Hotwire has revealed the results of its American Travel Behaviour Survey, conducted online in conjunction with Harris Interactive in July among over 2,000 adults.
The findings uncovered an important traveler misconception. According to the survey, 70 percent of Americans believe that booking a last-minute leisure trip costs more than booking one further in advance. And yet, the vast majority, 82 percent, would only need a discount of at least 10 percent off to take one more trip than they may already have planned. Fortunately, Hotwire has uncovered that booking last-minute can actually save travelers big.

To myth bust the notion that last-minute travel is more expensive, Hotwire found that travelers can receive last-minute discounts of up to almost 50 percent off in many popular destinations, especially when booking within seven days of the travel date. Traveler flexibility in choosing both the destination and timing is always important to get the deepest savings, but with big discounts to so many great cities, treating yourself to one more fun getaway is certainly within reach before the hectic holiday season begins.

“Many travelers would love to take one more trip before we head into the busy holidays, but unfortunately they think booking last-minute would be too costly,” said Clem Bason, president of the Hotwire Group. “It’s a common misconception, but the truth is, Hotwire will often save you the most money on a trip that’s booked within seven days of travel. So it’s always a great time to book and take advantage of last-minute savings.”

Potential travelers should also know that the fall season creates a unique environment for getting even better last-minute deals. As the industry comes out of the high demand of summer, it experiences an overall dip in travel bookings known as shoulder season. This lasts until holiday travel picks up in late November. So starting today, and right up to the week of Thanksgiving, is a great time to score a very affordable trip.

Below are the top ten cities with the deepest last-minute hotel discounts versus retail rates on Hotwire. The average discounts are based on bookings made within seven-days of travel over the past year: