Request all the basic discounts. Discounts are often avaiable to senior citizens, members of automobile associations, and military personnel. But those who are eligible have to ask for them.

Ask for a still lower rate. Hotels are often willing to reduce rates if doing so will fill empty rooms. Money magazine reports that budget motels have an average occupancy rate of 62 percent. That's a lot of rooms in need of filling; don't be afraid to ask the check-in manager for a still lower rate.

Call a reservation service. By purchasing rooms in bulk at reduced prices, these services pass savings on to you--usually 25 percent to 50 percent off the regular rates on mid-priced and luxury rooms. Some of the larger services:

• Hotel Reservations Network 800-964-6835
  
• Quikbook 800-789-9887
  
• Room Exchange 800-846-7000
  

We've started a library of "Living Footnotes" for this section, and welcome your suggestions and your URLs to make it more useful. Use our customized Lycos search to linkthink your way around the web, or feel free to consult the experts about the above topic.