The Best Timing for Hotel Bookings: How To Save On Your Stay (2024)

You're ready to reserve your hotel, but is there a "best" time to book? Here's the best day to book a hotel, according to experts.

There are all sorts of myths and legends about how to get the best deals on hotel bookings. Possibly the biggest belief is that timing is the most important factor of all. But does timing really matter? And what are the best rules of thumb when it comes to securing the cheapest possible hotel reservation, every time? Here is the best day to book a hotel for an upcoming trip (and why it matters).

INVEST IN YOURSELF: Looking to save enough not only for your next international vacation, but also your retirement? HerMoney’s InvestingFixx club for women is your key to success!

Timing Is Everything

Booking a hotel is NOT the same thing as booking flights. While a good rule of thumb for snagging a cheap plane ticket is to book on a Monday or Tuesday, the exact opposite is true of hotels.

“A general rule is to avoid booking hotels at the beginning of the week, say Monday-Wednesday, as this is a peak time people are planning their trips so there’s a lot of demand,” says Samantha Brown, travel expert and two-time Emmy-winning host of PBS’ Places to Love. “That demand falls off towards the end of the week when hotels see that they’re not going to fill their rooms, so they start decreasing the prices by Friday and Saturday, making those days the best time to book a hotel.”

Another way that booking hotels differs from booking flights is flexibility. With many hotel chains, you don’t have to pay upfront like you do with an airline ticket. You can usually cancel with no penalty, says Brown. Just make sure you know what the cancellation policy is before you book.

Can You Book Too Far In Advance?

Just how far in advance is too far in advance for making a reservation? “There’s a saying in travel advisor circles which is ‘reserve early, book late,'” says Brown. [This means] there’s no harm reserving a room in advance as soon as you know you’ll be going somewhere, especially one that meets your budget and has all the bells and whistles you want in a hotel.”

But you should continue to be on the lookout for better deals. Those deals will generally start to happen within two weeks of your trip. One of Brown’s favorite apps is Hotel Tonight.

“I’ve had to use the app many times to secure a nice hotel due to flights being canceled or travel plans changing at the last minute,” says Brown. “The rates are phenomenal, and for very nice hotels. I always think I’m going to use it for my husband and I to have a spontaneous romantic weekend in NYC — it never happens, but a girl can dream.”

LISTEN: Download the HerMoney podcast and listen wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

Supply And Demand

Guidance doesn’t mean guarantees. It’s a myth that you’ll automatically save more money by booking your hotel stay early. “It all comes down to supply and demand,” says Colleen Carswell, former hotel director of sales turned hotel solutions strategist. “Most of the time, you’ll actually save much more by booking at the last minute.”

Hotels need rooms filled in order to make money. “In industry terms, their goal is simple: Get heads in beds,” says Carswell. “If hotels still have rooms left to sell for your dates of stay, they will likely slash the prices at the last minute in hopes of selling off more of their inventory.”

But supply and demand works both ways.

“If the demand for hotel rooms is high and supply of empty rooms is low, you’ll pay more,” Carswell says. This most often happens during holidays and when there are large events either at the hotel or in the area. Think of things like festivals, marathons, political rallies, sporting events, etc. “I always recommend checking the city event calendar when considering dates, both from a price and crowd perspective,” says Carswell.

To make all this work best for your stress levels and budget, Carswell recommends BE-CALM: Book Early, Check Again Last Minute.

“When you book early, make sure to triple-check the cancellation policy so the date doesn’t come and go,” Carswell says. “Cancellation policies vary widely by hotel, brand, and location. Then, prior to the cancellation date, check again to see if you can find lower rates online.”

If you do find a lower rate, great! “You can cancel your original reservation and save money with the new one,” Carswell says. “If you don’t find a lower rate, also great! You scored the best deal possible thanks to your savvy decision to BE CALM.”

Book Direct

Many hotels have policies that allow you to get the best price as well as additional perks like upgrades and late check-outs, if you book directly through the hotel rather than a third party.

“Either look online or call the hotel you are considering and find out if they have any incentives for booking directly through them,” says Claudine Hart, Marketing Director of reStays Ottawa. “If you find a better price, you just have to let us know the details when booking directly.”

READ MORE: How To Build A Budget For Holiday Travel

Be Flexible When You Can

The day of week and the time of day will not affect pricing, but the dates of your travel will.

“If your travel dates can be flexible, most hotel booking engines have calendars that show rates by date,” says Amaury Piedra, Managing Director, Caribe Royale Orlando Resort. “Keep in mind price vs. value and check the hotel’s special offers. Sometimes the best deals are found in value-laden packages.”

If you have flexibility, you can often find great deals on rooms over periods of time when the hotel has lower occupancy.

FIXX YOUR FINANCES: Join Jean Chatzky’s money makeover team at FinanceFixx. You work one-on-one with a coach and learn sustainable, lasting change to get your money right.

Editor’s note: We maintain a strict editorial policy and a judgment-free zone for our community, and we also strive to remain transparent in everything we do. Posts may contain references and links to products from our partners. Learn more about how we make money.

The Best Timing for Hotel Bookings: How To Save On Your Stay (2024)

FAQs

The Best Timing for Hotel Bookings: How To Save On Your Stay? ›

Supply And Demand

What is the best time to book a hotel? ›

Figuring out the best time to book a hotel isn't an exact science — there's plenty of variation throughout the industry. But if we're looking at statistics, the lowest prices for hotel rooms are typically found just 15 days before your stay. Yes, last-minute bookings are (usually) better.

How do I get maximum discounts on hotel bookings? ›

Book in advance

The earlier you book, the more likely you are to get a good rate. You might be tempted to leave it until the last minute in the hopes of an exclusive deal—but there's no guarantee this will pay off. This is a risky tactic even with small bookings, never mind large group bookings.

What day of the week do hotel prices drop? ›

In short, remember that getting the best deal on a hotel room comes down to a few basic rules: Make your bookings on a more favorable day of the week (try Tuesday or the weekend), try for last-minute bookings if you can (maybe make a back-up booking with a flexible cancellation policy and check back for any last-minute ...

How to save hotels on last-minute? ›

For a last-minute deal, call the front desk or reservations line and ask if they have flexibility on their rate. No hotel wants to leave a room empty and many will negotiate a last-minute rate, said Chris Harvey, director of operations of Charlestowne Hotels in South Carolina.

Do hotel room prices go down closer to the date? ›

It's a myth that you'll automatically save more money by booking your hotel stay early. “It all comes down to supply and demand,” says Colleen Carswell, former hotel director of sales turned hotel solutions strategist. “Most of the time, you'll actually save much more by booking at the last minute.”

Are hotels cheaper if you book at night? ›

Do hotel prices go down at night? If you're booking a hotel for that night and they have vacancies, the price may decrease as you get closer to or beyond the check-in time. However, waiting this long carries risks, like not getting the room you want or not being able to get a space at all.

How do I get extra discount on booking? ›

Just create a free Booking.com account to unlock instant discounts. After unlocking each Genius Level, the rewards are yours to enjoy for life. The more you book, the more you get.

What is the best site to book hotels? ›

Best Websites for Booking Hotels for Leisure Travel
  • Agoda. Extensive Accommodation Inventory: Agoda is the market leader with a vast inventory comprising hotels, resorts, and apartments. ...
  • Booking.com. ...
  • Priceline. ...
  • Expedia. ...
  • Kayak. ...
  • Egencia. ...
  • Hotels.com.
Feb 1, 2024

What is the cheapest month to book a hotel? ›

Best month to book domestic hotels

Destinations in the US have different high seasons; overall summer prices are higher and winter prices are lower. Of course, holidays are exceptions. In the US, November prices can be up to 10% cheaper, especially when you're booking in November.

Is it cheaper to book a hotel or walk-in? ›

On average, the same-day rate of a hotel room is 10% cheaper than booking in advance. But this comes with a caveat. Don't rely on this strategy if you're traveling to a busy tourist city or a town where a large event is happening. You might be fortunate, but most people book rooms well in advance.

Do hotel rates change daily? ›

The more often you travel or book travel arrangements for others, the more valuable it is to understand why hotel room rates fluctuate. At any hour of any given day, the same hotel room can be one rate on one site, another on a second website, and a completely different price on the hotel's page.

What is the best day to book hotels on Expedia? ›

Book hotel stays on a Friday

Results reveal travelers generally find lowest ADRs on Fridays. Unlike airfares, the most expensive day to book a hotel is generally on a Sunday.

How to save money on a hotel room? ›

10 tips to save money on hotel bookings
  1. Book in advance. ...
  2. Be flexible where possible. ...
  3. Look out for package deals. ...
  4. Consider joining a hotel loyalty program. ...
  5. Check out credit card reward programs. ...
  6. Use comparison websites to find the best rate. ...
  7. Sign up for your favorite hotel's newsletter.
Jun 28, 2023

What is the best time of day to book a hotel? ›

“Throughout the day of check-in, prices keep decreasing,” says Shank. “If there are still these empty rooms by 4 p.m. the day of arrival, the hotel will have a lot of certainty that they are not going to get filled otherwise. That's when they're really willing to put a really, super good deal on it.”

Why are hotels cheaper when you book last-minute? ›

Due to the high operational costs and desire to maintain occupancy rates, luxury hotels frequently offer significant last-minute discounts to fill their remaining rooms. When booking hotels last minute, especially high-end properties, travelers can secure a better deal compared to booking well in advance.

Do hotels get cheaper right before? ›

In conclusion, while hotels may indeed be cheaper last minute, the degree of savings and availability can vary significantly. For spontaneous travelers willing to take a chance, waiting until closer to the check-in date might yield favorable deals.

How far in advance do people book hotels? ›

The average lead time in booking hotels tends to be within the range of 20-60 days.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Tyson Zemlak

Last Updated:

Views: 5965

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tyson Zemlak

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Apt. 662 96191 Quigley Dam, Kubview, MA 42013

Phone: +441678032891

Job: Community-Services Orchestrator

Hobby: Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Metalworking, Fashion, Vehicle restoration, Shopping, Photography

Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.