Sometimes you just have the urge to get away for a little while. If you've caught the travel bug, a last-minute vacation is right up your alley. Last-minute trips require you to be flexible about where and when you want to travel, which means you may end up on an adventure you never expected. Although conventional wisdom tells us it's better to plan ahead for vacations, sometimes booking a last-minute vacation means big savings. Airlines and hotels that are looking to fill vacancies may offer discounts to travelers.
Finding the best deal for a last-minute vacation is easy with the following tips. Whether you're looking for a quick weekend trip or a longer beach vacation, spontaneously booking your getaway can not only save you money, it also encourages you to consider new travel destinations.
Airlines, travel agents, and hotels plan their season well in advance, but often they don't sell all their bookings as planned. These offers are placed back on the market, at a reduced price. As a traveler you can book a last minute vacation at an attractive price, often as early as a few weeks before your planned travel date. To make the best of these deals, you need to be flexible when it comes to your travel dates and open-minded with your destination.
There are nearly no limits to what you can book last minute. The following list will whet your travel appetite:
Cruises – Both river and sea cruises are available.
Spas – Enjoy a relaxing wellness weekend at a nice hotel or resort.
City trips – You can often get packages that include flight, accommodation, and a travel card to explore the city of your choice.
Flight-only purchase – Fly to a new destination and explore it independently on your own.
All-inclusive – One booking covers your food, drink, and entertainment choices.
Venture last-minute on a weekend trip not too far away. Visit a city with lots of food and shopping options, or venture to the countryside and disconnect from your cellphones and reconnect with nature on a glamping and hiking getaway.
City trips are a great way to spend a spontaneous weekend away. Popular destinations include Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago. All dependent on where you are located on the map.
A city break is also a great way to scout out new travel destinations over a weekend to see if you would like to spend a longer vacation there in the future.
Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and surround yourself with nature. With so many national parks to choose from across the USA, you're sure to find one within easy reach. Embark on a glamping or camping trip. Take a rejuvenating hike through the mountains. Whatever you choose, it's sure to be an amazing experience as wellness goes hand-in-hand with the great outdoors.
If your ideal vacation includes spending time at the beach and swimming in crystal clear water, consider looking for deals in the following places:
Miami – Long sandy beaches, amazing nightlife, and great prices on luxe hotels. Budget airlines Fronteir and Spirit fly to Miami from other major airports for very cheap.
Dominican Republic – Punta Cana is its most popular beach region. Explore white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. You can easily find nonstop and cheap flights from southern Florida.
Cancun – A classic spring break destination. Cancun offers beautiful beaches and great-value on all-inclusive hotels.
This is where being flexible about your travel destination and your departure airport really comes in handy, as you can make huge savings by booking a last-minute flight deal! This applies to both short and long-haul flights to popular destinations and ones that are off the beaten path.
This is especially true during the summer months, when more scheduled departures and seasonal flight routes are in full swing. So, whether you've been daydreaming of a beach vacation in Mexico or an adventure to Spain, take a look at our last-minute flight deals to find your ideal getaway.
There's a whole bunch of last-minute hotel deals out there, whether you're looking for something closer to home or abroad. And there's a lot of variety too, from quirky treehouse accommodation and glamping pods, to luxury beachside hotels and relaxing spa breaks.
With all this temptation at your fingertips, it's important to decide whether you're looking for a staycation or for something abroad, as well as whether you're looking to travel solo, as a family or as part of a larger group. No matter what you decide, there's bound to be a great last-minute hotel deal that'll suit your exact needs.
Often considered to be a stress-free option, a last-minute package vacation may be exactly what you've been searching for. A package vacation is one where your hotel and flights are included within the same price, which means you can make big savings too. Think city breaks, wellness retreats, beach vacations, and much more.
For those travelling with children, it may be worth booking a last-minute all-inclusive vacation deal, which takes things one step further by including all food and drink - as well as activities for the kids. These vacations offer a whole lot of value no matter when you book them, but this is especially the case when you book last minute.
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