My First Mattress Run

I’m already super excited about the Frequent Flyer University happening in Los Angeles at the end of November.  It will be my first Points and Miles event, and I can hardly wait!!  Josh is always telling me that I need to make some friends who share the same level of…ahem…enthusiasm for this hobby, and this will be my chance (look out, fellow FTU participants, here I come!).

Anyway, I wondered if there was a way to make this event even better.  I already have a room booked for the conference as part of the FFU package, but I wanted to know: could I figure out how to get in on one of the enticing Fall hotel promos?  It turns out that the answer is, happily, yes.

I had my eye on the Radisson “Buy One, Get One” ever since it hit the scene a few weeks ago, so I decided to try to figure out how to work it.  First I determined that there was a Radisson very close to the conference.  In fact, it’s within walking distance (yeah, Nobody Walks in L.A., but whatever).  Then I signed up for Radisson’s “Stay More Nights, Earn More Points” promo, which will net me an extra 2,000 points.

Next, I went through TopCashBack to earn an 8% rebate on my Radisson booking.  The price for a night at the hotel was very reasonable (less than $100), but I knew I could do better than that.  I went ahead and booked the hotel on the Radisson site (earning myself an extra 2,000 points), and then I browsed around for a few minutes online until I came up with a better rate on Expedia.  I then went back to the Radisson site and submitted a claim through their Best Rate Guarantee program (if you find a lower rate, Radisson will not only match the rate, they will discount it by 25%!).  If you’re thinking about getting in on this action, and you aren’t a Club Carlson member yet, sign up here and get an extra 2,000 points after your first stay.

I had to wait a couple of days for Radisson to approve my claim, but they did…so I now have the room for $66!  TOTALLY worth it, because with the “Buy One, Get One,” promo, I’ll get a certificate good for a free night at any Radisson hotel in the United States, Canada, or the Caribbean.  Since I’m planning a couple of fun weekend trips in 2013, I know this certificate will come in handy.  I think I’ll use it in New York City, where rooms at the Radisson go for upwards of $350.

So there you have it, my first mattress run AND my first Points and Miles gathering will be happening on the same weekend.  Insane!

(“Yes.  Insane,” says Josh).