Yes. I want to say that upfront. This thread may sound like I'm complaining. No. The opportunities I've had to travel on someone else's dime (...er, nickel) have been the greatest thing in my life. (They've "prevented" me from having a family, so it took that contender out of competition.
) I do read about the little niceities other get with a small bit of envy, but I'm still one happy boy.
What if you were on the "travel austerity" program?
I've still never been in first or business class airline seating. (I've done between 80K and 250K a year 20 years now, but scattered over many, many airlines.)
I don't get to keep my miles/points earned in work. (They go to my not-for-profit employer to "fund" future travel.)
Taxis are pretty rare; lots of busses.
Bringing my family along - assuming I had one - would be forbidden.
IRS/government rate per diem. No expense accounts. No client-funded meals.
Hotel rate limits that generally keep me in Holiday Inn Expresses, Hampton Inns, occasional Hyatt Places...unless I pay out-of-pocket for a Doubletree or something. Once in a while, I score a great rate at a Park Hyatt or full-service Hilton. (Minneapolis in January! Fort Lauderdale in July!)
Mostly destinations like Iowa City, Milwaukee, Boise...but with some Chicagos, New Yorks and Serrekundas (The Gambia) thrown in. I don't get to see much - work weeks 80-115 hours.
Again, I'm just interested in understanding how much perks mean to other travelers, vis-a-vis just traveling for the love of it.
