The cheapest time to book hotels is in the beginning of the year for many popular travel destinations around the world. Traveling during the off-season can save you up to 40 percent in major cities such as New York or Rome.

Hotel booking site Agoda.com offers tips for travelers trying to find the best hotel deals around the world in its latest guide. Based on booking data from guests who made hotel reservations in 2013, the site found that room rates during the first two weeks of January were below average in 25 places. The popular summer vacation months of June and July turned out to be an inexpensive time to book hotels in Dubai, Milan and Vienna. The last week in December, though considered a high season in most destinations, is a great time to travel to Oslo, Stockholm or Riyadh.

“We know airfares, vacation schedules and the weather are also important factors, but we hope this tool helps our customers save money when they plan their vacations,” said Errol Cooke, vice president of global hotels at Agoda.

(wylee@heraldcorp.com)