Mattress run (/ holiday / mileage run)
Sep 22, 2017, 9:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London, UK
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Mattress run (/ holiday / mileage run)
I'll be in San Francisco for three in November as part of a British Airways tier point run, which will also be a mini-vacation.
In order to maximise my return and try different properties, I will be staying at the W, The Palace and Le Meridien, with the Palace booked under an FHR rate. My SPG member exclusive promotion involves getting a free night voucher after 3 stays.
Anyway, I just wanted to share and see if anyone has done something similar in San Francisco before!
In order to maximise my return and try different properties, I will be staying at the W, The Palace and Le Meridien, with the Palace booked under an FHR rate. My SPG member exclusive promotion involves getting a free night voucher after 3 stays.
Anyway, I just wanted to share and see if anyone has done something similar in San Francisco before!
Sep 22, 2017, 12:42 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
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Hotel hopping to boost stay count has been a ting for a while.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...l-hopping.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...l-hopping.html
Sep 23, 2017, 1:42 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Programs: Accor Plus Plat, Marriot Plat, AF Silver
Posts: 315
In order to maximise my return and try different properties, I will be staying at the W, The Palace and Le Meridien, with the Palace booked under an FHR rate. My SPG member exclusive promotion involves getting a free night voucher after 3 stays.
Anyway, I just wanted to share and see if anyone has done something similar in San Francisco before!
Anyway, I just wanted to share and see if anyone has done something similar in San Francisco before!
I'll tell you mid-October how smooth in went!
Julien
Sep 23, 2017, 2:35 am
#4
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You are definitely not doing a "mattress run" (checking in and not staying the night). And, if you were, SFO is one of the worst places in the world to do so (expensive hotels)
You are doing "hotel hopping" which is a tried and true technique for turning holidays into stay-based status, as @3Cforme points out. I find that this is best done alone, to avoid complaints from my OH.
You are doing "hotel hopping" which is a tried and true technique for turning holidays into stay-based status, as @3Cforme points out. I find that this is best done alone, to avoid complaints from my OH.
Sep 23, 2017, 4:58 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,785
I've been doing this for years and now it honestly feels weird staying for two nights or more
Sep 23, 2017, 7:54 am
#6
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AC MM E50 , Former SPG, now Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 6,261
to stay 2-3 nights in the same hotel! Although I am losing out on the 500
point plat amenity every night.
Sep 23, 2017, 8:25 am
#7
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bangkok, Thailand. No longer Palm Coast, FL though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
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Posts: 5,153
Been there and done that. My GF started travelling with me last year and at first she didn't understand hopping, but now that I've got the stays out of the way for PLT, the race to PLT50 requal is better for her since stays don't matter.
Sep 23, 2017, 1:47 pm
#8
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SF is my home away from home. A few years ago, I have done the following over a three-week period:
1) W for 12 days, including 2 weekends where I was out of town.
2) Palace for 5 days
3) Westin for 3 days
That was an extended hotel hopping trip, I guess.
1) W for 12 days, including 2 weekends where I was out of town.
2) Palace for 5 days
3) Westin for 3 days
That was an extended hotel hopping trip, I guess.
Sep 23, 2017, 7:46 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,785
Another positive aspect of hotel hopping is seeing more properties in the same city (and thus naturally, staying in several areas). Once hopping has been accomplished in a specific city, I tend to settle on 1-2 areas and hotels therein.
Sep 23, 2017, 10:02 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2017
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But if you're already platinum and will hit 50 nights the following year, there's no benefit to hit 25 stays while en route to 50 nights, right?
Sep 23, 2017, 11:25 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2001
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Extra plat. welcome points. 
Sep 24, 2017, 3:04 am
#12
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Unless the hotel is stingy (and no lounge) and you have to trade them for breakfast.
But otherwise there's no real difference between the 25 stay / 50 night route. I tend towards one-night stays, so I like to guarantee my Plat requal with 25 stays, before determining whether I'm close enough to 50 nights to go for the SNAs or the free night.
But otherwise there's no real difference between the 25 stay / 50 night route. I tend towards one-night stays, so I like to guarantee my Plat requal with 25 stays, before determining whether I'm close enough to 50 nights to go for the SNAs or the free night.
Sep 26, 2017, 2:30 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2017
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Sep 27, 2017, 7:58 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: UA 1K | MR Platinum
Posts: 492
Unless the hotel is stingy (and no lounge) and you have to trade them for breakfast.
But otherwise there's no real difference between the 25 stay / 50 night route. I tend towards one-night stays, so I like to guarantee my Plat requal with 25 stays, before determining whether I'm close enough to 50 nights to go for the SNAs or the free night.
But otherwise there's no real difference between the 25 stay / 50 night route. I tend towards one-night stays, so I like to guarantee my Plat requal with 25 stays, before determining whether I'm close enough to 50 nights to go for the SNAs or the free night.