Starwood Preferred Guest - Do Starwood rates go down?

I'm looking at room rates for Europe in the summer and they are absurdly high. Should I book now or do they go down closer to the date?

In my experience, generally no. But you never know when a promotion might come up. what city(ies) are you looking at?

In my experience it depends. I have a number of European reservations already made for the summer and 2 out of 5 have gone down in the past 4 weeks, so I have re-booked. I don't hold out much hope on the other 3 though as they are at much more popular hotels.

In my experience it depends. I have a number of European reservations already made for the summer and 2 out of 5 have gone down in the past 4 weeks, so I have re-booked. I don't hold out much hope on the other 3 though as they are at much more popular hotels. I agree you can always rebook as long as you do not due the prepaid rate.

I'm looking at room rates for Europe in the summer and they are absurdly high. Should I book now or do they go down closer to the date?

in the current business cycle, no. i haven't seen rates go down lately. but, i am sure when the economy turns bad and planes aren't 90% full, i am sure yes. but, i would book now.

Vegas is a classic example of rates changing. With so many conferences going on all the time, rooms blocks expire and then tons of rooms can open up at any time. I frequently book at the Aladdin when I know that I'm going to be in town. I will check back every week and I've seen rates move up and down like a roller coaster within the course of two months.

Now, that being said, I think Las Vegas is the outlier. I don't think most hotels see their rates fall (at least by a significant amount, like Vegas can). And how do they compensate themselves for this risk? They actually charge the first nights stay onto your credit card immediately after booking the room as opposed to just holding the card for the reservation.

With your issue, I would say that as long as the rates are fully cancellable, what's the harm in reserving a room right now?

Book the rooms now at a rate which can be cancelled and lock yourself in, then check periodically. Just before you are about to go you can then always book a prepaid rate and cancel the old reservation.

I just checked rates for Venice, Italy this summer, and rates have doubled compared with last year (same period of time).....

I remember finding great rates in March 2006 and only made my booking end of April, but this time... it's really crazy ! :mad:

I have seen rates in Europe come down as seasonal special offers are loaded in to the system, particularly at shoulder- and low-season.

Keep checking back.

ALWAYS (and I mean ALWAYS) be sure to actually go to that hotel's web site and click on "Hotel Offers" ... Often (I'd say 30 - 40% of the time) there is an offer that fits my plans that would get me a lower rate - sometimes significantly - than the lowest rate that turns up when just doing a search on spg.com.

For example - I spent last night at the Sheraton Commander in Cambridge, MA. I originally booked a room for $195/night on spg.com which was the lowest available rate. I then checked the "Hotel Offers" section and found they had a special shopping package that includes a $149 rate and a $25 food/beverage credit. Cancelled, rebooked, easy as pie.

Also, this past August I booked a room at the Westin Tabor in Denver on spg.com for the lowest available rate of $200/night. Again, "Hotel Offers" had an AAA special that was at $140!!

It really is worth your while. That and always checking Expedia to see if you can claim your BRG 2000 points. I happen to know a specific hotel at which Expedia 95% of the time has a lower rate - I've gotten maybe 8000 points by staying at this hotel and claiming BRG.

It really is worth your while. That and always checking Expedia to see if you can claim your BRG 2000 points. I happen to know a specific hotel at which Expedia 95% of the time has a lower rate - I've gotten maybe 8000 points by staying at this hotel and claiming BRG.

great. let's have it. isn't that what flyertalk is all about? ;)