As a government traveler who is on the road a lot for the US Military, I look at the opportunity to stay in a nice hotel -- at or below the approved GSA rate -- as one of the few nicities of being on the road. Doesn't make up for being away from home by any means, but it's nice.

The interesting thing about the "Government Rate" is it normalizes prices. In the same market with enough advanced notice, you might have a stay at a Ritz-Carlton Resort property costing the same as a stay at a Days Inn or a Super 8. Just stayed at the JW Marriott San Antonio Resort last night for Gov't rate, plus parking was free, so it actually saved $15-25 over a hotel downtown.

It is very common, though, for a hotel to have no Gov't Rate available or to have a sort of "Alternate Gov't Rate" that is higher than GSA rate. It's not like the pre-negotiated GSA air fares... the hotels can do whatever they want. The only time a higher rate will be fully reimbursed by Uncle Sam is if there is a requirement to stay at that hotel (no other hotel nearby, or the Constructed Travel Worksheet says it actually is lowest cost to gov't, e.g.)

What frustrates me the most is when a Gov't traveler or the DTS system doesn't even stop to look at the AAA rate, the pre-paid rate, the "Best Available" rate, etc. In many cases these are much cheaper than the Gov't Rate. I tend to look at the total cost of internet fees, parking, and room rate when deciding where to stay. My AAA Card and my Diamond status has saved the Gov't a lot over the last few years. Plus "hotel hopping" also can save a lot of money. Tonight I'm at the Marriott Plaza San Antonio on a prepaid rate that is $30 less than GSA rate. For tomorrow, the best rate I could find was at a Hyatt place for $25 under GSA and free parking, so I'm there. I win (more stays), taxpayer wins!