You best source for finding inexpensive hotels is the internet. Before you start your search however, have your destination picked and your trip mapped out. You'll need to know what amnenities you're looking for. If it's a family, business or romantic getaway, there'll be several options and packages that meet your specific needs. Take the time to budget your trip and decide how much you want to spend on your hotel. After a simple search, you'll be surprised with how much you can really save.
Search using popular travel websites, like Cheaptickets.com where you can find reasonable rates. Record the low rates and standard prices on a piece of paper from at least two or three websites, including Orbitz.com and Travelocity.com.
Go to a website like Sidestep.com or Mobissimo.com that use a feed to gather the best rates from various travel websites (See References). Make more comparisons. This step may give you more options that you may not have thought of originally.
Check the hotel websites during this process to make sure the hotel has all the amenities that you want. Some hotels may offer special rates or discounts only through their website, so make sure to check for any option that offers deals or discounts.
Read customer reviews on hotels by searching online. Also, go to Yelp.com and TripAdvisor.com to find more reviews of places near the hotels that you are interested in.
Bid on a room at Priceline.com. This popular website know for bidding on plane tickets also can be used to get the absolute lowest deals on hotel rooms.