Vice President Biden's $245,000 Hotel Bill in Trinidad and Tobago

    Vice President Biden spent only about 20 hours in Trinidad and Tobago on his recent six day trip through South America and the Caribbean, but the hotel bill for the vice president, his entourage and the advance team came in at about $245,000 for an estimated 1,134 room nights.  As is typically the case with VIP travel, the contract was awarded without the usual "full and open competition" due to security and logistical concerns:

    An interesting note in the justification and approval documentation indicated the reasons why the Hyatt was chosen over the somewhat less expensive Hilton:

Hilton Hotel Trinidad – did not have enough rooms available to accommodate the advance and the traveling party.  Additionally, this visit would have conflicted with the state visit of the President of the People’s Republic of China, staying at this hotel.

    Contracts for lodging for the longer Colombian and Brazilian legs of the vice president's trip have not yet surfaced.

Note: A version of this article first appeared at The Weekly Standard.