@mac11,
I like hotels.com too.
One thing, if you see in a coffee shop, grocery store?, wherever, one of those travel ad thingies (booklet, guessing 6" x 8"), they often have coupons for certain motels, for example, super 8.
I seem to remember that Diane was told by a hotel receptionist that you should make the reservation and then show up with the coupon when you arrive., not vice versa (but don't trust me on that).