Originally Posted by
FLYGVA
Depending on the federal state and city, a self declaration that you do not travel for touristic reasons is sufficent. It might be, as pointed out by
fransknorge a bit difficutl, as some hotels only accept business trips. However, this is not quite correct, as it is not touristic or not lesiure.
Most states seem to prohibit private travel unless it is for urgent medical or other strictly necessary reasons. A family visit would not be considered necessary I think unless it is something like a funeral, wedding, or somebody terminally ill in the immediate family.
Also, some hotels strictly limit themselves to business travellers, as you stated. I've been to such hotels and they demand you fill out the form exempting you from hospitality tax. If you file that while that travelling privately, that's tax evasion essentially.
@
FLYGVA Just recall back in Nov./Dec. The same rules wrt hotels were in place as today. And several states felt the need to express what constitututes necessary travel over Christmas. If you stayed at a hotel to visit your family back home between Dec 24-26, that was considered necessary travel. Instead, booking a hotel between Dec 30-Jan 2 for a belated family visit was deemed unnecessary and hence prohibited.