Don’t Book a Hotel at These Times (and 4 Money-Saving Reasons Why)
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Josephine Nesbit
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Levi Leidy
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Timing is everything, especially when it comes to booking a hotel. Certain times of the month and year are pricier than others, and knowing when not to book can save you some cash.
“Hotel pricing is subject to fluctuations and is significantly influenced by immediate demand, reservation trends and local happenings,” explained Nick Drewe, CEO and money-saving expert at online discount platform Wethrift. “It operates similarly to airline fare structures, where algorithms modify prices on a daily or even hourly basis.”
Before you reserve your accommodations, make sure you’re not booking during these times.
Last Minute
Booking a hotel room at the last minute can potentially save you money, but this isn’t always the case. Colleen Carswell, former hotel director of sales and current hotel solutions strategist, told HerMoney that it all comes down to supply and demand.
If supply exceeds demand and the hotel needs to fill rooms, then prices may be lower. However, if there’s a big event in the area and demand for hotel rooms is high and supply is low, you could pay more.
Instead: Book early and keep tabs on prices online. “I would always advise booking in advance,” Tim Hentschel, CEO and founder of Hotel Planner, recommended. “You will then have a wider choice of dates, hotels, departure airports and destinations to select from.”
See More: 6 US Cities Where You Can Still Enjoy a Luxury Vacation for Cheap
Peak Season
Peak season is a period during the year when there’s more demand, which can lead to higher prices.
“Plan on paying more during peak holiday periods and major local events,” Drewe said. “It can be tough to find a good deal around New Year’s, Fourth of July or large festivals and events, which means significant markup driven by demand and limited availability.”
Instead: Hentschel recommends booking a hotel in the shoulder season when there’s less demand. For example, if you’re traveling to Europe, he says you may get a better deal in May or September.
First Week of the Month
According to Drewe, business travel and personal trips tend to spike in the first week of each month and may lead to higher hotel room prices.
Instead: “Second and third weeks of the month, especially during shoulder seasons like late spring or early fall, tend to offer the best value as well when it comes to booking,” Drewe explained. “Families fly less during school terms, and business travel is more predictable, so prices typically stabilize or drop.”
Fridays or Saturdays
Fridays and Saturdays are often the most expensive, especially in high-demand weekend getaway areas, Drewe said. But if you need to book on one of these days, Hentschel encourages travelers to book during non-peak hours like 6 a.m. or midnight.
Instead: Hentschel recommends booking on a Tuesday if you want to get the best deal. “Most often, the pricing teams for hotels and tour operators meet on a Monday to review what’s sold well over the weekend. Then on Tuesday morning, they’ll update their systems and websites with deals and offers to increase bookings to hotels and destinations where they have more availability,” he explained. “Booking on a Tuesday can drive savings of around 5%-8% for international travel when compared to the higher price points later in the week.”
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