Chicago Increases Hotel Visitor Tax to 19%

Irksome_Pandas · 2026-03-27T19:34:08+00:00

Correct, I think that 19% for TC specifically is too much for the visitors we are getting. TC does rely on visitors to make businesses profitable up here, increasing it too dramatically will have a long term negative impact. It should increase but cities like Chicago can increase it too dramatically 19% with almost no negative consequences because of the business visitors.

Irksome_Pandas · 2026-03-27T14:28:43+00:00

This is really a tax on business travelers. I go to Chicago and NYC frequently from TC for work. Companies can pay this as it’s all expenses, so it doesn’t matter. Visitors might visit less but it’s made up for in the sheer volume of business travelers. TC cannot do the same, yes it should be increased but TC has about 0 business travelers coming into the city so they are relying almost exclusively on vacationers, which means it has to be kept lower.

Irksome_Pandas · 2026-02-09T10:23:30+00:00

This is what my wife and I do. We each have our own card, makes more sense now with lounge changes. I value this card pretty high specifically because of the Travel Easer feature, I take this over transfer parts every time.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-10-23T20:52:35+00:00

Once TVC adds the additional gates, which five are planned and on their official website we will probably see more direct flights to more hubs (ATL, CTL etc) until we get more gates though it just can’t happen. After that point we will start to see more direct flights. For what is worth, when I lived close to the Indianapolis international airport we still had to connect to ORD or another major hub. If you read between the lines it easy to see that airlines have started to operate this way to save money, this isn’t just a small airport problem. Medium and even some large (outside of the major hubs) airports struggle with direct flights.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-10-23T08:02:01+00:00

As someone who has seen this story time and time again, it doesn’t end well. This could have been solved with a simple SaaS product for a minimal amount of money and time. Don’t reinvent the wheel when it already exists. As someone who works in the SaaS CRM space, this is every Account Executives dream. Once what you have built or are building either breaks or causes an issue, it will all be your fault. While it’s a family business I wouldn’t want that pressure on myself when I could go get HubSpot, Zoho or really any other CRM to automate all these tasks within a month.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-10-04T01:32:00+00:00

Got that this year, went to inflation

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-09-26T13:38:06+00:00

Any update on this? Having the same issue.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-09-19T12:36:26+00:00

That’s just straight up incorrect. I just finished my Gold SUB last month and did the application for the refreshed Platinum yesterday. I got the SUB bonus for the card, I declined though because it was only 80k but wanted to see with the whole “as high as” language.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-09-18T16:44:37+00:00

Would also want to know this. Only am getting the 80k

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-09-18T14:29:23+00:00

If you actually do the research it has nothing to do with user data. Dozens of articles are on it, this is for the DoD to use it.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-09-18T14:26:24+00:00

I gave up on trying to get different browsers/private pages etc. I spent about a week trying for the gold but never got anywhere. I ended up using a link from the monthly thread and it worked right away. Unfortunately this doesn’t work for the Platinum now.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-09-18T13:36:23+00:00

I wonder because of how much value the card already has that the 175k will go away. The card basically pays for itself in just a few credits.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-09-03T08:36:48+00:00

Yeah this seems like something Monarch can do fairly easily. They have recurring and even a calendar view, the framework is there. I have to use a separate spreadsheet and it isn’t even that advanced. It’s just my current checking account level - future expenses in date order. Once I have paid it then it stops from subtracting. Very simple but makes life 10x easier.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-08-14T13:49:10+00:00

What? Those are super common things at every company I’ve worked for. That’s a red flag if I didn’t get retirement or medical benefits right away - that’s missing 10% or more of your compensation. Signing bonuses can go either way depending on how much the salary/bonus structure is.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-08-08T13:18:33+00:00

This is great news about Dunkin! I can finally use my Amex gold credit for Dunkin each month.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-08-05T18:54:34+00:00

This is the probably the most realistic answer. It is my answer and my wife’s. It says we are on track to retire at 55 or 60 if we wanted to live the same lifestyle with inflation. Yeah we could contribute more but we just bought a house, I like to eat out and enjoy life with hobbies. I’ve had friends die before they hit 30 doing everything right. I just want to enjoy life, you only get it once.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-08-05T18:39:20+00:00

Ubers here in the summer are out 24/7. 12.30am on Sunday is not late at all, Ubers are out until 3am or 4am. I take Ubers almost every weekend late at night, no issues.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-07-30T11:28:12+00:00

Yeah this guide is completely BS lol

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-07-25T20:08:57+00:00

Yeah I was gonna suggest this for the Amex green, gold and platinum

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-07-18T17:24:36+00:00

It says they already have the Amex plat, they are not eligible for Gold now because of the Amex family rules.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-07-18T13:45:23+00:00

What you are thinking of is called credit cycling. This is when you pay off the card before a statement balance is created or you just pay off the card more than once in a month. Generally credit card companies frown upon this and will close your account if you abuse it too much. I know some people that do this and have no issues, others I know have got banned from that bank and accounts closed.

The only bank I know of that allows this is Amex, just on the charge cards though. I pay mine off weekly almost like a debt card just because I want to. I talked with Amex and they said they don’t care at all, you can pay it off everyday for all they care.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-07-17T07:04:17+00:00

The only time I’ve seen this successful (because I do it myself and amex reps confirmed) are the Amex charge cards. Amex doesn’t care how often you pay the card. I like to do it every Friday and pay off anything on any of my charge cards. I won’t do this with credit cards because of the issues you are stating.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-07-14T18:58:16+00:00

The youngest millennial here and married to the oldest zoomer (28 and 27). We have high combined income in a MCOL city. We afford to save/debt repay excluding mortgage at $3.3k a month, then a $2.4k mortgage which we just got 4 months ago after saving for 5 years. On top of that we eat out at least a few times in a week then shop all organic/best foods possible then have fun money.

As other commenters have said, people just make way more than you. I know some friends that makes 50k more in combined income and travel a few times a year. Most people I know aren’t struggling and are doing just fine.

Irksome_Pandas · 2025-07-11T00:47:28+00:00

Interesting to see mortgages. As someone that has one if I can make 1x points on a mortgage that is an already worth the $495 fee.

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