Thanksgiving hotel deals found in many major US cities
Thanksgiving is a good time to find hotel deals in the US. Most major cities see rates decreasing over the holiday weekend (Nov 28-30), when compared to an earlier period in the month over the same days of the week. Some cities see price decreases as significant as 24%, for example, in Philadelphia, 22% in Boston, 24% in Columbus, 19% in Washington D.C., 30% in Baltimore, and 20% in Denver.
However, hotel nightly rates show increases over Thanksgiving in tourist hotspots, Las Vegas (up 15%), New York (up 16%), as well as in Chicago (up 9%).
Christmas – prices heat up in warmer spots, cool down in big cities
Similar to the pattern we see over Thanksgiving, hotel prices in most major US cities see price decreases over Christmas, ranging from 5-53%. The average nightly rate for a hotel in Chicago is only $149 over Christmas, down a dramatic 53% from earlier in the month over the same days of the week. Great deals can also be found in New York City, where travelers will pay 35% less over the holiday ($297/night, in comparison to $456/night). Hotel prices are down 32% ($126/night) in the nation’s Capital, 26% in Boston ($200) and San Diego ($101), 37% in New Orleans ($134), and 9% in San Francisco ($162).
Hotel price hikes over the Christmas holiday are found in southern destinations such as Savannah (up 20%, $140/night), Fort Lauderdale (up 18%, $153/night), Orlando (up 29%, $158), and Memphis (up 10%, $194/night). Cancun, Mexico sees a 36% increase over Christmas, while travelers to Paris, France for a romantic holiday can expect a 58% price hike, paying an average $192/night.
Las Vegas sees 213% price hike for New Year’s Eve
Don’t expect cheap hotel prices while ringing in the New Year. Travelers celebrating in Las Vegas will pay an average 213% more than they would on the same day of the week during a period earlier in December. People will also pay considerably more in New York City, Orlando, San Francisco, and Chicago.
Below is a table showing the average hotel prices for the night of New Year’s Eve and the percent increase from an earlier period of the month over the same day of the week.
New Year's Eve
|
Price Difference
| |
Las Vegas
|
$284
|
213%
|
New York City
|
$687
|
51%
|
Orlando
|
$184
|
49%
|
San Francisco
|
$257
|
44%
|
Chicago
|
$227
|
32%
|
Dallas
|
$176
|
30%
|
Philadelphia
|
$225
|
25%
|
Detroit
|
$174
|
24%
|
New Orleans
|
$255
|
20%
|
Los Angeles
|
$228
|
20%
|
Atlanta
|
$169
|
18%
|
Miami
|
$212
|
17%
|
San Diego
|
$154
|
13%
|
Boston
|
$301
|
12%
|
Minneapolis
|
$217
|
7%
|
Denver
|
$171
|
6%
|
Phoenix
|
$119
|
5%
|
Salt Lake City
|
$109
|
3%
|
Seattle
|
$184
|
-1%
|
Washington D.C.
|
$230
|
-8%
|
San Jose
|
$188
|
-9%
|
Houston
|
$119
|
-19%
|
Surprisingly, Seattle and Washington D.C. are great destinations to book hotel rooms for New Year’s Eve, where prices have in fact decreased over the holiday, by 1% and 8%, respectively. Hotel prices are also down a significant 19% in Houston on the 31st.
New York City NYE prices up 17% from last year
When compared to last year, average hotel prices over New Year’s Eve are up 10% in Las Vegas (from $259 in 2012 to $284 this year), a substantial 17% in the Big Apple (from $589/night in 2012), and 9% in Orlando (from $168 last year). San Francisco’s New Year’s Eve hotel rates have remained surprisingly stable (at $256 in 2012 and $257 this year). Hotel prices for the holiday have also increased 13% in Paris since last year (2012: $296; 2013: $333).
Most searched-for destinations this winter
Destination
Destination
| |
1. New York City, NY
|
—
|
2. Las Vegas, NV
|
—
|
3. Orlando, FL
|
—
|
4. London, UK
|
—
|
5. Miami Beach, FL
| |
6. Paris, France
|
¯
|
7. Dubai, UEA
|
—
|
8. Honolulu, HI
| |
9. Cancun, Mexico
|
¯
|
10. Anaheim, CA
| |
11. New Orleans, LA
|
¯
|
12. San Francisco, CA
| ¯ |
13. Key West, FL
| |
14. Fort Lauderdale, FL
| |
15. Bangkok, Thailand
|
—
|
16. Lake Buena Vista, FL (Disneyworld)
| |
17. Hong Kong
| |
18. Rome, Italy
| ¯ |
19. San Diego, CA
| ¯ |
20. Playa del Carmen, Mexico
| |
21. Sydney, Australia
| |
22. Singapore
| |
23. Chicago, IL
| |
24. Playa Bavaro, Dominican Republic
| |
25. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
|
This winter, Florida destinations make up five of the 25 most searched destinations by travelers searching for hotel rooms on trivago.com. The top four most popular destinations this winter (New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando, and London) were also the top four most popular last year, in the same order. Key West and Fort Lauderdale of Florida climbed up the list this year (last year they were in places 19 and 21, respectively).
International winter travel – looking beyond Europe
The most popular international destinations were London, Paris, Dubai, Cancun, and Bangkok. European destinations that made the top 25 list last year - Amsterdam, Barcelona, Prague, Berlin, Istanbul, and Budapest - did not make the list this year, with destinations such as Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong, Playa Bavaro, and Puerto Vallarta replacing them, suggesting a travel interest shift a bit away from Europe towards warmer, more affordable destinations during the winter months. London remained the fourth most popular winter destination for Americans (behind New York City, Las Vegas, and Orlando). Paris and Rome, the only other European destinations to make the list, dropped in ranking this year.
