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How far out can you book a hotel? In addition, does making reservations at the far side of the booking window provide any tangible benefit? Each hotel chain handles reservations differently, with the booking windows of major hotel chains ranging from 100 days to two years.
We’re big fans of locking your accommodation plans in early. Award travel often depends on finding scarce award availability. In fact, you’ll have much better luck piecing together an itinerary of award flights and hotels if you book at the outer reaches of the booking window. So what are the policies? Here's how far in advance you can book a hotel stay.
Page Contents
Why Book Your Hotel in Advance?
When you’re battling to piece an itinerary together and juggling multiple rewards currencies, booking in advance provides the best possible chance of securing availability at the lowest award rate. On the other hand, revenue bookings tend to decrease in price as you get closer to your stay. Then, they spike at the last minute.
Waiting to book your hotel can be risky. As the departure date approaches and “standard” rooms fill up, award prices can remain the same or increase. They also could disappear entirely. While it's possible to get lucky and secure a standard room in a busy location close to your check-in date, there's also a chance you won't get the accommodation you want. Additionally, if no standard rooms are available, you may pay extra for a premium one.
Booking hotels as the booking window opens provides certainty for your vacation plans. Even if you only keep the reservation until award space in a better hotel or suite availability opens up, many hotels will allow you to cancel an award at no cost. Some even permit free cancellation up to the night before your arrival. Remember, the hotel, not the chain, dictates award cancellation policies. It's always worth checking the hotel's cancellation policy before confirming your reservation.
How far in advance can you book a hotel?
| Hotel Rewards Program | Booking Window |
|---|---|
| Accor Live Limitless | 404 days |
| Best Western | 349 days |
| Choice Privileges | 100 days for awards (365 days for Preferred Hotels), 50 weeks for paid stays |
| Hilton Honors | 365 days (but may depend on the hotel) |
| IHG One Rewards | 350 days |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 354 days |
| Radisson Rewards | 730 days (2 years) |
| World of Hyatt | 394 days |
| Wyndham Rewards | 364 days |
The booking window varies widely between chains. IHG and Marriott allow you to book a little under 12 months out. In comparison, Radisson Rewards allows you to book two years in advance. The average booking window is around 12 months.
When To Book Hotels Well in Advance
There are plenty of opportunities to book a hotel just a week or a month before check-in, land a good deal, or find wide-open availability. However, select circumstances warrant booking as far in advance as your planning allows. These are the occasions when you should consider booking well in advance:
- Popular destinations or room types, such as the overwater bungalows in the Maldives
- High season in busy destinations
- Destinations with few chain hotels (meaning fewer points redemption options)
- When traveling with kids or a big family needing multiple rooms
- When attending weddings, sporting and music events, or cultural performances
- Airport hotels for early morning or late evening arrival/departure
- When booking promo or discount awards
- If you need to use free night certificates before they expire
Related: How To Get Hotel Elite Status for Free (or Almost Free)
Final Thoughts
Planning your award stays well into the future is an excellent way of securing the best deals and guaranteeing that you have accommodation during peak season. Most programs allow you to book your hotel stays up to 12 months in advance. That gives you a long way into the future to plan.
If we’ve missed any programs you wish to see included, please reach out in the comments. We’ll do our best to get it added to the list.
Also, don't forget to check out our related post: How Far in Advance Can You Book Airline Award Tickets?
Hotel Advance Booking FAQ
How far in advance can you book with Hyatt?
You can book a Hyatt hotel room 394 days in advance. That gives you over a year to decide if that fits your travel plans.
How far in advance can you book a Hilton hotel?
Hilton allows you to book a room 365 days in advance. You have a whole year to make plans to stay at a Hilton hotel. However, individual hotels might give you more or less time to reserve a stay.
How far in advance can you book a Marriott hotel room?
Marriott Bonvoy lets you book a room 354 days ahead. That's a little less than a year but still plenty of time.
How far in advance can you book a Choice hotel?
You can make an award booking at a Choice hotel 100 days in advance — or one year in advance if you're reserving a stay at a Preferred Hotels property. For cash bookings, you can book your stay 50 weeks in advance.
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