Actually, I didn't know that trick. (I don't generally stay at high end places so cost has never been such an issue -- at least, not since I was in college and planning meant looking for a Hotel 6 Vacancy sign when pulling into a town.) I'm going to see if I can get any better deals that way. Thanks for the tip!

I haven't ever stopped at a Northern state welcome center so I'll have to keep an eye out for them. I'd forgotten how handy those places are.