The answer is in the 1st post in the original thread here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...ture-card.html (clue: You'll like the answer).

got it
thanks

And of course Capital One pioneered no foreign currency fees.

I am headed to Holland for a 2 day trip and will bring my USAA debit card to get cash out --they pay back ATM fees up to $15/month and so that will work... and I will use the cap one visa for anything that takes a CC. Where I will be up north may not have many places that do and as far as I know, there's no Euro Mint lol

:)MM

Cool! That's great info. We'll probably go that route when we burn up our 120,000 points. Thanks for the confirmation!;)

"Anyone"? When I swipe a card at most urban SoCal gas stations, I'm always prompted for my billing ZIP code. (Not necessarily when I go into more sparsely populated parts of SoCal, tho.) I presume the same thing happens with these cards (at those stations that prompt for regular credit cards)? If so, does it expect the ZIP code of the purchaser of the gift card?

Nope. In that same link is a list of room types: http://www.frhi.com/corporateincenti...ards/roomtypes. Fairmont Gold is clearly a different category of room. Also, if you attempt to book a room using cash you will see that suite and Fairmont Gold suite are two different room types, with the latter priced higher.

I am puzzled why people think this award will be anything other than exactly what the Cap One site states: 2 category C suite Ovations certificates.

Maldives in C?
 

The yet to be opened Raffles Konottaa in the Maldives is not listed on the frhi.com ovations category website. But what I found interesting, is this link through raffles.com, shows the Maldives location to be a category C:

http://www.raffles.com/EN_RA/MainNav...ollections.htm

Now, we don't know much of anything about the property yet or the final category, so this is pure speculation. (Which is about 50% of FT posts anyway, right?) And who knows when this place will actually open - the Raffles website says 2011, but old articles I found also said 2008, 2009, etc. But it sure could be interesting to stay in any room there for ~$143/nt...

BTW - anyone actually have any real experience about being able to pay a cash upgrade to go from Ovations C to a D hotel? I saw a mention a few posts back, but I'm not sure if it was substantiated.

It didn't ask me for ZIP code.. This is a gift card, so there's not a ZIP code associated with it anyways. I just swiped and started fueling.

How do you buy the ovation cert for $143/nt?

I bet the speedboat/plane transfer will still be expensive though.

Just using the Cap One miles at $.01 per mile. The Raffles Ovation certs that have been discussed in the past page of posts are 28,750 miles for 2 one-night certificates. So 28750 miles = $287.50 worth of miles / 2 = $143.75 per night.

All of us are just waiting to make sure the certs match the T&C 100% (which I expect they will) and to verify what kind of rooms can actually be booked where.

And I agree, I'm sure the transfers won't be cheap.

The fairmont royal pavilion Barbados cat "D" would love to upgrade?

If I can get a suite and breakfast for $143/night in the Maldives (assuming it's a cat C), I'm fine spending $400/person for transfers and another $200/person/day for lunch, dinner, and activities. One could still have an awesome week vacation in the Maldives for $5000, not including airfare. That's a lot of money, but it's also 1/2 what it would cost without these certs.

These certs might be a great value, but the Fairmont GC deal could be better in some cases.

For example we're staying 8 nights at the Kea Lani in May using the Friends and Family Rate (see the fairmont forum). The CapOne points outlay for the $900 GCs to cover the stay was lower than if we had got 8 of the ovation certs.

Check the room rates to determine which is best.

(Of course with Kea Lani being all suites it's an easy comparison).

"Just using the Cap One miles at $.01 per mile. The Raffles Ovation certs that have been discussed in the past page of posts are 28,750 miles for 2 one-night certificates. So 28750 miles = $287.50 worth of miles / 2 = $143.75 per night."

A bit misleading - you don't get the certificates for $143 per night. Yet get them for nothing simply by SPENDING $14375 on you Capital One Visa.

Now we're back to the age-old how do you value your miles/points/bonuses/etc. You could also make the argument that you get them for nothing even by spending nothing, and getting your miles matched. Then it's the "cost" of a credit inquiry. And we go round and round with definitions... :)

Just for my personal accounting, saying they are free is more misleading to me than $143/night. I can get a gas gift card as others have that's worth real money $143. So maybe it's better stated that the opportunity cost of the certs is $143/nt.

To each his own, but the clarification is appreciated.

Out of curiosity, what rate did you get at the Kea Lani?