Your hometown and online travel agency may quote $450 or more for that last-minute reservation for just one night or so in the big city. Before you agree to shell out all that moola for just eight hours in a strange bed, check around the internet for apps that get much better deals.

For example, Hotel-Tonght offers its Daily Drop service. It lists up-to-the-minute room deals that appear and disappear quickly as hotels check out departing guests. That’s when room rates may drop. For more info, go to hoteltonight.com