TripAdvisor Releases Best Time Periods to Book Hotels for Year End Holidays

TripAdvisor said it analysed historical hotel booking and interest in nine popular regions around the world for the last two weeks of December. The best time to book was defined as periods when hotel prices were less than the average for the destination. While most destinations see a gradual change in prices over time, some destinations see dramatic changes from week to week for holiday hotel rates.

Hotels in Asia are a bargain at an average of Rs 4534 for the holidays and decline gradually beginning in February to the end of December. Travellers that book after September to the end of the year can save 16% or more versus peak rates. TripAdvisor said prices hit lows and flatten out starting late August for Mumbai, when travellers can save 17% or more versus peak periods. For cities like London, Paris, Sydney, and Singapore, TripAdvisor suggests booking in mid December, early November through the end of the year, last week of August and August till the end of the year respectively.

U.S. hotels during the holidays average Rs 9335 per night and pricing remained fairly steady from March until November when rates start to decline. During Thanksgiving week, travellers can save the greatest amount, 21% overall compared to early year peak pricing according to the report.Central America rates are flat and climb slightly towards the end of year. After remaining flat for most of the year at an average of Rs 7,668, prices gradually rise about 5% higher starting in late August through the end of the year. Prices begin to drop for Middle East hotels starting in November. Average rates for the holiday weeks are Rs 10,802 and prices remain relatively steady from May until November, when prices drop 17% or more versus the early year peak.

“Year-end holidays are keenly planned in India not only because it is the festive time but also because of the winter break in schools. The Best Times to Book report comes just in time to help the price conscious Indian traveller to maximize his/her savings for the year-end holiday season. And I believe it’s the well informed traveller who will make the most of the savings sinceour booking data shows there is significant variation in hotel prices from one week to the next depending on the destination,” said Nikhil Ganju, country manager, TripAdvisor India.

Hotel rates drop about 10% from mid-July to September in South America then remain steady around Rs 6201 on an average until a final drop of another 5% for last minute bookers in mid-late December. Booking during this window can save 24-30% versus the early year peak according to TripAdvisor.

Prices average Rs 8068 in Africa for the end of the year holidays and fluctuate about 5% from late March until November when they start to decline steadily, from 10% less than the early year peak.