Call the front desk rather than the off-site 1-800 numbers to score a better deal. The staff at call centers may only have access to standard rates, while the staff at the front desk may have more leeway to negotiate -- and they may know of a location-specific promotion that the toll-free reservation line isn't aware of. Often, hotels only advertise a percentage of their available rooms to allow for last-minute walk-ins or preferred customers.

Up Next: Use Connections

Even if you don't have "a cousin who knows a guy who once dated a girl who works for a hotel," you can still take advantage of who you know to get better rates. Alumni associations, professional organizations and various clubs frequently have preference agreements with certain hotels or chains. If you're not a member of such an organization, find out if your insurance provider, your credit card company or even your employer has the ability to hook you up with a preferred-customer price.

Up Next: E-Mail Newsletters

Popular travel discounters can be great for narrowing down your choices. Rather than seeing them as one-stop shopping destinations, you should view them simply as inspiration for your upcoming trip -- then pursue the leads you are most interested in on your own. Subscribing to e-mail travel newsletters related to your hobbies or preferred destinations can result in special member deals or coupons that aren't available to the general public.

Up Next: Amenities

Every hotel web site will go into great detail about the services and amenities available to their guests. Instead of paying high rates at a hotel with all the bells and whistles, examine which services and amenities are really important to you. Do you really need your beachfront hotel to have two swimming pools? If not, look for a hotel that is smaller, has scaled-down facilities or is a little older -- you'll avoid paying extra for the upkeep of amenities you won't use or miss.

Up Next: Location

Of course you want to be close to the action in a bustling city, but you will have to pay for it. Hotels charge premiums for convenience and proximity to attractions they consider to be of interest to their target market. To save money on your vacation, consider looking outside the downtown core or away from the common tourist areas. Real-estate prices are lower on the outskirts of cities, so hotels can offer lower rates without sacrificing amenities or standards.

Up Next: Loyalty Programs

Most of the larger hotels and chains offer discounts and perks as part of their guest-loyalty and customer-retention programs. These programs are designed to keep you coming back and can help the frequent traveler secure the best rates, as well as bonuses like free nights or meals. To maximize your loyalty program, make sure to get a complete list of all affiliated hotels for the largest selection of properties and locations.

Up Next: Timing

People can be pretty predictable when it comes to vacation planning, and the result is often felt in the higher costs of rooms on days that are more popular, like Fridays and Saturdays. Cutting costs can be as simple as starting your vacation on a less-popular day, like Sunday, to maximize in-house discounts at a time when more rooms are empty. Conversely, hotels in business areas often cater to the weekday corporate crowd and may have trouble filling rooms on weekends. Rates may therefore be reduced on those nights.

Up Next: Package Deals

Vacation planning usually includes a list of possible activities for your stay. By deciding in advance what you plan to do when you get there, you can take advantage of special offers that bundle a hotel room with discounts on theater, special attractions, concerts or restaurants. No matter what your interests are, you should be able to find a package that includes a room and entrance to a selected event for a reduced combination price -- or a seasonal package for anything from a golf weekend to a beer-tasting festival.

Up Next: Tourists

Every city, small or large, has a tourism office that exists for no other reason than to entice visitors to visit the area. Contact the Chamber of Commerce or tourism office of your destination to obtain the most up-to-date information about the area and its upcoming events. Coupon booklets are the staple of these centers and can provide a great deal of discount options; the best part is that they're generally free or available for a small fee.

Up Next: Reward Programs

Over the years, everyone has joined at least one reward program offering points or redemption schemes. In the early years of these programs, the rules and loopholes were restrictive and sometimes impossible to navigate through, but competition for members has prompted many to diversify and offer more options. Some airline and customer-reward point programs allow you to substitute lodging for standard air travel or merchandise rewards. Most programs have websites that list their partners and can track your point redemption options.

Up Next: Avoid Fees

Whether you're actively planning and doing research for your vacation or just window-shopping for one, the internet offers a wealth of information, but it is by no means your only choice. By shopping with your head instead of just your mouse, you can travel in style even on a small budget.

Up Next: More Travel Tips

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