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Holiday hotel prices: what really happens?

Most people expect hotels to cost more over the holidays. We pulled hotel pricing on the night before Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve in 2025. All 3 were on a Wednesday, which meant we could easily compare to the surrounding Wednesdays. Read our methodology here.

Jack Swiatoschik
Jack Swiatoschik Data Analyst · LinkedIn
Alec Hollingsworth
Alec Hollingsworth Sr. Organic Growth Manager · LinkedIn

November 2026

Surprising Result

We found that city hotels were 5% cheaper the night before Thanksgiving and 12% cheaper on Christmas Eve. Getaway prices held flat on both nights, then jumped 34% on New Year's Eve.

By City Type

Night before ThanksgivingThanksgivingChristmas EveChristmasNew Year's EveNew Year's
Cities−5%40 with a clear read−12%34 with a clear read+2%37 with a clear read
Getaways0%27 with a clear read0%13 with a clear read+34%23 with a clear read

Medians use cities with a clear read.

San Juan

CitiesBig and mid-size cities and their suburbs, like New York, Chicago and Boise.

GetawaysBeach, theme park and mountain towns people mostly visit on vacation, like Key West, Orlando and Asheville.

Holiday Hotel Price By City

CitiesGetawaysWithin 10% of typical
Night before Thanksgiving16 cheaper · 4 more expensive
−40%−20%typical+20%+40%+60%+80% Boston −44%Santa Barbara +30% −40%typical+40%+80% Boston −44%Santa Barbara +30%
Christmas Eve20 cheaper · 5 more expensive
−40%−20%typical+20%+40%+60%+80% Scottsdale −45%Honolulu +44% −40%typical+40%+80% Scottsdale −45%Honolulu +44%
New Year's Eve7 cheaper · 28 more expensive
Off the chart −40%−20%typical+20%+40%+60%+80% Scottsdale −39% Key West +107%New Orleans +137%St. Augustine +110% Off the chart −40%typical+40%+80% Scottsdale −39% Key West +107%New Orleans +137%St. Augustine +110%

City Lookup Table

CityNight before ThanksgivingChristmas EveNew Year's Eve
New Orleans, LACity $159−1%vs. $160$136No clear signal$349+137%vs. $147
St. Augustine, FLGetaway $176No clear signal$215+43%vs. $151$315+110%vs. $151
Key West, FLGetaway $3390%vs. $340$530No clear signal$855+107%vs. $413
Chicago, ILCity $182No clear signal$160No clear signal$293+68%vs. $174
Flagstaff, AZGetaway $131+14%vs. $115$144Not enough data$177+62%vs. $109
Honolulu, HIGetaway $211−8%vs. $230$337+44%vs. $234$377+61%vs. $234
San Juan, PRGetaway $255No clear signal$317+22%vs. $260$403+55%vs. $260
Delray Beach, FLGetaway $279No clear signal$350Not enough data$474+51%vs. $314
Clearwater Beach, FLGetaway $209+2%vs. $206$232No clear signal$310+47%vs. $211
Santa Barbara, CAGetaway $303+30%vs. $234$291Not enough data$326+46%vs. $223
Kissimmee, FLGetaway $1060%vs. $106$127+16%vs. $110$156+42%vs. $110
Fort Lauderdale, FLGetaway $1660%vs. $165$231No clear signal$259+37%vs. $189
Los Angeles, CACity $171−4%vs. $177$181+1%vs. $178$242+36%vs. $178
Orlando, FLGetaway $122No clear signal$158No clear signal$193+35%vs. $143
Laguna Beach, CAGetaway $307+16%vs. $265$310+18%vs. $263$353+34%vs. $263
Las Vegas, NVGetaway $144No clear signal$137No clear signal$222+33%vs. $167
Santa Monica, CAGetaway $299−6%vs. $318$276No clear signal$387+25%vs. $309
St. Petersburg, FLGetaway $153−3%vs. $158$1680%vs. $168$208+24%vs. $168
Anaheim, CAGetaway $193+2%vs. $188$206No clear signal$222+23%vs. $181
Philadelphia, PACity $185No clear signal$176−3%vs. $182$223+22%vs. $182
Coronado, CAGetaway $320+5%vs. $304$299−1%vs. $304$362+19%vs. $304
Virginia Beach, VAGetaway $128+4%vs. $123$131Not enough data$142+19%vs. $120
Savannah, GAGetaway $1400%vs. $140$139+5%vs. $132$156+18%vs. $132
Lexington, KYCity $116No clear signal$110Not enough data$139+16%vs. $120
Seattle, WACity $164No clear signal$147No clear signal$188+14%vs. $164
Cleveland, OHCity $162−2%vs. $165$139Not enough data$183+14%vs. $160
West Hollywood, CACity $362No clear signal$346−12%vs. $395$448+13%vs. $395
Pittsburgh, PACity $147No clear signal$126−13%vs. $144$161+12%vs. $144
Baltimore, MDCity $145−8%vs. $157$136Not enough data$167+8%vs. $155
Alexandria, VACity $142−7%vs. $152$138Not enough data$157+7%vs. $147
San Antonio, TXCity $113No clear signal$112−6%vs. $119$126+6%vs. $119
Columbus, OHCity $133−2%vs. $135$129Not enough data$141+5%vs. $134
Oklahoma City, OKCity $112+3%vs. $109$104−2%vs. $107$112+5%vs. $107
Albuquerque, NMCity $138−3%vs. $142$133−1%vs. $135$141+4%vs. $135
Reno, NVGetaway $155−2%vs. $159$146−7%vs. $158$165+4%vs. $158
Minneapolis, MNCity $128No clear signal$124−5%vs. $131$137+4%vs. $131
St. Paul, MNCity $126−3%vs. $130$125−2%vs. $128$133+4%vs. $128
Chattanooga, TNCity $122Not enough data$115Not enough data$123+4%vs. $119
Mount Pleasant, SCCity $143+2%vs. $140$123−6%vs. $130$133+2%vs. $130
Portland, ORCity $133−2%vs. $135$122−4%vs. $127$129+2%vs. $127
Carlsbad, CAGetaway $200+7%vs. $187$191No clear signal$180+1%vs. $177
Milwaukee, WICity $126−3%vs. $129$119−4%vs. $125$126+1%vs. $125
Sarasota, FLGetaway $147−4%vs. $153$145No clear signal$161+1%vs. $160
Fort Worth, TXCity $130Different hotels$115No clear signal$123+1%vs. $122
Richmond, VACity $154+5%vs. $146$139Not enough data$149+1%vs. $148
Costa Mesa, CACity $137−5%vs. $144$131−7%vs. $141$1420%vs. $141
Colorado Springs, COCity $107Not enough data$108Not enough data$105−1%vs. $106
Birmingham, ALCity $144−3%vs. $148$132−8%vs. $143$141−1%vs. $143
Jacksonville, FLCity $124−2%vs. $127$125−3%vs. $129$127−2%vs. $129
Knoxville, TNCity $145−2%vs. $148$127No clear signal$136−2%vs. $139
Houston, TXCity $125−5%vs. $131$120No clear signal$128−3%vs. $132
Indianapolis, INCity $121−9%vs. $132$118No clear signal$123−5%vs. $129
Salt Lake City, UTCity $132No clear signal$128−15%vs. $150$142−5%vs. $150
Austin, TXCity $141No clear signal$123−22%vs. $158$134−15%vs. $158
Phoenix, AZCity $124−33%vs. $186$117−35%vs. $180$148−18%vs. $180
Washington, DCCity $163−40%vs. $269$162−32%vs. $237$194−18%vs. $237
Arlington, VACity $136−37%vs. $217$128−39%vs. $211$161−24%vs. $211
San Jose, CACity $157−18%vs. $193$150−27%vs. $206$144−30%vs. $206
Tempe, AZCity $125−36%vs. $196$122−39%vs. $201$137−32%vs. $201
Scottsdale, AZGetaway $163−31%vs. $237$140−45%vs. $256$156−39%vs. $256
Asheville, NCGetaway $145−3%vs. $150$132−1%vs. $133$146No clear signal
Atlanta, GACity $136No clear signal$129−21%vs. $164$156No clear signal
Beverly Hills, CACity $437Different hotels$413Different hotels$407Different hotels
Boca Raton, FLGetaway $178+7%vs. $167$200Not enough data$233No clear signal
Boise, IDCity $123No clear signal$127Not enough data$124Not enough data
Boston, MACity $210−44%vs. $374$212No clear signal$295No clear signal
Branson, MOGetaway $133No clear signal$125Not enough data$120Not enough data
Brooklyn, NYCity $300No clear signal$347No clear signal$420No clear signal
Buffalo, NYCity $163−3%vs. $169$151Not enough data$221Not enough data
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CAGetaway $342Not enough data$317Not enough data$366Not enough data
Charleston, SCGetaway $204+4%vs. $196$191No clear signal$193No clear signal
Charlotte, NCCity $144−13%vs. $164$130−20%vs. $161$145No clear signal
Cincinnati, OHCity $116−7%vs. $125$151Different hotels$139No clear signal
Clearwater, FLGetaway $117+5%vs. $111$109No clear signal$130No clear signal
Dallas, TXCity $128−6%vs. $136$120−15%vs. $142$173Different hotels
Denver, COCity $131−13%vs. $152$132−12%vs. $150$202Different hotels
Durham, NCCity $131−15%vs. $154$120−18%vs. $146$130No clear signal
Fort Myers, FLGetaway $110−3%vs. $114$109No clear signal$141No clear signal
Gatlinburg, TNGetaway $169Not enough data$172Not enough data$238Not enough data
Jersey City, NJCity $291−36%vs. $457$375No clear signal$485No clear signal
Kansas City, MOCity $147−6%vs. $156$158No clear signal$157No clear signal
Long Beach, CACity $186No clear signal$165−17%vs. $198$184Not enough data
Louisville, KYCity $115No clear signal$114No clear signal$137No clear signal
Madison, WICity $119Not enough data$106Not enough data$113Not enough data
Marina del Rey, CAGetaway $269No clear signal$265Different hotels$315Different hotels
Memphis, TNCity $127+5%vs. $121$125+3%vs. $122$130No clear signal
Miami Beach, FLGetaway $208Not enough data$307Not enough data$477Not enough data
Miami, FLCity $168No clear signal$252+6%vs. $238$355Different hotels
Monterey, CAGetaway $193Not enough data$174Not enough data$212Not enough data
Myrtle Beach, SCGetaway $119+6%vs. $112$119Not enough data$123Not enough data
Naples, FLGetaway $188+16%vs. $162$212No clear signal$243Not enough data
Nashville, TNCity $156No clear signal$141No clear signal$211Different hotels
New York, NYCity $387−42%vs. $669$430No clear signal$606No clear signal
Newport Beach, CAGetaway $227−19%vs. $281$216−29%vs. $303$260No clear signal
Palm Springs, CAGetaway $249Not enough data$266Not enough data$348Not enough data
Pensacola, FLGetaway $113−3%vs. $116$1150%vs. $115$104No clear signal
Pigeon Forge, TNGetaway $159Not enough data$132Not enough data$170Not enough data
Raleigh, NCCity $143−17%vs. $172$131−19%vs. $161$145No clear signal
Sacramento, CACity $154Different hotels$151Not enough data$141Not enough data
St. Louis, MOCity $154No clear signal$148No clear signal$182No clear signal
San Diego, CACity $160No clear signal$160−3%vs. $165$189No clear signal
San Francisco, CACity $153−4%vs. $159$147No clear signal$178No clear signal
South Lake Tahoe, CAGetaway $129Not enough data$218Not enough data$354Not enough data
Tampa, FLCity $142−16%vs. $170$141−29%vs. $198$179No clear signal
Tucson, AZCity $116−1%vs. $117$114No clear signal$111No clear signal
West Palm Beach, FLCity $163−29%vs. $228$209−29%vs. $296$241No clear signal

No clear signal: the holiday was cheaper than the weeks on one side and not the other, so we can't say which way it went. Different hotels: the price moved because different hotels showed up that night, not because hotels changed their prices. Not enough data: too few hotels that night.

Night before Thanksgiving

Typical WednesdayNight before Thanksgiving
Boston, MA
$374 to $210 −44%
New York, NY
$669 to $387 −42%
Washington, DC
$269 to $163 −40%
Arlington, VA
$217 to $136 −37%
Jersey City, NJ
$457 to $291 −36%
Tempe, AZ
$196 to $125 −36%
Phoenix, AZ
$186 to $124 −33%
Scottsdale, AZ
$237 to $163 −31%

Biggest drops on November 26, 2025.

Christmas Eve

Typical WednesdayChristmas Eve
Scottsdale, AZ
$256 to $140 −45%
Tempe, AZ
$201 to $122 −39%
Arlington, VA
$211 to $128 −39%
Phoenix, AZ
$180 to $117 −35%
Washington, DC
$237 to $162 −32%
West Palm Beach, FL
$296 to $209 −29%
Tampa, FL
$198 to $141 −29%
Newport Beach, CA
$303 to $216 −29%

Biggest drops on December 24, 2025.

New Year's Eve

Typical WednesdayNew Year's Eve
New Orleans, LA
$147 to $349 +137%
St. Augustine, FL
$151 to $315 +110%
Key West, FL
$413 to $855 +107%
Chicago, IL
$174 to $293 +68%
Flagstaff, AZ
$109 to $177 +62%
Honolulu, HI
$234 to $377 +61%
San Juan, PR
$260 to $403 +55%
Delray Beach, FL
$314 to $474 +51%
Clearwater Beach, FL
$211 to $310 +47%
Santa Barbara, CA
$223 to $326 +46%

Biggest jumps on December 31, 2025.

NYE Standouts

The five highest and lowest nightly hotel prices on December 31, 2025.

Highest
Key West, FL$855
New York, NY$606
Jersey City, NJ$485
Delray Beach, FL$474
West Hollywood, CA$448
Lowest
Pensacola, FL$104
Colorado Springs, CO$105
Tucson, AZ$111
Oklahoma City, OK$112
Indianapolis, IN$123

Consistently Cheap Cities

Night before ThanksgivingThanksgivingChristmas EveChristmasNew Year's EveNew Year's
Scottsdale−31%$163−45%$140−39%$156
Tempe−36%$125−39%$122−32%$137
Arlington−37%$136−39%$128−24%$161
Washington, DC−40%$163−32%$162−18%$194
Phoenix−33%$124−35%$117−18%$148
San Jose−18%$157−27%$150−30%$144

Which Holidays to Watch

Night before ThanksgivingLittle change

City hotels ran 5% below a typical Wednesday and getaways ran about even. Book as you normally would.

Christmas EveCheaper in cities

City hotels ran 12% below a typical Wednesday. Getaways ran about even.

New Year's EveMore expensive in getaways

Getaway hotels ran 34% above a typical Wednesday, led by St. Augustine and Key West. City hotels stayed close to normal. If a trip runs into December 31, book getaway towns early.

Methodology

PricesWe used the median nightly price in Engine hotel searches, with taxes and fees included. These are prices people saw in search, not bookings or Engine's negotiated prices.

A typical WednesdayLuckily, all three holidays were on Wednesdays in 2025, which gave us clean comparisons. We skipped the weeks right around Christmas and New Year's.

10% ruleWe only call a city cheaper or more expensive if it moved at least 10% against both the weeks before and after. About 1 in 10 normal Wednesdays move that much by chance.

Thin dataWe left a city out when a night had thin data, fewer than five companies, or one company making up over half the searches.

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For month-by-month hotel prices in 50 U.S. cities, see Every City Has a Season.