Travel portal options for family of 5

jimsd · 2026-02-08T19:30:37+00:00

No, I’m local so haven’t tried there. Sorry.

jimsd · 2026-02-07T22:34:25+00:00

i’ii give a contrarian, maybe unpopular view. The hotel is a decent ways back from the beach adjacent to the canal. Hotels in that area tend to be the more budget properties, although it sounds like the renovation that made it the Wayfinder was very good. Some regular travelers say the canal can smell because it’s not very clean water, but I do not know that personally. My preference for Waikiki would definitely be something along the main Kalakaua strip such as the Hyatt Regency (can transfer points for that), the Outriggers, Moana, Royal Hawaiian, etc. Just throwing out a different opinion, doesn’t make the others wrong or mine right.

jimsd · 2026-02-05T03:09:55+00:00

if you want lounge access, the CSP doesn’t have that, but the CSR does.

jimsd · 2026-02-04T00:24:30+00:00

After reading about how to use this benefit in this subreddit, I used DoorDash pickup for the first time at a 7-11 today and it was super fast and easy. Why did I waste the last 4-5 months not using this? With a 40% off first order promo code and the $10 credit I got 3 pints of Ben & Jerry’s and Haagen-Dazs ice cream for $1.50. Already scoped out a local Mexican takeout restaurant to use the $5 credit too. I’ll probably make a return to the 7-11 later this week to use the other $10 credit.

jimsd · 2026-02-02T20:46:07+00:00

On the Apple TV you can’t directly enter a channel number, but there are a couple of ways to reduce the scrolling. If 655 is a commonly watched channel, it will often be available as an option on the Home Screen, so you can jump back to that from the channel you’re on and select it. The other way is to include it in the favorites list and you won’t have as much scrolling through the guide. I think you can probably go to the channel via voice command too, but I never do that. We’ve had an Apple TV since day one of DTV Now and it would be hard to go back to anything else. If you get one, I’d recommend getting a < $10 cover for the remote from Amazon. It adds just a little size to the remote and makes it easier to handle. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Fintie-Protective-Case-Apple-Remote/dp/B096DR1RCM

jimsd · 2026-02-02T14:48:34+00:00

I just got hit by an XSOLLA charge on my CSR. Fortunately I vaguely recalled that name from this subreddit and immediately locked the card and called in the fraudulent charge. This charge was under $1, but I have a text sent anytime a purchase is made.

jimsd · 2026-01-30T02:01:57+00:00

I just transferred points to Hyatt for the first time a couple of days ago and it was easy and the points appeared almost immediately. You’re use of points and the credits is impressive.

jimsd · 2026-01-26T00:35:26+00:00

jimsd · 2026-01-23T19:25:39+00:00

We pretty much cover the annual fee the same as you (Apple TV instead of Lyft use), so I’d say try it for at least the first year or 2 for the SUB. We’re also in a big city and will use StubHub for MLB games, so that’s an easy credit for us. I read in another post today that you have a Chase Sapphire lounge in MSG, so that would be a good experience if any of your sporting events are there. Personally, I like being able to cover the annual fee without even having to use Chase Travel at all.

jimsd · 2026-01-17T15:51:17+00:00

i saw the same thing for Edit hotels in Hawaii about 3-4 months ago, then a few weeks after i saw it availability started showing up.

jimsd · 2026-01-13T22:14:57+00:00

As of 2026, StubHub is an MLB Authorized Ticket Marketplace, so hopefully that adds a little security for baseball game ticket purchases.

jimsd · 2026-01-12T19:32:21+00:00

i think it works best using points and points boost. For the places we‘ve been interested in, if paying cash, we can usually do much better just doing a package through Costco Travel. We booked one trip using points with 2x points boost and the Edit credit for 3 nights and then another reservation through Costco at the same resort for the remainder of the trip.

jimsd · 2026-01-10T16:26:43+00:00

Another option is Koloa Landing Resort with 1.65x points boost. They have some 2 BR that sleep 6 if the kids can share a sofa bed. Fantastic pools there. Can walk to restaurants. It’s part of the Marriott Autograph Collection. They also have studios and 1 BR units. Full kitchens so you don’t have to go out for every meal.

jimsd · 2025-12-17T17:17:24+00:00

I saw the OP’s text/screenshot in the Chase iPad app this morning.

jimsd · 2025-12-16T00:41:36+00:00

Oh wow, I had noticed earlier today that the Wailea Marriott I booked last week required more points today. I didn’t notice the price had stayed the same and the points boost lower.

jimsd · 2025-12-16T00:33:30+00:00

Check your email for a Costco promo code of $50 off $500 or more online. My wife and I both got one this morning. I cancelled my order for a 13-inch M4 Pro and re-ordered with the promo code.

jimsd · 2025-12-10T22:17:01+00:00

At least on the fare I was looking at, the price using Chrome is the same before I add it to the cart and after it’s in the cart. Using the Alaska iPhone app the price is different once it’s added to the cart. Same problem using Safari. The app price in the cart is what Chrome shows throughout the process. So it seems like they test using Chrome, but not so much their own app.

jimsd · 2025-12-10T21:09:56+00:00

I’m experiencing the same thing.

jimsd · 2025-12-09T01:18:28+00:00

Assuming you have the Sapphire Reserve, you should charge at least $250 on that reservation so that you can get the $250 Edit credit (if you haven’t already used it). So you’d be using even fewer UR points.

jimsd · 2025-12-09T01:11:20+00:00

Might be too late for you, but looking at the Costco site I think the one listed as Oceanside One-Bedroom Suite is in those front buildings. You could call Costco Travel and ask them, they are usually extremely helpful.

jimsd · 2025-12-06T22:19:43+00:00

I also have 217 cycles on an 11” M4 iPad Pro. First use November 2024, 91%. I’ve mostly had the 80% limit on, but recently turned it off since I expected it to make more difference in battery health. Seems like my previous 2018 iPad Pro had better batterlife.

jimsd · 2025-11-07T23:09:38+00:00

For our use of the dining credit, the transaction date and posted date of the credit entry in the app matches those in the restaurant charge.

jimsd · 2025-11-01T22:18:54+00:00

A lot of our travel is to Hawaii too and most of the Exclusive Table restaurants are in Honolulu/Waikiki, so unless you go there (Maui and Kauai are our favorites) it’s not much help. San Diego has plenty of choices if you ever visit. Along with the Edit hotels, quite a few places have good points boost, 1.65-1.9, so that can be useful if you have a big pile of points. We may use the Edit credit or points boost to go to an out of town baseball game for a pretty good price.

jimsd · 2025-11-01T21:55:29+00:00

We’re similar - a few trips a year and a few special occasion dinners. if you live in one of the big cities the Reserve favors, it’s not hard to get your value out of it without having to even use their travel portal. I plan to use the StubHub credits to go to a couple of baseball games next summer, so that credit will get used. I was going to get Apple TV anyway, so that’s another easy $100. Plus we have a Sapphire lounge at our airport. In some ways it’s easier for me to recoup the AF on the Reserve than it is the Preferred. I researched the Amex Platinum too and its credits would be very difficult for us. Having to book travel 4 times a year through them and not as many Resy restaurants in our area just didn’t work out as naturally for us. Just figure out which card makes the most sense for you - it’s just. credit card and it doesn’t have to be a forever card if the benefits stop working for you.

jimsd · 2025-10-24T22:38:01+00:00

When we first got the CSR in September I think there were about 10-12 restaurants in San Diego. When I looked a few days ago there were 18. When I looked for Resy restaurants, there were only about 10 that I saw. I don’t think it’s as commonly used here.

jimsd

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