Pointman, your budget of $80-100 a nite is low in my opinion. I don't know where you will be spending those 250 nites, but I would imagine with that much travel time your level of acceptability will rise with the number of nites on the road. My company has never questioned a hotel bill, although I have been partial to Marriott and Hilton brands for the past few years.
I have a buddy that is now limited to under $70 bucks a nite. His company is being repositioned to be sold and the CEO is looking at all costs. He has had trouble booking Fairfields or Hampton Inns and generally ends up in a Super8 or Motel 6.

My advise, aim a little higher and settle on at least $100 a nite.

My husband will have 178 nights with Marriott by the end of the year (last 7 with us on vacation - yah!) and probably another 50 nights at other hotels. We've been doing this for more than a dozen years. Needless to say, I'm very independent.

Thanks for the info Dugernaut. It is helpful to know what is reasonable and customary for a position requiring this much travel.

Pointman- Do your family a favor...and think long and hard over this...there are many things that you have to add into the equation....I have been doing this for almost 5 years now...235-250 nights/year. I try to get home every week-end...but sometimes that doesn't always work. There are at least several times when I'm several thousand miles from home....and we get a mechanical...or weather cancellation... and have to overnight. At that point, I usually just stay where I am..or adjust my tickets to move on to the next work site. I can only do this because of no wife/children. What would your family think the first time this happens to you and you can't make it home....how about the second time??? And boy...I hope your wife knows what she's in for....god forbid something malfunctions in your home...and you are on the road! Plus...you will miss your children growing up.
I'm just letting you know that "it ain't always gonna be easy."
You'll figure out what the right decision is...

IM4

Very good advice. I'm going to be finding out more specifics about the travel for this particular job later this week. If it is more than just some overnights during the work week, I will probably pass.

For the past year I have been traveling once a month, but the trip was always 11 nights STRAIGHT (including the weekend). This constant condition of being away from home was too much. I won't be changing jobs unless the travel schedule is better on my home life.

I gotta say, the thought or accruing airline miles and hotel stays at such a high rate is VERY tempting. The wife and I are planning some major trips next summer and some fat FF accounts would be very nice.

Well...that is the major perk Pointman...every year I make top-tier with Starwood,Marriott and Hilton...my CO account gets fatter and I never pay for vacations.....but all that will come with a heavier price for you than it does for me since I have no family. Imagine doing 2 of those 11 -nighters per month.... essentially that's the amount of nights you will be out of the house. Of course it's probably not going to be 2 11-nighters....just using that as an example. Good luck on whatever you decide.

Thanks. I think I'd be fine if I was gone for just 3 or 4 days out of the five day workweek. It is supposedly only overnight trips, which to me means that I would only be gone one night at a time, although of course there would be many trips per month. I'll know more in a couple of days. I don't think I will take the job if it is much more than that.
Thanks for the advice. Now, what about you? Who are you going to be spending all those points on? Time to gets yourself a wife and kids to take to Disneworld! HE HE

[This message has been edited by pointman (edited 12-17-2001).]

I have:
Marriott----> 106 nights ver)

Hilton------> 73 nights
Holiday Inn-> 8 nights

Total------->181 nights

I thought I had alot of nights...
I have a wife who supports me 100% of my job.

Pointsman I'd take the job but your wife and kids have to understand your job in order to support you... I only get to go home every other weekend.

My company doesn't really have a strict budget but they definately won't allow us to stay at Motels.

Our preferred chain is still Holiday Inns but all year this year, I have managed to stay at Hamptons and RIs with some added flavours of CYs and Doubletrees

I know a co worker of who finally got divorced after 14 years on the road...his wife finally gave up,his son doesn't even know his dad!

------------------
Regards,

Al

Pointman....as far as a wife goes...let's just say..."been there..done that" >>>>thank goodness we didn't have children as it makes things much easier. I have a supportive girlfriend who tags along sometimes...if I'm going somewhere good

Hyatt 56
Marriott 54 (All flavors)
Hilton 22 (Mostly HGI/ES)
Others 34
Total 166

Marriott - 126

Hilton - 79

Yikes - over 200...))

Am on last road trip of the year for work now.

I knew I was missing something at the Marriott! I have not been upgraded to a flavour suite!

Marriott - 67 nights (will re-qualify platinum with my current stay)
Hilton - 10 nights
Crappy apartment in Delaware - 120 nights (WITH NO POINTS).

No, I'm not bitter at all, I swear, I liked my apartment, it was great, not only didn't I get points, I didn't get diners club points, who sold this darn job anyway, oh right, I did


[This message has been edited by coyote (edited 12-17-2001).]

2000
Marriott 96
Hilton 0

2001
Marriott 36
Hilton 78

Hyatt 162
Marriott 10 (all flavors)
Hilton 5 (Hamptons)