I love credit cards so much!

[amalone1013]

We used to put colored or patterned duct tape on our black luggage, a strip on every side, to help identify it.

 

[mefordis]

Many big stores allow gift cards (including visa/mc gift cards) on credit card. CVS, Kroger, Walmart, Meijer, Staples are just a few examples. There are many more. But some stores and even big chains are much more strict and require cash or debit like you said.

If you're looking to meet MSR on a specific card we can give you some suggestions on the best stores to take advantage of any category bonuses.

Thank you! We are going to DLR in July so I think it would be great to be able to buy some gift cards to use there.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I'm not sure but I think @Jen and Ashwin might use RCCL frequently. I could be wrong- I don't cruise so I don't keep up with the posts about that too much!

@bernina

I sail RCCL reasonably often. One last year and two coming up in the next year. I have diamond status which gets me some discounts on balcony and suite rooms, though I often in interior or oceanview rooms to save money. I only upgrade to a balcony or suite if the price difference isn't very significant.

The best way to save on RCCL, and probably any cruise, is to book right when the new dates launch. That is generally what I do because prices only increase from there. I have purchased discounted RCCL gift cards from Swagbucks in the past, but they have since instituted a cap on how many you can redeem per cruise. There was also an Amex offer last year for RC that I used when purchasing our shore excursions for our Norway cruise. It saved us $300 on the total, I believe.

And then I paid for $800 of our upcoming cruise leaving out of Venice, Italy with UR points. I booked the cruise directly through Chase and had to pay UR points right when I booked it, so I used all the points that we had available at that time. And just to let you know the types of savings you can get by booking right when dates launch- the cruise is 7 nights and we got a junior suite for $2k. Some of that is thanks to my diamond member suite discount, but I think without the discount it was still only $2300 or so.

Unlike DCL, which allows you to pay for your entire cruise with Disney gift cards (which you can get at a discount), RCCL has fewer opportunities for savings but the cruises are cheaper overall.

 

[Haley R]

Have you checked our reddit page @Lain has a really good write up that would probably help you with your wording. There are work arounds and you could probably get it through.

I haven't checked Reddit yet, but I'll have to go take a look. Thanks!

 

[bernina]

@bernina

I sail RCCL reasonably often. One last year and two coming up in the next year. I have diamond status which gets me some discounts on balcony and suite rooms, though I often in interior or oceanview rooms to save money. I only upgrade to a balcony or suite if the price difference isn't very significant.

The best way to save on RCCL, and probably any cruise, is to book right when the new dates launch. That is generally what I do because prices only increase from there. I have purchased discounted RCCL gift cards from Swagbucks in the past, but they have since instituted a cap on how many you can redeem per cruise. There was also an Amex offer last year for RC that I used when purchasing our shore excursions for our Norway cruise. It saved us $300 on the total, I believe.

And then I paid for $800 of our upcoming cruise leaving out of Venice, Italy with UR points. I booked the cruise directly through Chase and had to pay UR points right when I booked it, so I used all the points that we had available at that time. And just to let you know the types of savings you can get by booking right when dates launch- the cruise is 7 nights and we got a junior suite for $2k. Some of that is thanks to my diamond member suite discount, but I think without the discount it was still only $2300 or so.

Unlike DCL, which allows you to pay for your entire cruise with Disney gift cards (which you can get at a discount), RCCL has fewer opportunities for savings but the cruises are cheaper overall.

Thank you so much and you are so right about early booking. We see that with DCL all the time, they just jump up and up and up. We paid close to $5K (for 2A, 2C, had niece in our room) for pretty much the same exact sailing that is now showing $3300 (or just under $4k for 2A, 2C). And this of course isn't even opening day, just earlier than we booked last year.

Since you've booked through Chase, what is the cancellation policy, URs returned in full plus credit on whatever card you used (assuming you booked a refundable rate)? Do the charges code as travel (for the portion you pay with credit card)?

Thank you again for all of the tips/advice, this is a great help!

Edited to add: Wowza, that is an insane deal for that category room! You and @calypso726 are fueling my travel churning!

 

[bernina]

I don’t see an issue doing the double dip first. If possible I’d try to put 4 months between the double dip and the CIP application then.

Thank you!

Do you see any issue with the Chase credit limits (~30% of income)? For some reason his Freedom has a crazy high limit!

 

[Haley R]

We used to put colored or patterned duct tape on our black luggage, a strip on every side, to help identify it.

We put our Disney luggage tags (the ones you get for free at Disney World) on ours, but when we went in March there was a couple that also had red suitcases and the exact same tags!

 

[gottalovepluto]

How does everyone here feel about expensive luggage? I have a samonsite luggage set that’s 10 years old and it starting to fall apart. I also have a Delsey hard sided luggage that I got about three years ago. After 6 trips there are scuff marks and the wheel is getting banged up.

My SO loves the away luggage pieces. It’s about $300 for a checked bag or $700 for a set. Is this reasonable? My other luggage sets were gifts from my parents so I’m pretty clueless.

I bought a 3 piece set for like $225 last year after the largest piece of my original luggage set (also a gift) was destroyed by American (or Alaska but American delivered the suitcase so American was on the hook). American cut me a check for $150 for the replacement of my suitcase so i used it to upgrade to a full spinner set. My suitcases get so beat up by airlines every time I fly I just cannot bring myself to spend any more than about $75 on a suitcase right now (I also have a very limited budget for that sort of thing so I spend/don’t spend on accordance with that). My suitcases do their job, admittedly the big one has a wheel getting a bit wonky after my FL trip, and I’m satisfied with the set and price but I wouldn’t say I’m in love with it. I would get the set again if the airline breaks my suitcase again.

If you do spend a decent chunk of change save the receipt so you can show it to the airline if they decide you win the Crush A Suitcase lottery on your next trip. Also, familiarize yourself with the airlines damaged baggage policy prior to departure. They have very strict time tables and usually you have to notify them at the airport or within 24 hours of arriving at your destination if there is damage. I missed that window with a different piece of luggage that United crushed the side in on but was so exhausted and out of it I didn’t notice until like 30 hours later so they denied my claim.

 

[bernina]

We put our Disney luggage tags (the ones you get for free at Disney World) on ours, but when we went in March there was a couple that also had red suitcases and the exact same tags!

My Mom puts large red and white polka dot ribbons on the top and side handles of her luggage. They still blend in, but pretty easy to spot first.

 

[Haley R]

Just send $100 payment using a mastercard. Then, once that goes through, go back in and switch the payment method to CIP and try to send the rest of the payment on it.

ETA: But when you send it, also do the name differently...First Land or something. It will go through fine with MC, this is just so it hopefully doesn't flag when you send on CIP next time.

We don't have a Mastercard. We have a Discover card, though. Could we use that to try it?

 

[gottalovepluto]

Thanks everyone! You guys gave me some good options to look into. I’ll probably keep my Delsey for a bit longer, but my luggage set should be replace. The wheel functionality has really improved in the last 10 years and I struggle to move through the airport with it. It’s also black. I’m never getting black luggage again.

Fwiw we curl a bunch of wrapping gift ribbon and tie it to the suitcases. Life saver for the black pieces my family members have. Mind you as each suitcase breaks each person has chosen to go color (My current set is purple and I love it.)

 

[mefordis]

Most stores do. If your local store doesn't allow gift card purchases with credit cards, try somewhere else. You can find racks of all kinds of gift cards at grocery stores, drug stores, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, Lowe's, Home Depot, Gamestop, even some craft stores like JoAnn's. Several online retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, eBay, and Newegg also sell gift cards and accept credit cards as payment.



Which Hilton Amex? There's no card with a 150k HH points signup bonus: https://www.doctorofcredit.com/four-american-express-hilton-cards-compared/

I meant 125k. Sorry! I"m always making mistakes like that because I check this thread while doing other things!

 

[GZanta77]

I’ve used Costco Travel to price out the cruises. They’re actually looking very good at $3300 for 2A, 1C in an interior view balcony (they look onto ship areas instead of ocean). Only a few hundred more for true ocean view. Plus $165 Costco cash card. Just not sure how Costco travel codes and if it will trigger travel category for amex, Chase, Barclay, etc. I’m sure I can find some DP on flyer talk or elsewhere.

DP for you - we booked with Costco Travel a few months back - coded as travel on my CSR and triggered the $300 credit.

 

[Haley R]

Check the suggestions on how to address payment to Firstland in the quoted post I linked in my reply to you above. I took down the original post because people are right that it's best to keep these things on the down low.

What @disneymagicgirl is suggesting is once you set up the "new Recipient," you can make a small test payment of like $100 to "First Land Mtg. Serv." (or however you addressed it), and if it goes through without Plastiq holding it for review, and if it gets to your mortgage company and applies to your account, you'll likely be able to make a full payment with a Visa without your payment getting flagged.

Okay I think I've got it now. Thank you!! I actually had your response copy and pasted into my Google Doc, but I have been getting so much information that it kind of got lost. Sorry about that.

 

[miztressuz]

...

So, refresh my mind, apply early enough on a business day to allow for a recon call if needed for card #2. Do I need to use separate browsers/incognito? Anything else?

I know we've had a few good guides written here on the double dip, first one I laid hand on with search is from @Lain It's in the middle of the post: Lain>LB002 DoubleDip

 

[Haley R]

I'm not familiar with Heritage but usually you can open it with a minimal amount, like $50 and then you can transfer the rest of the money electronically once it's established. That's what I do when I'm opening accounts, especially if I plan to keep it so I can operate out of old and new for a while. What's the minimum you can open the account with? Can you send that as a check and then gradually move the rest of the funds over a couple weeks?

That's what I was thinking. I was really confused when he wrote a check with the total amount of our bank account lol. He's been really busy lately and traveling for work so I'm wondering if he just isn't having the time to think about it. I may need to try and talk to him tonight to see what he wants to do. Thanks!

 

[Lain]

I am wondering about paying our life insurance through plastiq. Our insurance company won’t take credit cards. I’m thinking this would be no problem.

So glad to see a post from you @brownhaired_girl!

Life insurance payments through Plastiq shouldn't be a problem.

 

[miztressuz]

...
If you do spend a decent chunk of change save the receipt so you can show it to the airline if they decide you win the Crush A Suitcase lottery on your next trip. Also, familiarize yourself with the airlines damaged baggage policy prior to departure. They have very strict time tables and usually you have to notify them at the airport or within 24 hours of arriving at your destination if there is damage. I missed that window with a different piece of luggage that United crushed the side in on but was so exhausted and out of it I didn’t notice until like 30 hours later so they denied my claim.

Excellent point! Especially make sure to do an inside check asap because not all damage is seen on the outside at first. That was yet another abuse we heaped on our 28" guy, somehow the baggage handlers managed to bend a support bar in the luggage, but because of how cheap it was you couldn't really tell from the outside. It wasn't until we were unpacking it something looked weird and when we got enough clothes out we noticed it. Fortunately it was metal and not plastic so at the end of the trip I took a hammer to it and we got a few more trips out of it.

But if we'd have paid real money for the bag I'd have been upset because we didn't spot it for at least a day and I know I didn't have any receipts for the cost of that set.

 

[Haley R]

My Mom puts large red and white polka dot ribbons on the top and side handles of her luggage. They still blend in, but pretty easy to spot first.

My parents do a colorful shoe string.

 

[elgerber]

I put a piece of lime green duct tape on the bottom, where the wheel are, and down the back. They usually come out upside down, and this makes them super easy to spot. I do this still, even though we now have blue instead of dark green.