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

[havaneselover]

The smithsoniam stuff is great and some of them do free toursb had a.great one at air.& space. Make a capitol tour rez before you go to help avoid lines. Library of congress is also good and does great free.tours. the monuments at night are cool. Metro is easy though walking can be similar to wdw.



Zaxbys is so much better than chick fil a. I wish they and Logan's roadhouse woukd com out here, I miss them.

This is blasphemy! Zaxby's is only acceptable on Sunday because we have no other choice.

 

[disneybirds]

I also found one by 32 degrees. Great sale price ($24.99 down from $100). The reviews are mixed though - some with feathers coming out. Maybe too good a price.

I bought one last year by 32 degrees and I love it. I was going to suggest it, but I went to Macy's to get a link for you I saw all the bad reviews about the feathers coming out. The hood on my is detachable and I don't wear it.

 

[first*toright]

I’d love to hear what hotels your looking at! I really would love to take the family o Costa Rica but every time I look I can’t figure out where to stay with points.

Looking at the Punta Islita Guanacaste. I've got Marriott points/status, so it looks like a decent option for us. Not cheap, but prices are sky high for the week after Christmas, so the redemption value is ok. @platamama stayed there (at least once) and I think she was trying to plan another trip to go back. I haven't been there, but we stayed elsewhere in Costa Rica years ago and absolutely loved it. Beautiful country, really nice people. Pretty easy to get by in English (I speak bad Spanish, DH speaks NO spanish, and he was able to happily spend an afternoon looking around the small town near our resort). Gaah, I've gone from "huh, I wonder if we can do a trip in December" to "Oh my god, this trip had better work out" in a matter of hours

 

[palhockeymomof2]

I got the email from SW about our April flights being changed. The email is so confusing! Anyone else still trying to decipher exactly what they mean or is it just me!?! I've been sick so it really could just be me...

they sent me one for my 5/24 flight...the only thing that changed was the flight number....on mine it showed 3 itineraries....the first and last ones were the same and for the new flight...the middle one was the original flight number

 

[becauseimnew]

I had an estimate to replace 2 air conditioning units through Costco today. Apparently there is a 10% Costco cash card offer for the lower priced one, 15% for higher price, plus 2% cash back for my executive membership. Trying to decide the best way to pay, did that 144K UR include a SUB?

We're planning to move in a couple of years so that adds to my calculation, don't necessarily want to get the highest price model.

Our Costco has it listed as 15% costco cash until 1/26 on all units, after that date it goes back to 10%. +2% for executive membership.

We asked if we could split the payment, they let us split the payment on 2 cards.

DH referred me to the CIC - 15K referral bonus + 50K for the SUB + 7K for the charges (CIC earns 1.5/$1) = 72K
I referred DH to CIC - same as above another 72K = 144K

Actually we should get more from Costco, I'll need to get back with the contractor.
$9,500 - $1,598 Costco Cash - $1,440 URs = $6,462.

DH and I discussed cashing out the UR's to pay for the unit, we have decided to use them for travel since we get a better return.

 

[first*toright]

Our cruise this year ends in Miami, FL on 3/21. We’d be off the cruise by 9 likely. Our flight leaves at 3pm from MIA. As a family of 6 (kids 12-6), would you just head to the airport and hang out or is there a way to get a Hilton for the day using points (aka, would there be a way to check in on the 20th through an app maybe?) then we’d just show up at 9:30, get free breakfast, swim, shower and Uber to MIA and fly home?

If you have lounge access for a lounge in MIA, that might be an option.

Generally you have to be physically present to actually get your room, or have used your mobile key, or you run the risk of them releasing your room at 12:01pm. I've called the hotel and told them that I would be checking in first thing in the morning, and they've been ok with holding the room for me for next day early morning check in. Do you have status that would give you guaranteed late check-out? Otherwise you'd have to be out by 11 or 12 and might not be worth doing.

 

[miztressuz]

Also Hyatt offers on Chase. Separate offers for 15% back at Hyatt House and Hyatt Place

Each offer is for
Earn 15% back when you spend $100 or more, with a $45.00 back maximum. Expires 2/15/2020.

 

[castormom4]

If you have lounge access for a lounge in MIA, that might be an option.

Generally you have to be physically present to actually get your room, or have used your mobile key, or you run the risk of them releasing your room at 12:01pm. I've called the hotel and told them that I would be checking in first thing in the morning, and they've been ok with holding the room for me for next day early morning check in. Do you have status that would give you guaranteed late check-out? Otherwise you'd have to be out by 11 or 12 and might not be worth doing.

oh hmmm, good point. We’re only gold status so im pretty sure late checkout isn’t an option there and 100k points wouldn’t be worth two days for a couple hours.
We do both have Priority Pass but it’s only for you and one guest right? So we’d have to pay the full price for two kids? I thought I read it was $30 or $40/person? Still may be the cheapest option...

 

[castormom4]

Looking at the Punta Islita Guanacaste. I've got Marriott points/status, so it looks like a decent option for us. Not cheap, but prices are sky high for the week after Christmas, so the redemption value is ok. @platamama stayed there (at least once) and I think she was trying to plan another trip to go back. I haven't been there, but we stayed elsewhere in Costa Rica years ago and absolutely loved it. Beautiful country, really nice people. Pretty easy to get by in English (I speak bad Spanish, DH speaks NO spanish, and he was able to happily spend an afternoon looking around the small town near our resort). Gaah, I've gone from "huh, I wonder if we can do a trip in December" to "Oh my god, this trip had better work out" in a matter of hours

oh that place is beautiful! 125k points though...whew. Lol!

 

[wanderlust7]

I also found one by 32 degrees. Great sale price ($24.99 down from $100). The reviews are mixed though - some with feathers coming out. Maybe too good a price. I am looking for under $100. The Patagonia ones look great but at $200+ not worth it for as much as I think I will use.

One thing that's important to me for packable jackets is that it stuffs into the pocket, or at least something attached to the jacket. Because if it's an included sack, I'm either going to forget the sack, or worse, lose it.

Another thing that I've noticed is that the more seams on the jacket, the more compressible it'll be.

I got DH a Marmot synthetic fill when he needed one for a trip and I couldn't find a Patagonia price I was happy with. I think it was just under $100 on sale. It was warm and kept dry better than my Patagonia. Could be because it was new and never washed. But my biggest gripe is that it's extremely hard to get it to stuff into the pocket and zip up.

DH and I both have the Patagonia Down Sweaters (which is the weird name they gave the packable down coats) and we live in CA and wear them all the time. I did manage to buy them all on sale. I will say we love them and they've held up pretty well and also squish nicely into our "personal item" when we fly. Oh, mine also makes a nice blanket when I fly. None of them have hoods, because in general I think it's more versatile not to have it attached.

Ditto everything here, except I like the hood for when it rains. Like today!

 

[miztressuz]

Same here...it’s on my personal cards as well

I see that now. I keep getting side tracked and timed out of the Chase site. I must have logged in a dozen times so far today. Why does everything happen at once?!?!

I'm also seeing a new Rite Aid offer. Only 5% for me like usual, but hopefully someone gets something worthwhile... like $4 max

 

[wendow]

they sent me one for my 5/24 flight...the only thing that changed was the flight number....on mine it showed 3 itineraries....the first and last ones were the same and for the new flight...the middle one was the original flight number

Thank you! It makes sense now. They only changed one of our flights but listed both in the new itinerary and for some reason, that totally confused me!

 

[ten6mom]

I need to load up on Starbucks app loads before the end of February for my annual "DIS Divas" trip and I happily discovered that I have the Chase offer on three different cards! That's a nice little convenience since I will most definitely be spending the money soon anyway.

 

[Haley R]

We stocked up on diapers and wipes today!

 

[afan]

This is blasphemy! Zaxby's is only acceptable on Sunday because we have no other choice

I don't like waffle fries and chick fil a can be too greasy for mw which my stomach doesn't like. Plus zaxbys just tastes better.

And before anyone brings up the grilled chicken at chick fil a, I can grill at home, I generally only get chicken out when it's fried. We don't really have anywhere good here so I just bake panko chicken using a recipe from the chew, it's so good and satisfies.

 

[tink1970]

This is blasphemy! Zaxby's is only acceptable on Sunday because we have no other choice.

Nope, Popeye's is Sunday fare! YUM!

 

[disfanforlife]

I fortunately don't have to worry about snow - I would do the same in your position! I'd rather sit and wait (eat, have coffee, read, do work) than be rushing and worried. I do have colleagues that scoot into the airport maybe 45 min before their flight, especially if they just have a carry-on. I get anxious FOR them!

Exactly how I feel! The only thing about our next trip in March - our flight leaves at 6:00 AM - so that means we need to leave at 2:00AM to get there 2 hours early....

 

[alryan]

Sooooo, I may have just planned another trip for this year... I think I can do a trip to Costa Rica on points in December. Just noticed that Christmas and New Years fall on Fridays this year, which got me thinking about our post-Christmas plans, which led to checking out hotel options/flights. Next thing I know I have points advance reservations at the hotel, and am tallying my MRs/URs to see if I can put together the points I'd need for hotel and flights... Should maybe talk to DH about this (and won't know for sure if it will work until Jet Blue comes out with their schedule for the end of the year) - but fun to think about! I think this is the place that @platamama loves, so hoping I can make it work!

How fun!! I have Costa Rica tentatively scheduled for next spring break, but I'm wondering if the SW change is still going in November maybe a trip over Thanksgiving would be better. I'm surprised the thread isn't slower, so many of us busy planning trips!

 

[Crazed4DisneyinSC]

I don't like waffle fries and chick fil a can be too greasy for mw which my stomach doesn't like. Plus zaxbys just tastes better.

And before anyone brings up the grilled chicken at chick fil a, I can grill at home, I generally only get chicken out when it's fried. We don't really have anywhere good here so I just bake panko chicken using a recipe from the chew, it's so good and satisfies.

Oh waffle fries... ChikFilA waffle fries are the absolute best of the best when it comes to fries in my opinion. Nothing can compare. I'm so sorry you don't share my sentiments, lol.

Nope, Popeye's is Sunday fare! YUM!

lol, our Popeye's is always PACKED on Sunday's around noon. Church lets out and Popeye's crowd swells I refuse to go since I haven't been able to try their famous chicken sandwich now for MONTHS. They are always out

 

[georgina]

Our Costco has it listed as 15% costco cash until 1/26 on all units, after that date it goes back to 10%. +2% for executive membership.

We asked if we could split the payment, they let us split the payment on 2 cards.

DH referred me to the CIC - 15K referral bonus + 50K for the SUB + 7K for the charges (CIC earns 1.5/$1) = 72K
I referred DH to CIC - same as above another 72K = 144K

Actually we should get more from Costco, I'll need to get back with the contractor.
$9,500 - $1,598 Costco Cash - $1,440 URs = $6,462.

DH and I discussed cashing out the UR's to pay for the unit, we have decided to use them for travel since we get a better return.

Thanks. According to the Costco website the 15% is for 'qualifying' Lennox products ("see your Lennox dealer for what qualifies"). I am getting 2 more quotes to compare.