When you walk into a motel unannounced to get a room, ask the desk clerk for “your best rate.”
Motels and hotels have a “Rack Rate,” the official price for a room. That’s the high price. They generally (almost always) have lower rates, but you have to ask. Sometimes they like it if you belong to an organization, and advance group rates can be pretty good, too, including if you use a savvy travel agent (such as one from serenity).
The key phrase is “best rate,” and they frequently waive any group membership requirement if you’re nice.
