You should always know what you're buying before you turn over your credit card, right? Actually, in some cases, the answer is no. Using an "opaque" booking site (such as Hotwire or Priceline) can get you great deals on hotels and rental cars. If you know your travel plans aren't going to change, and if you are willing to pre-pay and enjoy a good bargain, these sites are a great resource.
I use opaque sites for rental cars, and have gotten economy rentals for as little as $10 to $12 per day. You can always search by pick-up location, car model (economy, sedan, SUV, etc.), and per-day price, and see your total with all taxes and fees included. Rentals are from reputable, nationally owned agencies.
The same goes for hotels. While you won't see the property name before you book, you can search by star ratings, user reviews, city neighborhood, amenities, and prices. Using Hotwire for a trip to Chicago, I paid just $129 per night for a four-star hotel in the Magnificent Mile, about a third of the property's usual cost. Browse the current opaque offerings for your next trip—you may be able to find a great deal.
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