Eating Out, Earning Points!

There are many ways to gain rewards points, some obvious and some not so obvious. Once of these not so obvious methods involves eating out at restaurants, something most of us do on a regular basis. If you properly prepare, you could double or triple the amount of points you would receive from these meals.

Choose a credit card that gives extra points for restaurants. Many cards offer various points for restaurants so choose which one works best for you. If you have a card that needs to meet its minimum spending requirement and offers extra points for rewards for restaurants, use that. Personally if it is the correct quarter, I would generally use the Chase Freedom to receive 5% rewards otherwise I would use Chase Sapphire Preferred for 2X since Chase Ultimate Rewards points are very flexible.

Many rewards programs (i.e. MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, IHG Rewards, etc.) including dining plans. These plans usually offer additional bonuses for signing up and your initial usage, with seasonal bonuses offered throughout the year.

You would just need to sign up on their respective websites and add the credit card you previously selected. Not all restaurants accept these rewards programs so you would have to search which restaurants do beforehand. When you would use the credit card at one of these approved restaurants then you would be eligible for the rewards points.

Also all of these dining plans are administered by the same company, The Rewards Network. As such, you cannot link the same credit card to multiple rewards programs. From our own experience, they flagged the purchase until we called them and we had to tell them which rewards program to credit the points to.

However, you could still link your credit card to programs not associated with The Rewards Network. These programs work the same way, you would sign up for their program and add your credit card information to link it up to their respective program. Yelp Rewards offers cash back. Uber’s Visa Local Offers provide Uber credits. American Express Offers provide points/cash back. Once again, the restaurants which accept these programs vary so you would need to do your research beforehand.

Now finding a restaurant that accepts all of these programs may be difficult, it all depends where you are. Recently we ate at one restaurant where we received points from the card, dining rewards program, and Yelp cash back. We have not been able to get more than a triple dip but maybe you will be more fortunate! 

Complimentary Room Upgrades

A well-known tip when visiting Las Vegas is to tip the front desk attendant when you are checking in with the hopes of getting a “free” upgrade. This trick has always worked for me and I have received free upgrades every time (though some have not been as fortunate).

I wondered if this worked in non-Vegas hotels and to my surprise, it worked in boutique hotels I visited in Chicago and in Washington DC. The DC hotel even covered all my resort fees. But then I got a little cocky and tried it in a more established chain in Orlando. Being laughed at by the attendant when I tried to tip them was very embarrassing and something I won’t soon forget.

What I failed to take in account, is the higher level of monitoring by these bigger hotel chains. Even if the employee wanted to give you an upgrade, many times big brother is watching them. True, the tip still works well in Las Vegas but that has almost become customary in Las Vegas.

Since then I have realized a much simpler way to try to upgrade your rooms. Many hotels offer status levels that include room upgrades (when available) when you sign up for their credit cards. While many of these cards do have an annual fee, many of these hotels offer a free night’s stay which is usually worth more than the fee. Also, what I was offering in tips adds up as well.

Some hotel credit cards to consider:

·         Marriott Rewards Premier

o   80,000 sign-up points, 1 night free at your sign-up anniversary, $85 annual fee

o   Silver status

·         Hyatt

o   40,000 sign-up points, 1 night free at your sign-up anniversary, $75 annual fee

o   Discoverist status

·         American Express Hilton Honors

o   75,000 sign-up points, no annual fee

o   Silver status

·         American Express Hilton Honors Surpass

o   80,000 sign-up points,$75 annual fee

o   Gold status

Unless you are in Las Vegas, I recommend signing up for one of these cards if you are looking for complimentary upgrades. True, most of these have an annual fee but consider it an investment in your trip planning. It sure beats getting laughed at in your face.

San Francisco Marriott Marquis - Hotel Review

Right in the heart of downtown San Francisco is the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. Its location is ideal for both business travelers and tourists alike. For business travelers, it houses many meetings and conferences during the week in house and nearby. For tourists, it is within walking distance to the Embarcadero, Chinatown, and Union Square.

Our View

This was our first stay as Marriott Gold members so this was our first time experiencing the perks. We had booked a standard king bed room which was upgraded complimentarily to a king suite with an excellent view of the city. We were also provided M Lounge access which had scheduled breakfast, hors d’ouvres, and dessert.

River enjoying the king suite

King Suite

After dropping off our bags, we headed to the lounge to grab some milk for the baby. It was late morning but the lounge did offer various potato chips, granola bars, fruit, and non-alcoholic beverages. We were surprised when an attendant suggested we come back for dinner as we did not know they offered dinner.

M Lounge Schedule

After walking around the city and checking out the big tourist sites, we decided to head back to the hotel and check out the dinner the attendant mentioned. If it was underwhelming, we could always grab something nearby. We were pleasantly surprised by the dinner service which consisted of steak, roast potatoes, butternut squash soup, salads, and a charcuterie of various meats and cheeses. After filling up, we rested up for a bit and came down and enjoyed a wide selection of desserts before calling it a day.

Hors D'ouvres?

Breakfast offered your usual selection of bacon, scrambled eggs, and hash browns. What was interesting is that they offered regular versions of this and farm-raised, organic versions as well.

As Marriot Gold members, we took advantage of the late checkout option and scheduled ours for 4PM. Since the location of the hotel is in the middle of the shopping district we were able to squeeze in some light shopping before departing.

M Lounge

Our family really enjoyed our stay at this hotel. We highly recommend the hotel to other traveling families as well especially if you are a Marriott gold member.

Traveling Abroad – Credit Card Fees

Credit cards are useful tools when traveling abroad. In using them, you minimize the need to exchange and carry large sums of money which is especially important when visiting tourist spots, havens for many pickpockets. However, it is important to make sure you do not get pickpocketed by fees when using your credit cards abroad.

Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees

Foreign Transaction Fees (FTF) are exactly what they sound like - fees charged for using your credit card internationally. It is actually two fees – one by the credit card network (Visa, American Express, etc.) and one by the issuer (Chase, Citibank, etc.) The credit card network charges 1% and the issuer charges 2-3% meaning you are paying an extra ~3% per transaction.

All foreign credit card transactions are assessed FTF. However, certain issuers will not charge anything and actually absorb the network’s fees meaning the user will not pay any FTF. These credit cards usually prominently display that they offer no foreign transaction fees in their advertising and their website.

If you are unsure if you cards have FTF, you could always call your credit card’s customer service line or check your credit card’s terms and conditions under the fees section (usually under transaction fees). However if they do not advertise it, they probably charge FTF.

Below is a chart of issuers and their average FTF. All Discover and Capital One credit cards do not have any FTF. However, Discover is not widely accepted internationally. American Express credit cards that charge a FTF have a slightly lower fee because they are both the credit card network and the issuer.

Issuer	Average FTF
American Express	2.70%
Bank of America	1% to 3%
Barclaycard	1% to 3%
Capital One	0%
Chase	3%
Citibank	3%
Discover	0%
US Bank	3%
Wells Fargo	3%

Charge in Local Currency

Many foreign merchants ask you if you want to charge in USD or the local currency when using your credit card. Always charge your card using the local currency.

Merchants ask this because if you choose USD then they get to set the currency exchange rate in a process called Dynamic Currency Conversion. DCC allows the merchant to pick an unfavorable exchange rate for you and thus padding their profits. However, when you opt to use local currency then the conversion is automatically done by your credit card network which does not have such bias.

Best Happy Hour Deal - San Francisco - The Waterbar

Nestled along the Embarcadero between the Ferry Building Marketplace and the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge is the Waterbar. For their happy hour special, they offer freshly shucked west coast oysters for $1.05 each. Be forewarned, you may only order 24 oyster per table at a time as the oysters are shucked to order and there is high demand. Service was slow as their only seemed to be one waiter in the outdoor seating area we were seated at.

For those unfamiliar with west coast oysters (these were from Washington), they are much smaller than gulf and east coast oysters (about thumb sized) but have a salty, sweet taste. They are paired with a pear and champagne mignonette which I did not particularly care for but the taste of the oysters by itself (with a little lemon) was phenomenal. In comparison, I am used to gulf oysters which I usually douse with a hearty mixture of lemon, horseradish, cocktail, and tabasco.

We chose this as the best happy hour deal because it is not just a happy hour, it is more like a happy day. It’s offered every weekday from 11:30AM – 5:30PM. The nearby Hog Island Oyster Company in the Ferry Building Marketplace is the most popular tourist place for west coast oysters. However, they do not offer a happy hour anymore and when we walked by we just saw a bunch of already shucked oysters sitting there.

Some of you may be wondering about the $1.05 pricing. Five cents of every oyster sold is donated to Hamilton Families which helps homeless families find housing. So the more you devour, the more you are helping the local community also.

Discover 2018 Cash Back Bonus Calendar Revealed

Discover just announced its full 2018 cashback bonus calendar, usually it releases it one quarter at a time.

• Q1 (January – March): Gas stations and wholesale clubs
• Q2 (April – June): Grocery stores
• Q3 (July – September): Restaurants
• Q4 (October – December): Amazon.com and wholesale clubs

For those unfamiliar with the Discover it card, check out my review (here). The card offers 5% cash back rate on certain items and 1% cash back on all other items. These 5% cash back eligible categories also change every three months (quarter).

For more information, please visit:

https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/cashback-bonus/cashback-calendar.htmlhttps://www.discover.com/credit-cards/cashback-bonus/cashback-calendar.html

Discover it - Credit Card Review

Today I will be discussing the Discover it credit card. It is very similar to the Chase Freedom credit card (review here) as it offers 5% cash back rate on certain items and 1% cash back on all other items. These 5% cash back eligible categories also change every three months.

This is easier to explain by looking at Discover’s cashback bonus schedule below:

For example, we are currently in the fourth quarter (October – December) on the rewards schedule meaning we would be eligible 5% cash back for purchases made at Target and at department stores, especially useful with the upcoming holiday season. However, there is a $1,500 maximum limit in combined purchases allowed meaning the maximum amount you could get 5% cash back for is $75 per quarter. All purchases not covered by the rewards categories or that exceed the maximum limit receive 1% cash back.  

Additionally, Discover currently offers a $50 sign up bonus after your first purchase within the first 3 months of initializing the card. Also, they offer an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. And unlike many other rewards credit cards, this card has no annual fee (meaning you do not have to pay to use their credit card). Your rewards do not expire while the account is active and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.

For those that do not want to deal with points, the 5% cash back offered is one of the best rewards out there especially with no annual fee and the unlimited dollar-for-dollar, year-end match.

For more details and to apply, please visit:

http://refer.discover.com/s/fcx2x

The Westin San Francisco Airport - Hotel Review

Recently we visited San Francisco and arrived on a late night, after work flight. Being late we did not want to venture into the city just yet and opted for a hotel nearby the airport for the night. There are no hotels in or connected to the airport so we booked a room at the nearby Westin San Francisco Airport ($180 if you booked with them directly, $150 for us since we found an online price deal from a third party). Most of the hotels shared shuttles so they came frequently and the airport had many signs to direct you to the proper waiting area.

River, don't touch the water

We are SPG Gold Preferred Guests so we were offered a complimentary room upgrade at check-in. We had an incredible view of the airport runway and planes departing over the bay. The soothing sounds of the planes taking you off really put you to sleep fast.

Our View

When we woke up, there is a nice walking area along the bay which we enjoyed with nice views of the bay and planes taking off. Surprisingly the area (Burlingame) was pretty nice. Our experience with hotels near airports is that they are predominantly in ghetto areas because who wants to live next to an airport. 

The shuttle comes along every 15 minutes or so and we rode that to the SFO airport international terminal. The terminal is connected to the BART subway system which we used to head out to downtown San Francisco.

Overall, it was a pretty nice start to our trip. The hotel completed a $10M renovation in 2015 and it really shows when you walk around the property.

United MileagePlus Shopping now In-Stores

United's MileagePlus Shopping has long been now as a great way to earn extra miles from your everyday shopping. However, you could only use the online shopping portal to earn these miles.

I am pleased to see that the program now supports in-store purchases as well. Similarly to how MileagePlus Dining works, you link a credit card to the program. Then when you make any purchases using the linked credit card at any of the approved stores, you earn additional miles. These miles are in addition to the miles you would normally earn from your purchases.

Unfortunately the initial list of stores that support this is relatively small. Hopefully this list expands in the future.

For more information, please visit:

https://shopping.mileageplus.com/instore

United MileagePlus Shopping Holiday Bonus

United's MileagePlus Shopping program just announced their holiday bonus offer. For purchases made through their shopping portal through November 19, they are offering:

• 500 bonus miles when you spend $150+
• 2,500 bonus miles when you spend $750+
• 5,000 bonus miles when you spend $1500+

This is in addition to the miles you would normally earn from purchases made through the MileagePlus shopping portal.

For more information, please visit:

https://shopping.mileageplus.com/p/holiday-bonus.htm

Marriott Rewards MORE

Want more Marriott Rewards points? Marriott just launched their own shopping portal - Marriott Rewards MORE. While points offered differ by retailer, it does offer 1,000 bonus points after your first $25 purchase and a 25% bonus if you use a Marriott Rewards credit card.

Unfortunately the initial list of stores being offered is relatively small. However, it does include Amazon which is America's #1 online retailer, while United's MileagePlus Shopping does not. 

For more information:

https://more.marriottrewards.com/

Points with Uber and Lyft

When it comes to accumulating points via transportation most people just think of flights. However, our family has found it useful with rideshares like Uber and Lyft.

Most people are aware of the initial sign up bonuses when setting up an Uber or Lyft account. However once you are setup, promo codes are very rare with both apps. However, you could still use your credit cards to gain points or for free rides.

Our family has the American Express Platinum card which has a great association with Uber when you link your Uber account with that credit card. Users receive a $15 credit per month with a $20 December bonus. These credits do not rollover every month but still $15 free every month is still pretty sweet. Many users also use this credit towards UberEATS so they could have a meal delivered right to their front doors.  Users are also given Uber VIP status meaning they could bypass minimum ride requirements and be connected to drivers with top user ratings for those worried about sketchy drivers.

Once we have used up our monthly Uber credit, we usually switch to Lyft to gain more points. Lyft has a relationship with Delta where you could gain Delta SkyMiles for your Lyft rides (1 mile for every $1 spent, 3 miles for every $1 spent on airport rides). Use this link to connect your Lyft and Delta SkyMiles accounts: https://www.deltalyft.com/

We like to link our Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card with this so we double dip with points. Ink offers 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on all travel related purchases (including rideshares). So we get Delta SkyMiles and Chase Ultimate Rewards points for every ride. 

Booking Hotels – Brand Loyalty vs Price

My wife and I have several hotel credit cards. Generally we find these great because they offer free nights annually (which covers the annual fee) and upgrade your hotel status (which could offer free upgrades, more points, free lounge/breakfast access). Other than sign-up offers, these cards offer the most points when you use their credit cards at their hotels.

However, I remind you not to be blinded by brand loyalty. Even though these hotels usually offer lower rates to its members, it is not always the lowest rate possible.

For example, our family recently went on a trip to San Francisco where we stayed at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront (2 nights) and San Francisco Marriott Marquis (1 night). For the Marriott Waterfront, we paid $119 per night versus the Marriott price of $245. For the Marriott Marquis, we paid $149 per night versus the Marriott price of $289. Overall we paid $387 for three nights but would have paid $779 if we booked directly meaning we saved a total of $392!. I would rather save that now rather than wait and see how many possible points I could eventually accumulate. 

And remember, even when you do not book directly you could still use your existing status at many of these hotels. On our trip, we were able to use our Marriott Gold status to access the M Lounge and its snacks/drinks/ breakfast.

Flying with a Baby - American Express Centurion Lounge Review

On a recent trip from Houston (IAH) to San Francisco (SFO), our family got to try out the American Express Centurion Lounge for the first time. For this review, I am focusing on what they offered for parents traveling with a baby.

When checking in, one important item to know is that you are only allowed two additional guests per American Express Platinum or Centurion card. There is no age minimum, meaning a baby will count as one guest. In the SFO lounge, the baby was also given a placemat with Snoopy stickers to play with as we entered. A business card was also provided with the WiFi login information so we could hook up the baby’s tablet.

We were able to find dining seating with high chairs relatively quickly in both lounges. In a previous trip, we went to the IAH food court where they did not have any high chairs so we had to feed the baby in her stroller.

If you have not been to a Centurion Lounge before, I would describe the food offered as a buffet of fancy looking vegetable dishes and one type of meat dish. There is not anything child oriented but the attendant did offer to bring us juice or milk for the baby and the IAH lounge did have homemade Rice Krispies treats that the baby enjoyed.

But what we loved about both locations was the family room both lounges offered. The family room is a fully enclosed room with a small selection of toys and a TV. As we all know, kids like to run around but it is very hard in airports with all the people and golf carts flying everywhere. The family room allows a space where the baby could run around and expel their energy before flights.

In fact, when it was time to go she closed the door on us and wanted to stay longer. She cried like mad when we carried her out but passed out when we jumped on our flights. Having your baby passed out on the plane? Priceless    

Airport Hotels

For early morning flights, we recommend booking an airport hotel. Scrambling to the hotel for your flight is a chaotic blur (shoving all your suitcases into the car, finding a ride, dealing with traffic, etc.).

If you have an early morning flight that means you need to wake up in the middle of the night. No matter how much you have prepared, being in zombie mode is not going to help you with your departure. Being close to the airport, maximizes your available sleep time before your trip. I barely get any sleep on planes so being well rested is a huge plus for me.

We live about an hour away (without traffic) from Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) so we know the stress from trying to get to your flight on time. Take in account, how hard it is to arrange for airport rides at certain times. Staying at an airport hotel provides much greater flexibility with these times.

Hotels that are actually connected to the airport are more expensive but you do not have to worry about airport shuttles. While some shuttles are on demand, some run on set schedules that sometimes arrive once per hour. At IAH, the “Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental” is connected to the airport terminals via underground tram. While the tram does not run all night, you could still walk along the tram to your desired terminal.

Many hotels also include breakfast in their rates. As we all know, airplane and airport mostly sucks so it’s a good idea to fill up before heading to the airport. As Marriott Gold Elite members (which is included with American Express Platinum membership), we are offered M Lounge access which the IAH Marriott has. While each M Lounge offers different perks, this one in particular offered 24 hour access to snacks/drinks and a breakfast buffet.

For us, the value of booking the hotel room (more sleep beforehand, less stress, and breakfast) outweighs the cost of the room. When you are traveling with a baby, the less stress the better! 

TSA PreCheck - our first wonderful experience

On a recent family trip, we experienced TSA PreCheck for the first time. For those unfamiliar, TSA PreCheck allows users to get expedited screening through TSA security at airports. To receive access to this, users must pay an $85 application fee, complete an application/background check, and submit their fingerprints. If approved, users receive a Known Traveler Number that they would enter in future bookings.

When you receive your boarding passes (either physically or via airline apps) you will notice a TSA PreCheck designation on your passes. This grants users access to specially designated lines which were quite shorter than the standard lines. From what I observed, what was a 50+ person queue was a 10 person queue at Houston’s TSA PreCheck and what was a 100+ person queue was no wait at San Francisco’s TSA PreCheck.

The next thing I noticed was the rules are more lax which speeds up the process. You are allowed to keep on your shoes, belts, and light jackets. Laptops and small liquids could remain in your carry-ons.   

Also, the employees were much nicer. Maybe because the line is not so backed up, they seem less tense. For example, I had to go through the metal detector three times. Usually I expect them to be yelling at me like prison guards but they were actually pretty nice about it.    

Maybe I am getting spoiled but I enjoyed my first time experiences with TSA PreCheck and recommend it to everyone. Obviously when you are dealing with a baby, the less you have to wait in line anywhere the better. Better yet, membership lasts 5 years.

Some higher-end credit cards (like the American Express Platinum) offer to pay for your Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($85) application fees (Global Entry includes TSA Precheck). Credit cards like these offer benefits like this that makeup or exceed the high annual fees of the credit cards, you just have to take advantage of them. For instance, since authorized users are also given credit for extra TSA PreCheck application fees, we were able to acquire TiSA PreCheck membership for all our family members. 

Universal Studios Orlando American Express Lounge Review

If you are planning on visiting Universal Studio Orlando, you may want to be aware of the American Express Lounge available to all customers that purchased either a multi-park ticket or annual pass with an American Express credit card (such as the American Express Blue Cash Everyday or American Express Platinum). 

The lounge is a small area (about the size of a doctor’s waiting area) with two couches, two club chairs, and a 5 or so wooden chairs. There is a children’s corner with a small selection of children books and toys. Complimentary snacks offered consist of potato chips, granola bars, and small water bottles. There is one unisex bathroom available.

The lounge is located at Universal Studios (not Islands of Adventure) across from Shrek’s Ye Olde Souvenir Shoppe. It is not easy to find and I had to ask a park attendant for directions even though we were 10 feet from the lounge entrance. Upon entry, you have to show a concierge your park tickets and the American Express card you purchased them with.

In short, the lounge does not offer much and is hard to find with limited availability. When I originally read about it, I imagined a small spread to snack on to hold me over until lunch instead we went to eat lunch right after we visited the lounge.

However, free access to bottled water is always appreciated in the middle of hot and humid Florida. And if you are wary of public bathrooms, the lounge bathroom does offer more privacy than the park’s other restrooms. We found it useful as my wife was able to rest here for a bit after experiencing motion sickness from one of the rides but I could imagine many people would find it a waste of time.

Meeting Minimum Spending Requirements

“All these credit card bonuses sound great but how am I supposed to meet these minimum spending requirements?” I know that some of these minimum spending requirements may seem daunting but there are a couple of strategies I recommend to help meet these requirements (other than the obvious focused spending with the credit card).

Pay Your Bills

Many people still use bill pay from their checking accounts. Instead, check your bills and find out which ones accept credit card payments without extra fees. You pay a lot in bills anyway so you 

might as well get something extra when paying them.

Gift Cards

Gift cards are just another type of currency, just try to buy cards that have no expiration dates. I also recommend “double dipping” your rewards. For example, some supermarkets offer gas rewards with the more you spend at their stores. Buying the cards will help meet your credit card’s sending requirements, earn credit card rewards points, and earn gas rewards points.   

Flying with a Baby - Strollers

In a previous post (here), I wrote about my family’s enjoyable experience at the Barcelona-El Prat International Airport (BCN) and how kid-friendly they made it. But then….

Our flight itinerary was Barcelona-Paris-Houston (BCN-CDG-IAH) on Air France. As usual, I folded up our umbrella stroller and placed it inside a stroller gate check bag before handing it to an attendant just before boarding the plane. Our flight to Paris was normal but it was chilly in Paris so when the plane landed I went ahead to prepare the stroller while my wife and child waited inside the warm airplane.

I waited and waited and until the whole plane had emptied except for my family and the crew. We were then told that they did not have our stroller in the back. Walking from one end of the airport while carrying your bags to the other is hard, walking from one end of the airport to other while carrying your bags AND a cranky baby that just woke up is a whole other level. We did find a stroller/push cart after we passed the passport checkpoint but by that point we were already near our connecting gate.

Later we learned that it is Air France policy to not release your stroller until you reach your final destination. All other airlines we have traveled with release your stroller whenever you disembark your flight so were surprised by Air France’s policy. We highly recommend you research your airlines’ stroller policies before flying so you do not find yourself in the same predicament.

Arun

Flying with a Baby - Car Seats

Many first-time parents have concerns about traveling with car seats. Let us address some of these with you:

Bringing Car Seats on the Flight

Do not attempt to bring your car seat on the plane. Most likely you would be stopped by a flight attendant and your seat will be sent to cargo.

Remember if you are booking an infant on lap seat, your baby does not have a plane seat. As the name implies, the baby has to be on your lap.

Human beings have trouble fitting into plane seats now so your car seat will not fit on the seat either. Airlines know this and will not allow you to strap down your car seat even if you bought an adult ticket for your child. I have heard that some airlines do allow car seats in first class (if you bought an adult ticket for your child) but do you really want to spend all that money?

Checking In a Car Seat

Most airlines will allow you to check-in a car seat for free, even discount airlines like Spirit and Frontier who want to charge you for everything. Every airline I have flown on has offered this but to be sure check with your specific airline before arriving.

Be sure to buy a car seat bag for it though so all of the seat’s pieces stay together. For example, I have had cup holders fall off during the trip but since it was in a bag I just reattached it when I landed.

Checking in a car seat with a car seat bag also allows for a little extra storage space. I like to get a small bag, pack it with extra baby stuff (diapers, a blanket, clothes, etc.), and buckle the bag in the seat of the car seat.

Renting a Car Seat

Another option is to rent a car seat from a rental car company after you arrive. In doing so you avoid any possible damage from baggage handlers and having to carry the cat seat in and out of the airport. 

Some people raise concerns regarding the cleanliness of renting a car seat so for those people I recommend having Lysol spray and wipes handy.

I also recommend signing up for AAA. Not just for their automotive services but Hertz also offers a free car seat rental to AAA members. Normally they charge ~$20 per day per seat so after a few days you already recoup your yearly AAA membership fee. 

The Breakfast Klub IAH - Food Review

Looking for decent food at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport used to be like trying to finding a needle in a haystack. I am happy to say that they have made major upgrades/improvements in preparation of Houston hosting 2017’s Super Bowl. One of these is the addition of a Houston landmark - The Breakfast Klub.

I am a longtime fan of this restaurant especially when I used to live in downtown Houston. Life changes however, you end up living in the suburbs with a family, and the hour+ long wait on weekends is not as enticing.

I was skeptical of this new location though, I have been disappointed before by airport versions of my favorite restaurants. I ordered my usual order of “wings & waffle” and hoped for the best. To my delight, the wings were juicy, full of their signature taste and the Belgian waffle was made just right. It was everything I had remembered.

IAH’s Breakfast Klub is located in Terminal A. There is also an express to-go only version, I went to the sit-down version. If you have time, the Breakfast Klub in IAH offers a great sampling of Houston soul food.

Flying with a Baby - Milk

Don't assume that international flights will provide milk if you need it. I had a friend fly Eva Airlines who was told "milk is only offered during breakfast service."

I have not been refused like this but from my experiences they usually only had 2% milk, if that is an issue. Prepare as needed.

I know long flights are difficult to keep milk fresh. But you could always request ice instead of milk and that will help. Also, I suggest buying extra non-refrigerated milk for such flights.

American Express Blue Cash Everyday - Credit Card Review

American Express offers another simple to understand, no annual fee credit card with its American Express Blue Cash Everyday card. Similar to Chase Freedom, the card offers rewards in different categories for all purchases. The most noticeable being 3% rewards on the first $6,000 of purchases at supermarkets per year. Additionally they offer 2% rewards at gas stations and select department stores; and 1% on all other purchases.

However, unlike Chase Freedom, these categories are constant year-round. You do not have to worry about different quarters and what credit cards to use, as I know that confuses me sometimes when I reach the cashier.

Additionally, AmEx currently offers a $200 sign up bonus if you spend $1000 on the card within the first 3 months of initializing the card. And unlike many other rewards credit cards, this card has no annual fee (meaning you do not have to pay to use their credit card) and these rewards do not expire while the account is active.

I would use this card if your main priority is cash back. AmEx does not offer the same flexibility as Chase Ultimate Rewards in terms of exchanging for points. However, we all shop at supermarkets and 3% rewards is the best consistent offer out there for supermarkets with no annual fee. 

For more details and to apply, please visit:

http://refer.amex.us/ARUNCstow?xl=cp20

Arun

Barcelona-El Prat International Airport (BCN) - Review

As every parent knows, traveling with kids is hard. Don’t get me wrong, vacationing with them is fun but traveling (i.e. actually getting to and from your destination) could feel like torture. Anything to help ease this process is greatly appreciated.

Recently we went on a family trip to Spain and had a very enjoyable experience. We were pleasantly surprised that even leaving was a good experience at the Barcelona-El Prat International Airport (BCN).

After checking in and lining up for security, we were escorted to a separate security area designated just for families. Getting your kids and their bags through security is hard enough without other passengers breathing down your necks so having this special area where we could take a little extra time was very much appreciated.

We then walked out to the terminal and rode several moving escalators to our gate. From my own experiences, walking through some airports sometimes felt like you were walking a 5K.

When we reached the gate waited our biggest surprise: a playground inside the terminal. We take these things for granted since we see them at McDonald’s and Burger King all the time but when you have to wait an hour or two for the flight, any distraction for the kids feels like a small miracle. In fact, it is probably what I remember most about the trip!

River's First Slide Ever

Arun

Choosing Rewards - Cash Back or Points?

If you do decide to take the plunge and get a rewards credit card, one of your first choices you have is what type of reward do you want. Typically you would choose between cash back or points towards a loyalty program. You redeem these rewards for various things (airfare, hotels, store credits, etc.). Which one should you choose?

Cash back is much simpler to understand. Sign up bonuses are for set amounts, reward bonuses are distributed at set percentages. Meaning if a card offers a $200 bonus with 2% cash back, you would receive $200 if you met their spending requirements and would receive an additional 2% cash back from your expenditures on the card at your statement dates.

Points are much more confusing. Reward points vary greatly between companies (i.e. some offer 2 pts per dollar, some offer 12 pts per dollar spent, etc.). Other points blogs go into great details about these “point valuations” and how to compare them between companies but for me I take a much simpler approach (life’s too short to go through all those calculations IMHO). Just look at the actual cost of the thing you want versus your points costs (how hard was it to get your points, what else could you buy with those points, etc.).       

Cash back also provides instant gratification at the end of every statement. If you are a little tight, the cash back could definitely help with your expenses. Accumulating points until you could redeem them for actual rewards takes longer. However, when the time finally comes to redeem your points, you could find some excellent values. For example, I once found a hotel room that was $500 for ~$80 in points. 

In short there is no obvious answer, it all depends on what you want.

Chase Freedom Visa - Credit Card Review

Today I will be discussing the Chase Freedom Visa credit card. As the name implies, it is very similar to the Chase Freedom Unlimited Visa credit card as it offers a simple to understand cash back option but also could be converted easily to Chase Ultimate Rewards points if you are more point savvy. Also, these rewards do not expire while the account is active and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.

Additionally, Chase currently offers a $150 sign up bonus if you spend $500 on the card within the first 3 months of initializing the card and another $25 when you add an authorized user that makes a purchase within the same first 3 months. And unlike many other rewards credit cards, this card has no annual fee (meaning you do not have to pay to use their credit card).

However while the Unlimited card offers a flat 1.5% cash back rate on all purchases, this card is a bit more confusing. This card offers a 5% cash back rate on certain items and 1% cash back on all other items. These 5% cash back eligible items also change every three months.

This is easier to explain by looking at Chase Freedom’s rewards schedule below:

For example, we are currently in the fourth quarter (October – December) on the rewards schedule meaning we would be eligible 5% cash back for purchases made at Walmart and at department stores, especially useful with the upcoming holiday season. However, there is a $1,500 maximum limit in combined purchases allowed meaning the maximum amount you could get 5% cash back for is $75 per quarter. All purchases not covered by the rewards categories or that exceed the maximum limit receive 1% cash back.  

Depending on what you buy, you could earn more rewards using this card. Some users try maximizing the benefits by requesting both the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited and juggling their cards to use each quarter. However, if you are like my parents, this is way too confusing and would rather stick to the Chase Freedom Unlimited card so you do not have to think about which cards to use at which store (especially since Chase could and have slightly altered the categories every year). Personally, this was one of my first credit cards and I still use it as the 5% cash back offered is one of the best rewards out there especially with no annual fee.

For more details and to apply, please visit:

https://www.referyourchasecard.com/m/2/6L5/FNS2/1459670589

Flying with a Baby - Bassinets

When traveling internationally with infant in lap tickets, we highly recommend requesting a bassinet to give you and your infant more space. Bassinets are free cribs provided by airlines that are secured onto a plane wall directly facing you. Several belts are provided to keep the infant secure if you doze off or if the plane experiences sudden turbulence. However, when planning your trip keep in mind the following:

• Bassinet availability is extremely limited

From our experiences, we have only seen 1-2 bassinet spots available per flight. Be sure to request a bassinet when booking your flight. Even with that, some airlines still require you to arrive early at your gate to confirm your bassinet requests, as we experienced in both Delta and Air France flights.

• The maximum weight allowed is ~20-25 pounds

If your child, weighs more than 25 pounds they likely will not provide you with the bassinet as it may break the bassinet.

Why don’t airlines offer help with bigger infants or more bassinets? Simply put, airlines want to make money. While some airlines will offer a few bassinets to help assist you with smaller infants, they would much rather prefer to sell your child an adult ticket/seat for full price. 

Chase Freedom Unlimited - Credit Card Review

If you are brand new to credit card rewards, I highly recommend the Chase Freedom Unlimited Visa as it is one of simplest to understand. Simply put, you get 1.5% cash back on EVERYTHING. For example, if you spent $1,000 on your credit card you would be eligible to receive $15 cash back, in the form of credit on future statements or checks.

If you want instant gratification of cash without the confusion of figuring out the different point systems, this card is ideal. Also, these rewards do not expire while the account is active and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.

Even if you decide to get a little more point savvy in the future, you could choose to receive Chase Ultimate Rewards points instead of cash back later. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of the most flexible points available and could be used for airfare, hotels, gift cards, etc.  

Additionally, Chase currently offers a $150 sign up bonus if you spend $500 on the card within the first 3 months of initializing the card and another $25 when you add an authorized user that makes a purchase within the same first 3 months. And unlike many other rewards credit cards, this card has no annual fee (meaning you do not have to pay to use their credit card).

For more details and to apply, please visit:

https://www.referyourchasecard.com/m/18/6L5/FNRP/1533283497

Credit Card Sign-up Bonuses

The quickest way to gain several points is with credit card sign up bonuses. With these, users sign up for a credit card and if approved would receive a card with a certain bonus offer. Typically this bonus is cash back or points but could be anything of value; I remember in college they offered a free t-shirt!

Our Actual Cards

The bonus is usually only given once the user meets specific requirements with a specific time period. For example, if the card offers a 100,000 point bonus with a $1,000 spending requirement within a 3 month period; that translates to the user needed to charge at least $1,000 on the credit card within three months of receiving the card to receive 100,000 points in that company’s loyalty program.

These bonus offers fluctuate throughout the year so it is a good idea to research the current offer versus previous offers. Sometimes it is beneficial to join a company’s loyalty program before trying to get their credit card as the company may offer a special targeted offer for their existing users which is usually much better than their public offers.

Some users raise concerns about the different interest rates offered. Generally I say to just pay your credit card statements on time and you do not have to worry about these rates. Be smart and live within your means, the bonuses are not worth it if you are paying a bunch of interest.

Obviously every user is different so which credit cards they want is different too. In future posts, we will offer reviews of various credit cards and why/why not they may be right for you.