What are the secrets to booking a hotel room over the phone?

What are the secrets to booking a hotel room over the phone?

Catharine Hamm (Travel Editor, LA Times) gives expert video advice on: Can I get a better deal avoiding the 800 number and calling the hotel directly?; Is it possible to get a cheaper rate if I just walk into a hotel?; Are there certain types of hotels that families should avoid? and more...

I think that to get the best hotel room rate over the phone, you need to be very aggressive about asking what the specials are, what the discounts are, and if there are any special rates for members of auto clubs (for example, if you're a AAA member.) If you're a member of AARP often there are discounts for hotel rooms. You need to be careful because sometimes those best rates are not as good as a rate that's online. Make sure that you do a lot of comparison shopping when booking hotel rooms.