Gov't Rate is for firefighters, police, etc., also

[pstepka]

I am posting this because it's something I never took advantage of because I never 'made the connection'. Anyone who works for a city, state, etc. is a government employee. That means the firefighters, police, ems workers, etc. My husband has been a paramedic/firefighter for over 10 years and I never thought to ask for a government rate until this year. For some reason, I always associated it with either military or someone who works directly for the goverment (like a Federal employee).

We drove to Orlando in August and I happened to think about it when we checked into our hotel in Savannah.

So, just in case there are other dense people out there like me, I thought I'd post this!!!

Pam

 

[ncbyrne]

Sometimes the government discounts are given to everyone, right down to local goverment. Other places are more specific and will only give the discount to state or federal government workers. And sometimes....it's only for military. You just need to ask.

 

[mousey]

Thanks for the heads up! My husband is also a firefighter/CCT and I have often wondered about the govt. discount.

 

[Straitlover]

I am a state employee. It seems every time I ask about the gov't discount, they tell me you ahve to be on gov't business to get it, not on vacation. Guess I just have bad luck with it ...

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

Absolutely!! Actually any "civil servant" (join AFSCME) will get the discount. You DO NOT have to be on business. Just make sure you have "all" (a current picture id is best) and then some, current id's with you.

 

[kadaten]

while most hotels don't care whether you're on business or not, some do. We're military and always ask for the military or government discount. Lately we've noticed some hotels asking if we're traveling on orders (official travel) and saying that they want to see our paperwork on check-in to get the lower rate! This never used to happen, but since the travel industry is on hard times these days, I guess they're just being a little tighter with the discounts.

Also, some resorts don't offer government rates...since they're vacation destinations they don't offer rates for what is supposed to be official travel.

Whatever the case, it doesn't hurt to try! I know my mom (a nurse at a county hospital) often gets these rates, and was quite happy to find that she qualified when they offer them to local government types!

Also, don't assume that rate is better. Lately I've found the online rate and other sales to be lower, especially in areas where the per diem rates are pretty high (DC metro area for instance).

 

[kadaten]

while most hotels don't care whether you're on business or not, some do. We're military and always ask for the military or government discount. Lately we've noticed some hotels asking if we're traveling on orders (official travel) and saying that they want to see our paperwork on check-in to get the lower rate! This never used to happen, but since the travel industry is on hard times these days, I guess they're just being a little tighter with the discounts.

Also, some resorts don't offer government rates...since they're vacation destinations they don't offer rates for what is supposed to be official travel.

Whatever the case, it doesn't hurt to try! I know my mom (a nurse at a county hospital) often gets these rates, and was quite happy to find that she qualified when they offer them to local government types!

Also, don't assume that rate is better. Lately I've found the online rate and other sales to be lower, especially in areas where the per diem rates are pretty high (DC metro area for instance).

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

my mistake. i thought the thread was regarding the Swan and Dolphin resort.