Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rule is that you need to be traveling for business.

This. It's not for personal travel or family members. You've been scamming hotels.

No. Many hotels specifically provide rates for non-business for fed employees. It's all explained within the rate. It will either say for official business only or it won't. But yes, one person staying in the room has to have the ID.

NP: I'm a contractor and have gotten a govt rate with nothing more than a letter from the gov agency. My contract had a max hotel rate and my secretary was genius about getting hotel to give that rate. No gov photo ID.

Never tried it on leisure travel though. That seems unethical.

Anonymous wrote:My office guidance is exactly the opposite as long as the hotel allows the government rate for leisure travel it is fine.

Same. It's perfectly fine. It's not up to the Gov't. The hotel makes the decision.

We're using the gov't rate for our spring break hotel--we're both Feds. I just went and looked at the rate rules for the hotel we're staying in. It says Government employee/Active military rate. It requires that you be a gov't employee or active military. It requires that you show gov't ID or active military ID. It doesn't say official gov't travel only or travel orders required. It's basically a "perk" rate for gov't employees and military. No different than a special rate for AAA or a senior rate. Other hotels obviously limit their rates differently and require official travel.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work for the man, AKA the government, and we are told that you are not supposed to request a government rate unless it's official travel. Sure you can do whatever you're comfortable with, but I would feel pretty dumb arguing for a rate that I'm not officially authorized. Usually the government rate is that same as belonging to a reward program anyway- i.e. gov. rate is the same as Hilton Honors rate.

I work for the government as.well.and I would feel very very uncomfortable using my CAC.to get.personal lodging discounts. Thin line and easy to get caught.

There isn't anything to be caught for. Many hotels allow it and their websites state they do. Obviously don't put it on your government travel card and use your personal card.