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I work in the oil industry, and starting in the fall i'll be transferred into a camp position. What this means for me is that I will work 14 days in a row, in a very remove area of northern Alberta. Then my company will fly me to a large urban center of my choice for 7 days off. Since i'm not a huge fan of the small town i'm currently living in, i've decided to move to one of these urban centers. I do not have a lot of personal effects, everything of value that I own is either stored at my fathers home, or will fit into two suitcases and a small backpack. Normally I take these belongings with me when I work out of town so transport is not a large issue. It's becoming increasingly difficult for me to justify the cost of renting an apartment that I will only spend 1 week in each month. In a 3 months period, i'll have a total of 4 weeks off. Renting a place would probably cost me $800 per month plus utilities, whereas I can get a room at a mid level hotel for around $600 per week. So in the end that works out to be cheaper, plus I have more portability as to where I go. Has anybody lived this kinda lifestyle before? Any tips on how to negotiate a better rate with the hotels?
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Jun 15, 2014 22:29
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A couple things. Hotels with a gym will be your friend, or plan on jogging. On of the hardest parts of living out of hotels is that I assume you will be eating most, if not all meals in restaurants, which makes it easy to put on weight. Alternatively, use extended stay hotels which are generally on the cheap side and have a kitchenette and cook for yourself. You might also try couch surfing if that's your thing, use this as a way to check out new places. Lots of options, it is worth trying a few of them to find one that suits you.
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Jun 16, 2014 13:56
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Well, the experience I have is for stays that are a way longer than 7 days. But still, always pick a place where you can exercise ou next to a place you can jog. Be nice and befriend the people working there, it's make you stay smoother and help you get the extra towels etc etc.
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Jun 16, 2014 14:29
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Safety Meetings posted:I work in the oil industry, and starting in the fall i'll be transferred into a camp position. What this means for me is that I will work 14 days in a row, in a very remove area of northern Alberta. Then my company will fly me to a large urban center of my choice for 7 days off. The only way it works out to be cheaper is if your utilities are more than another $1600. That price is $600/wk at 4 weeks/ month= $2400 a month.
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Jun 16, 2014 20:06
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MadMattH posted:The only way it works out to be cheaper is if your utilities are more than another $1600. That price is $600/wk at 4 weeks/ month= $2400 a month. However, the OP is neglecting that months are longer than 3 weeks. So to compensate for that, for the hotel cost, you'd multiply by the difference in length of time, so $600 * (30.42 / 21) = ~$869.
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Jun 16, 2014 21:01
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Heck you might be able to rent an efficiency apartment somewhere for a lot less than staying at a hotel.
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Jun 16, 2014 22:43
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Cicero posted:Maybe I'm missing something about your logic here, but I think the difference is that renting an apartment he would actually have to be paying for whole months, even though he'd only be there a third of the time, whereas staying in a hotel he would only be paying for one week in three. Does he not sleep in his apartment? Can he not get an apartment near his work (probably the best choice). For that kind of money he could probably buy a plot of land and put a trailer on it for less. If he was paying for the hotel also then it probably would make sense to do one or the other, that is obviously cheaper. It doesn't make a lot of sense to move to an area and then also have to pay for a hotel so you can go to work in a different area. In any case, the hotel would still be at least $1800 ($600 per week for 3 weeks) a month if you count a month as 4 weeks. If he's paying for both it would be his rent which is $800 plus the weekly $600 (so if he gets one week off a month that leaves 3 weeks at $600 a week meaning $1800). His total would be $2600. If he moved into a hotel, he would probably be much better off just renting something there and wherever it is he goes. Even if both are $800 a month that would still be cheaper than the hotel + rent.
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Jun 16, 2014 22:47
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MadMattH posted:Does he not sleep in his apartment?
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Jun 16, 2014 23:25
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MadMattH posted:Does he not sleep in his apartment? Can he not get an apartment near his work (probably the best choice). For that kind of money he could probably buy a plot of land and put a trailer on it for less. If he was paying for the hotel also then it probably would make sense to do one or the other, that is obviously cheaper. It doesn't make a lot of sense to move to an area and then also have to pay for a hotel so you can go to work in a different area. You're missing the point. He's not staying the whole month in the hotel. He's spending one week out of the month at a hotel. So the options are: rent a house/apartment/whatever and pay (+utilities) for the whole month/year/whatever, while only spending 1 week out the month there, or, pay the weekly rate at a hotel. For one week. Not a month.
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Jun 16, 2014 23:56
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Safety Meetings posted:
Habitual Quitter posted:You're missing the point. He's not staying the whole month in the hotel. EDIT: If he's actually living in company housing then the obvious answer would be the hotel, if not the hotel makes no sense at all. MadMattH fucked around with this message at 00:10 on Jun 17, 2014 |
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Jun 17, 2014 00:03
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Safety Meetings posted:Has anybody lived this kinda lifestyle before? Any tips on how to negotiate a better rate with the hotels? I stay for weeks at hotels a few times a year for work (posting from one right now actually), although nothing like you're looking at. Depending on the setup, you might be able to negotiate a good rate. Usually though it helps if you're backed by a company name. Quickest way to find out would be to call one up, obviously. If you go with a chain, sign up for whatever loyalty program they have and rack up the points. Try and get a credit card with really great points for hotel stays, maybe even a card with the chain if you stick with one. After about two years of general expenses and massive hotel bills, I had several hundred dollars and a lot of "free" nights stacked up. I had the luxury of having all the expenses that got those points reimbursed, which wouldn't apply in your case, but still might be worth it. Before you jump on a certain chain or place, do the math. Also, seconding the kitchenette idea. I assume you're not eating wholesome meals all the time at the oil camp, and eating out every night at a hotel, or eating microwaved stuff, will get old FAST. You should make a big effort to get fresh veggies and whatnot or your colon will hate you. You should factor in the cost of eating out when considering the "total" expenses you'll incure vs. an apartment. So, key points are location, kitchen, gym, rewards/incentives, in that order.
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Jun 17, 2014 00:12
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MadMattH posted:If he's not spending those extra weeks in a hotel then where is he living during those weeks? quote:I work in the oil industry, and starting in the fall i'll be transferred into a camp position. What this means for me is that I will work 14 days in a row, in a very remove [sic] area of northern Alberta. Then my company will fly me to a large urban center of my choice for 7 days off.
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Jun 17, 2014 01:50
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LogisticEarth posted:I stay for weeks at hotels a few times a year for work (posting from one right now actually), although nothing like you're looking at. Depending on the setup, you might be able to negotiate a good rate. Usually though it helps if you're backed by a company name. Quickest way to find out would be to call one up, obviously. Seconding this. There are nice hotels that can give you cheap long term rates by eschewing turn-down service.
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Jun 17, 2014 03:55
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Some of the discussion in this thread http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3516448 might be of relevance op. Especially the part where they discuss bonus programs and eating while at hotels. MadMattH posted:I think you are missing the point. If he's not spending those extra weeks in a hotel then where is he living during those weeks? 
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Jun 17, 2014 12:37
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Also keep in mind that when NASCAR/Football/some other crazy event comes to town, that $600/week mid-level hotel rate may spike to as high as $1200/week-or they may be entirely sold out. Something to be aware of.
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Jun 17, 2014 17:16
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LogisticEarth posted:You should factor in the cost of eating out when considering the "total" expenses you'll incure vs. an apartment. Definitely join the chain's loyalty-card program; a week at a time would probably get you two nights free. Most of them don't do points for my corporate rate anymore, but back in the day when they did, I never paid for the hotel when I took a vacation. Comedy option: stay at a casino and don't gamble, they have ridiculous discounts if you're there often and better restaurants on-site/room service. Though nowadays they probably tie your account to your slots club card and jack up the rates/stop giving you free stuff if they don't see you on the gaming floor. Also the showerheads/controls will be terrible 90% of the time, no matter where you stay. The Slaughter posted:Also keep in mind that when NASCAR/Football/some other crazy event comes to town, that $600/week mid-level hotel rate may spike to as high as $1200/week-or they may be entirely sold out. Something to be aware of. You'd think, as former NASCAR fans, we'd have remembered that the race in Bristol is in the spring, and checked to see if it was that weekend. But we didn't and it was. The loving Motel 6 quoted us $400 for half a night (we rolled in around 1am), we finally talked the clerk into charging only twice the normal rate by telling them we were poor (true) and on our honeymoon (false), while crying. Chillbro Baggins fucked around with this message at 18:10 on Jun 17, 2014 |
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Jun 17, 2014 18:07
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Bad Angus! Bad!
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Does the company require you to pick one metro area, or are you allowed to change it with reasonable notice? This could fix the problem of price spikes due to lack of availability. You'll also have to remember dates for large conventions and stuff. Calgary just had the petroleum show, and hotels were jam-packed.
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Jun 17, 2014 18:20
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I've negotiated long-term stays. The chains are usually pretty consistent in what they can do, so if you really want to save $$$, consider finding a small local motel and really lean on them. If they have a lot of empty rooms and/or regularly have to deal with "short-term" clients who are there for drug/prostitution reasons they will love having a stable customer. In the Bay area (where prices are very high), I was able to negotiate $30/night at one place if I stayed there for two weeks. Super cheap. Also, consider a long-term storage unit. That way you can keep your stuff and (in a pinch) you can sleep there. The guy on duty is supposed to kick you out but a lot of them are cool. Like anything else in life, a bribe can really help smooth things over.
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Jun 18, 2014 02:40
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Maybe consider renting a slightly larger apartment or house and subletting it? Seems like something that could work if a) you could stand having other people around on those 7 days and b) you won't be going to different cities every week/month. The benefits would be a larger place with a kitchen, yard or pool, perhaps even at a lower cost.
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Jun 18, 2014 15:00
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One time i stayed two weeks in a hotel while opening another branch of a chain store. On day three i started sleeping with the chick who cleaned the room, we would do it every day. If you can arrange this id reccomend it.
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Jun 18, 2014 15:28
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 Dominique Strauss-Kahn is a goon.
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Jun 18, 2014 15:41
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Shbobdb posted:I've negotiated long-term stays. The chains are usually pretty consistent in what they can do, so if you really want to save $$$, consider finding a small local motel and really lean on them. If they have a lot of empty rooms and/or regularly have to deal with "short-term" clients who are there for drug/prostitution reasons they will love having a stable customer. In the Bay area (where prices are very high), I was able to negotiate $30/night at one place if I stayed there for two weeks. Super cheap. To be clear: you're suggesting OP spend 1/3 of his or her life for the foreseeable future living in a storage unit or, alternatively, in a shady-rear end hourly rate motel?
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Jun 18, 2014 16:07
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Kind of a long shot, but if you know anyone reliable in the urban metro, you could rent a place and put it on AirBnB for the weeks you're not there, having it managed by said person and splitting the profits.
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Jun 18, 2014 18:36
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Deus Rex posted:To be clear: you're suggesting OP spend 1/3 of his or her life for the foreseeable future living in a storage unit or, alternatively, in a shady-rear end hourly rate motel? Yes. It's a lifestyle, man. Big savings.
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Jun 19, 2014 17:24
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hit up priceline, i have gotten super cheap hotels there and with your flexibility you really can go cheap. Now is the time to save.
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Jun 30, 2014 01:02
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I travel a lot (today I am in London, on a 10 day holiday, which will represent the longest period of time I have stayed in one place in over a year and a half), and I relish my home apartment because I am able to periodically return there and feel centered, for lack of a better term. Spending too much time "on the road" is psychologically challenging for me. It's something to keep in mind. Try the hotel thing, since I think in your case it definitely foots, but don't be afraid to go away from it and get a place to live. I found that having a home helps make the road work less mentally difficult.
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Jun 30, 2014 16:01
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I'm kinda curious about whether or not you can change where you fly out of each time you're off. If that's the case, I'd use it as a chance to see the country. Spend a week in the major (and not so major) cities from coast to coast. Check out the business travel thread that has already been posted here. This could be a good opportunity if they'll let you do it.
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Jun 30, 2014 16:56
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Deus Rex posted:To be clear: you're suggesting OP spend 1/3 of his or her life for the foreseeable future living in a storage unit or, alternatively, in a shady-rear end hourly rate motel? Are you telling me people drive by those storage warehouses and don't think, 'Yeah, I could make that work'? It's my dream to live in a windowless concrete box with a roll-top door. I'd settle for a pod hotel.
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Jul 9, 2014 05:02
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I lived out of a hotel five days a week for the better part of two months while doing flight training in high school. Based upon the extended time I'd have the room (four nights a week, two extended stints from (dates approximate) June 10th-23rd and July 12ish-August 15th or so), we were able to negotiate a rate of like $33/night for a Fairfield Inn which otherwise ran in the $50s per night at best. After the summer ended, I had to go back a few more times to stay a night or two; they'd honor the negotiated rate when they could. As another poster mentioned, sign up for the loyalty program. My parents have been Marriott Gold or Silver since 2005 thanks to my 48 night stay. With the exception of the gap in the stays and, I believe one weekend where the hotel was busy, I was allowed to keep my things in the room even when we didn't pay for it, making it so all I had to do when I left for the weekend was to swap out clothes and things I wouldn't need the next week (DVDs, etc.). Interestingly enough, I didn't have much in the way of personal effects other than clothing, flying-related gear and materials, and food. The valuable stuff hopped in the car and went home with me when I was away. One thing I DID do was to try and make it feel a little more like it was mine. It's amazing what picking up a snap-together model jet I bought at the school (which sat on top of the TV) and a half dry erase, half corkboard on which I'd pin various stuff (a promotional card about Delta's new CRJ-700, FedEx baseball cards about their plane types I got at the Air Show) can do to make it feel less like a hotel room. The WiFi (then a new feature of hotels) was free and they threw in a non-standard for the room microwave and mini-fridge, which I stocked with $1 Banquet meals and things like microwavable sausage or pancakes for the handful of days I was up too early for the continental breakfast. In theory, it was healthier than eating at some of the places down the street. I got to where I was on a first-name basis with the front desk staff (Nikki, Yolanda, Delandry, and the guy who was a Packers fan) and the maid (Pamela). Hope this helps somewhat. CBJSprague24 fucked around with this message at 05:42 on Jul 9, 2014 |
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Jul 9, 2014 05:32
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CBJSprague24 posted:and the guy who was a Packers fan This is not a first name.
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Jul 10, 2014 18:01
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Is it possible to find 3 other guys who have weeks off different from yours and simply split an apartment 4 ways?
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Jul 12, 2014 22:48
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Are you aiming to bite the bullet in the short term and save as much money as possible? Are you aiming to enjoy yourself in the moment to the fullest extent? Somewhere in-between? Those huge rig-pig paycheques come with a lot of responsibility. You could go out there for a few years, keep your nose clean, then buy a house where you want to end up, and have a nice big nest-egg to continue on with the rest of your life. Or, you could condense all that fun into a few years and shove it all up your nose and drive a nice truck and buy all the nice clothes you feel like. I know people who did both of these things. When you're at the hotel, what will you do for meals? Eating out for every meal gets expensive, and it's bad for you. The hotels you'll be getting for the type of money you're thinking of aren't going to have anything more than a microwave and bar fridge. Get an electric cooler and a camp stove. It'd be nice to be able to use a hot plate, too, but hotels prohibit their use in the room. You'll be doing all your cooking out in the parking lot. If you want a hotel with a full kitchen, the cost difference is big enough that you might as well just rent a place. You could rent a room in someone's house for dirt cheap, or if you'd like a bit more freedom that's still affordable, you could find a roommate and split a house or apartment. That being said, you could also just spend every off-week in the Caribbean all-inclusive for the same money (except in the peak seasons). You are in the unique position that this is actually a viable alternative. It'd require a bit of self control to not let it descend into horrible depraved gluttony, but you could definitely do it!
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Aug 17, 2014 17:59
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full sex posted:It'd require a bit of self control to not let it descend into horrible depraved gluttony, but you could definitely do it! This is the oil industry, man. Horrible, depraved gluttony is to be expected, from what I've seen.
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Aug 17, 2014 23:12
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full sex posted:That being said, you could also just spend every off-week in the Caribbean all-inclusive for the same money (except in the peak seasons). You are in the unique position that this is actually a viable alternative. It'd require a bit of self control to not let it descend into horrible depraved gluttony, but you could definitely do it!
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Aug 17, 2014 23:28
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You didn't really make it clear: are you planning to "live" in one place, or take a vacation in a bunch of different places? If the former, I'd suggest buying a house where you want to settle and that way you have a place to keep your poo poo that doesn't fit in a suitcase, and a house you've got partly paid off when you leave the rigs. Though if I wasn't married, I'd probably do the traveling thing, or if my partner worked with me -- I had few coworkers who were a married couple and lived in an RV, and just moved the house to the local Wal-Mart parking lot every week, and drove the house-hauler to work. They've since retired, and are now just on a permanent vacation around the country. Though if you're working out in the frozen north, maybe not so practical. Though getting a small RV/mobile home and renting/buying a lot to leave it on may be a good balance between hotel-hopping and buying a house, if you want to have a proper mailing address. And if necessary, you have to option to park your house in a family member's backyard for awhile. adorai posted:Not just cruises, but all inclusive stays of any kind. Good point. It may be a bit more expensive than other options, but if you're a roughneck with fistfuls of money to throw around it'd be a sin not to spend a week at a Disney park. $1100 for a week at a middlin' onsite resort and eight one-day tickets to the park of your choice at WDW, probably less if you book more than a month in advance; if you're into the whole "saving for the future" thing, you can make up for it by staying at a business-class motel in Dallas or Houston and seeing the local sights on the next trip (such as they are; maybe a regular-season baseball game, the art museums, a day at Six Flags, the stockyards in Fort Worth/the battleship in Houston, etc.). Let me know if you ever make it out to Dallas or Houston. I might be able to drive out and buy you a beer and show you around (or get a local friend to do the same). On the other hand, maybe the reason he hasn't replied (or posted at all) in two months is that he was killed in an ironic (considering his name) workplace accident. Chillbro Baggins fucked around with this message at 02:20 on Aug 27, 2014 |
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Aug 27, 2014 02:11
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Dude... Try airbnb. It will beat the poo poo out of hotels and their "value" offered. Click the link on my custom title and it'll take you to my airbnb megathread for a good introduction to the site. Create a relationship with a swank host, let them know you're interested in intermittent week long stays as a recurring guest and see if they'll offer you a discount (I do, as a host, and have received deals, as a guest). Dead Pressed fucked around with this message at 02:07 on Sep 27, 2014 |
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Sep 27, 2014 02:04
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