Sublime trips for a few hundred euros… a dream come true for travelers who are a little broke (or not) but smart and… connected to the Internet. Here are some great tips and advice if you want to leave at the last minute.
Holidays at the last minute: unidentified object
First, a little reminder of the philosophy of last-minute travel. They are simply stays, flights or hotel nights purchased a few days, or even only 24 hours before departure. The advantage: unbeatable prices.
The concept very quickly found followers, especially among students and singles, often unencumbered by family constraints. “I log in, I choose my stay, I pay, I pack my suitcase and presto, on the plane!”
One of the very first last minute travel sites is LastMinute, a specialist. But you'll find a more complete list of other sites further down in this article.
Not all travel is done at the last minute
You should already know that the “last minute” principle does not apply to flights of low-cost airlines (nor to regular flights in general). So don't wait until the last moment to book your plane tickets. On the contrary, the low cost airlines' call prices (often very attractive) are reserved for the first bookings. So the longer you wait, the more the plane fills up, and the more the prices increase.
On the other hand, a charter flight (or 'chartered' for our Canadian friends) can on the other hand benefit from strong reductions at the last moment.
Last minute offers are not not suitable for all types of travelers either, nor to all types of trips. You have to know how to be very reactive, not very demanding, and without too many constraints. In addition, you will easily find vacation club stays, while it will be impossible to leave at the last minute for specialized or à la carte trips.
In summary, the good last minute plans:
- are suitable for : students, singles, young couples ...
- are not suitable for : business trips, family trips (with school restrictions), honeymooners, demanding travelers or those who like to think outside the box ...
7 steps to properly book your last minute trips
Here are some great tips for choosing the right stay and avoiding any frustration.
- You : make sure you are flexible and not overly demanding. You should not have too many planning constraints, both on a personal (and family) and professional level.
- Budget and desires : set your budget, define your desires. This will allow you to limit the results and save time in the results studies. Will it also - and above all - prevent you from finding yourself in the open?
- Cold blood : don't rush into the first tempting offer. Indeed, if a -50% promo may seem important, it is not that exceptional in the travel sector.
- Compare : I advise you to compare the offers on different sites (reliable - see list below). Also compare by entering different departure dates: you will often leave for less if you go in the middle of the week.
- Check the offer : Once the offer has been found, be sure to check what is included and what is not. This will prevent you from unpleasant surprises, or a lot of incidentals (meals, drinks, activities, etc.). Also check the conditions of sale: the offers are often non-refundable, or else accompanied by high fees in the event of cancellation.
- Check (again) the reviews : The tour operator's photos are pretty, the hotel descriptions enticing, but don't get carried away without having read the opinions of other travelers on third-party sites (on TripAdvisor for example). Be careful all the same for opinions that are too flattering (often the hotelier himself or a “friend”), or too severe and without real arguments (sometimes from competitors).
- Check (again and again) : you can never be too careful, and it would be a shame to book your trip and not be able to take advantage of it. So also remember to check: the necessary vaccines and the country's health situation (on diplomatie.gouv.com), the need for a visa, the validity of your identity card or passport, the country's political situation, season and weather of the country (especially if you leave in 24 hours, the forecast will be quite reliable).
Bonus tip : also beware of the fees added just before payment (administration fees, credit card fees, or travel insurance fees, etc.)
The best sites to book your last minute vacation
Here is our selection, tested and approved:
- Last minute
The best known, and its name immediately indicates the color: we are dealing with the specialist n ° 1 of the last minute. We appreciate a generous choice of offers, but we regret the rather limited diversity of destinations (mainly Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco, Canary Islands, etc.). - Expedia
The heavyweight of tour operators, it also offers a “last minute” section with a wide choice. - Liligo offers a Cheap Flights page to find the cheapest dates each week to travel to France, Europe and worldwide. It is not uncommon to see last minute offers appearing there! To watch, therefore.
- TravelZoo
The bargain finder often offers great deals at the last minute. On the other hand, we would like an effort on their part on the aesthetics of their site. - The Official Holiday
Like TravelZoo, the new kid has surrounded himself with experts to find the best deals from tour operators.
We will also note other sites, more or less specialized:
# Tour operators often offer their “last minute” section
# If you are used to going Vacation Club, also take advantage of good plans:
# And finally, some specialized sites offering last minute deals:
The list is obviously not exhaustive, so do not hesitate to contact us if you feel that a reference is missing ...
Cheap travel: the alternatives
In any case, if you prefer to prepare your vacation in advance, know that you only need the last minute reservation to travel at low cost. And with the Internet, many other services (or tips) appear: price comparison (try our), auctions (classic or reverse), low-cost, co-travel ... and even, in some cases, a good old technique: direct negotiation. ?
And you, what are your top tips for getting off cheap, at the last minute, or not? Leave a comment below.
