Experts Reveal Why Booking Your Holiday After 8pm Could Save You Hundreds

Booking your holiday after 8 pm might seem unconventional, but travel insiders suggest it could save you hundreds of pounds.

With dynamic pricing algorithms, last-minute inventory reductions, flash sales, and midweek booking strategies, late-night reservations offer unique opportunities to score significant discounts.

Leading travel operator Ski Vertigo, along with an industry insider, highlights the reasons why booking your trip after 8 pm could benefit you.

1. Dynamic Pricing Adjustments
Travel websites, airlines, and hotels often use sophisticated dynamic pricing algorithms to adjust their prices in real-time. These algorithms consider various factors, including current demand, the number of available seats or rooms, and competitor prices. During the day, when most people are online searching for flights and accommodations, prices tend to be higher due to increased demand. However, as the evening progresses and fewer people are actively booking trips, these algorithms may reduce prices to encourage last-minute bookings. After 8 pm, with lower website traffic, the algorithms may lower prices to fill remaining seats or rooms. By booking during these off-peak hours, you can take advantage of these reduced prices before they increase again the following day when demand picks up.

2. Unbooked Inventory Release
Airlines, hotels, and travel platforms strive to avoid having unsold inventory, whether it’s empty plane seats or unoccupied hotel rooms. Unbooked inventory directly translates to lost revenue, as once a flight departs or a night passes, those opportunities for profit are gone. To mitigate this, many travel companies adjust their pricing throughout the day to fill vacancies. After 8 pm, providers may notice certain flights or rooms are still unsold and reduce the price as a last-ditch effort to sell them. These reductions are often automated and unadvertised, but savvy travellers checking prices late at night can benefit from these deals. While this trend is more common for last-minute bookings, it can also apply to advance reservations when certain dates or destinations aren’t attracting enough demand.

3. Flash Sales and Promotions
In the competitive world of travel, many companies offer flash sales or limited-time promotions to boost bookings, particularly during slower periods. These sales often start after regular business hours—around or after 8 pm—targeting those who browse travel options in the evening. These promotions may include discounts on flights, hotels, or holiday packages, potentially saving you significant money if you catch them at the right time. Airlines may offer "night owl" deals or "happy hour" promotions with temporarily reduced fares on certain routes. Hotels may do the same, offering discounts on upcoming dates or during off-peak seasons. These sales are designed to appeal to people in the evening, when they’re more relaxed and thinking about leisure activities, making it an ideal time to lure them with special offers.

4. Midweek and Off-Peak Benefits
The time of day you book is crucial, but so is the day of the week. Research has shown that midweek—especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays—can be the best time to find travel deals. Many airlines and travel companies review their bookings from the weekend and early in the week, often adjusting prices by Tuesday or Wednesday evening on flights, hotels, or holiday packages that haven’t sold as expected. If you’re booking late at night on these days, you’re more likely to find reduced prices as travel providers strive to balance their sales targets. This is particularly advantageous if you have a flexible schedule and can avoid pricier peak travel days, such as Fridays and weekends, when demand is higher.

An insider who spoke to Ski Vertigo commented on the findings:
"Booking after 8 pm might not only save you money but also offer a stress-free way to plan your trip. When you're more relaxed in the evening, you're less likely to make rushed decisions that could cost you later. This extra time allows you to calmly compare options, read reviews, and even reach out to customer service during quieter hours.

"If you're flexible, consider flights during off-peak times, such as early morning or late night. These are often cheaper since they're less popular with most travellers. Additionally, look out for free add-ons like complimentary breakfast or airport transfers, which are sometimes bundled into hotel deals during these low-traffic times, significantly reducing your overall holiday costs without you even realising.”