Op Sec, Hotels and Gift Cards
Hotels are definitely one of the biggest risks to operational security. I have gotten into the habit of reserving them in my real name, either through [URL]Dayuse.com[/URL] or [URL]Hotels.com[/URL]. When I check in, I show my driver's license and give them a Platinum American Express card. I tell them I will pay with cash, either on check or check out. Some of them place a hold on the credit card for the whole price of the room plus $50 for incidentals, others only do the $50 for incidentals. All of them accept cash for the room without issues, although sometimes they have to hunt around for change since no one uses cash anymore. The hold is always removed, sometimes immediately, sometimes it takes up to five days. Until it is removed, it shows as a "pending charge" on my account, then it disappears completely. While it is showing pending, it creates a security risk, but only I have online access to the account so this has not been a problem (yet).
Recently I stayed at a Hilton affiliate using the above procedure, at a hotel I had used before and it worked fine the previous time. This time, a few days after my stay, instead of clearing the pending charge on my account, they charged it. I think whoever did that immediately realized they screwed up, and tried again, which resulted in them charging it again. Then they gave me a credit in the same amount, again doing it twice. The net result is no charge, but a paper trail on the statement that is a flashing neon sign for the warden. I intercepted the paper statement before my wife saw it, and have changed my settings to paperless. But my wife has been in the habit of paying all our bills, as she is more reliable at doing this on time than I am. So this will be a change in process that may itself be a red flag.
The same sort of red flag can result if there is any charge that you don't clear at check out, like a move, music or wifi in the room. So using a credit card definitely carries risk.
I like the idea of paying with gift cards, and especially Ernest Li's suggestion for [URL]Hotels.com[/URL] gift cards at 5% off. But I have a couple of issues I would like you guys' input on. (1) Gift cards seem inherently less secure than a credit card. Anyone who gets your number can basically drain it, and I am not sure how cooperative the issuer is going to be in giving you a chargeback. I have this problem on a OneVanilla card right now. I put $500 on it to use for SA, my burner phone, etc. I figured by putting $500 (the max) on it instead of $100 at a time, the fee percentage would be minimized. Well, someone somehow hacked it and charged a bogus $150 on it. I have started the refund request from OneVanilla, but they said it may take 60-90 days to process and I don't have a lot of confidence in it. (2) Some hotels have signs saying that if you use a debit card for the deposit, it may take much longer for the refund to be processed as compared to a credit card, again up to 60-90 days. I am curious as to other guys experience with this. (3) This is kind of hard to pin down, but I feel that when you are paying with cash the front desk immediately views you as sort of sketchy, and using a gift card for the deposit is only going to make that worse. When I use a solid credit card, I feel that it sort of smooths the whole transaction. Again, this is just feeling, and I can't really point to anything concrete.
Really interested in hearing others' experience with gift cards at hotels, and especially with using them for the deposit when paying with cash.
Op Sec, Hotels and Gift Cards
One other thing with respect to hotels to be aware of and consider. I have gotten Christmas cards and thank you notes from hotels in the Hilton family at the address on file after a stay. Luckily the cards and notes were for business related travel but it did cause me to change the address on file to my office.
The importance of game-and keeping fit
I know this comes around every few months, and partially my fault. As background, after having my LTSB of 5 years leave me on a whim last summer, my depression had me losing weight like crazy, and I upped my workout routine accordingly. 20 lbs later and with a definitively better-than-dad-bod physique, I am seeing at least some intangibles.
Data point one: fairly early in my current SB's relationship I asked how old I looked. I'm low-50's but she pegged me for mid-forties. When I asked about my personality, she pegged mid-30's. Which to me it meant wisdom and experience without be dragged down by age.
Data point two: recently was invited to my SB's burlesque show where she would have friends, her GF, and even her dad there. Obviously interacting with dear-old-only-two-years-older-than-me dad was not an option. And dear-old-dad has only two years on me but looks ten years older. But I saw the interaction where my SB pointed me out of the crowd to her GF. Later I would find out that the verdict was that "he's cute!
A bit off-topic, but I just got back from a FetLife Kink / Swinger event. Lots of older, unattractive folk there, but at least the equipment works. Also have to have a new kind of game where the play is the networking and building relationships with the leaders of each tribe. Decided to pursue (with some promise) one of the more attractive ones, which sadly isn't saying much. But she wanted to know how old I was, and I told her (she's an even 50) and the response was "Wow! You're older than me! So I asked her to peg my age, and she guessed low 40's.
This is the benefit of hitting the gym, losing the 20 lbs. , paying attention to your clothing and hairstyle. All these things can literally subtract ten years off your looks. And in the bowl, while you have lots of POTS attracted to older guys, no need to push the envelope on that. You want the older gentlemen to be the demeanor in which you treat her, while projecting as youthful and virile vibe as possible.
