Originally Posted by
CCIE_Flyer
Since your Plan B is to use points (and your stay is over a weekend only), I imagine that it's safe to say that you aren't traveling on official government business - this is generally part of the Ts&Cs of gov't rates. It's not meant as a personal reward for being a gov employee. I am aware of properties (e.g. in Florida) that no longer offer such rates due to abuse of it by those on personal travel, which complicates my professional travel situation at times. Others continue to offer a gov rate, but require "travel orders" or some other official documentation specific to the nature of the official travel.
Marriott definitely permits government employees to use government rates for personal travel. Hyatt does as well. Hilton can be more ambiguous.
I've almost never been asked for travel orders. In some states, if you are on orders, you can avoid paying taxes but that's a matter of state by state.
This is definitely not abuse unless the rate specifically says for official travel only.