Hotel shop: How close is too close?

I have been asked to do a hotel shop in Sedona, which is only twenty miles from my home. Wouldn't this make me suspect as a shopper or do real people stay this close to home? This is not a luxury property where pampering would be an explanation. Or should I use a different address?

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Since you usually have to show ID and/or a credit card, they can easily see your address. I have used two "scenarios". For the low end hotel, I said I was having my wood floors refinished and had to be out of the house for 24 hours. For the high end hotel, I said I was meeting a client for a private meeting outside of the office and decided to treat myself to a stay in their hotel. I then asked immediately where their business center was since I would need to fax documents after our meeting. I even mentioned that if "Susan Nobody" called for me to make sure the call went through. I said she told me her cell phone was acting up and she might call the hotel directly.

Real people stay in hotels when there is a problem at home like tenting for termites, no electricity due to repairs, in the middle of painting and can't tolerate the smell, ticked off at spouse, lots of reasons. They don't ask and we don't tell.

There are two types of people in this world: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.

Thanks to both of you. I don't know why I was being so stodgy. Maybe I need a night in a hotel in Sedona!

It's Sedona. You're getting away for the night. It's not like you're getting a hotel in Flagstaff.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

Just stick to the truth. Why exactly ARE you staying at a non-luxury hotel 20 miles from home? I mean, unless you are actually get paid for it.

The #1 answer is.....

Cheating on your spouse! They will never ask if you don't tell.

I had a hotel shop that was like 5 minutes from house. They never asked why I was there.

Kim

You can use a passport for i.d. so they won't have your address. I have also said I am going to a wedding/party and don't want to drive home 20 miles afterward.

I stayed at a hotel 10 miles from my home and had I been asked, I would have said the water was shut off at my home

If you are a member of the hotel chain's rewards program, they will know your address the minute you make the reservation, for most programs. However, there are tons of good reasons to stay at a hotel near home, especially if you claim allergies to any number of by products of refurbishment like dust, paint fumes, etc., or cannot stay during a period of no water, power, etc.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

@walesmaven wrote:

If you are a member of the hotel chain's rewards program, they will know your address the minute you make the reservation, for most programs.

If it's a hotel I've shopped previously, I won't make the reservation with my rewards number. I add that in at the end of the stay or apply online for retroactive credit.

Where I am, getting a hotel within 10 miles of home is a complete non-issue as it's quite common to do staycations in Waikiki or Ko Olina.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/2015 04:44PM by saacman5033.

You can also say that you are meeting some friends are going out for a night on the town and do not want to risk driving/being pulled over.

Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.

I worked Front Desk at a popular hotel chain for nearly a year. There were quite a few people who stayed at the hotel that were from the area. It isn't as uncommon as you think! The house issues (water, paint, etc) were a common excuse that I didn't even think twice about. As far as the address situation went, if someone gave me an ID without an address, I was required to get an address verbally so I could put in on your reservation. Maybe that was just this one specific hotel requirement?

@scanman1 wrote:

The #1 answer is.....

Cheating on your spouse! They will never ask if you don't tell.

Beat me to it!

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!

@saacman5033 wrote:

Where I am, getting a hotel within 10 miles of home is a complete non-issue as it's quite common to do staycations in Waikiki or Ko Olina.

I think it would be of benefit to both of us, if you were to provide a lesson on this "staycation" shop. This would be conducted at a facility near your residence. Of course this would be a "working stacation" session, thereby making it a business deduction. And should the weather prohibit travel, as in the case of not being able to fly because the sun is out and might burn the plane, I guess I would be forced to stay awhile.

Hey, the mind is a terrible thing to waste. But mine is wasted.

When you learn, teach, when you get, give. Maya Angelou

Parents/Inlaws are in town and they are giving you a night off from the kids and a chance to sleep in while they get up early and do the chores/take care of the kids for you.
Parents/In laws are in town and you are letting them use the one bedroom and the comforts of your home while you stay at the hotel.
Parents/In laws/grown kids are in town and you just needed to get away.

@CureMS wrote:

@saacman5033 wrote:

Where I am, getting a hotel within 10 miles of home is a complete non-issue as it's quite common to do staycations in Waikiki or Ko Olina.

I think it would be of benefit to both of us, if you were to provide a lesson on this "staycation" shop. This would be conducted at a facility near your residence. Of course this would be a "working stacation" session, thereby making it a business deduction. And should the weather prohibit travel, as in the case of not being able to fly because the sun is out and might burn the plane, I guess I would be forced to stay awhile.

Hey, the mind is a terrible thing to waste. But mine is wasted.

Sounds like a plan. Come, stay awhile! First round of drinks is on me.

@rezteach wrote:

I have been asked to do a hotel shop in Sedona, which is only twenty miles from my home. Wouldn't this make me suspect as a shopper or do real people stay this close to home? This is not a luxury property where pampering would be an explanation. Or should I use a different address?

I think you are overthinking it. I wouldn't even worry.
You could just say you are meeting up with somebody and you're not ready to bring them to your house yet.

I used to be based in a major metropolitan area in the Southeast and did quite a few hotels within 5 miles of my house since I basically lived in the city. Needless to say, out of the 100 or so nights I did for mystery shops in hotels, only (1) time was I ever asked and it was randomly the one time I needed the hotel for logistical reasons (We were moving residences). Anyway, the reaction was actually quite funny when I explained we were in the process of moving to a house we bought. What followed was a 5 minute conversation on buying a house and him giving us vouchers for a round at the bar and free breakfast for the duration of our stay. It made for a lengthy write up, but left a great impression on the stay!

They'll almost never ask, but I always have one of those excuses at hand if someone is just trying to make conversation.

Kona Kathie

What are good over night hotel stay companies? I shop for DQ, but would love more.

Kim

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Hotel shop: How close is too close?

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