When to book hotel rooms? (camping, hotels, vacation, reservations)

[kentuckydad95]

We are planning a road trip to the Grand Canyon in March. How far in advance do I reserve the hotel rooms we will need? Do you get a better deal now or wait until closer to March?

[jared422]

The big difference between booking airfare and hotel rooms is that the majority of hotel room reservations can be canceled at no charge. This doesn't apply to any 3rd party sites like Priceline, Hotels.com, etc. Once you book on any of those websites it is very hard to get your money back.

I recommend going to the hotel websites and seeing what the rates are. If you are comfortable with the rate, book it (check to see the cancellation policy) and check back regularly. If the rate goes down in time, book the lower rate. If it goes up, you are already locked in.

[firebll31]

Are you planning to stay INSIDE the National Park, or outside and drive in for the day? Due to the incredible popularity of the Grand Canyon and the limited number of rooms, I recommend booking as soon as possible. If you plan to stay in the National Park, I doubt the prices change much, except for possibly high-season low-season rates. You will not be there during the heavily traveled summer but still,lodging is limited. There are more rooms available in the nearby towns, but these are quite a way from the National Park. I have stayed twice at Maswik Lodge. It is comfortable but not fancy and reasonably priced. For in the park lodging, you have to reserve through Xanterra. Outside the National Park there are many more options.Grand Canyon tours, accommodation, vacation. Hotels, camping, cabins. - Lodging Overview

[country pride]

I think most places ask you to book 10 days in advance?

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by Livewire

I think most places ask you to book 10 days in advance?

And can require you to cancell as much as two weeks in advance.

[AksarbeN]

Originally Posted by firebll31

Are you planning to stay INSIDE the National Park, or outside and drive in for the day? Due to the incredible popularity of the Grand Canyon and the limited number of rooms, I recommend booking as soon as possible. If you plan to stay in the National Park, I doubt the prices change much, except for possibly high-season low-season rates. You will not be there during the heavily traveled summer but still,lodging is limited. There are more rooms available in the nearby towns, but these are quite a way from the National Park. I have stayed twice at Maswik Lodge. It is comfortable but not fancy and reasonably priced. For in the park lodging, you have to reserve through Xanterra. Outside the National Park there are many more options.Grand Canyon tours, accommodation, vacation. Hotels, camping, cabins. - Lodging Overview

Great information if you want to stay in a particular location within the Nat’l Park. There are no rate specials given inside the park that I’m aware of.

[floridadreamer]

Originally Posted by jared422

The big difference between booking airfare and hotel rooms is that the majority of hotel room reservations can be canceled at no charge. This doesn't apply to any 3rd party sites like Priceline, Hotels.com, etc. Once you book on any of those websites it is very hard to get your money back.

If you're wanting to book far ahead on a site such as Priceline, I'd recommend travel insurance. That way, if you have a family emergency, at least you can claim it, and possibly get a refund this way.

[Dd714]

Inside the park - book as soon as possible although that isn't visitor season. They book up fast. Are all the hotels inside the park even open at that time of year?

Outside the park probably doesn't matter, price wise or otherwise - sometimes you get last minute deals, sometimes you can get an early booking special (unlikely for the off-season of March). If I remember you only option is Flagstaff, but it's been awhile since I visited Grand Canyon.

[ChristineF]

Originally Posted by Dd714

If I remember you only option is Flagstaff, but it's been awhile since I visited Grand Canyon.

Flagstaff is about 1-1/2 hours from Grand Canyon Village and is where we usually stay. Williams AZ and has several different properties. It's a little closer, about an hour's drive to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

[mdlee3]

I don't know about the Grand Canyon specifically, but I always book my hotel as soon as I know what dates I'll need it for. This has been as much as 8 months and as little as 3 weeks in advance for me.