Can anyone help: when is the best time to book accommodation (hotel and apartment) if I am planning a trip in January?

I am planning to visit Verona and Malaga in January 2015, and would like to know when it is the best time to book accommodation for these places. The accommodation ideally would be in the centre of both cities and to accommodate 4 adults.



Thanks

I would love to read this answer for Italy in general for a future trip.

I honestly don't understand your dilemma - If there are specific places you want to stay, book as soon as your dates are firm.

There is no advantage to waiting really.

Meant to add - sometimes you <i>can't</i> book very far ahead simply because some properties don't post their rates or take bookings . . . say the year before.

What janisj said, book as soon as your dates are firm.

Email the place, see if the rates are set yet, and book when they are. If they are not, the hotel will tell you when they will be, or might hold a reservation for you, usually for the current price + 10% until the final rates are known.

Basically, the game of chicken you play with airline rates doesn't apply to hotels.

As soon as your dates are definite. That will give you the most options. The longer you wait the fewer choices there are, especially true if you want a room for 4 adults - which is fairly rare.

Does the question about timing have to do with price? If you don't much care where you stay and want sales, or last minute deals, that might be a reason to wait. But if you want something specific as I generally do, and it sounds like you might, the answer is ASAP, as stated above. When I find what I want at a price I'm willing to pay, I pounce on it. The result, if you don't, is to take what's left.

The OP is ambiguous about what it means by "best time."

Best time for availability = asap once the 2015 rates are up.
Best time for price = there is no general answer. One has to look at the trend at each specific location for specific time periods. The best time to get some supporting empirical data for last minutes pricing would have been if you looked at the rates in Jan 2014 for Jan 2014 stays.

Many places probably have not posted their 2015 availabilities, so they would show up incorrectly as "sold out."

I would try to book a refundable rate as soon as you can. You can always keep checking back to see if you can get a better price.

Hotels may not have prices published for rooms for the following year yet. Wait until nearer Christmas.

I'd say sooner rather than later, Prices tend to go up the closer to the date you want. Same things for flights.