Good For: Hotel rooms are particularly good for business travelers, people traveling solo, and couples seeking privacy. The best hotels are centrally located in cities or near attractions and offer plenty of amenities, such as daily housekeeping, room service, a fitness center, and the aid of a congenial concierge to recommend a restaurant or help score tickets to a show.

Pitfalls: Families will either have to cram into one room or shell out for multiple rooms. To cut costs, Kurt Weinsheimer, vice president of hotels for Orbitz, suggests looking for lodging that offers free breakfast and parking. All-suites hotels have living rooms (often with a pullout sofa and video games) where kids can hang out, making them a better choice for families.

Cost: Hotel prices vary widely (from $59 a night for the Days Inn Hotel Downtown Disney, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, to more than $1,500 a night for a suite at the Four Seasons in New York City), but you can often save by booking early. “You’ll be able to travel when and how you want, but for less,” says Expedia spokesperson Kari Swartz. Many hotels offer a 21-day advance-purchase discount of up to 30 percent.

Booking Tip: Ask about discount policies and special packages. Many hotels offer reduced rates to people in the military, AARP and AAA members, students, and corporate employees.