June 1, 2020
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with travel dates on or after
Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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High global demand for travel has made it tough to find great last-minute deals. Flights are more expensive.1 Cruise cabins are full.2
But don’t give up! You can still save big on spur-of-the-moment getaways. We’ll tell you how.
The only catch: Last-minute travel typically isn’t refundable. That’s why it’s smart to protect yourself with travel insurance, so you don’t have to worry about unexpected trip cancellations, interruptions, delays, and other mishaps. Don’t delay—get a quote for your perfect plan today.
Airlines, hotels, and cruise lines are using ever more sophisticated technology to set their prices. That means travelers need their own trusted tech tools to find those elusive bargains on last-minute travel. Here are a few suggestions.
Going.com: The concept is simple: Choose your preferred departure airports, and then get alerts when prices drop. The free version of Going.com offers deals for destinations in the continental U.S. only. The paid versions provide international flight deals, as well as “Mistake Fares”—the rare deals when an airline sells tickets to a destination for a fraction of what it usually costs.
Flight Deals from Expedia: Available on Expedia’s app (under the Search tab), Flight Deals is a customizable feed that analyzes more than 2 million flights every day to show you fares that are at least 20% cheaper than the typical estimated price.3 Located in the app under the “Search” tab, Flight Deals offers an open-ended way to search for flights. Pick a home airport, filter deals by destination and travel date, and create custom deal alerts. It’s free for all One Key members.
CruisePlum’s last minute deals: Find last-minute deals on cruises with CruisePlum’s simple search engine. Deals are grouped by cruise line and color-coded to indicate good, better, and best deals, as well as all-time lowest prices. A recent search revealed some pretty great deals on cruises leaving next week, such as a 25-night voyage from Tampa to Anchorage for 45% off the average price and a 7-night round trip from Miami for 54% off the average price.
Vacations To Go’s 90-Day Ticker: Vacations To Go is the world’s largest seller of cruise vacations. When you sign up (it’s free) you get access to the 90-Day Ticker: a frequently updated list of last-minute cruise deals up to 85% off.
Gate 1 Travel’s last minute deals: Gate 1, a large Pennsylvania-based travel agency, specializes in international tours. Check Gate 1’s last-minute travel deals page for great savings on tour departures within the next two months. We recently saw 33% off an 8-day tour of Ecuador and the Amazon and 37% off a 9-day trip to India.
HotelTonight: This hotel booking site and app promise “incredible last-minute hotel deals.” Just double-check the rates before you book to see what your actual savings are.
“When flying to Europe—which is more popular than ever these days— remember that you don’t need your ultimate destination to be your first stop,” Conde Nast Traveler advises.4 It’s so easy to get around Europe cheaply by train that you may want to fly into a different city that’s offering inexpensive flights (thanks to competition from budget airlines). For instance, you could fly to Naples instead of Rome, or Girona instead of Barcelona. Skyscanner is an easy way to compare prices between airports and find the most affordable dates to fly in a specific month.
We love lists of travel trends as much as anyone! But if you’re searching for last-minute travel deals, you won’t have much luck in the places everyone is trying to go. One possibility: Consider visiting destinations that were trending five or 10 years ago and have since seen tourist traffic sag. There may be an oversupply of hotel rooms and vacation rentals, making it easier to get a deal.
Some destinations that aren’t as popular as they used to be but are still worth visiting, according to travelers on Reddit5:
Just use your best judgment when visiting places that have seen a tourism crash due to a natural disaster, political instability, or other catastrophes. Getting a great deal on travel isn’t worth risking your personal safety.
Have you ever passed over a vacation rental listing because it was just too expensive? Remember: Everything’s negotiable. You may be able to get a great last-minute travel deal by reaching out to a host and just asking. Say something like, “We’re planning a trip to your area on these dates. We really love your place, but it’s just a little out of our budget. Is there any flexibility on price?” You can even try naming a nightly rate you’re willing to pay.
The worst they can say is “No.” And some vacation rental hosts will jump at the chance to rent their property for a lower rate if it would otherwise be empty.
Most travel agents prefer to have time to plan your perfect vacation. But if you approach your agent and say you’re looking for a last-minute travel getaway, they’ll probably be able to suggest some options. Maybe there’s a Rhone River cruise leaving next month that has discounted cabins available. Maybe there’s a resort in Antigua that’s undergoing construction, so they’re struggling to fill their other rooms.
These trip-planning pros have access to insider knowledge and tools that can help them identify fantastic last-minute deals. One tip: Help them to do their job by being as flexible as you can on destinations and itineraries, and as specific as possible about how much you’re willing to spend.
Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com, calls this the “Golden Rule” for booking last-minute travel: If it’s 21 days before you plan to travel, go ahead and book your flight. Fares are unlikely to drop any more and will probably go up. That’s because airlines assume later bookings are last-minute business travel, and so they raise their rates.6
Check your pet sitter’s availability. Water all the plants. Get your prescriptions filled. Print a checklist for last-minute packing.
And most importantly, don’t forget travel insurance. Even if you’re leaving tomorrow, you still have time to protect your trip—and yourself. Learn more: Is It Too Late to Buy Travel Insurance?
If you’re a frequent traveler, consider an AllTrips annual travel insurance plan. True to their name, AllTrips plans are the affordable way to protect every trip you take in 365 days: short or long, planned or spontaneous. Buy your plan today and enjoy a year of adventures.
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Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.
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