Join a travel club
If you book a full service hotel at least three times a year, you should join a travel club. A number of organizations offer half-price hotel accommodations. You pay a yearly fee and receive a directory of participating hotels, plus an ID card or coupon book. You must present the card at the reservation desk or give your number over the phone when you book. Hotels come and go from the directories, so this can't be the only tool in your arsenal. Another annoyance is that few of the discounters have discovered the Web yet. You have to call.

• Encore, $59.95 per year for membership. Find out the best deals on about 5,500 hotels, small inns, B&Bs plus discounts on car rentals and cruises. Call 1-800-444-9800.
  
• Entertainment Publications, best known for its two-for-one dining discounts, also offers hotel deals. Cost is $45 for national edition; local books vary in price. Call 1-800-445-4137.
  
• Great American Traveler. Yes, it has a Web site that offers deals with more than 1,000 hotels as well as golf packages, cruises, condos and tours. Call 1-800-548-2812.

Use hotel brokers and travel agents
If you're not the type to negotiate and your club doesn't have the accommodations you seek, use a hotel broker. They buy large blocks of rooms at great savings and offer them at discounts ranging from 10 percent to 40 percent, with some as large as 50 percent. Hotel brokers do not charge a fee, but you must pre-pay by credit card.

When using a broker, find out if there's a fee for canceling. There usually is. Get a voucher and a confirmation number. If the hotel's computer hasn't picked up the reservation, you'll have pre-paid and have no room. Ask for no smoking and an upgrade when you book. Ask again when you get to the hotel.

Brokered rooms should not be inferior. You are entitled to all regular privileges including free breakfast and health spa.

Some of the more well-known brokers:

• HotelNet offers discounts of at least 5 percent to 10 percent off the rack rates. Its Web site offers links by geography and has special coupon deals.
  
• Hotel Net Inc. Yes, it’s different than Hotel Net. This site offers discounts to upscale hotels in about 10 states.
  
• Aaron’s Hotel and Motel Catalog. Site offers information on more than 90,000 accommodations in U.S. and Canada, with information on special deals.
  
• Hotel Reservations Network promises discounts of up to 65 percent for hundreds of hotels in major cities worldwide.

Most travel agents can also save you 10 percent to 40 percent on room costs. Generally, hotel brokers pay commissions to travel agents, so you can have your agent make arrangements through the brokers. Further, full-service travel agents have a book of "preferred rate" hotels. These are standard to deluxe hotels, usually in major cities. Reductions are from 10 percent to 40 percent.

Special deals through credit cards
Credit card companies constantly offer special package deals with hotels in their never-ending effort to get you to use their cards.

Typically, the deals include special discounts or features when you pay with a card. The promotions are usually mentioned in advertising material that accompanies your monthly statement. Scan those promotional letters thoroughly because the hotel personnel won’t mention them to you.

Even if you haven’t booked the discount in advance, you can ask the reservations clerk when you're checking in if any new discounts are being offered through your card.

Customer loyalty pays if you’re a frequent-user member.

If there’s a particular hotel you like, join its "frequent-stayer program." Like frequent flyer miles, you’re awarded points toward a free stay. The dollar value of these points averages 5 percent of the bill. But, programs vary from a mere 2 percent to a hefty 11 percent, depending on the chain.

Marriott has one of the richest programs for credit card users. Get points for eating in its restaurants, shopping at its gift shops or staying at companion hotels like the Ritz Carlton.

Many chains give other bonuses like airfare miles, complimentary meals or room upgrades. For example, Hilton’s frequent-stayer points can be exchanged for air miles and vice versa.

If you're a budget traveler, brand loyalty is your best bet, both here and in Europe. The largest chains are Best Western, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Econo Lodge, and, of course, Holiday Inn.

These chains offer "frequent stayer" points, discount auto rentals and freebies for kids. Don't forget to negotiate for a reduction in the rack rate.