Easter 2025 Is Three Weeks Late—And It’s Scrambling Your Spring Calendar

What shifting school breaks, soft pacing, and regional demand tell us about short-term rental trends in the U.S. and Europe

Easter 2025 is showing up fashionably late—April 20, to be precise. That’s a full three weeks behind Easter 2024, which fell on March 31. For short-term rental managers used to relying on last year’s comps, that kind of shift isn’t just inconvenient—it’s market-altering.

The later Easter is already skewing spring calendars, decoupling travel demand from U.S. spring break, and reshaping demand curves across Europe. For some property managers, this means a quieter March and a surprisingly strong April. For others, it may signal missed pacing benchmarks, confusion around pricing windows, and a need to recalibrate fast.

Let’s unpack the data and see how the Easter effect is playing out—and what professional short-term rental managers can still do in the four-week sprint before Easter weekend begins.

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Easter now belongs to Q2—and that changes everything

From a revenue perspective, the most important fact is this: Easter now falls in Q2, not Q1. That affects year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter comparisons for occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, and pacing.

As noted in a recent webinar by PriceLabs, this timing shift disrupts traditional comparisons and also separates Easter from its usual spring break halo in the U.S. Many colleges are off in March, not April, meaning fewer family reunions or group trips tied to the holiday weekend.

Don’t panic if your Easter pacing is lower than last year—you’ve got 20 more days for guests to book.
Because Easter 2025 falls three weeks later than it did in 2024, travelers are booking later too. What may look like weak pacing now is more likely a timing mismatch than a drop in demand. The booking window simply shifted forward—so there’s still time to fill those nights.

Compare against Q2 2024, not Q1.
Easter 2024 fell in March (Q1), while Easter 2025 falls in April (Q2). So if you’re reviewing revenue or occupancy performance, don’t compare this April to last March—it will distort your view. Instead, benchmark against April 2024 or overall Q2 performance to make more accurate assessments.

Expect different guest demographics than in previous years.
With Easter no longer overlapping with most U.S. spring breaks, you may see fewer family groups or college travelers. In Europe, school holiday alignment also varies more by country this year. This could lead to more couples, last-minute bookers, or local travelers than you’ve hosted in previous Easters.

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The surprise winners? Secondary European cities and shoulder-season naturals

A surge in Easter bookings is being seen in cities like Colmar, Seville, Dublin, and Vienna—and even further afield, in small-town rural Europe. In Spain, Airbnb data shows that families are opting for peaceful, low-density towns like Sant Llorenç d’Hortons in Catalonia and Dudar in Andalusia, known for nature access and warm local hospitality. These aren’t just secondary cities—they’re villages with charm, walkability, and 5-star reviews from family travelers.

💡 Why the surge?

🗓️ Easter falls later (April 20) → Warmer weather in cooler cities
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 School breaks now align in France, Spain, Germany
💶 Lower rates than major capitals (vs. Paris €328 / London €407)
🚶‍♀️ Shift toward smaller, community-rich and family-friendly destinations

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Meanwhile, in the classics: rates are up, but occupancy is flat

ADRs are up in cities like Paris, Rome, and Barcelona, but occupancy is pacing flat or slightly down compared to 2024.

📉 Why the disconnect?

💰 ADRs are up → Managers possibly holding rates, expecting last-minute bookings
📆 Easter shifted to Q2 → Year-over-year pacing comparisons may mislead
🏙️ Big-city fatigue → Travelers seeking alternatives to crowded capitals
📈 Dynamic pricing tools widespread → But not always calibrated to actual demand
🧳 Experienced travelers opting out → Fewer “first-timers” booking flagship destinations

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Why are Nice and Lisbon pulling ahead?

☀️ Late Easter = Warmer temps and more outdoor appeal
💶 Mid-range prices (Nice €142 / Lisbon €131) = High perceived value
🏖️ Shoulder season charm = Pre-summer crowds and rates
✈️ Easy to reach, easy to enjoy = Less friction than capital cities
🔁 Return travelers = Loyal base looking beyond Paris and Rome

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U.S. Easter hotspots are lagging—but there’s nuance

Destinations like Panama City Beach and Gatlinburg are showing lower occupancy for Easter 2025, though RevPAR may still recover if late bookings come in.

⏳ Why are Easter hotspots lagging?

🗓️ Spring break no longer overlaps → Fewer family bookings
🏔️ Mountain markets cooling off → Guests shifting to beach/sun
🏖️ Tougher competition → Guests choosing warmer destinations or even opting for local, nature-focused stays that offer more space and privacy.
🚗 Drive-to markets = Late bookings → Pacing may still catch up
💰 Steady ADRs = RevPAR recovery possible if pickup arrives

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Myrtle Beach is a rare bright spot

Unlike many other U.S. markets, Myrtle Beach is seeing an increase in both active listings and demand.

🌟 Why is Myrtle Beach outperforming?

☀️ Late Easter = Comfortable beach weather
🚗 Easy drive-to access from regional markets
📈 Rising active listings = Manager confidence
🎢 Family-friendly attractions open early
💶 Solid value vs. higher-priced beach markets
📣 Effective local marketing + return guests

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Soft pacing? It’s not a sign of low demand—it’s a sign of late demand

According to PriceLabs’ neighborhood data, Easter 2024 (March 31) had a shorter booking window than Easter 2025 (April 20) will. Simply put: travelers haven’t booked yet—but they will.

Markets like Gatlinburg and Okaloosa Island, which rely on families and group travelers, are showing lower occupancy now than they did this time last year. But there’s still time for smart adjustments to stay policies, visibility, and pricing.

This is a good time for a mid-season portfolio check. Ask yourself:

• Are your best-performing listings priced in the 50th–75th percentile?
  
• Is your minimum stay policy blocking shorter Easter bookings?
  
• Are competitors dropping LOS requirements faster than you?
  

Use tools like portfolio analytics or neighborhood benchmarking to ground your answers in data.

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What you should be doing now (if you haven’t already)

As Easter approaches, here’s what top-performing STR managers are focusing on this March:

• Reviewing pacing using property-level and market data
  
• Segmenting listings to apply tailored pricing
  
• Reducing minimum stays where needed to capture short bookings
  
• Comparing RevPAR vs. competitors—not just ADR
  
• Targeting past Easter guests through direct booking campaigns
  
• Updating OTA titles and photos to highlight Easter availability
  
• Setting rate ceilings to prevent overpricing caused by limited availability
  

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Looking ahead: don’t let April catch you off guard

With Easter firmly in April, your Q1 revenue might look soft—but don’t let that cloud your view of the bigger picture. April has become its own mini high season in many markets, especially across Europe.

Early signals from the data:

• France, Spain, and Germany have adjusted school holidays to align with Easter
  
• Warmer weather is extending the booking season in the Mediterranean
  
• Even cold-weather markets like Berlin and Dublin are seeing stronger Easter pacing
  

By late March, we’ll have a clearer picture of where demand is headed—but early signs point to redistribution, not disappearance.

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Final thought

Don’t wait for the Easter rush to confirm your instincts—adjust your strategy now. The later Easter gives you more time to react, but it also changes who books, when they book, and where they go. Whether you’re managing 50 listings or 500, staying agile over the next four weeks could define your Q2 performance.