KAYAK data reveals some interesting insights into the best time to book a hotel. Most notably, booking far in advance is often more expensive, while booking at the last minute can save you money. Here’s what else to know about the best time to book a hotel room, including some expert tips.
In this post:
When is the best time to book a hotel?
The cheapest days and months to stay at hotels
Explore off-season
Expert tips on how to save
FAQ
When is the best time to book a hotel? Last-minute leads to savings.
- The best time to book is within a week of your stay, and you can save up to 26% on domestic hotels and up to 27% on international hotels compared to the average price if you book a month prior to your trip.
Hotels have a 24- to 48-hour cancellation window, and when guests cancel close to their arrival, hotels often incentivize bookings with lower rates to avoid leaving the room unoccupied. As a result, travelers can score some cheap last-minute deals.
Of course, in some scenarios, booking early is helpful. If you have your eye on a certain hotel, or your dates coincide with a popular event and rooms are likely to sell out (like festivals, concerts, or sporting events), booking early can ensure you have a room before demand and prices increase.
The best (and cheapest) days and months to stay at hotels.
- Cheapest day of the week to stay in a hotel in the US: Sunday
- Cheapest day of the week to stay in a hotel internationally: Tuesday
For many leisure destinations, it’s logical that check-in is cheaper on Sunday. After all, weekend vacationers are likely to have left and business travelers don’t travel as much on weekends.
KAYAK data shows that for domestic hotels, booking for a Sunday check-in can be up to 24% cheaper (an average rate of $165) than on Friday, which is, not surprisingly, the most expensive day for check-in ($204 on average).
Internationally, the days differ a little – check in on a Tuesday for the best deals and avoid Friday & Saturdays, which are the most expensive days to stay.
The best month to find cheap hotel deals is January.
Destinations in the US and internationally have different high seasons. Overall, summer prices tend to be higher, especially in coastal destinations, and winter prices are generally lower (except in places popular for winter sports like skiing). Of course, the holidays are exceptions.
According to KAYAK data, January is the cheapest month to stay in hotels in both the US and internationally. November follows closely behind, making a winter vacation in Europe cheaper than a summer trip.
If you’re craving the coziness of Christmas markets, don’t rule out an end-of-year trip.
Book off-season to get cheaper hotel prices.
Deals on destinations during major events or popular among holiday-goers are harder to come by, not surprisingly. Mardi Gras in New Orleans, summer in St. Tropez, New Year’s Eve in New York City: snagging a great hotel rate in these places, during these times, is the exception rather than the rule.
To avoid sky-high hotel and flight prices, book off-season or during the shoulder season (April to May (Spring) and September to early November (Fall) in the US.)
Most travelers have price-saving tips on the best time to book a hotel. Mine is checking convention calendars in cities like Las Vegas and Orlando to avoid booking during a huge trade show and other major tourist events.
Expert tips on the best time to book a hotel room.
Here are the tips I regularly use to score a good deal on a hotel room, whether I’m traveling internationally or within the US.
- Consider the local calendar. Local and national holidays vary by region and country. Be sure to check ahead of time to avoid booking during a holiday, when hotel prices might be much higher.
- Don’t forget about solo rooms. Some hotels, especially those in Europe, offer a discount for rooms with just one guest. So be sure to set your search to one traveler (many default to two).
- Read the cancellation policy. Be sure to use the “free cancellation” filter when searching for your hotels. This way, you can book your hotel, and if you see a better price later, you can cancel and rebook. Set a Price Alert and KAYAK will do the hard work for you.
- When you stay, make a big difference. One of the biggest factors in getting a great hotel deal isn’t when you book – it’s when you stay. So keep a calendar handy and plan accordingly.
My takeaway on the best time to book a hotel room.
Of course, it’s important to remember that all travel rules have exceptions. However, travelers willing to do a little legwork – researching your destination, tracking prices, being flexible on dates, and taking advantage of tech tools that help identify the best time to book a hotel room, just to name a few — will likely be able to snag a better deal on their stay.
And take it from someone who’s been there: Knowing when is the best time to book a hotel to score a great deal is a skill that truly pays off. Happy hunting!
FAQ
There is no cheapest day to book a hotel. How far in advance you book and the day of the week you stay (rather than book) have the biggest impact on price.
According to KAYAK data, the best time to book is about a week before your stay. If that seems too risky try a month or two before your stay. Any earlier than that and you’ll probably be overpaying (unless you are traveling during a popular travel period like Thanksgiving.)
It is a myth that hotel prices drop at 4pm. If you want an easy way to track when prices change, set up a Price Alert.
Methodology: Data from searches conducted between January 1, 2025 and March 18, 2026 on KAYAK.com and its affiliated sites, for stays between Jan 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
