 35k/night property where we could use the free night cert. I was kind of shocked too when I realized exactly where it was located. DH even said, "Are you sure?" when I told him I thought that might be the Residence Inn that is bookable with one of our free night certs. We've kept the Marriott cards for years just to use the free night certs at off property Disney stays. Now, it is even more valuable to us. I like occasional weekend getaways in NYC to catch a show. Actually using it for that is like Christmas just came early.

The Courtyard directly underneath the Residence is also 35k. Very nice as well, but rooms look a little smaller, and obviously lower flowers (since the Residence takes the top half of the building).

We are using our Ritz 2FN at the St. Regis in a couple weeks, which is the one and only time we will likely be able to have a stay at such a nice hotel.

 

[tink1970]

The Courtyard directly underneath the Residence is also 35k. Very nice as well, but rooms look a little smaller, and obviously lower flowers (since the Residence takes the top half of the building).

We are using our Ritz 2FN at the St. Regis in a couple weeks, which is the one and only time we will likely be able to have a stay at such a nice hotel.

I hope you’ll also post a review of your St Regis hotel experience

 

[elgerber]

Yes, we screwed employees too with the GC discount If you check out the help link there, it goes on to say what the discount is and what's excluded and the GC is clearly listed unfortunately.

And technically you could buy the discounted Target GC with another card and give them to her to use and be ok since you are not the employee, but that's breaking the spirit of the policy and still circumventing it. However as long as you don't buy them and then hand them to her right in line in front of everyone, you're probably ok. I'd probably do it.

But it appears it is totally safe to use the RedCard to purchase the Target CG at 10% off? I would probably just do that to be safe.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

Reading all your posts about the Marriott free night certificates ..these look like a great idea ,but I’ve been concentrating on Chase UR cards.
So I’d rather apply for a Amex business card....Reading about the Amex SPG business card and it also comes with the free night certificate after the first year...I’m seeing referrals that list 75,000 points after a 3,000 MSR....
Is this a good idea/deal..we live on LI and could definitely use these certificates for stays in NYC

 

[miztressuz]

But it appears it is totally safe to use the RedCard to purchase the Target CG at 10% off? I would probably just do that to be safe.

Yep, that's what they'd like you to do

(well i'm sure they're not wanting you to get the discounted GC but they definitely want you to use the RedCard for it if you do)

 

[Judique]

Reading all your posts about the Marriott free night certificates ..these look like a great idea ,but I’ve been concentrating on Chase UR cards.
So I’d rather apply for a Amex business card....Reading about the Amex SPG business card and it also comes with the free night certificate after the first year...I’m seeing referrals that list 75,000 points after a 3,000 MSR....
Is this a good idea/deal..we live on LI and could definitely use these certificates for stays in NYC

For anyone who wants to redeem a 35K in NYC around a high rate time such as the weekends in Dec before Xmas, it's an excellent idea. You pay an annual fee of $99 and get a free night worth up to $700 from what I'm seeing on the website.

But - you need to decide and make a reservation when a room is available. I'm seeing low to no weekend availability in my preferred areas right now on the dates that someone could accompany me.

There are a lot of 35K choices. If you can go during the week, it makes it easier to find a room. I may end up doing a Sunday/Monday to get free. I also may use some Amtrak points instead of paying for tolls and parking.

 

[Lain]

Reading all your posts about the Marriott free night certificates ..these look like a great idea ,but I’ve been concentrating on Chase UR cards.
So I’d rather apply for a Amex business card....Reading about the Amex SPG business card and it also comes with the free night certificate after the first year...I’m seeing referrals that list 75,000 points after a 3,000 MSR....
Is this a good idea/deal..we live on LI and could definitely use these certificates for stays in NYC

I would wait for the SPG Biz offer to go back up. The bonus on the SPG Biz was at 100k Marriott points (for $5k MSR) until that offer expired on 10/31. As you know, the current offer is only 75k Marriott points (for but a lower $3k MSR), and likely won't go lower than that. Amex's offers on the SPG cards go up and down. I fully expect the SPG Biz welcome offer to go back up again in a few months.

However, that means putting off your first year anniversary, only after which you'd get your free night certificate. The SPG Biz has its first year AF waived, $95/yr. thereafter, but Amex hasn't been posting the FN certs to Starriott accounts until ~6-8 weeks after the AF posts, which makes pocketing the FN cert and canceling in time to avoid the AF not possible. Still, the FN cert worth a 35k stay is often > $95 AF.

ETA: I would add, as has been suggested here by others, to time your and P2’s anniversaries to coincide around the same time, so the FN certs post to your accounts around the same time and you each have your certs ready to use together on one night each and have the hotel link your reservations for a two night stay. That may mean P1 and P2 applying for the SPG Biz around the same time (P1 refers P2 after getting approved).

 

[1st*toright]

I was at a conference in Orlando recently and they did an evening dinner event at Universal. We had access to the Mummy, the Jimmy Fallon ride, Transformers and a roller coaster, and they had dinner served out in the street. It was pretty nice.

Right when I got there I decided to ride the Mummy. I didn't see a single other person in the queue - it was a full 5 minute walk through creepy rooms all by myself. Then I got up to the ride vehicle - I was the ONLY person in it. Again, super creepy. I'm not a huge fan of things jumping out at me, so about the time that I was fully strapped into the ride I was kinda thinking this wasn't my best decision ever. I realized that unlike Disney, the ride was intended to be truly scary, not funny scary or mildly surprising scary. Not going to lie, I was so creeped out that I kept my eyes closed through most of the ride.

I really should have bought the picture to prove I rode the Mummy all by myself (with my eyes closed like a scaredycat!)

 

[MrPTato]

I was at BJs as I needed a few things and decided to get a $500 VGC to finish up the quarter spend on my Discover. NO FEE! I didn't see that posted anywhere. Went back and picked up a fewwww more and put some spend on both Amex Gold and Discover as I am in my first year on that one. Stop and Shop has fuel points on their VGCs on Friday so i'll wait until that starts again. I have the double points at BJs on my Gold through the end of the year...so I may go back and try again next week.

 

[wendow]

Yes, we screwed employees too with the GC discount If you check out the help link there, it goes on to say what the discount is and what's excluded and the GC is clearly listed unfortunately.

And technically you could buy the discounted Target GC with another card and give them to her to use and be ok since you are not the employee, but that's breaking the spirit of the policy and still circumventing it. However as long as you don't buy them and then hand them to her right in line in front of everyone, you're probably ok. I'd probably do it.

IIRC, the Target GC 10% off sale is one day and then the GC's are not active until the next day anyways. Maybe I am remembering that wrong though. I didn't buy any last year so it's been awhile now. I probably will just buy them in Target because I'd rather put the expense on my BBP or an UR card. All I have 10% back left on for Lowes is my Delta gold, and since we never fly Delta, I pretty much value those points at just above nothing

 

[1st*toright]

In actual churning-related news, I've been getting a lot of use out of Amex offers and RMN was actually fairly useful in my holiday shopping endeavors.

Most of my RMN offers have worked fine (small cash back percentages on stuff I was going to buy anyway), but I have one that is taking a while to go pending. Not a big deal, because I would have made the purchase anyway, but $20 is $20 (and as @SouthFayetteFan says, cash is king!)

Really happy to see that the 100k Amex Plat biz still seems be live - I sent the info to my P2 (along with talking points). He was going to apply yesterday but got too busy - hopefully we have an approval dance party coming our way soon.

 

[usakiwi]

For those of you who DO have dogs...

Bark Box deal - Not only is it a good deal through MP/SB (I think SB, I only use MP) and on some Amex or chase offers (we had 15 back on 75 on Amex and 10% back on a Chase card) but it is also on Dosh at 5% which I did not realize. So make sure if you use it that you have the cc linked on dosh too! Chase offer expires today though (at least ours does).

(I can't "find" the offer on Dosh no matter how I type it in to search for it, but it is in the banner across the top and I have also already gotten the email notification that it worked.)

 

[miztressuz]

IIRC, the Target GC 10% off sale is one day and then the GC's are not active until the next day anyways. Maybe I am remembering that wrong though. I didn't buy any last year so it's been awhile now. I probably will just buy them in Target because I'd rather put the expense on my BBP or an UR card. All I have 10% back left on for Lowes is my Delta gold, and since we never fly Delta, I pretty much value those points at just above nothing

Right, I was thinking just in general as long as you're not being obvious about buying the Target GC's for an employee to use to get their discount, you should be ok. I'd rather use a 10% at Lowe's on something else other than Target so yeah, I'd probably be doing the same. I actually just found one from last year still tucked in the safe so I may not do it at all this year. Feels a little like blasphemy but there's only so much I want to float in GC's, and after spending down a bunch finally, we're ramping up again with all these good offers on the cards. But since I'm not sure if you can split a Target GC into smaller GC's anymore I may have to buy a couple for actual gifts. I'll be those people I marveled at last year buying only $45 worth of gift cards for gifts. (Took all my will power to not say "you know you can do that up to $300 right? why not get a few for under your tree?" nudge nudge, wink wink, kwim kwim )