It's ideal to chose a hotel that is at the shortest distance from the city center or is near an airport. After deciding on the kind of hotel you want - budget, mid-price, or luxury, search on travel sites to learn about booking prices and discounts. This will also help you to compare hotel rates and find the best deal. To save time you can also use sites like Sidestep, Hotels combined and Tripmama.com that enable to search hotel rates on multiple sites. Some hotels provide bookings on their own sites. You can go directly to these websites to investigate about their booking prices. And in case you decide to book a hotel directly, make them aware of any discounts you might qualify. This would include benefits for AAA members, senior rates, business traveler rates, government rates or an addition to your frequent flyer points. Moreover, look for discount coupons on various websites and publications.

Making a reservation prior to your travel dates will usually yield the lowest rate. While making a reservation for a leisure trip, always check rates for different days of the week. Determine whether your hotel is primarily a “business” hotel or “leisure” hotel. The business hotel will be full during the week while the leisure fills up during the weekends.

Another important thing to consider is the hotel's cancellation policy. After you have decided to book with a particular website or a hotel, be confident that you are getting the best rate possible. Remember to note the reservation number carefully and put it in a safe place.