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
The best time to book a hotel
Cheapest time to stay in hotels
Consider off-season holidays for cheaper hotels
Expert tips on how to find cheap hotels
Note: the data in this article should serve as a general guideline and doesn’t guarantee the accuracy of future hotel prices. Happy hunting!
The best time to book a hotel is at the last minute.
Hotel pricing doesn’t favour planners. One reason is that hotels typically have a 24- to 48-hour cancellation window. When people cancel close to their dates, the hotel would rather put heads in beds than leave rooms empty.
KAYAK data backs this up, showing that the best time to book a hotel for the lowest price is the week of your stay.
Of course, there are reasons you might not want to wait, like if you really want to stay in a certain hotel or you’re staying during a busy event (think the London Marathon, concerts or big football matches).
The best (and cheapest) days and months to stay at hotels.
- Cheapest day of the week to stay in a hotel in the UK: Sunday
- Cheapest day of the week to stay in a hotel internationally: Sunday or Monday
So, what is the best day to stay in a hotel? In the UK, the cheapest day to check in is Sunday, at an average price of £83. After all, weekend travellers are likely to have checked out, and business travellers don’t travel as frequently on weekends.
If you want to save, avoid checking in on a Saturday, which is statistically the most expensive day according to KAYAK hotel data.
If you’re heading abroad, aim to check in on a Sunday or Monday for the cheapest rates. KAYAK data shows that Friday and Saturday are the most expensive days of the week to check in internationally.
The best month to find cheap hotel deals is January.
According to KAYAK data, January is the cheapest month to stay in hotels in both the UK and internationally. November follows closely behind, making a winter holiday cheaper than a summer trip (June to August have the highest hotel rates).
If you’re looking for some guidance on pricing, check out KAYAK’s Price Calendar when searching for hotels. Green indicates the best prices, while you should try to avoid red dates if you want a cheap break away.
Consider an off-season holiday
You won’t find tons of deals in a place renowned for its major events or for being a holiday destination. Mardi Gras in New Orleans, summer in St. Tropez, New Year’s Eve in New York City – snagging a great rate in these places is more fluke than reality.
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.
My hotel saving tips include checking events calendars to make sure I’m not booking during a festival or business convention, or booking a trip right after a major tourist event when the hotels have cleared out.
Expert tips on how to find cheap hotels
Looking for a hotel that suits your budget, vibe and availability can be a little overwhelming. Here are some of my top tips to finding your perfect budget-friendly hotel.
- Book at the right time, at the right price. KAYAK Price Alerts let you know when prices go up or down on stays so you can make the right decision about when to book.
- If a nice hotel is a must, but you don’t have the budget for the area you’re looking in, consider comprimising on location. In London, for example, hotels are usually a bit cheaper the further from the centre you are, despite not taking long to get to the centre via the underground or a bus.
- When using KAYAK’s hotel search, sort your results by price to see all the cheapest deals first. If you have a maximum per-night budget, you can also set this using the price filter.
My takeaway on the best time to book a hotel room.
If you’re willing to do a little legwork like researching your destination, tracking prices, being flexible on dates and researching peak- and off-peak days and months to travel, you may be able to snag a better deal on your hotel stay.
Remember that all travel rules have exceptions, but learning about your destination and using a few technological tools can help prices lean in your favour. Remember, too, that although everyone loves a bargain, sometimes the small amount you may save isn’t worth the risk of losing the room you want.
Methodology: Data from searches conducted between January 1, 2025 and March 18, 2026 on KAYAK.co.uk and its affiliated sites, for stays between Jan 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
FAQs
Yes. Unlike flights, hotel prices often drop closer to your desired stay date. This doesn’t happen every time, but is common practise for hotels keen to fill rooms.
If time is on your side, you can often get the best deal when booking your hotel last-minute. However, if you’re keen to book a specific hotel or the stay links with a special occasion, it’s safer to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
According to KAYAK data, the cheapest time to book a hotel in the UK is the week you are due to stay. Of course, this can vary, depending on several factors like events and good old-fashioned luck.
There is no cheapest day to book a hotel, but Sunday is generally the cheapest day of the week to stay at hotels!
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