How many days before should you book a hotel?

A 2022 NerdWallet study analyzed more than 2,500 hotel room rates from 2019 through the first half of 2021 and found an average of 13 percent savings for those who booked 15 days in advance as compared to those who booked four months in advance.



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If you're debating when to book your hotel Unless you've got your eyes on lavish lodging that otherwise has a fickle cancellation policy, you don't save a whole lot by holding out in hopes of a better deal. On average, properties are about 13% cheaper when booked 15 days out versus four months out.

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If you're debating when to book your hotel On average, properties are about 13% cheaper when booked 15 days out versus four months out. The biggest difference in pricing comes from high-end hotels, which average nearly 22% cheaper.

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Cheapest Day to Book Hotel Reservations Most travel agencies agree that the cheapest days to book hotels are Fridays and Saturdays. While these are the most expensive days for actually checking in and out, the best hotel rates are on the days when most people are traveling.

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Access Great Deals. This is one of the main reasons people book hotel rooms in advance. As the time for your vacation draws near, hotel room prices usually start to rise because there's more demand for rooms in the near future. This is especially true for vacations planned around weekends and special holidays.

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If you have a loyalty status with the chain then yes, it's probably cheaper to book directly. Also, sometimes hotel offer discounts to incentivize people to reserve with them in order to avoid paying fees to a 3rd party platform like Booking.com. But the reverse can also happen. So just check both and compare.

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Booking early means clients have the best chance of getting the hotel, room category, and flight itinerary they want. Let them know that the longer they wait to book, the greater the chance of them having to make compromises when it comes to their dream vacation—something no one would want to do.

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Most travel agencies agree that the cheapest days to book hotels are Fridays and Saturdays. While these are the most expensive days for actually checking in and out, the best hotel rates are on the days when most people are traveling.

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Some accommodations will drop their prices about 15 days before your desired date, but the best hotel rates will also depend on the season, holidays, and the type of booking hotels use to make reservations for their customers.

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Airbnbs are usually cheaper than hotels for longer stays and large groups, but they don't offer the same services. Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020. She previously wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its sibling site, Wirecutter.

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If you are planning a longer stay, you have a better chance of negotiating lower hotel rates. Hotels are often more willing to offer discounts for extended stays as it guarantees them consistent business.

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Day Use Rooms: These hotel rooms can be booked for a few hours during the day, allowing guests to enjoy a comfortable and private space to rest or work from. Companies like DayBreak Hotels and Dayuse.com offer a variety of options from luxury to budget-friendly hourly hotel rooms.

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But something as simple as the day of the week can also affect rates. Look on any hotel website, and you'll likely pay more to stay on a Saturday night than on a Tuesday or a Wednesday. Most hotels see more travelers and book more rooms over the weekend than during the week.

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Supply and Demand When the need for rooms is high and the availability of rooms is low, room rates go up. Hotels have a limited number of rooms that they can “sell” each night. And when the expected occupancy rates are higher than usual, they can afford to price those rooms at higher rates.

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Hotels are expensive right now because of the high demand for hotel rooms, high tax rates, insurance premiums, a booming travel industry, marketing and advertising costs, staffing expenses, premium location, and seasonality.

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Advantages to Booking in Advance
  • Get what you want. The further out that you schedule, the more likely it is that you'll be able to get exactly what you want. ...
  • Make the most of special offers and discounts. ...
  • Time to get ready. ...
  • Time to save the money. ...
  • You're committed.


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The study found you'll save an average of 10% by booking six months in advance instead of two months or less. Google's flight price study analyzed two different types of international flights.

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Don't book through a travel site Once you find the lowest available price at the hotel you want to visit, call the hotel's reservation desk. Many hotels will meet or beat the best internet rate when you book with them. They'd much rather skip the commission to the travel site and book your stay directly.

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Once you find the lowest available price at the hotel you want to visit, call the hotel's reservation desk. Many hotels will meet or beat the best internet rate when you book with them. They'd much rather skip the commission to the travel site and book your stay directly.

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Under hotel policy, guests at a residential hotel may stay at the hotel for months or years at a time so long as they leave their unit for 24 hours every 28 days. California hotels and motels believe that by kicking out a guest for 24 hours before the guest stays for 30 consecutive days, they avoid the guest becoming a ...

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