Memorial Day weekend kicks off summer. It's also one of the most expensive travel weekends of the year if you don't plan ahead. We've been watching hotel and flight prices for the past few weeks, and here's what we've learned: the deals are out there, but they won't last much longer.
If you're thinking about getting away for the long weekend, now's the time to lock something in.
Book Now — Seriously
Hotels near popular beach destinations are already filling up. We're seeing rates climb about 15-25% in the two weeks before Memorial Day, and rental car prices can straight-up double in the final week.
Our advice? Book a refundable rate today. If prices drop between now and May, cancel and rebook. If they go up (more likely), you've already locked in the better deal. There's no downside to booking refundable early.
For flights, the sweet spot is 3-6 weeks before departure. If you're reading this in early May and haven't booked yet, don't wait another week.
The Refundable Strategy
Book a refundable hotel rate now. Keep checking prices over the next few weeks. If rates drop, cancel and rebook at the lower price. If they climb (likely), you've already locked in the better rate.
Where to Go (Without Breaking the Bank)
Not every Memorial Day trip needs to cost a fortune. Here's what we're seeing across different budget levels.
If you want to keep it under $150/night, look at the Gulf Coast. Pensacola, Gulf Shores in Alabama, and Galveston are consistently 30-50% cheaper than Atlantic beaches, and the water is warm by late May. We're tracking beachfront hotels starting around $100-130/night through our Expedia and Hotels.com partners. Mountain towns like Gatlinburg, Asheville, and Sedona are another smart play — warm weather, great hiking, and way less competition for rooms than beach towns.
In the $150-250 range, Florida's Atlantic coast opens up. Fort Lauderdale has more hotel inventory than Miami, which keeps rates competitive even on busy weekends. On the West Coast, Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, and Monterey are warm enough for the beach but haven't hit peak summer prices yet.
If you want to go all out, look at the Caribbean. Memorial Day falls in shoulder season down there, so all-inclusive resorts in Cancun and Aruba are running rates that would be impossible in January — we're seeing $200-300/night with food, drinks, and activities included.
The Road Trip Play
Memorial Day is the biggest road trip weekend of the year. A few things we've learned from tracking rental car prices:
Pick up your rental from an off-airport location if you can. Airport counters charge 15-20% more plus a bunch of fees. Enterprise and Hertz tend to have the best rates through our partner network. And here's something most people don't know — full-size cars sometimes price close to compact cars on holiday weekends because of oversupply. Always check the next size up before booking.
On timing: leave Thursday evening or Friday morning if possible. The Saturday departure crush is real. On the way back, come home Monday evening instead of Monday morning — return traffic peaks before noon and clears out by dinner.
Rental Car Insurance
Check your personal auto insurance and credit card benefits before buying the rental company's coverage. Many credit cards include rental car insurance for free if you pay with that card. This can save $20-30/day.
Don't Skip Pre-Booking Activities
If you're heading somewhere touristy, book your activities ahead of time. Boat tours and water activities sell out early for Memorial Day. Some national parks now require timed entry reservations. And if you want waterfront dinner on Saturday night, make that reservation now — not when you arrive.
We've found that booking through Viator or GetYourGuide typically saves 10-15% compared to walking up on the day. Plus you skip the "sorry, we're full" conversation.
This Weekend's Travel Deals
We update travel deals every Friday. Here's what's available now — many of these will work for Memorial Day weekend.
Live Deals
3 active
Casablanca Hotel by Library Hotel Collection
May 31 – Jun 7
The single biggest factor in Memorial Day travel costs is timing. The deals that exist today won't exist in three weeks. Book now, choose refundable when you can, and enjoy the long weekend.
Weekend travel deals, every Friday
Deals that expire Sunday night — including holiday weekends. No spam.
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