⏳Book 2–3 months in advance or go for last-minute deals? Different strategies for spring/summer/autumn

There are two voices when it comes to hotel planning. One whispers, ‘Book now, before prices go up.’ The other urges, ‘Wait, they'll definitely offer a discount in a week.’ In Denmark, both are right — in different months and for different tasks. In spring and autumn, a ‘reasonable wait-and-see tactic’ works, but in summer and during event weeks (Copenhagen Marathon in May, Distortion in early June, Pride in mid-August), last-minute deals often break down. Below is a simple map: what to do with timing for spring/summer/autumn, when a return fare saves the day, and how not to overpay for emotions and location.

🧭 How prices behave in general (briefly and to the point)

• Spring (April–May): this is the ‘shoulder’ season, but with reservations. Weekdays are sometimes cheaper than weekends, conferences can drive up weekday rates, and Marathon in May raises prices on weekends and surrounding days. Booking window: 4–8 weeks. Last-minute deals are possible on non-event weekdays.
• Summer (June–August): long days, festivals (Distortion in early June, Pride in mid-August). Weekends are the most expensive. Booking window: 8–12 weeks, and even earlier for top locations/boutiques. Last-minute is risky, especially on Fridays and Saturdays and for specific requests (view, A/C, family room).
• Autumn (September–October): shoulder season again. Weekdays are quiet, weekends are lively. Keep an eye on conferences and autumn school holidays (October) — they can push prices up for a day or two. Booking window: 4–6 weeks. Last-minute deals are more common on weekdays.

Bonus insight: in November and February (outside the scope of this article, but illustrative), the approach of ‘holding a refund and catching a drop in 7–14 days’ often works. But in June–August, cheap deals almost never come on their own.

💸 Illustrations of dynamics (guidelines for planning)

This is not a price list, but realistic ranges: to understand the order of amounts and market behaviour.

📉 ‘Drop’ in low months (November/February) — what it looks like

• Centre, business 3–4★, weekdays in November:
  • for 6–8 weeks: 1,050–1,350 DKK,
  • for 10–14 days: 850–1,050 DKK (−15–30%),
  • for 2–3 days in a ‘quiet’ week: 750–950 DKK (if available).
• Boutique outside the ‘hot streets’, February:
  • for 6–8 weeks: 1,400–1,800 DKK,
  • for 10–14 days: 1,100–1,450 DKK.

Conclusion: it is wise to keep a refundable booking and monitor it; it is often possible to ‘roll over’ the booking to the same dates at a lower price.

📈 ‘Rush’ at peak times (June/August) — when last-minute deals don't help

• Centre/Nyhavn, boutique/view, July, Fri–Sat:
  • 10–12 weeks in advance: 2,200–3,000 DKK,
  • 10–14 days in advance: 2,800–3,800 DKK (+20–40%),
  • 2–3 days in advance: limited selection, almost no ‘view/A/S/family’ options.
• Station/Cityringen, business 4★, Pride week (mid-August):
  • 8–10 weeks in advance: 1,600–2,200 DKK,
  • 7–10 days in advance: 2,100–2,800 DKK.

Conclusion: if specific details are important to you (area, view, A/C in July, connecting rooms) — book in advance. Last-minute deals at peak times mean compromises.

🧩 Book now or wait?

📅 Spring: 4–8 weeks ahead, keep an eye on the Marathon and weekdays

• What works: 4–8 weeks ahead, lock in a return fare in the city centre/at M3, look at weekdays vs weekends — weekdays are often cheaper.
• What breaks last-minute: Copenhagen Marathon (May). It's better to book in advance for the weekend and 1–2 days around it.
• Tip: if you don't need a specific boutique, leave it open → monitor → rebook when prices drop 7–14 days in advance (weekdays, no events).

☀️ Summer: 8–12 weeks, everything ‘specific’ in advance

• What to book in advance: Nyhavn/water view, A/C in July, family/connecting rooms, boutique icons — these are the first to sell out.
• What breaks last-minute deals: Distortion (early June) and Pride (mid-August). Even ‘just the centre’ skyrockets on these dates.
• Trick: split booking — Fri–Sat in a quiet area (Østerbro/Nordhavn/Islands Brygge), Sun–Thu — the centre ‘for the postcard’. Save money without losing the atmosphere.

🍂 Autumn: 4–6 weeks, weekdays — room for manoeuvre

• What works: weekdays in September–October often offer the most ‘adult’ prices without sacrificing weather and light.
• What to look for: conferences and autumn holidays (October) — drive up rates; it's better to book weekends in advance, but you can wait up to 10–14 days for weekdays.
• Tip: keep a refundable fare and change the property to ‘minus 10-15%’ when prices fall — this is a common occurrence on weekdays.

🧩 ‘Booking windows’ by season

🔁 The ‘refundable vs. non-refundable’ tactic (and when to switch)

Refundable — the default if there are more than 14 days before the trip, the dates may change, or you are hunting for a drop.

Non-refundable — only makes sense if:

• savings ≥15%,
• you already have confirmed tickets/plans,
• it is not a busy week,
• the hotel is not ‘niche’ (view/family/rare A/C).

How to play:

book a refundable ticket now; set reminders for T-21 / T-14 / T-7 / T-3 (days before arrival) — check the price; if you see a drop — rebook cheaper/to another property; 7–10 days before arrival, if 100% sure, convert to non-refundable (or leave refundable if the difference is small).

🧩 Pre-payment checklist

🎯 Working scenarios (who does what)

• Couple for April (3 nights, no ‘special requests’): take a refundable booking for 4–6 weeks, check prices in 10–14 days, and if they drop, rebook.
• Family for July (A/C and family room required): 8–12 weeks in advance, refundable; don't wait for last-minute deals. If it's expensive, split: weekend in a quiet area, weekdays closer to the centre.
• Friends in September (flexible dates): keep a couple of refundable options, watch for drops on weekdays, shift by ±1–2 days.
• Hunting for ‘views’ in August (Pride): book immediately; last-minute almost never works for views/boutiques.