I love credit cards so much!

[amalone1013]

Who has been to San Diego with kids....8, 10, 2. We are flying into ONT to visit my inlaws who are snowbirding in Palm Springs next month. I am thinking about switching us to fly into San Diego and spend a day there first. I have never been west of TN, so trying to combine things into the one trip. Not doing DL because it will be Easter and too crowded. Should we do the San Diego zoo or something instead or go straight to Palm Springs?

The zoo is awesome. I enjoyed it as a child and an adult. We're going to go try out the crazy DL crowds as we'll be there the weekend after Easter... I'm concerned. I think Old Town San Diego is fun to walk around too, but that might not be an all day thing with kids.

 

[WVMomof3]

Who has been to San Diego with kids....8, 10, 2. We are flying into ONT to visit my inlaws who are snowbirding in Palm Springs next month. I am thinking about switching us to fly into San Diego and spend a day there first. I have never been west of TN, so trying to combine things into the one trip. Not doing DL because it will be Easter and too crowded. Should we do the San Diego zoo or something instead or go straight to Palm Springs?

My kids were 10, 8 and 6 when we went to San Diego in 2008. We did the San Diego Zoo and Sea World as part of the Southern California Pass, we also did 3 days at Disneyland. They have great memories of that trip and we would love to go back. DH had a work conference in San Diego so we hung out at the resort while he was working, then on his days off we went to the Zoo and SW. Wish we had more time there.

Edit, looking at my signature, I think it was 2007 so I guess they were 9, 7 and 5.

 

[wendow]

Who has been to San Diego with kids....8, 10, 2. We are flying into ONT to visit my inlaws who are snowbirding in Palm Springs next month. I am thinking about switching us to fly into San Diego and spend a day there first. I have never been west of TN, so trying to combine things into the one trip. Not doing DL because it will be Easter and too crowded. Should we do the San Diego zoo or something instead or go straight to Palm Springs?

We have visited San Diego with kids (also while dh was at a conference). The zoo was great! Probably the best zoo we've ever been to. We also have done old town and Coronado Island. Sea World is close by as is Lego Land (haven't done Lego Land yet).

 

[disneymagicgirl]

The zoo is awesome. I enjoyed it as a child and an adult. We're going to go try out the crazy DL crowds as we'll be there the weekend after Easter... I'm concerned. I think Old Town San Diego is fun to walk around too, but that might not be an all day thing with kids.

My kids were 10, 8 and 6 when we went to San Diego in 2008. We did the San Diego Zoo and Sea World as part of the Southern California Pass, we also did 3 days at Disneyland. They have great memories of that trip and we would love to go back. DH had a work conference in San Diego so we hung out at the resort while he was working, then on his days off we went to the Zoo and SW. Wish we had more time there.

Edit, looking at my signature, I think it was 2007 so I guess they were 9, 7 and 5.

We have visited San Diego with kids (also while dh was at a conference). The zoo was great! Probably the best zoo we've ever been to. We also have done old town and Coronado Island. Sea World is close by as is Lego Land (haven't done Lego Land yet).

Awesome! All these sound fun. My husband wants to rush over to Palm Springs but I'd like to see San Diego as well.

 

[FredtheDuck]

I grew up in CA and spent a lot of time in both San Diego and Palm Springs. I'd spend more time in San Diego, given the choice. There's a lot more to do, see, and enjoy. Beach, zoo, wild animal park, Balboa park, carrier tours, all kinds of awesome things. I'm jealous, I'd like to get back there soon.

 

[wendow]

I grew up in CA and spent a lot of time in both San Diego and Palm Springs. I'd spend more time in San Diego, given the choice. There's a lot more to do, see, and enjoy. Beach, zoo, wild animal park, Balboa park, carrier tours, all kinds of awesome things. I'm jealous, I'd like to get back there soon.

I've gotten to go to San Diego three times and each time, found it such a beautiful and fun town. I could live there!! We are going to DLR this summer and also adding on a few days to visit San Diego again

 

[FredtheDuck]

Well, today's been a bad news/good news day. Bad news: we need (at least half of) a new roof. Good news: DH applied for the CSP (via a DISchurners referral link, don't worry!) and got insta-approved for a healthy line. So hopefully it comes before the roof bill comes. We debated long and hard about the CSR/CSP double dip, but can't justify the AF just yet (most of our travel is next year). We'll try for the CSP/CSR double dip in the second half of the year when I go under 5/24.

 

[jhoannam]

yea...makes sense now...should have looked deeper before posting sorry..

I made that mistake, I had to pull my free credit reports. But thankfully I was able to get one of the cards off my report (still waiting on Experian) but I wouldn’t have been sure if I hadn’t pulled my credit report.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Well, today's been a bad news/good news day. Bad news: we need (at least half of) a new roof. Good news: DH applied for the CSP (via a DISchurners referral link, don't worry!) and got insta-approved for a healthy line. So hopefully it comes before the roof bill comes. We debated long and hard about the CSR/CSP double dip, but can't justify the AF just yet (most of our travel is next year). We'll try for the CSP/CSR double dip in the second half of the year when I go under 5/24.

Are you SURE you want to bypass the double dip? I mean obviously you only have a few hours left to take advantage of the double dip. With a roof you'll probably be able to knock out at least one and maybe almost both spends...I know that annual fee is scary but 2x $300 on the travel credit gives you $600... You could literally cash out the 54,000 URs for $540 to cover the annual fee and still come out almost $700 ahead!! (NOTE: I do not advise cashing out, just making a point)...

At any rate do what you feel is best but I'd hate to see you pass up this prime opportunity to earn a bunch more URs....

 

[FredtheDuck]

I knowwwww. That's the problem with 2-player mode though: you need consensus. I did show him your post though, and I can tell his wheels are turning.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I knowwwww. That's the problem with 2-player mode though: you need consensus. I did show him your post though, and I can tell his wheels are turning.

Not trying to cause any marital strife here HAHA!

Whatever you do - good luck! It's easy for me to sit here on the sidelines and tell you what to do with no skin in the game, LOL!

 

[Albort]

I knowwwww. That's the problem with 2-player mode though: you need consensus. I did show him your post though, and I can tell his wheels are turning.

everyone plays this game differently. if it works out, it works out. if it doesn't, it doesn't. everyone is on different levels! :]. take @calypso726 for example in her recent redemption... i do know poeple beyond that, you be surprised how far ppl push this game. haha i.e., i know ppl earning 20k a week in points.

 

[wendow]

Argh, so hubby got his new AmEx Blue Cash this week and thought it'd be an easy minimum spend when he picked up his car from the body shop today. Just found out they don't take credit cards... any of them

We're flabbergasted. The guy says that they do a lot of insurance work and most people just sign the insurance check over to them so they don't take cards. Now I have to meet him there with a personal check as we cashed the insurance check already and he's out of checks in his wallet. Thought the only thing good about the whole situation was we'd get points... now we get less than nothing as I get to spend extra gas. It's the Christmas "gift" that keeps on giving.
(someone was nice enough to back into his car 2 days before Christmas. fortunately it was minor and he wasn't hurt but just all kind of aggravations with the holiday and our trip in Jan we didn't plan on. now this.)

I know this frustration. We got our house painted last Nov and I had planned on meeting a good amount of the CIP spend with the $3500 painting bill. Guy even had it on his website that he accepted mc and visa. Came time to pay and he tells me he never set up cc payments! He meant to but never got around to it. He said no one ever asked to pay with a cc and since no one ever asked, he had just dropped pursuing it but it was in the plan when he set up
the website. He did a great job on my house but losing the spend and points hurt!!

 

[Lain]

i.e., i know ppl earning 20k a week in points.

Get to the juicy part. How?

 

[Alexle2007]

My AmEx SPG Biz arrived today while I was furloughed. Now to work in meeting MSR and trying to figure out what places accept it (since it is my 1st ever AmEx card). I do have a Marriott reservation booked for Spring Break that I need to update the payment type on now

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

Guys - I know I'm doing something somewhat stupid...yet I'm still probably going to do it... I applied for the Delta Biz card completely to cash the points out for a Target gift card. I knew that the signup bonus would get me a $250 gift card (plus a $50 Delta GC I can sell on Raise) for my $2k in spend...

Now I went to pull the trigger and I'm like GAH this is such a waste of these points. BUT I have over 560k Southwest RR points. That's enough for my family for 4-5 years of travel. PLUS I have over a million Marriott points (or 333k SPG points) which can be transferred to airlines...so it's not like I need these Delta points. PLUS Pittsburgh flights with Delta seem terribly expensive and inconvenient.

So here I sit...wanting to snag a $250 Target GC at about 0.5cpp which is EXACTLY what I intended to do yet bemoaning the fact that these points could be worth more like 1.2cpp+ on a flight...First World Problems for sure, lol! Tell me I'm crazy...or I'm not crazy...

 

[Judique]

A lot of times I find myself talking about "my friend" who did ..... Usually referring to credit cards or vacation spots and it was really someone on this board and I hope the person I am talking to doesn't ask my friends name or where they live or what their job is. Haha I actually don't know a lot about my "friends" but I know about their good times.

I've been on the internet and talking Disney since the late 90ties and have met many internet friends while visiting Disney. I've done dinners and ride meetups and local meets. So, I've met many, many Disney friends over the years! I have lost touch with some but have others phone numbers on my phone.

So, your friends are real. You've just not met them in person yet. You may never, but they are still a friend, maybe not in the conventional sense. And as always, common sense should always prevail.

 

[kmc8826]

I've been on the internet and talking Disney since the late 90ties and have met many internet friends while visiting Disney. I've done dinners and ride meetups and local meets. So, I've met many, many Disney friends over the years! I have lost touch with some but have others phone numbers on my phone.

So, your friends are real. You've just not met them in person yet. You may never, but they are still a friend, maybe not in the conventional sense. And as always, common sense should always prevail.

I am the same way. In fact I ran into someone at Crystal Palace couple of years ago and it was a little hilarious how much we were talking about and going on like fast friends. Yes we are just bff’s that have never met...

Ya'll have me thinking of buying APs to save, hahaha. I have planned to start buying them when my youngest hits 40" so I can take the kids alone for a few short trips per year instead of our usual annual long trips. DH strongly dislikes the parks so this will work better for us. He can come if he wants and golf while we go to parks. Or he can stay home and work to pay for my habit. hahaha

Taking each one of the girls individually is what I have started to do. And then last year we did have trip with grandparents but not my husband. That way you get your Disney fix but your husband is happy too!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Guys - I know I'm doing something somewhat stupid...yet I'm still probably going to do it... I applied for the Delta Biz card completely to cash the points out for a Target gift card. I knew that the signup bonus would get me a $250 gift card (plus a $50 Delta GC I can sell on Raise) for my $2k in spend...

Now I went to pull the trigger and I'm like GAH this is such a waste of these points. BUT I have over 560k Southwest RR points. That's enough for my family for 4-5 years of travel. PLUS I have over a million Marriott points (or 333k SPG points) which can be transferred to airlines...so it's not like I need these Delta points. PLUS Pittsburgh flights with Delta seem terribly expensive and inconvenient.

So here I sit...wanting to snag a $250 Target GC at about 0.5cpp which is EXACTLY what I intended to do yet bemoaning the fact that these points could be worth more like 1.2cpp+ on a flight...First World Problems for sure, lol! Tell me I'm crazy...or I'm not crazy...

That's a tough one! Especially since they never expire. Fwiw here's a couple questions I'd go through:
-Could my budget currently use the $250 target gift card? If so, don't feel guilty about using it!
-Do you see a potential redemption for them in the next year or two that works with your travel plans?
-Would you have to spend money to use them? (i.e. you have enough miles for two tickets but would have to pay cash for other family members)

Afraid I can't help with deciding if you're crazy or not! I was just looking at my current collection of debit cards and credit cards & am questioning my own level of sanity...

 

[CyndiLouWho]

So yesterday, read about how Marriott is changing Dolphin to a higher category and also changing the numbers of days prior to a reservation you can book. I checked SPG website for dates for Dolphin in March 2019. Availability the whole week I was looking. Transferred my Marriott points (and was waiting for points my mom is gifting me). Today I have enough points, search the same dates and no availability. None. Latest available is beginning of February. Other Orlando SPG properties are available, just not Swolphin

What gives? Is Marriott blocking the dates?