How to Book Hotels for Less

Where the price gaps come from

• Unsold inventory. Hotels discount rooms that would otherwise go empty, but rarely on their public site.
• Member and negotiated rates. Rates available through membership programs are often below the public rate.
• Timing. Business hotels get cheap on weekends. Resorts get cheap midweek.

How to actually save

• Compare at least two sources before booking. Public rate versus a member rate is often a real gap.
• Check the total, not the nightly rate. Resort fees, parking, and taxes can add a third to the bill.
• Look at the cancellation terms. A refundable rate a little higher is worth it if plans might move.
• Search a day either side of your dates. One night's shift can change the whole stay's price.

What to skip

Prepaid nonrefundable rates save a little and cost a lot when something changes. Take them only when the trip is genuinely fixed.