I love credit cards so much! v7.0 - 2025 (see first page for add'l details)

[leeniewdw]

November we went to Grand Cayman and tried the new Hotel Indigo that opened next to the Kimpton Seafire. We knew in booking it that we'd always go back to the Seafire, it was a more, check it out for family/friends type deal. And while the hotel was beautiful and the suite they upgraded us to was lovely, and the f&b was actually quite good, we found it boring compared to the Seafire next door. But it's nice to have more f&b options close by. So if you haven't stayed at the Seafire, honestly, I would book it on points soon, because I think it's a steal that will increase in cost and I think it's only a matter of time. The Hotel Indigo and Seafire are now at the same pricepoint, so I think the Kimpton will increase in price. Since you can buy points often at .005 and cardholders get the fourth night free, you're essentially paying $263/nt + $80/nt resort fee. It's a comparative steal to anything comparable.

We are headed to Seafire in February (first time!). I've budgeted a nice amount for F&B, but honestly we aren't foodies and I feel like splurging at the finer restaurants that are already more expensive (due to location) might just be dumb. Does the Hotel Indigo have some more casual dining that we could mix in with Coccoloba. We really just want to get to a warmer place, read some books, swim a bit and just relax. We weren't planning on renting a car, so is there a store that's walkable/bike able to pick up some snacks/drinks for the room?

 

[jujubiee4]

Citi Strata is inquiry sensitive. You'll probably want to be 0/6 for the credit report they pull.

Thanks I didn't know that. Last card I opened was in late Oct/Nov

 

[leeniewdw]

Just catching up to this new 2025 thread! Thank all of you for sharing and explaining things in a very accessible way -- not always the case other places.

For 2025 we've got a 2.5 week trip to Europe in May (Italy and Switzerland, with quick stops in Munich/Innsbruck because flying into MUC was the best itinerary that did not require positioning). We're doing a mix of Airbnbs and Hotels, and I was able to use URs to Hyatt for our 3 nights in Florence at Il Tornabouni. Will use Airbnb GC (5x at OD) to pay the balances of those.

We haven't decided if we'll be flying or train-ing it from Florence into Switzerland. Any thoughts??? We've got 3 nights in Murren booked, but will have a night before those, so probably Lucerne if we fly to Zurich, or somewhere along the train route if we're going via train.

We're also doing a big road trip in late August/early Sept staying in Nat'l Parks and so far that's all been cash bookings. We're mixing in a few stops to stay at family/friends, but now that we've got the time (retired from FT career jobs, we work very part-time), we thought it was time to see what being on the road was like. I don't think an RV or camper van is in our future, but we thought we'd give it a try being on the road for an extended period of time.

Hmm, writing the above makes me realize that aside from Europe, we can mostly use 2025 to replenish points for use in 2026. I don't have to hoard my MRs and URs and should use them in Italy/Switzerland.

 

[gottalovepluto]

...Was issued a Be Our Guest certificate for a Hilton snafu and was able to use that at an upcoming stay at WA Los Cabos Pedregal, instead of the points I had originally booked with. You book using the best flexible rate and then they charge it to Hilton corporate once you present your certificate. Reports say I should earn points as if it's a revenue stay, so crossing my fingers I'll earn 50k+ points...

I used a Conrad BOG Cert on 1 night at Conrad Orlando. I got the points as if it had been a cash booking. I did have to pay resort fees, which stung a lot less when I got the points as if I'd booked a $1k/nt room (cash prices were obscene lol). I was sweating it out a bit though because if I had missed the reservation I would have been on the hook for the cash price of the room

I'm seeing some recent denials for misc cards. On here and a couple friends of mine got recent
denials. I wonder if things are tightening up?? I'm 4/24 but before that I hadn't opened anything up in
couple of years. I've been eyeing Citi Strata. I have a Citi preferred which I rarely use. I call CS and inquire
about the card and mention I might be interested in applying. First thing she says is "I see a lot of unused
credit and activity on your current card". Made it seem like I wouldn't be approved.

Phone CSRs know nothing.

 

[gottalovepluto]

...Hmm, writing the above makes me realize that aside from Europe, we can mostly use 2025 to replenish points for use in 2026. I don't have to hoard my MRs and URs and should use them in Italy/Switzerland.

Having been badly burned in the AApocolypse I'm firmly #TeamEarnAndBurn

We don't know what's coming down the pike, use your points.

 

[elgerber]

Having been badly burned in the AApocolypse I'm firmly #TeamEarnAndBurn

We don't know what's coming down the pike, use your points.

This always makes me nervous, and I am sitting on an absolutely absurd amount of URs. We don't travel much that isn't' Disney or camping, so they don't' get used much. At some point I should probably just cash it all out and put in a savings account.

 

[miztressuz]

Chase freedom is 5x on NCL this quarter as well.

Yes, unfortunately I have way more payment than Freedom cards
I thought it was a very oddly specific category spend this quarter, but timed well to take any leftovers after promos or MSR needs (and hopefully a repricing!)

DH and I both had this on our Gold cards. I was looking at doing a Bermuda cruise this summer through NCL, so need to decide

I usually book through Costco, but wouldn't be able to pay with AmEx through them I guess. I might put into cruisecompete and see what I get from there or just booking through NCL would also be an option. Any other better ways of using this credit?
Definitely worth it to use both of our offers.

I have not booked through Costco but many travel agencies make payment directly with the cruise lines. So as long as the cruise line accepts AmEx you may be able to stack with Costco.

Otherwise, prepaid gratuities and shore excursions you buy from the NCL website all post the same as a reservation so we've used the credits that way. Also buying OBC through the same shorex website when we needed some padding to hit the threshold.

 

[gottalovepluto]

This always makes me nervous, and I am sitting on an absolutely absurd amount of URs. We don't travel much that isn't' Disney or camping, so they don't' get used much. At some point I should probably just cash it all out and put in a savings account.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with churning for cash. Or cashing out some, keeping the rest.

At least with Chase they give shutdowns 30 days to use the points before closing the point account, for now at least.

 

[elgerber]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with churning for cash. Or cashing out some, keeping the rest.

At least with Chase they give shutdowns 30 days to use the points before closing the point account, for now at least.

Good to know, thanks!

 

[georgina]

This always makes me nervous, and I am sitting on an absolutely absurd amount of URs. We don't travel much that isn't' Disney or camping, so they don't' get used much. At some point I should probably just cash it all out and put in a savings account.

If you have a CSR don’t forget about the PYB categories. I just donated to the Red Cross and World Central Kitchen and used PYB at the 50% UR bonus.

 

[elgerber]

If you have a CSR don’t forget about the PYB categories. I just donated to the Red Cross and World Central Kitchen and used PYB at the 50% UR bonus.

I do not have a CSR.

 

[disneylover81]

Is his total Chase credit line over 50% of income or $70k, whichever is less? I actually like to keep it much less than that. He can try lowering CL and reapply in 30 days.

Yes, that must be it. I just added it up. It’s $76,000. I should have known to lower them before applying. I am going to cancel the Slate card with an $8k CL since we don’t use it and there’s no benefit to keep it. I’m also going to lower the SWA personal CL from $20k to maybe $10k? I hate to have to wait 30 days though because now I will probably have to pay OOP for both our May flights since we may not have CP by then. We have been doing a major kitchen renovation and I think I just paid for the last big expense.

Although, this still doesn’t explain why he had a green star already approved offer for any of the INK cards in his account at the time I applied for the SWA biz card.

 

[Judique]

If you have a CSR don’t forget about the PYB categories. I just donated to the Red Cross and World Central Kitchen and used PYB at the 50% UR bonus.

And I'm letting go a bunch of Choice Hotel points (converted from Radisson so I've had them sitting for a bit), by donating them via Choice to the Red Cross - helping out California. Choice doubles the donation so it should buy a few nights.

 

[havaneselover]

We’ve stayed at Royal Pacific before and I didn’t really like it. We got a room on the bottom floor and it felt like we were in the basement. I don’t think we ever walked to the parks, we always took the boat. We’re really only staying for the express pass so it’s still worth it to me even if the room is a little beat up

We had the same experience at royal pacific. I much preferred portofino bay.

 

[eticketplease]

Is his total Chase credit line over 50% of income or $70k, whichever is less? I actually like to keep it much less than that. He can try lowering CL and reapply in 30 days.

This person that you were replying to did not have a biz card.

When you asked about Chase CL if you did had a biz card would that include Personal & Business or as long as Personal is under that threshold?

 

[wanderlust7]

This person that you were replying to did not have a biz card.

When you asked about Chase CL if you did had a biz card would that include Personal & Business or as long as Personal is under that threshold?

Total Chase CL, personal and biz. It's a guideline, not a hard rule. But keeping it low should improve approval odds.

 

[eticketplease]

Total Chase CL, personal and biz. It's a guideline, not a hard rule. But keeping it low should improve approval odds.

Thanks both P1 & P2 are well over that limit so we will need to cut down before more Chase cards are in our future. Thanks for your guidance.

 

[orangecuse]

P2 just had an offer two weeks ago to upgrade his green to a gold for 30k MR. He took it and has already met that spend. Amex just offered him 50j MR to upgrade his new gold to a plat... any disadvantage there? Will he lose the 30k MR?

 

[eticketplease]

P2 just had an offer two weeks ago to upgrade his green to a gold for 30k MR. He took it and has already met that spend. Amex just offered him 50j MR to upgrade his new gold to a plat... any disadvantage there? Will he lose the 30k MR?

I believe he would miss out on the much bigger bonus by opening a new card, but he should not lose the 30 K

 

[orangecuse]

I believe he would miss out on the much bigger bonus by opening a new card, but he should not lose the 30 K

Hes had the plat before so can't get the new card bonus! This account was a plat many moons ago lol