Who here plays the points and miles game to help fund their coaster habit?

I do the calculation to determine if I still come out ahead (and if I have the cash.) If it’s a restaurant, or travel I still come out ahead (4.5%>3.0%) if is not I’ll pay cash if I have it.

My primary card is the Chase Sapphire Reserve which I've had a few years... Has been very nice point wise for hotels and whatever else, plus all the added perks (lounges and all that fun stuff which is very useful/nice). We are off to Poland and Germany next week and taking advantage of the 10x point earnings through the portal on the hotels, for example. So that's always nice, especially mixed with the 1.5x value of those points when booking hotels and whatever else later on. The $300/yr travel credit back, plus reimbursement on global entry and all the other stuff like the Sapphire Lounges and Priority Pass make it WELL worth it as we fly pretty often. We have been taking 2-3x international trips a year plus a domestic trip or two, so we certainly get the value out of that card alone.

A few months ago picked up a United card for the sign on bonus points, while the other half got Delta (which got her status due to our previous point level and the sign on bonus, which has been nice at least for preferred seats/exit row and such to give my legs somewhere to go and earlier boarding). Although not much more than that with status level at least, but still nice to get something.

We both had Southwest cards years ago but since closed mine, but literally didn't pay for a SWA flight for years and years because of it when going to Orlando often. Still have 100K+ points which we will use later this year likely, or next time we need to island hop in Hawaii.

Not really crazy about trying to maximize points or anything, basically just get the sign on bonus and use the cards and reap the benefits. Never paid a penny of interest to a CC in my life, so that's not problem.

Oh, and have a Charles Schwab account for international ATM's basically when I need cash abroad (not often anymore, even Germany that was very "cash is king!" prior to covid). But still nice to have in case as they reimburse for any/all insane ATM fees (such as the $10 fee in Prague when I got $25 USD worth of cash!)

I used to travel a bit internationally in my old job and two lessons I learned quickly is using the right cards overseas to avoid transaction fees and surcharges and putting travel alerts on your card(s) before your trip. And a close third is to avoid money exchange services/kiosks at all costs...the exchange rate and fees are really unfavorable (especially in airports or hotels). I would just take money out in local currency at an ATM with a no fee card.

A little bit of research and planning will go a long way with saving you money and headache when traveling across the pond.

I have been told in both England and Canada that if your credit card asks which currency you want to pay with, local or US, that you should always choose the local currency. The explanation I was given is that the credit card will have a better exchange rate than the local merchant. Google seems to back this up so I hope what I have been told is correct.

Yes, that is correct. Always local if they don't do it for you, which happens and you have no clue what they chose.

Hanging n' Banging:

putting travel alerts on your card(s) before your trip.

This one is (generally) no longer necessary. I remember calling AmEx in 2015-ish to put an alert for an upcoming family vacation to Paris. The phone rep was borderline rude: "Sir, you don't really have to call to let us know this. If you are the sort of person who might legitimately find himself in Paris next week, we already know that."

I wonder if that is an Amex thing? I have looked on their website but have not found a place to let them know that I am going somewhere. Our main non-Amex card has a place where we can put in travel plans.

Capital One declined my card in London as soon as I tried to buy a tube ticket, and that was 2023. Oops. To be fair though, it may have also been because we just don't use that card often in the first place.

Last time I called Chase to let know I traveling, I was told they do not require those anymore. No issues using the card out of country.

My credit union still welcomes the call. Since that's the card I use for ATM withdrawals, it's one I really want to make sure works.

That is the way I look at it. A few seconds of my time before the trip is worth it to me to make sure my card does not get blocked. In fact most trips I do it on the app while sitting in the airport waiting to catch my flight.

I looked on Chase app/site and there was something in the help section that talked about travel alerts. But the link didn't go anywhere. That is why I called them. Now they are more direct:

https://www.chase.com/perso...-traveling

Bank that issued my debit card does want to know. From a customer relations standpoint, I think that makes sense. $0 liability for fraudulent credit card use. Same for debit card but they don't necessarily restore your cash to the account immediately.

Thanks for bursting my bubble GoBucks!

Citi usually sends me an email to say they know I'm about to travel. Like, don't bother us, ok.