I would do it before you go, use these sites that offer cheap hotels and then go to the hotels direct. I have a friend who seems to be able to find great deals. She spend hours on the net, but manages to saves hundreds and hundreds of pounds. She arranged to go to america from the uk with ten people and it cost her the same for the hotel and flights that it would have cost four people, she amazes me on how she does it.

She says that you just have to have the time and energy to spend hours on the net looking for great deals and then speak to the people direct