Save money traveling abroad by picking the right time—22 of the world’s 22 popular cities have the lowest hotel prices in January

▲Hitting the road with your backpack is now a popular way for many to relieve life pressure and unwind. (Photo / Dagui / Dagui Illustration)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Choosing the right time to travel abroad can not only save you money but also let you enjoy your trip to the fullest. But how do you find the best timing? A booking website has released the “Smart Travel Survey” with the latest findings, revealing to travelersthe best times to book accommodations in 25 popular global cities. It has also designed a travel planning calendar, allowing travelers to quickly check the optimal booking times around the world based on the information provided.

▲The best times to book accommodations in 25 popular global cities. (Photo / Provided by the business)

This survey is based on customer booking data from 2014, analyzing price trends for accommodations in 25 of the world’s most popular tourist cities including Taipei, Tokyo, Bangkok, as well as London, New York, Paris...For most cities, the beginning of the year is often when accommodation prices are at their cheapest, especially during the first two weeks of January. Among these 25 top cities, 22 have hotel rates below the average; and the most surprising finding is that while many assume September and October are not peak travel seasons, those months actually have the highest prices.

And just how big is the price difference between low and peak seasons, and how much can you save? For example, if you plan to go to Berlin in September, it's better to save up more for your trip, because compared to January, you’ll need to pay 51% more for the same room; if you choose to go to Barcelona in January, you can book a room for about half the average price—almost like getting one day free for every day you stay. November to February of the following year is also a good time to visit Istanbul, as local hotel prices are only about 77% of the average, but by June, prices will surge, over 21% higher than the average, meaning off-season prices are only about 64% of peak-season prices.

▲Amsterdam Cheese Factory (Photo / Provided by PAUL, archival photo)

For example, March is a great time to travel in Europe, with hotel prices in Paris, Berlin, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Stockholm, and London only about 80% of the average. July is a peak season for most cities, with prices staying high, but during this time, Sydney and New York have prices even lower than the average. As for the last week of December, due to Christmas and New Year’s Eve, booking prices in most cities naturally go up. If you want to watch the countdown fireworks at Taipei 101 or the Victoria Harbour New Year’s fireworks show in Hong Kong, you’ll likely need to pay about 30% more than usual. However, traveling to Stockholm is a smart move, as hotel prices there don’t rise but actually drop, with the lowest available at 75% of the usual rate, making it relatively much cheaper.

▲Tokyo Skytree. (Photo / Provided by Right Upper Forty-Five Degrees)

But the situation is different in Asia’s popular tourist cities. The fluctuations in hotel prices in major Asian destinations are not as pronounced as in Europe, and even during the low season, the savings aren't as significant as in Europe. In Hong Kong, the cheapest time of the year for hotels is from May to June, though even then, prices are only about 11% lower than the average. If you want to save money visiting Taipei, the start of summer vacation is a good time, with prices at 90% of the average. Tokyo, beloved by Taiwanese travelers, has little price variation throughout the year, with the cheapest time being the first week of January, at 16% below the average; and during the popular cherry blossom season, prices go up accordingly—the first two weeks of April are 14% and 10% higher than the average, respectively.

Globally speaking, October is the hardest month to find housing discounts, as among the 25 major tourist cities, 21 have prices above the average in October. However, certain holidays such as Lunar New Year, Ramadan, as well as large exhibitions and festivals—like the Milan Furniture Fair—that are held on varying dates each year, also affect annual booking price differences.