I am just curious if anybody else here uses RoomSaver guides. I pick them up every time I take a trip, especially if I'm driving. They are great because you can find them at almost every exit off the interstate and they provide discounts and maps for free. I also use their website since you can get the same discounts there. I'm such an avid fan, I follow them on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter as well. I doubt I'm the only one who uses them, so I'm just curious how popular they are. Does anybody have any interesting experiences with them?

I used to use those all the time, especially when I was driving to San Diego for the weekend -- I think I stopped using them as regularly because I figured out where I really liked to stay and those locations didn't tend to appear in the Roomsaver guides very often. The other issue I found with it was that most of the offers were only good if you showed up without a reservation and the hotel just happened to have availability -- *then* they might be willing to accept the coupon. The Roomsaver travel guides just lost their utility for me, I guess.

I admit, though, that it has been a few years. Do you think they have improved?

I haven't had those issues with using them. From what I've seen, your best chance to confirm the prices is to call ahead and book a room with the roomsaver rate. If the discount is not available for that weekend or day, they will tell you right there and you save a wasted trip.

I just discovered them last year on a road trip I took with my family across the country. I found the maps extremely useful. I never got lost trying to find a hotel since they were also pin pointed on the maps!

They are great for both the traveler and the hotelier. Always better to book from the coupon guides or direct to the hotel rather than the online agents. A call is more accurate (the online systems may make errors and hide that detail on page 3 of the fine print). Plus, you can negotiate when you call direct. A direct call also will save you money most of the time (no add on wee wee fees like most online systems add and hide).