Where you stay during TDY significantly impacts trip quality. Strategic lodging selection considers mission requirements, comfort, cost, and convenience to create the best possible experience within regulatory constraints.
Government Quarters Priority
Joint Travel Regulations establish priority for government quarters when available and adequate. Checking availability with base lodging before booking commercial hotels satisfies this requirement. Non-availability documentation allows commercial booking.
Government lodging quality varies dramatically between installations. Some bases offer excellent facilities while others provide bare minimum accommodations. Research before arrival sets appropriate expectations.
Commercial Hotel Selection
When commercial lodging is authorized, selecting within the per diem rate maximizes comfort without personal expense. Location relative to duty sites affects productivity and transportation costs. Balancing these factors requires trip-specific analysis.
Extended stay hotels offer advantages for longer TDYs. Kitchen facilities enable meal preparation that stretches M&IE allowance. More space than standard hotel rooms improves long-term livability. Weekly rates may come in under daily per diem limits.
Loyalty Programs
Accumulating hotel loyalty points during government travel provides future personal travel benefits. Ensure that using loyalty accounts does not conflict with government rate requirements. Most programs allow earning while booking government rates.
Elite status earned through frequent travel improves future stays with upgrades, late checkout, and other perks. These benefits apply to both official and personal future travel.
Documentation Requirements
Keeping itemized hotel receipts showing zero balance satisfies voucher requirements. Many hotels can email final receipts, creating digital backup. Checking bills before departure catches errors that complicate later reimbursement.
If lodging costs exceed per diem rates, approval for actual expenses may be available in certain circumstances. Understanding when exceptions apply and documenting properly enables full reimbursement in appropriate situations.
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