Last minute hotels

My previously mentioned buddy, Greg...  sent me a text one morning that he was on his way to Miami Beach.  I love that area and I have run down there, last minute to hang for a weekend with him.   (Two pudgy, middle aged, pasty white guys from the north.. we didn't stand out) 

So I asked him.. where you staying?     His reply was,  I won't know until I get there. 

That's how last minute his plans were. He landed at the airport and booked his hotel.  MOST people, would freak out at that though... but if you want ROCK bottom price on a hotel, that's the way to do it. Especially on Hotwire or Priceline.   

I would ask my son if he wanted to go to Chicago for the weekend.. if I could get a hotel for under $80, we'd go.   I'd book it on Thursday night and off we'd go after school on Friday.   We're guys..  give us about five minutes and we're packed and ready to go. 

I mentioned earlier, we were able to wake up on a Saturday morning in Indianapolis, during the NCAA regional finals and get a hotel for $57 downtown.  The HILTON, no less.. not some lesser hotel.  That was pretty neat. 

I did look one time, on Expedia, for a hotel in Santa Fe NM... and got a terrific rate.  I asked the front desk clerk if they could honor that rate.. she said she was sorry, but she couldn't.  It was $30 or so more...  but she did volunteer that they had wireless and I could book it online, from the lobby.  Which is what I did. 

It was almost instantly sent to the hotel.   

Last minute is the way to go.   I'm sure to be burned at some point.. getting shut out by HIGHER than normal prices.    I've found that at about 7 days out.. that would appear to be the best time to book at a reasonable price.  I'm not saying that will always be the case.. and, if you don't like the rate.. you don't have to go.