Am I the only one who saw a huge difference in hostel costs after switching to weekday bookings?

I usually book hostels on weekends thinking that's when everyone travels, but last month I tried a Tuesday night in a hostel in Portland for $28 a night. The same place wanted $45 on a Friday. It made me wonder if I've been overpaying for years. Anyone else notice a big price drop for weekday stays in their city?

3 comments

3 Comments

davis.noah1mo ago

Oh man, you might be onto something bigger than just hostels. I've noticed the same thing with Airbnbs and even some hotels when I travel for work. Weekday rates are almost always lower because they're trying to fill beds when demand drops off. Weekend travelers are the cash cows, so they jack up prices knowing people will pay it. It's like reverse psychology - stay when nobody else wants to and save a ton.

vera_lewis21mo ago

Right, and here's the part nobody talks about. That whole "reverse psychology" thing works even better if you flip the day of the week you check in. Most people book Friday to Sunday, but if you check in on a Monday or Tuesday and leave Thursday, you're getting the absolute lowest rates because you're covering the dead zone. Hotels and Airbnbs run their pricing algorithms on check-in date, not just the night you stay, so a Tuesday check-in triggers a completely different price tier than a Thursday one. It's like gaming the system by avoiding the weekend entirely, not just staying during it. Plus you miss all the crowds and noise, which is honestly a bonus.

the_lisa1mo ago

Oh wow, I never thought about it like that before. I always assumed the checkout day mattered more for pricing, but you're totally right about the check-in date being the trigger. That kind of flips everything I thought I knew about booking travel on its head. Honestly, I'm a little embarrassed I didn't realize that sooner since I travel a decent amount. Anyway, thanks for pointing that out... definitely gonna test this theory next time I plan a trip.