@sillykitty1 wrote:
@jsucool76 wrote:
@sillykitty1 wrote:
@TravellingNomad wrote:I have been reading the current Ritz cc offer for the past few days. I really didn't start salivating for it until after getting approved for Marriott biz cc. That 140K would sure look good in my points bank! I am teeter-tottering between applying or not. I've gone on the app screen several times today, stared at it, and closed out the screen. I want to complete the app and hit submit, but the AF is a bit steep. I can't get 100% on board to justify it.
I've only stayed at the SF Ritz twice the past 2 years. Those were only because of parties that was held there and did not have to pay for the room. When taking the family on trips, I'd rather pay $200-$250 for a room instead of $400 and use the savings as spending money for the kids. With that in mind...I don't see myself utilizing the $100 hotel credit. And since I really dont stay at this brand, I can't take advantage of stay 2 consecutive nights and get 3rd night free. Which means the 3 club level upgrades per year will not be used as well.
We have always travelled by air when going on long distance out of town trips..but now the family have started enjoying doing long driving and enjoying whatever scenery that comes along the freeway. Stopping here and there to enjoy the view/area etc. Since the $300 credit can't be applied for airline tickets, i can't see myself taking advantage of it. I know I can take my chances on buying the GC's...but with us not having any plans on flying any time soon, i have no use for them.
I can make a play for it for getting Gold status with this card. Surely that's a good reason to justify the AF. But that would mean putting all my monthly spend on this card so I can keep the status that is recognized at Ritz and Marriott hotels. But I most of those monthly spend (in my opinion) benefits me more keeping it on the cards I currently use.
I would be ok with not being able to take advantage of most perks and I'm sure I can find a way to meet the annual $10K spend to keep Gold status. But with doing so and not being able to use the other perks, i would be spending more just to get a status that I can use once every quarter at Marriott.
But damn Chase and Ritz because I still want the card!! Seems like its worth the AF just for its package presentation LOL!
Ugh...decisions, decisions!! Are my reasons for being on the fence seem skewed to you guys? Sorry for the lengthy post.
I think you've laid out exactly why you don't need the card.
You don't/rarely stay at Ritz
- No use the for upgrade certs
- No use for $100 credit
You don't/rarely fly
- No use for $300 airline reimbursement
- No use for airport lounge access
Gold status
- Only real benefit is concierge lounge access (i.e. free breakfast) IMO
- $10K spending to keep could be put to use for better rewards (Marriott points are generally considered to be < $0.01)
So is 140,000 points worth $395 to you?
If you travel rarely I would say the airport lounge access and incidental things become even MORE valuable. Because you probably don't have FF status that allots you free checked bags, and you probably dont want to pay for a lounge access program. If you have a family of four, at a conservative baggage fee of $25/bag, that's $100 each way.
The OP states "but with us not having any plans on flying any time soon", so paying $395 to offset bagge fees in case the family takes a flight within the next year? Paying the AF for lounge access is even more shaky IMO, so if they travel and if the lounge is at an airport they'll use & the lounge is convenient/accessible to their gates.
CL access is quite valuable, What makes CL access valuable, above the free breakfast? and marriott points can be worth far more than the 7/10 of a cent that TPG quotes them at. For my stay in march i'm getting about 1.5 cents per point worth of value. Yes, they can be ... but on average they are worth < $0.01? The OP states "I'd rather pay $200-$250 for a room instead of $400 and use the savings as spending money for the kids" True redemption value can only be measured if the OP would willing to pay the money for the room if points were not an option.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-Ritz, I just apped for the card on this promotion. But it was a good fit for me, as a FF. By everything the OP has stated, most likely the only thing he would get out of it is 140,000 points for the $395 AF
All I'm saying is this card CAN be valuable whether you plan on travelling or not. I had no intentions on travelling this year, but I got this card (and had 87k marriott points from 2 stays and my marriott sign up bonus), bought 3 RT flights from FLL->LGA with the gift cards, and booked a 5 night stay at the essex house in central park. Would've cost me about $4500 for it, and I'm paying 205,000 points, and about $200 in cash for the 3 tickets as they were a little more than $600.
The whole point of an offer like this is even if you weren't planning on taking a trip, if you can stay at a nice hotel for a few days, then you spring for some plane tickets, and make it happen. 
@jsucool76 wrote:
All I'm saying is this card CAN be valuable whether you plan on travelling or not. I had no intentions on travelling this year, but I got this card (and had 87k marriott points from 2 stays and my marriott sign up bonus), bought 3 RT flights from FLL->LGA with the gift cards, and booked a 5 night stay at the essex house in central park. Would've cost me about $4500 for it, and I'm paying 205,000 points, and about $200 in cash for the 3 tickets as they were a little more than $600.
The whole point of an offer like this is even if you weren't planning on taking a trip, if you can stay at a nice hotel for a few days, then you spring for some plane tickets, and make it happen.
nicely played... awesome deal for $200, if you were planning on spending the 3k regardless
@CreditCuriousity wrote:
@jsucool76 wrote:
All I'm saying is this card CAN be valuable whether you plan on travelling or not. I had no intentions on travelling this year, but I got this card (and had 87k marriott points from 2 stays and my marriott sign up bonus), bought 3 RT flights from FLL->LGA with the gift cards, and booked a 5 night stay at the essex house in central park. Would've cost me about $4500 for it, and I'm paying 205,000 points, and about $200 in cash for the 3 tickets as they were a little more than $600.
The whole point of an offer like this is even if you weren't planning on taking a trip, if you can stay at a nice hotel for a few days, then you spring for some plane tickets, and make it happen.
nicely played... awesome deal for $200, if you were planning on spending the 3k regardless
I have a whole family willing to let me use my CC for their bills and then they bring/send me checks or ACH transfer the money, or bring me cash. Easiest guaranteed way to hit spend bonuses, ever.
@sillykitty & jsucool76 - loved reading both of your insights regarding this card. A lot of great information! But yeah...i just don't see myself getting too much oit of the card benefits..at least not this time or within the next 12 months.
I decided to just hold off on applying for it. Maybe next year when we have a couple of international trips planned, then i can take advantage of most of the perks. Besides..my boss (the wife) said I cant have a shiny new toy if it will cost me $395 this year when we cant maximize what the card offers. Plus the urge to want it has been kept at bay by getting approve for the Ink Plus this morning LOL.
