topic Re: Vacation cards in Credit Cards

Vacation cards

Caught750 — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 14:14:13 GMT

I'm fairly new to travel cards/redemptions so I was hoping to get a little advice. DW and I would like to take DD to Disney...crazy expensive. We'd also like to start doing more traveling in general as well, while offsetting cost with SUBs and spend generated travel rewards.

I currently have PRG and the 50k MR points have made it to my account. I'm thinking of adding an Amex Delta Plat and SPG or Hilton in a few months once they're pre-approvals. Jago just showed us even with similar scores (mine should be higher by then) to your initial approvals you can get usable limits on 2nd and 3rd card which can grow.

I was also thinking of adding BoA travel rewards as a second general travel card.

Thoughts and suggestions please

Re: Vacation cards

Zolomon — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 14:45:05 GMT

I'm very fond of my Chase Sapphire Preferred and would recommend it for purchases where Amex is not accepted.

Re: Vacation cards

Caught750 — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 14:48:33 GMT

Agreed, I love CSP but I'm lol&never/24 and they closed the back doors

Re: Vacation cards

Shadowfactor — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:12:26 GMT

As other members suggested to me when I was asking for help with travel cards.

Take a good look at each companies rewards program. What partners they have, what would be the best way to redeem rewards.

What cards will give you the most points for your spend.

Since you said chase wasn’t an option.

I really like USB. I earn a ton of points on my Altitude and FlexPerks combo.
If you have a Samsung phone, the Altitude Reserve is amazing for its mobile wallet.
They don’t have travel partners but with real time rewards you can now book directly through the airline and redeem for 1.5CPP.
This allows greater flexibility with fare class, open jaw, etc.

Re: Vacation cards

Caught750 — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:20:11 GMT

I like USB and will definitely be including them at some point. I like Chase products but not Chase. I'm building history with Amex and know that carries alot of weight with them. Delta Platinum offer a companion ticket and the points would cover the other 2 tickets. Hilton and SPG are hotels/partners that we'd definitely use. I was thinking the EDC also uses MR points and would compliment PRG well.

USB, as you've told me before, values history as well but I don't have any at this point.

It seems to me that Amex and BoA (who I bank with) are some of the more solid options for me at this point.

Re: Vacation cards

Shadowfactor — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:34:23 GMT

You mentioned you had an Amex PRG.
That card is far more valuable then the ED in rewards potential.
If you have a lot of non category spend, I could see the value in the ED if you really swiped it everywhere.

Take a good look at Amex redemption values for the trips you would be taking.
Amex points are worth significantly less if not flying first/business class on long haul international flights.

You might find that you would be better off with another rewards program instead of using the ED for non category spend.

In regards to BoA
Premium rewards is the better travel card over the travel rewards, and the card actually pays you $5 a year if you use the baggage benefit plus TSA credit.

Re: Vacation cards

Caught750 — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:39:00 GMT

Would it be worth that fee though and, I believe no SUB, when I can get the same from PRG or Delta card then use the no fee travel rewards?

Re: Vacation cards

Shadowfactor — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:47:42 GMT

Last time I checked.
BoA premium rewards offered a $500 SUB.
If it’s worth the fee is up to you.
Do you spend $100 a year on baggage/upgrade/airline misc fees?
If so then yes it’s worth it and every 4 years you basically get a free $100 for the TSA Credit.

Re: Vacation cards

Caught750 — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:51:29 GMT

I suppose it's worth an in depth look since the Delta card is $195 but has the companion ticket. That said a pile of points transferred to Delta could do the same with a lower fee.

Re: Vacation cards

Shadowfactor — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:52:45 GMT

You have the PRG which gives the $100 airline credit that’s locked to one airline.
But since the PRG reimburses for airline gift cards. You could just buy a giftcard to use for flights and use the BOA for actual baggage fees.

I wasn’t taking into account the Delta card.
That’s really up to you if you would benefit from the perks the Delta has to offer.

Re: Vacation cards

Caught750 — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:55:47 GMT

Delta Platinum has a 70k mile with 10K (maybe) QM SUB. It also offers a yearly companion ticket, TSA check, waived baggage, etc. I can also downgrade to gold or blue if we aren't going to fly often enough after the 1st year.

Re: Vacation cards

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 16:04:27 GMT

@Shadowfactorwrote:
You have the PRG which gives the $100 airline credit that’s locked to one airline.
But since the PRG reimburses for airline gift cards. You could just buy a giftcard to use for flights and use the BOA for actual baggage fees.

I wasn’t taking into account the Delta card.
That’s really up to you if you would benefit from the perks the Delta has to offer.

Get a Hyatt card or two. There points are worth 4 times what Hilton points are worth and there are several Hyatt's near Disney World. The one I went to had free breakfeast.

Re: Vacation cards

Caught750 — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 16:11:38 GMT

For Disney we would likely go through air bnb. It isn't just the three of us and we could easily do a condo for $100/ night. I'm not a fan of Chase at all and wouldn't want one of their cards despite the products being awesome.

Re: Vacation cards

Shadowfactor — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 16:12:46 GMT

It’s worth saying that you don’t get the companion ticket until the end of the first year and I think you must renew the card in order to get the ticket. So basically you are paying a less then the $400 to get that first ticket.

Re: Vacation cards

Caught750 — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 16:22:03 GMT

Well thank you, I missed that. Then I suppose the gold is a more reasonable airline card for the fee. We will definitely not fly enough, or far enough, to justify the $400. For that fee I'd likely go with the Platinum charge which we also wouldn't use enough. PRG seems perfect for us. If we pair it with an airline and hotel card we'd be pretty well set. I'd like to add another general travel card (revolving) as well which is why I was thinking BoA.

Re: Vacation cards

MrDisco99 — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 16:23:57 GMT

Amex Delta Plat does not come with GE/TSA.