If you want to save some money on your hotel bill, ask if the hotel offers an "advance purchase rate". This is a rate that is cheaper than the normal rate, but requires you to pay up-front at the time the reservation is made. It does lock you in to traveling and staying at that hotel since you have already paid, but if you know you are going to be going, and the hotel offers this type of rate (not all of them do), you can save up to 50% off your bill by booking in this manner.