I'm always on the road, and the air/hotel bill comes out of my own pocket. Naturally, I like to minimize the costs whenever possible.

Naturally, also, I try to maximize the benefit I get from flying a given airline and staying in particular hotel chains.

The prices are getting out of hand.

Fuel, of course, is driving the airlines to distraction and they have little choice but to raise prices if they can. The hotel chains, too, are bumping the rates up.

My current hotel just informed me they are raising my rate about 25%. I'm thinking of moving on to another job anyhow, and when I check the other possible locations, their rates have gone up anywhere from $10/night to $25/night and so on. I can't just arbitarily raise my billing rate to cover this; I'm under contract.

So, I'm seriously looking for something that either has a tremendous rate, or else it's a lot closer to home so I can reasonably drive it at least once or twice a week.

I've got a lot of miles in the bank (I know, I know) and a lot of hotel points. It's the status I'll miss. Without that, I'm just another schlub with no lounge access, no arrival gifts, no first class upgrades, etc. Call it the Henry Hill syndrome.

Bummer.