I love credit cards so much!

[Lain]

I know right! No idea and no intentions of paying real money for the overwater bungalow. Totally planning the dine at the underwater restaurant though!

Ok, I see that the underwater rooms are not a thing at the Conrad Maldives (pic probably cross populated in a google image search), but the underwater restaurant is. I didn’t even realize underwater hotel rooms were a thing anywhere. I have to add that to my wanderlist so I can feel like the guest of a Bond villain.

 

[Ava]

I just had to go look up underwater hotel rooms because I did not know that was a thing. NOPE. No thank you. There are two things that really freak me out, and one of them is the scary as bleep creatures that live in the deep sea. I know these rooms aren’t that far down, but still. Sharks are also not my favorite. I could probably handle the underwater restaurant but the idea of sleeping under sharks swimming and how dark it probably is at night... no thanks.

@calypso726 I will definitely be living vicariously through your upcoming travels! I’ve got Washington DC and Disneyland on the docket for 2018. Not nearly as exotic.

 

[calypso726]

I just had to go look up underwater hotel rooms because I did not know that was a thing. NOPE. No thank you. There are two things that really freak me out, and one of them is the scary as bleep creatures that live in the deep sea. I know these rooms aren’t that far down, but still. Sharks are also not my favorite. I could probably handle the underwater restaurant but the idea of sleeping under sharks swimming and how dark it probably is at night... no thanks.

@calypso726 I will definitely be living vicariously through your upcoming travels! I’ve got Washington DC and Disneyland on the docket for 2018. Not nearly as exotic.

@Ava we are in the same boat. I have an irrational fear of sharks. I could manage dining in the underwater restaurant I think. But I don’t think I could manage sleeping in an underwater room. The overwater bungalows I can handle since I can’t see what might be swimming around. This is a DH bucket list item. I’d rather stay at Ashford castle in Ireland. But since he plays along with whatever travel whim strikes me, I suppose I can suffer through this for him Good thing Amex has a New Hilton card coming out. DC is on my docket for 2018 too, but just for the weekend. Disneyland may not come back on the radar for another couple of years.

 

[wendow]

Hadn’t thought of that. Penguins was more along the lines of what I had in mind.

I love penguins. Like they are my favs. I cannot imagine going to Antarctica and seeing them in their natural habitat. Oh my goodness, if you make that trip happen, please post pics. I want to live vicariously through you. I had no idea a trip like that was remotely possible.

 

[kmc8826]

Arrrrgh!!! Why does the real world and life always have to get in the way of fun and vacations. So some of you may remember I have an overwater bungalow trip earmarked for 2020. They are usually an obscene amount of points per night. Hilton releases 95,000 points per night availability at the Conrad Maldives and we have enough points to stay 5 nights. The dates I can take off are available so I check with DH to see if he has the time. Mind you, this is his bucket list item, not mine. Unfortunately, since he has to accrue his vacation time he isn’t able to swing it between the China, Japan, Hawaii and Antarctica trips. Got all excited and ready for a challenge on booking airfare for nothing. Sigh ... #firstworldproblems

Definitely #firstworldproblems! I am at the point with my career that I am pretty miserable but the one thing I do have is vacation time and ability to take it easily. I need to find something else where I would be happier and probably make more money but honestly my one drawback is the vacation time and flexibility! My DH thinks I am nuts to have that even be a factor but honestly it is my one thing holding me back from trying to find something else. At this point I am just working for vacation to vacation....

I agree definitely post on Antarctica!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Back from early Xmas @disneyland!! Boy was that place insane this week, but beautiful as always. We used Barclaycard miles and Chase Sapphire double-dipping and gift card discounts to do the trip. I sat down at the CL conceirge desk at GCH and laid out all the credit cards and they charged the exact amount I specified on each one. I cut off the sticky part of post it notes beforehand and labeled exactly what to charge on which card and it worked great! (Change there- GCH is currently doing payments upfront for the whole stay (room + parking) when you check in, only Disney property they said to be doing this. New policy due to fraud issues the conceirge said. Thankfully, I was ready to roll and gathered all credit cards and gift cards and went to town.)

Now that we double dipped it's time to downgrade a CSR to a CFU. Questions!
-What happens to all the points and bonus points we earned this month, we don't lose them right?
-Once the downgrade is complete does the CSR physical credit card become your temporary CFU until the actual one arrives?
-Can we downgrade straight to CFU via SM if it hasn't been a year? (I know CSP has to jump hoops, not certain about CSR)

Wow, I have some catching up to do here! Penguins, Antarctica, underwater rooms?! Love it. (Speaking of penguins I did complete a bucket list item when I met a Mary Poppins penguin in Disneyland! He just walked by and we were like "PENGUIN!! Picture please!!!" And he stopped for pics and I swear I was giddier than any kid in the vicinity- which is saying something because we were right next to Alice on the edge of Fantasyland. (I'm a little nutty about penguins, even did the SeaWorld penguin tour in Orlando.) )

 

[gottalovepluto]

Definitely #firstworldproblems! I am at the point with my career that I am pretty miserable but the one thing I do have is vacation time and ability to take it easily. I need to find something else where I would be happier and probably make more money but honestly my one drawback is the vacation time and flexibility! My DH thinks I am nuts to have that even be a factor but honestly it is my one thing holding me back from trying to find something else. At this point I am just working for vacation to vacation....

I agree definitely post on Antarctica!

You are not nuts! Vacay time and flexibility are part of the benefits equation that is a part of your overall compensation, even though it's hard to put a dollar value on it (I'm in a similar boat.)

 

[amalone1013]

Question about Disney reward dollars... If I already have my reward card, if I request the additional amount I've earned is the transfer instant?

Someone has used my referral link, so if it was someone here Thank you!

 

[calypso726]

I love penguins. Like they are my favs. I cannot imagine going to Antarctica and seeing them in their natural habitat. Oh my goodness, if you make that trip happen, please post pics. I want to live vicariously through you. I had no idea a trip like that was remotely possible.

I love them too. It’s for my 50th birthday so this one is a huge splurge. I would have loved to add South Georgia and the Falkland Islands but it was too much money and too much time needed. So, that just went on the bucket list too. I will post pics.

Definitely #firstworldproblems! I am at the point with my career that I am pretty miserable but the one thing I do have is vacation time and ability to take it easily. I need to find something else where I would be happier and probably make more money but honestly my one drawback is the vacation time and flexibility! My DH thinks I am nuts to have that even be a factor but honestly it is my one thing holding me back from trying to find something else. At this point I am just working for vacation to vacation....

I agree definitely post on Antarctica!

I love my job but even if I hated it and could or would make more money elsewhere I won’t leave. I am now at 5 weeks PTO and simply can’t give that up. I feel like I work just to go on vacation and that is ok with me.

Back from early Xmas @disneyland!! Boy was that place insane this week, but beautiful as always. We used Barclaycard miles and Chase Sapphire double-dipping and gift card discounts to do the trip. I sat down at the CL conceirge desk at GCH and laid out all the credit cards and they charged the exact amount I specified on each one. I cut off the sticky part of post it notes beforehand and labeled exactly what to charge on which card and it worked great! (Change there- GCH is currently doing payments upfront for the whole stay (room + parking) when you check in, only Disney property they said to be doing this. New policy due to fraud issues the conceirge said. Thankfully, I was ready to roll and gathered all credit cards and gift cards and went to town.)

Now that we double dipped it's time to downgrade a CSR to a CFU. Questions!
-What happens to all the points and bonus points we earned this month, we don't lose them right?
-Once the downgrade is complete does the CSR physical credit card become your temporary CFU until the actual one arrives?
-Can we downgrade straight to CFU via SM if it hasn't been a year? (I know CSP has to jump hoops, not certain about CSR)

Wow, I have some catching up to do here! Penguins, Antarctica, underwater rooms?! Love it. (Speaking of penguins I did complete a bucket list item when I met a Mary Poppins penguin in Disneyland! He just walked by and we were like "PENGUIN!! Picture please!!!" And he stopped for pics and I swear I was giddier than any kid in the vicinity- which is saying something because we were right next to Alice on the edge of Fantasyland. (I'm a little nutty about penguins, even did the SeaWorld penguin tour in Orlando.) )

There is a penguin tour at Seaworld? Well, I will be checking that out! I had no idea there was a penguin character at DLR. Hmmm, I will have to find out if there is one at WDW and go stalking!

 

[amalone1013]

I sat down at the CL conceirge desk at GCH and laid out all the credit cards and they charged the exact amount I specified on each one. I cut off the sticky part of post it notes beforehand and labeled exactly what to charge on which card and it worked great!

I am picturing this in my head and I love it

(Speaking of penguins I did complete a bucket list item when I met a Mary Poppins penguin in Disneyland! He just walked by and we were like "PENGUIN!! Picture please!!!" And he stopped for pics and I swear I was giddier than any kid in the vicinity)

Ahhhh I'm jealous. I read that Mary Poppins, Bert, and a penguin would be meeting at MVMCP, but no penguins. I was a little sad about that, but Mary and Bert were great and that was something I wanted to do

The dates I can take off are available so I check with DH to see if he has the time. Mind you, this is his bucket list item, not mine. Unfortunately, since he has to accrue his vacation time he isn’t able to swing it between the China, Japan, Hawaii and Antarctica trips. Got all excited and ready for a challenge on booking airfare for nothing. Sigh ... #firstworldproblems

My DH only gets 10 days a year and I get lots more than him Hence our weekend trips for 2018 to use our SW CP haha. Definintely on the list: Nashville and New Orleans, both places he's never been and I haven't been since I was 16 and 10...

I need to find something else where I would be happier and probably make more money but honestly my one drawback is the vacation time and flexibility! My DH thinks I am nuts to have that even be a factor but honestly it is my one thing holding me back from trying to find something else.

My DH understands my worry about vacation because he gets 10 days. I get 20 and if I go to some meetings throughout the year I can earn 2 more. Stinks with travel, because his time is always our limiter.

You are not nuts! Vacay time and flexibility are part of the benefits equation that is a part of your overall compensation, even though it's hard to put a dollar value on it (I'm in a similar boat.)

Amen!

 

[gottalovepluto]

..There is a penguin tour at Seaworld? Well, I will be checking that out! I had no idea there was a penguin character at DLR. Hmmm, I will have to find out if there is one at WDW and go stalking!

Florida: https://seaworld.com/orlando/tours/penguins-up-close/
They said they have the tour in CA as well, idk if it's totally the same. We got to pet a penguin in FL! He was a very gregarious fellow, highly recommend it.

There is! The penguin is quite rare and I'd never seen one and had kinda given hope actually. I inquired about where to find one but was told it's very hard to do. They have been sited at Plaza Inn Character breakfast once in a blue moon and just walking around the park like I saw it. I never looked into if WDW has one!

 

[MrPTato]

Question about Disney reward dollars... If I already have my reward card, if I request the additional amount I've earned is the transfer instant?

Someone has used my referral link, so if it was someone here Thank you!

It is instant. Either request online or call the number on the back of your redemption card.

 

[kmc8826]

I love my job but even if I hated it and could or would make more money elsewhere I won’t leave. I am now at 5 weeks PTO and simply can’t give that up. I feel like I work just to go on vacation and that is ok with me.

I am off now until January 2 and I will still have about 6 weeks of vacation. Plus I have sick leave. Because I had time in our State Retirment system part time while I was in school in ten years I can retire with 30 years at 53. My husband can retire at 20 years next September. He might not but he can. So right now as far as vacations go it is mostly just the money/points/miles that we are limited by. I think I need to focus on that and not so much the bad stuff. Thanks guys!

 

[Ngwira]

Ok, I see that the underwater rooms are not a thing at the Conrad Maldives (pic probably cross populated in a google image search), but the underwater restaurant is. I didn’t even realize underwater hotel rooms were a thing anywhere. I have to add that to my wanderlist so I can feel like the guest of a Bond villain.

There is also an amazing underwater restaurant in Dubai. Bucket list.

 

[NinaBella]

there is a better offer out, saw it on Reddit
Both biz and personal cards 75k + 50$ + AF waived first year.

See image here: https://imgur.com/a/0rF2P

See if you're targeted here: https://www.deltaamexcard.com/offer...tm_content=A01B+FA+EM&utm_campaign=A01B+FA+EM

EDIT: As @dcchurner pointed out, if the link doesn't show you are targeted, try logging into delta and see if the offer shows on your homepage.
there.https://www.deltaamexcard.com/offer...tm_content=A01B+FA+EM&utm_campaign=A01B+FA+EM

That's the card I already have. It is not being offered to me again.

 

[SouthFayetteFan]

I was trying to hold off on any new applications for a month or so but we need to book our beach condo for a summer trip soon and it's $1,000. I just can't make that purchase without a min. spend!! Soooooo I went ahead with the Delta Biz Gold application tonight. (Some may remember my post the other day about how I would redeem for Target Gift Cards, lol). After a lot of thought, I truly have no use for Delta miles as we are loaded with Southwest Points and Pittsburgh and Delta aren't exactly best buddies. So the opportunity to hit another AMEX biz which offered roughly a 13% return to me in the form of Target seemed worth it.

I wish somebody on r/DISchurners had a referral for Delta Biz but only personal cards (and I'm using biz cards to keep my accounts down on my credit report) so I used one from r/churning. (I didn't qualify for that targeted offer, and the 50k for $2k spend is perfectly fine with me).

The application initially went pending...and I was like UGH!! (I always hate pending haha) but then it was approved within 45 minutes (after midnight on Christmas Eve no less hahaha!) FYI: Check AMEX App statuses at this link if you ever go pending https://www262.americanexpress.com/eaol/welcome.do Soooo now I have $2k in min. spend to keep me busy for a little while. April can't come soon enough when wife goes under 5/24.

SIDE NOTE: If anybody likes to buy discounted Delta Gift Cards PM me, might be worth a discussion.

 

[hsmamato2]

I'm such a points loser right now! I've been way too vague for a while about my next card.... and just had to pay a big insurance bill today,on a regular card with regular points!!! (cue the violins for first world problem) Ok I need to buckle down this is silly..... I need another spend to work on. I guess I could se if we qualify for that amex one I keep reading about, but I've never gotten into Membership points yet..... maybe I'll just stick with a barclays app (?) just to have something to do... apparently I have issues right now! I can't do CIP for DH.... that would be cool he does do occasional side jobs but not for money,usually for a good dinner! (so I feel like a CSR rock star this year, netted $1500 on two cards!!!) and a points loser in other ways (sigh)

 

[calypso726]

I was trying to hold off on any new applications for a month or so but we need to book our beach condo for a summer trip soon and it's $1,000. I just can't make that purchase without a min. spend!! Soooooo I went ahead with the Delta Biz Gold application tonight. (Some may remember my post the other day about how I would redeem for Target Gift Cards, lol). After a lot of thought, I truly have no use for Delta miles as we are loaded with Southwest Points and Pittsburgh and Delta aren't exactly best buddies. So the opportunity to hit another AMEX biz which offered roughly a 13% return to me in the form of Target seemed worth it.

I wish somebody on r/DISchurners had a referral for Delta Biz but only personal cards (and I'm using biz cards to keep my accounts down on my credit report) so I used one from r/churning. (I didn't qualify for that targeted offer, and the 50k for $2k spend is perfectly fine with me).

I’m holding off payin the rest of our China ABD and our DVC dues. I want to see what new cards Amex is releasing in January. There’s a rumored new Hilton and new premium SPG card. I did have a referral for the Delta biz and Delta personal cards but removed them after cancelling the cards when the AF came due. Ah well.

I'm such a points loser right now! I've been way too vague for a while about my next card.... and just had to pay a big insurance bill today,on a regular card with regular points!!! (cue the violins for first world problem) Ok I need to buckle down this is silly..... I need another spend to work on. I guess I could se if we qualify for that amex one I keep reading about, but I've never gotten into Membership points yet..... maybe I'll just stick with a barclays app (?) just to have something to do... apparaently I have issues right now! I can't do CIP for DH.... that would be cool he does do occasional side jobs but not for money,usually for a good dinner!

Thirty lashes with a wet noodle! I’d say a good dinner has a monetary value of $100

 

[hsmamato2]

Thirty lashes with a wet noodle! I’d say a good dinner has a monetary value of $100

Is that a technique? I really need to get reading since the one time I tried for a biz card was a spectacular failure- ok off to research I guess.... SPG new offerings? I like the sound of that Maybe I'll wait a week to see what's up too

 

[Ava]

@Ava we are in the same boat. I have an irrational fear of sharks. I could manage dining in the underwater restaurant I think. But I don’t think I could manage sleeping in an underwater room. The overwater bungalows I can handle since I can’t see what might be swimming around. This is a DH bucket list item. I’d rather stay at Ashford castle in Ireland. But since he plays along with whatever travel whim strikes me, I suppose I can suffer through this for him Good thing Amex has a New Hilton card coming out. DC is on my docket for 2018 too, but just for the weekend. Disneyland may not come back on the radar for another couple of years.

I don’t so much mind the sharks/other creatures on their own, it’s the combination of dark + scary creatures that gets me. And for some reason every aquarium I’ve ever been to has their shark exhibit in a dark building. This may be the root of my fear.

We’re planning for 4 nights in DC. My kids have off school the week of Presidents Day every year, so we’ve been trying to do a little trip then. Last year we did Philly. And we’ve never been to Disneyland, only DisneyWorld, so that’s the plan for summer. We also have friends who just moved to the San Diego area, so we’ll probably do 3 days at Disneyland then drive down to San Diego and spend the rest of the week there.

Definitely #firstworldproblems! I am at the point with my career that I am pretty miserable but the one thing I do have is vacation time and ability to take it easily. I need to find something else where I would be happier and probably make more money but honestly my one drawback is the vacation time and flexibility! My DH thinks I am nuts to have that even be a factor but honestly it is my one thing holding me back from trying to find something else. At this point I am just working for vacation to vacation....

I don’t think you’re nuts at all! I’m up to 4 weeks of PTO and will earn a 5th week in the next 3 years (I think). I like my job, but even if I didn’t it’d be hard to go somewhere else and probably have less vacation time because I wouldn’t have the years of service that I have at my current company. Vacation time is definitely an important factor in choosing a job, IMO.