I second the earlier comment about joining all hotel programs. It doesn't cost anything, you'll earn points (and/or airline miles), and even the non-elite levels sometimes earn valuable bonuses. For example, I stay at Wyndham Hotels two or three times a year. Joining the "Wyndham By Request" program gives me free Internet, free local and long distance phone calls, and a welcome basked of fruit and a bottle of wine when I arrive. Just for signing up I save a minimum of $10/day for the Internet access.