I love credit cards so much!

[SouthFayetteFan]

That's awesome that your travel destinations work so well with the FN's. In our case, we don't take very many trips so it's hard to use these nights. Maybe in a different stage of life

ETA: if I could find a 35k hotel by DLR, that would be an option. I need to look at that.

At Disneyland: The Fairfield right across the street is a Cat 5 (so 35k points standard). The Springhill by the Convention Center is also a cat 5, a little more of a walk but still not bad!

EDIT: I think the Residence Inn is also a 35k property and it's near the Springhill. And there are probably other options I'm not even thinking of at this point.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

I know you didn't ask and don't have the free night yet anyway, but definitely don't use it at the RI Central Park (unless you just fall in love with it). The Lux free night is up to 50k, so you have more options. If you wanted the same general area I'd probably pick the W Times Square. The RI Central Park is about 10 blocks further uptown from the W, but it's all roughly Times Square/Theater District - busy, lots of restaurants, and (biggest perk) 2 blocks to Hell's Kitchen.

We prefer not to stay right in the middle of Times Square, so I'd probably pick the Westin Grand Central with a 50k night. But frankly given the options at the 50k level I might use that in another city entirely (the NYC options at that level are not super great).

Thanks for this. We are heading to Nyc for 3 nights in Apri and I booked Courtyard time sq - I think I will change it to the Central Park one. For some reason I can’t book any RIs when I look for rooms to accommodate 4 of us (2 adults, 2 kiddos).

We are also doing the Xmas Spectacular and just one night right after Xmas. I know it’s going to be mayhem in the city and I splurged for the Marriott Marquis for one night. We’ve done the Westin before. Should I consider a different property?

 

[wendow]

At Disneyland: The Fairfield right across the street is a Cat 5 (so 35k points standard). The Springhill by the Convention Center is also a cat 5, a little more of a walk but still not bad!

EDIT: I think the Residence Inn is also a 35k property and it's near the Springhill. And there are probably other options I'm not even thinking of at this point.

Thanks! These are good options. Was hoping to combine free nights with the 7-night cert since we need two rooms but the cert is cat 1-4 and not sure timing works out to do that without Marriott allowing me to extend.

 

[amalone1013]

ETA: if I could find a 35k hotel by DLR, that would be an option. I need to look at that.

I think when they were announcing the new points costs post merger, almost all Starriott around DLR was 35k hotels. I think Lain had a map.

Also, can we keep Starriott vs this rumored Bonvoy? What is that, like Bon Voyage good rewards program?

 

[disneybirds]

ok.....can someone walk me thru this in detail please? I've never used a priority pass before (!!!) but I think I may get to in our upcoming trip. HOw does this work again? I know how to look on the pp site to find lounges etc. But what's the way to do it? I have 1 PP (CSR) and there are 4 of us traveling. I also have 10 PP single use passes from one of our hilton cards to use.
-So is my 1 PP good for 3 of us to enter a lounge, then 4th person could use a single use pp?
-What about restaurant options, do they allow you to take the food to go,using a PP as payment? And if there's 4 of us, is this the same usage- 3 meal credits on the 1 PP,then 4th uses the single use?
- If using at a restaurant, do we show the pp as we enter the place,for 4? or wait till we've ordered?
-If using at restaurant, is it charged per person, or charged by the amount allowed on PP? (I thought it was $28 pp?)
Thanks for any assistance,I'm nervous to bring this out and get shut down!

I am interested in this as well. I don't have the 10 single use passes, but I would think it could vary based on the lounge and even the person working. I have two PPs (one with Chase and one with AmEx), so I wondered if you could check in with 2 people on one card and then use the other card for the remaining person. Our only experience was in the PDX airport with the Capers Cafe when we had 4 people. Even though only 3 of us ordered, she insisted that we had to be charged for 4 people. We should have asked for the 4th person to be billed separately for their Coke. To end the hassle, I have gotten a PP for my DH so we don't have these issues in the future.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Thanks! These are good options. Was hoping to combine free nights with the 7-night cert since we need two rooms but the cert is cat 1-4 and not sure timing works out to do that without Marriott allowing me to extend.

I think there is a Cat 4 Springhill on the other side of DL that would work with your 7night cert. It may be a slightly longer walk if memory serves me correctly.

 

[tink1970]

That's awesome that your travel destinations work so well with the FN's. In our case, we don't take very many trips so it's hard to use these nights. Maybe in a different stage of life

Such a good point! In my current life phase I forget (despite the name of the boards ) that people are still visiting Disney and that's a priority for travel Right now, I'm waiting completely (im)patiently for DD to figure out where she's attending university and that's going to determine (to a point) our hotel use/needs/cards for 4 years. Gainesville or Tallahassee? Keep the Starriott cards. Boston? Look into Hyatt card and keep R-C. St Andrews? Curse Chase for discontinuing the Fairmont and keep Starriott. Will I keep flying Delta or switch to American? So many decisions rest on this !

On a Disney related note, DD will be going with her Quiz Bowl Team to the State Tournament at Disney in April. Tickets, food, lodging at BWI are all paid for-crazy! Not surprisingly, she specifically told me I was not invited. At all. I cannot grace any of the World with my presence. I have to say, with the exception of school taxes, this is probably the closest we're getting to a "free" trip. Is it wrong to hope it rains?

 

[Lain]

I think when they were announcing the new points costs post merger, almost all Starriott around DLR was 35k hotels. I think Lain had a map.

Also, can we keep Starriott vs this rumored Bonvoy? What is that, like Bon Voyage good rewards program?

Tagging @wendow,

Pretty much all the Starriott properties around Disneyland are 35k properties, the Four Points, Sheraton Park, the Springhill Suites and Residence Inn that are right next to each other, the Fairfield Inn; the only 50k property around Disneyland is the new Courtyard with the water park that's next to the Fairfield.

I think there is a Cat 4 Springhill on the other side of DL that would work with your 7night cert. It may be a slightly longer walk if memory serves me correctly.

I don't think I've been to the other side of the Disneyland Resort.

 

[miztressuz]

I think when they were announcing the new points costs post merger, almost all Starriott around DLR was 35k hotels. I think Lain had a map.

Also, can we keep Starriott vs this rumored Bonvoy? What is that, like Bon Voyage good rewards program?

OMGosh I said the same thing! I don't think they really thought that through... Or they were trying to make it easy for us to bust on them as a new perk...

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Tagging @wendow,

Pretty much all the Starriott properties around Disneyland are 35k properties, the Four Points, Sheraton Park, the Springhill Suites and Residence Inn that are right next to each other, the Fairfield Inn; the only 50k property around Disneyland is the new Courtyard with the water park that's next to the Fairfield.



I don't think I've been to the other side of the Disneyland Resort.

It is this one:
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/snaao-springhill-suites-anaheim-maingate/

It's a little over a mile walk to the main entrance of the parks...but it's also Cat 4 and thus 25k per night...benefits and drawbacks

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Do any MSers know about Bancorp prepaid Visas? Am I able to turn it into a MO? I’ve only done Metabank....

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Such a good point! In my current life phase I forget (despite the name of the boards ) that people are still visiting Disney and that's a priority for travel Right now, I'm waiting completely (im)patiently for DD to figure out where she's attending university and that's going to determine (to a point) our hotel use/needs/cards for 4 years. Gainesville or Tallahassee? Keep the Starriott cards. Boston? Look into Hyatt card and keep R-C. St Andrews? Curse Chase for discontinuing the Fairmont and keep Starriott. Will I keep flying Delta or switch to American? So many decisions rest on this !

On a Disney related note, DD will be going with her Quiz Bowl Team to the State Tournament at Disney in April. Tickets, food, lodging at BWI are all paid for-crazy! Not surprisingly, she specifically told me I was not invited. At all. I cannot grace any of the World with my presence. I have to say, with the exception of school taxes, this is probably the closest we're getting to a "free" trip. Is it wrong to hope it rains?

I will be in the same boat with DD deciding next year where she wants to go to school. BU is high on her list currently. She is also interested in University of Toronto (my alumna matter!) and 2 other Canadian schools. It is quite stressful currently as she is worrying that she might not be able to get into several of her top choices with her excellent marks (she has yet to write the SAT).

Let us know which one she chooses! I hear UF is quite a good school and difficult to get into these days.

 

[pillow]

So uhhh does anybody have a DP on the new free night with the SPG biz card?

Here's my experience and info so far:

1) My card opening date is 10/26/2017.

2) On 11/2/2018 I got the following email (truncated for time)...

You’re close to receiving a Free Night Award from SPG...Happy Card anniversary! We wanted to remind you that you will receive one annual Free Night Award from SPG® each year of Card Membership within 8-12 weeks after your Card Account anniversary date...You can redeem...at or under 35,000 points....You will receive an email from SPG to the email address listed on your loyalty member account confirming that the Free Night Award e-certificate has been deposited into your loyalty member account....To qualify...account must be open and not in default at the time of issuance...Thank you for your Card Membership...American Express Customer Care​

3) On 11/25/2018 my statement closes on the SPG Biz and my $95 annual fee is billed

4) My payment of this AF is due by 12/18/2018...

Conveniently for AMEX...8 weeks from my anniversary date is 12/21/2018. It sounds to me like I have to pay the annual fee to get this free night. Has anybody had their free night post yet from the SPG Biz (or even the SPG personal would be a meaningful DP). I was hoping this would work like the Chase Marriott card where I get my free night and then cancel...but I don't think that's going to be the case unfortunately.

I'm in the same boat as you with my SPG Biz - with almost exactly the same dates (anniv date 10/24). I got nothin' yet!!

I didn't even get the teaser email on my SPG Lux upgrade.

 

[speedyfishy]

Do any MSers know about Bancorp prepaid Visas? Am I able to turn it into a MO? I’ve only done Metabank....

I have done it at grocery stores near me but haven’t done Walmart not sure if it works there.

 

[tink1970]

I will be in the same boat with DD deciding next year where she wants to go to school. BU is high on her list currently. She is also interested in University of Toronto (my alumna matter!) and 2 other Canadian schools. It is quite stressful currently as she is worrying that she might not be able to get into several of her top choices with her excellent marks (she has yet to write the SAT).

Let us know which one she chooses! I hear UF is quite a good school and difficult to get into these days.

UF is really courting out of state students so in state students are being told to consider it a “wildcard”- as in no way of predicting admission (v. safety/likely, target and reach). DD’s program has a higher than average rate of acceptance but she isn’t that interested (too close to home).

St Andrews has always been her dream- it’s firmly in #1 spot for her (me, not so much—UK student visa, £ to $ conversion, etc).

William & Mary (which has a joint program with St A) and BU flip flop for DD with second and third on her list.

At this point I just want to know...since she isn’t applying ED I have to wait until March/April.

It looks like the Hyatt and a couple of Marriotts are the closest (relating to credit cards) in Boston; Williamsburg has some Marriotts but I haven’t found one I love yet.

Returning now to regular scheduled prgramming...

 

[Albort]

head bang time...
used the wrong card.
RIP $100.

where do i go to get slapped... lol

If anyone in need of a new phone, the Pixel 3 promo is pretty cool. link here --> https://www.doctorofcredit.com/toda...fi-credit-for-signing-up-with-your-own-phone/

use spg biz + Advertising AO to get $100 off $500 on this deal.

 

[mmmears]

Such a good point! In my current life phase I forget (despite the name of the boards ) that people are still visiting Disney and that's a priority for travel Right now, I'm waiting completely (im)patiently for DD to figure out where she's attending university and that's going to determine (to a point) our hotel use/needs/cards for 4 years. Gainesville or Tallahassee? Keep the Starriott cards. Boston? Look into Hyatt card and keep R-C. St Andrews? Curse Chase for discontinuing the Fairmont and keep Starriott. Will I keep flying Delta or switch to American? So many decisions rest on this !

I remember being there a few years ago and just wanting to know. DD did do ED so at least we knew by December and had time to plan how to move her across the country. Good luck to your DD with her decision. Time flies... mine is almost done. Also, there were several kids from her HS who went to the UK (Edinburgh & St. Andrews) and it sounds like they are really enjoying it.

 

[GlamMistress]

Disney Visa cardholders:

$15 off select purchases of $50 or more at Disney store / in-store code 5887. Online code DRVCCHEER

Ends Dec. 6.

 

[afan]

I am even more not a fan of the BofA biz card. I made sure after getting the paper statement last month that it was set to not get electronic statements and I still got a paper statement this month. I thought I was good but maybe there isn't a way to shut off paper statements. Does anyone know? It's such a waste and I don't want more mail.

 

[GusGus16]

That's awesome that your travel destinations work so well with the FN's. In our case, we don't take very many trips so it's hard to use these nights. Maybe in a different stage of life

ETA: if I could find a 35k hotel by DLR, that would be an option. I need to look at that.

I see your question was answered, I have reservations for the Residence Inn for May, will report back with some information after my stay. Looks like a super nice hotel and walkable to DLR.