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

[afan]

Dh said he used google maps to plan everything out when we went. I also had google docs with detailed info for everything

Did he save each one by day or area? Reading a bit it seems like that can be done.

 

[Haley R]

Did he save each one by day or area? Reading a bit it seems like that can be done.

I think he did it by day. I know he planned out all of our train routes using rough estimates of when we thought we’d be on them. We had it all saved on our google docs and it somehow got deleted so we don’t have it anymore (dh is pretty sad about it)

 

[afan]

I think he did it by day. I know he planned out all of our train routes using rough estimates of when we thought we’d be on them. We had it all saved on our google docs and it somehow got deleted so we don’t have it anymore (dh is pretty sad about it)

That sucks that it got lost. I have my office stuff synced so will probably just use word. Would be easier for me to save a copy and add trip notes as I go than putting it all in the notepad on my phone like normal. But I also need to keep up with writing in my trip journal this trip instead if doing it when I get home like I've been doing.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I think I'd like to plot each of my Japan days out somewhere so I can easily see what my musts for the day are and get directions, see what food and other stuff is nearby etc. Is google maps the best way to do this? Or does anyone have experience with anything else?

I think this would help me vs having to look up my next destination each time. It's not to keep me strict to a schedule or plan, but help with suggestions and remove some of the thinking aspect while I'm there especially since I'll be alone.

I was just reading an article about this! They called it a visual itinerary. Sounds like you can create My Maps in Google Maps and even change the icons, color code it, etc. Sounds like this could fit the bill nicely. If you try it, please report back. I was thinking of doing it for our more complicated trips.

 

[emilymad]

We booked for 2024, so I have plenty of time to cancel or find something else for that summer. I agree that the prices seem really high (and I'm also coming from DCL so it was a bit of a surprise since the 2023 cruises were priced better). I suspect it's just travel coming back to normal, but I don't love the prices either.

Celebrity's prices tend to bounce around a lot vs DCL which only goes up. I priced 2024 Med cruises and they were the same as 2023 pricing but it has been a few weeks since I looked so both time frames could have changed again.

 

[DogCat]

deleted

 

[emilymad]

Yes because it's a much deeper issue and it's not just the garbage workers. I don't want to give up on Paris (we were supposed to go in 2020 and I really want to go there this year) but I have concerns because we booked the TGV to Barcelona to catch a cruise. I know we can book a flight instead, but there's no guarantee there won't be strikes in that sector as well. I have to say that in every trip of mine to Paris except the one in 2011 there was some kind of strike going on (metro, train, air, you name it) so it hasn't taken me completely by surprise that something like this is happening.

We were thinking of booking Paris for June but I am not sure if these issues will still be present then. We were last in Paris in 2014 and our time there was a mess. We witness a robbery with a police chase, protests with smoke bombs and riot police, and museums not opening on time, etc. So I guess nothing would really surprise me but not sure I want to deal with all of that again.

 

[reliev]

Rio Perdido looks awesome but seems more adult focused and less family oriented.
Andaz also has their own local 'adventures' but they seem pricey.

https://peninsulapapagayo.com/explore/

https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/c...-at-peninsula-papagayo/liraz/area-attractions

im about 1/4th the way to lifetime globalist I'm hoping they count towards hotel spend only one way to find out is to try it

 

[afan]

I was just reading an article about this! They called it a visual itinerary. Sounds like you can create My Maps in Google Maps and even change the icons, color code it, etc. Sounds like this could fit the bill nicely. If you try it, please report back. I was thinking of doing it for our more complicated trips.

View attachment 748935

This is a great article! All I found was for road trips but didn't do too much googling since I knew it would work from those. The article also talks about uses I never would have thought of, esp using street and 3d views.

This will be so helpful vs having a list of resturants or shopd I've read about.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

We’re at Andaz Papagayo now for those considering it @reliev @FreeDiningFanatic and anyone else I missed.
The place is beautiful, definitely not easy for the mobility impaired. I emailed ahead and mentioned I have knee issues and would appreciate minimal stairs. The put us in building 7 which is between pool/Rio Bhongo restaurant & Chao Pescao restaurant. The whole resort is pretty hilly and there are like a million stairs to the beach. Great view from our balcony, heard howler monkeys this morning. Food is good but expensive and they prefer you make a reservation for each meal on open table. Weather is hot but breezy, high 90-92.

 

[Princess Michele]

I am continuing my research into flights for a Greek Isles cruise and and have a couple more questions.

If we are on a flight from the US to Athens with a connection in London, Paris, or Rome etc, and we are flying on the same airline for both flights how much time is recommended for the connection? Do we need to go through customs after the first flight or only in Athens? A lot of the flights I am seeing only have 1 hour for the connection and that does not seem long enough. We will have checked bags and want to make sure that we allow enough time.

If the connecting flights are on 2 different airlines such as TAP Portugal from the US to Lisbon and Aegean from Lisbon to Athens do we need to allow more time for the connection than if both flights were with the same airline?

Is there an advantage to having connecting fights with the same airline versus 2 different airlines when booked together?

If there is a website or reference on the basics for international travel that you would suggest instead that would be fine. Thank you.

 

[punkin]

Ireland is cursed for all of us it seems! After a ton of delays, my flight last night was canceled (at almost 4 am today). They rebooked us... we will see if we actually fly out.

 

[afan]

Reminder to always make sure you understand the credit you are trying to use. Didn't realize the hyatt biz credit required a 50 min spend, thought it covered up to. Spent 47. Could have tipped more or got juice with one of my breakfast. Oh well, lesson learned.

 

[wanderlust7]

Thank you! Do I forfeit any SUBs if I upgrade?
I could cancel my CSP and get a CSR maybe? I’m at 0/24 right now…

Just remembered that the CSR 1.25 grocery Pay Yourself Back is only confirmed through 3/31. We don't know yet if they will extend it. If you haven't applied for the CSR yet and that's your main reason for doing so, maybe you want to hold off until April 1. That or do the PYB really quickly!

 

[Zhoen]

Hi (again), Dis-ies!

I have a(nother) newbie question. My Chase Ink card didn't arrive in time for me to get in on the zero-fee staples visa deal. <sob> So, if the normal fee is $7.95, but it is 5x rewards... Would I still come out $2.05 ahead in points even without a sale?

 

[leeniewdw]

Ireland is cursed for all of us it seems! After a ton of delays, my flight last night was canceled (at almost 4 am today). They rebooked us... we will see if we actually fly out.

Ugh! Hate to hear that. I have yet to book my travel insurance for our June trip and think it's finally time I do. I keep going back and forth with what kind of coverage I want/need and this seals it for me to include all the travel delay stuff. We're positioning in BOS for 1 night (using pts) and I wouldn't want to have to pay for a hotel out of pocket for another if there's a delay. Did you get a hotel free as part of the cancellation?

Our trip is for 14 nights in Ireland, so while a day's delay would stink it's not a trip buster. We do have a Hawk Walk at Ashford Castle scheduled for our arrival day and that would stink to miss, cost aside.

Hoping the rest of your trip is smooth!

 

[amcc]

I did that spend 3 years ago. We do have an actual business but still it was a stretch. Don’t forget you also earn double miles for the $50,000 spent so that’s 350,000 C1 miles you get! I closed that card a year ago after applying for the Venture x and transferring the miles to that card. I love using my points to pay off travel charges like Ubers. And I’m booking my tours thru the Cap1 site thru Viator because there’s a 12% savings.

Thank you for mentioning the C1 - Viator!! I was able to book our Iceland snorkeling tour - for 7 people, 12% adds up plus can erase the charges!!

I think I'd like to plot each of my Japan days out somewhere so I can easily see what my musts for the day are and get directions, see what food and other stuff is nearby etc. Is google maps the best way to do this? Or does anyone have experience with anything else?

I think this would help me vs having to look up my next destination each time. It's not to keep me strict to a schedule or plan, but help with suggestions and remove some of the thinking aspect while I'm there especially since I'll be alone.

I was just reading an article about this! They called it a visual itinerary. Sounds like you can create My Maps in Google Maps and even change the icons, color code it, etc. Sounds like this could fit the bill nicely. If you try it, please report back. I was thinking of doing it for our more complicated trips.

View attachment 748935

I had been using Google Earth but it saves my placeholders on the local drive so can't see them on other computers or my phone. I also like to have a visual of the area to make our days as efficient as possible and to not backtrack on different days. We only have 2 full days in Iceland so I have to maximize. It's funny that the article calls it sneaky ways to use Google maps as it's not very intuitive. Everything else google is so easy to sync!

I am continuing my research into flights for a Greek Isles cruise and and have a couple more questions.

If we are on a flight from the US to Athens with a connection in London, Paris, or Rome etc, and we are flying on the same airline for both flights how much time is recommended for the connection? Do we need to go through customs after the first flight or only in Athens? A lot of the flights I am seeing only have 1 hour for the connection and that does not seem long enough. We will have checked bags and want to make sure that we allow enough time.

If the connecting flights are on 2 different airlines such as TAP Portugal from the US to Lisbon and Aegean from Lisbon to Athens do we need to allow more time for the connection than if both flights were with the same airline?

Is there an advantage to having connecting fights with the same airline versus 2 different airlines when booked together?

If there is a website or reference on the basics for international travel that you would suggest instead that would be fine. Thank you.

We connected through LHR to Munich on AA as one trip. We had to go through customs at LHR and it took about 2 hours. All those airports are huge so an hour, even if you don't have to go through Customs, is cutting it close especially if you are transferring from an int'l arrival to a domestic departure.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Thank you for mentioning the C1 - Viator!! I was able to book our Iceland snorkeling tour - for 7 people, 12% adds up plus can erase the charges!!

Are you snorkeling silfra? I am on the fence about doing it! Snorkeling between two techtonic plates seems cool. I watched YouTubers Tim and Fin do it and they seemed into it, for sure.

I know Silfra is also offered on the Chase portal and AirBNB experiences.

 

[ten6mom]

@IFlossU when you've been researching flights from PHX to Maui, are you looking for Maui hotels as well, or merely flying into Maui but then going to the other islands for hotels?

 

[punkin]

Ugh! Hate to hear that. I have yet to book my travel insurance for our June trip and think it's finally time I do. I keep going back and forth with what kind of coverage I want/need and this seals it for me to include all the travel delay stuff. We're positioning in BOS for 1 night (using pts) and I wouldn't want to have to pay for a hotel out of pocket for another if there's a delay. Did you get a hotel free as part of the cancellation?

Our trip is for 14 nights in Ireland, so while a day's delay would stink it's not a trip buster. We do have a Hawk Walk at Ashford Castle scheduled for our arrival day and that would stink to miss, cost aside.

Hoping the rest of your trip is smooth!

They were putting people up at hotels but this was our home airport so we just got a voucher for a cab back and forth from the airport. The interesting part was trying to get them to reebok us onto a different airline, which eventually they did. Originally they rebooked us on a crazy 2 stop itinerary, which we refused.
Eta: I had to cancel one tour already and amex assured me that my prepaid hotel will not be canceled and we will be able to check in immediately as we are arriving at 5 am a day late.