Anyone wait to book until the last minute for a deal?

[Anya22]

I was just curious if anyone has waited to book accommodations until a couple weeks before to take advantage of low prices from owners with gaps in their calendar? Where and what was the deal? I was looking specifically at Windsor Hills but would be OK with other similar communities. Just curious if anyone has done it and how it worked out (and what time of year it was).

 

[loveysbydesign]

In 2010 we got $199 for the week condo at WH..just happened to get luckly and get an email about a last minute deal.

 

[Hasil72]

I'm an obsessive planner so it's normally not my style to wait but this year circumstances have us splitting Easter break between on and off site. We lucked out and found owners who had a gap over Easter weekend so we booked a Windsor Hills townhouse Fri-Mon for about $100/nt and they waived the cleaning fee.

 

[Hasil72]

FWIW, you can always ask an owner if they're offering a deal when you see a gap in the near future. Some will; others won't.

 

[Ametista]

That is a very good trick. We tried that once when somebody had a 4 day gap in an otherwise fully booked month, it saved us the $90 cleaning fee. Its worth a shot to ask. Otherwise, the owner makes NO money off those 4 days, this way they made a few hundred anyway.

 

[Hasil72]

Otherwise, the owner makes NO money off those 4 days, this way they made a few hundred anyway.

I see it that way too but my friend recently purchased a shore home and was advised that sometimes they need to leave it open to show a "loss" for tax purposes. I'm learning a lot more from the owners perspective and I'm able to pass on the renter point of view in return.

 

[Ametista]

I see it that way too but my friend recently purchased a shore home and was advised that sometimes they need to leave it open to show a "loss" for tax purposes. I'm learning a lot more from the owners perspective and I'm able to pass on the renter point of view in return.

So an unbooked night is a loss? I wonder how many nights are supposed to be left unbooked. It seems like the slow season would take care of that on its own. Where is your friend's home?

 

[Redarrow5150]

Depends as they may have other investments that become a wash if they take a loss with the home.

So an unbooked night is a loss? I wonder how many nights are supposed to be left unbooked. It seems like the slow season would take care of that on its own. Where is your friend's home?

 

[Hasil72]

It's at the Jersey shore. Luckily, she wasn't devastated by Sandy.

 

[Donnainnj]

I was just curious if anyone has waited to book accommodations until a couple weeks before to take advantage of low prices from owners with gaps in their calendar? Where and what was the deal? I was looking specifically at Windsor Hills but would be OK with other similar communities. Just curious if anyone has done it and how it worked out (and what time of year it was).

I just lucked out and got a March 23rd - March 30th rental of a 3 BR 2Bath Windsor Hills for a reduced rate today. I had been waiting it out for a while, and while the price wasn't quite as low as I hoped (Week before Easter and all) it did put it in my budget for a trip we needed to take somewhat last minute. If we could not have gotten it in our budget we would have Hotwired a 1br hotel, but we like Windsor Hills more, and love having all the room and all the Disney touches in this condo. I rented from vacationcentralflorida.com My rate was $899 plus $75 cleaning, and tax. I know they go much lower for times that are not as high demand, but I think this is $300 off what it was listed yesterday.
Donna