If lodging is provided at no cost. You must stay in it. However if you are paying for lodging using your GTC, you can go anywhere and the government will reimburse up to the rate you were paying on base. If you have a non availability letter. Or lodging is not directed in orders, you get a higher rate of lodging reimbursement.

If you are going to be there for 8 months, call around to some nice hotels and tell them you want 8 months and what you can pay. They will work with you since a guaranteed guest is better than no guest. I got my breakfast and lunch provided by my hotel. And a kitchen. Also the hotel bar would often give me free drinks and light dinner apps if I asked.