Lots of good advice. Being nice and friendly to the staff can pay dividends always, not just for opaque bookings.
The only minor quibble I have is this:
Originally Posted by
danielonn
What I do immediately after I get the hotel confirmation is contact the hotel to make sure it shows on their system and to write in a short but sweet letter about how I'm looking forward to staying at the hotel and my preferences.
In my experience, depending on which site you use, and depending on the hotel's own systems, sometimes the reservation may not be transferred to the hotel for a couple of days. So I wouldn't contact them immediately, unless the stay is in the next day or two; I'd wait a few days and then email them.