I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[amalone1013]

@amalone1013 - I bought one pair of Tieks years ago. I liked them but couldn’t bring myself to spend that much on travel shoes again. Plus the teal stripe on the back makes my OCD side twitchy. So I went on a mission to find the closest type of ballet flat to Tieks that I could at a reasonable price point. That was when I discovered the Me Too shoes at DSW. I bring the Me Too shoes on any trip that may require something other than sneakers or flip flops.

Haha I totally understand about the teal stripe. I think I'll be making a trip to DSW soon. Right now I always take my regular flats, which are Born. They always get smooshed in my bag though so now I take my old pair and have a new pair for at home.

 

[Andysol]

Usually

I pack one large checked piece for the three of us for most vacations. Each of us has one carryon. Mine is a messenger bag, DHs is a backpack. We have a change of clothes in carryon but the rest is snacks, electronics, camera, etc. Our carryons aren’t big enough for a weeks clothes. I will admit to multiple pairs of shoes but I do wear them all. If my knees or feet are bothering me I change which shoes I wear the next day or later in the day. Clothes tend to be mix and match, pants are all gray or black. Toiletries are in refillable little bottles, so they are small.

What type of carryons do you have?

Ah ok. Those are "personal items." You can have one carry on and one personal item (backpack, purse, messenger bag, etc.) on most airlines. We have rolling Briggs & Reilly international sized carryons - they don't even make what we have anymore - and we've been flying with them for 8-10 years (got them one at a time). There are tons of wheeled carry ons on the market, with lots of different price ranges of course. DD uses hers more than I do since she comes home on breaks 4-5 times a year. They have held up really well, so well that I can't justify replacing mine for a newer model LOL. They are expandable, so pop out and give us an extra 3-4 inches if we want (then it's not carryon sized, so we only do that when moving from place to place, like during a split stay at WDW).

We also each have a personal item. And we pack as many things in these bags as we can. I can usually get flip flops, a pair of ballet flats, and something sneaker like (Keds, Vans, or even sometimes my Asics) packed, and I wear Asics on the plane.

This last trip I was convinced we needed maybe one check in piece of luggage for the 3 of us, but DH was determined to fit in all in and we did. The luggage would have been free, but then we would have had to deal with it, wait for it, etc. When we landed in Copenhagen around 11pm after an 11 hour flight, a 5 hour layover, and a 2 hour flight the last thing we wanted to do was wait for luggage. We walked off the plane and were in a taxi to our hotel in probably 5 mins.

I’m with @mmmears here.

The only time I consider checking a bag is if I’m on site at Disney and using DME.

I have free bags with basically every airline, but we still go carry-on only for our family of four (myself, wife, DD9, DD5). Keep in mind, my wife is your typical Texas “hair done, makeup on, to the 9s” wife. Two carry-ons and 4 backpacks for us. Kids are 100% responsible for carrying their own stuff and my youngest has been like that since 4. I do carry the medicines like pepto, Tylenol, first aid, nausea, etc.

For our kids- You want to bring a toy, stuffed animal or blanket? You’re carrying it and you have to find a way for it to fit. You want to get a souvenir? You’re responsible. It not only gives them a sense of responsibility, but it gives them a better perspective on what they actually need vs what they want. They are incredibly self-reliant as a result, which is a big focus in our parenting.
Quite literally, they carry their own weight on our trips. Hah

Wife and I both do Away bags for carry-on.
https://www.awaytravel.com/luggage/carry-on/black

Wife and oldest’s backpack is this:
https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/mother-lode-tls-weekender-convertible/143101
My backpack. More of a laptop bag as I bring a laptop for work and doesn't hold much:
https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/tls-professional-slim-laptop-backpack/249582?productid=10317756
My 5 year olds backpack (will get her a bigger one in 2-3 years):
https://www.ebags.com/search?term=Professional+junior&pl=hdr_srch_sf_l1

So almost 3 weeks in Hawaii/japan? 2 carry ons and 4 backpacks. Month long round the world trip? 2 carry ons and 4 backpacks.
The freedom and ease can’t be overstated. Packing cubes are a must. Layering and clothes that all coordinate are a must, etc.

Try it and you won’t go back, I assure you.

 

[GZanta77]

Just keep in mind traffic can get really crazy in Boston. It will probably take some time getting out of airport at 6:30am. Getting back should be fine. I’d def do an uber either to Faneuil hall or to museum of science. The duck tours are great - you get to see a lot of the city and the history. They leave out of the science museum, near the aquarium (Faneuil hall area) and the prudential center. They are pretty $$ and can book out so prebooking or looking into Groupon is helpful

I think @Tikitoi should use the 'T' at 7am in the morning. No need to bother with traffic. Just take the airport shuttle to the Blue Line and go to Aquarium or State St - perfectly located for Faneuil Hall etc.

 

[amalone1013]

I’m with @mmmears here.

The only time I consider checking a bag is if I’m on site at Disney and using DME.

I have free bags with basically every airline, but we still go carry-on only for our family of four (myself, wife, DD9, DD5). Keep in mind, my wife is your typical Texas “hair done, makeup on, to the 9s” wife. Two carry-ons and 4 backpacks for us. Kids are 100% responsible for carrying their own stuff and my youngest has been like that since 4. I do carry the medicines like pepto, Tylenol, first aid, nausea, etc.

For our kids- You want to bring a toy, stuffed animal or blanket? You’re carrying it and you have to find a way for it to fit. You want to get a souvenir? You’re responsible. It not only gives them a sense of responsibility, but it gives them a better perspective on what they actually need vs what they want. They are incredibly self-reliant as a result, which is a big focus in our parenting.
Quite literally, they carry their own weight on our trips. Hah

Wife and I both do Away bags for carry-on.
https://www.awaytravel.com/luggage/carry-on/black

Wife and oldest’s backpack is this:
https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/mother-lode-tls-weekender-convertible/143101
My backpack. More of a laptop bag as I bring a laptop for work and doesn't hold much:
https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/tls-professional-slim-laptop-backpack/249582?productid=10317756
My 5 year olds backpack (will get her a bigger one in 2-3 years):
https://www.ebags.com/search?term=Professional+junior&pl=hdr_srch_sf_l1

So almost 3 weeks in Hawaii/japan? 2 carry ons and 4 backpacks. Month long round the world trip? 2 carry ons and 4 backpacks.
The freedom and ease can’t be overstated. Packing cubes are a must. Layering and clothes that all coordinate are a must, etc.

Try it and you won’t go back, I assure you.

I'm lusting after your backpacks now

 

[Andysol]

I'm lusting after your backpacks now

I probably should have mentioned:

Lifetime warranty on them and they have promos like now quite often.
But more- AMEX has offers on ebags regularly. $15 off $75, etc. so you can usually get them for $75-80ish.

The weekender junior is “personal item” size and fits under seat (barely). It’s the perfect “travel backpack” for us as it’s like wearing another carry on.
My super skinny 9 year old looks like a turtle wearing it, but she’ll have it for a decade+

 

[amalone1013]

I probably should have mentioned:

Lifetime warranty on them and they have promos like now quite often.
But more- AMEX has offers on ebags regularly. $15 off $75, etc. so you can usually get them for $75-80ish.

The weekender junior is “personal item” size and fits under seat (barely). It’s the perfect “travel backpack” for us as it’s like wearing another carry on.

I feel like I'm going to spend the rest of the day looking at these now. Turns out I have $16 in ebags rewards too. I've probably gotten my money's worth out of my bargain backpacks.

 

[tink1970]

Question for those who do the Disney races: I am doing the Star Wars 10k. It starts at MK parking lot and ends at Epcot lot. For less stress is it worth paying a little more to stay at an MK or Epcot resort? Only 2 nights and decided to pay for it with Arrival Plus credit so not as worried about the higher cost. I mostly just want to make it as easy as possible for DH (spectator).

YES-forget the cost and stay as close as you can! I've done 10 or 12 runs and I strongly suggest staying at the MK one if you want to sleep in as much as possible (ie 2:30 am wake up v 1:45 or something crazy like that) or EPCOT if you are like me and want to hit the shower and change as soon as possible after. I stayed at YC for my one and only Disney Marathon and we still took buses from EPCOT to the YC but it was so much closer (and I got to chat with Joey Fatone and his wife). If your DH is going to get up to watch, you might also want to look at where it would be easiest for him to walk to spectate. For one of my Princesses I know we stayed at the GF so DH could just walk down and follow the crowd to the road.

Ugh. I checked it on Friday because it was suppsoed to be delivered by USPS that day and the mail had already come... it said it was at the Pensacola processing center I figured either they gave me the wrong tracking number, or put the wrong address... last night I was leaning towards wrong address as it was coming back. I'm shocked it says it left Pensacola at midnight on Saturday and got to DENVER at 10pm last night! I was sure it was going back to the Kohl's warehouse. It's gone Plainfield IN > Indianapolis > South Jersey > Pensacola > Wewahitchka FL > Pensacola > Denver.

Wow, had I known I could've picked it up for you I'm probably also one of the few people on this board who not only knows where Wewahitchka is but I've been there.

Oh man! I wish I had known this before! I already paid for all my girl scout cookies. I won't say how much I spent... just let it be known that it's in the name of empowering young women and not so that I can eat an obscene amount of thin mints.

I so wish I had a CIP!! My DN is selling them and I have to order more so that my ex-husband will not be her biggest buyer. So it's about the cookies, supporting young women (although my brother is doing all the selling so empowering middle aged men?) AND outdoing your ex.

 

[WVMomof3]

My DD also has the motherlode weekender backpack. That was the extremely heavy carry on I mentioned earlier. lol It fits a lot.

 

[DisneyMandC]

How will I know when I receive my free night with Marriott? My card anniversary is literally any day now. I have no immediate plans for the free night, I just didn't know how I would be notified that I've received it, or if it would just magically appear in my account.

Also, 99% sure I'm going to keep my Marriott Biz with the new changes to SPG cards. Seems silly not to keep that with a $99 AF when the SPG Biz will be going to $125 eventually for a free night.

 

[jhoannam]

I've never done a race, but I read plenty of reports on here and the busses at some resorts (specifically Pop in 2 reports) looked HORRIBLE! Busses showing up late, annoyed guests, etc.

This last Marathon weekend went great, they had plenty of buses this time. I think they learned their lesson. ASMo has at least 5 charter buses waiting at 3:30am.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I so wish I had a CIP!! My DN is selling them and I have to order more so that my ex-husband will not be her biggest buyer. So it's about the cookies, supporting young women (although my brother is doing all the selling so empowering middle aged men?) AND outdoing your ex.

 

[Jax1023]

I’m with @mmmears here.

The only time I consider checking a bag is if I’m on site at Disney and using DME.

I have free bags with basically every airline, but we still go carry-on only for our family of four (myself, wife, DD9, DD5). Keep in mind, my wife is your typical Texas “hair done, makeup on, to the 9s” wife. Two carry-ons and 4 backpacks for us. Kids are 100% responsible for carrying their own stuff and my youngest has been like that since 4. I do carry the medicines like pepto, Tylenol, first aid, nausea, etc.

For our kids- You want to bring a toy, stuffed animal or blanket? You’re carrying it and you have to find a way for it to fit. You want to get a souvenir? You’re responsible. It not only gives them a sense of responsibility, but it gives them a better perspective on what they actually need vs what they want. They are incredibly self-reliant as a result, which is a big focus in our parenting.
Quite literally, they carry their own weight on our trips. Hah

Wife and I both do Away bags for carry-on.
https://www.awaytravel.com/luggage/carry-on/black

Wife and oldest’s backpack is this:
https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/mother-lode-tls-weekender-convertible/143101
My backpack. More of a laptop bag as I bring a laptop for work and doesn't hold much:
https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/tls-professional-slim-laptop-backpack/249582?productid=10317756
My 5 year olds backpack (will get her a bigger one in 2-3 years):
https://www.ebags.com/search?term=Professional+junior&pl=hdr_srch_sf_l1

So almost 3 weeks in Hawaii/japan? 2 carry ons and 4 backpacks. Month long round the world trip? 2 carry ons and 4 backpacks.
The freedom and ease can’t be overstated. Packing cubes are a must. Layering and clothes that all coordinate are a must, etc.

Try it and you won’t go back, I assure you.

We also only do carry on with the exception of onsite Disney with magical express if we’re arriving in the morning.
Or if I’m travelling alone with 2 kids and need to carry on car seats, then I check bags. My youngest is 1 so I wear here and carry a diaper backpack and drag the car seat on a wheeled cart. I can’t do carry on suitcases too.

My older son is 6 and has been pulling his own suitcase through the airport since 2. It’s a small pottery bake kids suitcase, smaller than a normal adult roll aboard.

2 weeks in Europe with a 1 year old- 2 roll aboards, the diaper backpack and my husbands messanger bag.

Week in California? Rollaboard and backpack for everyone who can walk.

 

[schmass]

@Tikitoi You have gotten some great ideas from other posters about your layover in Boston! I agree with the suggestions of a Duck Tour and Faneuil Hall. The Duck Tour will give you a great overview of the city and Faneuil Hall has always been one of my favorite places to go in town. Not sure if you have young kids, but there is also a carousel very close to Faneuil Hall. The T is very easy to use and if you go to MBTA.com there is a Trip Planner that makes it even easier!

 

[GlamMistress]

@amalone1013 - that would basically describe what my plan was before

This new crazy version of me is planning by the minute including meals, snacks, and yes...bathrooms hahaha

Man I can't live like this, lol. 3 FPs and an ADR and I'm good. DH will not do the world without hopping. We go wherever the spirit takes us.

 

[miztressuz]

How will I know when I receive my free night with Marriott? My card anniversary is literally any day now. I have no immediate plans for the free night, I just didn't know how I would be notified that I've received it, or if it would just magically appear in my account.

Also, 99% sure I'm going to keep my Marriott Biz with the new changes to SPG cards. Seems silly not to keep that with a $99 AF when the SPG Biz will be going to $125 eventually for a free night.

I don't know about notifications but you can't miss it in the Marriott account. There's a box on your Overview page and in the Activity page that shows you have a certificate. I wondered too but when you log in and look at the account it's obvious.

ETA: On the Activity page you don't even need to scroll -

 

[elgerber]

La la la la la la la, this is my ignoring any mention of bags and ebags shopping!! I hear and see nothing!!!

My ds is now a SW Biz card holder!!! Well he can't hold it yet, but status line says approved. I was stressing a bit about that, since I had him cancel his other SW card. But now he can wait a month or two and apply for a new personal and hopefully will be all good!

 

[pillow]

How will I know when I receive my free night with Marriott? My card anniversary is literally any day now. I have no immediate plans for the free night, I just didn't know how I would be notified that I've received it, or if it would just magically appear in my account.

I received mine literally ON my anniversary date. I didn't get an email but it appeared in my account - I think under "activity."

 

[FloridaNative8]

Question for those who do the Disney races: I am doing the Star Wars 10k. It starts at MK parking lot and ends at Epcot lot. For less stress is it worth paying a little more to stay at an MK or Epcot resort? Only 2 nights and decided to pay for it with Arrival Plus credit so not as worried about the higher cost. I mostly just want to make it as easy as possible for DH (spectator).

Where will your DH spectate? The race transportation, in my experience, has been pretty reliable (I've lost count of how many race weekends I've done!). Epcot won't be open by the time you get done, so you wouldn't be able to walk through to the IG and get back to your resort. You'd still have to take the transportation.

 

[miztressuz]

Since I logged into the Marriott account I noticed a couple things, most important, no 15 nights credit yet Not surprised but still disappointing. Am surprised that Marriott thinks we're Lifetime Gold Elite now vs just a couple weeks ago where we were Lifetime Silver as we should be. I clicked on the link to double check our stats and yep, stats still show correctly. IDK what they are doing (and apparently neither do they).

 

[pillow]

ASMo has at least 5 charter buses waiting at 3:30am.

LOL - this is why I will never do the Disney race!!