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

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Thanks. I'll read them again. I knew there was something in here, just couldn't find it. The search function is not my friend. I have a good friend who's been going there for short breaks over the past few years and she also recommended that I give it a try. I haven't been to Cabo before. I'm much more of a Hawaii person, but I also think it's good to try new things.

Cabo will have a very different type of beauty compared with Hawaii. Think desert meets the sea. Desert landscaping with few swimmable beaches. The one at the resort is especially unswimmable (deadly actually). But the resort pools and your balcony pool will be amazing. I love Cabo for the food, the nightly live entertainment at restaurants, the impeccable service at the resort. Hopefully you'll be there for whale watching season. Depending on how long you are staying, you might want to make time to head out to see San Jose del Cabo and especially Flora Farms, a farm to table garden oasis in the middle of the desert. It's pretty special.

There's another Cabo review in my signature that has some dining recommendations.

The WA is the best FNC redemption I know of. It's great to try new things. I think recently, instead of trying to fall in love with every place I visit, I am trying to approach new destinations with "what can I learn from this experience/destination?" Before, I think I tried to make every destination my new favorite, which set me up for many failures.

 

[reliev]

We actually have Verizon, hate it, and are going to switch back to Tmobile tomorrow. Then, I see that they are offering $800 for trade in for the XRs, so we're hoping once we make the switch, to order the new phones using that trade in

I had Verizon for 20 years went to add my wife (after we got married) they said it was 120$ more a month (for unlimited this was a while ago) went to Tmobile in the same strip mall got both phones for 100$ with taxes it hasn't gone up since also free international roaming on trips vs 10$ a day with Verizon (not sure if this changed) I agree wouldn't go back.

 

[Best Aunt]

It seems like a lot of the credit card deals are geared toward paying for travel.

I would want a card which lets me go into my account periodically, and apply the rewards/points/miles as a dollar amount to reduce the amount due on my next statement.
I would not use them directly to pay for travel. I would not use them as a credit against travel expenses. And I would not transfer them to a frequent flyer account.

Are any of these cards especially easy or especially difficult to use when you don't want to use them for travel expenses in any way?

As an example, I see that the Capital One Venture Card is giving 75,000 bonus miles. And you earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. But once miles are credited to your account, can those "miles" be used to reduce my credit card bill? Or are they only good for travel expenses?

 

[trenty]

It seems like a lot of the credit card deals are geared toward paying for travel.

I would want a card which lets me go into my account periodically, and apply the rewards/points/miles as a dollar amount to reduce the amount due on my next statement.
I would not use them directly to pay for travel. I would not use them as a credit against travel expenses. And I would not transfer them to a frequent flyer account.

Are any of these cards especially easy or especially difficult to use when you don't want to use them for travel expenses in any way?

As an example, I see that the Capital One Venture Card is giving 75,000 bonus miles. And you earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. But once miles are credited to your account, can those "miles" be used to reduce my credit card bill? Or are they only good for travel expenses?

Look into Discover IT, BOA cash rewards, and AMEX Blue Cash.

I know there are others but those are the first three that come to mind for straight cash back, besides the Chase Freedom line.

 

[Best Aunt]

Look into Discover IT, BOA cash rewards, and AMEX Blue Cash.

I know there are others but those are the first three that come to mind for straight cash back, besides the Chase Freedom line.

Thanks!

 

[AndreaDM]

Speaking of phones, we are headed to Europe next week (Germany/France/Netherlands) and previously I had added the daily international phone service through Verizon, but at $10 a day, that's another $100. Has anyone used a sim card, and if so, what do you suggest? I think I can do that for around $50 for the entire time. Flights/hotels booked on points to keep this on topic lol.

 

[Psychodisney]

It seems like a lot of the credit card deals are geared toward paying for travel.

I would want a card which lets me go into my account periodically, and apply the rewards/points/miles as a dollar amount to reduce the amount due on my next statement.
I would not use them directly to pay for travel. I would not use them as a credit against travel expenses. And I would not transfer them to a frequent flyer account.

Are any of these cards especially easy or especially difficult to use when you don't want to use them for travel expenses in any way?

As an example, I see that the Capital One Venture Card is giving 75,000 bonus miles. And you earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. But once miles are credited to your account, can those "miles" be used to reduce my credit card bill? Or are they only good for travel expenses?

Capital One venture is travel only. There are other cards that are better for cash back.

 

[platamama]

I think this is a first for me: Citi sent me my first statement for my Premier card...that hasn't even arrived in the mail yet

 

[elgerber]

I think this is a first for me: Citi sent me my first statement for my Premier card...that hasn't even arrived in the mail yet

I had that happen with one of our new US Bank cards. The start date on the statement was a couple weeks before we even applied.

 

[punkin]

I need some collective wisdom. A while back DH got a BofA Amtrak card, which had a very nice SUB. It was only available for a short time and they pulled it. This week he got a letter from Amtrak that they are changing banks to FNBO. Is it worth keeping the card at a $99 fee? It's not really giving me anything extra really.

 

[afan]

I need some collective wisdom. A while back DH got a BofA Amtrak card, which had a very nice SUB. It was only available for a short time and they pulled it. This week he got a letter from Amtrak that they are changing banks to FNBO. Is it worth keeping the card at a $99 fee? It's not really giving me anything extra really.

Could hit as a new acct with the bank change and affect his 5/24. If you aren't using it I'd cancel before the switch. Plus that could leave open for the new card if the sub is good and you need more Amtrak points.

 

[StephPlum]

I won! An annual pass to Canadian Parks. I had forgotten about this. Back in July I entered a contest to win a free annual pass. It arrived in the mail today. Now to turn 2023 upside down to take advantage. For sure I want to plan Banff and Jasper. Any other parks I should consider? @*WDW*Groupie* and any other Canadians out there please chime in if you have advice.

I have from now to next August to use the pass.

 

[LynnTH]

There's a 150K MR for $6K MSR Amex Plat offer available now, if anyone was waiting for an increased offer. It's also available through support links. I was able to pull it up in a clean browser. (So try clearing history, or different browser, or incognito mode if at first it doesn't show.) That's such a nice offer compared to the $15K MSR on the Biz Plat!

I keep trying to pull up the 150K MR. Can get 125K but not 150K. Are there any support links for this in Dischurners? I tried a few links but nothing pulled up the 150. Although AMEX might still not like me and DH anyway... but want to at least try!

 

[EACarlson]

It seems like a lot of the credit card deals are geared toward paying for travel.

I would want a card which lets me go into my account periodically, and apply the rewards/points/miles as a dollar amount to reduce the amount due on my next statement.
I would not use them directly to pay for travel. I would not use them as a credit against travel expenses. And I would not transfer them to a frequent flyer account.

Are any of these cards especially easy or especially difficult to use when you don't want to use them for travel expenses in any way?

As an example, I see that the Capital One Venture Card is giving 75,000 bonus miles. And you earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. But once miles are credited to your account, can those "miles" be used to reduce my credit card bill? Or are they only good for travel expenses?

Citi Double Cash, PenFed Power Cash Rewards and BOA Customized Cash Rewards were the first three that came to my mind. What you're really looking for is a cash back card. In the Cap One system that is the Quicksilver. The vast majority of those cards are 1.5% with some at 2%.

 

[punkin]

Could hit as a new acct with the bank change and affect his 5/24. If you aren't using it I'd cancel before the switch. Plus that could leave open for the new card if the sub is good and you need more Amtrak points.

That makes perfect sense. I appreciate your wisdom!

 

[reliev]

just a datapoint finally pulled the trigger on the instacart deal. they sent me 80$ 40$ per transaction + I used the CSR deal.
my receipt showed up online it was 273.66 and instacart charged me 293.87 so it seems its still spot on 7%. with the 40$ off it was worth it. not sure if i get the 4% back anymore its been too long ill see when it post.
then I got about 80$ at Publix got 40$ off and the 15$ off should come soon from the CSR.

 

[happ]

It seems like a lot of the credit card deals are geared toward paying for travel.

I would want a card which lets me go into my account periodically, and apply the rewards/points/miles as a dollar amount to reduce the amount due on my next statement.
I would not use them directly to pay for travel. I would not use them as a credit against travel expenses. And I would not transfer them to a frequent flyer account.

Are any of these cards especially easy or especially difficult to use when you don't want to use them for travel expenses in any way?

As an example, I see that the Capital One Venture Card is giving 75,000 bonus miles. And you earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase. But once miles are credited to your account, can those "miles" be used to reduce my credit card bill? Or are they only good for travel expenses?

Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) are worth a penny a piece when redeemed as a statement credit or cashed out to a bank account. For example, the 60,000 point sign-on bonus on the Sapphire Preferred would be $600 cash minus the annual fee. URs can also be redeemed for travel or transferred to travel partners with certain cards, often at a better return, but you don't have to use them that way.

 

[elgerber]

I just the most hilarious bank bonus email.
Background, Ally locked up my accounts last week (long story) and I needed to fund my new Chase savings accounts. So I emptied every account I had at Discover to fund them, until I get my funds back from Ally. Then I am putting all those back in Discover.
Discover just sent me an email, offering me $150 to make any deposit into one specific Discover account and leave it there for 60 days and they will give me the bonus LOL. Easiest ever.

 

[Best Aunt]

Citi Double Cash, PenFed Power Cash Rewards and BOA Customized Cash Rewards were the first three that came to my mind. What you're really looking for is a cash back card. In the Cap One system that is the Quicksilver. The vast majority of those cards are 1.5% with some at 2%.

Thanks!

 

[Best Aunt]

Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) are worth a penny a piece when redeemed as a statement credit or cashed out to a bank account. For example, the 60,000 point sign-on bonus on the Sapphire Preferred would be $600 cash minus the annual fee. URs can also be redeemed for travel or transferred to travel partners with certain cards, often at a better return, but you don't have to use them that way.

Thanks!