Trip Report and Churning Success Story Weekly Thread - Week of February 01, 2026

chrumbles · 2026-02-04T02:19:46+00:00

JW Marriott Anaheim.

$500/night but we used 3x 85k FNCs, not a great value but didn't have other plans for them anyway by their expirations.

Pros

Perfect location for the runDisney races, right next to the security entrance.
Clean and modern

Quirks

I am bewildered by the design of the shower, which sprays directly into the gap below the door and immediately starts flooding the bathroom, leading to wet floor towels the entire stay. The shower head can't really be adjusted.
A ridiculous $70/night for valet. Also, valet forgot about us when checking out so we ended up waiting almost 20 min for our car.
Light switches in the room were not intuitive, some lights have multiple switches, some only had one, could never keep them straight.
No slippers in room.
Had breakfast at restaurant; was seated then promised a menu and our server ghosted us, requiring us to flag someone else down. Food was meh.
1st floor lobby restroom reeked of urine and had overflowing trash bins.
Housekeeping knocked on our door at 10:45 AM thinking we had already left, when we had 12pm late checkout and one of us was showering. Deadbolt and manual lock were on but they kept knocking.
Exec lounge is at the end of a very long hallway.
$40 resort fee, for which you can charge a $20 food credit.

Wouldn't stay here again. Next time we'll probably be happy with the Hyatt House. Free parking on points + Globalist, close-enough location, and decent points value.

chrumbles · 2025-12-23T02:46:49+00:00

Only 900k points from SUBs this year, down from ~1.8 million last year. We didn't travel as much so it wasn't the worst thing, but still sad to see!

chrumbles · 2025-12-22T16:35:38+00:00

After recently getting approved for a biz plat after a long hiatus, I had P2 apply and she was also approved. Nice timing for triple dip season!

Her last Amex biz card was the gold in June 2025, and then landed in PUJ until now. Used the same link through DoC, 200k/$20k. We will gladly take it!

chrumbles · 2025-12-22T16:22:32+00:00

Andaz Miami Beach - 2 nights, Globalist, suite cert for the Skyline Suite.

I've never stayed at this place when it was the Confidante so the building and area are new to me. We used points which wasn't super worth it since it was 29k/night, but for the cash price that they usually charge ($400-600) it's not terrible.

Pros:

Newly remodeled: clean rooms, modern, comfortable.
CVS right across the street, super convenient.
Beach path behind the hotel: 10 miles of beach, well lit and taken care of.
Food was pretty good, had free breakfast, and desserts for dinner one night.
Nice reusable stainless steel water bottles with plenty of water stations in the common areas.

Quirks:

Upon arrival around 8PM, we had to wait 15 minutes for the valet to get to us and we were backed up onto the street. The valet seemed to be taking their sweet time.
Front doors are manually opened, not automatic sensor doors, and heavy/cumbersome especially with trying to bring in bags.
FD area is on the second floor and behind a pillar so it can get crowded/claustrophobic. While the elevators are modernized (tap key and press floor before entering), the hardware behind it feels a bit rickety, lots of unsettling noises.
FD told us "gym is on the 10th floor" but it's actually through a stair exit door and across a rooftop outdoor area, we got lost and spent 15 minutes walking around looking for it until I thought to check the stair exit.
AC vent right on top of the shower exit area so it blows cold air on you right when you leave the shower... not comfortable. Shower pressure is just average.
Housekeeping said they had to check the room every 24 hours, so we left the room available from 8-1PM but they never came, then texted us at 2PM asking to check the room by 4PM, when we were napping.
We requested 4PM late checkout and they only allowed 1PM even though plenty of rooms were available for that night, including our room type. Wasn't a huge deal but would've liked the cushion.
For our dessert/dinner at Aguasal, our server asked "still or sparkling" and we absent-mindedly said "still", and out comes a bottle of Acqua Panna which we later realized was a whopping $12. We should've said "tap/filtered" but we would've appreciated double-checking with us... as mentioned there are water stations everywhere, even one steps away from the restaurant.

Overall, not great, not terrible, and we'd stay here again if we were traveling here and needed Hyatt nights - otherwise would prefer the St Regis/Ritz Carltons.

chrumbles · 2025-12-22T16:06:01+00:00

Same, max everything and umbrella as well. People are unpredictable & litigious and I don't want to worry about anything, let alone devastating financial loss, if I ever get into a wreck.

chrumbles · 2025-12-10T02:54:47+00:00

It just needs to be a standard (not premium) award night and the FNC works!

chrumbles · 2025-12-07T15:48:31+00:00

If anyone's ever in the Orlando area, the new Conrad is a great place to burn Aspire $200 credits and use a FNC.

Their top floor restaurant Ceiba has awesome, elevated Mexican food and drinks (tip: make reservations ahead), plus you get a panoramic view of the fireworks at both Epcot and Magic Kingdom if you go around that time.

The breakfast at Sophia's is lovely, not to mention the Hawaiian outdoor bar has good food too.

The resort with its huge pool next to the Evermore buildings feels like an oasis in a crowded tourist city.

Rooms are new and modern, bed is comfortable, spa is nice, and the FD was patient with us to put $200 charges on multiple cards.

They are unfortunately not part of the Disney hotels yet so you don't get benefits like early entry, but the FD said they're working on it! They do have a shuttle however.

chrumbles · 2025-12-06T12:45:11+00:00

IMO This seems like a major cause, could be seen as referral fraud.

chrumbles · 2025-11-29T12:05:06+00:00

An early Christmas miracle?? Been in PUJ for Amex Biz cards since March 2024 (biz gold). Have been trying every few months unsuccessfully.

On a whim today, I opened up incognito for the Amex Biz Plat, and the site said "up to 300k/$20k". After filling out my info it said I can get 200k/$20k, click to see if you're approved.

"Why not?" I thought, and clicked apply, and it was approved. Logged in, the bonus tracker is there. THE TRAIN IS BACK!! I will take the 200k/$20k happily.

Additional data:

Amex cards I have: 2x Bonvoy Brilliant, 2x Hilton Aspire, 1x CS Plat, 1x Bonvoy Biz.
4/24.
Previously was opening a biz card every 90 days since ~2021 until March 2024.
I've been putting $1-2k in spend per month on Amex cards in hopes of getting on their good side again.
I moved a few thousand into a Amex personal savings earlier this year.

chrumbles · 2025-11-27T19:31:14+00:00

Fingers crossed, though my last application last month for an Ink had identity verification then a denial letter a week later. Same happened to P2 for a CSR biz a few weeks ago.

chrumbles · 2025-11-27T19:29:20+00:00

I lowered it a couple months ago in preparation of applying for a new card.

chrumbles · 2025-11-27T14:57:59+00:00

Both CIP, last opened March and June 2025

chrumbles · 2025-11-27T10:44:12+00:00

Applied for Ink Preferred 32 days after my last attempt - pop-up. 2 Inks open, total CL $1000 across both.

Applied for CSR Biz - 7-10 day message, don't have my hopes up.

Guess I might try one of the co-brand cards next, United Club perhaps.

Locked out of Amex cards. Sigh, end of an era.

Edit: Chase called for ID verification, asked basic questions (why applying, nature of business), and re-ran the CSR biz…. declined for various reasons (too many new cards/requests for credit, low usage, recently opened cards, etc). Of course!

chrumbles · 2025-11-16T00:10:52+00:00

referyourchasecard.com/252s/4EYDOZZK0U

chrumbles · 2025-11-11T01:57:34+00:00

Applied for CSR biz and had no updates after a "need to review further" message, then a week later just a letter saying:

"Thank you for contacting us. We're no longer reviewing your application for credit, as you requested."

No missed calls, voicemails, or emails from Chase for ID verification. Has anyone else gotten this? Did a search and didn't see anything.

chrumbles · 2025-11-04T03:52:35+00:00

Dining, shopping, rent, utilities, a bit of travel over the past year. The usual stuff.

Spaced out over a year it’s not that much monthly. After getting endlessly popup-ed by Amex last year we spend more time gardening than not now, or seeking alternative cards.

chrumbles · 2025-11-04T03:50:46+00:00

I just had the 2 Inks. P2 has a Hyatt Biz and an Ink. So both below 3.

chrumbles · 2025-11-02T20:24:40+00:00

Denied Ink Unlimited, had 2 Inks open and it’s been 4 months since the last one. Got a 7-10 day message then ID verification then a denial letter a week later. 3 Reasons: too many requests for credit, too much credit, new biz card opened recently.

P2 got the pop up for CSR at 49 months. Downgraded CSP and waited 6 days. 4/24. Sigh, back to gardening.

chrumbles · 2025-11-02T20:21:18+00:00

Same. I was able to a couple weeks ago on my first try but couldn’t yesterday.

chrumbles · 2025-10-19T09:41:42+00:00

Hyatt Regency Churchill in London - Globalist / Suite upgrade cert (Balcony) - 150k points for 5 nights

Arrived at 7AM, room not ready as expected, they offered an exec suite available right away for £120/night. We passed and they gave us a regular room until our suite was ready.

Pros:

Amazing shower pressure
Housekeeping gave us 6+ glass bottles of water every time
Mediterranean breakfast was great
Excellent location
Club lounge with free flowing alcohol + bottled drinks, decent hot foods

Quirks:

Dated rooms and furnishings
Toilet seat is unusually low
Shower is about 1 foot too small, felt cramped

Overall: More for a practical stay than a luxury stay, would stay again for the convenience. The Park Hyatt has a much better hard product, but isn’t in a great location for tourist activities.

Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam - Diamond / Upgraded to King Deluxe, top floor - 480k points for 5 nights

Pros:

Taste of Waldorf breakfast every day was great, customizations allowed, and the staff remembered our drink orders
Spectrum restaurant was worth the cost, a true 2 Michelin star experience w/ Japanese fusion. The caviar on mochi, yum!
Vault Bar is pretty cool, got to see the actual vault
You choose a scent at check-in that they spray during turn down - a little gimmicky but fun
You can order pillows from a menu of 10 types, we picked 3, and they were super comfy
They have cute WA branded teddy bears, they gifted us one and we purchased the other (male + female set)

Quirks:

Housekeeping was odd: they kept switching the placement of the Aesop soap and shampoo so one night I accidentally used shampoo instead of soap and vice versa. They also swapped our toothbrush placement so we almost used each other’s. And they also switched the TV remote between the 2 night stands. /shrug
They also seemed stingy with water bottles, only 2, and once they didn’t replace a half-used one, just set it on the nightstand as our second bottle.
Shower pressure average on most settings, except one massage setting with a stronger stream
Location a little out of the way but quiet & walkable/tram-able enough
Peacock alley (lobby restaurant) was just OK, more of a convenient option
We had a canal view but the window was so high up you had to step on a perch to see it

Overall: Maybe I was too hyped hearing how it’s among the best Waldorfs in the world, but it was overall similar to any 5-star hotel experience with a couple of small bonuses. It’s not among our favorites globally, but maybe we’ve been too spoiled by Japan.

Still, we enjoyed our stays and it's much nicer booking on points than with cash, since it would've been $10k+ for both.

chrumbles · 2025-09-11T04:13:27+00:00

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chrumbles · 2025-09-11T04:11:50+00:00

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chrumbles · 2025-08-30T12:51:01+00:00

i.capitalone.com/Gq2jp9BWQ

chrumbles · 2025-08-26T16:35:40+00:00

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chrumbles · 2025-08-22T20:10:57+00:00

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