When you negotiate with the front desk for a sweeter hotel deal — and you should — don't get hung up on rates alone. Hotel managers care mostly about occupancy percentage and the average nightly room rate, meaning it's against their interest to budge on the price. But they can find other ways to woo you, such as throwing in breakfast, parking or a room upgrade. If making these demands outright makes you nervous, try asking if there are other packages you might not know about.