(MONEY Magazine) – Now that buying at discount is clearly the '90s way to shop, it's little wonder that clubs and services that sell consumers discounted travel are gaining favor. The majority, says Ed Perkins at Consumer Reports Travel Letter, fall into one of two categories: programs that feature hotel room discounts only, or clubs that offer a range of discounts, including 10% to 30% off on cruises and last-minute tours.

The granddaddy of the discount services, Entertainment Publications, based in Troy, Mich., began 33 years ago. Many of the clubs, however, were founded in the past 10 years as hard-pressed hotels looked for extra ways to attract customers. (See the club directory that begins in the tinted box at right.) Even if you don't hit the road often, travel clubs can save you as much as 50% -- if you choose one that fits your style and budget. To help you sort through the options, MONEY interviewed seasoned travelers and industry experts who frequently use such services. Here's what they say: What exactly do travel clubs offer? The biggest selling point is that members get 50% off the rack rate (that is, the advertised room rate) at participating hotels. With your club membership, you may receive an identity card and a directory of hotels and other attractions enrolled in the program. Or you may simply get a coupon book good for discounted rates at specific shops and hotels. Entertainment Publications offers the most options by far, with 5,000 hotels participating. Recent Entertainment discounts entitled members to a $130 room at the Best Western Inn of Chicago for $65, a $215 room at the Omni Parker House in Boston for $107, or a $270 room at New York City's Marriott Marquis for $135. What do travel clubs charge? Fees range anywhere from $19.95 to $99.95 , -- and what you get varies just as dramatically. Some clubs peddle little besides a list of hotels that discount prices to members. Others offer a battery of travel discounts as well as the benefit of booking through an affiliated travel agency. How do travel clubs work? Before taking a trip, check your directory or coupon book and call the hotels in the cities you want to visit. Do not use the toll-free reservation numbers, because operators are often uninformed about discount programs. Instead, use the number listed in your hotel directory. Identify yourself as a program member, and ask whether discounted rooms are available. Wayne Matthews, a Tampa consultant in the newspaper industry who travels 150 nights a year and is a member of several clubs, recommends that you call the hotel you prefer even if it isn't in your directory. About 25% of the time he finds that the hotel has recently joined one of his clubs. Directories are usually updated twice a year, and some send out newsletters monthly to keep members abreast of new properties, but new hotels are added constantly. At check-in, you must present your card or coupon to receive the discount. Usually, discounts are not available during peak holiday dates and are not good for more than one room or on special rates. To get the best deal and to avoid disappointment, says John Michaels of International Travel Card (ITC), be sure to book your room at least 30 days in advance. Which is the best club to join? That depends on how you travel and where you go. Many clubs are organized according to geography or their customers' budgets. Before joining, make sure the clubs provide deals where you like to go. For example: Quest, ITC and Privilege include Caribbean destinations; Quest and ITC are good bets for Mexico. Then, to judge the club's individual choices, select a city you travel to frequently and ask for the names of the hotels the club represents there. America at 50% Discount extends the best deals on resort condos; Travel World Leisure Club specializes in spas, resorts and cruises; and Entertainment wins out when it comes to bed and breakfasts in New York or California. Entertainment also allows you to purchase books targeted to one city, says Randy Petersen, editor of InsideFlyer. ''I often buy one for a city I am traveling to, use it, then leave the copy behind for friends and relatives.'' Do travel agencies handle club reservations? Usually not, because club bookings don't yield commissions. Some clubs provide in-house agencies, however, and some travel agencies are getting into the club business themselves. InfiNet Travel Club (800-966-2582) in Melrose, Mass., for instance, was launched three years ago by the 45-year-old Globe Travel Services and went nationwide in 1991. The $49 annual fee entitles you to the full-service travel agency, 50% off at 4,200 hotels worldwide, up to half off on cruises, guarantees on the lowest available air fares and a 5% rebate on all bookings. Can I get club discounts for restaurants? Sure. Entertainment, for example, includes more than 300 restaurant discounts in each of its city editions. Many places are chain eateries or lower-priced family restaurants, however, and restrictions apply. Other discount cards offer generous savings on meals: -- Premier Dining ($49; 800-346-3241) has on its list 7,000 restaurants in 25 states. IGT ($48; 800-444-8872) names more than 3,000 restaurants nationwide and in the Caribbean. The company is offering free introductory memberships through March. -- Diners Club cardholders who register for the free LeCard program (800-234-6377) will get 20% off at 700 restaurants in 12 cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City. -- Transmedia ($50; 800-422-5090) offers discounts of 25% in 1,500 restaurants in 10 states. -- Travel World Leisure Club includes a card with its $50 membership (see the box at right) that trims 20% to 30% off food costs at 600 medium- to high- priced restaurants in seven states. -- The Orlando Magicard (800-255-5786), a free card recently introduced by the Orlando Convention and Visitors Bureau, provides discounts of 10% to 50% at 93 area attractions including restaurants, hotels, RV rental firms and shops. Universal Studios Florida, Busch Gardens and SeaWorld are featured, but Disney World is not.