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The best way to find cheap rooms in the United States is to get on the Internet. Hotwire, Expedia, Orbitz and Priceline are all good bets; check them all to find the best deals.

Chain hotels are the safest option-regular hotel rooms but standards are high. Most cities also have YMCAs, and hostels with shared rooms and bunk beds. Chain motels are also an option: smaller, cheaper, easy to find and usually clean. But be careful of location.

If you have a car or the time to take public transportation, consider staying outside of town, as it will generally cost less. If you can't make a reservation ahead of time, expect 30 to 50 percent higher rates. Unless you're in town during a tourism wave or a festival, a smart traveler can find rooms in every city for under $100.

New York
Move: New York's iconic subway system will get you everywhere. $2 fare.
Free to see: Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Staten Island Ferry, Jackson Heights, Wall Street, Times Square, Ground Zero.
$ but worth it: Metropolitan Museum of Art, Empire State Building.
Eat: For cheap and fancy Indian food, Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, or Jackson Heights. For other cuisine, wander the city and follow your nose.

Washington, D.C.
Move: The underground Metro is clean, convenient and will take you to all the main sights. On weekends train services are infrequent. Average ride is $2.
Free to see: The Mall, Washington Monument, any Smithsonian Museum, Library of Congress, White House (no tour), Arlington National Cemetery.
$ but worth it: Spy Museum, Capitol Steps comedy troupe at the Reagan Center.
Eat: A lot of Indian options. One of the most centrally located and tasty is Bombay Palace on K Street, near Farragut North Metro. Population is incredibly diverse, thanks to all the embassies. We counted at least 12 types of cuisine.

St. Louis, Missouri
Move: The city has a well-kept, mostly above-ground light rail system. Though handy to get to sights like the zoo and The Loop, it's not comprehensive. Ask your hotel about the bus system, and the service times. Rail day passes are $4.
Free to see: The Arch, Forest Park Zoo, Budweiser Brewery tastings and tours, Westward Expansion Museum, Laclede's Landing.
$ but worth it: Blues concerts on The Loop, Riverboat Casinos, City Museum.
Eat: Moving away from the coasts, Indian restaurants start thinning out. However, you can get a decent curry fix at India's Rasoi near Forest Park. For tasty burgers, cocktails and fun, you have to stop at the historic Blueberry Hill restaurant and nightclub on Delmar Boulevard. Go to the bathroom to see the hallway of pictures of every celebrity you can think of, smiling and posing with the restaurant's owner.

-S.J.