Travel Expenses - what is "reasonable"

[Captain Answer]

So had this come up at work, as I booked a hotel for a night in London SW1 - a Novotel at £195 a night.

I'd travelled at 5am from Nottingham to Gatwick the one day to visit client A and was in SW1 the next day for client B. Hotel was a stone throw from the station the Thameslink stops at.

Personal experience would say to me this is fairly reasonable for a central London hotel with gym, it was also walkable to client B I was visiting next day, I ate a very cheap evening meal at £18 and breakfast I just grabbed a pastry from Tesco, so its not like I was taking the piss really I don't think.

However I've had this questioned, so just wondering what generally people would feel is "reasonable"

[Captain Answer]

blueg33 said:

We have a policy:

London Hotel £230 per night max incl breakfast
Evening meal £35 max (in London)

Ouside London its £135 and £27 for a meal

Typically a London hotel costs £180 at this time of year dropping to about £160 just before summer holidays and jumping to £250 from October to 20th December

I book via Hotels.com through topcashback, that way I get about 10% cash back and 1 night free for every 10 nights I stay. I do about 60-70 nights a year for work

This is pretty much identical to my own ideas on prices for London and outside. I also traditionally book on hotels.com for the cash back, nice to get a bit back...

They have took the hump I think for a few reasons..

It was a small company before I joined with one of the staff booking hotels, so chucking people into Travellodge or Premier Inn by the sound of it

Since the buy out all staff book for themselves through Carson Wagonlit, which I looked at but only decent hotel was either Novotel out in Hammersmith or a Hilton in the centre which was +£50 on what I booked. So I decided to revert to Hotels.com

[Captain Answer]

JB! said:

Our London rate at work is something like £120? Its crap. £80 elsewhere.

£5 breakfast if you leave home before 6am, £5 lunch, £25 evening meal, no alcohol.

Fook, I wouldnt work there tbh

[Captain Answer]

thebraketester said:

How much was the nearest Premier Inn?

Did you need a hotel with a gym?

No idea, they don't have a gym/pool so I don't look at them. If I'm working away it's not for my own benefit or pleasure, I'd much rather be home with the mrs and kids tbh. If I'm working away that can be between 2 and 6 hours travelling in a day on top of a normal work day, I don't get any extra for that time on the train/car/plane. If I'm staying away then I expect to have the same amenities I do at home, the pool and gym is a five minute drive from my house and I go regular.

[Captain Answer]

thebraketester said:

I hear you... Ive done more than my fair share of travelling to work. Im just looking at it from the otherside. A quick google reveals that you could have stayed in a premier inn that was about half the price. However, as above, if they didnt set you a budget I dont see how they can question it really.

Very true, and I actually do like Premier Inn as the beds are super comfy! I stayed in a Travelodge (yuck) last week for a client visit as it was the most convenient with travel plans so its not like I "expect" a certain level but If I can get it then I will