Get the Best Summer Hotel Rate by Booking a Month in Advance
When it comes to hotel reservations, there are many theories about when is the “best” time to book. I know people who swear that you should book your tickets as soon as you start planning your trip, and those who think that a few days before departure is the right time to close a deal. In truth, the answer lies somewhere in between.
TripAdvisor has analyzed historical hotel price data to determine when is the best time to book a hotel in various locations around the world. He decided that the best time to shop in the summer was a month before the trip.
According to his research, the average cost of a hotel in the summer will be $ 236 per night. Travelers who booked a month before travel can expect a 15% discount off this rate during peak hours.
In the United States, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, San Diego, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington DC, you’ll see the biggest savings while waiting for this room to book.
In Europe, things are a little different. Early booking often results in maximum savings; however, travelers heading to London or Paris in August should consider booking this room within five weeks of travel, a time frame TripAdvisor estimates you will be able to get a 25% discount.
Here’s a breakdown of how much you can potentially save by booking a hotel month in advance at several popular destinations in the US:
•Maximum. potential savings compared to peak prices: 40%
• Average price for a summer hotel on TripAdvisor: $ 277 per night.
•Maximum. potential savings compared to peak prices: 40%
• Average price for a summer hotel on TripAdvisor: $ 161 per night.
•Maximum. potential savings compared to peak prices: 37%
• Average price for a summer hotel on TripAdvisor: $ 190 per night.
•Maximum. potential savings compared to peak prices: 34%
• Average price for a summer hotel on TripAdvisor: $ 232 per night.
•Maximum. potential savings compared to peak prices: 34%
• Average price for a summer hotel on TripAdvisor: $ 153 per night.
•Maximum. potential savings compared to peak prices: 33%
• Average price for a summer hotel on TripAdvisor: $ 202 per night.
•Maximum. potential savings compared to peak prices: 32%
• Average price for a summer hotel on TripAdvisor: $ 224 per night.
•Maximum. potential savings compared to peak prices: 31%
• Average price for a summer hotel on TripAdvisor: $ 184 per night.
•Maximum. potential savings compared to peak prices: 31%
• Average price for a summer hotel on TripAdvisor: $ 297 per night.
•Maximum. potential savings compared to peak prices: 25%
• Average price for a summer hotel on TripAdvisor: $ 190 per night.
If you are still hesitant to wait, I personally would advise you to book your hotel somewhere like Hotels.com, where you can book online now but pay when you arrive on vacation. These reservations are very easy to cancel and can be canceled for free if you find a better deal later, so at the end of the rainbow there is no risk and nothing but reward.
And while I wouldn’t recommend it as a “plan” for your summer travels, if you’re looking for last-minute reservations, HotelTonight has some pretty stellar deals on overnight stays in some of the nicer hotels.