Reservation Question
Jul 6, 2015, 7:50 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO/SMF
Programs: Holder of six "persona non-grata" awards
Posts: 1,914
Jul 7, 2015, 4:18 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,201
Also don't be surprised if you only get a pretty high rate a year out, or even that the hotel hasn't loaded all rates until a more 'reasonable' time. Certainly don't go for a prepaid rate on the assumption that rates can only go down at that stage .
It's fine if you know there will be a big event nearby on that date and want to make sure you get a room, but I'd keep checking back at monthly intervals at least to see if prices go down.
At the moment, my furthest out booking is at the end of May in Chicago and I'd say that half the hotels in my search results are showing as 'sold out' by which I take it that they simply haven't loaded any rates yet.
It's fine if you know there will be a big event nearby on that date and want to make sure you get a room, but I'd keep checking back at monthly intervals at least to see if prices go down.
At the moment, my furthest out booking is at the end of May in Chicago and I'd say that half the hotels in my search results are showing as 'sold out' by which I take it that they simply haven't loaded any rates yet.
Jul 7, 2015, 8:51 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: MD/DC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, TK Gold
Posts: 1,536
When I know I am going to be in a place a year out, I just book the room as a place holder.
Be aware that booking with points, there is a good chance that seasonality of the price with points will not be reflected until couple of months later (i.e., even you suspect it would be "low" season with "low" season prices, the "high" season price might be shown as default).
That said, there were instances that booking with point, the premium room prices were considerably cheaper at the edge of the reservation period (and gone way up couple of days after).
I've find that the cheapest prices usually appear around 6-10 weeks prior to the stay period.
Be aware that booking with points, there is a good chance that seasonality of the price with points will not be reflected until couple of months later (i.e., even you suspect it would be "low" season with "low" season prices, the "high" season price might be shown as default).
That said, there were instances that booking with point, the premium room prices were considerably cheaper at the edge of the reservation period (and gone way up couple of days after).
I've find that the cheapest prices usually appear around 6-10 weeks prior to the stay period.