I love credit cards so much! v5.0 - 2022 (see first page for add'l details)

Status
Not open for further replies.
FreeDiningFanatic said:
Paris 2022 Trip Report

Travel party of 7: Myself and husband, 44, our younger kids, 8 and 12, known as “the lils,” our older kids, 24 and 21 and our daughter’s boyfriend, 20.

Flew out of ORD. Used Preflight Airport parking, as recommended here. Very efficient- shuttled to Terminal 5 in about 10 mins. ORD is a wasteland- almost no lounge access. We were flying Biz class to Paris on Air France, and the Air France Lounge is permanently closed. Only option was Swissport, so we passed. But security was super fast. The con was we had much way too much time on our hands at ORD.

Air France Biz class service was exceptional. Our flight attendant even wrote down a list of recommendations for our time in Paris, what wine to buy, etc.

Taxi from airport (make sure to get in taxi line, not the scammers offering taxi rides near the taxi line) to City Locker to park our luggage, then on to brunch at Kitchen, a super fresh vegetarian cafe.

We stayed at this AirBNB in the II Arrondisement, just a street away from Rue Montorgueil. This is a pedestrian street full of cafes, bakeries, fish markets, butchers and produce stores. Every morning we popped out and got fresh produce and bakery.

We did all the typical touristy stuff- Eiffel Tower to the summit at night, the Louvre, viewed the exterior of Norte Dame, the Arc de Triumph, Center Pompidou, and a private macaron baking class at Galleries Lafayette. We repurposed ThatMuse scavenger hunts from a previous trip- the Louvre and Harry Potter ThatRue (new to us). That made touring so much more interesting for my kiddos. We spent a morning in Montmartre, which was such a lovely part of Paris. We started at Le Consulat cafe and made our way through picturesque Montmartre to a Harry Potter mural the kids wanted to see. As recommended by Jay Swanson (YouTube expert on Paris), we made sure to visit from the back of Sacre Coeur. Beautiful pics without the hoards of visitors. We checked out the artists square, ate some lunch from an inexpensive Boulangerie and got in lots of pics.

View attachment 658647
View attachment 658648
View attachment 658649
View attachment 658650
View attachment 658651
View attachment 658652
View attachment 658653
View attachment 658654

View attachment 658656



Because of our large group, we traveled a lot by foot, Uber, or taxi (airport) and only used the Metro on occasion. FYI, I purchased Uber gcs in advance and loaded them. Upon arriving, there were no wallet funds in our account, so I’m not sure if they aren’t available in Europe? This has worked for us in Mexico.

Charles de Gaulle was a disaster for our return. Took 2 hours to clear bag drop, border control and security. Then almost 45 mins to board our plane. We flew economy on the way home. I think that combination (Biz class to Europe, economy to US) might make sense for our family, to optimize point usage and fuel surcharges. We scored such a great deal on our Biz class flights (35k MRs each one way) during a transfer bonus to Flying Blue, while AirFrance was also having a fare promo.

Misc:
⁃ Bought a pocket WiFi device from TravelWifi for $99. From there you just buy data plans for your trips. Worked well and cost effective- I’d recommend.
⁃ Used Abbott’s eMed COVID tests for US return testing requirement, as we have throughout the pandemic. Easy and convenient. I’ll try for partial reimbursement from insurance.
⁃ Jay Swanson’s YouTube videos are so, so helpful for Paris. I think he has books and a guide for purchase, as well. I’d often hear my kids say “remember Jay said…”
⁃ We’d previously bought a kids crumpled map of Paris. This time my kids really used it a lot and it helped involve them in the different areas of Paris and sites to see. It even got competitive and there were map quizzes.

Takeaway: We visited Paris four years ago, but did a split visit of DLP, Paris and London. This time Paris just seemed SO much busier- at least in the streets and cafes. Perhaps because they lifted most mask and COVID restrictions just a week prior? The street and cafes were packed. We also had beautiful weather (mid 60s) for March, so perhaps that brought everyone out. Last time we stayed in a much quieter area and that may have influenced our perception. We expected to eat at cafes often, but given how crowded everything was and our group size, and the constant cigarette smoking, we actually ended up eating in our AirBNB most often. We had lots of fun family time, but I don't see our party returning to Paris anytime in the near future.


View attachment 658638

We have a trip to Italy (Tuscany and Rome) in June, which I am sort of regretting after our Parisian experience. The summer crowds, combined with scorching heat and pent-up COVID travelers doesn’t sound like a great trip. But it is a graduation trip for my son and on my Mom’s bucket list, so I don’t feel I can back out now. I'm going to go into it with a really positive attitude and I'm sure we'll create some amazing memories, which is what is most important.
Click to expand...
when I was in paris/menton/reims paris was super crowded also even with the restrictions (it was the week they lifted the test to enter the country). Menton and reims were wonderful though no crowds. we didn't wait for cafes but we had to keep walking if that makes sense.
 
I don't see the ability to top off with points and a FNC with Marriott. Anyone seeing that capability yet or see any blog posts showing more details?
 
Psychodisney said:
Did anyone else get the Disney visa 5x points on grocery, gas and select Disney? Valid April-June up to $1500.

And I got fresh SW drink tickets!
Click to expand...
oh, where do I look for that?


Also, my DH is too much of a rules follower and won't go for a biz card bc we don't have anything that would count in his mind as a legit biz.. sigh. He's messing up my plans lol
 
called Amex tried to get a retention offer they didn't offer me one I guess my low spend wasn't enough :)
FreeDiningFanatic said:
I don't see the ability to top off with points and a FNC with Marriott. Anyone seeing that capability yet or see any blog posts showing more details?
Click to expand...
I saw it's going to start in April I can't remember the date but I just canceled my card no retention offer :)
 
dez1978 said:
oh, where do I look for that?


Also, my DH is too much of a rules follower and won't go for a biz card bc we don't have anything that would count in his mind as a legit biz.. sigh. He's messing up my plans lol
Click to expand...
https://www.chase.com/mybonus I posted it before I got the 5x this quarter didn't max it out because I find the flex more rewarding. but I have a reminder to check this every quarter.
 
DaveL said:
And its open...

@SouthFayetteFan

We are currently accepting air reservations through November 5, 2022.
On June 16, 2022 we will open our schedule for sale through January 4, 2023.
This date is subject to change! Please check back frequently.
Click to expand...
Got my flights to Portland OR for September. Pretty good price (in points). About the same as Delta. The times with Delta are a little better so I’ll keep both until closer and see if any schedule changes or sales come around.
 
afan said:
I have a current grocery/Amazon one on that card which is what pulls up. Will have to try and remember to look again Fri but I don't expect to get anything on it.

I did get this though -
Earn 5,000 World of Hyatt Bonus Points when you spend $3,000 or more on purchases with your World of Hyatt Credit Card from April 1 - June 30, 2022.1

Was planning to put my non category spend on here anyway. I need a new card but am not ready yet cause I don't know what I want. Needs to be an amex biz if I get something before July. Will eventually need a card to hold my mr but not sure I'm ready to do that and anything else has a higher af than I want right now.
Click to expand...

DH got the same Hyatt offer for Q1. Hope he can get it again this time. Site is still pulling up the old offer when I check. Working on the FNC and elite nights on that card, so would work out.

I got 5x grocery/gas on my Hyatt. Nothing on the other cards yet.
 
My Marriott take….

I just looked at my past hotels I’ve stayed at and what I have booked for this year. It isn’t impacting me much and maybe it is a little better for my situation.

I’ve booked Residence Inn and Springhill in Whitefish/Kalispell using my FNCs in the past. Now they are 39k and 40k so would have to use my FNC and top off. Cash price is 450-600 a night so still a deal in my mind.

I’ve stayed at the Fairfield Inn in 29 Palms. Now it is 20k or $129 a night. Probably would pay cash or book through the Chase portal for this one.

Residence Inn in Tucson. Now is 20k or $272 a night. Probably wouldn’t use my cert but points. But better, JW Marriott in Tucson is 40k a night so I would have the option to use my cert and top off. That is going at 600 a night so a deal there.

Lastly, my booking of Waikoloa beach resort actually came down from 240k to 229k (4 nights).

Not trying to discount anyone else’s experience. I think it really shows how personal this really is. Take the time to research for yourself. I’m not getting rid of any of my Bonvoy cards right now. In fact DH is probably going to get the personal Bonvoy card. Then I might drop the Biz cards since I don’t travel enough to use 4 FNCs in a year. I don’t stay at 100k a night hotels! I stay near NPs so I am limited to what is available there. If I traveled where there weren’t any Marriotts then I’d rethink my decision.
 
StephPlum said:
My Marriott take….

I just looked at my past hotels I’ve stayed at and what I have booked for this year. It isn’t impacting me much and maybe it is a little better for my situation.

I’ve booked Residence Inn and Springhill in Whitefish/Kalispell using my FNCs in the past. Now they are 39k and 40k so would have to use my FNC and top off. Cash price is 450-600 a night so still a deal in my mind.

I’ve stayed at the Fairfield Inn in 29 Palms. Now it is 20k or $129 a night. Probably would pay cash or book through the Chase portal for this one.

Residence Inn in Tucson. Now is 20k or $272 a night. Probably wouldn’t use my cert but points. But better, JW Marriott in Tucson is 40k a night so I would have the option to use my cert and top off. That is going at 600 a night so a deal there.

Lastly, my booking of Waikoloa beach resort actually came down from 240k to 229k (4 nights).

Not trying to discount anyone else’s experience. I think it really shows how personal this really is. Take the time to research for yourself. I’m not getting rid of any of my Bonvoy cards right now. In fact DH is probably going to get the personal Bonvoy card. Then I might drop the Biz cards since I don’t travel enough to use 4 FNCs in a year. I don’t stay at 100k a night hotels! I stay near NPs so I am limited to what is available there. If I traveled where there weren’t any Marriotts then I’d rethink my decision.
Click to expand...
agreed, but next year it's going to be dynamic too I'm over it if it wasn't for Hyatt benefits id be a free agent. my problem is the points have either stayed the same or doubled depending on the dates at the places i frequent so i find no value in the certificate that they place doesn't mean I won't book Marriot I just don't find as much value in a card I spend so much money on.
 
LuckyMamaInDE said:
Which proctored rapid COVID tests are people using for returning to the US? We have the opportunity to go to Vienna next week (!!!) to visit dd who is studying there this semester, and I'm trying to figure out the smaller details (have flights, hotel figured out). How quickly have you received them in the mail?

We would have the opportunity for free regular tests in Vienna with a (usually less than) 24 hour turn around or having rapid tests done at the airport. I think I'd rather take a rapid test while still at the hotel, just for peace of mind.
Click to expand...
Lucky You! We were in Vienna two weeks ago and I'm so jealous your daughter is there for a whole semester! Such a fantastic city.

We bought tests through Optum, I think (whatever United is partnering with) and they came in like 3 days. Set up our Navica accounts with the emed proctoring before we left the states. Worked pretty well - took a little while to get all 4 of us done, because we were on hold for a proctor for a few minutes, then it is the full 15 min wait, then the proctor again. Test locations were everywhere, but I was happy to have it all under our control and immediate results.

We were flying on Austrian, but booked via United on points, so we couldn't upload our test results ahead of time (wasted some time figuring that out). But we were able to print the results at the hotel business center and brought them with us to the airport - no issues. We needed to present them both when we checked in and also when we were entering the gate area.
 
wanderlust7 said:
DH got the same Hyatt offer for Q1. Hope he can get it again this time. Site is still pulling up the old offer when I check. Working on the FNC and elite nights on that card, so would work out.

I got 5x grocery/gas on my Hyatt. Nothing on the other cards yet.
Click to expand...

I figure since my urs get transferred to hyatt most of the time anyway I might as well use it for non cat spend and see if I can get to the 15k.

Already did it with my surpass between taxes, a new mattress and washing machine. I spent way too much last week 😂 I wouldn't need to hyatt fnc until next spring so it can be an all year thing.

How long do I have to use the hilton fnc? I forgot about that part. I want to use it in Nov. I know hyatt is 6 mos.
 
FreeDiningFanatic said:
Paris 2022 Trip Report

Travel party of 7: Myself and husband, 44, our younger kids, 8 and 12, known as “the lils,” our older kids, 24 and 21 and our daughter’s boyfriend, 20.

Flew out of ORD. Used Preflight Airport parking, as recommended here. Very efficient- shuttled to Terminal 5 in about 10 mins. ORD is a wasteland- almost no lounge access. We were flying Biz class to Paris on Air France, and the Air France Lounge is permanently closed. Only option was Swissport, so we passed. But security was super fast. The con was we had much way too much time on our hands at ORD.

Air France Biz class service was exceptional. Our flight attendant even wrote down a list of recommendations for our time in Paris, what wine to buy, etc.

Taxi from airport (make sure to get in taxi line, not the scammers offering taxi rides near the taxi line) to City Locker to park our luggage, then on to brunch at Kitchen, a super fresh vegetarian cafe.

We stayed at this AirBNB in the II Arrondisement, just a street away from Rue Montorgueil. This is a pedestrian street full of cafes, bakeries, fish markets, butchers and produce stores. Every morning we popped out and got fresh produce and bakery.

We did all the typical touristy stuff- Eiffel Tower to the summit at night, the Louvre, viewed the exterior of Norte Dame, the Arc de Triumph, Center Pompidou, and a private macaron baking class at Galleries Lafayette. We repurposed ThatMuse scavenger hunts from a previous trip- the Louvre and Harry Potter ThatRue (new to us). That made touring so much more interesting for my kiddos. We spent a morning in Montmartre, which was such a lovely part of Paris. We started at Le Consulat cafe and made our way through picturesque Montmartre to a Harry Potter mural the kids wanted to see. As recommended by Jay Swanson (YouTube expert on Paris), we made sure to visit from the back of Sacre Coeur. Beautiful pics without the hoards of visitors. We checked out the artists square, ate some lunch from an inexpensive Boulangerie and got in lots of pics.

View attachment 658647
View attachment 658648
View attachment 658649
View attachment 658650
View attachment 658651
View attachment 658652
View attachment 658653
View attachment 658654

View attachment 658656



Because of our large group, we traveled a lot by foot, Uber, or taxi (airport) and only used the Metro on occasion. FYI, I purchased Uber gcs in advance and loaded them. Upon arriving, there were no wallet funds in our account, so I’m not sure if they aren’t available in Europe? This has worked for us in Mexico.

Charles de Gaulle was a disaster for our return. Took 2 hours to clear bag drop, border control and security. Then almost 45 mins to board our plane. We flew economy on the way home. I think that combination (Biz class to Europe, economy to US) might make sense for our family, to optimize point usage and fuel surcharges. We scored such a great deal on our Biz class flights (35k MRs each one way) during a transfer bonus to Flying Blue, while AirFrance was also having a fare promo.

Misc:
⁃ Bought a pocket WiFi device from TravelWifi for $99. From there you just buy data plans for your trips. Worked well and cost effective- I’d recommend.
⁃ Used Abbott’s eMed COVID tests for US return testing requirement, as we have throughout the pandemic. Easy and convenient. I’ll try for partial reimbursement from insurance.
⁃ Jay Swanson’s YouTube videos are so, so helpful for Paris. I think he has books and a guide for purchase, as well. I’d often hear my kids say “remember Jay said…”
⁃ We’d previously bought a kids crumpled map of Paris. This time my kids really used it a lot and it helped involve them in the different areas of Paris and sites to see. It even got competitive and there were map quizzes.

Takeaway: We visited Paris four years ago, but did a split visit of DLP, Paris and London. This time Paris just seemed SO much busier- at least in the streets and cafes. Perhaps because they lifted most mask and COVID restrictions just a week prior? The street and cafes were packed. We also had beautiful weather (mid 60s) for March, so perhaps that brought everyone out. Last time we stayed in a much quieter area and that may have influenced our perception. We expected to eat at cafes often, but given how crowded everything was and our group size, and the constant cigarette smoking, we actually ended up eating in our AirBNB most often. We had lots of fun family time, but I don't see our party returning to Paris anytime in the near future.


View attachment 658638

We have a trip to Italy (Tuscany and Rome) in June, which I am sort of regretting after our Parisian experience. The summer crowds, combined with scorching heat and pent-up COVID travelers doesn’t sound like a great trip. But it is a graduation trip for my son and on my Mom’s bucket list, so I don’t feel I can back out now. I'm going to go into it with a really positive attitude and I'm sure we'll create some amazing memories, which is what is most important.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the TR... what an amazing price on airfare.

Just looked at the ThatLou hunt, looks like fun specially if you include the Harry Potter hunt. but wow, that's pricey for a handbook. Maybe if I can find savings elsewhere, I might look into it.
Thanks for the pocket Wifi recommendation, we also hope to visit Japan (fingers crossed) in 2023 so purchasing a pocket Wifi might be smart.
Can't wait to read about your Italy trip.
 
afan said:
I figure since my urs get transferred to hyatt most of the time anyway I might as well use it for non cat spend and see if I can get to the 15k.

Already did it with my surpass between taxes, a new mattress and washing machine. I spent way too much last week 😂 I wouldn't need to hyatt fnc until next spring so it can be an all year thing.

How long do I have to use the hilton fnc? I forgot about that part. I want to use it in Nov. I know hyatt is 6 mos.
Click to expand...

Both the Hilton and Hyatt FNCs are 1 year. Hyatt is 6 months for the 30 night milestone award and for the Bonus Journeys promo last year. Was getting so confused which had what expiration that I had to write it down on my spreadsheet lol.
 
wanderlust7 said:
You can do hotel and car with Delta Vacations. They have Disney hotels. Can also add theme park tickets, but I only see Universal now. They used to have Disney tickets. The miles redeem at 1 cent per point.

You can also Pay with Miles for flights at 1 cent per point. This would be like a cash ticket.

FWIW, my experience with Delta Vacations has been positive. Got in on the 2 cpp promo way back when (pre-pandemic) and have made many changes (booking to voucher to booking to voucher, etc lol). Have had to call them several times. Hold times aren't bad and have gotten what I needed done with no issues.
Click to expand...


Thank you, it's refreshing to hear a good review! I'll keep an eye out for 2X.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Share this page


GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!


New DISboards Threads

gottalovepluto
DVC 20% off VIP summer tours
Replies
0
Views
44
gottalovepluto
gottalovepluto
Neapolitan Ice Cream
WDW Park Atmosphere
Replies
1
Views
52
fla4fun
fla4fun
Neapolitan Ice Cream
Us Brits...
Replies
0
Views
53
Neapolitan Ice Cream
Neapolitan Ice Cream
Lumpy1106
American Airlines "AURA" - I pretty much hate this
Replies
1
Views
76
cabanafrau
cabanafrau
S
Resort reservation swapping?
Replies
0
Views
65
samsp99
S
ClaraOswald
Getting New Points Loaded?
Replies
8
Views
106
Genie+
Genie+
NEWS & UPDATES



Latest posts







facebook twitter
Top