I love credit cards so much!

[GlamMistress]

Welcome to the group! My first Adventures by Disney trip is what led me to this hobby too. Since that travel hacking journey began, I've never looked back. I wouldn't recommend the Target trick as you will lose the opportunity to earn points/miles. Go through an airline or credit card shopping portal and buy the gift cards for 5% off through B's or Sam's as a pp mentioned. I also use Amex offers to get additional discounts of Disney gift cards when the opportunity presents itself. I also use the Chase Freedom to buy Disney gift cards when I can get them on a bonus category for 5x UR points. We also use the Chase Ink+ to purchase Disney gift cards and get 5x. We load all of the gift card to the DVA and pay our ABD trips through there.

I find the most valuable cards for us to be the Chase cards. Specifically, the CSR, Freedom and Ink+ combo. UR points can be used to transfer 1:1 on all of their airline transfer partners. Points can also be used through the travel portal at 1.5 value with the CSR. We've had the Disney Visa for years. Since I discovered travel hacking, it has sat in a drawer. It holds no value for me other than keeping my average age of account bucket looking good on my credit score. There are cards that offer far better value.

Which European ABD are you doing? Our first one was Scotland and still my favorite. Beware, ABD is addictive. We will be doing our 9th one next month!

Hello @calypso726

Yes, I think I've decided against the Disney card. Easy signup bonus but ultimately it would just be ANOTHER sock-drawered card and I have so many of those. I don't have a CSR (5/24) but I've got the FU and hubs has Freedom. We could always upgrade and get the travel credits. I haven't decided on that one yet.

I haven't decided on the ABD yet - I want to do London and Paris but I'm worried it isn't enough time in either city. Husband is really interested in Italy. We were also looking at the Med cruise. We are targeting fall 2018.

I have the Best Buy 30/300 Amex deal and I'll be grabbing giftcards from there this weekend!

 

[calypso726]

@GlamMistress - That is a nice Amex offer! I recently took advantage of stacking 20x UA miles per dollar through the United shopping portal with the Amex $15 off $75 for Ebags. The timing was perfect!

We enjoyed our London Paris ABD very much. My favorite is still Scotland but the itinerary has changed since we did it. There is an ABD forum here on the DIS with trip reports that can give you an idea of what you might like. Here is a link to my Scotland TR which was my first and favorite still https://www.disboards.com/threads/our-scotland-brave-adventure.3150065/

 

[GlamMistress]

@GlamMistress - That is a nice Amex offer! I recently took advantage of stacking 20x UA miles per dollar through the United shopping portal with the Amex $15 off $75 for Ebags. The timing was perfect!

We enjoyed our London Paris ABD very much. My favorite is still Scotland but the itinerary has changed since we did it. There is an ABD forum here on the DIS with trip reports that can give you an idea of what you might like. Here is a link to my Scotland TR which was my first and favorite still https://www.disboards.com/threads/our-scotland-brave-adventure.3150065/

Thank you! I will read this trip report today when I need a break from work! Quite frankly, I think ANY ABD would be wonderful. I feel blessed to be able to do these sorts of trips.

 

[hsmamato2]

do ya'll think a CSR is worth getting even tho it's only 50k?

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

do ya'll think a CSR is worth getting even tho it's only 50k?

Its definitely not as great as the 100k offer, but it is still a good offer. 50k = $750 in travel through the Chase portal. It costs $450, but includes a $300 travel credit. So at the minimum, the sign up value is $750 - $450 + $300 = $600. If you take advantage of the other benefits, such as TSA pre-check credit, travel insurance, etc., then the value only gets better from there.

For me, the CSR is a keeper because I travel often for work and am able to overcome the $150 net annual fee in just 2-3 work trips. I would say whether you get it for just one year or keep it longer term will depend on how much you can maximize the benefits.

 

[peel]

As far as AUs go I had to call Chase Recon 3 times (twice first thing in the morning, waited 8 hours and tried again in the evening) to get them to reconsider the application without the AU account but they did. Just explain how you don't use the account if they ask (the 2nd rep almost reconsidered it but then I screwed up that question and she told me that because I said I used the account she couldn't take it out of consideration).

The magic words that worked for me were, "I'm not responsible for the charges on the card."

 

[Alexle2007]

The magic words that worked for me were, "I'm not responsible for the charges on the card."

I said that but because we share a bank account, I was assumed to have responsibility for the charges (even though the accounts in question are closed so there was nothing to be responsible for.) I am just going through the process of having the credit agencies remove them from my credit report to make it simpler.

 

[hsmamato2]

Ok- DH just applied for and got the 30 day response..... is this the death knell? I can't remember which response means what at this point....

 

[peel]

I said that but because we share a bank account, I was assumed to have responsibility for the charges (even though the accounts in question are closed so there was nothing to be responsible for.) I am just going through the process of having the credit agencies remove them from my credit report to make it simpler.

Got it. They never asked if I shared a bank account with the primary cardholder. That's pretty much the only thing they didn't ask me, including the color of my socks.

 

[peel]

Ok- DH just applied for and got the 30 day response..... is this the death knell? I can't remember which response means what at this point....

Nope, you're fine. That just means they haven't reviewed the application yet. It's the 7-10 days notice that means you're probably rejected. 2 weeks means you're probably approved.

 

[hsmamato2]

Nope, you're fine. That just means they haven't reviewed the application yet. It's the 7-10 days notice that means you're probably rejected. 2 weeks means you're probably approved.

that's cool- thanks. probably a good thing since Dh dislikes calling in.... We'll just wait and see.

 

[WDWRook]

For tuition, there's the Gift of College gift cards at Toys R Us (some other stores too). As I understand it, you buy the $500 (actually variable load $25-500) gift card there ($5.95 purchase fee --> 1.19% fee if loading with $500), then load it to your Gift of College account, then transfer funds to your 529 plan (assuming you have a 529 plan, I think they are free, at least the one I have for DD is) and pay the tuition out of that 529 account. Personally, I haven't tried it, but Frequent Miler has posted about it in the past year and you can search his website if you're interested in learning more.

That's awesome. I fund about $4-5,000 per year into a 529 account for the kids. Currently it's just a automatic transfer from our bank. It'd be great if I can get UR points for this. I'd rather not pay a fee for it, but it might be worth it if it generates enough points per dollar.

EDIT: I wonder if there is any way to pay off some of my student loan this way? I have a 2.2% interest rate so I'm not terribly inclined to pay that off too early, but points might change that thought.

 

[Ava]

Its definitely not as great as the 100k offer, but it is still a good offer. 50k = $750 in travel through the Chase portal. It costs $450, but includes a $300 travel credit. So at the minimum, the sign up value is $750 - $450 + $300 = $600. If you take advantage of the other benefits, such as TSA pre-check credit, travel insurance, etc., then the value only gets better from there.

For me, the CSR is a keeper because I travel often for work and am able to overcome the $150 net annual fee in just 2-3 work trips. I would say whether you get it for just one year or keep it longer term will depend on how much you can maximize the benefits.

I am trying to decide whether or not to keep my CSR or CSP long-term. I will definitely keep one & PC the other to a FU, and the way I'm calculating seems like it'd actually take less spend on the CSR to make up the net AF. Can someone tell me if I'm calculating this correctly? I am just using the cpp redemption value through the Chase portal as my baseline, because calculating value of points transferred to travel partners is way out of my league.

CSP: $95 AF = 7,600 points @ 1.25 CPP = $3,800 in spend @ 2X points per dollar
CSR: $150 net AF = 10,000 points @ 1.5 CPP = ~$3,333 spend @ 3X points per dollar

If this math is correct, it will take $467 LESS in spend to make up the AF on the CSR. This is obviously calculating only bonus category spend but we'd easily spend that much in those categories in a year especially with Chase's very broad range of what's included in the "travel" category. Maybe I am just trying to justify keeping the higher end card, but it does seem worth it especially when you factor in the additional benefits like Global Entry credit, Priority Pass lounge access, more generous trip insurance, etc. Since I am definitely keeping one of these two cards, it seems to make sense to keep the higher end card for what is essentially a $55 increase in AF.

Side note: The 50,000 bonus points on my CSR are finally showing in my account, as part of the points earned on my next statement. Yay!

 

[LynnTH]

Approval for Chase Marriott Business is not subject to 5/24, but is subject to the 30-day application rule. Chase will not typically approve an application if you've had 2 other credit card applications in the last 30 days. For business cards, it's recommended you have 0 credit card applications in the last 30 days. Generally, business cards don't appear on your personal credit report or count against 5/24. I've not seen any DPs that say the Marriott Biz counted against 5/24.



If you value the SPG card and points, would you be open to paying a 2.5% fee to Plastiq to charge your Amex and send a check out for tuition and driveway?

Ok. I have seen people using Plastiq but never really knew much about it. Researched it a bit last night and could be a way to go with the Am Ex SPG Card. I will have to check with the Driveway company to see if they send an invoice or if they expect to be paid upon service done. Has anyone here used Plastiq before?

So, if I did try for the Chase Marriott Business I would need to wait until I am 0/30 with Chase, which would be the middle of August. Or I just wait on Chase Cards until December when one of the cards drop off and get a card with UR points. I just hate to waste having organic spending like this. Any other business cards that are not Chase that anyone can recommend that would work but not count in the 5/25 for Chase. (As I read it all Chase cards will count in the 5/25 even if they are business). But the SPG Business card would not affect that at all correct?

 

[belle1986]

Our Sept WDW trip hotel and air are covered by points. I have an ap which only leaves tickets for ds and food left to purchase. Does undercover tourist code as travel for CSP? What is the best deal for Disney GC to cover food? Thanks!

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

Our Sept WDW trip hotel and air are covered by points. I have an ap which only leaves tickets for ds and food left to purchase. Does undercover tourist code as travel for CSP? What is the best deal for Disney GC to cover food? Thanks!

Undercover Tourist counted as travel on my CSR, so I assume it would as well on the CSP.

 

[Ava]

Our Sept WDW trip hotel and air are covered by points. I have an ap which only leaves tickets for ds and food left to purchase. Does undercover tourist code as travel for CSP? What is the best deal for Disney GC to cover food? Thanks!

Yes, Undercover Tourist codes as travel for Chase.

The easiest best deal on Disney GC's is to buy them from BJ's online (no membership required), $94.99 for a $100 GC, and use a points-earning CC. There are a lot of other ways to save - check out the Disney Gift Card Deals thread - but this is the most straight forward.

 

[Albort]

I am trying to decide whether or not to keep my CSR or CSP long-term. I will definitely keep one & PC the other to a FU, and the way I'm calculating seems like it'd actually take less spend on the CSR to make up the net AF. Can someone tell me if I'm calculating this correctly? I am just using the cpp redemption value through the Chase portal as my baseline, because calculating value of points transferred to travel partners is way out of my league.

CSP: $95 AF = 7,600 points @ 1.25 CPP = $3,800 in spend @ 2X points per dollar
CSR: $150 net AF = 10,000 points @ 1.5 CPP = ~$3,333 spend @ 3X points per dollar

your math is correct if your want to see the redemption from chase portal. 2 things come to mind though. Because the AU is free on the CSP, your earning potential might be higher if you have a ton of AU. CSR AU cost an additional $75. 2nd thing is your assuming your using the portal. Ive never actually done that, but if you are spending your points on the portal, then it works for you. haha.

edit: one thing that should be mentioned is that CSP = 1 year waived AF while CSR is not. So might be hard to judge it.

As for transfer points to partners, you can see how much cpp by take the value of the room with cash and dividing it with the number of points requires... So like a $250 room that is going for 30,000 points = .0083 cpp. which isnt worth it. better to redeem cash first!

Ok. I have seen people using Plastiq but never really knew much about it. Researched it a bit last night and could be a way to go with the Am Ex SPG Card. I will have to check with the Driveway company to see if they send an invoice or if they expect to be paid upon service done. Has anyone here used Plastiq before?

heh, i spent the last $2k of my spg card on plastiq alone. I had $1500 free money with plastiq so i didnt take a huge hit. i couldnt find big bills that i could use my amex card on. :\ It works! It does take like 8-9 days to get the check though. so make sure u send it extra early!

 

[GlamMistress]

Delete

 

[GlamMistress]

Does anyone have the United Business card? Thoughts on this? I'm apparently under 5/24 suddenly and it makes sense to do biz first.