Do you need a hotel room but only for a few hours and not for an entire night?
Perhaps you have a business meeting or a conference at a particular hotel and you are interested in staying there just for the afternoon. Or perhaps you are up to no good….
Either way, you are in luck because a lot of hotels don’t require you to make a full booking and pay the full nightly rate.
Below, I will provide some insight into how to book day rates (which some call hourly rates) and what to expect. I’ll also give you a lot of data points on various hotels across the country and show you the prices and how much properties discount day rates.
Table of Contents
Can you rent a hotel room for a few hours?
Yes, you can book hotels for a few hours or just an afternoon instead a full night. Typically, this is booking the “day rate” of a hotel which is cheaper than a normal stay. After reviewing over 100 properties, we found that the day rate is usually discounted about 45% from the standard nightly rate.
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Things to consider
Booking day rates comes with some limitations versus booking a standard nightly rate. Here are a few factors to keep in mind when making your booking.
Hotel amenity access
When booking an hourly rate, you may not get access to all of the hotel amenities during your stay. Typically, if you are limited in access it will be to something like the hotel pool. Also, you may or may not get access to the free breakfast if you were entitled to one (a lot of breakfast times will end at your time of check-in).
Related: What Hotels Have Free Breakfast?
Booking through partner sites
One of the most common ways to book a hotel for a day rate or hourly rate is to go through certain third-party websites like Day Use.
These can be great because they make it very easy to find hotels that offer hourly rates and they can provide you with specific time windows for a booking.
The thing is, you don’t always have to go through these websites. Sometimes you can call the hotel directly and book an hourly or day rate directly with them over the phone.
A couple of things about doing this though:
First, you may not have all the options that a partner site would provide. For example, if you book directly you may only be able to choose from 8am to 5pm. Meanwhile if you went through a partner site you might be able to choose from several different time slots.
Second, when calling about these rates, it seemed like some hotel agents didn’t want to bother with this type of “special booking” and simply referred us to partner sites.
So sometimes if you want to book directly you may have to push the agent to take action or call back and speak to another one later on.
Earning points for these stays
When we reached out to several hotels we got mixed answers on whether or not hotels will offer points for these stays.
Some stated that they would not offer points while others stated that they would. A few properties even mentioned that you would earn a reduced rate on your point earnings.
And of course, several properties reiterated that guests do not earn points when booking through third-party websites which is one reason why you might want to book directly.
So if you are really concerned about earning points or elite credits for your stay, your best bet is to contact the individual hotel and see what the policy is.
Elite benefits
Many hotels made it sound like you would receive the same type of elite benefits as you would for a standard night stay. For example, if you had Hilton Diamond status you would still get lounge access. Also, you still might be able to score an upgrade in some cases.
Things do seem to get a bit tricky with early check-in and late check-out since you are dealing with a completely different set of times.
But my guess is that if you were to (politely) press for it and there were no capacity issues, you could still get in a little early or out a little late with your elite status.
Specific room types
Some hotels may limit you to specific room times but others may allow you to book hourly rates for any room that is available, including rooms like junior suites and suites. Most hotels seemed to offer their full inventory available for these day rates.
Customizing your time slot
When contacting many properties we struggled to find properties that would allow a customized time slot for a day booking. For example, booking a hotel room for just one hour or two hours did not seem like an option.
Typically, hotels would offer a standard hourly range from something like 8am to 6pm. However, there were a couple of properties that sounded like they would be more lax about this.
So if you have a specific time that you need the room that is not the standard business hour range you might struggle to find a hotel that will allow you to do that unless you really plead your case or book through a partner.
Some hotels block out time
During certain times of the year, some properties will block out availability for hourly rates and day rates. For example, during the busy holiday season a hotel may not allow you to book a day rate. This could also be the case during large events and conventions.
Hotel hourly rates
Below you can find all of the data points we obtained during our research. We focused on 15 of the largest cities in the US and tried to incorporate a variety of different brands and chains.
For each property, you will see the nightly rate which is the standard rate you would pay for one night at the hotel and the day rate which applies to the hours in the adjacent column.
Finally, we also listed the discount rate which shows you how much cheaper the day rate is versus the nightly rate. Overall, we found that the average discount was 45% off the nightly rate.
New York, NY
Average hourly rate discount 57%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
Holiday Inn Express Chelsea | $257 | $89 | 8AM – 6PM | 66% |
Hampton Inn Chelsea | $283 | $89 | 8AM – 4PM | 69% |
Aliz Hotel Times Square | $283 | $89 | 8AM – 4PM | 69% |
Hotel 48LEX New York | $338 | $135 | 8AM – 4PM | 61% |
Holiday Inn Express Times Square | $150 | $89 | 8AM – 6PM | 41% |
Holiday Inn Express Times Square South | $179 | $84 | 9AM – 5PM | 54% |
Hampton Inn by Hilton Madison Square Garden | $257 | $89 | 8AM – 4PM | 66% |
Gild Hall, a Thompson Hotel | $135 | $99 | 8AM – 6PM | 27% |
NOMO SOHO | $299 | $159 | 10AM – 6PM | 47% |
Holiday Inn Wall Street | $257 | $79 | 8AM – 6PM | 70% |
Los Angeles, CA
Average hourly rate discount 51%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles | $179 | $105 | 8AM – 2PM | 42% |
Ramada Los Angeles/Downtown West | $159 | $75 | 9:30AM – 3:30PM | 53% |
Hotel Normandie | $199 | $99 | 10AM – 4PM | 51% |
Comfort Inn Near Old Town Pasadena in Eagle Rock | $149 | $70 | 9AM – 12PM | 54% |
Sheraton Universal Hotel | $329 | $115 | 10AM – 4PM | 66% |
Hilton Garden Inn Burbank Downtown | $309 | $129 | 10AM – 7PM | 59% |
Andaz West Hollywood | $259 | $175 | 8:30AM – 5:30PM | 33% |
Embassy Suites by Hilton Los Angeles Int. Airport North | $189 | $99 | 9AM – 5PM | 48% |
Holiday Inn Los Angeles – LAX Airport | $199 | $82 | 8AM – 5PM | 59% |
Hampton Inn & Suites Los Angeles/Hollywood | $199 | $119 | 10AM – 4PM | 41% |
Chicago, IL
Average hourly rate discount 55%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
Chicago Club Inn Suites | $107 | $75 | 8AM – 5PM | 30% |
Hyatt Regency Chicago | $219 | $115 | 9AM – 5PM | 48% |
Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Midway Airport | $219 | $89 | 9AM – 5PM | 60% |
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile | $239 | $110 | 9AM – 6PM | 54% |
Virgin Hotels Chicago | $199 | $109 | 10AM – 5PM | 46% |
The Talbott Hotel | $209 | $75 | 9AM – 5PM | 65% |
Park Hyatt Chicago | $335 | $149 | 8AM – 3PM | 56% |
Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport | $349 | $109 | 9AM – 6PM | 69% |
Swissotel Chicago | $199 | $90 | 9AM – 5PM | 55% |
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place | $299 | $90 | 8AM – 6PM | 70% |
Houston, TX
Average hourly rate discount 42%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
Courtyard by Marriott Houston Heights/I-10 | $179 | $109 | 10AM – 4PM | 40% |
JW Marriott Houston Downtown | $250 | $119 | 9AM – 6PM | 53% |
Hotel Derek | $169 | $104 | 9AM – 5PM | 39% |
Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel | $139 | $79 | 9AM – 5PM | 44% |
Hyatt Regency Houston | $239 | $119 | 9AM – 5PM | 51% |
Springhill Suites Houston Downtown Convention Center | $159 | $99 | 9AM – 5PM | 38% |
Hampton Inn Houston-Near The Galleria | $149 | $90 | 9AM – 5PM | 40% |
Courtyard by Houston by The Galleria | $129 | $79 | 9AM – 5PM | 39% |
Hotel Ylem | $139 | $89 | 9:30AM – 4:30PM | 36% |
Residence Inn Houston by The Galleria | $149 | $89 | 9AM – 4PM | 41% |
Phoenix, AZ
Average hourly rate discount 42%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
AC Hotel by Marriott Phoenix Biltmore | $199 | $90 | 9AM – 5PM | 55% |
Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Airport | $125 | $85 | 9AM – 5PM | 32% |
Aloft Phoenix Airport | $229 | $99 | 9AM – 5PM | 57% |
MOXY Phoenix Tempe | $139 | $75 | 8AM – 5PM | 47% |
Greentree Hotel Phoenix West | $114 | $75 | 9AM – 5PM | 35% |
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix | $329 | $139 | 9AM – 4PM | 58% |
Sleep Inn Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport | $85 | $65 | 8AM – 2PM | 24% |
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Phoenix Tempe – University | $99 | $70 | 9AM – 3PM | 30% |
Hampton Inn Phoenix-Midtown-Downtown Area | $170 | $89 | 9AM – 3PM | 48% |
The Scottsdale Plaza Resort | $120 | $79 | 9AM – 6PM | 35% |
Philadelphia, PA
Average hourly rate discount 46%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
Wyndham Garden Philadelphia Airport | $139 | $77 | 9AM – 4PM | 45% |
Hyatt Centric Center City Philadelphia | $259 | $115 | 7AM – 1PM | 56% |
Hampton Inn Philadelphia Center City – Convention Center | $164 | $99 | 9AM – 5PM | 40% |
Hampton Inn Philadelphia-International Airport | $159 | $109 | 9AM – 4PM | 32% |
Candlewood Suites Chester | $100 | $80 | 9AM – 6PM | 20% |
Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia Airport | $114 | $76 | 9AM – 5PM | 34% |
The Bellevue Hotel, in the Unbound Collection by Hyatt | $239 | $115 | 9AM – 5PM | 52% |
Homewood Suites University City Philadelphia | $199 | $105 | 10AM – 4PM | 48% |
The Inn at Penn, A Hilton Hotel | $369 | $119 | 10AM – 4PM | 68% |
The Westin Philadelphia | $325 | $129 | 10AM – 4PM | 61% |
San Antonio, TX
Average hourly rate discount 32%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
La Quinta Inn and Suites San Antonio Airport | $99 | $69 | 9AM – 5PM | 31% |
Aloft San Antonio Airport | $159 | $89 | 9AM – 5PM | 45% |
Fairfield Inn & Suites San Antonio Airport North Star Mall | $140 | $89 | 3PM – 11PM | 37% |
Courtyard San Antonio Airport / North Star Mall | $110 | $85 | 7AM – 2PM | 23% |
Sheraton Gunter Hotel San Antonio | $110 | $89 | 9AM – 5PM | 20% |
Wyndham San Antonio Riverwalk | $159 | $109 | 9AM – 4PM | 32% |
Hotel Gibbs Riverwalk Downtown San Antonio | $189 | $120 | 10AM – 3PM | 37% |
San Diego, CA
Average hourly rate discount 57%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
The Westin San Diego | $329 | $99 | 9AM – 5PM | 70% |
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown | $215 | $89 | 9AM – 4PM | 59% |
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego | $209 | $100 | 9AM – 5PM | 53% |
Days Inn by Wyndham San Diego/Downtown/Convention Center | $189 | $75 | 9AM – 4PM | 61% |
Kimpton Hotel Palomar San Diego | $309 | $109 | 9AM – 5PM | 65% |
Four Points by Sheraton San Diego Downtown Little Italy | $160 | $75 | 9AM – 5PM | 54% |
Baymont by Wyndham San Diego Downtown | $169 | $75 | 10AM – 4PM | 56% |
Porto Vista Hotel | $180 | $89 | 8AM – 6PM | 51% |
Hotel Solamar | $299 | $99 | 9AM – 5PM | 67% |
The Bristol Hotel San Diego | $139 | $89 | 9AM – 4PM | 36% |
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
Average hourly rate discount 43%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
Hyatt Regency DFW | $249 | $104 | 9AM – 5PM | 59% |
Holiday Inn Irving Las Colinas | $129 | $70 | 9AM – 5PM | 46% |
Atrium Hotel & Suites | $129 | $69 | 9AM – 4PM | 47% |
Aloft Las Colinas | $250 | $85 | 9AM – 6PM | 66% |
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dallas – DFW Airport North | $199 | $99 | 9AM – 5PM | 51% |
Super 8 by Wyndham Bedford DFW Airport West | $100 | $68 | 9AM – 4PM | 32% |
Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott | $179 | $139 | 9AM – 4PM | 23% |
Super 8 Hotel DFW Airport | $149 | $99 | 8AM – 3PM | 34% |
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Dallas NW – Farmers Branch | $149 | $80 | 8AM – 4PM | 47% |
Hampton Inn & Suites Farmers Branch Dallas | $105 | $80 | 8AM – 2PM | 24% |
San Jose, CA
Average hourly rate discount 51%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Campbell – Pruneyard Plaza | $349 | $139 | 8AM – 2PM | 61% |
Courtyard by Marriott San Jose Campbell | $215 | $109 | 8AM – 4PM | 50% |
Hyatt Place San Jose Downtown | $275 | $99 | 9AM – 5PM | 64% |
Larkspur Landing Campbell | $128 | $85 | 9AM – 6PM | 34% |
The Westin San Jose | $399 | $149 | 9AM – 4PM | 63% |
The Row Hotel | $259 | $129 | 9:30AM – 4:30PM | 51% |
Holiday Inn San Jose – Silicon Valley | $119 | $89 | 9AM – 5PM | 26% |
Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott San Jose Airport | $279 | $99 | 10AM – 4PM | 65% |
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Santa Clara – Silicon Valley | $149 | $85 | 9AM – 5PM | 43% |
SpringHill Suites by Marriott San Jose Airport | $224 | $99 | 8AM – 4PM | 56% |
Austin, TX
Average hourly rate discount 50%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
The Driskill Hotel | $250 | $99 | 9AM – 5PM | 61% |
Hyatt Regency Austin | $200 | $99 | 9AM – 5PM | 51% |
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Austin Downtown – University | $239 | $109 | 10AM – 3PM | 55% |
Holiday Inn Austin – Town Lake | $149 | $75 | 2PM – 10PM | 50% |
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Austin SW – Sunset Valley | $98 | $65 | 9AM – 4PM | 34% |
Austin Marriott South | $180 | $109 | 10AM – 4PM | 40% |
Courtyard by Marriott Austin Northwest/Arboretum | $199 | $89 | 10AM – 4PM | 56% |
Jacksonville, FL
Average hourly rate discount 35%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
Ramada by Wyndham Jacksonville/Baymeadows Hotel & Conference Centre | $99 | $70 | 7AM – 1PM | 30% |
Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Jacksonville – Town Center | $129 | $80 | 7AM – 2PM | 38% |
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront | $139 | $89 | 9AM – 5PM | 36% |
Columbus, OH
Average hourly rate discount 35%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
Four Points by Sheraton Columbus Airport | $99 | $75 | 9AM – 6PM | 25% |
Four Points by Sheraton Columbus-Polaris | $109 | $69 | 9AM – 6PM | 37% |
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Columbus East – Reynoldsburg | $119 | $65 | 9AM – 6PM | 46% |
Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Columbus – Worthington | $109 | $80 | 9:30AM – 4:30PM | 27% |
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Columbus – Polaris Parkway | $109 | $65 | 9AM – 6PM | 41% |
Indianapolis, IN
Average hourly rate discount 39%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
Hyatt House Indianapolis Downtown | $160 | $99 | 9AM – 3PM | 39% |
Holiday Inn Express Indianapolis – Fishers | $94 | $70 | 9AM – 5PM | 26% |
Residence Inn Indianapolis Carmel | $99 | $65 | 8AM – 5PM | 35% |
SpringHill Suites Indianapolis Carmel | $99 | $70 | 9AM – 6PM | 30% |
Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown Union Station | $189 | $85 | 8AM – 12PM | 56% |
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Carmel | $109 | $70 | 8AM – 5PM | 36% |
SpringHill Suites Indianapolis Fishers | $179 | $94 | 10AM – 6PM | 48% |
Charlotte, NC
Average hourly rate discount 40%
Hotel Name | Nightly Rate | Day Rate | Hours | Discount |
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Charlotte Uptown | $135 | $80 | 7AM – 3PM | 41% |
Fairfield Inn Charlotte Northlake | $109 | $80 | 9AM – 5PM | 27% |
Four Points by Sheraton Charlotte | $109 | $75 | 10AM – 5PM | 32% |
Hyatt House Charlotte Airport | $179 | $75 | 9AM – 5PM | 59% |
Hilton Charlotte Executive Park | $169 | $109 | 9AM – 5PM | 36% |
Sonesta Charlotte Executive Park | $139 | $80 | 10AM – 6PM | 43% |
Final word
Booking a hotel for a few hours or for the day is completely doable. You often can get a nice discount of around half the price off and so it can be worth it for a lot of people. Just be aware of some of the booking limitations and restrictions above and your stay will go a lot smoother.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.