u/Crafty-Leave-8880

Which would be your top pick?

I was thinking of either of the SBI ones.

I've just realised I'm not using the services of a butler at luxury hotels. I read elsewhere that people ask them to unpack your suitcase or even arrange the closet. I've never done any of these things.

I've a stay coming up at St Regis and I'd like to try asking something from them. But I'm not sure what can be asked without sounding rude.

Any tips? What do you usually ask the concierge to do?

I've just realised I'm not using the services of a butler at luxury hotels. I read elsewhere that people ask them to unpack your suitcase or even arrange the closet. I've never done any of these things.

I've a stay coming up at St Regis and I'd like to try asking something from them. But I'm not sure what can be asked without sounding rude.

Any tips? What do you usually ask the concierge to do?

What extra expenses do you think are completely worth it and really elevate the travel experience? In my case: a great hotel room. Sometimes I’m not afraid to spend on this, though it can go over budget, but traveling well-rested is absolutely worth it.

What about you?

I personally prefer the HDFC Swiggy one.

Which is your go to card?

We were blown away by Hermitage Hotel in Mt Cook, New Zealand.

Where have you seen the most magnificent lobby?

So I had this Axis Bank credit card that I no longer needed after getting several better ones.

I wrote an application to close it and followed up with a couple more since there was no online option. More than a year passed and nothing happened.

I came across this RBI circular on credit cards with new rules, including penalty of Rs500/day if bank fails to close a Credit Card within 7 days of request.

So I wrote another application and kept the receipt, waited for mandatory 30 days and escalated to RBI.

After 46 total days, the bank decided to close my credit card and pay Rs 23000 as compensation as per circular.

Do escalate and get compensation if your cancellation requests are pending.

I’m resharing this in case someone benefits. Has anyone else tried this?

Just got back from a trip. The location and views from both properties are stunning, beaches are stunning, weather was great. All the things that you really go there for were great.

But my god the level of service was bad. You really feel that almost everyone in the property is just there to clock in, do the bare minimum, and clock out. They're all trained to say the right things, anything you ask for they say "yes, we'll take of that for you right away" and then... just don't do it. One day I asked if they could clean the room before 1pm because I planned to hang out in the room in the afternoon, they assured me they would but then it didn't get cleaned.

At checkout - so many mistakes were made and it took an eternity to process.

I'm not sure if it's always been this bad or it has gotten a lot worse in post-Covid era.

Best credit cards in India for earning rewards and perks on UPI payment!

I personally prefer the Tata Neu for the rewards.

Which credit card is your go to for UPI payments?

It can be subsidiary brands in a hotel's portfolio such as W from Marriott or Conrad from Hilton.

To me, The Auberge Resorts Collection is a little lackluster. I stayed at two Auberge hotels, one in Telluride (Madeline) and one in Austin (Commdore Perry Estate). Both I found lackluster and not so luxurious compared to the other luxury hotels I've stayed at.

Another one I found a little overrated is W, it just feels like a fancier Aloft but they don't go out too much on the luxury element. At least this is true for most of the W Hotels in the USA. I've stayed at some other great W properties around the world like the W Barcelona.

What are some of your overrated hotel chains?

Most underrated “membership” for Indian travelers: owning a single share of Indian Hotels (IHCL).

Here is what the shareholder perk looks like right now:

•	Discount: 25% off on stays, dining and spa at Taj, Vivanta and Ginger.

•	Cap: Up to ₹2,500 off per bill, 10 dining coupons a year, 1 stay coupon. So roughly ₹25,000 maximum annual benefit if you fully use them.

•	Coverage: Valid across 100+ properties under Taj, Vivanta and Ginger in India.

•	Minimum: Even 1 share of IHCL is enough to qualify.

Example: If a Taj stay costs ₹10,000, after the 25% shareholder discount you pay ₹7,500.

Multiple family members can get 1 share each in case more coupons are required.

Has anyone used this or something similar?

I think it’s ironic that there’s so much wealth in the US and yet such a lack in true luxury hospitality compared to Asia and Europe.

Most times I stay at so called luxury hotels in the US I find them disappointing in both hard product except for some newer ones like Aman NY and also mostly in terms of service, which can be terrible at times.

On the other hand, I’m usually super impressed by luxury hotels in Asia, Europe, and Mexico.

I find such little value in hotels in the US overall.

Most of us get cashback and just use it to pay for more groceries or small bills. But there is a better way. You can trade your NeuCoins for Physical Tanishq Gold Coins at a 1:1 rate (1 NeuCoin = ₹1).

How to earn the Gold quickly

If you use the Tata Neu app for your regular monthly shopping (around ₹10,000+), you can easily collect ₹1,000+ worth of NeuCoins every single month using the Neu Card (currently no joining fees).

I recently got a 0.5g Tanishq Gold Coin (priced at ₹6,990) just by redeeming points I earned from my regular BigBasket and Zomato spends through Tata Neu Infinity card.

Spend Category	Cashback
BigBasket, Croma, 1mg, Air India, Tata CLiQ, Taj Hotels	10% Back
Insurance & Utility Bills (Electricity, Gas, etc.)	5% Back
Any UPI payment (using Tata Neu UPI ID)	1.5% Back
Joining Bonus (on your first transaction)	1,499 Coins

How to redeem

The redemption button is a bit hard to find, so follow these steps:

1. Open the Tata Neu or Tanishq app.
2. Go to the Jewellery section and select Gold Coins.
3. Add the coin to your cart and proceed to the payment page.
4. Important: Under the payment options, click on Gift Cards and Vouchers, then select Coupons and Vouchers.
5. Look for Loyalty Redemption, this is where you enter your NeuCoins to pay for the gold.

It’s a great way to turn your everyday expenses into a real asset.

Do comment below if you're using a similar strategy!

Honestly question as someone who somewhat recently started spending freely.

But while I have no trouble issues spending 5,000 a meal or flying business once in a while.

Why does one choose to stay at luxury hotels especially in cities? For 5 star resorts, I understand as this itself can be the destination.

Is it worth to pay 2/3x over a regular hotel?

This is important, and I don’t mean to speak badly or say certain places are inherently bad.

But it’s true that some places can feel much less safe, especially for solo travelers.

So I’d like to know: in which city in the Europe have you felt the most unsafe?

I felt quite unsafe in Paris especially at night.

Honestly question as someone who somewhat recently started gaining wealth. I still remember when Best Western was our family's default go-to, even though yes I've not stayed at a Best Western for the past decade now.

But while I have no trouble forking out $500 a person for a meal or flying business doing intercontinental flights, the amount of times I've spent $1000 a night in a hotel is... I think twice, and those are more resort-based stays (e.g. Bora Bora). I've always contemplated staying at say the Four Seasons in Paris or the Ritz in Osaka, but I just don't see the cost tradeoff since I know I'll be mostly out and about and not really enjoying the hotel per se. I know everyone has their own priorities and financial situations, but I would just like to get some perspective from folks who choose to stay at luxury hotels, especially those in cities. What am I missing, and is it worth the 2x/3x that you'd need to pay over a regular Marriott?

I keep thinking about those towns that feel almost unreal, quiet little streets, flowers spilling from balconies, scenic views in every direction, and a calm atmosphere that makes you want to slow down and stay awhile.

What’s the most romantic town you’ve ever visited that truly had that magic feeling?

We felt it in Prague.

I just bought the Urban Company Native M2 Pro on Flipkart. I stacked a ₹1,750 HDFC bank discount with the card’s 5% cashback (₹833). Getting a premium smart RO for an effective price of \~₹15.6k with zero annual fees is a massive win.

​Most people forget this card gives 5% back on Amazon and Flipkart, not just Swiggy. If you have it as LTF, definitely keep it for these big-ticket online purchases!

I feel Cambodia is beautiful and very under tapped.

In your personal opinion and based on your experiences, what do you think is the most underrated tourist destination in Europe?

Multiple people have reportedly converted their FYF cards to LTF.

Steps to convert your card to LTF:

1️⃣ Show some usage of the card (multiple transaction helps).

2️⃣ Email HDFC's Card Services Team with your spending and account details.

3️⃣ Be persistent and follow up if needed.

Helps in saving unnecessary fees.

Has anyone else tried / planning to try this?