Any advise on how to really get lower hotel prices.

All the sites have exactly the same price which is only lower than a direct reservation by a slight amount. Is there rally any secret to getting a better rate?

from calling the hotels directly. Anything else involves a third-person receiving some compensation.

So I always try to do that first. I call and ask for their lowest price. Several times I have compared that rate with some of the travel sites. I have yet to get anything lower from those sites.

On the other hand, you have to have an idea where you want to stay to do this. Many times I have made a reservation, and found a hotel across the street that looked better.

I just returned from Germany and got a real good rate in Berlin, price was much lower than posted on travelocity or orbits. But, I couldn't get anyone to bite a low ball bid in Munich, guess it was too close to Oktoberfest. The only problem is you have to take what they give you and if you go for cheaper hotels you can get screwed. I only use priceline if I know which hotels are in the bidding which means 4 or 5 stars where the choice is narrow.

B&Bs are good if you what to get a deal. Stayed in some real cheap places in Madrid and Amsterdam and saved a bunch. Sadly, not every city has B&Bs.

You have to look at the booking sites, the chain sites, the individual sites and the chamber of commerce. You never know where you're going to find the best deal. Sometimes the chain will have a special, sometimes the individual hotel will have a special they advertise at the chain, sometimes they book a deal with a particular engine. Sometimes they run something on their own site and don't want to offer it anywhere else. It just depends on their marketing strategy at the moment. Depending on the length of your trip, if you don't want to do the hunting yourself, call a travel agent. After all of that, you can call direct, but I've had better luck online than calling direct. Where are you going?

I always go there first.