Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals
Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals - When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals
Timing is Key: Contrary to popular belief, the best time to book a hotel is often at the last minute.
A 2022 NerdWallet study found that booking 15 days in advance can save you an average of 13% compared to booking 4 months in advance.
Weekday Bookings: The day of the week you book your hotel can also impact the price.
Booking on a Tuesday or weekend tends to offer more bargains, with Kayak data suggesting Tuesday check-ins are typically 16% cheaper than Friday check-ins.
Cruise Price Drops: Unlike flights, cruise prices are known to drop as the sailing date approaches.
You can often find last-minute cruise deals from around 3 months out to just days before the departure, as the best staterooms sell out early.
Award Ticket Surprises: When booking last-minute award flights, be aware that some airlines charge added fees, making them less attractive for redeeming points and miles close to the travel date.
Tools like Point.me and SeatSmart can help you find the best deals on last-minute award tickets.
What else is in this post?
- Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals - When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals
- Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals - The Paradox of Last-Minute Booking: When to Strike the Perfect Timing
- Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals - Destination Matters: How Location Affects the Best Time to Book
- Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals - The Day of the Week Advantage: Scoring Discounts by Booking on the Right Days
- Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals - The Off-Season Edge: Maximizing Savings by Traveling During the Low Season
- Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals - Flexibility is Key: Backup Bookings and Monitoring for Deals
Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals - The Paradox of Last-Minute Booking: When to Strike the Perfect Timing
The "Last-Minute" Window Has Shifted - Recent studies show the traditional definition of "last-minute" booking, between 21 days to 1 day before travel, is outdated.
The current "last-minute" window is now considered 7 days to 12 days before arrival, offering deeper discounts.
Weekday vs Weekend Booking - Booking hotels on Tuesdays or weekends can lead to 16-17% lower rates compared to Friday check-ins and Sunday check-outs.
Travelers can capitalize on the dip in business travel during the middle of the week.
Cabin Class Matters for Airfare - For last-minute flights, booking basic economy or premium economy cabins can often yield significantly better deals than standard economy, sometimes 30-50% less.
Travelers need to weigh the trade-offs of reduced flexibility.
Routing Impacts Pricing - Flights with more connections or routed through secondary hubs tend to have lower last-minute fares, as airlines aim to fill seats.
Savvy travelers can find cheaper options by being flexible on routing.
Seasonal Fluctuations - The best last-minute deals are often found during shoulder seasons or off-peak travel times when demand is lower.
Monitoring seasonal trends for a destination can reveal opportune windows to find discounted rates.
Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals - Destination Matters: How Location Affects the Best Time to Book
Timing is key - Booking a hotel room just 1-2 weeks before your stay can save you up to 13% compared to booking 4 months in advance, according to a 2022 NerdWallet study.
Weekday bookings beat weekends - Reserving a hotel room on a Tuesday or during the weekend tends to offer better rates, about 16% lower than Friday check-ins.
Thursday checkout dates lead to 17% lower rates than Sunday checkouts, Kayak data shows.
Destination matters - In some cities, booking too far in advance can lead to significantly higher prices, while in others, last-minute is the way to go.
It depends on the specific travel location.
Flexibility pays off - Having an open travel schedule and being willing to adjust your plans based on last-minute deals can unlock some of the best prices, especially for hotels.
Avoid peak seasons - Booking travel during off-peak times of year, when demand is lower, can result in substantial savings compared to booking during high season.
Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals - The Day of the Week Advantage: Scoring Discounts by Booking on the Right Days
Booking flights on Sundays can save you up to 15% on domestic flights and 5% on international flights compared to booking on Fridays, according to a study by Expedia.
This is because business travel drives up prices during the week, but Sundays tend to see a dip.
Flying midweek, like on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, can save you an average of 17% or $56 per ticket on domestic airfare, according to data from Hopper.
Avoiding weekends and the days around them can consistently result in savings.
For last-minute travel, booking about 21 days in advance is the sweet spot to get the cheapest fares, according to CNBC.
Waiting too long can result in significantly higher prices.
September is considered the best month to book flights, with Skyscanner data showing it has the lowest average airfare prices.
August 23rd is even dubbed "National Cheap Flight Day" by CheapOair.
When booking hotels, the best day of the week is actually Tuesday.
Kayak data suggests Tuesday check-ins lead to rates 16% below Friday check-ins, while Thursday checkout dates are 17% cheaper than Sunday.
For international trips, it's best to book about 6 months in advance to save around 10% on your ticket, according to Thrifty Traveler.
Domestic flights can be booked closer to 71 days before travel for the best deals.
Using the "everywhere" search on Skyscanner can help you find the cheapest destinations to travel to, even if you're flexible on location.
This allows you to capitalize on sales and deals you may have missed otherwise.
Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals - The Off-Season Edge: Maximizing Savings by Traveling During the Low Season
The "Golden Window" for Last-Minute Hotel Deals: Research shows that booking a hotel room 15 days before your stay can save you an average of 13% compared to booking 4 months in advance.
This "golden window" allows you to capitalize on hotels' last-minute unsold inventory.
Midweek Bookings Offer Better Rates: Booking your hotel stay for a Tuesday check-in and Thursday checkout can lead to rates up to 16% lower than a Friday check-in and Sunday checkout.
Weekends are the most popular times, so hotels offer discounts to fill rooms during the week.
Flexibility is Key for Off-Season Savings: Traveling during the shoulder or off-season can unlock significant savings on airfare and accommodations, sometimes up to 50% off peak-season prices.
Be open to adjusting your travel dates to take advantage of these seasonal discounts.
Fly via Connecting Hubs for Lower Fares: Indirect flights that connect through major hubs can be significantly cheaper than nonstop routes, especially for international destinations.
Research average airfares and be willing to endure a brief layover to save on your ticket.
Economy Class Cabins Offer the Best Value: While the allure of business or first-class travel is tempting, economy class cabins provide the best bang for your buck, especially during the off-season.
Analyze the typical amenities and legroom to ensure you're getting a fair deal.
Leverage Hotel Loyalty Programs: Signing up for hotel loyalty programs, even if you don't stay frequently, can unlock exclusive member rates and perks like free upgrades or late checkout during the off-season.
The savings can add up quickly.
Embrace Spontaneity for Last-Minute Deals: Booking your travel just a week or two in advance can yield significant discounts, as hotels and airlines try to fill unsold inventory.
However, be flexible with your destination and dates to maximize these opportunities.
Seasonal Destination Trends Influence Pricing: Certain destinations experience seasonal fluctuations in demand, with some locations being more popular in the summer versus the winter, and vice versa.
Research these trends to time your travel for the off-season sweet spot.
Uncover the Secrets: When to Book for the Ultimate Last-Minute Travel Deals - Flexibility is Key: Backup Bookings and Monitoring for Deals
90% of hotel bookings are made last-minute: According to Hopper's 2023 Travel Trends Report, more than half of hotel bookings are made on the same day as check-in, with 63% of bookings made in the first three months of 2023 trending even more last-minute.
Flexibility is key for 7 in 10 travelers: Phocuswright reports that 7 in 10 travelers prioritize flexible booking, considering it more important now than in pre-COVID days, with lenient cancellation, rebooking, or refund policies being a top priority.
55% of travelers prefer no set plans: According to Booking.com's 2024 Travel Predictions, the majority of travelers prefer to have no plans set in stone prior to traveling, allowing for flexibility and last-minute bookings.
Last-minute bookings can save you 13%: A 2022 NerdWallet study analyzed over 2,500 hotel room rates and found an average of 13% savings for those who booked 15 days in advance compared to those who booked four months in advance.
Hotel prices work differently than flights: Unlike flights, where booking early is often recommended, hotel prices tend to drop closer to the check-in date, making last-minute bookings a better option.
Flexible cancellation policies are crucial: With 90% of travelers prioritizing flexible booking, having a flexible cancellation policy can be a game-changer, allowing for last-minute changes or cancellations without incurring significant penalties.
Traveling off-season can lead to better deals: By traveling during the off-season, you can often find better deals on hotels and flights, making it an ideal time to book a trip.
Backup bookings can be a smart strategy: Making a backup booking with a flexible cancellation policy and checking back for any last-minute deals can be a smart way to snag a better rate, especially if you're flexible with your travel dates.