re: Credit Card Rewards and Points Discussion

What LSUAfro said.

Also, I would move from Hilton to Starwood anyway to accumulate the points/status which are way more valuable for the latter. If it comes to a point where you don't like the future of your SPG points, transfer to your favorite airline.

I was coming to post but should've figured I'd be late, stoked about SPG

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I think the consumers will definitely benefit from continuing to have a separate SPG brand.

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I am applying for the SPG biz at the end of the month either way, this just means I'll likely keep the card long term. Although, I have the Ink Plus now and it will likely get most of my regular biz spending after I do the $5k on SPG. I need to figure if the $95 AF for SPG will be justified after the 1st year.

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Oh and my Citi Gold issue with them trying to back out of giving me my points has been escalated to a "senior manager".

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I didn't know this was going on for you; what reason are they giving you so far for trying to back out? I assume, like me, you did everything to qualify so wtf? Last email I got was I should receive mine by 3/31. Now I don't feel so confident.

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Just approved for the CSP.

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100K AA miles are pretty sweet. (8 days apart)

Just be cognizant of the 8/64/120 day rule with Citi.

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Thanks. I'm gonna apply for SPG biz first next week and I'm still working on spending the $5k for Ink so not going to add another $6k for the 2 Citi cards yet.

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You have a business too? Am I the only person on this thread with a regular old job

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Yeah, since 2011. Although you don't really need a business for these cards.

I have 2 businesses but they never seem to get off the ground...

For everyone who has been to Italy:

Can you please help me out with a 2.5 day Rome itinerary? Its a little overwhelming. Would like to see as much as possible - definitely the Vatican City and the Colosseum. 3 people. Will be there in June, staying at Rome Cavalieri and will have a rental car (skipping trains completely since we'll have 5 people for most of the journey).

I was looking on Viator - looks like the best way to skip the apparently humongous lines is to do the Guided vatican city tour. Avoid Wednesdays. Priced at $74. Is that about right? Any other tips/tricks are much appreciated.

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and will have a rental car

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For use during your time in Rome? If that is your plan I'd strongly advise you to revisit it. Rome is chaotic driving even in the off season, and finding a parking spot isn't worth the time spent.

Uber is a much better option within Rome. Card payments, no worrying with language barriers, pickup directly at your location, no worrying with finding a taxi stand or finding a driver who accepts cards (they love to take cash and not run the taximeter).

What follows is my suggestion. BLUF: no viator, just wake up early and deal with two lines (Vatican Museums and Colosseum).

As for Rome, from your location I'd really just advise you to book a ticket for the Vatican Museums on your own and to get early in line (you only have 2.5 days so you should be getting up early anyway to take in what you can).

Spend one morning, EARLY, at Vatican Museums and then from there you will be fed into the Sistine Chapel. At the back right of the Sistine chapel is a door that tour groups are allowed to exit through that empties out into a side alley next to St. Peter's. Just follow a tour group out as they leave, act like you belong (so if Asian, jump in with some Asians, if American do likewise) and you will be pulled underground right into the Basilica.

No lines, no waiting, and the entry into St. Peter's is pretty awesome. The tours usually go underground in the crypt where past Popes are entombed and then climb a small spiral staircase up that opens across from the statue of St. Peter (the one everyone rubs the foot on).

This whole process shouldn't take a whole day. When you are done with Vatican (assume you will go back someday, so don't stay for 12 hours) take an uber from outside the Vatican gates to Palatine hill.

Next, buy your ticket (Forum, Colo, Palatine, all have the same ticket) at the Palatine Hill box office. If the crowds aren't too bad and if it isn't too late enter at Palatine Hill and check it out for a bit ensuring that you at least get a view of the Forum from inside Palatine. You can enter the Forum from inside Palatine, so there shouldn't be any line issues for the rest of your day. Colosseum will be a bear line wise, but you can again wake up early and do it on day two.

Just be merciless with your travel companions, and remind them that every second wasted finding an outfit that no one in Rome gives a shite about gets compounded three or four fold in line. Women are the first to complain about being rushed, but are also the first and loudest to complain about being stuck in line.

Other can't miss items: Piazza Navona, Pantheon (has a closing time at night, I think 7 or 8), and any of the top rated Churches on tripadvisor. Italian churches are free art that shouldn't be overlooked (St. Paul's outside the walls is a favorite, but far too out of the way for your itinerary). Worthy of seeing: Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri WIKI on Church, read about the meridians and the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola Tripadvisor link

May your profit from my office boredom!!! We really need a travel thread separate from the points thread...

VABuckeye

Appreciate it, man!

Foch

Great info. My companions will be my parents. If anyone would be holding us up in the morning, it would be me since they are used to waking up at 5 am anyway. So thats a good thing. We have no problem going as early as possible. Keeping that in mind, how early is too early? If we do get there early, how good/bad are the lines? As in, how long would we be waiting in line still, if at all?

Also, if we don't do a tour group, wouldn't it be too much to take by ourselves? Like the stories/other info about the places we see/visit?

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For an American to drive in Rome on vacation would take a special kind of stupid, and would be living up to every dumb American traveler stereotype.

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This made me laugh I did grow up in India, however. I don't think traffic gets much worse than that. However, now that I am not used to that kind of "excitement" on the road, I will probably turn in our rental as soon as we reach Rome. We do need it for the rest of the days since like I said, we are 5 people and will be covering a lot of ground including some villages and country. Thanks again for the tips!

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We really need a travel thread separate from the points thread...

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2nd that for sure. Are you thinking award travel or just travel in general? I did think of starting one last night when I posted this, but did not know which message board it would go in.

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A general travel thread where we share plans, tips, experiences and photos would be great.

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+1