It does pay to ask if the supplier can do better and to be all eyes and ears when checking in and out. Often times I have uncovered money-saving programs that I have a right to use immediately or in the future.

After all, there is a reason why most hotels don't say out loud what the room rate is.

Some credit cards, like AMEX Platinum & Citibank Gold (that I use) have discount programs with car rentals and hotel chains. The one I use most successfully across the board is my AAA membership.

Here's an experience I had in New Orleans quite a few years ago. The names of the parties will not be mentioned to protect those involved. My wife & I were checking out of a major high-end hotel and we're standing next to two guys from a large insurance company who attended their company's convention at the hotel. One man was complaining to the clerk that his room rate was (don't remember the exact numbers so I'll fudge) $190.00, while his co-worker, attending the same convention, had a group rate of $140.00. The irate over-charged man told the clerk "What would my insurance company think if they knew you were charging me more than others who are from the same company?"

I leaned over to my wife and whispered quietly what would they think if they knew we had a AAA rate of $80?