When is the Best Time to Book Luxury Hotels? Many of My TravelSort Hotels Clients Book 1 Year in Advance. That may seem far too early for some people, but for busy periods such as festive season/New Year's and Spring Break, it can be imperative, depending on the destination and property. And keep in mind that for some hotels and resorts, for example Four Seasons Hualalai and other Four Seasons Hawaii resorts except Oahu, and for many Caribbean resorts, it's virtually impossible to book for Christmas and New Year's unless you're a loyal client that books that same period every year, with the required 10 night minimum. See Hawaii Vacation for Christmas and New Year’s? 6 Reasons to Go Another Time.
But even if your spouse, partner or friends tells you “this is ridiculous–why are you booking a full year in advance for next spring?” just show them this post. A couple months ago I booked the Four Seasons Jackson Hole for a client's ski vacation next March, for $625 + tax per night. A few days ago I noticed the same room for $525 + tax per night and immediately rebooked. Guess what the rate currently is for the same room and dates? $730 + tax per night. That's over $200 per night higher, and we're still 10 months away.
And while not as dramatic, there have also already been rate changes for the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea for another 2019 spring break trip. We booked at $829 + tax per night, and recently rebooked for $769 + tax in one case, and in another case, for other dates, booked at $709 + tax per night and rebooked for $659 + tax per night. Again, these dates are 10 months away, and there have already been savings when rebooking.
There can of course be far greater savings closer to the time of arrival (or conversely, higher prices that make you relieved you locked in lower rates far in advance). For a client's upcoming June 2018 stay at Four Seasons Hualalai, we originally booked a beautiful Ocean View Deluxe Room for $1589 + tax per night, and just recently were able to rebook it at $1339 + tax per night, still with Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits and the Experience More extra $100 per night resort credit.
Of course, rates don't always change. I've been monitoring another client's $3000 + tax per night suite at The Ocean Club, now a Four Seasons resort, and that rate hasn't changed at all, and now that suite type is entirely sold out (again, a good reason to book well in advance–so you're able to secure your preferred room or suite type).
Still, booking early, with preferred partner or Virtuoso benefits, and then continuing to monitor rates gives you the greatest chance of securing the room or suite you want at the best possible rate. Note that this isn't possible to do with AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts for spring, summer and early autumn travel, because AMEX hotel contracts only get negotiated in the fall. Plus, why would you want to pay with an AMEX card anyway when you could be earning 3X (and get trip interruption and cancellation insurance included) with the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
What's the most you've ever saved by booking a luxury hotel a year in advance and rebooking at a lower rate?
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Good advice!