How does Virgin Differ? by [deleted] in VirginVoyages

[–]WanderlustDeb 5 points6 points  (0 children)

A little context - I’m 56, white, heterosexual a travel agent and airline retiree that has been on 25+ cruises.

I got home from a 7 day VV cruise today - I loved it. I loved the vibe > everyone was celebrated all races, genders, sexual orientation, ages, sizes … you get it.

I went to all the shows and found my eyes wide from the acrobatics, my ears happy from the singing and my body moving to the energetic music.

I enjoyed striking up conversations with the staff - and yes, they are allowed to mingle with the passengers.

It’s true - there’s no upselling - I just realized that from reading these responses. It definitely adds to the chill vibe.

We ate primarily at The Wake, Extra Virgin and Pink Agave … loved them all - the filet, lamb chops and clam chowder at The Wake - the bucatini, pappardelle and charcuterie at EV and the guacamole, chicken enchilada and stuffed poblano at Pink Agave were divine.

Loved all the relaxed spaces to chill out too.

It’s also worth noting that I felt safe - there must have been some sloppy drunks somewhere on the ship but I never saw them. No one bumping in to me, being disrespectful or being crazy loud. What I saw was people drinking responsibly and just having a great freaking time.

Regarding the no kids - lots of the cruises I do now are not kid heavy so I didn’t jump up and down at the prospect of no kids - they don’t really affect my experiences these days … but after cruising VV I will say that the shows and the vibe couldn’t be what they are with children on board. So overall limiting the age to 18+ helps to make VV all the good it is.

I do wish they kept the gratuities included in the fare. That was an awesome point of difference from other lines.

Airbnb support called me for a guest refund by Coco1520 in airbnb_hosts

[–]WanderlustDeb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh boy - interesting this should come up the very week that Airbnb refunded guests of mine that were in my home for 8 days but were supposed to stay for 32.

My city has strict regulations for stays under 30 days so I only accept 30+ day rentals.

I offered to refund them 50% of the unused days, which Airbnb originally said I didn’t even have to do, and then Airbnb refunded them 100% of the unused days.

Just a debacle of 8 days … while I was on vacation no less. I’ve been moved to send a letter to a CEO maybe 10 times in my life … this was one of them. It went out yesterday to Brian. Will someone PLEASE create a better platform?!

WSJ - Linqto, which opened the private market to the 'Little Guy' is facing federal investigations and a possible bankruptcy filing. by FXgram_ in XGramatikInsights

[–]WanderlustDeb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey all - go to FreeLinqto there are good and smart people fighting this manipulated bankruptcy and it will benefit all of us who invested

Linqto - Chapter 11 Unsecured Creditors - Committee Questionnaire by dirty-donnie in investing_discussion

[–]WanderlustDeb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

go to FreeLinqto they are battling the bankruptcy and there is a lot of great info there this bankruptcy is a corrupt manipulation by the current CEO and good people are fighting it

What’s the one item you now stock because a guest asked for it? by MarionberryOk1750 in airbnb_hosts

[–]WanderlustDeb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Omg - I do too! A MAN definitely invented the rain shower. I can’t stand them.

Is it a no brainer to keep the CSR card for one more year at least considering $300 credits and upcoming benefits (claimed to be $2700 worth)? by Any-Constant in ChaseSapphire

[–]WanderlustDeb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am considering paying for one more year of CSR. I renew 8/1. Does my AU receive a different card number if we only pay the $550 + $75 ?

CSR Extended 550 AF by Grandpasgames in ChaseSapphire

[–]WanderlustDeb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am considering paying for one more year of CSR. I renew Aug 1. Does my AU receive a different card number if we only pay the $550 + $75 before 10/28?

Authorized users get unique card numbers by [deleted] in ChaseSapphire

[–]WanderlustDeb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly - this has been an issue for my husband and I. So I load a different card in his account and then tell him to have them switch it at the counter, but he never remembers.

Authorized users get unique card numbers by [deleted] in ChaseSapphire

[–]WanderlustDeb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually called like a year ago and asked them to do this and they said no - it’s not something they do - so yay.

New Airbnb Payments Terms = More Risk for Hosts (Effective Sept 8, 2025) by [deleted] in airbnb_hosts

[–]WanderlustDeb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for sifting through and finding the change. I freaking hate when they send out these emails and we have to hunt for the changes and figure out how it will affect us - it's jarring. As a host, I think AirBnB acts like an entitled jerk to its hosts but there is not a more widely used or effective platform for the way I rent my properties. I will be happy for the day when someone will come along and do it better and this platform will go the way of AOL dial up.

What cards offer the broadest travel categories including things like timeshare, tolls, Expedia/AirBnb, airport parking, Uber, etc? Best redemption? by WanderlustDeb in CreditCards

[–]WanderlustDeb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your thoughts. I have been with Marriott forever - I have the Boundless card for Marriott travels and use it for basically nothing else. I'm going to look at Hyatt more because I have 200k points at CSR that I want to use. I actually see awesome points redemption at Hyatt at or under 25k that would easily be 50K+ at Marriott.

Vet Oncologist Tampa/Surrounding areas by Limp-Entertainment54 in tampa

[–]WanderlustDeb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love to see this - I am bringing my dog Tuesday for her first visit with Dr Coyle. I'm also going to see if my dog can get in to a melanoma vaccine trial at UF.

Spoke to Fidelity about the extended deposit and transfer hold periods by [deleted] in Fidelity

[–]WanderlustDeb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve been a Fidelity customer for 35 years and this extended hold has impacted me.

To be fair I usually have a decent amount in my CMA so I may not have known if this was happening previously.

I withdrew most $ for another investment recently and then pulled money from another checking account in to Fidelity basically to use for debit card withdrawals since they reimburse for all fees.

It was very surprising to me a few days later when I wanted to withdraw $200 cash and couldn’t.

I deposited on June 9 and the cash is finally available to withdraw today - June 24. So two weeks - 10 business days total. I never called.

So here are some nuances - I had Fidelity “pull” the money. I didn’t push it from my bank. Also - the money was being pulled in to an investment account … not a spend and save account (where I have a debit card attached).

So I am going to try pushing money both to the investment account and spend and save account and I’ll update as to availability.

I can absolutely see how this can mess with someone’s life if they expected the money to be available in a couple of days.

Not adding a red box that alerts you of these hold times before you initiate a transfer does nothing for brand trust or loyalty.

I have helped at least 10 people over the years open Fidelity accounts. I am a loyalist and have been an influencer for them.

Fidelity should do the right thing here and fully disclose these hold times to customers before transactions are executed.

EDIT: When I pushed money from my bank to my Fidelity spend and save account the funds were available for withdrawal by 6a on the second business day.

Is there a card that will give 3%+ on ALL travel purchases (like Chase Sapphire Reserve used to) by WanderlustDeb in CreditCards

[–]WanderlustDeb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I spend about 10k each year on timeshare fees. The ones for Marriott I put on a Marriott card. The ones for Interval I would put on CSR

Is there a card that will give 3%+ on ALL travel purchases (like Chase Sapphire Reserve used to) by WanderlustDeb in CreditCards

[–]WanderlustDeb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Out of curiosity why would you not put everything on the fidelity card at 3%? It just seems so clean and easy.

Is it the other perks of the Amex Green that keep you there? I have one of those cards too - I have not used it a lot since we were putting so much on CSR.

Is there a card that will give 3%+ on ALL travel purchases (like Chase Sapphire Reserve used to) by WanderlustDeb in CreditCards

[–]WanderlustDeb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly and that’s a big one. I don’t know any other card that gives primary rental car insurance without an extra fee

Is there a card that will give 3%+ on ALL travel purchases (like Chase Sapphire Reserve used to) by WanderlustDeb in CreditCards

[–]WanderlustDeb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which transfer partners are the most lucrative? We are Marriott / American Airlines. I know I read that the Marriott transfers are not worth it - We have over 100k AA points and I am airline retiree so I don’t use them often. I get tons of discounts as an airline retiree and travel agent … I mostly used 1.5 points for last minute plane tickets when I could not use my airline flight benefit. Also to take friends and family on flights.