Hotels, booked the honest way

Before you compare

How hotel pricing actually works

Hotels are priced per night, per room, and the same room rarely holds one price for long. These are the levers that move the number you will see when you check.

• Season and local events: school holidays, festivals, trade fairs and big matches lift a whole city's rates at once, while the quiet weeks between them soften them.
• How far ahead you book: many hotels release flexible rates early and adjust as rooms fill, so the same stay can cost more booked late — or occasionally less, when a hotel would rather fill a room than hold out.
• Rate flexibility: a rate you can cancel usually costs more than the identical room paid upfront with no changes allowed. You are paying for the option to change your mind.
• Location within the destination: the famous postcode, the sea view and the landmark on the doorstep are real price lines, not rounding errors.
• Room and board: view, floor, size, and whether breakfast or other meals are bundled in move the total more than most extras do.
• Length of stay: some hotels price longer stays more kindly per night; others simply multiply. It is always worth checking the total for your exact dates rather than a headline nightly figure.