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I have just been caught out a bit with ‘fall’ bookings for New England. The places I hade earmarked to book were either full or bonkers expensive. After a full Sunday, I now have a good mix of interesting B&Bs, small hotels and an Airbnb so I feel we have a good trip.
But now I am looking at the cities and we plan to stay in NYC after our transatlantic cruise and after New England, Philadelphia and Washington DC. This is all in October.
Closer in time, I have a Washington stopover in May and I am looking at Arlington to check into after arriving at IAD before an early flight from DCA.
Hotel price patterns are all over the place and it’s not obvious when the best time to book is. I guess I could just keep booking refundable rooms, but what is the best time to book big cities in the US these days? I’m not precious that I need a specific hotel, but I do want decent, not chain, and well located.
Hotel price patterns are all over the place and it’s not obvious when the best time to book is. I guess I could just keep booking refundable rooms, but what is the best time to book big cities in the US these days? I’m not precious that I need a specific hotel, but I do want decent, not chain, and well located.
Prices are driven by algorithms, even at non-chain hotels. There’s no way to second guess them. You have no idea if there’s an event locally, a wedding party or conference taking up the majority of the rooms or lots of other local factors.
Book what you need in the location you want and if you’re price sensitive just check back every week.
Prices are driven by algorithms, even at non-chain hotels. There’s no way to second guess them. You have no idea if there’s an event locally, a wedding party or conference taking up the majority of the rooms or lots of other local factors.
Book what you need in the location you want and if you’re price sensitive just check back every week.
I was once chatting with Revenue Manager at a UK Chain hotel and I asked him about pricing and how it changes. He said that algorithms were involved, but if there were local events then the best way is to monitor the competition and act accordingly.
For the US East Coast – If under £150pn, I will take a punt on a floor being reached and go non-refundable if that’s the cheapest rats.
Otherwise I book a flexible rate or on points and re-check every week prior to travel like Davefl says. I don’t have kids so am unfussy re room type and my free time is my own – so even for small savings I am happy to do a price check once a week. Rather £30 back in my pocket than in the hotel’s.
Re Washington specifically, prices are massively affected by events. The cluster of hotels around the Walter E Washington convention centre can be $600pn during an event; $150 afterwards.
As Harold MacMillan once said “events, dear boy, events”
Are one of the biggest drivers of hotel prices especially in the likes of DC and NYC.
Every year there are posts all over the internet wondering why hotels in New York are so expensive in September when there are 3 major events in the same month – us tennis open, NY fashion week and the UN General Assembly.
Same in DC where the events are more governmental but even so there can still be outsized demand especially if it’s a major event like the G7 or NATO or equivalent.
But yes too tip is to book somewhere refundable and regularly search for process drops.
Not only government, DC is also a major conference city. Just last week was the big Transportation Research Board conference, which brings 10k attendees to the region every January.
May in DC brings a lot of school tours, which book the least expensive hotels driving up the prices on the more expensive ones.I’ll do refundable, probably at hotels I don’t really want as I’m not paying $800 per night for a 4* when the floor is closer to $250 for the ones I am looking at.
I emailed the Roxy in NYC and they wanted $1300 for a small suite.
I’ll do refundable, probably at hotels I don’t really want as I’m not paying $800 per night for a 4* when the floor is closer to $250 for the ones I am looking at.
I emailed the Roxy in NYC and they wanted $1300 for a small suite.
DC and NYC are points bookings for me most of the time. I can usually deploy my IHG Ambassador free weekend night there too. Hilton points are awarded like penny sweets, so my threshold for redeeming them is quite low.
I guess I could convert some Amex MRs but that’s about it. I don’t do hotel points; I rarely stay in hotels that are part of a chain with rewards.
Edit: skimmed HfP article and concluded it’s a poor use of MRs.
You can consider buying Hilton points. Might turn out to be cheaper than paying cash directly.
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