Best strategies to get most out credit cards, rewards, balance transfer offers.

[Monarchy79]

On 11/24/2022 at 6:34 AM, ericwinters said:

While this was just a temporary offer this year, my Nordstrom Visa card sent me an offer that any entertainment, restaurant, and grocery purchase will give me 10 points per dollar via rewards in Nordstrom notes.

I am a Nordstrom Queen so this was awesome for me. I've racked up nearly $500 to spend in this store. The promotion ran early October 3nds at the end of November, so it's perfect for all the holiday grocery shopping and restaurants spends. Then i get to buy gifts for my loved ones. 

Win win win!

I’m so glad you mentioned the Nordstrom Visa Card!!!!

it’s my favorite!!!!

because you can use it anywhere, I simply save my cash for large purchases, then just use the card (and immediately pay of the balance),  I’ve gotten hundreds and hundreds of dollars in gift cards thanks to their rewards program. Then add in those Nordstrom “notes” and alteration credits and even more benefits rack in. Right now, I still have $300 in free alteration credits to use. 

[handiacefailure]

For people who like to go to Vegas but aren't big gamblers like me the Wyndham business card is a great deal if you go to Vegas even once a year.

You get diamond status with Wyndham and you can status match it to Caesars Diamond every year with the Wyndham/Caesars status match.   

You get a $100 dining credit with Caesars every year which makes up for the $95 annual fee and a 40000 sign up bonus and 15,000 anniversary points every year on renewal.   You can transfer up to I believe 20,000 wyndham points a year to Caesars so if you transer over 15000 point to Caesars those points are worth at least $150.00

 

And no resort fees if you are a diamond at Caesars.

[Guest]

There are probably people who wouldn't benefit from at least one credit card. I own two IHG cards, for instance, each of which pays for itself with a free hotel night. Also a free night with Hilton's AMX, and with enough expenses, it gives me Diamond status each year, which usually result in free breakfasts and upgrades. I paid for most of the construction work for a retaining wall for my pool with my American Airlines M/C, so at least until February of 2024, I get Executive Platinum status on the airline, so usually free domestic upgrades and access to First Class Lounges on Oneworld rather than Business Class lounges (including Qantas's 1st Class Lounge at LAX when I just recently flew JAL to Vietnam). 

Even if you fly with an airline only once a year, the annual fee will pay for itself quickly with free luggage check-in when you use the card to pay for the ticket. Even if one never leaves home, some cards have no fee and offer cash back. Something for everyone. 

[eRutt]

In addition to perks, don't overlook the importance of customer service. I use a Barclay's card because a number of the other major card issuers have failed me in inexcusable ways, and Barclay's has provided consistently good service.

One particularly galling example was when I told my card company that i would be traveling in Europe and they nonetheless put a hold on my card. When I tried to follow their instructions and contact them via a collect call, the repeatedly refused the charges. Their excuse? They were "too busy" to take the call!

[Guest]

On 1/13/2023 at 6:46 AM, eRutt said:

...One particularly galling example was when I told my card company that i would be traveling in Europe and they nonetheless put a hold on my card. ...

Which company was that? Although there are places where AMX may not be accepted in most places (like Vietnam, where I am now), they definitely have the best customer service. I wanted to leave them a travel advisory once, and they said "We don't need travel advisories. We know where you are."

[handiacefailure]

On 1/14/2023 at 9:19 AM, Unicorn said:

Which company was that? Although there are places where AMX may not be accepted in most places (like Vietnam, where I am now), they definitely have the best customer service. I wanted to leave them a travel advisory once, and they said "We don't need travel advisories. We know where you are."

AmEx customer service is great.   My issue is that a lot of merchants outside of the US don't accept it, especially smaller mom and pop type places.

Chase's customer service is great overseas.   My chase sapphire reserve is my preferred card to use overseas and I never have to tell them my travel plans

Now citi was a royal pain when I tried using my card overseas five years ago.   Even though that card at the time was my everyday spend card, it should have been obvious to them I was overseas since there were no US charges and all the charges were in London and Paris but they put a security block on the card and instead of just letting me confirm it in the app I had to call.   

[Guest]

9 minutes ago, handiacefailure said:

...Now citi was a royal pain when I tried using my card overseas five years ago...

Things are probably different now, or maybe it's because you used the Chase card to buy the trip, then the Citi card during the trip? Since I use a Citi American Airlines card to charge most of my plane trips, I usually get an e-mail from Citi before my overseas travels saying saying something along the lines of "We've noticed that you're about to go on a trip. Enjoy your trip, and be aware that we know about your travel plans, and require no further notification."

Doing all of these travel notifications was a PITA years ago, but I haven't had to do them recently. 

[Jim_n_NYC]

On 1/14/2023 at 9:19 AM, Unicorn said:

Which company was that? Although there are places where AMX may not be accepted in most places (like Vietnam, where I am now), they definitely have the best customer service. I wanted to leave them a travel advisory once, and they said "We don't need travel advisories. We know where you are."

As far as travel notifications are concerned, I agree they don't seem to be needed as much.  I've gotten notices from at least two of the companies (one I tried to notify and they said I didn't need to) and the reason being was that they can tell from my bookings where I am (creepy, lol).

When it comes to Amex usage when overseas, we did Spain and Portugal in '21 and I was watching to see how man restaurants would take Amex...very few, especially in Portugal.  With them it was Visa or Mastercard only.  Interestingly, Bavaria in '22 was similar but I was surprised at the number of places that didn't take credit cards at all.  We went to ATMs a lot more than I have on other trips recently, which I thought wouldn't be the case in Germany.

[handiacefailure]

41 minutes ago, Jim_n_NYC said:

As far as travel notifications are concerned, I agree they don't seem to be needed as much.  I've gotten notices from at least two of the companies (one I tried to notify and they said I didn't need to) and the reason being was that they can tell from my bookings where I am (creepy, lol).

When it comes to Amex usage when overseas, we did Spain and Portugal in '21 and I was watching to see how man restaurants would take Amex...very few, especially in Portugal.  With them it was Visa or Mastercard only.  Interestingly, Bavaria in '22 was similar but I was surprised at the number of places that didn't take credit cards at all.  We went to ATMs a lot more than I have on other trips recently, which I thought wouldn't be the case in Germany.

I was in London and outside of having to pay a cover to a club in July and didn't use cash at all and in Paris this fall only time I used cash was to pay an escort.   I prefer to use credit cards all the time anyway just for the points but espeially overseas so I don't have to deal with getting ripped off with the exchange rate   Also allows me to keep better track of how much I spent.   Another nice thing about using a credit card is for a place I visit frequently like London or Lima is if I go to a restaurant I really like, I can just look at the quicken detail before I return to the city to see the name of the restaurant if I don't remember it.

I think the reason AmEx isn't taken at a lot of place is the high fees businesses have to pay.   

Outside of getting the minimum spend in on my Delta AmEx cards for the MQD waivers and Hilton stays on my Hilton AmEx and doing things like the streaming credit on my Platinum AmEx, I dont find the rewards the best in my case for credit card spending using AmEx.   I get a lot better return on my chase cards but it's truly a YMMV situation

 

[Jim_n_NYC]

2 hours ago, handiacefailure said:

I was in London and outside of having to pay a cover to a club in July and didn't use cash at all and in Paris this fall only time I used cash was to pay an escort.   I prefer to use credit cards all the time anyway just for the points but espeially overseas so I don't have to deal with getting ripped off with the exchange rate   Also allows me to keep better track of how much I spent.   Another nice thing about using a credit card is for a place I visit frequently like London or Lima is if I go to a restaurant I really like, I can just look at the quicken detail before I return to the city to see the name of the restaurant if I don't remember it.

I think the reason AmEx isn't taken at a lot of place is the high fees businesses have to pay.   

Outside of getting the minimum spend in on my Delta AmEx cards for the MQD waivers and Hilton stays on my Hilton AmEx and doing things like the streaming credit on my Platinum AmEx, I dont find the rewards the best in my case for credit card spending using AmEx.   I get a lot better return on my chase cards but it's truly a YMMV situation

 

Yea, we're the same.  If I could, I wouldn't use cash at all on trips (well, anywhere) since we get so much value out of points/miles for flights and hotel rooms.

 

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Too many people sign up for cards based on what perks they THINK they'll use (or, the cachet of the card).

You've got to be realistic about your spend and how valuable a card's perks are to you, specifically.

I read through a ton of posts on reddit's CC subs and it's telling to see people drop the card in one year, usually as soon as the yearly fee hits.  It's nearly a churner's mentality, but without really fully exploiting the points or perks.

I'm not usually a spreadsheet kind of guy, but for the credit cards I use, it benefits me in keeping up with getting the most out of the plastic I'm using.

Re: Amex...  I've never had an issue anywhere with it being accepted.  They also have some of the best customer service in the industry.  Amex's concierge has pulled some rabbits out of hats for me when it comes to last-minute reservations and tickets.  I consider it a card I'd never not have in my wallet.

Edited January 22, 2023 by BenjaminNicholas

[hassanizhar]

The best option for you will depend on your travel and spending habits. Here are some factors to consider:

1. Travel Patterns: If you frequently fly with one specific airline or stay at one hotel chain, it might make sense to have a co-branded credit card for those companies. These cards often offer bonuses and rewards that are specific to that airline or hotel, such as free checked bags or elite status.

2. Annual Fees: High-end travel cards like the American Express Platinum often come with a high annual fee, but they also offer a wide range of benefits, such as lounge access, travel credits, and hotel upgrades. Consider the cost of these benefits against the annual fee to see if they are worth it.

3. Bonus Categories: If you spend a lot in categories like dining or travel, you may be able to earn more rewards by using a card with a high earning rate in those categories.

4. Flexibility: With multiple travel cards, you may be able to earn rewards on a variety of expenses and have more options for redeeming rewards. With a single high-end card, you may have more benefits, but fewer options for earning and redeeming rewards.

Ultimately, the best option for you will depend on your travel and spending habits, so be sure to do your research and carefully consider your options before making a decision.

[Thelatin]

I use my Amex Platinum for business, so it wracks up a shit ton of points.  I typically transfer them to my Marriott or Hilton accounts.  

[+ JEC]

My primary accounts are at Capital One.  The Capital One QuickSilver card earns 1.5% cash back on everything (+no annual fee), they also have many offers for much higher rewards (i.e. 8% on Priceline for travel).  There is also a CapitalOne shopping plug-in which helps you make sure you are getting the best possible price inclusive of rebates.  I'm interested in the CapitalOne Venture X which is comparable to Amex Platinum for a much lower annual fee ($395), VentureX includes a free subscription to PriorityPass airport lounges and CapitalOne is starting to build their own airport lounge network.   Anyone else have CapitalOne VentureX?  

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review - The Points Guy - The Points Guy

THEPOINTSGUY.COM

---

Venture X, Capital One's first foray into the world of premium travel rewards cards, knocks it out of the park and is nearly a no-brainer for luxury-seeking travelers.

 

[massagefan320]

On 4/23/2023 at 6:06 AM, JEC said:

My primary accounts are at Capital One.  The Capital One QuickSilver card earns 1.5% cash back on everything (+no annual fee), they also have many offers for much higher rewards (i.e. 8% on Priceline for travel).  There is also a CapitalOne shopping plug-in which helps you make sure you are getting the best possible price inclusive of rebates.  I'm interested in the CapitalOne Venture X which is comparable to Amex Platinum for a much lower annual fee ($395), VentureX includes a free subscription to PriorityPass airport lounges and CapitalOne is starting to build their own airport lounge network.   Anyone else have CapitalOne VentureX?  

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review - The Points Guy - The Points Guy

THEPOINTSGUY.COM

---

Venture X, Capital One's first foray into the world of premium travel rewards cards, knocks it out of the park and is nearly a no-brainer for luxury-seeking travelers.

 

Disclosure, I work for Capital One.  I just got the Venture X card, and it is not comparable to Amex Platinum.  The Amex lounges are better than the Priority Pass lounges in general.  Amex's other benefits trump the Venture X.  Is the Platinum worth the $695 fee?  Only if you travel a lot.

[massagefan320]

On 1/22/2023 at 6:25 AM, BenjaminNicholas said:

Too many people sign up for cards based on what perks they THINK they'll use (or, the cachet of the card).

You've got to be realistic about your spend and how valuable a card's perks are to you, specifically.

I read through a ton of posts on reddit's CC subs and it's telling to see people drop the card in one year, usually as soon as the yearly fee hits.  It's nearly a churner's mentality, but without really fully exploiting the points or perks.

I'm not usually a spreadsheet kind of guy, but for the credit cards I use, it benefits me in keeping up with getting the most out of the plastic I'm using.

Re: Amex...  I've never had an issue anywhere with it being accepted.  They also have some of the best customer service in the industry.  Amex's concierge has pulled some rabbits out of hats for me when it comes to last-minute reservations and tickets.  I consider it a card I'd never not have in my wallet.

Some places overseas will not accept Amex, I have encountered this before.

[BuffaloKyle]

Just now, massagefan320 said:

Some places overseas will not accept Amex, I have encountered this before.

Many places domestically don't take Amex either. I have car insurance through Progressive and they don't take Amex. Many local businesses don't take it as well due to the high processing fees. I cashed in all my points and switched last year to my wells fargo visa active cash card. 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

1 hour ago, BuffaloKyle said:

Many places domestically don't take Amex either. I have car insurance through Progressive and they don't take Amex. Many local businesses don't take it as well due to the high processing fees. I cashed in all my points and switched last year to my wells fargo visa active cash card. 

That situation is not limited to American Express.  My local supermarket, Smith's, did not accept VISA for over a year because of its high processing fees.

While I do not use credit cards for every day purchases, I keep one card of each major credit network (American Express, Discover, Master Card, and Visa) in my wallet for emergencies.

[BuffaloKyle]

15 minutes ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

While I do not use credit cards for every day purchases, I keep one card of each major credit network (American Express, Discover, Master Card, and Visa) in my wallet for emergencies.

I only use cash for hiring, buying lottery tickets, and when I get food at this Chinese place by me that doesn't take credit. 😅

I charge everything else for the 2% cash back I get with my card.

[BuffaloKyle]

4 hours ago, BuffaloKyle said:

I only use cash for hiring, buying lottery tickets, and when I get food at this Chinese place by me that doesn't take credit. 😅

I charge everything else for the 2% cash back I get with my card.

Plus I got an extra $200 in free money after I charged enough and then at Christmas they had gift cards for 15% off in their rewards shop. People who just use cash really are missing out.

[Jim_n_NYC]

18 hours ago, massagefan320 said:

Some places overseas will not accept Amex, I have encountered this before.

Yea, I was going to get the green card since it is a good balance of bonus points on travel and dining (3x each), but while I was considering it we did a trip to Spain and Portugal and I was checking most places we went to (restaurants mostly) and I don't remember a single place that took Amex.

Surprisingly, last fall in Germany (Bavaria), I was surprised at how many places didn't take CC's at all.  We used ATMs a lot more than we usually do.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

6 hours ago, Jim_n_NYC said:

Surprisingly, last fall in Germany (Bavaria), I was surprised at how many places didn't take CC's at all.  We used ATMs a lot more than we usually do

That's good to know.  I'll be on my first trip to Europe, including Germany, in a few weeks.  I am planning to have enough cash on me before I leave, in case I have trouble with foreign ATMs.  I much prefer to be prepared with cash.

[mike carey]

10 minutes ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

That's good to know.  I'll be on my first trip to Europe, including Germany, in a few weeks.  I am planning to have enough cash on me before I leave, in case I have trouble with foreign ATMs.  I much prefer to be prepared with cash.

I don't have experience in continental Europe but elsewhere I have had no issues with ATMs, but take some Euros (don't buy them at the airport) and your CCs, and some green in your wallet. Remember that the Euro is the currency in many countries and the ATM experience will vary between them. There may be places that don't take CCs but in some countries cash isn't taken (or rarely so) such as Sweden (not eurozone), and in most countries plastic (or your mobile wallet) will work.

[Kevin Slater]

Also, often the ATM will prompt you with a screen saying something like "the conversion rate we're offering you is XXX" which is invariably worse than the spot rate your bank will give you.  You have the option to accept (meaning the charge will go through as dollars but at their bad rate) or to decline (meaning the charge will go through as ,say, Euros and then get your bank's exchange rate).  You're best off declining their proffered rate of conversion.

Kevin Slater

[Jim_n_NYC]

5 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

That's good to know.  I'll be on my first trip to Europe, including Germany, in a few weeks.  I am planning to have enough cash on me before I leave, in case I have trouble with foreign ATMs.  I much prefer to be prepared with cash.

We've never had an issue with foreign ATMs.  Of course, my telling you this will jinx you.  Since we go to Europe so much, I have a little bit of Euros and Pounds that I have so we won't be stuck when we get over.  You can hit the ATM at the airport, but depending on how many there are and if all the other pax are trying to use the same one to get cash.