Best Times to Book Hotel Rooms for Cheapest Rates on Summer Travel

Travel Tips

Hotel rates not only depend on when you travel. They also depend on when you book, and this can vary from region to region, country to country, and city to city. So when is the best time to book rooms for summer vacation?

Entrance of the Waldorf-Astoria-hotel-in-New-York-City

TripAdvisor.com analyzed booking data to determine optimal booking dates to get the lowest hotel room rates for summer travel.

In some places, the earlier you book the better. In other places, you’re better to wait till the last minute, when hoteliers are scrambling to fill unbooked rooms.

If you’re traveling in Europe, you can save an average of 23% on hotel rooms if you book rooms three to five months in advance.

In the United States, it wouldn’t usually make as much difference. The optimal booking period is two months in advance, and you can only expect to save about 7%.

But there are exceptions: booking a hotel room in New York two to four months in advance could save you a whopping 25% during the summer peak season!

Summer is defined as June, July, and August.

United States

Hotel pricing for the summer months remains relatively stable throughout the year, but travelers booking hotel rooms two months before their summer vacation can expect to save an average of 7% on their hotel rooms.

New York, New York: 2 to 4 months in advance for 25% savings
Orlando, Florida: 1 to 4 months in advance for 10% savings

Africa

The best time to book hotel rooms for summer travel in Africa is five months in advance, when an average saving of 21% can be expected.

Cape Town, South Africa: 3 months in advance for 13% saving
Marrakesh, Morocco: 4 months in advance for 28% savings

Asia

Booking a hotel three months before departing on a summer trip is the best time in Asia, when travelers can save 23% over peak pricing. Room rates tend to rise three to five weeks before check-in dates and then fall sharply during the final two weeks before arrival.

Mumbai, India – 3 months in advance for 17% savings
Bangkok, Thailand – 3 months in advance for 16% savings
Beijing, China – 2 to 6 months in advance for 16% savings
Hanoi, Vietnam – 3 months in advance for 16% savings
Jakarta, Indonesia – 3 months in advance for 39% savings
Singapore – 2 weeks to 5 months in advance for 26% savings
Tokyo, Japan – 2 to 5 months in advance for 31% savings

Caribbean

Travelers booking hotel rooms in the Caribbean during the summer can expect to save 7% over peak level pricing periods.

Europe

Travelers planning to visit Europe during the summer months should book hotel rooms three to five months in advance to save and average of 23%.

Barcelona, Spain: 2 to 7 months in advance for 27% savings
Dublin, Ireland – 2 to 5 months in advance for 14% savings
Istanbul, Turkey – 5 months in advance for 29% savings
London, England – 3 to 5 months in advance for 18% savings
Moscow, Russia – 4 to 7 months in advance for 55% savings
Paris, France – 4 months in advance for 32% savings
Prague, Czech Republic – 2 to 5 months in advance for 33% savings
Rome, Italy – 3 to 5 months in advance for 32% savings

Latin America

Travelers to Central America can expect to save 7% if they book rooms three months in advance. Travelers to South America can save an average of 20% if they book four months in advance. Travelers waiting till the last minute can save an additional 2 to 4% booking within the final few weeks before arrival.

Cancun, Mexico: 2 to 4 months in advance for 16% savings
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 3 to 5 months in advance for 11% savings

Middle East

The best time for budget-minded travelers to book hotel rooms in the Middle East is 4 months before arrival, when they can expect to save 24%. Prices increase slightly three to four weeks before arrival and then drop a couple of weeks before arrival.