I love credit cards so much!

[tink1970]

Happy travel news for me! To add to already existing summer plans (Ireland and Med cruise)..

this weekend I got the okay from DH to spend a very very short birthday trip in Kracow (alone). I'll be flying to Chicago, staying in the airport Hilton, then flying Swiss Air business to Kracow (via Zurich), spending two nights (most likely at the Sheraton) and then flying back to Chicago, staying at the Hilton and then flying home. A lot of flying for a short stay but when I'm doing my own thing if he is inconvenienced too much (and he didn't want to go to Kracow) then he is sort of a grump. So was able to use United miles for the flight, hotels.com gift cards bought with discounts for the first Chicago Hilton and Hilton.com Amex gift card offers for the second Chicago night. The flight to Chicago will be mostly covered with DH's CSR travel credit so I'll still earn DL miles and MQMs. I'm going to pay cash for Sheraton since it's a reasonable rate and I booked on triple points promotion AND use either my R-C or Marriott cc to pay so more points. Super excited about this birthday jaunt-new city, new airline, and a fun way to usher in my new year.

 

[Ngwira]

It's a bit disturbing and changes my perception of you ...just kidding!!!...I have teens and 'YASSS!' is uttered regularly, especially by my hyper'ish dd15 lol [/QUOI have a tween (11) and a pre tween (8) and they say YAASSS and DAB all the time and make sure their hair is "on fleek" and tell me "thirsty" doesn't mean you need water..lol

 

[peel]

Where are you buying the iMac from? B&H doesn’t charge tax outside of NY and NJ and offers free shipping.

If I decide to order online it would be through them, but I need to do a little more digging on whether I can customize anything through the Apple Store that I couldn't through a third party. For example, when I bought my last one (9 years ago!!!) I could only sub the extended keyboard for the standard one if I ordered online with Apple but not if I purchased via third party or even at a physical Apple Store. I want to make sure there aren't any limitations based on which purchasing route I go.

 

[peel]

If I decide to order online it would be through them, but I need to do a little more digging on whether I can customize anything through the Apple Store that I couldn't through a third party. For example, when I bought my last one (9 years ago!!!) I could only sub the extended keyboard for the standard one if I ordered online with Apple but not if I purchased via third party or even at a physical Apple Store. I want to make sure there aren't any limitations based on which purchasing route I go.

Edit: I'm also going to keep an eye on any increased shopping portal deals that might pop up. That might influence where I buy from.

 

[Lain]

If I decide to order online it would be through them, but I need to do a little more digging on whether I can customize anything through the Apple Store that I couldn't through a third party. For example, when I bought my last one (9 years ago!!!) I could only sub the extended keyboard for the standard one if I ordered online with Apple but not if I purchased via third party or even at a physical Apple Store. I want to make sure there aren't any limitations based on which purchasing route I go.

I’m a big Apple geek. Back when I was in high school and college, I used to always do customized to order. I haven’t custom ordered any of the many Apple computers I’ve bought since probably 2005. The differences in processor cores and speed, RAM, graphics, and storage typically aren’t that important for everyday general use. Apple offers several levels of configuration for each of their computers standard, which pretty much covers the big decisions that you can’t upgrade later on (e.g., processor, RAM, and to a lesser extent storage space). I usually find the low end or mid tier sufficient for my needs. I find that B&H offers even more configurations (and price points accordingly) than Apple, that B&H basically did the job of customizing for you.

ETA: It’s hard to beat B&H when they don’t collect tax and offer free shipping. And they’re pretty good about keeping their prices competitive with other retailers. But sometimes, B&H won’t price match their competitors. Best Buy, Staples, and Target occasionally have sales (or gift card deals) that make them cheaper than B&H even with tax, plus they’re on shopping portals, and will price match.

 

[jujubiee4]

Does anyone here Cruise??? Please post tips on how to get cruises cheaper. I have airline miles
and credits coming out of my ears but would to keep cruise cost down. This will be for 2019
graduation. Originally I was going to do Disney Alaska but after taking our 10th Disney cruise
over the summer and just now seeing 2019 prices....im looking elsewhere. Does Chase or any
other CC transfer to a line?

 

[havaneselover]

Does anyone here Cruise??? Please post tips on how to get cruises cheaper. I have airline miles
and credits coming out of my ears but would to keep cruise cost down. This will be for 2019
graduation. Originally I was going to do Disney Alaska but after taking our 10th Disney cruise
over the summer and just now seeing 2019 prices....im looking elsewhere. Does Chase or any
other CC transfer to a line?

Yes chase ultimate rewards can be used toward cruises. I am doing Alaska with DCL next summer and am keeping costs down by booking through Costco and paying in gift cards. Saving my credit card points for flights, hotels, and Vancouver excursions.

 

[Tikitoi]

Awesome! Way to make that 4/24 double dip happen!

Looking forward to doing this...June can't come quick enough...

 

[jujubiee4]

Yes chase ultimate rewards can be used toward cruises. I am doing Alaska with DCL next summer and am keeping costs down by booking through Costco and paying in gift cards. Saving my credit card points for flights, hotels, and Vancouver excursions.

Thank you. Does chase transfer to DCL? Your plan was my plan. I have flights and hotel covered....but the cruise cost grrr.
Have the option of continuing to buy Dis gift cards or just going on another line.

By the way we took the Wonder last year to San Francisco and Vancouver and flew back to Calif. Vancouver
stunned me it was gorgeous. You will love it!

 

[gottalovepluto]

instant cancellation? do a chat with Walmart. there's something on their end that flags your orders to automatic cancellation... I had the same issue, saw that messaging them would help. my order passes successfully after asking Walmart for help.

another way I've read was to order physical cards and not e-cards.

It worked today! thanks!!

 

[havaneselover]

Thank you. Does chase transfer to DCL? Your plan was my plan. I have flights and hotel covered....but the cruise cost grrr.
Have the option of continuing to buy Dis gift cards or just going on another line.

By the way we took the Wonder last year to San Francisco and Vancouver and flew back to Calif. Vancouver
stunned me it was gorgeous. You will love it!

Yes, but you have to call.

I hear you. We are at $9,000 with OBB for a 7A and an 11B (each with 1A1C) for the end of August. And now those two cabins are going for almost $13,000??? I debated about trying Celebrity (my mom is going with us and loves Celebrity) or Princess. If I hadn't had my OBB and weren't getting 8% back from Costco, I definitely would not do DCL for Alaska.

We cannot wait though!

 

[WVMomof3]

So, since i was chicken on the CIP, I decided to double dip the CSP and CSR. Was worried about doubling up on the spends, but unfortunately, I think will be ok. Can you be both excited and not excited to spend so much money. lol I used my husbands referral for CSR and I eeny meeny moed the CSP referral on the reddit group. Everyone is so helpful, hard to pick just one person. @gottalovepluto was the winner. I still need to put my referral links up there.

 

[Alexle2007]

Darn, I wish I had that new Marriott card. I just booked the Courtyard for this Friday night so we wouldn’t have to make the 1 hr commute to BWI for our 6:15 am flight to Orlando and Universal Sat morning.

 

[Albort]

ETA: It’s hard to beat B&H when they don’t collect tax and offer free shipping. And they’re pretty good about keeping their prices competitive with other retailers. But sometimes, B&H won’t price match their competitors. Best Buy, Staples, and Target occasionally have sales (or gift card deals) that make them cheaper than B&H even with tax, plus they’re on shopping portals, and will price match.

heh, free shipping, no tax... but 1x. (first world churning problems).
Cant find a portal for them... :|

 

[jujubiee4]

Yes, but you have to call.

I hear you. We are at $9,000 with OBB for a 7A and an 11B (each with 1A1C) for the end of August. And now those two cabins are going for almost $13,000??? I debated about trying Celebrity (my mom is going with us and loves Celebrity) or Princess. If I hadn't had my OBB and weren't getting 8% back from Costco, I definitely would not do DCL for Alaska.

We cannot wait though!

Ohhhh my dreams on seeing the great outdoors and icebergs on disney are slowly melting
We originally were going July 2017 but when the amex Hawaii offer came the family went
overide on me.

I want to see Alaska sooooooo bad. I will have to live vicariously through you while you plan. Please
post a trip report.

 

[disneedee]

Yes chase ultimate rewards can be used toward cruises. I am doing Alaska with DCL next summer and am keeping costs down by booking through Costco and paying in gift cards. Saving my credit card points for flights, hotels, and Vancouver excursions.

can you walk me through how to use ur and book through costco? thankyou

 

[Lain]

heh, free shipping, no tax... but 1x. (first world churning problems).
Cant find a portal for them... :|

No portal for B&H, but isn't the Apple Store on the Marriott More portal?

 

[mefordis]

If I order an AMEX gift card and pay with my Amex, do I get points for that? Not sure how gift cards work with respect to MR points.

Thanks!

 

[gottalovepluto]

So, since i was chicken on the CIP, I decided to double dip the CSP and CSR. Was worried about doubling up on the spends, but unfortunately, I think will be ok. Can you be both excited and not excited to spend so much money. lol I used my husbands referral for CSR and I eeny meeny moed the CSP referral on the reddit group. Everyone is so helpful, hard to pick just one person. @gottalovepluto was the winner. I still need to put my referral links up there.

 

[peel]

heh, free shipping, no tax... but 1x. (first world churning problems).
Cant find a portal for them... :|

1.5 with the Freedom Unlimited. Still...