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

[Hoosier John]

Are automobile expenses (insurance, property tax, etc.) considered "travel" for CIP?

 

[Bozni]

Does anyone know how credit card payments made to David's DVC Rental code?

Also, I was chatting with them and since they're based in Canada they mentioned a "cross border transaction fee" that may apply based on the card being used. Anyone ever experience that?

ETA: Looking at using a CSP and was wondering if knows if the trip cancellation insurance would cover DVC rental cancellation due to hurricane?

 

[GZanta77]

Decided it was time for a new card for P2 - made a schoolboy error and forgot about the new Amex 4 credit card rule - denied for BCE.

Found a 45k MR (+15k referral) offer for Amex Green - instant approval.

 

[WVMomof3]

Where did you all stay? I haven't done enough research to really know where we want to stay.

We stayed 3 nights in Canyon Lodge western cabin. I would NOT recommend staying in the same area for all the nights. There is so much driving. So much. We were in the middle of the park so if we had to stay in one area for all nights I felt that was the best location to do it. It looks like I made my reservation on April 8th for a July 20th stay. I was originally looking for a room for 5 (3 "kids") which was impossible to find. I was just going to smush us in, but neither DD ended up being able to come so it was just 3 of us and the cabin had 2 Queens.

 

[brownhaired_girl]

Where did you all stay? I haven't done enough research to really know where we want to stay.

im not sure who mentioned it, but I think there is a new Springhill Suites near Yellowstone.

 

[StephPlum]

Where did you all stay? I haven't done enough research to really know where we want to stay.

My advice is stay. in. the. park. You will not regret it with all the time you will save in driving. Everything is far apart and with the wildlife, you do not want to be driving in the dark.

We went in 2016 and stayed at Old Faithful Snow Lodge Cabins (3 nights). From there we did all the geyers basins (except West Thumb), Mammoth Hot Springs. Basically the west and north sides. Then we moved to the cabins at Canyon (3 nights). From there did Towers area, Lamar Valley, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Hayden Valley and lake area. Then we moved on to Grand Teton NP. It is so close, do not skip it. We loved GTNP. For GTNP, recommend Signal Mountain Lodge cabins.

The only cabins that were too rustic for my tastes were at Coulter Bay in GTNP.

Keep stalking Xanterra. Pretty generous cancellation policy so people will hold on to multiple reservations until they have to let them go. Sometimes you can find good stuff last minute.

 

[StephPlum]

@becauseimnew Forgot to mention. Great guide book - Yellowstone Treasures by Janet Chapple. Maps of every section of the park with all the sights/hikes. One of the few I actually bought, not just borrowed from the library.

 

[georgina]

Does anyone know how credit card payments made to David's DVC Rental code?

Also, I was chatting with them and since they're based in Canada they mentioned a "cross border transaction fee" that may apply based on the card being used. Anyone ever experience that?

ETA: Looking at using a CSP and was wondering if knows if the trip cancellation insurance would cover DVC rental cancellation due to hurricane?

Coded as travel on Chase Sapphire Reserve. The CSR/CSP do not have a foreign transactions fee, I have used David's a couple of times and never seen one. I can't be positive on the insurance.

 

[Limes96]

This might be a nice way to use the $75 travel credit from the Priority card and convert to points.

It should count.

I'm thinking of trying this too. Also wondering if it might work with certain other travel credits from other cards. Not saying which but maybe you can guess. Is that a topic for advanced strategies on dischurners? I forget.

 

[StephPlum]

Vacation plans for the future:
2021
Hawaii I've resigned myself that this will be cancelled. Currently booked for last week of Jan/First week of Feb.
Tucson in March
Glacier NP in July. I am planning to be able to drive if need be. This will the third time we've attempted this. If the park is all open, I am determined to go.
Yellowstone in September.

One the list for sometime
Hawaii
Alaska cruise
Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon
Redwoods, Lassen Volcanic, Crater Lake
Banff and Jasper NPs
New England in autumn

 

[Albort]

Where did you all stay? I haven't done enough research to really know where we want to stay.

@StephPlum helped me awhile ago with Yellowstone and Grand Teton not too long ago, her advise are sound.

We did last minute bookings, i was able to find lodging in park at Grand Canyon and Old Faithful Snow. they are quite expensive but its totally worth it. We got up super early on both days and had the grand canyon to ourselves. we had a nice show both day and night where there wasnt a massive crowd waiting and watching.
for the off days, i booked a Comfort Inn north of Yellowstone and also a Days Inn west of Yellowstone. Comfort Inn was nice but the Days Inn was very dated.

also highly recommend the Gypsy self guided tour. It plays based on GPS and introduces you to everything in the park. LINK

 

[becauseimnew]

Thanks everyone for all of the Yellowstone tips! Are there any co excursion? I’m thinking kayaking at Tetons but I need something fun for Yellowstone.

 

[Judique]

I've decided to go to the beach this weekend.

Tired of staying in and made a reservation at the Hyatt. Got a little twisted up making, canceling and remaking the reservation as I was trying to figure how to work some Marriott free nights into my visit, but Marriott had me blocked on the 35's, and I wasn't quite ready to drop my 50. (Charging 40k on the nights I wanted.) I may still get it if they reduce the cost as I've seen it happen over this summer. They are constantly reworking the points to follow occupancy, which is great strategy on their part.

They have a JW Marriott in Bonnet Creek that is 50K, and I was thinking I might drop in there for a night or two in January or February. So I stashed the 50k for a minute. That may be my first Florida trip. I've still got November nights that I don't want to let loose, but it's probably going to happen. Have considered renting my BWV SV reservation that starts Oct 31, but will probably just cancel as my points are not in trouble.

As far as the beach trip Air Forcer Thunderbirds will be performing and my balcony should put me centered on the action, and properly socially distanced. They will fly over the water in front of my hotel. There will be other flight demos also, so lots of noise. This program got itself rescheduled and I'm actually surprised it is happening. But, believe it or not, I will enjoy watching the action. The only thing better for me would be Blue.

And, Hyatt has a promo that will give me 25% of my points back.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I've decided to go to the beach this weekend.

Tired of staying in and made a reservation at the Hyatt. Got a little twisted up making, canceling and remaking the reservation as I was trying to figure how to work some Marriott free nights into my visit, but Marriott had me blocked on the 35's, and I wasn't quite ready to drop my 50. (Charging 40k on the nights I wanted.) I may still get it if they reduce the cost as I've seen it happen over this summer. They are constantly reworking the points to follow occupancy, which is great strategy on their part.

They have a JW Marriott in Bonnet Creek that is 50K, and I was thinking I might drop in there for a night or two in January or February. So I stashed the 50k for a minute. That may be my first Florida trip. I've still got November nights that I don't want to let loose, but it's probably going to happen. Have considered renting my BWV SV reservation that starts Oct 31, but will probably just cancel as my points are not in trouble.

As far as the beach trip Air Forcer Thunderbirds will be preforming and my balcony should put me centered on the action, and properly socially distanced. They will fly over the water in front of my hotel. There will be other flight demos also, so lots of noise. This program got itself rescheduled and I'm actually surprised it is happening. But, believe it or not, I will enjoy watching the action. The only thing better for me would be Blue.

And, Hyatt has a promo that will give me 25% of my points back.

Enjoy your trip....we haven’t traveled since our February visit in Orlando to see our son.
But since June we have formed a small bubble of friends we see...2 couples along with their kids and grandkids. One belongs to a beach club so one day a weekend we are there, the other we are either at the wineries or enjoying our backyard pool with our other friends. For a year with many challenges it has gone by quickly.

I now have to figure out how to have a safe baby shower for my daughter...

 

[afan]

I now have to figure out how to have a safe baby shower for my daughter...

Not sure what they did at the shower since I didn't go, friend from high school that I maybe run into once a year and we are fb friends. I did go to her wedding but it was also almost 15 years ago so much closer to getting out of HS. Anyway, the one thing that was nice is she'd registered on Amazon and made it so you could send what you ordered straight to her without revealing the address to me. Not sure if other stores are doing the same since that's the only place she registered. I had her address if she'd registered elsewhere and could have had it shipped there, but Amazon made it very easy as the gift giver.

I think the shower was this past weekend. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't have gone, but now with Mom and I in our own little bubble, not going to happen.

 

[IFlossU]

@babecca1 @afan
Thank you for your advice with the credit freeze. Apparently someone applied for a small business loan in DH’s name. Fortunately I caught it in time and he was able to terminate the application. Had I not been looking at his credit report that could have been a potential nightmare. He placed the freeze while on the phone with Experian and I just did the other two. Super easy like you said. Also it appears that the inquiry has already fallen off Experian since he disputed it this morning. I’m grateful it all worked out for us. 2020 has been something else

 

[babecca1]

@babecca1 @afan
Thank you for your advice with the credit freeze. Apparently someone applied for a small business loan in DH’s name. Fortunately I caught it in time and he was able to terminate the application. Had I not been looking at his credit report that could have been a potential nightmare. He placed the freeze while on the phone with Experian and I just did the other two. Super easy like you said. Also it appears that the inquiry has already fallen off Experian since he disputed it this morning. I’m grateful it all worked out for us. 2020 has been something else

So glad you were able to catch it early!

 

[afan]

@babecca1 @afan
Thank you for your advice with the credit freeze. Apparently someone applied for a small business loan in DH’s name. Fortunately I caught it in time and he was able to terminate the application. Had I not been looking at his credit report that could have been a potential nightmare. He placed the freeze while on the phone with Experian and I just did the other two. Super easy like you said. Also it appears that the inquiry has already fallen off Experian since he disputed it this morning. I’m grateful it all worked out for us. 2020 has been something else

You should freeze his chex report too, you'll have to unfreeze it if you plan to open a bank account but better safe than sorry and generally gets added into the the 3.

Glad you caught it, that's scary. It's one thing when it's a credit card, but a loan just seems so much worse.

 

[IFlossU]

You should freeze his chex report too

Ok! Thank you! I’ll do that. Appreciate your help

 

[Alexle2007]

Do the points have to go in the name of the travel credit holder's RR account? I have funds for each of my kids due to a cancelled WDW trip, but none of them have a RR account. I would have to sign up each of them? Wondering if it's worth the hassle to manage 3 extra accounts.

Yes, My mom didn’t have a SW RR acct so I set one up for her. I entered her confirmation number Into the travel funds section and It pulled up the $ amount of her credit. I then converted $252 to 19k RR. Since she no longer wants to travel and I paid for her flight initially, I’ll book a couple of future flights for myself using the points since they can be used by anyone. This was a much better option than being stuck with $ travel funds she would never use.
so, yes get to work on those RR accounts and convert to points.