I love credit cards so much!

[Gwmw1210]

I do the exact same thing! I take a king size sheet to cover the bed and then 3 smaller blankets so we each have one and two pillows (DS and I get those). We never sleep in the hotel bedding.

We take the same items also. It’s funny to know there are others who do the same. I just assumed my family would be the only family with that unusual behavior. I have always been pretty skeptical about housekeeping routines at hotels and it definitely didn’t help when one of our former tenants who work in the hospitality industry shared some stories with us. My mind hasn’t been right since.

 

[miztressuz]

Just learned something new, Hyatt not only kills your points but also kills your whole membership account after inactivity. I thought I stayed at one 2016, but thinking back it was probably 2015 ish so I was trying to sign in to see how many points I just lost and there's no signing in. Called Hyatt and my membership was closed for inactivity. So I guess maybe it was longer than that? Don't think I've had that before, usually I sign in and just get sad at the big 0 sitting there. Guess I won't worry about Hyatt's for a while then

 

[WVMomof3]

My car insurance is due in 10 days and I am without a MSR. That has been a great way to meet most of a MSR for at least 3 of my new cards in the last year and a half. Still haven't heard anything about our HELOC finishing up and my DH will be out of town for several more days. Wahhhh

 

[hsmamato2]

I was wondering the same thing! We never just go there unless we are on a roadtrip. And my kids have been on a 2000 mile road trip every year of their life to visit grandparents. Sometimes twice a year as we usually drive to Disney/Universal. The pickings are slim sometimes when you are hungry and when they were little it was a great place to let off some energy with the playgrounds. Def not our favorite place to stop, but I like it more since they added breakfast all day. I usually just get an oatmeal.

you sound exactly like me....when my kids were little I cringe when I remember how often I brought them for a happy meal (live and learn) and now that I'm older I HATE McD's....... but my DH LOVES it so when we travel it's where my fam always stops....and I ALWAYS get the oatmeal,no cream for travel breakfasts. That and unsweet iced tea is all I ever get when I have no choice.....

 

[WVMomof3]

We take the same items also. It’s funny to know there are others who do the same. I just assumed my family would be the only family with that unusual behavior. I have always been pretty skeptical about housekeeping routines at hotels and it definitely didn’t help when one of our former tenants who work in the hospitality industry shared some stories with us. My mind hasn’t been right since.

I just watched a movie last night where they put a black light app on their phone to see how dirty the room was. I wont say what they were looking for cause it was a raunchy movie lol, but leave it to your imagination. And it was everywhere in the room. It was a movie, but probably not too far from the truth. I try not to think about it.

 

[hsmamato2]

Lowes is okay because it doesnt send L3 data to Amex. Staples does however. I do not have an MR card so i cannot say for sure if it earns MR or not. It works fine on everyday spendings on the SPG personal/Biz card. I wouldnt give Amex a reason to deny your sign up bonus, its better to avoid just in case.

but Hilton Biz is too dangerous for 3rd party cards like that,correct? bummer!

 

[miztressuz]

Went on a second date last night and we started talking about credit card strategies and chase freedom and $100 visa gift cards which we both had in our wallets. Maybe I’ve found player 2

Woah woah woah, second date and already pulling out wallets? Kids move so fast these days, I thought it was at least the 3rd date before the thought of intermingling cards came up. I guess maybe that's points balances and program status now (oh I'm not sure I could be with only a Gold member... well, how many lounge passes is that?)

J/K, that sounds like a great start. At least you'd know P2 shouldn't be reluctant. Fingers crossed for you, enjoy it!

 

[hsmamato2]

I just finished the book. It's over 600 pages but didn't feel daunting to read since it's fictionalized. Since it's from his wife's viewpoint, there are details but it's not all about him. The notes from the author at the end were good to explain how they moved things and what they had to infer. They did use Chernow's book as one of their many resources.

I LOVE reading...and I LOVE my kindle paperwhite! I also LOVELOVELOVE Overdrive,which means I get FREE library books on my kindle anytime I want....(gamechanger!)

 

[Lain]

Well Plastiq is MS - lots of info in this thread. Buying giftcards and unloading through other methods (Money Order) is MS too. Just buying a store branded gift card (like for Chiptole) and using isn't MS.

Some business cards REPORT on your personal credit file. Amex usually do not. This matters if you're worried about utilization or 5/24 status.

@pinkxray: Just want to clarify that if you’re using Plastiq to pay an actual bill, that’s not MS. Amex restricts use of their cards on Plastiq more than Visa, so no payments on mortgages, car loans/leases, or student loans; but daycare is fine.

Technically speaking, Amex has no way to determine if you are “MS”-ing; the only thing they can look for is “MS”-like behavior. Take for example buying third-party gift cards, which is usually perfectly fine because they are usually close-looped (can only be spent at that gift card’s merchant), but it’s considered MS if you resell that gift card on an exchange like Raise? How would Amex know that? Or if you use your Amex card buy a Visa gift card at a grocery store so you can “shift” spend and use that VGC at Costco, which doesn’t accept Amex. That’s legitimate, but it’s MS if you were to use that VGC to buy a money order to liquidate those funds back into your bank account to pay off your credit card bill? Again, how would Amex know what you do with the VGC after you buy it? Or even that you bought a VGC?

Couple of things definitely don’t work to count towards Amex MSRs or earn points:

- bank funding at BMO
- buying VGCs at Simon Mall

Despite Amex huffing and puffing about excluding “cash equivalents” and “p2p” payments from earning points or bonuses:

- My Plastiq payments have always earned points and counted towards MSR on Amex cards.
- Venmo and PayPal transfers to other people still work (but do not make a payment to yourself, spouse, or anyone sharing the same address.)
- Memory Bank funding still works.
- Buying VGCs from grocery stores and Walgreens is no problem.
- Office supply stores like OD/OM/Staples reports Level 3 data to Amex, but DPs seem to suggest you still earn points on VGC purchases and they should count toward MSR.
- Never had problems with third-party gift cards bought with an Amex from sites/apps like Raise or MPX counting.
- DPs seem mixed on sites like GiftCards .com and GiftCardMall .com counting.

A few sensible tips:

- Even if they do count, avoid buying VGCs from stores that send Level 3 data to Amex, so Amex doesn’t know you’re buying cash equivalents.
- If you buy a VGC from a grocery or drug store, mix it in with some regular shopping so your total isn’t the telltale giveaway $xx5.95 amount that screams $xxx.xx VGC plus $5.95 activation fee.
- Try to have your triggering transaction (the transaction that puts you over the MSR amount) one that is legit and won’t be refunded. If Amex comes poking around to see if you qualified to earn the signup bonus, they’ll usually look at the triggering transaction first so you probably don’t want it to be for VGCs. You also don’t want to refund it, because I’ve read some DPs that suggest Amex may (temporarily) claw back the bonus if that triggering transaction is refunded.
- Don’t cycle credit limits with Amex. That’s when you pay off your balance before the statement posts so you can open up credit availability to spend more on that card. (A lot of churners did this to buy VGCs, liquidate as MOs, pay off the balance, rinse, repeat. This can trigger a shutdown and financial review.)
- Amex gets details of your PayPal payments, so they can put two and two together when you’re paying someone with the same address as you. (This can also trigger a shutdown and financial review.)

And lastly, DPs about what works and what doesn’t change all the time. We try to keep updated about that.

 

[Gwmw1210]

Delete

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Is a 15+ hour flight to Tokyo going to be horrible in Economy?

The memory of our nonstop JFK-PEK flight in 3-4-3 economy (w dh and youngest when she was 14) is what caused me to start lurking on this thread. Dh and I want to go to Australia in the next year or so, NOT in economy

We had no choice in airline nor in seat assignment as we were traveling in a 20+ person group organized by a friend. Air China wasn't bad---the inflight entertainment was quite good and the food was decent. I had the center seat though so that was unpleasant.

I think economy would have been better had I been able to choose which airline, which plane, and which seats.

 

[Gwmw1210]

I did book through UR's

And seeing as my boys had never had McD's until 3 weeks ago but thought it was the coolest thing ever, I'm pretty sure we will be stopping there and at Panera. I think the Hojo will work well for us.

My daughter will be 10 years old next week and has never had McD’s. Can you imagine the look she gets when this conversation has come up around others. Lol

 

[hsmamato2]

@pinkxray: Just want to clarify that if you’re using Plastiq to pay an actual bill, that’s not MS. Amex restricts use of their cards on Plastiq more than Visa, so no payments on mortgages, car loans/leases, or student loans; but daycare is fine.

Technically speaking, Amex has no way to determine if you are “MS”-ing; the only thing they can look for is “MS”-like behavior. Take for example buying third-party gift cards, which is usually perfectly fine because they are usually close-looped (can only be spent at that gift card’s merchant), but it’s considered MS if you resell that gift card on an exchange like Raise? How would Amex know that? Or if you use your Amex card buy a Visa gift card at a grocery store so you can “shift” spend and use that VGC at Costco, which doesn’t accept Amex. That’s legitimate, but it’s MS if you were to use that VGC to buy a money order to liquidate those funds back into your bank account to pay off your credit card bill? Again, how would Amex know what you do with the VGC after you buy it? Or even that you bought a VGC?

Couple of things definitely don’t work to count towards Amex MSRs or earn points:
- bank funding at BMO
- buying VGCs at Simon Mall

Despite Amex huffing and puffing about excluding “cash equivalents” and “p2p” payments from earning points or bonuses:

- My Plastiq payments have always earned points and counted towards MSR on Amex cards.
- Venmo and PayPal transfers to other people still work (but do not make a payment to yourself, spouse, or anyone sharing the same address.)
- Memory Bank funding still works.
- Buying VGCs from grocery stores and Walgreens is no problem.
- Office supply stores like OD/OM/Staples reports Level 3 data to Amex, but DPs seem to suggest you still earn points on VGC purchases and they should count toward MSR.
- Never had problems with third-party gift cards bought with an Amex from sites/apps like Raise or MPX counting.
- DPs seem mixed on sites like GiftCards .com and GiftCardMall .com counting.

A few sensible tips:
- Even if they do count, avoid buying VGCs from stores that send Level 3 data to Amex, so Amex doesn’t know you’re buying cash equivalents.
- Try to have your triggering transaction (the transaction that puts you over the MSR amount) one that is legit and won’t be refunded. If Amex comes poking around to see if you qualified to earn the signup bonus, they’ll usually look at the triggering transaction first so you probably don’t want it to be for VGCs. You also don’t want to refund it, because I’ve read some DPs that suggest Amex may (temporarily) claw back the bonus if that triggering transaction is refunded.
- Don’t cycle credit limits with Amex. That’s when you pay off your balance before the statement posts so you can open up credit availability to spend more on that card. (A lot of churners did this to buy VGCs, liquidate as MOs, pay off the balance, rinse, repeat. This can trigger a shutdown and financial review.)
- Amex gets details of your PayPal payments, so they can put two and two together when you’re paying someone with the same address as you. (This can also trigger a shutdown and financial review.)

And lastly, DPs about what works and what doesn’t change all the time. We try to keep updated about that.

so.... my small potatoes purchase of a few closed loop gc at staples on hilton biz shouldn't be a problem....... or will it? it's the only offer I got that's really useful,and it's on that card.(first world problems)

 

[Haley R]

I was just going to knee jerk respond yes, mostly to amuse myself and others who like my warped sense of humor, but I’ll be serious and answer honestly instead.

The answer will 100% depend on a few factors: the aircraft, configuration and seat design as well as the airline.

Just as all first class seats aren’t created equal, neither are all business class seats or economy seats. First class domestic seats can be worse than an economy seat depending on the airline, plane type and seat type and configuration.

We flew Japan airline in business on a 2 cabin aircraft from Shanghai to Narita after the China ABD. I think the flight was 3 hours and the seats were great. They were pretty close to lie flat, there was an ever so slight angle. We both enjoyed the flight. The Plane Princess said he’d even be happy on that for the full 15 hours home.

I never, ever, ever book a long haul flight without first checking the aircraft and seat type on Seat Guru dot com and comparing the seat maps for the flight with the seat maps the aircraft that might be running that flight.

Often, I will book our flights based on the routing of specific aircraft in order to get the seat type I want. Obviously, we did this for the Singapore Suites flights. I did the same to come home from Narita on JAL so I am routing through ORD on purpose instead of going straight to Miami. Bonus, I’m even getting home faster doing it this way. When we flew to Hawaii I specifically routed us through DFW to get on a flight that had an aircraft with lie flat seats.

If JAL’s economy hard product is as good as their business and first class, I imagine you’d be in good hands and not an uncomfortable flight. Hope this helps.

We most likely will be flying with United/ANA. We will either be stopping in Denver or Chicago. I have seen both as options, but won't know for sure until we buy tickets. Looks like they are both Boeing planes. One is a 737 and the other is a 777, but not sure if this will stay the same for next May.

 

[miztressuz]

I just watched a movie last night where they put a black light app on their phone to see how dirty the room was. I wont say what they were looking for cause it was a raunchy movie lol, but leave it to your imagination. And it was everywhere in the room. It was a movie, but probably not too far from the truth. I try not to think about it.

Exactly, if I thought about it I'd never stay anywhere. I have resisted bringing our own sheets unless it's a questionable cheap place. (looking at you America's Best Value Inn, Salisbury MD. They made our top 5 worst places we've stayed hit list.) So mostly, we try to avoid the questionable cheap places if we can anyway, that's why we rack up points and have no problem staying at a different hotel from the group But I don't touch anything in a room bare handed (or bare feet after walking on a carpet that left my socks brown ) and just tell myself it's ok, I won't die really, in this instance what I don't know won't hurt me and get over it

 

[Haley R]

LAX-NRT, spring break 2005. Worst. flight. ever! It was me, my parents, and my two little sisters (all kids) flying to visit family and friends in Tokyo and Singapore. We were in the very, very last row in the back of the plane, right next to the restrooms, with no room to recline our seats. And for some reason, the plane didn't have individual entertainment screens in the back of the seat, just one screen alllll the way up front playing the in-flight movies with terrible audio over the free headphones they gave us. We were not very well behaved for our parents when we got to our final destination, unfortunately. I've flown a lot and that flight is by far the worst experience I've ever had!

BUT! That was a long time ago. If you can sleep slightly reclined in a plane seat, you've got a newer plane that will have better in-flight entertainment options, and it's an airline with good customer service on long-haul international flights, you'll probably be fine. There's nothing fun about being in economy that long, but I think it could be bearable, especially if you consider all the money/points you'd be saving over flying in first class.

Edited to add: definitely do what Calpyso726 suggested and check out the specific aircraft you'd be flying and what the experience is like before making any decisions.

I've never flown first class before and I honestly don't see DH spending the extra money to get it so we will most likely end up flying economy. We are probably going to fly with United/ANA.

 

[Haley R]

@calypso726 is right about checking seatguru. although there isnt as extreme differences like first class and J class products, the one main difference is the seat configuration. I can tell you know that one big different is the 777 planes, some of those airlines configure them as 3-4-3 for economy. I flew in one once, its pretty squishy. u want to fly an airline with economy seats as 3-3-3. The only time i would fly a 3-4-3 is if u get one of those skycouches.

@Artygal90 2005 vs now is sooooo different now haha. things have changed a ton.
do u remember what airline you flew?

When I looked it said a Boeing 777. So we probably don't want that right?

 

[speedyfishy]

I’m back home. I’ll post pictures later on our new thread.

Atlantis Review: Paradise Island Nassau Bahamas

We spent 5 nights at the Royal Towers using 140,000 Marriott Rewards points.

Flew Southwest and used 13,000 Rapid Rewards points and the companion pass.


The pro’s:

the room was huge.

We saw Dolphin Cay from our balcony and watching the dolphins was awesome.

Our driver from the airport to the hotel, booked through Atlantis Tours, was awesome. He was so friendly and gave us some history and interesting facts about the Bahamas.

The poolside food was American food, typical crap, but tasted better than WDW American quick service food.

The aquarium was great. I loved watching the turtles and stingrays.

We got two free bottles of water every night of our stay.

Carmine’s was delicious. We ate there twice.

They have plastic cheese for fries and chips at a lot of places.

The water is so gorgeous.

There have lots of stuff for kids.

It was easy to get a chair at the pools and the beach.

They have turn down service.


The cons:

They said they upgraded us to a Harbor View but the only two major view categories are Harbor and Ocean.

Didn’t get my “guaranteed” 4PM checkout as a Marriott Gold member.

Dirty sheets

Shower was dirty(they fixed it and cleaned it after I complained about the sheets the first night, but it is still gross to check in to a hotel and have a dirty shower.)

The rug had a huge red stain that was never addressed.

Bugs (flys and nats ) in the room.

Pool towels had stains.

All over the resort there were buckets collecting water from the ceiling leaking.

The service at restaurants was awful. The one waitress didn’t fix our order when we told her it was wrong. The last night we ordered a $70 steak, no one asked us to cut into to make sure it was cooked ok. They always do this at Disney. It was extremely undercooked for us, but no one came to ask if it was cooked ok so we just ate it. I feel like when you pay $70 for a steak the service should be better.

We love wings, but they were $2 a wing. We splurged twice, but it wasn’t worth it.

The water park actually smelt bad.

At the water park the safety measures in place make action park look like the optimity of safety. In every water park I’ve ever been to when one tube goes down a slide the life guard waits a while before sending another tube down. The life guard also holds the tube while the guests are getting in so they can do so easily. Here the life guard is just there for show. They just sit there with a blank stare and let everyone go down one after another.

The bed is very uncomfortable and I sleep at the All Stars. My boyfriend and I actually both have back pain that we are pretty sure is from the bed.

Everything costs extra. Paddle boards, kayaks, water trikes, snorkel gear etc.

I asked a staff member for directions our first day and she was high on something. It was actually very scary.

Restaurants are closed on random days.

Our last day we could not find a place to eat lunch, quick service by the pool was closed and lots of other restaurants. We didn’t want pizza so we ended up eating Ben and Jerry’s for lunch.

You get charged 15% tip at quick service restaurants.


At the end we had $850 in room charges which really wasn’t bad. That includes $55 a night in taxes and fees. We had a $300 credit though for our issues. We will not be back. I wasn’t planning on ever going back unless we got the free trip from total rewards, but it’s not even worth burning Southwest miles or vacation time to fly over there for a free trip. My SO and I agreed this was the worst vacation we have ever been on. It’s a shame because the grounds are beautiful and they do have a lot more than a typical beach hotel. There were a lot of little things that were wrong with the hotel that made it unenjoyable. If there were a few of the above issues I probably wouldn’t be making a big stink with Marriott. I know a few of you were considering this trip and I don’t want my review to be the reason you don’t go. It looked like other people were enjoying themselves.


For 2019 we were planning on going to Rome, but I think we need to stick with Disney for awhile so next year our international trip maybe to Disneyland Paris. When we go to Rome I was planning on the Boscolo, but I think we may splurge for the St. Regis.


Best part of the trip has got to be Southwest. The crew on all my flights was hysterical. Also, the way home I flew in the exit row for the first time. No one asked SO and I if we were over 15 so that’s a good sign lol. The whole flight I suffered from anxiety hoping I wouldn’t have to open the exit door though, but we landed safely.


Thank you to everyone here for being so helpful with tips and advice for getting miles. My travels would be less frequent without all of you. And since I only used miles the sting of the bad trip hurts a lot less. I can replenish miles fairly quickly.


Next trip: Disneyland!

 

[Haley R]

The memory of our nonstop JFK-PEK flight in 3-4-3 economy (w dh and youngest when she was 14) is what caused me to start lurking on this thread. Dh and I want to go to Australia in the next year or so, NOT in economy

We had no choice in airline nor in seat assignment as we were traveling in a 20+ person group organized by a friend. Air China wasn't bad---the inflight entertainment was quite good and the food was decent. I had the center seat though so that was unpleasant.

I think economy would have been better had I been able to choose which airline, which plane, and which seats.

It looks like we may be flying on a 3-4-3 economy flight, but I HAVE to have the window seat even if I have to pay more for it. I just don't do well if I'm not by the window.

 

[eeyoreland]

My daughter will be 10 years old next week and has never had McD’s. Can you imagine the look she gets when this conversation has come up around others. Lol

Not Mc D's, but just had to chime in. I talked to someone yesterday (40+ year old) who said she's never made macaroni and cheese. Not for herself, not for her kids.