Tag Archives: Hilton Hotels

Part 1 – Hilton Elara Timeshare in Las Vegas (Trip Report and Pics)

Hilton Grand Vacations

Part 1 – Hilton Elara Timeshare in Las Vegas (Trip Report and Pics)

2 weekends ago, was at the Elara, a Hilton Grand Vacation property, in Las Vegas.  And you can too.

It all started a few months ago when I was on the phone with a “HHelpful Hilton HHonors” representative.  Towards the end of the call, she asked if I was interested in hearing about an exciting offer from Hilton and said I would earn 500 Hilton HHonors points just for listening.  500 points for listening?  Now that is my kind of deal.

After the agent transferred me to a member of Hilton’s timeshare division, I learned about the Hilton Elara in Las Vegas.  There was a special deal for 3 days, 2 nights plus:

  • $200 Spend a Night on Us Certificate
  • 2 VIP show tickets
  • Dinner for 2
  • 15,000 Hilton HHonors points

All for the price of $222.88 (after tax) billed to my Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Credit Card.

HGV Elara Front

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App-O-Rama Updates: Day 1

Which Credit Card

App-O-Rama Updates: Day 1

5:30AM my alarm goes off.  It’s App-O-Rama day!

I turn on my computer and know exactly which cards I am going to apply for and in which order I am going to apply.  In case you didn’t read yesterday’s post, here is my strategy list:

  1. Club Carlson Personal (US Bank) – instant approval!  I guess my ARS and IDA credit report freezes might have worked.  Learn more here.
  2. US Airways Personal (Barclays) – denied!  Why do you hate my Barclays?  I didn’t both calling the reconsideration line, they will tell me that I have too many recent inquires and I have no leverage with them since I have no Barclays credit cards.  Good bye US Airways Card.  Good bye Arrival Card.  Good bye every other Barclays card.
  3. Alaska Airlines Personal (Bank of America) – pending decision.  After a short reconsideration call, I was approved after “sacrificing” my Virgin Atlantic card that had an annual fee coming in a few weeks.
  4. Platinum Mercedes Benz (AMEX) – pending decision.  Called AMEX and was told there was no way to reconsider the app at this time.  I would have to wait 2-3 business days for a response.  My gut feeling is a denial since I already have 4 personal credit cards, but want to sacrifice my Delta or Hilton HHonors card.  Will post an update soon.
  5. Citi Dividend (Citi equivalent of Chase Freedom and Discover It cash back card) – downgraded.  I decided to save a credit inquiry and call Citi and ask them to downgrade/switch my Citi AA AMEX to this card.  The rep told me it could take up to 51 days for the switch to take place.  WTF?!?  Citi, please send me that card soon so I can get the 5% cash back for 4Q 2013.
  6. IHG Hotel Personal (Chase) – pending decision.  I called the Chase reconsideration department, was placed on hold for a few minutes and approved with a low $2,000 credit line.  After moving credit from my Marriott Card, I got my credit line up to $5,000. 
  7. Hilton HH Surpass (AMEX) – skipped.  I am waiting to see what happens to my Platinum Mercedes Benz application before I do anything with this card.  I can always upgrade my AMEX Hilton HHonors to the AMEX Hilton HHonors Surpass card for free online (no credit inquiry).

Side note, I was trying to convert my Chase Sapphire card to a Chase Freedom card this morning but the representative was unable to do so over the phone.  I believe it was because I had a $585 current balance on the card, even though she told me that shouldn’t be the reason.  Later today it turns out that the Chase Freedom card has increased its sign up bonus from 10,000 Ultimate Reward Points to 20,000 Ultimate Reward Points.  I wonder if Chase was updating their servers which is why I couldn’t upgrade.  It is a mystery…

A friend of mine was able to show me a sign up bonus (through Chase’s site) for the 50,000 Ultimate Reward Points for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.  I told him to go for it since the sign up bonus hasn’t been that high in a very long time.  Apparently you can get 5,000 bonus Ultimate Reward Points for adding 1 authorized user to your CSP card too.

All in all, I am pretty happy with my results and love how easy it is to work with Chase.  I look forward to getting my IHG card soon.

IHG Approved

Easy to move credit line from Marriott to IHG card.

Marriott CL Decrease

I will post an update if anything happens to my US Airways card, Platinum Mercedes Benz card, and which year I get my Citi Dividend card.  If you have any app-o-rama questions, let me know.

Credit Card App-O-Rama Preparation: Freezing your ARS and IDA Credit Reports

Ice Block Frozen Credit Report

Credit Card App-O-Rama Preparation: Freezing your ARS and IDA Credit Reports

Why would you want to freeze these credit reports?  Good question.  US Bank uses these two credit bureaus to check your credit score if you apply for any of their credit cards.  The only credit card that might interest you is the Club Carlson Personal Credit Card from US Bank.  In order to freeze both of your credit reports, you will need to contact each bureau.

To read the entire post, please click here.

I am planning a massive (7 card) App-O-Rama on Monday morning and this Club Carlson Personal Credit Card is at the top of my list.  The other 6 cards on my list include:

  • US Airways Personal (this will be my first Barclays card, hopefully they like me this time)
  • Alaska Airlines Personal (30,000 Alaska Airlines miles for $89 annual fee)
  • Platinum Mercedes Benz (50,000 Membership Rewards Points and Airline credits)
  • Citi Dividend (rotating 5x / 5% categories – I don’t need any more AA or HH cards)
  • IHG Hotel Personal (80,000 IHG points please, bye bye Marriott Card)
  • Hilton HH Surpass (free upgrade from Amex Hilton HHonors card)

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.

A Bunch of Random Credit Card News

CCs

A Bunch of Random Credit Card News

On Thursday, Chase started issuing new Chase Sapphire Preferred credit cards with the new EMV (chip and signature).  To request your new card, call the number on the back of your current Chase Sapphire Preferred (no chip and signature for the Sapphire basic card).  They will UPS Next Day Air the card to you.  The account number, expiration date, and 3 digit CVV code on the back all stay the same.  Chip and Signature is slightly better than a regular magnetic strip card, but not nearly as good as true Chip and Pin.  Because the Chip does not contain a PIN, you will need to sign for every purchase with a signature, hence the name Chip and Signature.  In some cases, like train stations in Europe, the Chip and Signature card actually works when a normal credit card would not.  For example, in Amsterdam, my Chase Hyatt Credit Card (with Chip and Signature) worked in the train ticket machine when my Chase Sapphire Preferred card (pre Chip and Signature card) did not.  Also, since I recently downgraded to the Sapphire basic card, I am literally the only one in my house that doesn’t have the new Chip and Signature card :(

CSP Chip Sig

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Hilton HHonors: Transfering Miles from Hawaiian Airlines and Virgin Atlantic take between 7-11 Days to Post

HI-to-HH

This is a follow-up/summary of my recent post (Exchange Hawaiian Airline Miles for Hilton HHonor Points) with some more relevant information.  Earlier this month, I made 2 transfer from my Hawaiian Airlines account to my Hilton HHonors account.  I moved 25,000 miles out on June 10 and another 5,000 miles out on June 13.  Hawaiian Airlines told me that transfers take 1-2 weeks to show up.  

HI Balance Mileage Transfers

Both groups of miles posted to my Hilton HHonors account on June 20.   Continue reading →