Steve,
Many thanks. Your comments are thoughtful and encouraging.
However, since I have for some time been doing other MSC's very high end hotel shops, including a lot of detailed fine dining within hotel and resort complexes, I just am not ready to jump through Coyle's hoops. I often do two night stays, 35+ interactions, two evening FD, concierge lounges, 3 bars, 2 lunches, dry cleaning, valet, shuttle to airport or amusement venue, spa, massage, integrity cash drops all over the property, etc. I do not miss Coyle one bit. I get the hotels where I want to travel, when I want them without Coyle. (Sounds arrogant, but they don't know what they are missing. lol!) I do 3 to 7 hotel shops per month, and the mid-range ones close to home are just for a rest and more rewards points! And, yes, one does have to build up a good cash reserve to pay off the credit cards in full every month while awaiting reimbursement. But, considering the abysmal bank interest rates on saving accounts, that's not such a burden.
As a cherry on top of the sundae, hotel reservations made through ebates provide cash rebates well in excess of what I would have earned by keeping those funds in a savings account. Even 2.5% back from ebates for funds that I waited 8 weeks to get returned by the MSC equates to a super "annualized interest rate."
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2015 03:31PM by walesmaven.