Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Miles and Points 102: annual fees and annual perks
Many credit cards have annual fees. Some don't, but most do. Annual fees fall into roughly three categories: free, about $100 and over $400.
The appeal of cards without annual fees is obvious. They usually have simple reward systems, and can be fairly lucrative. Some cards give 2% cash back or have bonus categories that can give up to 5% cash back on certain purcahses! And you don't have to worry about paying an annual fee. But they usually don't have a very good signup bonus (around $100 value), and sometimes none at all.
So why would anyone pay an annual fee of $100 for a credit card? What if I told you that the rewards and perks from a card with this annual fee were usually much better, more than enough to offset the annual fee?
Most cards with annual fees around $100 or below waive the fee for the first year. And they have bigger signup bonuses, usually over $400 value. At the end of the year you can cancel the card, or pay the annual fee and keep it another year. You're still way ahead because of the signup bonus.
Usually the cards with annual fees around $100 earn better rewards compared to their no-fee equivalents.
Some cards even give additional rewards every year that make keeping a card forever a no-brainer.
I recently got a Marriott Rewards Visa card. It has an annual fee of $75 waived for the first year. I will receive a signup bonus worth almost $550 (after spending $3000 in the first three months) and I also get Silver Elite status in the Marriott Rewards program. If the signup bonus isn't enough, every year when I pay the $75 annual fee (so starting a year from now), I will receive a free hotel night at a category 1-5 Marriott property that I can use anytime during the year. Now that isn't good for a property like the Kauai Marriott (that's a category 8) but there are over 2700 category 1-5 hotels just in the US with prices ranging from $67 - $329 (not including tax, which the free night includes).
An even better example is my IHG Rewards Club MasterCard. IHG (InterContinental Hotel Group) is the parent company of Holiday Inn, and their hotel brands include not only Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, but Crowne Plaza, Staybridge Suites, and InterContinental. This card has an unusually low $49 annual fee (waived the first year). I got 60,000 points and a $50 statement credit for signing up (after the spending requirement) and I get Platinum status in the IHG rewards program. And every year for my annual fee I get one free night in ANY IHG hotel. Imagine staying at the InterContinental in Paris near the Opera House or the InterContinental Hong Kong, with a spectacular view of Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island? Both hotels cost over $400 including tax. Does that make a $49 annual fee sound like a good value?
That bring us to the last category of annual fee cards, those with an annual fee over $400.
So why would anyone pay an annual fee of $400 or more for a credit card? What if I told you that the rewards and perks from a card with this annual fee were usually much better, more than enough to offset the annual fee?
I admit it. I was shocked when I first heard about credit cards with annual fees of $400 or above. Who would pay that, I thought. But people that have these know the perks more than make up for the fees.
A recent example is the Citi Prestige card. It has a $450 annual fee (NOT waived the first year). The signup bonus (after spending $3000 in the first three months) is 50,000 ThankYou points (a transferrable currency), valued at $800 or more. And the perks with this card just keep on coming. There's a $250 airline credit (per calendar year so during the first year of card ownership you can use this twice!), a $100 Global Entry credit, access to American Airlines and Priority Pass airport lounges (up to $399 value), and one truly amazing perk: book a hotel stay of four nights or longer through the Citi concierge, and you are refunded the cost of the fourth night. Any hotel. As often as you like. No matter the cost of the hotel.
Even if you don't use the lounge access or the Global Entry credit, that's $1300 of value back in the first year, not counting the fourth night free hotel benefit. Taking the $450 fee into account you still come out at least $850 ahead the first year. Subsequent years aren't as good with only the $250 airline credit but you still get the lounge access and fourth night hotel benefit, which can add up quickly and easily to exceed the $450 annual fee.
I'm honestly thinking of getting this one myself, although it seems rare that we stay four or more nights at one hotel lately. Maybe we could if it meant every fourth night was free.
Other cards with fees over $400 are not quite as lucrative. But again, the perks have to be worth the cost or these cards wouldn't have any takers.
If you play your cards right (pun intended), the annual perks of your credit cards can more than make up for annual fees.
The appeal of cards without annual fees is obvious. They usually have simple reward systems, and can be fairly lucrative. Some cards give 2% cash back or have bonus categories that can give up to 5% cash back on certain purcahses! And you don't have to worry about paying an annual fee. But they usually don't have a very good signup bonus (around $100 value), and sometimes none at all.
So why would anyone pay an annual fee of $100 for a credit card? What if I told you that the rewards and perks from a card with this annual fee were usually much better, more than enough to offset the annual fee?
Most cards with annual fees around $100 or below waive the fee for the first year. And they have bigger signup bonuses, usually over $400 value. At the end of the year you can cancel the card, or pay the annual fee and keep it another year. You're still way ahead because of the signup bonus.
Usually the cards with annual fees around $100 earn better rewards compared to their no-fee equivalents.
Some cards even give additional rewards every year that make keeping a card forever a no-brainer.
I recently got a Marriott Rewards Visa card. It has an annual fee of $75 waived for the first year. I will receive a signup bonus worth almost $550 (after spending $3000 in the first three months) and I also get Silver Elite status in the Marriott Rewards program. If the signup bonus isn't enough, every year when I pay the $75 annual fee (so starting a year from now), I will receive a free hotel night at a category 1-5 Marriott property that I can use anytime during the year. Now that isn't good for a property like the Kauai Marriott (that's a category 8) but there are over 2700 category 1-5 hotels just in the US with prices ranging from $67 - $329 (not including tax, which the free night includes).
An even better example is my IHG Rewards Club MasterCard. IHG (InterContinental Hotel Group) is the parent company of Holiday Inn, and their hotel brands include not only Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, but Crowne Plaza, Staybridge Suites, and InterContinental. This card has an unusually low $49 annual fee (waived the first year). I got 60,000 points and a $50 statement credit for signing up (after the spending requirement) and I get Platinum status in the IHG rewards program. And every year for my annual fee I get one free night in ANY IHG hotel. Imagine staying at the InterContinental in Paris near the Opera House or the InterContinental Hong Kong, with a spectacular view of Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island? Both hotels cost over $400 including tax. Does that make a $49 annual fee sound like a good value?
That bring us to the last category of annual fee cards, those with an annual fee over $400.
So why would anyone pay an annual fee of $400 or more for a credit card? What if I told you that the rewards and perks from a card with this annual fee were usually much better, more than enough to offset the annual fee?
I admit it. I was shocked when I first heard about credit cards with annual fees of $400 or above. Who would pay that, I thought. But people that have these know the perks more than make up for the fees.
A recent example is the Citi Prestige card. It has a $450 annual fee (NOT waived the first year). The signup bonus (after spending $3000 in the first three months) is 50,000 ThankYou points (a transferrable currency), valued at $800 or more. And the perks with this card just keep on coming. There's a $250 airline credit (per calendar year so during the first year of card ownership you can use this twice!), a $100 Global Entry credit, access to American Airlines and Priority Pass airport lounges (up to $399 value), and one truly amazing perk: book a hotel stay of four nights or longer through the Citi concierge, and you are refunded the cost of the fourth night. Any hotel. As often as you like. No matter the cost of the hotel.
Even if you don't use the lounge access or the Global Entry credit, that's $1300 of value back in the first year, not counting the fourth night free hotel benefit. Taking the $450 fee into account you still come out at least $850 ahead the first year. Subsequent years aren't as good with only the $250 airline credit but you still get the lounge access and fourth night hotel benefit, which can add up quickly and easily to exceed the $450 annual fee.
I'm honestly thinking of getting this one myself, although it seems rare that we stay four or more nights at one hotel lately. Maybe we could if it meant every fourth night was free.
Other cards with fees over $400 are not quite as lucrative. But again, the perks have to be worth the cost or these cards wouldn't have any takers.
If you play your cards right (pun intended), the annual perks of your credit cards can more than make up for annual fees.
Liberty Station Market - first peek (San Diego)
We took a first peek at Liberty Station Market last weekend. There are about 12-15 vendors with pretty good representation between entrees and desserts including specialties like sausage, raw bar, poke, and specialties like Cajun and Thai. The butcher had some interesting cuts of meat for sale, some marinated, but some looked a bit old. Everything we tried today was very good and we look forward to trying this place again. We saw several airport travellers as well - this could be a good spot for pre-flight eating.
Pro Tip - park in the big lot on Historic Decator between the market and the water. From Truxton there is very little signage indicating the location of the market.
We enjoyed the Basil Chicken and Larb Kai very much. We need more Thai options now that Taste of Thai (Del Mar) is not what it used to be.
The Gumbo - very spicy and very good. The toast was a nice touch.
Sausage sandwich with seasoned potato slices
Fresh pasta with bolognese sauce
Plain hamburger - with tater tots!
Liberty Public Market
2820 Historic Decatur Rd, San Diego, CA 92106
Capri Blu (4S Ranch/Rancho Bernardo)
A nice upscale Italian when it's too far to go to Filippis, and you want something nicer. On Thursday night this place was filling up with graduation parties. We were having our promotion party as DD is now an 8th grader!
Capri Blu also has a nice wine list but be warned it's a bit pricey. I recall my favorites being $12-14. I also remember always feeling that I was worth it!
Capri Blu
4S Commons Town Center, 10436 Craftsman Way #120, San Diego, CA 92127
https://goo.gl/maps/
4S Commons Town Center, 10436 Craftsman Way #120, San Diego, CA 92127
https://goo.gl/maps/
Friday, June 10, 2016
San Diego County Fair 2016
Today we accompanied DD and two school friends to the San Diego County Fair.
Previously named the Del Mar Fair, this is in my opinion the best fair in California. The LA County Fair is almost too huge, and the OC Fair is too small.
The San Diego Fair has a spectacular setting right on the ocean, nice and breezy, and just the right size for all the animals, rides, great food, and the commercial tents. Check out the view of the ocean from the Sky Flyer!
Normally the goal is to stuff ourselves silly at the Fair. Most of the food is actually pretty darn good, but outrageously expensive - always bring about twice as much cash as you think you need.
Our favorites, in no particular order:
Country Time cinnamon rolls - watch them make it. Flour, butter, sugar, cinnamon. Such simple ingredients but soo good. ~$5
Chuckwagon BBQ - central location, and their waffle fries are great. We like their pulled pork and BBQ beef plates. $10-12 for a plate.
Juicy Giant Western Sausage - juicy, and meaty, and a lot of sausage. I like a sausage that is not so packed in its casing that it becomes rubbery. Really a quality sandwich and might be worth the money $12.
10 pound Bun - apparently extinct :( we have not seen this place in a few years. Cheddar cheese and garlic melted onto huge slices of toasted sourdough bread. Yes, it was as good as it sounds.
Cream Puffs - whipped cream aficionados will appreciate that there's no preservatives and no "Cool Whip" taste. $5
Caramel Apple Tower - just caramel and apples. But so perfect. $8
And our new favorite, Chicken Charlie's Maui Bowl, pictured below. Tender teriyaki chicken over rice and pineapple. Do not buy this if you don't want to be accosted by dozens of strangers asking where you bought it and whether it's any good. Yes, it's delicious, and it's "only" $13.
San Diego County Fair - now open thru July 4
San Diego County Fair - now open thru July 4
Milton's (Del Mar)
When you are hankering for a simple wellmade sandwich, like a BLT or a pastrami with Swiss, there aren't too many choices in San Diego. But Milton's comes thru with high quality meats cheeses and breads, especially those of the Jewish Deli persuasion. And did I say pickles? DH loves them. They bring out both pickles and bread to the table - today, a small mini loaf of challah, 4" long, fresh and soft.
The triple decker pastrami and corned beef was "awesome" says DH. So huge that we had to bring half of it home. The French fries were very crispy and very soft inside.
The lox sandwich was obviously prepared by someone that appreciates fish. The lox was handcut, not precut, and trimmed of the strong tasting dark parts. The bagel with poppy seeds was toasted without me having to ask. Capers, ripe tomato, and red onion. Mmmm.
DD loved her chicken soup with noodles and carrots. The BLT got rave reviews from Kid #2.
Forget Cocos, Dennys, and sandwich shops that are only open at lunch. Come on down to Milton's. Huge menu and plenty of non-Jewish items like baked chicken, BLT, pizza. But the Russian dressing might make a fan out of you. And a huge case full of cookies and desserts. And I haven't even mentioned the cheesecake brownies! Service has always been excellent.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Tea Station (Mira Mesa)
We fell in love with Tea Station in San Gabriel for their excellent tasting tea. It turns out that Tea Station has many outposts in SoCal including several in San Diego. So of course it was imperative to organize an outing around our new favorite drink, milk tea!
The Mira Mesa shop is small. It's right next to the excellent Siam Nara Thai, and a new PizzaNometry (make your own pizza like PizzaRev and Blaze) that looks good too. The shop uses the same menu, tea cannisters, and wallpaper of the place in San Gabriel which gave me hope that the quality would be consistent. They seemed a bit surprised that we wanted to sit, or maybe they get mostly to go orders.
The iced milk tea was again excellent with the nice strong floral oolong tea flavor, that when cold, almost tastes like it has honey in it. 75pct sweet is perfect for me. So refreshing.
MP got a large hot honey tea which came in a big soup bowl type container with a large spoon.
AP tried the hot longan milk tea which was nicely sweet without a too-pronounced fruit flavor.
DD had the passion fruit ice with 75pct sweet that was still incredibly cloying. I believe they are using real fruit judging by the small black seed specks visible in the glass.
DH tried the almond milk tea. We debated whether it was "almond milk" tea, or almond "milk tea." He liked it, but in any case, it had a pronounced almond flavor, and full sweet was waaaaaaay too sweet.
We're very happy to report positively on the consistency of Tea Station. How cool to have a Tea Station near us! We'll be seeing a lot of this place this summer, I can guarantee it.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Five Crowns (Corona Del Mar, CA) (2013)
Mom and Dad had a 200 birthday bonus point coupon for Lawry's burning a hole in our pocket, and Five Crowns had an opening at 5:30pm. Five Crowns looks similar to its sister property Tam O'Shanter in Burbank, an old fashioned ivy covered Tudor cottage that is more of a neighborhood joint with fantastic prime rib and a yearly rockin' St Patricks Day party. Highly recommended. But the 5 Crown's locale in Newport Beach means it's traditionally been a haunt for the ultra rich and ultra old. But in an attempt to keep up with times and stay relevant, they've converted their bar into the Sidedoor bar, a casual and intimate spot with roaring fires and great food. It seems to be working, because that place was PACKED tonight. But we wanted prime rib so we headed to the dining room.
OpenTable now says the dining room dress code is casual! Can you believe it! One of the fanciest restaurants in the OC! At least back in the 80's. But there was no sign of lowered standards tonight. The old money set was out in force and a wedding reception was on the patio. I especially enjoyed watching the old lady at the next table order a coke and receive an old fashioned glass bottle of Mexican coke and a glass full of ice. Sometimes they treat us a bit like little kids sitting at the grownups table, and they're always surprised when we pull out the coupons and Lawry's VIP card, which by the way is a great deal. You get a $25 gift certificate every $250, and you get a 200 point bonus every year on your anniversary. So every 2 or 3 visits you're using coupons.
We go to the Lawry's family of restaurants for their outstanding prime rib, Yorkshire pudding, creamed corn, and creamed spinach. The classics never go out of style.
Great wine list at this place as well. Tonight we tried the Mondavi Reserve Cab and Stag's Leap Artemis Cab. The Artemis was really yummy. Should be, it was $17. But we're worth it.
However, Lawry's desserts weren't good enough for us, so we trotted over to Fashion Island Newport Beach to pick up some cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory. If ever there was a shrine to materialism, it would be this mall. Vast sweeping lawns and grounds. Impeccably clean parking garages. Each store is about twice the square footage of a normal mall store. And this Material Girl noticed that just about every woman was carrying a Louis Vuitton handbag. Dad reminded me that if I ever travel to South Korea, which may very well happen, I can pick up a knockoff LV there. Good idea, because I won't be buying a $1000 LV bag anytime soon.
Unless we could stop going to Lawry's for about 2 years. Nah...
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
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