Ft. Lee, Virginia TDY rate hotels/housing

[amaristella]

Does anybody have a favorite hotel for per diem rate ($77) around Fort Lee, Virginia? DH is set to arrive there in the very near future for a 6 week class and has already been told there is no availability in any base housing. I tried looking up some places but either they were above the rate, didn't have availability for the entire time block, or on one of them DH seemed to think that it was part of the base lodging that was full. I kind of don't want to go over the per diem rate because we're moving right when he finishes this TDY and we're going to have a lot of expenses to weather this summer until reimbursements start rolling in.

Also, I'm just looking in the immediate area. If anybody knows of nearby cities that are close enough for a daily commute that might help as well.

Thanks!

[MrsAggie]

H stayed in the Stay Over Suites and they were really nice. It was close to post and Colonial Heights which had plenty of places to shop and lots of restaurants.

[amaristella]

Jun 1, 2013 5:15:28 GMT -5 MrsAggie said:

H stayed in the Stay Over Suites and they were really nice. It was close to post and Colonial Heights which had plenty of places to shop and lots of restaurants.

Thanks! That is definitely close. We'd been looking at a place 12 miles away but weren't sure if it would equate to a long door-to-door morning commute or not. He'll definitely give them a call.

[NomadicMama]

I have not been to Fort Lee in over four years (and it has grown a lot since then). I would say anything in Colonial Heights should be good distance wise. Hopewell is close too, but he's be better off, in my dated opinion, to try to find someplace in Colonial Heights.

[kcd0531]

Couple days late here but: Prince George, Petersburg, and Midlothian are all within reasonable driving distance IMO and should offer places with reasonable rates. Downtown Richmond is definitely pricier than the $77 per diem rate.

[amaristella]

Thanks guys. He ended up finding a place that he thinks will work. It's a shame it doesn't have a kitchenette like he wanted, but he'll just have to deal.

My new problem is how is it that he has a government travel card but he's not been given the go ahead to use it for this. I feel like he must not be asking the right person or something. Because what in the heck else is that card for?

[kcd0531]

Gov't travel cards, as a general rule, just pretty much suck. Certainly in our experience it took months to be re-comped and in the meantime we were forced to pay the card with its outrageous interest rate out-of-pocket. Hate them hate them hate them.

[iluvmytxrgr]

My husband's orders always include permission to use his card if it's authorized. If it's not on there, he goes back and has them re-do the orders. Sounds like he just needs to ask someone else. J has lived out of hotels on TDY for 8-12 weeks at a time for the last 5 years. He's pretty much a pro at it now. He prefers Marriott hotels and joined the rewards club. It gets him into the concierge suites for free breakfasts, afternoon snacks and happy hour.

[amaristella]

Jun 6, 2013 8:32:38 GMT -5 iluvmytxrgr said:

My husband's orders always include permission to use his card if it's authorized. If it's not on there, he goes back and has them re-do the orders. Sounds like he just needs to ask someone else. J has lived out of hotels on TDY for 8-12 weeks at a time for the last 5 years. He's pretty much a pro at it now. He prefers Marriott hotels and joined the rewards club. It gets him into the concierge suites for free breakfasts, afternoon snacks and happy hour.

Oh. Thank you so much! I'll let him know. His orders are already being modified because the day he started class they told him he has to stay 4 extra days and this was a case where the actual end date was written in his orders. It really matters because I think that his report date for Hawaii needs to be adjusted as a result. We truly need the given number of days of proceed time!