re: Credit Card Rewards and Points Discussion

There's an Amex Business card that gives 2x MR if you're interested

That's the one.

I've booked the Roosevelt with it a few times. The rates are a little higher, but I've had luck calling Visa Infinite Concierge directly and getting them to match the advertised non member rate. $100 towards a massage for the Mrs. And a few drinks with the $25 food credit for me. Breakfast is a crap shoot on the front desk with whether you get a continental or a full breakfast because I don't think its specified, but with a smile I can usually get a full voucher. Have never been upgraded but I don't have Hilton status. If you aren't averse to a weeknight stay, I've gotten Thursday nights with all the above mentioned benefits for $159. Makes a nice getaway.

I've also used it at the Waldorf outside of Disney. Probably the only reason I'm going to keep the CSR next year, the massage and Christmas lights make for a happy wife. Wish they had more hotels though.

Edit: You must book through the site (or by phone) in order to receive the benefits.

My Amex experience is limited but I used them to transfer to ANA to book 2 Biz seats to Japan for 170k miles and $500. Earned pretty easily through 100k Plat signup and 50k Gold signup plus spend.

You could have booked this with Virgin Atlantic using UR or MR, and gotten a better rate on miles for first class (ANA was better for biz, though fees may be higher), but I had very specific dates and ANA opens up award seats 20 days earlier to it's own program. Plus 1st class seats for two was way slimmer than for one.

My buddy has gotten some good mileage out of using Avianca and used Virgin to book Delta to Europe using MR.

The only hotel transfer worth a damn is Chase Hyatt transfers.

I had about half a million UR and earn them fast so it was time I diversified.

Have unloaded about 250k of those on a week at the Grand Hyatt Kauai last month and booking Park Hyatt Kyoto and Suite at Hyatt Regency Tokyo. Wasn't sold on smaller room for PH Tokyo or Andaz.

No one thinks we will see southwest offer up the companion pass promotion (I.e., spend $5k get companion pass) through their credit cards this year, do you?

About to pull the trigger on one.

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Hyatt Regency Tokyo.

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I stay here for business, I've always thought the club rooms there were some of the best value Hyatt club rooms. They used to be like $200-250 but now are >$300

Also, marunouchi line subway has a stop in the basement + walk to Shinjuku station is a nice straight shot 5min.

Random but Lobby chandeliers there are incredible. I mean, i usually don't care about these things but they are next level

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No one thinks we will see southwest offer up the companion pass promotion (I.e., spend $5k get companion pass) through their credit cards this year, do you?

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Ive never seen this deal

But if they did it previously, I wouldn’t hold my breath as they upped Companion from 110k to 125k this year. They are beginning to clamp down on it.

Closed my Amex Plat after 13 months today... couldn’t justify the 550 annual and I told them when Sapphire Reserve gives 50% bonus on using points for travel its just not great to use the Amex. He offered me 200 statement credit after 3k spend in 2 months, but I’ve already got 2 other cards to meet spends on in that time.

I wonder if Amex Plat will ever offer what the business card does and give 35% bonus on booking with points. Odd that they didn’t do this after Reserve came in with the 50% bonus.

I have layovers in JFK and Mexico City (had 300k Aeromexico miles to use up) for several hours each on the way to Madrid in May. It looks like I'll be hitting Centurion lounges in both cities.

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The train lines were the selling point

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I imagine most trains are in/out of Shinjuku station, it is easiest to walk from the hotel to the station. Don't take the subway 1 stop into Shinjuku station

Also, there is a 7Eleven in the basement if you need something quick. Keep in mind, their gas station prepared food is shockingly legit / clean (it is Japan)


Finally, if you are tired and want an easy restaurant, there should be a Tonkatsu place that's not bad over there. If you are looking for some non Japanese food, Al Dente right next door is great Italian. It sounds weird but Japan does American/Italian food better than what you find in many places in the US

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made the most sense with the kid that I could get a suite.

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Makes sense. They were doing renovations last year I believe and it may ahve been club/suites. If so, let me know how they look

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I've seen pics of those. Seemed huge.

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Extremely cool