You can get great deals on hotel rooms through discount sites. So what’s the catch? We’ll ask the manager

If you’re tempted to book a luxury hotel room through a discount site, don’t expect luxury treatment...

According to Jacob Tomsky, author of “Heads in Beds,” when you book on a discount site, you get a discount experience. He says reservations made through Internet discount sites are almost always slated for the worst rooms. That’s because those guests didn’t choose the property based on quality and probably won’t be back anyway. The best rooms and services are reserved for return customers or for those who have booked their room directly through the hotel.

Jacob says there is a way to improve the experience, regardless of how you booked it. A $20 bill to the front desk agent speaks volumes. Almost all hotel agents are authorized to upgrade for special occasions - and that $20 is cause for celebration.