Tag Archives: Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

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I Converted my Chase Freedom to a Chase Sapphire Reserve

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Good morning everyone, I hope you all had a great weekend.  A few days ago, Chase announced the Chase Freedom Q4 merchants (Walmart and department stores) and you can now activate those bonus categories for your Chase Freedom Credit Card.  Unfortunately, those bonus categories do not excite me (there are no Walmart stores close to San Francisco), so I was considering a product change from my Chase Freedom Credit Card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card.  In fact, last December, I wrote Should I Convert my Chase Freedom to a Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card?  I have applied for the Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card in the past, but I was declined based on the 5/24 rule, but I still really wanted the credit card, despite not being able to get the sign up bonus.  In this post, I will explain my reasoning for the product change and show how quickly the product change is processed by Chase.

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Chase Hyatt Credit Card Holders: 40% Bonus on Points Purchases

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Our Chase Hyatt Credit Card may not be the one we pull out of the sock drawer very often, but it looks like Chase and Hyatt are doing their best to change that. Recently, my Chase Hyatt Credit Card came out of hiding for the $20 off $50 Whole Foods deal, and now with this promo, I’ll take a look at my Hyatt hotel schedule. This deal may be a good one for some of us to use, as well. For instance, when you buy 10,000 Hyatt points, you will get a 40% bonus.  14,000 Hyatt points for $240 is just under 2 CPP.

Most of my favorite Hyatt properties are 15,000 points a night and well over $240 a night, so I’m considering jumping on this offer. How about you? Any interest in this deal or has Hyatt left a bitter taste in your mouth these days with all their elite status changes?

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New Chase Freedom Credit Card Design Available

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Good morning everyone.  Yesterday, I received an email from Chase regarding a new Chase Freedom Credit Card design.  It looked pretty cool considering my old/current Chase Freedom Credit Card is a light blue color.  I visited a Chase branch yesterday afternoon and talked to a personal banker.  I asked him if he could order me a replacement card with the new design.  He made a call, but said they could not issue me a new card, it was only for new applications.  I thanked him for his time and decided to call the JPMorgan Chase Executive Line (the phone number on the back of the JPMorgan Chase Ritz Carlton Credit Card).  The rep was very professional and said he could send out a replacement card right away and offered to send it to me via UPS Next Day Air.

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Trip Report: Butler Suite at the All-Inclusive Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica

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I landed in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and was happy to see a Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall check-in desk inside the airport, just past immigration.  The employees were efficient and served drinks while they checked you in. Within minutes, the Hyatt hotel shuttle was there to pick us up.  The trip to the Hyatt Ziva was less than 30 minutes.

Ziva vs. Zilara

Hyatt offers two all inclusive products: the Ziva, which is for families, and the Zilara, which does not allow children.  In Jamaica, the properties are next to each other.  Both products share a common beachfront and you can go to any of the restaurants on either property.  Of course, if you have children, they are not allowed on the Zilara side, which includes the Zilara beach, pool, and restaurants.  The Ziva has its own beach, pool, and restaurants so this would probably not be a huge problem.

The Butler Suite

I was upgraded to a butler suite.  The room is large, as you would expect of a suite, including a mini-bar that was free, and the most unique feature was the butler service. This room would normally cost over $1,500 USD per night, but I didn’t pay anywhere near that.

a chair and table on a balcony overlooking the ocean

Butler suite with balcony overlooking the ocean at the Hyatt Ziva in Montego Bay, Jamaica

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My Wonderful 5 Night Stay at the Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor

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One of my favorite cities in North America is Boston, and when I visit and play tourist, I stay at the Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor. Prior to my recent visit, I’d stay there for only a few nights and then transit usually to Europe. It’s very close to the airport. But on my recent visit to Boston, when I wasn’t transiting to anywhere else, I stayed there for five nights as an experiment to see what it would be like to use it as a base for a Boston holiday. And though it’s not a hotel I’d recommend for everyone, it worked out really well for me. I enjoyed my stay there and would definitely recommend it. I’ll get to who I wouldn’t recommend it for, but first, let’s discuss the high points.

I mentioned this Hyatt as a possible North American choice for using your Chase Hyatt Credit Card free anniversary night certificate, and I stand by that recommendation, especially during the high season when Boston is busy with tourists, conventions, and weddings. Some people think this hotel needs to be refurbished, but I’m guessing they haven’t been there in a few years. The rooms were redone about two years ago and I like them. The standard rooms are on the large size, and the furnishings and color schemes work well. I don’t like a lot of artwork on hotel walls. These rooms have one big piece of artwork on the side wall with a sailing theme that fits the decor.

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Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor Standard Room.
Image: https://bostonharbor.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/rooms/standard.html

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