Originally Posted by
jayer
Or the most foolproof way ever. Book the cheapest nearby hotel. Highly recommended you actually check in and enter the room even if you don't stay long. Or spend a couple of quiet hours watching whatever it is no one else in your house wants to watch. Remote checkout the next day.
The issue here is that sometimes the "cheapest" nearby hotel is not exactly cheap (i.e. unless you're looking a ways out, you could be looking at something approaching $150 after taxes and fees...the cheapest one in my area is over $140 on that metric the middle of next week).
Honestly, there's a points promo going on right now...I'd advise that OP consider buying 5k points with it (to hit the discount level).