Bidding on hotels on Priceline can be a great way to save money right now

It is certainly no secret that with the economy down, airlines and hotels have been hurting. Special promotions, great travel deals and coupon codes have made travel deals a plenty lately. This tough economic climate has also made Priceline THE place to score some really amazing deals on hotels. Since hotels are often left with a ton of empty rooms right now (which are then auctioned off at low prices on Priceline), you can score some really amazing deals on nice hotels by biding on them on Priceline right now. Since booking a room for a way discounted price is better than leaving it empty, even 4 and 5 star hotels have been auctioning off rooms at stunningly low prices. See Winning Hotel bids in Top Cities from $28 per night!

However, Priceline isn’t the only site where you can get super cheap, unfilled hotel rooms. According to the New York Times, new site getaroom.com offers the same under-market rates while taking out the guess work. While bidding on a room and scoring a deal on your cheap hotel is one way to save money, it is certainly not the only way you can save some dollars and go on vacation for a whole lot less this year. In fact, booking your hotel and flight together in a vacation package can be another great way to save some dollars on your next trip. Especially for certain destinations—like Mexico or the Caribbean—packaging your flight and accommodation together can be a great way to save some serious money.

If you are looking to go even more budget on your next trip and aren’t sure you can afford a cheap hotel room (even at a seriously discounted rate), then you can also look into stayed for just a few bucks at a cheap hostel. Especially for those looking for little more than a pillow to lay their head on during their trip, going the hostel route can be a great way to save more money on fun—like drinks, dinner and maybe even tickets to a sporting event or show.

Other hotel deals:

50% off rooms at the Westin near Vail for Nov. 20-Dec. 25

Budget Travel: Make a phone call to snag a great travel deal

Save money on hotels by getting special discounts