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 Don't let summer hotel prices make you sweatSavvy travelers can find affordable lodgingBy Marnie Hunter (CNN) -- Long days and a light dusting of pollen are sure signs that summer vacation is just around the corner. With hotel rates on the rise, you can find the best deals if you use the right strategies. In the United States, hotel rates are expected to rise by 5.8 percent in 2006, according to a March report from PricewaterhouseCoopers. The average daily rate is expected to jump to $96.11 from 2005's $90.84 average -- the largest dollar increase ever. To keep more dollars in your pocket, try some of the following tactics for finding and booking accommodations. Call hotels directlyDialing toll-free reservations numbers may yield less reliable information because many of the agents don't have firsthand knowledge of the location you want to book, said Paul Eisenberg, editorial director for Fodor's Travel Publications. "I would recommend calling first because you get better on-the-ground information if you try to call the hotel directly and speak to someone at the desk," he said. Take the time to investigate membership discounts like AAA or AARP. Ask about other offers and weigh the options against coupons or other discounts you've found, Eisenberg advises. "It doesn't hurt to ask the person at the desk a lot of questions. For instance, 'What is the best room in my price range? Which rooms are the most popular?'" Remember you have some leverageThere are a lot of hotel rooms in large cities and hotel managers want them filled. "One thing that I think it helps to keep in mind if you're just the average consumer is that the worst nightmare for a hotel manager is to have an empty room because it generates no revenue," Eisenberg said. Web surfCompare prices on sites like Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz, and then broaden your Web search. "People sometimes don't think to look at the hotel Web sites, but they very often have specials even at the busiest time if the hotel isn't filled," said Eleanor Berman, author of DK Eyewitness guides to New York City. Book early for the best selection of discounted rooms on sites such as Quikbook and Expedia, Berman advises. If you have a credit card that earns points good for flights or hotels, check the credit card company's Web site for special promotions, Eisenberg suggests. He also recommends referencing WebFlyer.com, a site that tracks a wide spectrum of hotel and airline award program promotions. Look at business hotelsOccupancy at high-end business hotels drops on the weekends, so hotels usually drop rates to attract weekend guests. "If you're a leisure traveler, especially on a weekend, you might miss a really good deal if you don't look carefully at a business hotel," Eisenberg said. Look at a hotel's list of in-room amenities to help determine if it's a hotel that caters primarily to business travelers. Consider lodging alternativesLeave large chain hotels behind for some great values. Berman advises travelers to look at bed and breakfasts. Even in large cities like New York, services like City Lights Bed and Breakfast will help travelers find lodging at reasonable prices. "I think that is the best deal for someone really looking to save money," Berman said. City Lights books rooms for guests in someone's home for $80 to $130 a night and can arrange apartment rentals for $125 to $300 a night. Ask a lot of questions when booking this sort of accommodation to be sure it's close to public transportation and located in a neighborhood you want to visit, Berman advises. Be as flexible as your schedule allowsThe savings are there if you can schedule your trip just outside of peak season. "If your destination's peak season is from December through April and you're coming at the end of April, you can probably save hundreds of dollars if you just adjust your travel dates by a week or two," Eisenberg said. 
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