I love credit cards so much! v6.0 - 2023 (see first page for add'l details)

[Haley R]

We’re finally driving home from our Germany trip. I’m so ready to be home! I’ll probably write up a trip report in the next week. It was a fun trip and definitely a learning experience traveling so long and far with a 3 year old lol.

 

[reliev]

Yeah, I think I've decided to keep mine out of fomo of losing out on my current $60 price. And good point about ideas, that's valuable too.

It's also my only paid travel subscription. I haven't others that would be useful to me.

Not to chime in again but here goes.
I used to use expert flyer to setup alerts for deals that subscription will sunset with thrifty traveler so much easier.

 

[wdwpluto]

Sharing a random data point - approved SNA for my one-night stay at the Swan next week. Going to MNSSHP and didn't want to have to drive home afterward. Marriott site says: Alcove Resort View, Larger Guest room, 1 King, Sofa bed. Paid cash for the original booking and I'm one night short of Titanium.

Now just crossing my fingers that they approve my 3 SNAs for Oahu first week of September. Not holding my breath though because I know it's a holiday week and things are off-kilter in the Hawaiian islands right now.

 

[mmmears]

Since I have 2 HH FNCs and 2 more on the way, I am looking for ways to redeem them. The first 2 expire August 1, 2024 GRRR -- I would've liked to have them for Japan next September. I was looking at a hotel in London in March (ds and I going to another Arsenal game) and the 3 Hiltons that I want don't have any base-level rooms available. So I tried the WA in Amsterdam -- nothing (they seem to release rooms at the last minute). As a backup I could book the Doubletree in Amsterdam, which looks like a nice hotel and is right at Centraal Station (train, tram and subway on the doorstep), but I wanted a WOW redemption. Sigh. The Doubletree is around $500.00/night so I will book as a backup in case nothing else works out. I asked dd if she was interested in going to Orlando in February (reading week) and she asked why. To stay at the new Conrad of course, with a side trip to WDW lol. Maybe I need to book a solo trip to Orlando to check it out before my Diamond status expires.

I just keep stalking Hilton and usually something opens up. How many nights did you want in AMS? I've been looking at that one for July for a couple of months and today, finally, they opened up standard award rooms, but with a 4 night min. I booked it anyway. We will decide later whether we just check out early, or more likely just spend an extra day there and lose a day in London. I also have the Andaz booked but those huge fish on the walls kind of freak me out. I had pretty much given up hope until today. If you're looking for August, it's not up yet.

ETA - I've seen plenty of Cabo dates, but they tend to overlap with our other trips or they aren't on weekends.

 

[Frwinkley]

Just got a targeted offer for the $900 chase checking/savings. Is it easy enough to do by following their requirements? Any tips or things I should be aware of?

 

[georgina]

Just got a targeted offer for the $900 chase checking/savings. Is it easy enough to do by following their requirements? Any tips or things I should be aware of?

Relatively easy, especially if you have a legit direct deposit you can switch over to the checking account. As retirees that is where we struggled, but got it done. I'm still not exactly sure what triggered the DD credit, might have been the GC I sold on Raise, could have been the monthly annuity payment. The first few things I tried didn't work.

 

[Frwinkley]

Yea that’s where I would struggle too. My DH gets a small monthly pension that I may switch, but I am still working. I would have to change every automatic withdrawal to Chase if I directed my paycheck to them and it might not be worth the hassle.

Did you do both the checking and savings accounts?

 

[havaneselover]

I'm doing both Chase accounts now. Just pushed the savings money from C1 to Chase. It will sit there for 90 days then go right back to C1 (or CIT Bank or into Treasurys).

For the dd, my payroll system is really easy to switch DD accounts. I have mine split between two accounts (e.g., everyhing but $1000 goes to Wells Fargo and send $1000 per paycheck to Chase).

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Well looks like I had to do was come on here and complain......I see the Marriott card in chase account. Hopefully it gets here before I have to pay my taxes. We want to hold out on the timing of getting the 5 FNC. We currently have SOOO many free rooms to use. 2 nights at Resort's World, 2 Nights at Nobu, soon 3 FNC w/ Hilton, 1 IHG night, and 1 35k Marriott night. And now my flight bennies are crap, LOL. 99% of the world would love Delta bennies, and I'm over here crying, LOL.

I'm doing a Citizen's Bank Bonus for the 2nd time. We did a joint account in his name. They are making me jump through 100 hoops to transfer my money back into my accounts. UGH.

I did - I applied through a link on Frequent Miler (or maybe Doctor of Credit?) just before it became widely publicly available. I’m hoping that wasn’t a misstep on my part!

Still no word - and still “2 weeks” per the automated line.

Looks like I got lucky! Sorry you're still waiting.

 

[Frwinkley]

I'm doing both Chase accounts now. Just pushed the savings money from C1 to Chase. It will sit there for 90 days then go right back to C1 (or CIT Bank or into Treasurys).

For the dd, my payroll system is really easy to switch DD accounts. I have mine split between two accounts (e.g., everyhing but $1000 goes to Wells Fargo and send $1000 per paycheck to Chase).

Splitting my paycheck looks like the easiest thing to do. I might be able to do that myself online as well. Does the dd require any maximum amount?

 

[disprincessbear]

Hi everyone! I think I know where I'm headed with this, but want to ask before I make a mistake. We have a big family (multi-generational) Disney trip next December split between 3 players. Our goal is to just bring down the overall package price. We are driving, so we don't need plane tickets.


P1 cards
08/21 - Chase Sapphire Preferred- recently dropped to freedom flex to avoid fee

P2 cards
02/19 – Barclay Arrival + (closing soon)
05/21 – Chase Sapphire Preferred
Also has a Chase Freedom but I don't remember the date, at least 7 years.

P3 cards
10/21 - Chase Sapphire Preferred


P1+P2 are married and have a monthly spend of about $2500 (heavy on groceries and gas) to put on cards. P2 has a freelance writing business and plans to close the CSP and open a Chase Ink Preferred.
P3 has a monthly spend of around $2000, and a lot of dining/food delivery.

We were thinking we could all go through a capital one venture between now and next December, but I'm unsure if we can use those points on the Disney package. I'm more familiar with Chase points.

I would love to know your thoughts! Thank you for your time.

 

[havaneselover]

Splitting my paycheck looks like the easiest thing to do. I might be able to do that myself online as well. Does the dd require any maximum amount?

I don’t see that it says (reading the back of the mailer). Micro deposits don’t count. And to avoid fees you need electronic deposits totaling $500.

 

[djmeredith]

I did a search, but didn't see the answer. I have the Walmart online 10% offer. I saw that it works on physical WM gift cards. What about Disney physical gift cards?

ETA: I found an answer on the gift card thread and have confirmed it. You can purchase WM egift card and then purchase physical Disney gift card with it.

 

[IFlossU]

Splitting my paycheck looks like the easiest thing to do. I might be able to do that myself online as well. Does the dd require any maximum amount?

There is no amount limit on the DD to get the bonus. I just DD a few hundred dollars from my actual paycheck and it worked perfectly. As a secondary DP, I used DD from my paycheck to triggers DHs bonus. My name was not on his account, but my DD worked to trigger his bonus.

 

[georgina]

Yea that’s where I would struggle too. My DH gets a small monthly pension that I may switch, but I am still working. I would have to change every automatic withdrawal to Chase if I directed my paycheck to them and it might not be worth the hassle.

Did you do both the checking and savings accounts?

Chase is quite easy to transfer money out to other accounts. We still have the one DD going into the checking, and I pay his Chase credit card accounts from it. If you have the DD going into it to get the bonus and avoid monthly fees, you can then transfer it elsewhere into your other account.

 

[wanderlust7]

I did a search, but didn't see the answer. I have the Walmart online 10% offer. I saw that it works on physical WM gift cards. What about Disney physical gift cards?

ETA: I found an answer on the gift card thread and have confirmed it. You can purchase WM egift card and then purchase physical Disney gift card with it.

Is this necessary? I bought physical Disney GC and the charge came from walmart.com (so no reason it wouldn't work).

I think Walmart eGC doesn't work as I see that it doesn't go into cart first. Looks like it goes through Cashstar.

ETA: Anything that gets added to cart first and you checkout as normal should be charged by walmart.com and should work. That's my understanding anyways!

 

[ten6mom]

Have any of you used/tried this Biaggi bag?

https://biaggi.com/products/new-zipsak-with-trolley-handle

It appeals to me but I see a lot of complaints about the handle being too short even when extended. I'm not particularly tall, but pushing umbrella strollers irritates me because the handles are always too low.

I don't travel much so it might not be worth it for me to get a new bag anyway, but I do have one plane trip coming up and was considering it.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Hi everyone! I think I know where I'm headed with this, but want to ask before I make a mistake. We have a big family (multi-generational) Disney trip next December split between 3 players. Our goal is to just bring down the overall package price. We are driving, so we don't need plane tickets.


P1 cards
08/21 - Chase Sapphire Preferred- recently dropped to freedom flex to avoid fee

P2 cards
02/19 – Barclay Arrival + (closing soon)
05/21 – Chase Sapphire Preferred
Also has a Chase Freedom but I don't remember the date, at least 7 years.

P3 cards
10/21 - Chase Sapphire Preferred


P1+P2 are married and have a monthly spend of about $2500 (heavy on groceries and gas) to put on cards. P2 has a freelance writing business and plans to close the CSP and open a Chase Ink Preferred.
P3 has a monthly spend of around $2000, and a lot of dining/food delivery.

We were thinking we could all go through a capital one venture between now and next December, but I'm unsure if we can use those points on the Disney package. I'm more familiar with Chase points.

I would love to know your thoughts! Thank you for your time.

P2's plan to open a Chase Ink Preferred is a solid plan, since right now it has the amazing 100k SUB for only $8k spend instead of $15k, $95 AF. Since you are familiar with the Chase UR ecosystem, I think it makes sense for P2 to support P3 for the Ink Preferred as well for the additional 40k support points (if P3 sells anything on marketplace or has any type of side hussle, P3 has a business).

2 CIP= 100k + 100k + 40k+ 8k +8k= 256,000 URs.

Chase makes it difficult to use points for anything Disney related, so your best option might be a statement credit at 1 cent per point, which would make 256,000 URs= $2560

If you can make use of Kroger fuel points, I tend to buy Disney gcs at Kroger or Kroger online and that saves me about 14% on the fuel or gc (however you look at it) and then you could still do the statement credit.

I'm less familiar with the Venture, though I do have a Venture X and I know with the Venture X you can erase travel charges for one cent per point. I believe Undercover Tourist counts as a travel charge, but I think Disney might code as entertainment. I personally would go for the Chase option because it's such a great deal.

***If you don't already have a P2 who has an Chase Ink support link, consider using a support link from over at https://www.reddit.com/r/DISchurners/. You can message the mods over there with your DISBOARDS username, and they'll get you joined to the group.

 

[wanderlust7]

Hi everyone! I think I know where I'm headed with this, but want to ask before I make a mistake. We have a big family (multi-generational) Disney trip next December split between 3 players. Our goal is to just bring down the overall package price. We are driving, so we don't need plane tickets.


P1 cards
08/21 - Chase Sapphire Preferred- recently dropped to freedom flex to avoid fee

P2 cards
02/19 – Barclay Arrival + (closing soon)
05/21 – Chase Sapphire Preferred
Also has a Chase Freedom but I don't remember the date, at least 7 years.

P3 cards
10/21 - Chase Sapphire Preferred


P1+P2 are married and have a monthly spend of about $2500 (heavy on groceries and gas) to put on cards. P2 has a freelance writing business and plans to close the CSP and open a Chase Ink Preferred.
P3 has a monthly spend of around $2000, and a lot of dining/food delivery.

We were thinking we could all go through a capital one venture between now and next December, but I'm unsure if we can use those points on the Disney package. I'm more familiar with Chase points.

I would love to know your thoughts! Thank you for your time.

You can buy Disney GC at grocery stores and then Pay Yourself Back at 1.25 cent per point with a CSR. This is through 9/30, but they may extend it again. You can upgrade one of the CSPs or possibly the Freedom you recently downgraded. Annual fee is $550, but you can use the $300 travel credit twice on one AF.

 

[punkin]

Any decent Hilton sub offers going on right now?