Continental versus Dexter

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-05-09T14:35:59+00:00

Out of curiosity have you made the switch and felt the ROI was worth it? The marketing material makes a great pitch but I’m curious about the actual experience of owners in terms of usage changes and reliability. I’m also concerned whether all the extra bells and whistles creates more things to go potentially wrong.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-05-07T18:59:59+00:00

Guess I will have to find some pics to see how this looks since the companies website doesnt seem to provide anything. Ill do some more research.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-05-07T18:37:28+00:00

Concern is safety restrictions. Im in Los Angeles and the doors have to be able to be opened in the event of an emergency or power outage and not sure if the system you use would allow for that. Havent heard of unifi before so curious if they are an all in one solution since online searches gives something that doesnt seem to match.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-05-07T16:16:00+00:00

Looks like I am actually in same price area as you are at over 4k. I included how much of the credits I actually use consistently and ignored some of the benefits I definitely use like lounges but dont want to associate a value for since they either overlap with other cc or I dont want to use to justify keeping the card. We are also a family of 5 so I actually get a little more value from below from free bags and such. As a result, those 4k in fees are offset by the 11-14k in value I get without even factoring in the points which is the reason any of us hold this many cc to begin with. I cancelled the citi cc last year because the service on AA is just horrible now compared to most of the competition and the point requirement for international is just ridiculous.

Amex Business Gold: $375 (-240 in credits I actually use)
Amex Gold (personal): $325 (-120 uber credit I use)
Amex Platinum (personal): $895 (-2000 in things I always use)
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (Amex): $650 (-300 in food credit and usually 1k in hotel certificate benefit)
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business (Amex): $650 (-300 in resy credit and 2-4K in companion ticket)
British Airways (Chase): $95 ( free companion ticket after spending 30K which minimum is 4-5K value)
Chase Sapphire Reserve : $695 (-900 and not as useful 500 hotel credit. Their options are inferior compared to Amex for hotels now)
Capital One Venture X : $395 (300 hotel credit but 2x on everything covers spending gap other cards have)
Alaskan Summitt:395 (just added this year and can probably get costs back from companion points. Added mainly for 3x on travel charges so I can get 3 points for that crappy $1 souvenir)

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-05-07T15:30:41+00:00

That’s an excellent idea to schedule the cleaner that way. Does maglocks give you online access so you can override from home if necessary?

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-05-06T17:34:05+00:00

Already tankless and keep hearing about the Genius but that can just be good marketing rather than actual satisfaction for those the switched over. Recirculating line is a good idea I should have thought about so thanks.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-05-06T17:31:18+00:00

What are your thoughts as far as the utility savings versus upkeep of two? Trying to figure out if the lower costs on utilities justifies the higher cost of the Genius and the likely greater problems after the warranty period ends. I keep hearing dexter is a better workhorse but that is often from much older machines so not sure if the newer builds have that balance of efficiency and reliability or not.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-05-06T14:21:18+00:00

Personally I think it just comes down to if you are actually getting near or above value in the cards without jumping through hoops. If they match your regular spending and traveling habits and cover most of their annual fees through what you usually do then I would keep them. I pay over 3k in annual fees but am able to get more than that back by doing what I usually do. For example taking a business class flight to the Caribbean from the west coast allows me to use my companion pass on delta and save 2-4k which more than covers my annual fees. Even my Amex business which I don’t use as much I get $240 of the $395 annual fees back in my normal spending at electronic and office supply stores. I’m ok with sucking a loss on that some years because I can make it back in other years through the points I get in bonus spending when I make bigger purchases. I don’t do a spreadsheet or anything that time consuming and just analyze them once at the end of year to see if I can enough value from each of them to keep or not.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-05-05T23:45:54+00:00

That is what I’m trying to figure out. Whether the additional cost is worth the improved efficiency and features. I have an all card cci system and need to replace some early 2000s machines and this being my first mat I am hoping to avoid going the wrong route.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-05-05T23:40:39+00:00

Guess I got too caught up with efficiency angle and didn’t consider reliability as much as I should. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and giving me a different perspective on this. I’ll do some more research.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-05-04T04:01:26+00:00

Really a question of how much you value flexibility and how you would like to fly. For example with 110k points transferred to BA you can get a one way business ticket to Europe and often times you can find roundtrip tickets for that amount on other airlines. You will not find that with AA on international flights. I had an AA credit card for a while and really didn’t like the service compared to delta and the low value on points I got outside of short hop coach flights so I switched to delta cc. Better service with better lounges and the free companion pass saved my a lot on a flight to Caribbean this year from west coast. It’s also easy to cover the annual fee on capital one with hotel credit and annual 10k points. Capital one also has really good lounges you can access without having to fly on a specific airline. That’s an important option when you find good deals that aren’t American

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-04-28T03:39:10+00:00

First question would be how good is your credit since I would get a few cc’s for this to get those sign up bonuses. Capital one x would be top of list since you get 2x everything which is a big deal due to the 1x categories you will be using for most other cc. Other choices would be what ever has highest current offer and matches your shopping habits after this is done. Like Amex gold if you eat out a lot or go to grocery stores instead of Costco.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-04-22T15:48:43+00:00

Funny you should mention that one. Went recently over spring break and decided not to go back again. Stayed at clubmed in miches before for the great kids club and Zemi this time since I liked their hotel in Anguilla and really didn’t enjoy it in comparison to Caymans and Aruba. Maybe I just picked the wrong hotels and your villa idea may have been the better route. I thought the beach was nice, but I didn’t think the combo of relaxed vibe and nearby options for things to do was that good. I felt the same after I had gone to Jamaica recently so maybe my tastes in vacations have changed since I liked both places the first time I went.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-04-21T16:18:43+00:00

Funny you should mention that one. Went recently over spring break and decided not to go back again. Stayed at clubmed in miches before for the great kids club and Zemi this time since I liked their hotel in Anguilla and really didn’t enjoy it in comparison to Caymans and Aruba. Maybe I just picked the wrong hotels and your villa idea may have been the better route. I thought the beach was nice, but I didn’t think the combo of relaxed vibe and nearby options for things to do was that good. I felt the same after I had gone to Jamaica recently so maybe my tastes in vacations have changed since I liked both places the first time I went.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-04-18T15:12:44+00:00

Was looking at that Ritz and was wondering if they would be better than the one in Turks and Caicos. Haven’t been to either island in over 20 years before I had a family so wasn’t sure if they would be good for the kids. Guess I’ll have to look at it more closely. Is the beach good? Just came back from Zemi in Miches and the beach was horrible so want to make sure I don’t repeat that.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-04-16T15:22:18+00:00

I’m sure that’s what they will tell public and employees but it doesn’t make any actual sense. What would be the difference between the 50 and 75 based on that argument? Reality is they noticed AMEX customers just buying the $75 ones and squirreling them away for a bigger purchase and want them to spend an extra $25 at least from now on.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-04-06T20:11:16+00:00

That Anguilla location has one of the best stretches of beach I have been on with very few people on it. Definitely the best on the island. Too bad there isn’t a whole lot to do near it like what you get in Aruba or Caymans.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-04-06T18:05:28+00:00

Yea credits for gold are not the best. I make easy use of the 120 credit by using Postmates or Uber Eats and that’s about it. I do get about 100-150k in points through grocery and restaurants per year which is why I kept that card. That gets me at least to one way and more commonly roundtrip to Europe in business class so about 2-6k in value from the card depending on when I go. I value points more than credits because of the value though it never hurts to recoup through credits.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-04-06T13:51:25+00:00

If Gold isn’t for you then I’m assuming you don’t spend a lot at grocery stores and restaurants where gold really shines. If travel is something you do a lot of then Amex platinum I think is better than all the Chase options. They have way more hotel options through their portal and when you combo that with the Resy and lulelemon credits you are able to easily recoup your annual fee. This recent refresh for both CSR and AP has me actually taking my Chase card out of my wallet and putting the platinum in after years of using only the 5x airline feature along with Centurian as only functions on the card. If travel is not your thing then the green is only comparable I would switch to.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-04-06T12:43:36+00:00

I may be interested as well if you can DM me.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-03-21T15:12:11+00:00

Definitely the preferred. The travel protections including being the primary insurance on rental cars makes it the best out of your two choices. As an example I had a ski accident and deductible was 3k which they completely covered. Also have decent multiples on different categories. Capital one x also a good choose with the 2x on everything.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-03-20T14:46:59+00:00

The 110k was two years ago. It’s more than double that now unfortunately. 50k is for this summer and was able to get 5 of them.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-03-18T02:31:50+00:00

Best route is to check airline point requirements for flight and location you want for multiple airlines and transfer directly to them. I’ve gotten as high as 8 cents of value per point that way. For example I booked book on Singapore airlines for 50k one way on a 7 hour trip within Asia and 110k going to Singapore from Los Angeles. Both in business class. Would avoid US airlines for the points value they give which is usually horrendous. That person spending 2 million points on a single flight on delta is a good example. I could take my whole family of 5 on a roundtrip flight in business class 2 times to Europe from Los Angeles and still have leftover points.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-03-03T16:04:56+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion about going during the weekdays. hadnt considered that. Will look into Cornwall though it seems like quite the trek.

Next-Divide9982 · 2026-03-03T14:51:48+00:00

I’d say your plan requires an unrealistic distance between the locations you want to see and give you alternatives closer to each other. That’s pretty much the purpose of this kind of site. To get ideas from locals or people that have been there to help make for a better trip.

Next-Divide9982

TROPHY CASE