The travel experts at Bounce analysed the average nightly cost of a 3* hotel, comparing both months of the year and days of the week, in 60 of the most popular tourist destinations across the globe,to reveal the cheapest (& most expensive) times of the year to book a hotel stay.
The Cheapest Months to Travel:
| Rank | Month | Destinations | Destinations Where Hotels are the Cheapest |
| 1 | January | 15 | Athens, Denpasar, Lisbon, Barcelona, Antalya, Prague, Rome, Dublin, Amsterdam, Berlin, Seoul, Vienna, Toronto, London, Hanoi. |
| 2 | February | 12 | Florence, Venice, Budapest, Agra, New York City, Vancouver, Milan, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Brussels, Paris, Ho Chi Minh City, |
| 3 | May | 6 | Chiang Mai, Phuket, Taipei, Delhi, Sydney, Orlando. |
January is the cheapest month on average, being the most affordable time for 15 destinations, including London, Amsterdam, and Berlin. For example, Berlin is 48% cheaper in January than in September.
February is close behind, being the cheapest month for 12 popular destinations, including New York City, Paris, and Milan, showing that the post-Christmas winter season is the most affordable time to travel. You will save 56% of your money if you visit New York City in February rather than December.
May is the third cheapest month to travel, with 6 key destinations making the list, including Chiang Mai, Sydney, and Orlando. Visiting Chiang Mai in May rather than December will save you 74% on your hotel stay.
The Most Expensive Months to Travel:
| Rank | Month | Destinations | Destinations Where Hotels are the Most Expensive |
| 1 | September | 12 | Heraklion, Athens, Lisbon, Barcelona, Budapest, Rome, Munich, Berlin, Vienna, Toronto, Hanoi, Singapore. |
| 2 | December | 12 | Phuket, Denpasar, Dubai, New York City, Prague, Amsterdam, Taipei, Rio de Janeiro, Cancún, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur. |
| 3 | February | 6 | Cairo, Madrid, Macau, Miami, Mumbai, Orlando. |
September and December are the most expensive months to travel on average, with 12 destinations seeing hotel costs peak more than any other month.
September is the most expensive month for European destinations like Heraklion and Athens in Greece, as well as Lisbon and Barcelona. Visiting Heraklion in September will be 78% more expensive than if you were to travel in November.
December is the peak for Asian cities like Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Dubai, which are popular winter vacation spots. It is 73% more expensive to travel to Phuket in December than in May.
February is the third most expensive month, with cities like Cairo, Madrid, and Mumbai. It will cost you 77% more to travel to Cairo in February than in July.
The differentiations across continents is likely due to the seasonal differences in different parts of the world.
Further findings:
- Contrary to popular belief, the data shows that Saturday is the cheapest day to stayin 17 cities, including Las Vegas, Dublin, and Milan. This could be due to various factors, including lower demand for weekend business travel.
- Tuesday is on average the most expensive day to travel. This was the case in 15 destinations worldwide, such as Madrid, London, and Paris. Again, this could be due to business travel.
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