Refresher needed, credit card for paying Vistana MF

[Ken555]

Good choice -

This $450 annual fee card ends up costing almost nothing.
$450 Annual Fee
<$300> Annual Travel Credit - immediately credited back to you on your statement for Vistana Management Fees or any other travel related charge
<$95> Cancel SPG AmEx card - Annual Fee
______
$55 net annual cost
<$95> Cancel Chase Sapphire Preferred or any other card you currently have that gives less benefits
---------
$0 No additional cost for these great benefits offered by this card!!!!

To be fair, you really can’t assign other card annual fees to this one. I figure this card will cost $150/year. I’ll likely keep my Amex cards since they will now include a free hotel night, and that’s worth more than $95 to me.


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[VacationForever]

Good choice -

This $450 annual fee card ends up costing almost nothing.
$450 Annual Fee
<$300> Annual Travel Credit - immediately credited back to you on your statement for Vistana Management Fees or any other travel related charge
<$95> Cancel SPG AmEx card - Annual Fee
______
$55 net annual cost
<$95> Cancel Chase Sapphire Preferred or any other card you currently have that gives less benefits
---------
$0 No additional cost for these great benefits offered by this card!!!!

Are you gearing up for a timeshare salesperson position?

 

[taterhed]

Any other way to get platinum elite? (75k on Amex Spg).

 

[VacationForever]

Any other way to get platinum elite? (75k on Amex Spg).

Other ways: MVC ownership at Presidential or Chairman Club level. Stay 50 nights at Marriott/SPG/Ritz brand per year, 15 nights can come from credit card bonus. Vistana 5 star elite. Marriott Lifetime Gold this year gives you Lifetime Platinum next year. SPG Lifetime Platinum this year gets you Lifetime Platinum next year. 600 nights plus 10 years Platinum gives you Lifetime Platinum.

 

[taterhed]

Other ways: MVC ownership at Presidential or Chairman Club level. Stay 50 nights at Marriott/SPG/Ritz brand per year, 15 nights can come from credit card bonus. Vistana 5 star elite. Marriott Lifetime Gold this year gives you Lifetime Platinum next year. SPG Lifetime Platinum this year gets you Lifetime Platinum next year. 600 nights plus 10 years Platinum gives you Lifetime Platinum.

Thanks, yeah, the hotel route is not going to happen; ditto for the MVC ownership (at least for now...)
Maybe with two credit cards (and combined programs) could probably work 50 nites (20 paid).

We typically book at non-commissionable rates. Could maybe review the wisdom of that.... Do Marriott timeshare stays count for the 50 nites counter?

 

[controller1]

Thanks, yeah, the hotel route is not going to happen; ditto for the MVC ownership (at least for now...)
Maybe with two credit cards (and combined programs) could probably work 50 nites (20 paid).

We typically book at non-commissionable rates. Could maybe review the wisdom of that.... Do Marriott timeshare stays count for the 50 nites counter?

You can't get 30 nights via two credit cards. The 15-night credit card bonuses are not stackable regardless of the number of Marriott/SPG cards you have. Maximum is 15 nights.

 

[dsmrp]

Since the program merger won't be implemented till Aug 18, I think it means the starpts earned from my next Amex billing period will transfer to Marriott at higher 3 MRP/starpt conversion rate instead of 2 MRP/$.
I can't see Amex being able to change over any earlier if the SPG & MRP account number changes aren't in place.

 

[controller1]

It's August 1. I just used my SPG Amex and submitted a small payment to prepay a portion of a MF. My statement closing date should be August 12. I'll report back as to the number of points received for the payment.

 

[Denise L]

I'm late to the party, trying to catch up, without much luck. Is the consensus that the SPG AMEX isn't going to be the best card to use anymore, and that we should apply for a Chase Sapphire Reserve, or a new Amex and spend $75K? We currently use the SPG Amex for everything that gets us 1 point and for Starwood MFs and timeshare incidentals. However, we have other cards...Costco Citibank, Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Disney, United Explorer...

Also, if I have 200K SPG points, is it too late for me to do anything good with them now, or do I have another week to make a transfer to an airline? If we have never used any points for hotels and fly mainly Hawaiian or Alaska, should I just transfer them all to one or both of these airlines? According to the Points Guy, he indicated that the conversions would still stay the same, is this right?

Not a fan of change. Loved our SPG Amex for so long. We like the extra warranty coverage, purchase protection, etc.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Newbie to Vistana. Where does one pay MF online? Just went into the reservation portal and could not find bill payment.

 

[Ken555]

Newbie to Vistana. Where does one pay MF online? Just went into the reservation portal and could not find bill payment.

It’s on the dashboard.


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[CalGalTraveler]

Thank you! So much on the dashboard I did not see it. When are MF due?

 

[dioxide45]

Thank you! So much on the dashboard I did not see it. When are MF due?

Usually in January. Though it many depend on the resort. You can prepay any time.

 

[controller1]

I'm late to the party, trying to catch up, without much luck. Is the consensus that the SPG AMEX isn't going to be the best card to use anymore, and that we should apply for a Chase Sapphire Reserve, or a new Amex and spend $75K? We currently use the SPG Amex for everything that gets us 1 point and for Starwood MFs and timeshare incidentals. However, we have other cards...Costco Citibank, Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Disney, United Explorer...

Also, if I have 200K SPG points, is it too late for me to do anything good with them now, or do I have another week to make a transfer to an airline? If we have never used any points for hotels and fly mainly Hawaiian or Alaska, should I just transfer them all to one or both of these airlines? According to the Points Guy, he indicated that the conversions would still stay the same, is this right?

Not a fan of change. Loved our SPG Amex for so long. We like the extra warranty coverage, purchase protection, etc.

If you have never used any points for hotels and do not plan on doing so in the future then airline miles may be your best best. Yes, the transfer (conversion) ratio, including the bonus, will remain the same in the future. Prior to August 18, be sure and transfer in increments of 20,000 to get the 5,000 bonus. After August 18, transfer in increments of 60,000 to get the 5,000 mile bonus.

 

[VacationForever]

If you have never used any points for hotels and do not plan on doing so in the future then airline miles may be your best best. Yes, the transfer (conversion) ratio, including the bonus, will remain the same in the future. Prior to August 18, be sure and transfer in increments of 20,000 to get the 5,000 bonus. After August 18, transfer in increments of 60,000 to get the 5,000 mile bonus.

I think it will be 60K to get 15K miles bonus.

 

[controller1]

I think it will be 60K to get 15K miles bonus.

No. 60,000 Marriott points will yield 20,000 miles and a 5,000 mile bonus. Therefore, 60,000 Marriott points will get you 25,000 miles.

 

[VacationForever]

Got it. So it is the same conversion ratio. Duh!

 

[Denise L]

If you have never used any points for hotels and do not plan on doing so in the future then airline miles may be your best best. Yes, the transfer (conversion) ratio, including the bonus, will remain the same in the future. Prior to August 18, be sure and transfer in increments of 20,000 to get the 5,000 bonus. After August 18, transfer in increments of 60,000 to get the 5,000 mile bonus.

Thank you! I might just transfer before August 18. If I ever wanted to use the points for hotels, has that ship sailed already? What are those of you who use them for hotels doing with your points? Is the best credit card now the Chase Sapphire Reserve?