Originally Posted by
SensFan
The hotels in Waikiki make it pretty clear that the government rate is not for leisure travel.
GOVERNMENT RATE-ID REQUIRED Not valid for Government Contracted vendors. Offered only to US Federal Government employees traveling onofficial government business. US Federal Government IDrequired upon check-in. One room maximum per employee. Notvalid for US government contractors. Work orders may berequired to qualify for rate.. Identification required.
At most other hotels it is not so clear though. All of my leisure trips have a component of research for my job though since any visit to a retail establishment is work related
. It isn't quite official business so I have been reluctant to use the rates in Honolulu.
In the past I have made reservations with the AAA rate, then upon check in at the front desk, I showed my retired military ID and asked if that would qualify for the GOV rate. This way, if my request was denied, I had a better rate than BAR in the system. I have yet to be denied the GOV rate. I do not assume that I am entitled to it, but at the same time it does not hurt to ask.