I love credit cards so much!

[AmyAnne]

Wow!! I just looked at our Hilton resort for Tokyo and it dropped from 87k points per night to 68k!! That's way less!! I think I might go ahead and book at least part of our stay before it goes back up in price and maybe book the rest through chase. I have to talk to Dh first when he gets home, but I'm really excited that it changed so much!

We only have enough for 3 nights through Hilton and 1 more night through Chase, but we need 6 nights. I'm thinking I book it all through Hilton for now and change it all to points once we get enough or cancel some nights and book through Chase instead later.

What do you guys think?

What I learned from my one and only Hilton points reservation: you can't change only some nights of a reservation. You need to either cancel the whole thing and book a new reservation or talk to a customer service rep. The customer service rep was super nice when I called, but I was surprised that I couldn't just make the change through the website (I wanted to shorten the reservation by one day, to arrive a day later than the original reservation).

 

[striker1064]

I went through the steps but the promo code isn't working. It doesn't say they will email me a promo code, so maybe I have to wait for my account to be activated or something. Thanks for sharing!

It didn't say anything about emailing me either when I linked mine, but I did eventually get an email a few days later and the promo code finally worked at that point.

 

[Artygal90]

Um, anyone else see that preview video of the new Beauty and the Beast dark ride coming to Tokyo Disneyland soon? I think I know what our goal for our MR stash is going to be!

Anyone tried the "How to Fly to Japan on ANA for 110k Points" guide from r/awardtravel? How'd it go for you?

Edited to add: Also, I'm only $25 away from meeting MSR on my SPG Biz! Wow, it's great having a P3 who spends lots of money on Christmas presents and then reimburses us

 

[mhartman09]

Yeah - I won’t hold on to them forever. Before I cash out though I want to be certain that Disney hotels and Disney cruises are a permanent change. Although it certainly seems to be trending that way if they came back I could almost use my entire stash on 1 trip. I may give it 9-12 months before I give up hope completely.

This is where I am with cashing out my URs. I know technically I can cash out and use that money for discounted gcs using various deals and still get a really nice savings. However, I keep telling myself I need to be sure Disney resorts are not coming back to the UR portal before I can bring myself to pull the trigger. It is almost making me crazy. LOL
We have 3 trips booked right now, one of which I just paid off using gcs from the recent BJs 8% and 10% deals. My URs would completely cover the cost of 2 of the 3 trips if I was able to use them at 1.5 redemption. We had the money to buy the gcs to pay off the December trip, so I wasn't really concerned, but I'm questioning cashing out for our April trip. We have the money to get gcs for that one too, but then I keep thinking about those URs just sitting there and not really "doing" anything for me. I suppose since I've only ever used my URs for Disney resort stays it's making it difficult for me to imagine using them for any other types of trips.

 

[calypso726]

I didn't know you were a New Year's baby!

Yup! Add that to the spreadsheet

 

[tink1970]

@calypso726 - Christmas Day, right?

Wow, impressive!

That is correct! We leave on Christmas, I turn 50 on New Year's Day and we get back a week later.

Yup! Add that to the spreadsheet

Happy bday early! I'm still struggling with where to spend my 50th...sigh. You beat me to my "add it to the spreadsheet" remark I was going to make

 

[wanderlust7]

Um, anyone else see that preview video of the new Beauty and the Beast dark ride coming to Tokyo Disneyland soon? I think I know what our goal for our MR stash is going to be!

I saw that, it looks so AWESOME! It's on my list to go back to TDR and add in SDL and HKDL. Also on my list to combine DLP with an Europe trip. When I told DH I want to eventually go to all the Disney parks, he gave me an eye-roll, lol.

Too many places too little time!

 

[calypso726]

Yeah - I won’t hold on to them forever. Before I cash out though I want to be certain that Disney hotels and Disney cruises are a permanent change. Although it certainly seems to be trending that way if they came back I could almost use my entire stash on 1 trip. I may give it 9-12 months before I give up hope completely.

This is where I am with cashing out my URs. I know technically I can cash out and use that money for discounted gcs using various deals and still get a really nice savings. However, I keep telling myself I need to be sure Disney resorts are not coming back to the UR portal before I can bring myself to pull the trigger. It is almost making me crazy. LOL
We have 3 trips booked right now, one of which I just paid off using gcs from the recent BJs 8% and 10% deals. My URs would completely cover the cost of 2 of the 3 trips if I was able to use them at 1.5 redemption. We had the money to buy the gcs to pay off the December trip, so I wasn't really concerned, but I'm questioning cashing out for our April trip. We have the money to get gcs for that one too, but then I keep thinking about those URs just sitting there and not really "doing" anything for me. I suppose since I've only ever used my URs for Disney resort stays it's making it difficult for me to imagine using them for any other types of trips.

We are sitting on about 900K URs right now. No immediate plans for them and no intention to cash out. I know I will need them at some point for something or other that I don't want to pay real money for and redeem that at 1.5. TBH Amex MRs are getting more love from me right now. This Expedia Platform for UR redemption is ... well insert whatever appropriate expletive as an adjective and it still won't be strong enough for how much I hate it.

 

[Albort]

We are sitting on about 900K URs right now. No immediate plans for them and no intention to cash out. I know I will need them at some point for something or other that I don't want to pay real money for and redeem that at 1.5. TBH Amex MRs are getting more love from me right now. This Expedia Platform for UR redemption is ... well insert whatever appropriate expletive as an adjective and it still won't be strong enough for how much I hate it.

haha, im in the same boat... I want MRs... URs are just... unusable for me. lol.

 

[Sarah_B]

I got an offer for 75k delta on the delta gold Amex card (50 for 2k then 25 for 1k)

We do use delta in the summer for family vacay so it has value to me. Internet says jump on it - just want to check and confirm the plan with you experts.

I’m new so here’s my run down:
Target opened 20 months ago
Amex opened 6 months ago
Cip opened 5 months ago
Cic application October 25

Believe that puts me at 2/24

I think I can get this Amex gold as a business card. Is that a good idea? Is amex more restricted if I’m applying as a business?

 

[Albort]

I think I can get this Amex gold as a business card. Is that a good idea? Is amex more restricted if I’m applying as a business?

Amex hands out Biz cards like handing baby candy. The only problem with amex is them denying your a signup bonus whenever they feel like it...
as long as u dont overdo them, ur fine. also keep in mind u get 5 credit cards from them only. but doesnt sound like an issue for u.

 

[Haley R]

What I learned from my one and only Hilton points reservation: you can't change only some nights of a reservation. You need to either cancel the whole thing and book a new reservation or talk to a customer service rep. The customer service rep was super nice when I called, but I was surprised that I couldn't just make the change through the website (I wanted to shorten the reservation by one day, to arrive a day later than the original reservation).

Makes sense since that's how Disney does it, too. I bet most hotels do so I'm not sure why I thought I would be able to do that lol.

I'm being a little greedy with our Hilton Tokyo stay because we could get the normal King room for 207k points total which we already have (one of those nights would be free), but I really want one of the Celebrio rooms and that will cost us 408k total instead. It's still a King room with an ocean view, but the theming in the room is so cool. BUT is it enough to spend more on? I just can't decide.... It doesn't help that Dh said it's up to me to decide either

Here's what the Celebrio room looks like: https://www3.hilton.com/resources/m...DGP_386x310_FitToBoxSmallDimension_Center.jpg

 

[Haley R]

Um, anyone else see that preview video of the new Beauty and the Beast dark ride coming to Tokyo Disneyland soon? I think I know what our goal for our MR stash is going to be!

Anyone tried the "How to Fly to Japan on ANA for 110k Points" guide from r/awardtravel? How'd it go for you?

Edited to add: Also, I'm only $25 away from meeting MSR on my SPG Biz! Wow, it's great having a P3 who spends lots of money on Christmas presents and then reimburses us

Yes!! We don't even go on our Japan trip until next June, but Dh already said, "Well I guess we'll just have to go back." We probably will wait until at least 2022 when the other expansion is supposed to open. It all looks super awesome!

We booked our flights through Virgin Atlantic for an ANA flight and got AMAZING redemption rates. We originally looked at United and they wanted something like 300k for business class seats (for two people). We ended up spending 180k points for RT business class seats for two people!

 

[amalone1013]

Good news. Even though my Visa gcs I purchase from staples online on 11/29 posted 12/3, I got the credit posted yesterday And both RMN offers ($15ea) tracked, and one even was approved and I've already moved it to my bank account. Just waiting on the other one.

 

[Haley R]

Anyone know a place I can get a good deal on a Barnes and Noble gift card? I haven't been able to find one yet that has a % off.

 

[tink1970]

I got an offer for 75k delta on the delta gold Amex card (50 for 2k then 25 for 1k)

We do use delta in the summer for family vacay so it has value to me. Internet says jump on it - just want to check and confirm the plan with you experts.

I’m new so here’s my run down:
Target opened 20 months ago
Amex opened 6 months ago
Cip opened 5 months ago
Cic application October 25

Believe that puts me at 2/24

I think I can get this Amex gold as a business card. Is that a good idea? Is amex more restricted if I’m applying as a business?

The 75,000 for 5K is a pretty good deal- often it’s 60,000 skymiles for 3k so if you can make the MSR and could use the skymiles it’s definitely something to consider. IF you can get this offer on a biz it would be even better since it wouldn’t add to your 5/24 but I’d definitely make sure it’s also
available on the biz since Amex has a once in a lifetime bonus and you don’t want to waste the bonus.

 

[afan]

Booking my Northwest trip accommodations today. Got on the Chase portal. Looks like if I am going to a big city it works really well. Not so much for middle of nowhere places. No vacation rentals available where I want. I got excited as Paradise Inn in Mt Rainier was on the portal but it is sold out on the portal. I just booked OOP for that. Plenty of places in Seattle on the portal but I am planning to use my IHG unlimited free cert there. Oh, well, not too disappointed. If I save all my URs for Hawaii that will be fine.

Side note, taxes in Washington seem crazy. Extra tax on my rental if I pick it up at the airport, hotel tax seems high. This trip is more expensive than most of my NP trips.

Our regular sales tax is 10% so prepare for that too. The hotel motel tax goes to tourism and to pay for our sports stadiums, so thank you for visiting I will think of you at my next Mariners game We don't have state income tax here which is also part of it. What people that want one don't understand is it'll cost them more and I doubt they would lower our sales and gas taxes to counter the income tax. So I'm good with it for now. Grocery store doesn't tax unprepared food so that helps and any more I don't notice it unless I'm buying something expensive. There are other counties to the north, south and west of Seattle/King County that have lower sales and gas taxes but they are still in the 9% range for sales. Oh and Seattle has a sugar tax so beware of that if you buy any pop, sugary starbucks, candy etc in the city limits. If you will have a car and be outside the city for anything I would buy it prior. I forget how much it is since I don't go into Seattle often and don't buy that type of stuff when I do.

 

[Albort]

Anyone know a place I can get a good deal on a Barnes and Noble gift card? I haven't been able to find one yet that has a % off.

Happy Teen cards were on sale a few weeks ago... you could wait for one of those cards... usually 10%--20% off.

 

[Ngwira]

Just booked an impromptu weekend trip to WDW in March thanks to points and miles. JetBlue Points for flights, passholder discount for the Grand Floridian and Annual Passes for tickets. We make our fastpasses in 3 weeks!

 

[Haley R]

Happy Teen cards were on sale a few weeks ago... you could wait for one of those cards... usually 10%--20% off.

I just bought one of them for Red Lobster for my FIL and MIL, but I don't want to wait too long and not get it in time for Christmas.