This Is The Best Day To Book A Hotel In Europe, According To Rick Steves

When it comes to European travel, timing is everything — especially when you're looking for the best deals on accommodations. The precise time of booking can make a world of a difference for your wallet. Renowned travel expert Rick Steves has spent decades exploring Europe and sharing his tips for getting the most out of every trip both online and in his guidebooks. One of his key pieces of advice? The best day to book a hotel in Europe is — contrary to popular belief — not in the mid-week. But ... well, read on because there's much more to it. 

Steves explains that hotel prices are, unfortunately, just as unpredictable and mercurial as the dreaded gamble of scoring budget airplane tickets. They change from the hour to the day to the week, so it is challenging to time it right. However, based on his experience, hotel booking rates are generally more expensive during the week. In contrast, on the weekend, prices are slightly lower, with Sunday nights (specifically) yielding the most affordable options.  

One of the reasons for this is that by the weekend, hotels get a clearer picture of what the demand is like. If they see that they're not filling their rooms, hotels start lowering their prices. The timing approach for reserving hotel stays completely contradicts the approach for when you should buy plane tickets or cruise tickets, which is usually as early in the week as possible. Steves recommends checking your desired dates on the hotel's website reservation form — not a booking agency (like TripAdvisor, etc.) — to see the best, most updated rates. If a hotel doesn't have an online form, he advises to contact the hotel directly by phone or email. 

Once you make this direct contact with the hotel and request a reservation, you have a higher chance of scoring a special offer than you would if you booked via a third party. Rick Steves also makes an important note: Do not hesitate to ask for the hotel's best price and the cheapest room, especially if you're staying longer than three nights during the low season and are offering to pay in full and in advance with no eligibility for a refund. However, there are some things you should consider before booking a non-refundable room, but the lowered price will hopefully be well worth it (and, fingers crossed, your plans don't change). You won't have much luck with special deals if you're booking during high season, but in this case — if you're feeling brave — you can haggle a bit. The hotel just might agree. 

Otherwise, Steves recommends booking your stay at least three weeks in advance. This will open up your options to the best hotels in terms of price, value, popularity, amenities, and location. The early bird gets the worm! Steves himself sometimes books his accommodations several weeks or even months in advance. He explains that this is particularly crucial for high-demand cities like London, Madrid, Venice, Rome, and the like. Booking in advance is even more important if you want to score a room at this centrally located, Rick Steves-approved hotel in Paris. Hopefully, with Steves' advice, you'll be able to plan a lovely getaway to a bustling European capital or a quaint countryside village and make the most of your budget while you're at it.