Originally Posted by
RickC3C4
I'm new to this and not sure how things work. Can you just pick any code from the list and use it or do you have to qualify somehow?
I'm planning a trip to DC in September and I want to stay in the Holiday Inn Washington-Capital. Problem is it's out of my budget. I saw a banner ad today listing rooms for $139 a night but that's only for the middle of July. The room price I'm being quoted is $225+ a night.
A little background, if it helps. I haven't traveled since a bad accident I had in 1999. This accident left me paralyzed and in a wheelchair (i.e. Christopher Reeve). Over the years I've read too many horror stories about being disabled, especially in a wheelchair, and traveling so I have simply stayed home for the last 15 years. I finally decided to plan a trip and just go and do it. I picked the Holiday Inn Washington-Capital because it's less than a quarter-mile from the Smithsonian (which is the destination of my vacation) and I don't plan on renting a wheelchair van. I know there are hotels with better rates along the Metro line but traveling on the train is just one complication I don't want to have to deal with.
Any help on how to get a better rate will definitely be appreciated.
I am very sorry to hear about your accident and condition. I'm certainly in no position to tell anyone how to run their life, but I really think your decision to go travel is a positive one!!!
I would suggest checking the F+F (Friends and Family) rate for the hotel. You don't have to actually be a friend or family member of an employee, it's just a marketing gimmick. You book the room and just have to print out this voucher to bring with you. 95% of the time the voucher isn't even requested.
The only negative is that this rate does not earn you points or qualifying stays towards Gold/Platinum. Forgive my assumption, but I would imagine that this is not a big concern for you.
Here is a link for making these kinds of bookings:
https://mobile.twitter.com/networkz/..._name=networkz
Follow the link in the twitter post, preferably from a regular computer so you don't get sent to the mobile site which does not display the rate.
Please write again if you need more help, and check out the rest of this forum for more great tips. There is actually am entire thread here about the F+F rate.
And welcome to FlyerTalk!!!