Luxury hotels that normally draw corporate meetings, especially in Hawaii, Arizona, and Florida
Large high-end resorts that cater to groups are the hardest-hit segment of the hotel market. "It's the AIG effect," says Brancatelli. "Right now you don't want the word Ritz on your expense account." Rather than lowering their daily room rates outright, these hotels are offering added-value incentives such as free nights, free meals, and free massages. Four Seasons properties, for instance, have been offering three nights for the price of two, and Ritz-Carltons have been including hundreds of dollars in free resort credits. Scott Berman, principal and hotel analyst for the consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, advises seeking out deals that combine both free nights and resort credits. The best places to find these, he says, are at brand-new hotels as well as in highly competitive markets such as Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Orlando. Another good place to look is in second-tier cities that are trying to draw weekend business. Berman also recommends stay-five-nights/get-two-free deals, which provide a week's vacation at 30 percent off. According to LuxuryLink.com president Diane McDavitt, resorts in Hawaii and Arizona are so anxious for business that they've lowered the minimum bids at which auctions start to 35 percent of the regular rate as opposed to the usual 50 percent.

Online auctions and (name-your-own-price sites
Auctions are "a way for a hotel to fill rooms without putting a very discounted rate on its Web site," says McDavitt, which may be why LuxuryLink.com has seen a 23 percent increase year to year in the number of properties that are offering packages—either for auction or at a fixed price—on the site. Hotels have been reducing blackout dates, she says, adding that they probably won't have blackout dates this summer. If you're headed to a city where any number of hotels would do, consider Priceline or HotWire. Savvy Priceline shoppers have been reporting winning bids of 50 to 60 percent off retail rates for four-star and three-star chain hotels in big U.S. cities.

All-inclusive resorts
Unlike luxury hotels—which avoid discounting rates for fear they won't be able to raise them again—some all-inclusives are lowering prices by huge percentage points. In the Caribbean, Sandals and Beaches resorts have been slicing 55 percent off their rates—and that was during high season! McDavitt adds that LuxuryLink.com has seen a 53 percent increase in the number of all-inclusive properties offering packages at auction within the past year.

African safaris
Travelers who book through the right safari specialist—one who has negotiated exclusive, confidential rates with lodges—can save 30 to 40 percent in South Africa and 25 to 30 percent in East Africa. At press time, Nina Wennersten of Hippo Creek Safaris had just booked clients a seven-night trip to Kenya, in small four-star camps and lodges, for $4,000 per person, including airfare. Cherri Briggs of Explore booked a ten-night trip to Zambia—at the top owner-run lodges—for $3,400 per person.