Timing matters when booking accommodation in your favourite holiday destinations

WE HAVE all been guilty of this when booking our accommodation. But it’s costing us.

WHEN organising a holiday, why do we book our flights early but leave our accommodation to the last minute?

Just like flying, the time you book your accommodation can greatly impact how much you pay. In fact, new research from TripAdvisor reveals that booking hotels at the right time can save travellers as much as 35 per cent. And the right time can be up to nine months in advance.

“Bargain hunters know that timing is crucial when it comes to booking the lowest hotel prices,” TripAdvisor communications director Brooke Ferencsik said of the research.

“TripAdvisor data shows that travellers can often find the best prices on hotels months in advance.”

The travel site’s latest Best Time to Book report has analysed hotel pricing data in 19 world destinations popular with Australian travellers over June, July and August, to reveal the optimum time to book a holiday when you want to trade the Aussie winter for sunshine and cocktails.

Our winter is a peak time to book a European summer getaway, so lock those holidays in the most in advance.

Want to enjoy the art and architecture that have put Barcelona on the map? TripAdvisor suggests booking a room between three and nine months in advance and you’ll save an average of 33 per cent.

Or if the Berlin Wall is on your bucket list, you can save an average of 10 per cent in the German capital if you book four to eight months out.

You’ll need to do the same if you want to visit Italy’s capital too. Organised tourists can save 21 per cent on hotels in Rome by booking four to eight months before their trip.

In London, you can save an extra 12 per cent on hotel costs to put towards your spending money if you organise your accommodation five to eight months in advance. In Paris, however, you can save up to 23 per cent by booking within just two months.

Why do we book flights so far in advance but leave our accommodation to the last minute?

But being organised doesn’t just apply to trips halfway around the world. If you want to escape the Aussie winter for tropical Thailand, booking accommodation in Bangkok up to six months in advance will save you an average of 19 per cent on hotel costs.

And the same applies to Bali. If you book up to seven months before your island vacation, you can save an extra 18 per cent on accommodation to spend on poolside cocktails instead.

Here’s the advice for Australia’s top winter travel destinations:

Bangkok: Book within 6 months for 19 per cent savings. The average hotel rate over winter is $63/night.

Barcelona: Book 3-9 months out for 33 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $199/night.

Beijing: Book 2-3 months out for 17 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $102/night.

Berlin: Book 4-8 months out for 10 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $104/night.

Budapest: Book 3-5 months out for 35 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $94/night.

Dubai: Book within 6 months for 24 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $158/night.

Hanoi: Book 3-7 months out for 17 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $133/night.

Hong Kong: Book within 5 months for 23 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $107/night.

Jakarta: Book within 6 months for 22 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $50/night.

Bali: Book within 7 months for 18 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $278/night.

Lisbon: Book 4-8 months out for 14 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $183/night.

London: Book 5-8 months out for 12 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $264/night.

Mumbai: Book within 3 months for 24 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $73/night.

Paris: Book within 2 months to save up to 23 per cent and an average hotel rate of $188/night.

Prague: Book 3-7 months out with 24 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $97/night.

Rome: Book 4-8 months out to save 21 per cent on hotels and an average hotel rate of $125/night.

Singapore: Book 6-7 months out for 18 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $215/night.

Tokyo: Book 4-7 months out for 18 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $139/night.

New York City: Book within 2 months for 23 per cent savings and an average hotel rate of $325/night.