Originally Posted by
carsnoceans
My current stays are at Ren Times Sq and I can bill my work related lodging cost but can't do so for the weekend. So I have to justify my cost of stay to be less (or equal) than travel expense back home which generally runs between $330-$400. In this budget there is no way to stay at Ren TS or Marriott Marquis over the weekend.
I can't really think of any other way to manage this... and there probably aren't many ways to work around it. But I am wondering if you guys have any thoughts here??
Have you been doing this assignment long? Is it ongoing?
By my calculations you are earning about 35000 points per weekly 4-day stay assuming you are Plat and using MRP Visa. If you aren't using the Visa, then you are only earning about 26000 points per week. So really the week stay for your company and $400 in expenses you can use yield almost 3 free nights at the Courtyard New York Manhattan/Fifth Avenue. 1 with points earned that week and 2 with allowable expenses plus $132.55 of your own money plus meals.
If this is an ongoing assignment then you earn between 1.25 and 1.5 million points per year.
Yes, I have a few thoughts... pay and get reimbursed for one or two nights, and use points for the other one or two nights. 1) With weekend rates pay for two nights, about $532.55 at Courtyard New York Manhattan/Fifth Avenue (including taxes) and use points for one night. Get reimbursed $400, yielding a net cost of $132.55 plus meals for the weekend. Pretty cheap for a weekend in NYC by any standards. 2) With weekend rates pay for one night and avoid moving, about $300.70 for Marriott Marque including taxes for Sunday nights (about the same for the Ren) and use points for Friday and Saturday nights. Expense hotel and some meals and get reimbursed $400.
Above estimates are based on rates for July weekends that may be canceled. If you are OK with non-refundable ADP rates then you can save more.