I love credit cards so much! v3.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[Psychodisney]

Have any recommendation?

We all enjoyed the ATV tour. Not sure if there is an age limit. I booked it through expedia. I think there were Black Friday discounts. The pirate Ship is fun too. They discount certain trips. Friends of ours rented a car and said they were able to get around quite easily and see different beaches. We hit some of the popular restaurants, not a bad one in the bunch. I enjoyed the casinos too, lol, but I don’t know if they are open yet.

 

[jenmsmith]

Still working on WDW plans... Am I correct in thinking that if you take the Skyliner to Epcot, it drops you off here (poorly circled in red), as opposed to the "park entrance"? Just trying to figure out what to expect. Thank you!

View attachment 533794

Yes, and there’s an entrance to Epcot very close to the Skyliner called the “International Gateway”.

 

[Judique]

dd and I just cancelled our December Disney trip. That's 3 this year :-(. 2020 can bite me

I've still got some days booked at BCV in January. Spent some time this morning trying to book some Marriott FNC's on the Gulf side to supplement. Found plenty of options but didn't book anything. Also have a few days in February. Then I've got a 5 night Hilton Head stay booked mid March in a 1 bedroom. I can see myself doing the Hilton Head trip. And maybe using the January points to add some more nights on either end - some of the points have to be used.

It's nice here this week. Made plans to go to the ocean but couldn't get motivated either yesterday or today. It's difficult. Can't really invite friends. Family is working and don't really want to go. It's going to be a long winter.

 

[ten6mom]

On the Amex website if I have closed one of my cards, does it eventually just drop off the dashboard or how does it work? Right now I still see the Amex Hilton, with no indication it's been closed.

When I closed a Chase card recently, it still appears on my dashboard but it says right there "this account is closed."

 

[Alexle2007]

I've still got some days booked at BCV in January. Spent some time this morning trying to book some Marriott FNC's on the Gulf side to supplement. Found plenty of options but didn't book anything. Also have a few days in February. Then I've got a 5 night Hilton Head stay booked mid March in a 1 bedroom. I can see myself doing the Hilton Head trip. And maybe using the January points to add some more nights on either end - some of the points have to be used.

It's nice here this week. Made plans to go to the ocean but couldn't get motivated either yesterday or today. It's difficult. Can't really invite friends. Family is working and don't really want to go. It's going to be a long winter.

Which Gulf side resorts are you looking at? We are headed to Clearwater at the end of the month and right now have the Hyatt booked.

 

[Alexle2007]

On the Amex website if I have closed one of my cards, does it eventually just drop off the dashboard or how does it work? Right now I still see the Amex Hilton, with no indication it's been closed.

When I closed a Chase card recently, it still appears on my dashboard but it says right there "this account is closed."

This is what mine shows. I need click on the link to make it go away.

 

[ten6mom]

This is what mine shows. I need click on the link to make it go away.

Hmmm OK thank you; that is helpful.

About how long ago would you say you closed that card? I only closed mine earlier today so perhaps it takes a day or two to drop off, or perhaps they're waiting until my last payment posts?

 

[ten6mom]

Saw a comment on reddit (not in our group) that got me thinking.

If I purchased enough Apple gift cards at a grocery store, with my CSP, to outright purchase 2 new phones (I guess I'd have to do that at the Apple store), could I then use the "Pay yourself back" feature to essentially... pay for those phones at a 1.25 rate (I am not saying that clearly but I hope you understand what I mean), thereby getting the phone for a bit less than "sticker price"?

 

[havaneselover]

Saw a comment on reddit (not in our group) that got me thinking.

If I purchased enough Apple gift cards at a grocery store, with my CSP, to outright purchase 2 new phones (I guess I'd have to do that at the Apple store), could I then use the "Pay yourself back" feature to essentially... pay for those phones at a 1.25 rate (I am not saying that clearly but I hope you understand what I mean), thereby getting the phone for a bit less than "sticker price"?

Yep!

 

[Judique]

Which Gulf side resorts are you looking at? We are headed to Clearwater at the end of the month and right now have the Hyatt booked.

I was looking at the Art Ovation in Sarasota, a Residence Inn Clearwater Beach near Pier 60, and the Marriott Suites on Sand Key, plus the older Sand Key Sheraton. Also the Fenway in Dunedin where I've stayed before. Nothing concrete in my head - just 7 Marriott FNC to use - 2 have end of January expiry. Hadn't looked at the Hyatt - have 2 of the category 4 FNC and also 2 IHG FNC. Not trying to use all FNC - I also have plenty of points available.

But, I'm just cautious about traveling this winter. I may end up in hibernation <g>.

 

[ten6mom]

Yep!

Hmm that’s very intriguing. Gonna have to think about that !

 

[Alexle2007]

I was looking at the Art Ovation in Sarasota, a Residence Inn Clearwater Beach near Pier 60, and the Marriott Suites on Sand Key, plus the older Sand Key Sheraton. Also the Fenway in Dunedin where I've stayed before. Nothing concrete in my head - just 7 Marriott FNC to use - 2 have end of January expiry. Hadn't looked at the Hyatt - have 2 of the category 4 FNC and also 2 IHG FNC. Not trying to use all FNC - I also have plenty of points available.

But, I'm just cautious about traveling this winter. I may end up in hibernation <g>.

Thanks! How was the Fenway? I was looking at that too since I could use our FNC. How far is it from the beach?

 

[Alexle2007]

Hmmm OK thank you; that is helpful.

About how long ago would you say you closed that card? I only closed mine earlier today so perhaps it takes a day or two to drop off, or perhaps they're waiting until my last payment posts?

It was shortly after, felt almost immediate, since they had actually closed the wrong card and I noticed because it said closed. I had to chat with them to correct.

 

[ten6mom]

Saw a comment on reddit (not in our group) that got me thinking.

If I purchased enough Apple gift cards at a grocery store, with my CSP, to outright purchase 2 new phones (I guess I'd have to do that at the Apple store), could I then use the "Pay yourself back" feature to essentially... pay for those phones at a 1.25 rate (I am not saying that clearly but I hope you understand what I mean), thereby getting the phone for a bit less than "sticker price"?

Quoting myself because I need my experts to check my math. I am really, really terrible at this stuff.

Let's say I know a phone costs $800. So I buy $800 worth of Apple gift cards with the CSP at a grocery store, earning 800 URs.

I buy the phone at the Apple store etc, paid for in full by the gift cards I just bought.

When my 800 URs post, I use them to Pay Myself Back, at the x1.25 rate of 1000 cents, or $10.

So I am getting $10 back on the cost of the phone?

 

[ten6mom]

It was shortly after, felt almost immediate, since they had actually closed the wrong card and I noticed because it said closed. I had to chat with them to correct.

Thanks for this.

If I don't see it show up as canceled like yours later today, I guess I'll be messaging them again!

 

[Limes96]

Quoting myself because I need my experts to check my math. I am really, really terrible at this stuff.

Let's say I know a phone costs $800. So I buy $800 worth of Apple gift cards with the CSP at a grocery store, earning 800 URs.

I buy the phone at the Apple store etc, paid for in full by the gift cards I just bought.

When my 800 URs post, I use them to Pay Myself Back, at the x1.25 rate of 1000 cents, or $10.

So I am getting $10 back on the cost of the phone?

You can use other URs in your account to cover the rest of the price of the gift cards, so it’s not necessarily just the $10 back. And if you wait until Nov 1 you’ll get 2x UR at groceries, so that would make it $20.

 

[Judique]

Thanks! How was the Fenway? I was looking at that too since I could use our FNC. How far is it from the beach?

It's an older hotel, done up in a boutique style. I would say comfortable but you get the echo from the older doors and hallways. The food was decent. I did a dinner (room service) and a breakfast in the dining room. There was a wedding the first night I stayed and it sort of took over the whole place - it was a weekend. I think it's suited to this kind of thing as it's a nice venue, but I will avoid weekend if I go again. It's service oriented, with staff being friendly and fairly plentiful. There is a nice rooftop bar with a great Gulf/water view if the weather cooperates, and it's music themed with live music quite often.

It's also all valet parking as their parking is smaller.

It's across the street from the water and a sidewalk/walking trail and small park area but that's not a beach. You would have to drive to a beach, either towards Clearwater or up to Dunedin area where I go to the Honeymoon Island State Park. I don't go for sunbathing; just walking and enjoying the birds and nature. I actually don't care for the sand/shells of the Gulf beaches - I prefer the Atlantic beaches. (I don't think I'm the norm here.)

Anyway, for me it would be 2 nights max and maybe even just one. My intention would be to eat, sleep, take a morning walk, check out and go to the State park for a few hours and then move to another area, maybe Sarasota for a change of pace, but might stay a night or two in Clearwater as well, then crossover and do a couple of nights in Vero Beach before driving north again. Fort Myers/Sanibel could be an option also. I could cross over and visit my Turtle hospital in Jupiter.

I'm basically looking at a circle trip. Maryland to Florida, Disney for a few nights, Gulf Coast, back to Atlantic coast (Vero DVC) then back up to Maryland via a couple of studio nights at Hilton Head DVC.

I have Disney tickets but doubt I'll be interested in any parks. In January and February trips I could care less. I go when I'm on an AP because I have the AP, not because I'm hungry for a park. Later on the Garden festival is nice, but then I'm pretty much good until food and wine in the fall. It's the nicer weather that attracts me in winter. I'm really a snowbird at heart.

 

[ten6mom]

You can use other URs in your account to cover the rest of the price of the gift cards, so it’s not necessarily just the $10 back. And if you wait until Nov 1 you’ll get 2x UR at groceries, so that would make it $20.

 

[havaneselover]

Quoting myself because I need my experts to check my math. I am really, really terrible at this stuff.

Let's say I know a phone costs $800. So I buy $800 worth of Apple gift cards with the CSP at a grocery store, earning 800 URs.

I buy the phone at the Apple store etc, paid for in full by the gift cards I just bought.

When my 800 URs post, I use them to Pay Myself Back, at the x1.25 rate of 1000 cents, or $10.

So I am getting $10 back on the cost of the phone?

PYB works best when you have a big UR balance. Say you have 80k urs. You could purchase $1000 in gift cards and PYB. Plus earn 2k in URs using CSP. That's where this makes sense.

 

[GZanta77]

Don't limit yourself to buying giftcards at grocery store. If you have a Chase Freedom (5xUR Walmart) or CIC (5xUR Staples/OD) you could increase your return by buying the Apple GC there.

Also, Costco seem to be offering discounted pricing up to $100 off (iPhone 12 Pro). Not sure what the conditions are though.