Five Tips for Low-Cost Mattress Running

Over the years, I’ve completed my share of mattress runs. Whether it was for the now-defunct Hyatt Diamond challenge or bonus points like the 50k Club Carlson Big Win, I’ve never shied away from an opportunity to earn points and status cheaply.

As a travel hacker (and lifelong cheapskate) I’ve made it my mission to spend as little on frivolous pursuits as possible. That includes mattress runs, many of which I’ve managed to reduce costs for by employing these 5 tips:

1 – Pick low-category Hotels.

The first place to start if you’re looking for a low-cost mattress run is to look at a list of the lowest category hotels in the chain. It’s a good idea to hone in further on airport hotels as well as properties located in the suburbs. These will be especially cheap on weekends, when demand is typically lower.

2 – Pick cheap hotel markets.

Once you’ve narrowed your mattress run choices down to category 1 hotels, it’s time to pick hotels from the cheapest hotel markets. What are the cheapest hotel markets in the country? These include Dallas, Orlando, and Norfolk (VA). Sure, you can find cheap hotels almost anywhere. But if you’re short on time, then I’d stick to these markets.

3 – Don’t go international.

I often get asked whether I would recommend remotely mattress running at hotels abroad. Hotels in places like Indonesia, Dubai, and throughout Thailand can be incredibly cheap during low season. However, I would advise against doing a mattress run at a hotel abroad. Communicating the concept can be difficult and arouse suspicion. Not to mention, some hotels are reluctant to agree to a mattress run if you communicate with them via email. You have to call the front desk and often request to speak to a manager to arrange a mattress run.

Sure, with calling apps like Viber, it’s much easier to make international calls without accruing massive charges. But I still think communication can be a barrier when trying to convey the concept of a mattress run to hotel staff abroad. Besides, if they mark you down as a no-show, there might be little recourse to get your elite night credit and points posted. Stick to stateside hotels for the least hassle.

4 – Pick the right day.

With the exception of resorts and properties near theme parks, the best hotel deals are usually found on weekends. Even city hotels like the Grand Hyatt San Francisco has rates discounted by as much as 50% on weekends. But 50% off sky-high rates is still a lot, so to keep costs low, stick to low-category airport and suburban hotels. These types of hotels experience less demand on weekends, so you can often find great mattress-run worthy deals.

5 – Redeem Flexible Bank Rewards Points.

I don’t care how good of deal a status challenge is. I DO NOT want to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket to complete it. Neither should you. The best way to cover mattress running expenses is to redeem flexible rewards points towards it. My go-to currency for many years were Barclay Arrival Miles from the Barclay Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard.

Unfortunately, I got my accounts shut down a few months back. I stupidly used Walmart Bill Pay, which is basically a credit card death sentence. Anyway, avoid this pitfall and be nice to your Barclay Arrival card. The points are easy to earn and come in handy when its time to finance a mattress run.

Follow these tips and you’ll not only save time when planning your next mattress run, but you’ll also keep costs low. That being said, I want to hear from you: How do you keep your mattress runs cheap and efficient?