Rooms rates are down nearly 20 percent, according to hotels.com's survey during the first half of 2009. Not only are guests paying less, they're also getting free nights - a favorite hotel promotion that is sometimes significant and other times more slight of hand. Here are two recent free night offers that seem to work in a traveler's favor:

Country Inns & Suites is offering a voucher for a future free night to guests who stay two consecutive nights this fall. The Free Night Fall promotion is available for stays between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30. To redeem your free night, you'll need to book a separate stay of at least two nights between Dec. 15 and Feb. 28. There's a lot of small type on this one, including the fact that you have to register your voucher before you book the freebie, so read it closely.

The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va., offers the third night free when you book a two-night stay by Monday. The offer is available for travel now through Dec. 22, but some blackout dates (think Thanksgiving) may apply and you have to pay taxes on the third night - that's pretty standard on these offers.