So El Presidente, I know CA is a BLUE state. I lived in LA for 5 years and couldn't wait to leave. My career leaves me no choice to to live and work in big Metro areas, and all of those up and down the east and west coast and a few in between (like IL, where I lived for 8 years) all like to see how much they can soak the electorate for. When I retire I am moving to Texas or Nevada to lower my tax burden, and to find cheaper hotels. The issue I was pointing out to the OP was that if he can find a rate of $79, he is lucky, as I would cut off a body appendage to find a quality hotel for that price point. If you dont think about taxes, good for you. All my point was trying to make is that hotel prices are relative, and if the OP wants to do a mattress run and not incur other travel costs, then take what there is - $79 being a decent price, get the points/miles and nights. I needed one night last year to re-qualify for Plat, so I did a one night run, and paid the price, even for a hotel that on a Saturday had 20% occupancy, and they still asked for $149, and that was the AAA (and yes, I am a card carrying AAA member), all because I get the privilege of living in one of the most expensive areas of the USA, paying more in tax between income, sales, gas, property, excise tax and for the rare privledge or driving lots and lots of TOLLS! If anyone thinks that hotels dont charge to recoup all of the local costs (including in the NYC area where we get the right to pay some of the highest utility rates after those in HI, all due to taxes the utilities need to recoup), and that is why the hotel rates are so high here (and not as high in No Cal, ATL, DC, etc), then they are kidding themselves about the costs of a room and why they are priced where they are. So, please, its not about the politics, its about the economics.