Why it matters. The booking patterns here apply to any international traveler, not just Koreans — the timing and destination data offer concrete ways to lower hotel costs anywhere.
Background. The findings come from Hotels.com, a global Expedia Group booking site, but the day-of-week and destination figures are drawn specifically from South Korean travelers' overseas bookings, so the popular destinations skew toward East and Southeast Asia. Prices are quoted in Korean won (roughly 1,300 won to the US dollar); the 113% domestic five-star markup reflects how expensive high-end hotels are within South Korea itself, which pushes many Korean travelers abroad for luxury stays.
What to watch next. Rising five-star search volumes in Chinese cities and Kyoto suggest demand — and likely prices — at those destinations could climb heading into the summer travel season.
Last-minute and Thursday bookings save the most
Travelers who want to cut their hotel bills should book late and check in on a Thursday, according to the 2026 Hotel Price Index released by booking platform Hotels.com. The report, based on the company’s reservation data and a survey of 11,000 travelers worldwide, found that guests who booked within a week of check-in paid an average of 44% less than those who booked four or more months ahead.
The last-minute discount was especially pronounced at four-star properties, where waiting until the final stretch saved an average of 36%. The day of the week mattered too: among South Korean travelers booking overseas hotels, Thursday check-ins were the cheapest, while Saturday check-ins were the most expensive. The takeaway, the report suggests, is that simply shifting an arrival date can trim costs for anyone with a flexible itinerary.
Season also plays a role. Spring emerged as the most economical time to travel, with rates bottoming out in the second week of March and February also offering low prices. Early October, when autumn travel demand and public holidays converge, pushed rates to their yearly peak.
Where rooms got cheaper — and where value lives
Several destinations have become more affordable than a year earlier. The steepest drops in average daily rate (ADR) were in Kagoshima, Japan (-20%), Las Vegas, USA (-15%), and Da Nang, Vietnam (-10%) — all long-popular picks among Korean travelers now available at lower prices.
For outright cheap stays, Southeast Asian cities dominated the list of destinations averaging under 220,000 won (roughly $160) per night: Hanoi and Manila (about 154,000 won each), Ho Chi Minh City (155,000 won), Jakarta (166,000 won), and Nha Trang (173,000 won).
A shifting definition of luxury
The survey also pointed to a generational change in what counts as luxury. While 55% of Gen Z and 53% of millennial respondents said their interest in upscale stays held steady or grew this year, their choices skewed practical: Gen Z used four-star hotels (37%) far more often than five-star ones (18%). For this group, luxury is defined less by star rating than by experience — a great view (39%) topped the list, followed by spacious rooms (31%), room service (30%), and high-tech amenities (30%).
Value-conscious travelers can also reach five-star territory abroad without a steep premium. Hotels.com data put the average five-star rate in Nha Trang at 199,000 won, with Kuala Lumpur (242,000 won), Manila (249,000 won), Jakarta (264,000 won), and Bangkok (276,000 won) all under 380,000 won a night. Notably, upgrading from four to five stars costs an average of 39% more overseas, versus 113% more within South Korea — a gap that helps explain the appeal of foreign luxury stays. Searches for five-star hotels rose fastest for Beijing and Shenzhen (both up 65%), followed by Denpasar (60%), Shanghai (50%), and Kyoto (45%).
