Book direct. Hotels want to avoid the fees charged by third-party booking platforms, so they often offer lower rates to folks who book directly through their website. Found a lower price elsewhere? Call the hotel and ask if they can match it, says Darley Newman, host of the PBS series and the podcast Travels with Darley.

Join the hotel’s loyalty program. Even if it’s your first time staying at a property and you have no plans to return, sign up for the loyalty program. Typically free to join, such a membership may provide valuable perks such as free Wi-Fi or beverage credits.

Wait to make your reservation. The closer you book your hotel accommodations to your travel date, the better prices you could see. A study by Skyscanner determined that booking a domestic hotel stay within a week of your trip can cut more than 20 percent off the price, and you’ll still save an average 8 percent if you book one to two weeks out. If waiting that long makes you too nervous, consider booking a refundable room further out and then recheck for lower prices as your travel date approaches.

Go with a home rental for long stays or large groups. While home rentals are not always a more cost-efficient option than a hotel, the savings grow if you’re staying for more than a few nights or with more people than fit in typical hotel rooms. The median nightly rate on a seven-night stay at an Airbnb, for example, is 32 percent less than the rate for one night, according to a Nerdwallet analysis. The same report showed that booking an Airbnb for six adults comes to an average 33 percent less than reserving three hotel rooms.