Thanks. I have both of the old version Amex cards so I am getting the nights from there already. I am thinking I might try to make a deal for a long term stay with points at a category 1 hotel might make sense for me. Do you think if I called a manager and explained why I was "checking in" and that they didn't need to even clean the room they would have an issue with that? Also wondering if I could just make a deal for a deeply discounted extended stay and pay with cash. Trouble is, no category 1 hotels are anywhere near me in Los Angeles so I have to get a hotel that doesn't mind accommodating what I am trying to do without me even showing up at the front desk. I figure I will be short about 150 nights by the time I hit 10 years of platinum status.