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

[wanderlust7]

Is there any secret to getting decent value out of Hilton points? I know at best they're probably worth half most currencies, but all of my redemptions lately have been down around 0.4 CPP. I'm sitting on 500,000 and I'd like to get at least a full week out of it.

Special event where cash rates are jacked up, or fancy hotels. Think Conrad, Waldorf, LXR, SLH where cash rates of $1000 is common. Points will be 95k to 150k/night, so you won't quite get a full week even with 5th night free.

 

[WinterSolider]

Special event where cash rates are jacked up, or fancy hotels. Think Conrad, Waldorf, LXR, SLH where cash rates of $1000 is common. Points will be 95k to 150k/night, so you won't quite get a full week even with 5th night free.

Is there luck to be had with un-fancy hotels, but premium room categories? When we travel with the kids we're usually looking for villas or suites.

 

[calypso726]

Is there any secret to getting decent value out of Hilton points? I know at best they're probably worth half most currencies, but all of my redemptions lately have been down around 0.4 CPP. I'm sitting on 500,000 and I'd like to get at least a full week out of it.

I usually save mine for aspirational properties like in the Maldives, Bora Bora, Moorea etc. That said, I have used point for a stay at a property that was price gouging for outsized value. We stayed at a Hilton property next to Wembley stadium during the Taylor Swift concert. The hotel was charging over $2,000 a night and we stayed for 60k points. Using the 5th night free can also help get a better value also.

 

[wanderlust7]

Is there luck to be had with un-fancy hotels, but premium room categories? When we travel with the kids we're usually looking for villas or suites.

I think it's more common that the premium rooms are even worse cpp. But there can be exceptions. There was a good points deal for larger units at the Hilton Mystic Dunes in Orlando a few months back, not sure if it was a mistake rate. At the Evermore Orlando, you can get a 2 bedroom for 135k.

 

[mmmears]

Our trip to London is coming up in July. We had originally decided against the Harry Potter studio tour but ds just recently started getting really into the movies and loves the monopoly game. Since we’re so late the only times they have open would be 4:30 or 5 pm. Would this be too late? I first thought ds would get bored walking around but now I think maybe he’d like it but I hate that it would be so late. Maybe we should save it for a future trip

I actually think it's perfect. We went in the evening because other things weren't open then. It wasn't crowded and we had a great time. Highly recommend.

 

[EACarlson]

Is there any secret to getting decent value out of Hilton points? I know at best they're probably worth half most currencies, but all of my redemptions lately have been down around 0.4 CPP. I'm sitting on 500,000 and I'd like to get at least a full week out of it.

.4 is about where they usually fall. I got 5 nights at a hotel within walking distance of Universal in January for 145k total I believe. I did 5 nights at a Hilton in San Diego a couple years ago for 160k. I collect them through OPM travel and cheap cash rates for one night stays on the way places but only transfer to top off for a specific redemption.

Is there luck to be had with un-fancy hotels, but premium room categories? When we travel with the kids we're usually looking for villas or suites.

Premium room categories are almost never worth the price difference. I would look at getting connecting standard rooms more often at low to mid level properties, might be cheaper than a single premium room.

 

[WinterSolider]

I think it's more common that the premium rooms are even worse cpp. But there can be exceptions. There was a good points deal for larger units at the Hilton Mystic Dunes in Orlando a few months back, not sure if it was a mistake rate. At the Evermore Orlando, you can get a 2 bedroom for 135k.

Lame. In that case I'll probably stick with paying cash and just chip away at my points balance with pre-flight stays at the Boston Logan Hilton.

 

[Haley R]

I actually think it's perfect. We went in the evening because other things weren't open then. It wasn't crowded and we had a great time. Highly recommend.

I think it looks really awesome. I’m just not sure if he’ll be able to make it very long. He’s usually in bed by 7 pm but maybe there he’ll be able to stay up a little later. We’ll have to look over our list of other things to do before we make a decision. Thanks!

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

For those of you that had a Sapphire card expedited, but then the original card is sent out anyways, so that you now have 2 cards. Can you use both? Does one get deactivated automatically? This happened to the CSP I just got. Now I have 2. Both have the same CVV code and everything... I'm assuming we can use both with no issues, which would be good as I can give one to DH to carry. Correct me if I'm wrong? The cards don't get "activated" or anything on Chase anymore.

 

[WaltsMartini]

Update from above post: closed Chase Bonvoy Boundless on 4/6/25; reapplied 4/16/25 and got an “under review” message, and as of this afternoon 4/17 new Bonvoy card is appearing in my Chase app. Huzzah! As someone once said on this thread “This game favors the bold”!

 

[happ]

For those of you that had a Sapphire card expedited, but then the original card is sent out anyways, so that you now have 2 cards. Can you use both? Does one get deactivated automatically? This happened to the CSP I just got. Now I have 2. Both have the same CVV code and everything... I'm assuming we can use both with no issues, which would be good as I can give one to DH to carry. Correct me if I'm wrong? The cards don't get "activated" or anything on Chase anymore.

I didn't even ask for my CSR to be expedited last year and still ended up with 2 cards. I think you're right about using both. I'm fairly certain I've used both cards.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

I'm not so eagerly awaiting my Hilton card and my DD's CSP so we can get spending, LOL. I might have my BF and maybe my mom, look and see when they opened their CSP cards and tell them to get new ones, LOL. We'll see. The BF and I need to do a trip. But my "retirement" has me working literally every single day. Now granted some days it's just tutoring for an hour. But still every day I'm doing something. And I'm interviewing on Monday for a WFH job. But I'm not sure I want to walk away from my tutoring or the winery I just started at, LOL.

I also need to plan my summer. I think the kids want to go to Mexico, but I don't have any Marriott FNC I could use. And I'm not sure if there is a Hyatt AI we'd want to do.

I am jealous. I don't know how you do this so patiently -- and at the airport. I am too A type personality, I think, to not have anxiety about the VERY VERY last minute planning here. And I don't even have anxiety.

So excited that this worked out for you!

Oh it's not patiently, LOL. I'm not yet to the level of some non-rev people, who just pack and check loads when they get to the airport to decide. My son can't handle it. He gets super upset. I'm like listen dude, we wouldn't be doing these kinda trips if it wasn't for "free" flights! So stop being angry, LOL. I mean to go from 43 open to -2 on a flight from STL to DTW is unheard of, unless there was weather or a cancelled flight, etc. But there wasn't. We just got super unlucky, LOL. But we did make it on!

 

[georgina]

For those of you that had a Sapphire card expedited, but then the original card is sent out anyways, so that you now have 2 cards. Can you use both? Does one get deactivated automatically? This happened to the CSP I just got. Now I have 2. Both have the same CVV code and everything... I'm assuming we can use both with no issues, which would be good as I can give one to DH to carry. Correct me if I'm wrong? The cards don't get "activated" or anything on Chase anymore.

They have all the same numbers; there is no way to deactivate one, it would affect both. I have used them both, given one to DH to use, etc. All good!

 

[eticketplease]

I didn't even ask for my CSR to be expedited last year and still ended up with 2 cards. I think you're right about using both. I'm fairly certain I've used both cards.

Yup you can use both. My SO has one of mine with a different date and CCV even and both still work. I’m too cheap to pay the CSR authorized fee

 

[palhockeymomof2]

For those of you that had a Sapphire card expedited, but then the original card is sent out anyways, so that you now have 2 cards. Can you use both? Does one get deactivated automatically? This happened to the CSP I just got. Now I have 2. Both have the same CVV code and everything... I'm assuming we can use both with no issues, which would be good as I can give one to DH to carry. Correct me if I'm wrong? The cards don't get "activated" or anything on Chase anymore.

We have used both without any issues

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

Update from above post: closed Chase Bonvoy Boundless on 4/6/25; reapplied 4/16/25 and got an “under review” message, and as of this afternoon 4/17 new Bonvoy card is appearing in my Chase app. Huzzah! As someone once said on this thread “This game favors the bold”!

This is a great dp- thanks for sharing! I was sure your app was a goner for not waiting 30 days...

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

I was digging around in a documents pile (random cc offers, coupons, rebate checks, etc) and I came across two Chase 1099 MISCs!

I am so annoyed at myself that I have to amend my taxes for $2300 in income.

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

They have all the same numbers; there is no way to deactivate one, it would affect both. I have used them both, given one to DH to use, etc. All good!

Yup you can use both. My SO has one of mine with a different date and CCV even and both still work. I’m too cheap to pay the CSR authorized fee

We have used both without any issues

Thank you!! I’ll be giving one to DH to use then! He can help me meet MSR faster with his random daily purchases

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

Our trip to London is coming up in July. We had originally decided against the Harry Potter studio tour but ds just recently started getting really into the movies and loves the monopoly game. Since we’re so late the only times they have open would be 4:30 or 5 pm. Would this be too late? I first thought ds would get bored walking around but now I think maybe he’d like it but I hate that it would be so late. Maybe we should save it for a future trip

The studio tour was the highlight of our trip last summer for our younger daughter. The studio itself is open until 10pm and the tour will take about 3 hours. Longer if you want to linger in certain areas. So you won’t be rushed through.

I will say that lines for food can be ridiculous in there so try and have eaten beforehand.

 

[Haley R]

The studio tour was the highlight of our trip last summer for our younger daughter. The studio itself is open until 10pm and the tour will take about 3 hours. Longer if you want to linger in certain areas. So you won’t be rushed through.

I will say that lines for food can be ridiculous in there so try and have eaten beforehand.

How old was your daughter when you went? I think ds will like it but I’m not sure he would last 3 hours. I’m worried he’ll get too tired if we do the late time. Dh said we can always go back to London and do it when he’s older