The best time to book an IHG hotel depends on your travel dates, destination type and the kind of trip you are planning. Peak summer resorts and holiday stays are generally best booked 60 to 90 days ahead, while many shoulder-season and flexible trips may offer good value when booked 14 to 30 days before arrival¹. Luxury and high-demand resort stays may require booking 90 days or more in advance¹.
This guide explains when hotel rates typically rise and fall, how far ahead to book different types of trips and how to compare direct IHG rates based on your priorities.
There is no single booking window that applies to every hotel stay. The best timing depends on whether you are visiting a peak-season resort, traveling during a major holiday, planning a flexible getaway or booking a luxury property.
Peak summer beach or resort stay
Recommended booking window: 60 to 90 days ahead
Recommended rate type: Advance booking
What to know: Beach and resort properties can fill quickly during peak summer, so earlier booking helps preserve more room and rate options.
Christmas or New Year travel
Recommended booking window: 60 to 90 days ahead
Recommended rate type: Advance booking
What to know: Holiday demand and package availability can tighten early, especially late-December stays, event inclusions, and preferred room types.
Flexible leisure trip
Recommended booking window: 14 to 30 days ahead
Recommended rate type: Flexible or advance booking
What to know: Compare upfront savings with the flexibility of being able to change plans. If your dates are set, advance booking rate types may offer more value; if not, Flexible may be the better fit.
Shoulder-season trip
Recommended booking window: 7 to 21 days ahead
Recommended rate type: Flexible
What to know: Lower-demand periods may leave more availability closer to arrival, but travelers should still compare flexible, member, and advance booking rates before booking.
Business trip with uncertain dates
Recommended booking window: Any booking window
Recommended rate type: Flexible
What to know: When meeting dates or project timelines may shift, the ability to change or cancel can be worth more than a lower prepaid rate.
Last-minute stay
Recommended booking window: Within 48 to 72 hours
Recommended rate type: Flexible or app-exclusive rate
What to know: Last-minute rates depend on remaining hotel inventory. Check IHG.com and the IHG One Rewards app, then compare any app-exclusive options with available Member and Flexible rates.
Extended stay of seven nights or more
Recommended booking window: 21 to 45 days ahead
Recommended rate type: Weekly or extended-stay rate
What to know: Longer stays may unlock weekly or extended-stay pricing, especially at brands designed for multi-night travel. Compare the total stay price against nightly rates before confirming.
Luxury or high-demand resort stay
Recommended booking window: 90 to 180 days ahead
Recommended rate type: Advance booking rates
What to know: Premium room types and resort inventory may be limited during high-demand periods, so booking early can help protect availability and rate choice.
Booking earlier generally provides more room for availability and rate options, depending on the property, season and demand. Travelers should compare the available flexible, member, and prepaid/advance booking rates before confirming.
Demand follows a generally consistent annual rhythm, although exact dates vary by property and destination type¹. Understanding each season can help travelers identify when to book early and when lower-demand periods may offer more availability.
| Season | Best suited for |
|---|---|
| Spring, March through May |
|
| Summer, June through August |
|
| Fall, September through November |
|
| Winter, December through February |
|
Spring generally offers moderate hotel rates and good opportunities for flexible leisure trips, particularly outside major school vacation periods. Travelers planning a spring stay should typically begin comparing rates three to six weeks before arrival.
Spring advance booking rates may become available as early as January. Properties in popular leisure markets can offer strong seasonal value outside peak school-break weeks, while IHG bonus points promotions may also run during the first half of the year³.
| Spring booking factor | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Recommended booking window | 3 to 6 weeks ahead |
| Typical demand | Moderate |
| Best opportunities | Flexible leisure trips outside peak school-break periods |
| Rate comparison | Compare advance booking, flexible and IHG One Rewards member rates |
| Potential promotion period | IHG bonus points promotions may run during Q1 or Q23 |
Travelers with fixed dates should compare their selected advance booking rate with the flexible and IHG One Rewards member rates. Those with uncertain plans should review cancellation conditions before selecting a prepaid option.
Most peak summer beach and resort stays should be booked 60 to 90 days before arrival. Demand is generally highest from June through August, and popular leisure properties can have fewer discounted rooms available as the stay date approaches.
Travelers planning fixed-date summer trips should prioritize availability and compare direct rates early. Waiting for a last-minute deal during peak summer may result in higher rates or fewer hotel and room choices.
| Summer booking factor | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Recommended booking window | 60 to 90 days ahead |
| Typical demand | High |
| Best rate type for fixed dates | Advance booking rates |
| Trips requiring earlier planning | Beach, resort and major holiday stays |
| Potential promotion period | IHG summer sale activity may run during May or June3 |
| Reward Night availability | Less common during peak summer periods |
Fall is often one of the strongest value periods of the year, particularly during shoulder-season weeks from September through November. Many leisure markets experience softer demand after the summer travel season, even as business travel begins to increase.
Travelers can often find good rates when booking two to four weeks before arrival. Advance booking rates may still be available, while Flexible rates can provide a better balance for travelers whose plans may change.
| Fall booking factor | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Recommended booking window | 2 to 4 weeks ahead |
| Typical demand | Lower in many leisure destinations |
| Best opportunities | Shoulder-season leisure travel and flexible getaways |
| Rate comparison | Advance booking rate types may offer savings, while Flexible rates protect changing plans |
| Important exception | Major events and holiday periods may require earlier booking |
Fall value varies by property and destination type¹. Travelers visiting during major events, conferences or national holidays should book earlier than the general shoulder-season recommendation.
Winter hotel demand is divided between high-demand holiday periods and lower-demand weeks in January and February. Travelers visiting during Christmas or New Year should plan early, while those with flexible dates may find some of the year's lowest rates after the holiday period.
Stays between December 23 and January 2 should generally be booked by October. January can offer strong prepaid discounts in many destinations², while ski and mountain properties may require booking 90 days or more ahead.
| Winter booking factor | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Christmas and New Year | Book by October when possible |
| January stays | Often among the lowest-rate periods of the year |
| New Year packages | May become available beginning in late October |
| Ski and mountain destinations | Book 90 or more days ahead |
| Potential promotion period | IHG winter sale activity may run during November3 |
Travelers planning a holiday stay should prioritize availability and package inclusions. Travelers planning a January getaway may have more flexibility to compare rates closer to arrival.
1 Recommended booking windows, demand levels and seasonal patterns are general guidance based on typical trends and are not guaranteed; actual timing varies by property, destination and real-time demand. IHG uses dynamic pricing. See IHG.com for current rates and full terms.
2 Savings percentages are illustrative estimates only and are not guaranteed; actual savings vary by property, season, rate type and booking date.
3 Sale windows, bonus points promotions and other seasonal offers referenced are illustrative and subject to change; confirm current offers and registration requirements on IHG.com or the IHG One Rewards app.
