How far in advance to book a room

[ncbyrne]

Our next trip is May 2-12, 2004. I have already booked our flights (FREE w/Delta FF miles...got nonstop EWR-MCO) And, I found a really great rental car rate at Alamo ($267.28 including ALL fees)- midsize for 10 days (Travelocity). Of course I will continue to search for a better price, but odds are this low price will prevail.
The next hurdle is getting a good price for hotels. We'll use the gov. rate at the Dolphin for 4 nights ($148 w/taxes inc), but also looking for 3 nights at a DD hotel and another 3 days at an offsite resort. I've not found any really good rates yet. DH likes to have this confirmed as soon as possible, and then work out the fine details of the itinerary - based on where we're staying and what days.
How far in advance do you book your offsite hotel, and approx how far out do the great rates show up? i.e - DD Marriot at $20 rate!

 

[disneysteve]

I have booked offsite hotels anywhere between about 6 months and 6 days from arrival. When I've booked on the long end of that range, I always end up cancelling and rebooking at a lower rate, but at least I've got a guaranteed reservation. When I booked the trip 6 days in advance (long story), I was able to get exactly the hotel I wanted for a great rate.

Unless you are going during a peak season, and I don't think your dates would be, there's no huge rush unless you are committed to a certain hotel. In that case, book now at current rates and you can always change later if the rate drops or a better deal comes along somewhere else.

Steve