I love credit cards so much!

[Haley R]

There is PLENTY to do! No worries on that front for sure

Oh I’m sure we will find things to do!

 

[Lain]

Aloha, and Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii!

I haven’t been posting much because we were getting ready for this trip, and I have no hope of catching up. But I’m thinking of you all and wishing everyone a very merry Christmas, whether you’re staying at home, with or without loved ones near, or traveling here or there with or to see the ones you love.

And thank you all, because you guys are the best darn group of enablers and supporters anywhere, and really helped to make this trip happen. I’ll post more when we get back, but until then here are some pictures:

We flew on Hawaiian and arrived over Oahu greeted by a rainbow.

As we circled around the southwest shore of the island, you can see the Ko Olina resort area, where Aulani is (the distinctive brown buildings), under the wing’s second pod. We’ll be there in a few days.

We’re staying at the Royal Hawaiian for five nights. The hotel is decked out beautifully for Christmas, and I plan to snap a lot more pictures while we’re here. We checked in later in the afternoon, since we met up with family and ran some final Christmas Eve errands first. My Gold Elite status didn’t get us any upgrades as the hotel is fully booked, which is just as well that we’re not spoiled too much. Besides, they have us on the topmost sixth floor of the historic building, and our room isn’t too shabby.

And you can even (kinda sorta) see the ocean from our room! (That’s the Sheraton Waikiki blocking our view. We’ll be there in a few days too.)

So hey, that means we have to just step outside to enjoy the views.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

 

[amalone1013]

Merry Christmas to the best group on the internet!

We are anxiously awaiting BIL to show up for breakfast, so we can get to the scavenger hunt we put together for the ILs cruise.

 

[hsmamato2]

@amalone1013 - my wallet arrived. A week early from Amazon. Maybe they are making up for the last order that took two weeks. I'm not using Prime - just their free shipping as I'm not in a hurry. When I want something fast I use daughter's account, but that is very rare.

Anyway stuffed my cards into it - lots of space - but it will fit into my little Dooney that I carry just barely. However I feel very organized for this moment.

Mine got here fast too! it said it wouldn't arrive till wednesday at least and Monday morning there it was! It's a big Skinny brand,and it's so light and tiny compared to my old wallet...now I can use my tiny purse again!

 

[hsmamato2]

Aloha, and Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii!

I haven’t been posting much because we were getting ready for this trip, and I have no hope of catching up. But I’m thinking of you all and wishing everyone a very merry Christmas, whether you’re staying at home, with or without loved ones near, or traveling here or there with or to see the ones you love.

And thank you all, because you guys are the best darn group of enablers and supporters anywhere, and really helped to make this trip happen. I’ll post more when we get back, but until then here are some pictures:

We flew on Hawaiian and arrived over Oahu greeted by a rainbow.

As we circled around the southwest shore of the island, you can see the Ko Olina resort area, where Aulani is (the distinctive brown buildings), under the wing’s second pod. We’ll be there in a few days.

We’re staying at the Royal Hawaiian for five nights. The hotel is decked out beautifully for Christmas, and I plan to snap a lot more pictures while we’re here. We checked in later in the afternoon, since we met up with family and ran some final Christmas Eve errands first. My Gold Elite status didn’t get us any upgrades as the hotel is fully booked, which is just as well that we’re not spoiled too much. Besides, they have us on the topmost sixth floor of the historic building, and our room isn’t too shabby.

And you can even (kinda sorta) see the ocean from our room! (That’s the Sheraton Waikiki blocking our view. We’ll be there in a few days too.)

So hey, that means we have to just step outside to enjoy the views.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

SOOOOOOO beautiful!!!!!!

 

[Calfan]

All I want for Christmas is......the SW CP! Woo hoo! Just checked DH’s online Chase biz account this morning, and I see the SW Biz! CP here we come....Merry Christmas to everyone here. Hope you enjoy your day in whatever way you are celebrating!!

 

[hsmamato2]

Appreciate it WVMom.



Not remarkable at all- that's my wife. But I appreciate it man. Sometimes you get dealt tragedy and you just hope to respond the best way possible. If you don't learn from a loss, then that loss was in vain. As a Christian, it was an easy decision for me to succumb to the enemy or not. I choose not to and come out stronger and better.
I was hesitant to post it as you never know how people will respond; in particular in our hostile churning sub. But I thought it was a good time of year to toss it out there and hopefully some people respond to it in a positive way in their life.

Again, thank you both and Merry Christmas to both of you and your families (and everyone on here).

Shameless plug, if anyone else wants to read (maybe do it after Christmas, hah): https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/a9433u/mods_choice_christmas_eve_storytime_december_24/

Beautiful sharing.... so sorry about your loss, but what a story you're continuing to create!

 

[Calfan]

I am equally excited and sad today. We leave for Antarctica by way of Santiago, Chile this evening which is exciting. I am a little sad because it is the first time in my entire life that I have not spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my family. My mom was born in Cuba, so our Christmas dinner was last night as "Noche Buena" is a Hispanic tradition of having the celebratory dinner the evening before. Today would be breakfast with the leftovers and the exchanging of gifts. Noche Buena (Christmas dinner) was at my brother's house last night. We were all supposed to come over in jammies and have a white elephant gift exchange for fun. I was in charge of bringing the main course which is lechon (roasted savory pork) and a side dish of yucca for 15 people. No, I didn't attempt to venture into the kitchen and decipher recipes, Google cooking terminology and You Tube how to use appliances. I placed an order at my favorite Cuban restaurant and earned 4x on the Amex RoseGold card instead (to keep this on topic sort of).

However, my niece was diagnosed with the flu and DH and I are just coming off our own set of non-flu colds and our immune systems aren't at 100% yet. The idea of possibly catching influenza and being sick out in the middle of a vast white continent of nothing but snow, penguins and whales with nary a speck of civilization to be had was something we had to think about. At best, the once in a lifetime trip would leave us quarantined to our cabin and $35,000 down the drain. At worst we could be looking at a medivac situation that could easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and I'm not sure how much of that would be covered by trip insurance. So as a family the decision was made that DH and I would skip Christmas with the family this year. My mom and I were both in tears when I dropped off the pork, yucca and our White Elephant gifts at her house so she could bring it over to my brother's house. I know it's silly, especially when others have or are experiencing far worse things and for many this time of year can bring painful memories and not joy. So yeah, go ahead and break out the tiny violin for the background music of my itty bitty pity party.

Anyhow, our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day tradition is something I've always taken for granted. I've never booked a trip that would keep me away from home Christmas Eve or morning. When we booked the Antarctica trip, I never thought that celebrating my 50th birthday (New Year's Day) would cost me celebrating Christmas with the family. I am still grateful for the fact that I am even able to go on this trip and that this hobby let us save a significant amount of money by not paying for airfare. I am grateful that this hobby gave us the opportunity to earn a travel together ticket on British Airways since we used that card to pay for it. I am grateful that my family is still around and that Facetime exists and we were able to participate in the White Elephant exchange yesterday. I am also grateful for this thread and for all of you. Wishing a Merry Christmas to all the DISchurner peeps who celebrate. Wishing a Happy and joyous December 25th to the Dischurner peeps who don't celebrate Christmas. Love all's y'alls!!

Have an amazing time and happy early birthday! Can’t wait to see pictures. So sorry you had to miss the holiday celebrations with your family though.

 

[Calfan]

Aloha, and Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii!

I haven’t been posting much because we were getting ready for this trip, and I have no hope of catching up. But I’m thinking of you all and wishing everyone a very merry Christmas, whether you’re staying at home, with or without loved ones near, or traveling here or there with or to see the ones you love.

And thank you all, because you guys are the best darn group of enablers and supporters anywhere, and really helped to make this trip happen. I’ll post more when we get back, but until then here are some pictures:

We flew on Hawaiian and arrived over Oahu greeted by a rainbow.

As we circled around the southwest shore of the island, you can see the Ko Olina resort area, where Aulani is (the distinctive brown buildings), under the wing’s second pod. We’ll be there in a few days.

We’re staying at the Royal Hawaiian for five nights. The hotel is decked out beautifully for Christmas, and I plan to snap a lot more pictures while we’re here. We checked in later in the afternoon, since we met up with family and ran some final Christmas Eve errands first. My Gold Elite status didn’t get us any upgrades as the hotel is fully booked, which is just as well that we’re not spoiled too much. Besides, they have us on the topmost sixth floor of the historic building, and our room isn’t too shabby.

And you can even (kinda sorta) see the ocean from our room! (That’s the Sheraton Waikiki blocking our view. We’ll be there in a few days too.)

So hey, that means we have to just step outside to enjoy the views.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Great pics! Aloha!!

 

[Judique]

Just popping in to say hi and Merry Christmas! No time to read. We had a little Christmas miracle here, moms dog in icu on oxygen with heart failure suddenly improved, off oxygen, hopefully coming home today. Hope you all have a little miracle or at least a special day with family.

Now for the churning bit. Anyone have any of the new Chase offers track and credit? I had one order track but DH bought a GC at Lowe’s for 51.06 no email, no note on the app of credit, offer still present on his card.

I've had a Lowe's gift card plus some other stuff track and credit while using my Hyatt card. I've also used the Marriott offer for 30% off at PetSmart and it tracked and credited but took a long time.

Since I've depleted my stash of Disney gift cards, I have 3 cards more with the Lowe's offer and the Staples offer that I intend to grab tomorrow, as well as the Best Buy offer 10% of $300 on my Amex.

Just waiting for family to show at my door....Merry Xmas to all!

 

[Judique]

I see a Chase offer on my CSR this morning for 30% back at Staples!

I have it on my Hyatt and my Marriott for a max of $19 off! So now both cards have 2 staples offers - 30% and 10%. Wonder what will happen when I go in store tomorrow?

 

[Limes96]

I have it on my Hyatt and my Marriott for a max of $19 off! So now both cards have 2 staples offers - 30% and 10%. Wonder what will happen when I go in store tomorrow?

I have both and am also wondering if they’ll stack.

 

[havaneselover]

I see a Chase offer on my CSR this morning for 30% back at Staples!

I have 10% and 30% Staples added on the same card. Should I deactivate the 10% one

ETA: never mind. I see others are confused too.

 

[nycdisneygal]

Merry Christmas everyone!! Just used my Chase UR to rebook our stay at Universal in january! Booked Portofino Bay on points. YAY!!!!

 

[Artygal90]

Merry Christmas Internet friends! I hope everyone is having a relaxing day today filled with the people and things you love. Thanks all for the gift of your expertise this year for those of us just getting into this travel hacking thing! Thanks to your help (and some tickets from Santa ) we are almost ready to book my birthday trip to Disneyland in 2919!

 

[Limes96]

Just back from our Disney trip which I paid for with gift cards. My previous strategy was using $ from Swagbucks to buy Disney gift cards at Kroger and Best Buy. With no current Disney trip to plan, I need to figure out how best to channel those sb funds. Considering doing Air b n b gift cards. Anyone here have experience with that? We’ve never stayed through them before, but considering a week in London June 2020 and maybe a trial 3-4 nights this coming summer here in the states. Do Abnb gc’s combine if I buy them say $100 at a time? I remember @Haley R might be doing this too IIRC?

 

[amalone1013]

Remember how DH was putting stuff for MILs gift on his card for FIL so she wouldn't see? So he was doing way more spend on his SW Biz then expected? Well, DH lied to me...

 

[Judique]

Remember how DH was putting stuff for MILs gift on his card for FIL so she wouldn't see? So he was doing way more spend on his SW Biz then expected? Well, DH lied to me...

So what did he buy you???

 

[Calfan]

Chicago-area (or knowledgeable) DISers. I know it’s last minute because we leave for Chicago on Thursday, but any restaurant recommendations for dinner? We will have 3 nights in Chicago. I’m thinking it might not be the most crowded time and so we might still be able to get reservations if anyone has recommendations. We are doing dim sum at Duck Duck Goat on Saturday before seeing Hamilton, but that is the only reservation we have so far. Thanks!

 

[amalone1013]

So what did he buy you???

He built me a craft desk like the one I had been eyeing but would never buy as it's over $1k