I love credit cards so much!

[platamama]

Two Questions:

1. I have 49 Elite Points (or whatever it is called) with Marriott. So, need 1 more night for Platinum. My SPG Card is set to renew in December. Do I get more nights when I renew or is that only a 1 time thing when approved for the card.

I have Marriott and SPG accounts that I haven't merged yet. I've had my personal SPG for ages, and opened up a SPG Biz early this year. As of Feb 2018 I was credited with 10 nights from SPG, 5 each from my personal and my Biz card. My card anniversary for my personal SPG is in March.

In my Marriott account I have 32 Elite Nights so far, of those are 15 Elite Night credits that I got on my Marriott card anniversary in May. When I merge my accounts I should have 42 Elite nights with Marriott.

So, my question for you is: have you merged your Marriott and Starwood accounts already? Or do you have a separate SPG account that has 5 nights from your SPG credit card that you can merge into your Marriott account? If the latter, then you should be all set to be Platinum once you merge your accounts.

 

[pillow]

We get in at 3:30 pm on September 7th 2018 to Johannesburg South Africa and want to fly to Portland Oregon using Alaska Airline miles (I have 70K and my husband has 80K which is enough to use British Airways but not Emirates).

Please please please come back and share your experience. I would love to travel to South Africa. Seems semi-easy to do on your own. A self drive through Kruger seems quite doable, and theres a Marriott at one of the gates. Its on my list - would love to hear how everything goes for you!

 

[mmmears]

Please please please come back and share your experience. I would love to travel to South Africa. Seems semi-easy to do on your own. A self drive through Kruger seems quite doable, and theres a Marriott at one of the gates. Its on my list - would love to hear how everything goes for you!

I have a good friend who grew up there. She was just back visiting this summer (our summer, their winter) and did the drive through Kruger and said it was amazing. The flights sound awful, though, but she flies coach (has miles, didn't use them, don't get me started ). I would really like to go there one day.

 

[pillow]

Swung by my local Lucky Supermarket this morning, and lo-and-behold there were stacks of GOC GCs on the racks. Picked one up along with coffee and lunch to go, loaded $500 onto it, paid with my Amex Gold, no problemo. Told my wife we'd be doing this to pay our student loans and make 529 contributions for the kiddo, and she's onboard.

Oh I hate you so much . . .

Just kidding of course. Jealous.

 

[irt9206]

I was just approved for the SPG preferred. I understand that after one year I get a free night. Do I have to use the free night within one year or can I bank them.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I can't do a long, strenuous hike either. We took their option to kayak across Mendenhall and then walk up the glacier. (and it was a shared kayak, so DH did a bit more than his 1/2 of the paddling). It's a fantastic adventure if it's not too strenuous for you.

It sounds awesome but my issue is a bad knee and some of it is phobia rather than real, I think. Like I’m scared to ride a bike, even though I ride a stationary bike, because I’m afraid my leg won’t support me if I stop quickly or fall. The thought of walking on a glacier freaks me out a bit too since it’s a giant slab of ice and I originally injured my leg by slipping on ice and breaking my kneecap. When I walk on snow, ice, wet surfaces, I am constantly looking down to avoid slippery areas. My irrational fears.

 

[pillow]

I have a good friend who grew up there. She was just back visiting this summer (our summer, their winter) and did the drive through Kruger and said it was amazing. The flights sound awful, though, but she flies coach (has miles, didn't use them, don't get me started ). I would really like to go there one day.

Initially when I was dreaming about a safari, I zoned in on Tanzania. I would love to go there too, but South Africa seems easier. And I think easier to do with points/miles. I think my goal on that flight would be lie flat seats, which I've never done before, but I'm getting too old for red eyes where I'm up all night. Maybe 2020 or 2021? The Galapagos is on my radar too, but I don't think its doable with points and boy is it pricey!

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I was just approved for the SPG preferred. I understand that after one year I get a free night. Do I have to use the free night within one year or can I bank them.

Your free night will appear after your one year anniversary, so around 11/2019, and expire after a year, so 11/2020. Some have had luck getting those extended but I have called a few times to get my cert extended. Mine expires 3/5/2019, I want to use it 3/29/19. No go so far.

 

[pillow]

It sounds awesome but my issue is a bad knee and some of it is phobia rather than real, I think. Like I’m scared to ride a bike, even though I ride a stationary bike, because I’m afraid my leg won’t support me if I stop quickly or fall. The thought of walking on a glacier freaks me out a bit too since it’s a giant slab of ice and I originally injured my leg by slipping on ice and breaking my kneecap. When I walk on snow, ice, wet surfaces, I am constantly looking down to avoid slippery areas. My irrational fears.

Have you tried hiking poles? I ADORE my poles. Makes an enormous difference both going up and down. Down is tougher for me than up, and they help tremendously! I'm a big chicken when going down . . .

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Have you tried hiking poles? I ADORE my poles. Makes an enormous difference both going up and down. Down is tougher for me than up, and they help tremendously! I'm a big chicken when going down . . .

Down is super hard. I cant even walk downstairs consecutively, I walk down like a toddler one step at a time lol. I have not used poles though. It doesn’t help that in addition to injuring my knee 5 years ago, last year I slipped on a wet floor at work and broke my wrist. So I feel like I’m not safe anywhere as I’m such a klutz.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Initially when I was dreaming about a safari, I zoned in on Tanzania. I would love to go there too, but South Africa seems easier. And I think easier to do with points/miles. I think my goal on that flight would be lie flat seats, which I've never done before, but I'm getting too old for red eyes where I'm up all night. Maybe 2020 or 2021? The Galapagos is on my radar too, but I don't think its doable with points and boy is it pricey!

Galapagos was on my list until I looked at prices and that was 10 years ago. I shudder to think of current prices. We settled for Costa Rica back then and loved it.

 

[pillow]

Galapagos was on my list until I looked at prices and that was 10 years ago. I shudder to think of current prices. We settled for Costa Rica back then and loved it.

We loved Costa Rica too and would love to go back. I've been reading up on Galapagos. Apparently the most cost effective thing to do is to research the boats so you know whats what beforehand. Then go to a travel agency when you get there and book a boat last minute. This is the opposite of how I usually travel, but I'd be willing to try doing it that way to save. Worst case scenario is that you're stuck on the main island doing day trips. Given that its just the two of us now, we may try doing this in 2020.

 

[irt9206]

Your free night will appear after your one year anniversary, so around 11/2019, and expire after a year, so 11/2020. Some have had luck getting those extended but I have called a few times to get my cert extended. Mine expires 3/5/2019, I want to use it 3/29/19. No go so far.

Thanks for the info. One more question the group. Can my wife apply for the same card with the same bonuses. And do they ever do referrals.

 

[LynnTH]

I have Marriott and SPG accounts that I haven't merged yet. I've had my personal SPG for ages, and opened up a SPG Biz early this year. As of Feb 2018 I was credited with 10 nights from SPG, 5 each from my personal and my Biz card. My card anniversary for my personal SPG is in March.

In my Marriott account I have 32 Elite Nights so far, of those are 15 Elite Night credits that I got on my Marriott card anniversary in May. When I merge my accounts I should have 42 Elite nights with Marriott.

So, my question for you is: have you merged your Marriott and Starwood accounts already? Or do you have a separate SPG account that has 5 nights from your SPG credit card that you can merge into your Marriott account? If the latter, then you should be all set to be Platinum once you merge your accounts.

Yes. I did Merge accounts already. I only need 1 night to Platinum. Not sure if will even use the benefits next year but FOMO has the better of me. May just have to do a 1 night stay somewhere

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Thanks for the info. One more question the group. Can my wife apply for the same card with the same bonuses.

As long as she hasn’t had a Marriott Card recently or that Amex card before (ever)
And she will have to pay the annual fee also

 

[Lain]

Oh I hate you so much . . .

Just kidding of course. Jealous.

Aren’t you headed out this way next spring? ;-)

 

[GlamMistress]

Would you believe that I bid on - and lost - yet another DVC contract today? I lost this one by 30 seconds.
Literally the agent said the person who got the contract beat me by about 30 seconds.

I have a DVC app that pushes contracts that match my preferences. I get an alert each time a new one goes live. I happened to be at lunch and looked at down at my phone, saw the push alert and then immediately hit "make offer" and I still wasn't quick enough.


Speaking of insanity, this morning DH told me his December Vegas conference date was changing and he would be gone longer. I was already going to join him over the weekend because it is our anniversary. I happened to see a flash sales on Frontier, so I grabbed a one way flight on an earlier date to LAS for myself. $58 all in so dirt cheap.

At dinner DH says everyone at work changed their mind and now they are back to the original trip dates. Maybe I'll fly to Vegas and stay there by myself for some peace and sanity! #IHateWhenDHGoesToTheseInsaneConferences

 

[kmc8826]

Would you believe that I bid on - and lost - yet another DVC contract today? I lost this one by 30 seconds.
Literally the agent said the person who got the contract beat me by about 30 seconds.

I have a DVC app that pushes contracts that match my preferences. I get an alert each time a new one goes live. I happened to be at lunch and looked at down at my phone, saw the push alert and then immediately hit "make offer" and I still wasn't quick enough.


Speaking of insanity, this morning DH told me his December Vegas conference date was changing and he would be gone longer. I was already going to join him over the weekend because it is our anniversary. I happened to see a flash sales on Frontier, so I grabbed a one way flight on an earlier date to LAS for myself. $58 all in so dirt cheap.

At dinner DH says everyone at work changed their mind and now they are back to the original trip dates. Maybe I'll fly to Vegas and stay there by myself for some peace and sanity! #IHateWhenDHGoesToTheseInsaneConferences

I bought my resale earlier this year through Timeshare Store. Was following their listings on Twitter and twice weekly emails. I was happy with them it all went through smooth and super quick. Actually less paperwork than buying direct.

Isn’t it a regulatory law that if your flight is booked and needs to be changed/cancelled the airline has to do so without fee? You might want to call right away if you don’t want/need the flight now.

 

[Ava]

I applied for the Barclay’s Aviator Biz and got instant approval! Now I’m tempted to do it for DW too, but it hasn’t been a month yet since her CIP application. Should I try, or is that tempting fate?

I'm trying to remember what I know about JB points. Aren't they worth an average of 1.4 CPP? If you have a CSR, I'd check the portal first before you transfer URs - it might be cheaper!

Yes, I’ve bought our last 3 JB flights through the portal using URs (which is great because we also earn miles on the flights that way!). I’d probably only transfer UR->JB if don’t have enough URs for a flight and want to top off my JB balance for a redemption.

Different day, different reviewer, same theme: find something to complain about.

Seriously, for the past month, TPG has been running reviews of flights to and from Hawaii, and hotels and resorts in Hawaii — first Maui, Oahu, and now apparently Kauai, and they’ve picked the most inane things to complain about in every piece.

Last week was a doozy.

The Royal Hawaiian: It’s too pink! I’m a solo traveler and wish they hadn’t upgraded me to a junior suite when I much rather preferred an ocean view.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village: It’s too big, with too many families with kids, and as a solo traveler, I didn’t feel catered to; they didn’t have my room ready when I showed up an hour before check-in time and then they gave me a dated room with *gasp* two beds!

The Laylow Waikiki: I’m a solo traveler who requested one king bed but got two queens; the hotel is cozy but can get suffocating; my view was of another hotel and it’s not on the beach!

Even the commenters, who are usually TPG Kool-aid drinking cultists called out the reviewer as complaining about everything.

I read that Hilton Hawaiian Village review, because I have friends who stayed there recently and had a great time, so I wanted to see why the TPG blogger hated it so much. Talk about a clueless reviewer. I read travel reviews to get helpful information about places I may want to visit/stay, not to read inane complaints from someone who is not at all the type of guest a property caters to.

Yes I’ve dont that
CSR $450 I use the portal a lot and and we eat out quite a bit but may drop to a freedom
SWx2 - $69/$99 will cancel higher fee card at 1 year. Might keep lower for referral points for DH
CIP x2 - $95 will cancel at 1 year
BGR - $150 (waived) will cancel
Biz green x2 - $99 i think (waived) will cancel
Marriot premier x2 - $95 will keep for free night
Spg lux - $450 - free night and credit prob keep
SPG biz x2 $99 - free nights
(Not sure we need all these marriot free nights something to consider
Cap one venture -$65 my first card been a member forever. Almost dropped it but they gave a free TSA that we used for DH. May downgrade for some reason I’m attached.
JB biz x2 - $99 just opened for points. Free baggage and 10% back will make one a possible keeper but will close one for sure

Something I’ve kind of unintentionally done is alternate between myself & DW in having various AF cards. That way we’re not paying the AF on two of the same card at the same time, but can continue getting the benefits of that card for another year.

As a side note, I’m in the same boat as you with the Marriott free nights. I’ll get three of the 35K ones and one 50K one next year. I’m waiting to see what happens when the peak/off-peak pricing on awards goes into effect next year; that will determine how useful/valuable those free nights are to me and if I will keep any of those cards. I’ll also have two IHG free nights, one uncapped and one capped at 40K, that I’m not sure yet how I’m going to use.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

Would you believe that I bid on - and lost - yet another DVC contract today? I lost this one by 30 seconds.
Literally the agent said the person who got the contract beat me by about 30 seconds.

I have a DVC app that pushes contracts that match my preferences. I get an alert each time a new one goes live. I happened to be at lunch and looked at down at my phone, saw the push alert and then immediately hit "make offer" and I still wasn't quick enough.


Speaking of insanity, this morning DH told me his December Vegas conference date was changing and he would be gone longer. I was already going to join him over the weekend because it is our anniversary. I happened to see a flash sales on Frontier, so I grabbed a one way flight on an earlier date to LAS for myself. $58 all in so dirt cheap.

At dinner DH says everyone at work changed their mind and now they are back to the original trip dates. Maybe I'll fly to Vegas and stay there by myself for some peace and sanity! #IHateWhenDHGoesToTheseInsaneConferences

I’m not completely certain but I believe you can cancel within 24 hrs and get your money back.