Credit Cards? Which one?

Hi All,

I'm thinking of changing my credit card to one that has a rewards program attached - such as Qantas Frequent Flyers or Singapore Kris Flyers. Currently we have the stock-standard, low interest rate, 55 days interest free, no annual membership fee card. This works fine but I wondered if we could maximise this?

We do a lot of travel, every 90 days we have to leave China, so I was wondering if we should upgrade our credit card to an airline rewards program so that in the long-term we can upgrade flights, use the points for free flights, etc...

Does anybody else have a credit card linked to a rewards program? If so, do you ever actually get enough points to redeem it?

We barely use our Credit Card at the moment in China, as we have a Chinese bank account, but when we travel or are home in Aus it does receive a good workout! lol

I'm just wondering if you end up 'paying' for the rewards in the additional fees you have with a rewards program credit card?

Do you think I should just go into my local bank when I'm in Aus next & talk to a Consultant? Or just leave my normal credit card as is. You know the saying, 'if it aint broke, don't fix it'?

Thanks!

My mum has a C.C linked to the qantas points and has free flights and upgrades from it. She doesnt get much chance to use her card either but she trys at all the major shops and you would be surprised who does accept C.C here (mind you she lives in Beijing and its getting more acceptable to a card there)
We have a debit master card with commonwealth bank and get no points from that, but its handy to have. If you use an agent for your taobao buying you can pay by C.C and earn points rather then using paypal

DoubleTrouble - are you in BEIJING!!!!!!!!! EEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKK I'm in Qingdao!!

I agree, more & more retailers are accepting our CC BUT we get slugged hefty currency-conversion rates.

I don't have a TaoBao account - I have been told it's really hard to obtain one, so I haven't bothered?? Plus, the postal service to our apartment doesn't really happen!!! lol

We are down in Jiangsu provience, about 2 hours north of Shanghai, in a small town. If you use an agent, you dont need to have your own taobao account, you just tell them what you want- send some links (i do english searches) and they will buy, check and send to you, or just send straight to you. You pay extra- 10-20% and most have a min order fee i.e 50 kwai.
We get everything sent to my husbands work, but once a courier knows your apartment it gets easier, took them a long time to work out my mums place but now, no worries. How long have you been in China? We've been here for 4 years. I've heard alot about Qindao, is it as nice as they say?

Hey Again,

We have been here for 6 months now. Qingdao is really, really, really beautiful & we are lucky enough that we live right on the coast. We are in the Qingdao Sailing City where they hosted the sailing events for the Beijing Olympics. I'm really loving the spot we are in because we can walk to school & not have to go on any main roads & we have 3 major shopping malls within 5 minutes walk of our apartment. There is a great expat community with whom I have made lots of friends & who go out of their way to make you feel comfortable & included.

Only once has a parcel arrived that has been sent from Aus. MIL sent a colouring book for DD2's birthday - just to check it would arrive & that's the only thing that has. I think it because she put a Customs Declaration on it. So my parents have tried sending a small parcel last week - hopefully it arrives.

I haven't even been on TaoBao, but I want some Zumba DVD's & I hear that they have good ones there - so I might have a look at the site & I'm sure one of the expats can order it on my behalf with their account.

Wow, being in a small town would be isolated being an expat?? How is your Chinese language? I have just started lessons & I'm loving it! We were going to visit Shanghai at the end of this month, but we have to leave the country to validate our visas so we are heading to Seoul for the weekend now. What is Shanghai like? I hear it's absolutely beautiful. Completely different to Beijing?

What brings you to China? DH's work?

Sorry, so many questions!!! I have got a bit excited. lol

My DH is chinese and he wanted to come home for awhile. Its good for the kids to be with their family here and experience this side of life. DS2 was born here and so will the next 1 although the have overseas passports.
It can be very lonely expat wise here. Apparently there are about 1000 of us permanently here but don't think many of them are families with children and certainly haven't managed to bump into them. Perhaps also because DH is chinese we havent been exposed to any expat network here? Mum certainly has a good thing going up in Beijing. Her best friend lives there and afew other expats she knows from home but she has also made afew chinese friends.
What kinda lessons you doing? With a person or online? I havent picked up as much as what we had hoped (but first 2 years I was surrounded by dialect not mandarin) so Im looking to start some form of lessons too. I can do basic stuff like buy from the market, tell the kids off etc but nothing very useful let alone hold a conversation. How are your kids going in school? they pick up the language so fast! DS1 didnt know any mandarin when he started kindy but within afew months could talk and understand everything the teachers said.
How long are you here for? We will stay afew more years I think :o

Oh wow! What a great experience for your children & they will always have the best of both cultures!!! Lucky kids!
My kids go to an international school & they do an hour of chinese lessons per day. Jess (6) has learned quite a lot, but is very shy to use it. My lessons are one-on-one & we are working really hard on the tones & the formalities just now. I have only been going for 3 weeks. I am starting to understand a little bit of conversations around me & sometimes when a taxi driver talks to me about the kids I can understand what he is saying.
Yeah, I have heard Beijing & Shanghai have huge expat communities & that you can really have a completely Western experience, even though you are living in a foreign country. Everything is widely available there because of the amount of expats. Qingdao isn't exactly like that, but there sure are a few of us. & they are only the ones I have met, I'm sure there are heaps more around - probably more on the outskirts rather than downtown.
We have said we would stay here for 2 years, but now Im not sure if I will be ready to go in 18 months. lol