last minute travel agent

It’s time for sun, sand and fun

Press the down arrow key to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Hilton Cabana Miami Beach

Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort and Spa All

PUERTO VALLARTA

Papagayo Beach Resort

Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya All Inclusive

RIVIERA MAYA

Royal Decameron Los Cabos

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana All

Popular Destinations

Los angeles, riviera maya, fort lauderdale.

• < Back to Home
• < Back to Vacations
• Last Minute

Last-Minute Vacation Packages with Liberty Travel

Need to get away from it all this weekend? Want a little sunshine to break the monotony of the workweek? Liberty Travel’s last-minute vacations can take you to the world’s leading cities and beaches. Want to leave tomorrow? Your Liberty Travel vacation consultant can make it happen. Whether you want an adults-only weekend with your sweetheart, or would like to practice a little self-care with a spa vacation, Liberty Travel can book you a room at some of the Caribbean’s best resorts, Europe’s coziest hotels, or a tour in North America’s most vibrant cities.

Last-Minute Planned, Every Minute Perfect

Sometimes the best vacations aren’t planned weeks or months in advance. The spontaneous can be spectacular. The last-minute can be magnificent. When it comes to last-minute vacations, Liberty Travel handles all the details, so you can hop on a plane and enjoy. Liberty Travel’s vacation consultants know the resorts, destinations, guides, and flights, and can get you connected with accommodations, tours, and even a reservation at that exquisite Michelin starred restaurant in the heart of Paris, San Francisco, Chicago, or London.

Last Minute Travel Vacation Deals

Meet our last minute vacation experts.

John Henry M.

Barbara Burpulis McMahon

Gina Harvat

Wendy Schultz

Jocelyn Brambach

Top Last-Minute Vacation Getaways

Washington, D.C. : Get more value with last-minute travel. Explore the Smithsonian and the National Mall.

Walt Disney World® : Walt Disney World® last-minute can be a great value, plus you get some time in the Florida sun.

Caribbean : Take an ocean cruise or stay at incredible all-inclusive resorts, right on the beach.

Iceland : Iceland offers natural beauty and culture. Take self-care to the next level at the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.

Paris, France : Need a weekend or a week of art, food, wine, and culture? Try a last-minute vacation to Paris, France.

London, England : Catch a show on the West End and visit the National Gallery in London.

Toronto, Canada : Eat dinner at the CN Tower, wander the Distillery District, and make your way to nearby Niagara Falls. Best of all, you can do it all in a weekend.

Other Vacation Types

Your perfect vacation is out there, it’s time to discover it.

The Liberty Travel Experience

At Liberty Travel it’s the people who make a difference. Our travel experts craft the perfect trip for every traveler through our award-winning customer service. Real people helping real people. Beside you every step of the way.

Connect By Phone

Connect In Store

Connect With An Expert

Sponsored Vacations

Winner of the World Travel Awards for United States' Leading Travel Agency

We are honored to be named United States’ Leading Travel Agency at the 30th annual World Travel Awards. Thank you for trusting us with crafting your incredible vacations.

Contact Form

Fill out the form below to get in touch with us.

Liberty Travel is dedicated to helping you get the best value and greatest experiences out of any trip. One of our Travel Consultants will respond to your enquiry within 1 business day.

If you would like to speak with a consultant now, please call 1-888-343-2128 .

A Liberty Travel consultant or one of our third party independent advisors who are part of our member network, Envoyage will contact you within 1 business day. If you would like to speak to a Liberty Travel consultant or one of our independent advisors now, please call 1-888-343-2128 . A non-refundable consulting deposit may be required to start the planning process for certain multi-city itineraries based upon complexity. This consulting deposit will be applied towards your final trip cost at the time of booking. You acknowledge that by submitting this inquiry form that your information may be disclosed to our third party independent advisors who are part of our member network, Envoyage for the purpose of facilitating your inquiry and your travel services booking. Accordingly, you are deemed to consent to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information by us to our third party independent advisors who are part of our member network, Envoyage and relevant travel service providers for the purpose of facilitating your inquiry and your travel services booking and in accordance with the Liberty Travel Privacy Notice .

Feedback Form

• Website Feedback
• Service Feedback

Flight Centre Redirect Message

Flight Center is now Liberty Air Experts. Expect the same level of expertise on all varieties of flights, all around the world.

This store is now closed

The store you’re looking for is no longer open for business. Please try searching for another location near you. Thank you for your patience!

• Experts Near Me
• Destination Experts

Looking for a travel expert that’s close to you? Select your state.

Don't see your state? Select all states or select the state nearest to you.

Expert insight & travel knowledge

Irresistible rates, offers & benefits

Peace of Mind

Reassurance to book with confidence

Beside you every step of the way

Which destination do you want your travel expert to specialize in?

Booking 10 or more rooms?

New Hub Store Structure

Don't show me this again

Get Daily Travel Tips & Deals!

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

Best Websites to Book a Last Minute Vacation

Megan Johnson

Megan is a Senior Editor, SEO for SmarterTravel Media.

Megan started with SmarterTravel Media’s Airfarewatchdog way back in 2008, moved over to FamilyVacationCritic, and finally SmarterTravel in 2021. Originally from Massachusetts, she has lived in Nova Scotia, London, and New York City. She has spent nearly every summer (or at least part of it) on Prince Edward Island. She has started to go out of her comfort zone while traveling- most recently exploring caves and boogie boarding on a FlowRider.

Travel Smarter! Sign up for our free newsletter.

Sometimes you just need to getaway. If your wanderlust gets the best of you and the traveler inside is itching to hit the road, there are plenty of websites and apps out there to help—fast. Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway or a full-blown vacation, these sites can help you find great last minute travel deals.

Best Websites for Last Minute Flights

Finding flights can be a hassle, but it doesn’t have to be! There are loads of ways to find cheap flights from your favorite airline, even if you are going away in the near future.

1. Google Flights

One fun way to find last minute flights is to plug your departure city and travel dates into Google Flights , leaving your destination blank. The resulting map shows you the lowest available prices to cities all over the world, letting you find deals in places you might not have ever thought to go.

Kayak’s Explore feature is a similar tool. You can enter exact travel dates or a certain month, then see which fares are available from your home gateway. 

3. Secret Flying

You can get alerts when fares go down when you sign up at Secret Flying , or, use their search tool to find great last minute deals on flights. Simply input your departure city, keep the arrival as “anywhere” and put the current month as the time you are looking to fly. Perfect for when you just want to get away, but you don’t care where to. Secret Flying also finds “mistake” fares, so be sure to sign up to get notifications so you can book them before they are gone! 

The 12 Best Flight Search Sites for Booking Cheap Airfare

Where to Find Last Minute Hotel Deals

You’d think that every hotel would have cheap rooms last minute, but that isn’t always the case. These sites will help you find a room that won’t break the bank with a spur of the moment trip! 

1. Hotel Tonight

A perennial favorite app among SmarterTravel editors, HotelTonight has been finding travelers’ deep hotel discounts since 2010. The app allows travelers to book same-day accommodations across the globe at discounts of up to 50 percent. If you don’t want to leave things until the literal last minute, though, the app also lets you book dates a little further out. The well-designed booking engine serves up clever recommendations and insider info—plus those remarkable markdowns. Keep an eye out for the Daily Drop, the biggest discount of the day (which you only have 15 minutes to book).

The site is known for discounted restaurant meals, fitness classes, and beauty services also has a last minute deals section that typically includes discounted hotel and resort stays. On the day I checked, options ranged from a $69 hotel near Niagara Falls to a four-star Times Square hotel for $77 a night.

3. Trip.com

Trip.com is your basic hotel booking site, and is great for finding a last minute deal. While they feature hotels all around the world, it’s particularly great for deals on hotels in Asia, so when you grab an amazing last minute flight to somewhere in Asia, head to trip.com to book your hotel! 

4. Last Minute Travel

As its name suggests, Last Minute Travel is dedicated solely to last minute travel deals. This wide-ranging site offers bargains on hotels, car rentals, cruises, transfers, and activities. Their hotel deals are amazing.  In a sample search, I found top-rated hotels in Paris from just $54 per night for a trip about two weeks out. The site has a Last Minute Travel Club for deeper discounts and rewards points to use toward free hotel stays. Membership is $50 per year.

The 15 Best Hotel Booking Sites

Amazing Last Minute Vacation Packages

Sometimes, booking a vacation package is the cheapest way to go for last minute travel. These sites are the best for one-stop shopping.

1. Airfarewatchdog

SmarterTravel’s sister site Airfarewatchdog has a nifty Weekender tool that lets you find a flight/hotel vacation package for upcoming weekends, just click the link and let the site do the rest of the work. 

2. CheapCaribbean.com

If you have a specific destination in mind, your best bet is often to focus on a website that deals with one region specifically. CheapCaribbean.com has last minute deals , many of them short-lived flash sales. Though you can’t hem and haw about whether or not to go, you’ll often have plenty of time to plan. For example, a four-night air/hotel package to the Dominican Republic might start at $509 per person for travel four to six months from now—but it must be booked in the next four days.

3. FunJet Vacations 

Book your flight and hotel together at FunJet Vacations . If you have a place in mind, enter the dates you want to go and the destination, and it will give you the best flight and hotel deals available. Their sales are great if you are open to where you want to go, and often have dates for travel within the month. 

The 14 Best Vacation Rental Sites for Travelers

Affordable Last Minute All-Inclusive Deals

A vacation where everything is paid for in advance may seem a luxury to some people, but it is actually quite affordable. These sites will help you find the best all-inclusive deals, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the sun! 

1. Sandals Resorts

Sandals resorts has great deals for last minute travel. You often can get one night free, and when you start the booking process, have the option of booking your flight as well. You may even find availability for travel within the week. 

2. Club Med

When it comes to all-inclusive, Club Med usually comes to mind. Like Sandals, they often have fantastic last minute deals for when you are looking to book without much time to plan. Club Med has locations all over the world, including Mexico, Canada and all over the Caribbean – perfect for a cheap getaway.

3. Travelzoo

This venerable travel site offers last minute deals on just about everything, but their all-inclusive search is one of the best as far as the bigger sites go. When I searched, I found a package for an all-inclusive stay in Cabo, including airfare, for $739, for travel next week. 

Ditch the Hotel: 10 Cheaper Ways to Save

How to Find Great Deals on Last Minute Tours

If you prefer having an itinerary made for you, and, let’s face it, if you are taking a last minute trip, it might be nice to not have to plan the entire trip, there are some great sites to book a last minute tour on. 

1. TourRadar

Book a tour of your destination as well as accommodations through TourRadar . There are several ways to search, including destination, adventure styles (food & culinary, active adventure, health & wellness, etc.), and date. Search for tours for travel in the next two weeks, or multiple months in advance. 

2. G Adventures

From Iceland to Turkey, G Adventures has tours to inspire and excite. They have available dates for travel throughout the year, but most are available to book for tours within a week or two. They have themed tours like the Northern Lights in Iceland, and Hiking the Azores—whatever, wherever you want to go. I found a four-day hiking tour of the Inca Trail in Peru for $881 departing within the week.

3. Contiki 

Contiki has a wide variety of tours to choose from, and the site has a handy last minute trips option to find a tour when you need one. When I searched, there was an Egypt and the Nile tour for $1,772, starting in just four days from when I searched! Most tours include accommodation, meals, transportation, admission to sites, and tour guides. 

The 10 Best Group Travel Tour Companies

Popular Getaway Deal Destinations

You may think it is hard to find deals to some of the top destinations, but as we have been mentioning, there are several options out there, no matter where you are going. Here are some sites that will help you plan your next getaway to some of the top spots.

Europe Deals

Lastminute.com .

Netherlands-based LastMinute.com also covers a range of last minute trip options, including flights, hotels, Eurostar train tickets, vacation packages, car rentals, theater tickets, and experiences. A Paris search turned up several highly-rated hotel options at $75-$85 per night at press time. This site also allows you to filter by hotels that offer free cancellation, a great perk if your travel plans change last minute. LastMinute.com also has “top-secret hotels” available for opaque booking, though in my Paris search they were actually a bit more expensive than the named hotels in my results.

Caribbean Vacations

While we love Sandals, we also love their sister company, Beaches . Beaches features two resorts in Jamaica and one in Turks and Caicos. Their last minute travel deals are similar to Sandals, where you can get one free night, and are able to book with just a couple of days in advance. 

Trips to New York

Chances are, if you are heading to NYC, you are going to want to see a Broadway show. Your best option for great last minute seats is TKTS . Download the app for your phone to see that days discounted tickets, and you can decide whether it is worth making the trek to the booth. Beats running out early in the morning to wait in line, and you are sure to get some deeply discounted tickets. 

The Hotel Room Workout Anyone Can Do

Best Last Minute Travel Apps for Your Phone

Most people tend to do everything on their phones, from booking restaurants, reading the news, and of course, booking travel. These apps are our favorites for booking last minute travel.

Elude is more than an app, it is an experience for the well-seasoned traveler. Not only does it let you search trips from your departure city to anywhere in the world, it gets to know you so you’ll find out about the best deals catered to your interests. Keep tabs on your trips, where you’ve been and what you’ve done. Their search feature allows you to put what your budget is, and what dates you want to travel, then showing you details for trips that fall under your criteria. When I searched, I found a trip to Prague leaving from New York City in two weeks for $1374 including airfare and hotel. 

With Snaptravel , you can search for hotels conveniently on your phone. Once you sign up, you will receive exclusive deals over your message service of choice (SMS, Facebook Messenger, iMessage etc..). You can also do a simple search with the days you want to go, and where you want to go. You can filter by price, hotel stars, amenities and more. The perfect app for booking that last minute hotel anywhere in the world. 

Heading to the Airport? Use This Preflight Checklist

These days, vacation rentals are all the rage, and finding a last minute travel deal for accommodations can be tricky if you don’t want to break the bank. That’s where apps like VRBO come in. You can search rooms, apartments and houses available to rent wherever you are going. Often, owners who have had a cancellation or just want the place booked will discount the price last minute as to not totally lose out on making any money. You might just find a unique stay, like a treehouse or secluded cabin. 

Travelocity

Everything is better with time, and Travelocity is not excluded. Founded in 1996, they have adapted to the ever-changing tech world, and their app shows they are good at what they do. Search for hotels, vacation packages, flights—you name it—and all of your bookings will stay on the app for easy access. Looking for the perfect trip to Las Vegas last minute? Travelocity has your back.  When I searched for a trip to Vegas in two weeks, I found hotel and airfare for under $1,000 for a five night stay. 

Editor’s Note: All of the products featured in this story were hand-selected by our travel editors. Some of the links featured in this story are affiliate links, and SmarterTravel may collect a commission (at no cost to you) if you shop through them. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This story was originally published in 2017. It has been updated with the latest information. Genevieve S. Brown and Dara Continenza contributed to this story.

You Might Also Like:

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From

Don't see a fare you like? View all flight deals from your city.

Today's top travel deals.

Brought to you by ShermansTravel

10-Night Mediterranean Cruise From Barcelona to...

Norwegian Cruise Line

Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati

Shop and Save with Country Inns...

Patricia Magaña

Trending on SmarterTravel

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market.  See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our  credit card rating methodology .

The 25 Best Websites and Apps to Find Last-Minute Travel Deals [2023]

Alex Miller

Founder & CEO

298 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 34 U.S. States Visited: 29

Director of Operations & Compliance

6 Published Articles 1182 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 10 U.S. States Visited: 20

Table of Contents

Best for last-minute vacation deals, best for last-minute flight deals, best for last-minute accommodation deals, best for last-minute cruise deals, best for last-minute tour deals, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

With so many travel websites out there, it’s tough to know which ones are worth considering when searching for that last-minute travel deal. If you’re looking for a beach vacation , some websites bundle flights, accommodations, and a rental car or transfer into a package deal that can be cheaper than booking the components individually .

Whether you’re looking for a last-minute cruise that includes bonus onboard credit or a late availability small group tour with 20% off the standard price, you’ll be sure to bag yourself a great deal using these recommended websites and apps.

Customers can book just about anything on the Expedia platform and mobile app, including vacation packages, flights , hotels , car hire , cruises , and excursions.

Sign up to the One Key rewards program to earn 1 OneKeyCash per dollar spent on hotels, flights, car rentals, and more. OneKeyCash can be redeemed for travel on Expedia as well as through Hotels.com and Vrbo.

Search for your vacation package by defining the destination, departure airport, and trip duration. You can filter your results using a variety of options such as guest rating, hotel amenities, and distance from downtown. Expedia displays Unreal Deals in the search results that are combined package savings equivalent to 1 night’s free accommodation .

Hot Tip:  Customers can book via the Expedia app to receive double reward points!

Pros and Cons of Expedia

• One Key Rewards Program
• Book your vacation package, rental car, and excursions all in 1 place
• Change and cancellation policies differ for individual hotels and airlines; check your small print before booking
• You might miss out on room upgrades by not booking directly

Hotel location is often one of the most important factors when booking a vacation, and Priceline has a great map   to see where the accommodation is located, as well as a pop-up telling you the hotel star rating, price, and customer rating for quick browsing.

If hotel inventory is low for a particular property, Priceline displays when there is 1 room remaining , to ensure you don’t miss out. You can stick with the lead-in package price if you’re happy with the room type and flight times, or you can customize your package with changes/additions (usually at a cost).

Priceline has Express Deals on hotels with up to 60% off for flexible travelers . These opaque deals don’t display the hotel brand until after you book, but you will know the star rating, guest rating, and the general area of the hotel.

Pros and Cons of Priceline

• Detailed map view for hotels
• Express Deals with up to 60% off accommodation
• No rewards program

Orbitz has several search options for vacation bundles, including combinations of flights , hotels , and car rental . From the main search box, you can specify whether you’re looking for direct flights or require accommodation for part of your trip.

Within your search results, you can filter by hotels that offer free cancellation, or by specific amenities such as a swimming pool or all-inclusive board. Register for Orbitz Rewards  and you’ll earn Orbucks to spend on hotel stays . 1 Orbuck can be redeemed for $1 and are earned on the following purchases:

• 1% on flights and packages
• 3% on hotels
• 5% on hotels booked via the Orbitz app

Pros and Cons of Orbitz

• Easy to book packages with or without car rental
• Orbitz Rewards Program
• Orbitz Rewards Program is not as generous as Expedia’s reward program for redemption value

Travelocity

Travelocity is another site where you can book everything together, or add-on elements, such as excursions, after you’ve booked. Travelocity searches over 400 airlines and 1 million properties worldwide to display the best deals for your vacation.

It’s quick and easy to register for a Travelocity account , and doing so will unlock an extra 10% off selected hotels . If you find a hotel, flight, cruise, or car rental at a lower price elsewhere, Travelocity will refund you the difference with its price match guarantee . This is up to 24 hours after you’ve booked for most travel components — for hotels, the price match is right up to the day before you’re due to arrive.

Pros and Cons of Travelocity

• Book everything in 1 place
• An extra 10% off hotels for Travelocity members
• Price match guarantee
• No loyalty program

Travelzoo is a travel aggregator that rounds-up the best deals from multiple websites and links you through to the appropriate website to book. As Travelzoo has a huge database, these deals have been negotiated specifically to promote to members and are time-limited.

Although you can search for deals departing on specific dates with Travelzoo, it pays to be flexible and let the deal dictate your dates. Head over to the Top 20 Deals page that changes weekly to reflect the very best offers tested and verified by the Travelzoo team.

Pros and Cons of Travelzoo

• Exclusive offers negotiated specifically for Travelzoo members
• Fully refundable deals available
• Limited-time offers and often only a set number available at the special deal price

Kayak is a metasearch engine, finding and returning flights that match your search criteria, without actually booking with Kayak. The best thing about Kayak is how many filters you can use to narrow your search , saving you time trawling through irrelevant results. Filter by direct flights only, carry-on or checked luggage, take-off or landing times, airline alliances, and much more.

Sign-up for Kayak Price Alerts to receive email notifications when prices change based on your search criteria.

Pros and Cons of Kayak

• Lots of filters to refine your search
• Booking direct with an airline so any frequent flyer points can be earned
• No loyalty program since bookings are not with Kayak

CheapOair is an online travel agent with bookings made directly with CheapOair. When searching for a flight, the results page tells you if a price is valid on a limited number of tickets to ensure you don’t miss out on that price.

The CheapOair rewards program gives members up to 20% off flights and up to 55% off hotels . For signing up, members receive 500 points and a further 500 points for their first booking. After you’ve booked once or spent $1,000, you’ll move to the Silver tier, where members earn 1 point per $1 spent. Gold and Platinum tiers provide higher point earnings. 1 point = 0.5 cents, so 200 points would be required to redeem $1 in travel credit.

Pros and Cons of CheapOair

• Rewards program with member discounts and reward point earnings
• CheapOair credit card available with 7 points earned per $1 spent
• Charges a booking fee (although occasionally has money-off promo codes for the fee)

Hot Tip: Download the award-winning CheapOair app and receive 2 points per $1 spent when booking through the app. 

Secret Flying

Secret Flying is constantly on the lookout for pricing errors and super cheap flash sales , which it says saves its customers, on average, 90% on flights. If you’re flexible on dates and destinations, you’re in for a treat, but you can also bag a bargain on a set destination. Download the Secret Flying app and receive notifications with flight deals to your chosen city, country, or region.

Pros and Cons of Secret Flying

• Cheap airline error fares are often honored by the airlines
• Push notifications with flights matching your criteria
• Deals aren’t as helpful for travelers inflexible with destination or travel dates

Google Flights

Google Flights has a clean, simple interface and some handy tools to find cheap flight deals. If you’re flexible on destination and are just interested in the best deal, you can input your departure airport and use the map view to view prices around the world .

If you know your destination but are flexible on the date you travel, take a look at Google’s price graph that displays the cheapest and most expensive days to fly .

Pros and Cons of Google Flights

• Bookings are directed to the airline, so you can earn loyalty program points
• Price graphs to identify the cheapest travel dates
• Doesn’t always display the cheapest flights that might be available with a small online travel agent
• Occasionally displays a price that no longer exists

Hot Tip:  Check out our dedicated guide on how to use Google Flights to find cheap flight deals. 

AirfareWatchdog

AirfareWatchdog employs real people to scour thousands of sites for the best flight deals, including error fares . If you’re looking to jet off last minute, or are flexible with your date of travel , that’s when you can really bag a deal with AirfareWatchdog. Prices are also tracked over time, so you can be confident when AirfareWatchdog flags a great deal as it knows the best time to book.

Sign-up for airfare alerts and you’ll receive updates to your email inbox when flight prices increase or decrease .

Pros and Cons of AirfareWatchdog

• Real people search and flag the best flight deals
• Price alerts that help you decide the best time to book
• Only compares flights and hotel prices, so you’ll need to search elsewhere for car rental and excursions

Booking.com

Booking.com is the go-to accommodation booking site for millions of travelers, providing a seamless search and booking experience. Travelers can browse hotels, apartments, and other unique properties all over the world, with many offering free cancellation.

When you complete 2 stays within 2 years, you’ll automatically receive Genius level 1 status to benefit from 10% off selected properties. Members that complete 5 stays within 2 years will receive level 2 status, with up to 15% off, free breakfast, and free room upgrades with selected properties.

Pros and Cons of Booking.com

• Automatic enrollment in the Genius loyalty program
• Free cancellation is offered on many properties
• You won’t earn hotel loyalty points because you are not booking directly with the hotel

Last Minute Travel

Last Minute Travel lives up to its name by providing excellent deals on last-minute hotels, flights, car rentals, cruises , and more. Flexible travelers will love the Undercover Hotels feature, where super low offers keep the hotel’s identity a secret until the booking is completed. You’ll know the hotel’s general location, star rating, guest review score, and board basis to help make your decision.

Join the Last Minute Travel Club to benefit from exclusive member-only deals and to earn points towards free travel . Membership is $50 per year, and if you don’t save the cost of your membership through your exclusive deals, you’ll receive a voucher to cover the difference.

Pros and Cons of Last Minute Travel

• Undercover Hotels provide up to 65% off, revealing the hotel name after booking
• Filter hotel results by Tripadvisor review scores
• $50 membership fee for the Last Minute Travel Club
• No map to search for hotels in a particular area

Hopper is a clever little app that predicts hotel and flight prices up to a year in advance with 95% accuracy . You could save up to 40% on your hotel by booking with the app. Hopper will send you push notifications about recent searches and alert you to price rises and increases for particular properties.

The color-coded calendar displays what dates have the cheapest rates using green, amber, and red highlighting. Once you’ve searched for a destination, you can choose to “watch” specific hotels to receive push notifications with hidden deals  that can’t be found anywhere else online.

Pros and Cons of Hopper App

• Intelligent predictions on the best time to book
• Hidden deals that are not available anywhere else
• You can’t contact Hopper’s customer service team by telephone — this must be done through the app

Hundreds of thousands of hotels, apartments, and holiday rentals are available to book on Hotels.com in over 200 countries and territories. You can book via its website or app and sign up to receive emails with secret prices for email subscribers only .

You can filter your search by the usual star rating, guest review rating, price, etc., but also by proximity to key landmarks or by accommodation theme, such as luxury, historic, and romantic.

Hotels.com participated in the One Key rewards program, which allows you to earn and use points on travel booked through Hotels.com, Expedia, and Vrbo.

Pros and Cons of Hotels.com

• Secret prices for email subscribers
• One Key rewards program

Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor might be your first port of call to check reviews for just about anything travel-related, but you can also search for hotel deals . When selecting your stay dates, Tripadvisor highlights the cheapest days in orange on the calendar, so you’ll know what days to avoid. Your search results can be filtered by your minimum and maximum budget, amenities, and distance from popular landmarks, in addition to many other options.

Alerts tell you if the price is a certain percentage lower than usual , so you’ll know whether you’re getting a good deal. As bookings are not made with Tripadvisor, your search results will tell you which website the deal is available with and displays comparison pricing against alternative websites.

Pros and Cons of Tripadvisor

• Color-coded calendar reflecting cheapest dates
• Alerts flagging if a specific price is cheaper than usual
• Prices displayed often don’t include taxes and fees

CruiseDirect.com

Keep an eye on last-minute offers with CruiseDirect.com , where a cancellation may mean you can get your hands on a prime stateroom at a fantastic price . Check back regularly as prices fluctuate depending on how long is left before a cruise departs . Bonus inclusions and offers are displayed with little icons indicating free onboard spending, discounted shore excursions, or low deposits.

There are no booking fees with CruiseDirect.com, and the company has a price match guarantee if you find the same offer elsewhere.

Pros and Cons of CruiseDirect.com

• No booking fees
• Offers are generally not exclusive, so you could book them with any other cruise provider

Cruise.com gives customers access to special pricing and extras that can’t be booked anywhere else . Visit the Last Minute Cruises page and filter by cruise duration to see available deals, including cashback offers, onboard credit, and free gratuities.

If you know what cruise line you want to travel with, you can head straight to the individual deals page for the company, or if you know where you want to go or where you want to depart from, Cruise.com also features destination and port-specific deals pages. You can also register with Cruise.com to receive exclusive rates and discounts .

Pros and Cons of Cruise.com

• Dedicated last-minute cruise page with special offers
• Register with Cruise.com to receive exclusive rates and discounts
• The website is very busy and cluttered.
• No price guarantee is offered

CruisesOnly

CruisesOnly prides itself on its industry-leading expertise, with all agents having been professionally certified by each of the cruise lines. So you can bag yourself a last-minute deal while speaking to a cruise expert that can tell you which cruise liner will best suit your needs.

CruisesOnly has a price match guarantee , where it will refund you 110% of the difference if you find the same offer on another website. After your second booking, you can join the CruisesOnly Loyalty Club to receive free onboard credit or an Amazon gift card.

Pros and Cons of CruisesOnly

• Price match guarantee refunding 110% of the difference
• Loyalty program rewarding repeat customers
• The site can be very busy, making it hard to narrow down to the cruise you really want to take

Cruisewatch

Cruisewatch is a metasearch site that monitors over 25,000 cruise deals and holds pricing data from the last 5 years to analyze when the best time is to book . Take a look at the Cruise Price Drops page to see how pricing has fluctuated over the last 90 days and to check predictions on when to expect the best price.

When you’ve found the perfect deal, you have several options for how to book. Either click Book Now and you’ll be directed to a partner website to complete your booking, fill out the online booking form to be contacted by Cruisewatch, or call a customer service agent to book immediately.

Pros and Cons of Cruisewatch

• Analyzes historical pricing data to predict the best time to book
• Price alerts to keep up to date with price changes
• Confusing booking process with multiple options

Costco Travel

Costco Travel is available to Costco members only, with membership costing $60 or $120 depending on whether you go for Gold Star or Executive level. Like Costco’s warehouse merchandise, only top quality cruises are promoted with Costco Travel, and Executive members benefit from an annual 2% reward with all travel purchases .

Some cruise offers include bonuses such as Costco Shop Cards or onboard credit .

Pros and Cons of Costco Travel

• Executive members benefit from a 2% annual reward on travel purchases
• Some offers include Costco Shop Cards or onboard credit
• Offers are only available to Costco members

Hot Tip:  To view more popular websites for booking cruises at the lowest price, check out our dedicated article .

Intrepid is a B Corp accredited tour company that considers its corporate social responsibility as much as its bottom line. It runs sustainable small group tours all over the world and caters to solo travelers with shared rooms to avoid single supplements .

Whether you’re traveling on a budget or looking to explore a new destination alongside your creature comforts, Intrepid has a tour to suit you. Itineraries and inclusions are clear on the tour page, and you can secure your place on the tour for 5 days until you’re ready to pay your deposit . Check out the Travel Deals page for discounted and last-minute offers.

Pros and Cons of Intrepid

• Shared room options for solo travelers to avoid single supplements
• Clear itineraries and inclusions with optional extras
• Some tours are combination trips, so your travel companions may change midway through a tour

Gate 1 Travel

Gate 1 Travel provides small and large group escorted tours to all 7 continents. Visit the Special Offers page to see flash sales, last-minute deals, and featured destinations with extra savings . It’s always fun sharing the experience with a friend, and existing Gate 1 Travel customers can refer a friend to both receive $50 off a future booking .

Tours come in a range of travel styles, including Value, Classic, Deluxe, and Express, so you can choose the tour that best suits your travel style.

Pros and Cons of Gate 1 Travel

• Dedicated page with flash sales and last-minute deals
• Refer a friend program
• Supplement applies for solo travelers

Trafalgar offers over 300 tours , ranging from sightseeing and safaris to family and solo travel. You could save up to 15% on last-minute trips or plan in advance for 10% off early bird bookings on selected trips . Tours are focused on seeing bucket list icons, connecting with locals, and staying in accommodation with local heritage.

Order a free brochure to start planning your trip or check out the great customer reviews .

Pros and Cons of Trafalgar

• Up to 15% off last-minute bookings
• Wide range of tours and a great customer review rating
• Optional tour extras, such as excursions, can be pricey

TourRadar is an online travel agent, so it’s a great place to compare prices between a variety of tour operators . Over 40,000 tours are featured online, including large providers such as Intrepid , Trafalgar , and G Adventures . Bookings are made directly with TourRadar, who have a 24/7 support team via phone, email, or online chat.

TourRadar offers last-minute deals, early bird offers , and a selection of tours that are buy 1 get 1 free . It doesn’t get much better than that!

Pros and Cons of TourRadar

• Last-minute deals and buy 1 get 1 free offers
• Bookings are not made directly with the tour operator, so you won’t benefit from any repeat customer deals

Contiki offers tours for travelers from 18 to 35 years old to 6 continents (just missing Antarctica to get the full house). Contiki strives to provide sustainable travel , protecting the local communities and wildlife that form part of its tours.

Discounted tours are featured on its deals page, and customers can be book confidently with the knowledge that they can change their booking up to 30 days before the departure and move their flexible deposit to another tour or date .

Pros and Cons of Contiki

• Free changes up until 30 days before your tour and a flexible deposit
• Great for solo travelers with room sharing
• Free onboard Wi-Fi is limited

The key to bagging yourself a fantastic last-minute deal is flexibility. If you know the destination you want to travel to and the exact date you want to depart, chances are your choice will be limited. Opaque hotel deals can save you money on your accommodation if you can handle not knowing the hotel brand until after you’ve booked.

Many online travel agents have loyalty programs, so in addition to your great last-minute offer, you can collect points towards free future travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best site for last-minute vacation deals.

Expedia, Priceline, Orbitz, Travelzoo, and Travelocity are great for finding last-minute vacation packages. Searching for a deal is easy and you can filter your results to the packages that suit your criteria.

Do last-minute holidays get cheaper?

Last-minute travel can often be cheaper as travel companies discount their inventory to fill spaces and cover operational costs. Sometimes, last-minute flights can be more expensive as seat prices increase depending on demand.

Was this page helpful?

About Alex Miller

Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business, The New York Times, and more.

Discover the exact steps we use to get into  1,400+ airport lounges worldwide, for free  (even if you’re flying economy!).

We respect your privacy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's  privacy policy  and  terms of service  apply.

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

• Flight+Hotel

Advanced Options Advanced Options

Want to talk? Give us a Call

1.800.309.4717

Last Minute Deals

Select non-stop & round-trip flights and all-inclusive resort vacations.

Enjoy a vacation on the beach with a last minute getaway from Vacation Express! Find amazing Last Minute Deals from select cities to your favorite destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. With a last minute deal, you can easily book your round-trip or non-stop air, accommodations, local representative and hotel taxes for one discounted price. Book an all-inclusive hotel deal and enjoy your meals, unlimited drinks and exciting activities at no extra cost for your getaway. Don't see your departure city below? Shop for your ideal dates and departure city using our booking box on this page.

It's not too late to book your summer beach vacation to a tropical destination! Find featured deals with pricing below, and click here for a full list of hotel offers to make this a summer to remember!

3-Night Packages w/ Non-Stop Air

• Pittsburgh w/ Non-Stop Air from

4-Night Packages w/ Non-Stop Air

5-Night Packages w/ Non-Stop Air

• Cincinnati w/ Non-Stop Air from

6-Night Packages w/ Non-Stop Air

• Charlotte w/ Non-Stop Air from
• Columbus w/ Non-Stop Air from
• Kansas City w/ Non-Stop Air from
• Memphis w/ Non-Stop Air from
• Nashville w/ Non-Stop Air from

7-Night Packages w/ Non-Stop Air

• Raleigh w/ Non-Stop Air from

3-Night Packages w/ Round-Trip Air

• Atlanta w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Baltimore w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Boston w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Buffalo w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Chicago [ORD] w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Cleveland w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Dallas [DFW] w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Denver w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Detroit w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Ft. Lauderdale w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Houston [IAH] w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Indianapolis w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Los Angeles w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Milwaukee w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Minneapolis w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Nashville w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Newark w/ Round-Trip Air from
• New Orleans w/ Round-Trip Air from
• New York [JFK] w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Orlando w/ Round-Trip Air from
• San Diego w/ Round-Trip Air from
• San Francisco w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Seattle w/ Round-Trip Air from
• St. Louis w/ Round-Trip Air from

4-Night Packages w/ Round-Trip Air

• Miami w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Philadelphia w/ Round-Trip Air from
• Tampa w/ Round-Trip Air from

7-Night Packages w/ Round-Trip Air

BEST HOTEL DEALS FROM $78* PER NIGHT

• Ft. Lauderdale
• Los Angeles
• Minneapolis
• Philadelphia
• San Francisco

Traveling within three days? Our Travel Advisors can make it happen! Call 1-800-309-4717 to book. *$489 price is based on travel from Ft. Lauderdale to Legends Beach Resort for 3 nights on July 9. Advertised prices available for bookings made electronically through your travel agent or on vacationexpress.com; small service fee of $10 applies when booking through Vacation Express Call Center. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. For full terms and conditions, hotel information and description of all services, please refer to vacationexpress.com or call for details. Some upgrades are subject to availability upon check-in. Packages above are limited and subject to change without prior notice and are based on travel on coach/economy air with Spirit Airlines, American Airlines or other U.S. certified carriers or Vacation Express public charter flights operated by Allegiant Air or VivaAerobus. Airfares are per person, reflect lowest available airfare at time of printing, are subject to change and are based upon availability of class of service. Baggage charges and allowances vary by carrier and can change frequently. Most major carriers are charging a fee for checked baggage. Some airlines, including Spirit Airlines, are charging a fee for all checked and carry-on baggage. Clients must check their respective airline for the most current baggage information. Some hotels in the Cancun, Riviera Maya, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel areas of Mexico charge an environment fee of approximately $1.21 per room, per night. Fees are subject to change without notice and are payable at the hotel. Book by 7/1/24. Not responsible for errors or omissions. Registered Florida Seller of Travel no. St 38441. State of California Seller of Travel Certificate of Registration #2107538-40.

Show of Hands–Who Wants Deals?

Join the 500,000+ people that get our exclusive deals & special offers on the best in modern, affordable luxury vacation packages to Mexico, the Caribbean & Costa Rica!

The Best Sites and Apps for Finding Last-Minute Travel Deals

Is your suitcase packed yet?!

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Last-Minute Flight Deals

Google Flights

Google Flights is a search engine that gathers fares from other travel sites. According to CNET, it bests other travel search sites , due to the fact that it's super speedy (plug in your dates, departure, and arrival destinations, and flights pop up almost instantaneously). If you can be flexible, leave your destination blank and then scroll through the list of cities that pop up to find the cheapest flights for your upcoming dates.

Cheapoair.com

Cheapoair.com is all about discounted flights. Click on its "Last Minute Flights" tab to find the absolute cheapest rates (if you're interested, book it as soon as possible before it goes up!). A recent sweet deal was a roundtrip flight from Philadelphia to Orlando starting at $81 (2 weeks out from departure date). There's also a toll-free number to call to hear about unpublished fares.

Vayama.com focuses on international flights, and there are always good last-minute deals to be found right on the homepage, so you don't have to go clicking around. A recent search saw an American Airlines offer from New York to Casablanca, Morocco, starting at $676 (2 weeks out from departure date). Also, check out its "Trending Deals" section for the most up-to-date offerings.

Last-Minute Hotel Deals

HotelTonight

While this app lets you book up to a week in advance (or 100 days in advance for stays up to 14 nights), it's really geared to last-minute bookings, so if there's a hotel you've had your eye on, this is your chance to stay there at a reduced rate. Deals go live each day at noon, and there are thousands of hotels to choose from, including the Mondrian in Miami. Download for iTunes and Google Play .

Another last-minute hotel-booking app is One:Night, which lists its same-day offers starting at 3 p.m. Though operated by Standard International — the parent company behind Standard Hotels, which are listed already — it also has several other stylish hotels, such as New York's Gramercy Park Hotel and LA's Viceroy L’ermitage Beverly Hills. Download for iTunes and Google Play .

While this last-minute hotel-booking app got its start as a website in England in 1999, it now has access to more than 200,000 properties around the world (but it offers more U.K. hotels than anyone else, including places like London's Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton and the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton in Scotland). Download for iTunes and Google Play .

Last-Minute Travel Booking Site Deals

LastMinuteTravel.com

With a site called LastMinuteTravel , you can expect prime deals for spur-of-the-moment travelers. The site offers deals on everything from flights and hotels to car rentals and packages, so you're sure to find something. A recent search found a four-star Berlin hotel for $96 per night. Other sites to check out include LastMinute.com and GoLastMinute.com .

Priceline.com

Priceline basically offers one-stop shopping: Not only can you book your hotel room, but your flight, rental car, and cruise as well. It still has the "Name Your Own Price" feature for choosing hotels, which offers steep discounts (if you don't mind not knowing where you'll be staying until you book). Its app has app-only hotel deals, including super last-minute deals with its "Tonight Only" feature.

Expedia allows you to save big when you bundle a trip — meaning book your hotel and airfare together — and often has great last-minute prices, but for its most up-to-the-minute offerings, check the Unreal Deals tab. A recent search turned up a 4-night trip to Vegas, with a stay at The Palazzo tower (within the The Venetian), including airfare, from $605 per person (2 weeks out from departure date).

Last-Minute Vacation Package Deals

Gate 1 Travel

Gate 1 Travel has vacation packages to almost every corner of the world. It offers escorted travel packages, as well as independent trips. A recent independent vacation to Milan, featuring airfare, 4 nights of accommodations, and daily breakfast was going for $769 a month out. While there are always good deals on the site, you can also check its "Last Minute" section for the latest offerings.

CheapCaribbean.com

Who doesn't want to save money on a tropical getaway to the Caribbean or Mexico, perhaps places like Aruba and Cancun ? Find all the latest affordable last-minute deals under CheapCaribbean's "Nice Packages" tab — a recent offering for an all-inclusive resort on Mexico's Riviera Maya for 3 nights, including airfare, was going for $599 (down from $1,229) 2 weeks out.

Last-Minute Cruise Deals

CruiseCompete.com

If cruises are your thing — or even if you are a first-timer — you can get quotes from multiple travel agencies to get awesome last-minute deals through CruiseCompete.com . Check its Super Cruise Specials, where a recent deal included a 7-night Mediterranean cruise from Miami, starting at $445 (one month out). You can also get special deals, such as two-for-one cruises and select sailings where kids cruise free.

Under Cruise.com's Last Minute Cruises section (in the Cruise Deals section), you'll find lots of discounted sailings, including a 4-day Western Caribbean cruise from $279 per person departing from Miami, less than a week out. There was also a 4-day Bahamas cruise for $378 per person a month out.

Jill is the former travel editor at BestProducts.com, showing her expertise on everything from the Best Rooftop Bars in NYC to the 30 Most Beautiful Cities in the World;  the NYC native has previously worked at Travel & Leisure and has written articles for The New York Times , InStyle, Huffington Post , and Fodors . Recent trips have included the Bahamas and Natchez, and Patagonia and Vietnam are high on the bucket list. Though she’ll deny it, she is kind of obsessed with buying refrigerator magnets from the places she visits.

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-o9j0dn:before{margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;color:#ffffff;width:1.25rem;bottom:-0.2rem;height:1.25rem;content:'_';display:inline-block;position:relative;line-height:1;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} Travel

A Look Inside Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Best Quotes About Traveling With Friends

The 15 Best Beaches Near Orlando

The Best Tips for Visiting Disney World With Kids

The Best Travel Captions for Your Next Vacay

Are Vessi's Travel Sneakers Worth It?

The Best Mother-Daughter Trips to Take Together

13 U.S. Amusement Parks That Are Free to Enter

10 of America’s Best Water Parks

Romantic Weekend Getaways

11 Ways to Protect Yourself From Travel Scams

Latest Deals and Tips

Paris this fall: 4 nights w/flights

See the City of Lights in fall without the Olympics crowds but with the Beaujolais nouveau flowing.

Relax for a week in Thailand, reg. $2061

Your Travelzoo club membership saves you 80% on weeklong villa stays (including daily breakfast).

Travel tips

Find destination inspiration here.

Browse our latest travel tips & stories

Featured Destination

Daytona beach.

Upscale Egypt tour w/air and free cancellation

Cairo, aswan, luxor, nile river.

This offer from Exoticca features a free cancellation policy for your peace of mind.

Greater Palm Springs

From the Blog

An australian adventure starts in queensland.

The many facets of Malta

Palm Springs resort, reg. $400

Boasting 41 pools (yes, you read that right), this former hideaway for Hollywood's elite is the quintessential desert retreat.

Ends Sunday

Stay overwater for a week, 70% off.

Your all-inclusive stay at this private-island retreat includes a 60-minute spa treatment and a sunset dolphin cruise.

$995 & up

Europe 2-week river cruise, reg. $4095, belgium, the netherlands, germany, france, switzerland & more.

Experience up to 14 nights of land and river discoveries during peak season.

Tuscany: cook with a Michelin-star chef

San gregorio.

Go on a culinary journey with this members-only experience that also includes upgraded accommodations in a premier suite.

$44 & up

West coast wine-tasting passes, california, oregon, washington.

Unlock deals at wineries across the West Coast and use your pass as many times as you want.

Luxe safari for 2 w/meals & drinks

This 7-night all-inclusive safari deal comes with two game-viewing activities per day and roundtrip airport transfers.

Up to 45% off

Winter beach getaways, multiple locations.

This flash sale includes well-reviewed resorts in some of our favorite destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and more.

Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

Fairmont Mayakoba all-inclusive stay for 3 nights

Riviera maya.

As a Travelzoo club member, you can save $1250 or more on all-inclusive stays into April (yes, including peak winter season) with this exclusive deal.

The Golden Isles: A soul-stirring Georgia escape

Why the San Diego Zoo is the ultimate in feel-good fun

Maui beachfront escape incl. holidays

Save $650 at this resort that's situated on an oceanfront nature preserve.

Spain weeklong guided tour w/flights

Madrid, barcelona, seville, granada, valencia.

This is the lowest price we've seen for a guided tour of Spain in more than a year.

Fiji 5-star villa for 2 w/private pool

This price covers 5-night stays including daily breakfast, a personal concierge and more at this tropical paradise.

Farm-to-table brunch or lunch for 2

Located in vibrant downtown Palo Alto, Local Union 271's airy, inviting atmosphere is perfect for a midday bite, date nights and more.

Luxe LGBTQ+ Mediterranean cruise

Santorini, mykonos, ephesus, chania, kusadasi.

Embark on the inaugural Pillars of Pride sailing for a 5-star island-hopping experience this fall.

Your location

Where are you.

Create an account.

Just one more thing..., check your inbox., create your password..

• Access to exclusive travel, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences
• Hand-picked offers, personally reviewed by our global team of deal experts, delivered to your inbox
• Dedicated club-member customer support

Sign in to your account.

Enter your password.

Please accept this confidentiality pledge:

I agree to maintain the strict confidentiality required to access Travelzoo’s confidential offers. I will not reveal details of these confidential offers publicly, which includes not posting about it on social media. I will not attempt to purchase a confidential offer for anyone else. I understand that violating these conditions can result in my access being revoked.

To view confidential offers, we require that you sign a confidentiality agreement.

Don’t know password?

You're all set, join travelzoo, sign in to unlock, don't miss out, our deal experts have negotiated member exclusive rates for people like you., and you’re in..

Welcome, Travelzoo Member . You now have access to confidential offers. To access Confidential Offers in the future, you can use the link from your email, or the link under My Account on the Travelzoo website. This page is only accessible to Confidential Offer members.

You now have access to all our deals.

Here are the details of the deal you were interested in.

Sign in to save and manage your deal alerts

Sign in to save this deal to favorites., already a member, not a member yet.

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

How to Get Best Last-Minute Travel Deals

June is a freelance writer and the author of “The Joy of Syntax" and “The Best Punctuation Book, Period.” A former staff writer, reporter and editor for the community news division of the Los Angeles Times, she also writes the weekly syndicated “A Word, Please” column that runs in newspapers in five states.

Mary Flory leads NerdWallet's growing team of assigning editors at large. Before joining NerdWallet's content team, she had spent more than 12 years developing content strategies, managing newsrooms and mentoring writers and editors. Her previous experience includes being an executive editor at the American Marketing Association and an editor at news and feature syndicate Content That Works.

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Last-minute travel can be exciting — a sudden, unexpected chance to go someplace fun, see old friends or spend time with loved ones. But that thrill can fade fast the minute you start looking at costs. Airfare, hotels and rental cars are usually a lot pricier when you book last minute, and choices can be extremely limited.

To avoid getting gouged, you need to put in some extra effort. Here’s how to get the best deal possible on that last-minute trip.

Tips to get the best last-minute travel deals

Search lots of booking sites.

Those multi-search booking engines that promise to check rates every place under the sun all at once — they do. Yet their best rates can differ substantially. Try multiple multi-search engines including Trivago, Expedia, goSeek, Kayak, Hotels.com and any others you’ve had success with in the past.

But don’t stop there. Compare their rates with prices offered directly by the airline, hotel or car rental company. This late in the game, you just can’t know who’s most eager to earn your business. The only way to find out is to check.

Check different hotel dates before booking a flight (and vice versa)

If that big, beautiful beach resort you’ve been drooling over seems unusually expensive, search for slightly different travel dates. A hotel that costs $250 a night from Oct. 1 through Oct. 7 might cost $175 a night from Oct. 2 through Oct. 7, simply because a big convention at the hotel wraps up on Oct. 1.

If your dates are flexible, you’re in a better position to save money. But even if they aren’t, check a few different date ranges to find out whether unknown variables could be affecting your rate.

Check bundle deals

If you’re lucky, packages that include both a hotel room and a flight can offer amazing last-minute travel deals. That’s because of wholesaling, in which large blocks of hotel rooms are purchased or reserved by a company that tries to resell them to you at a profit. If they buy too many, they may start slashing rates at the last minute.

Check the “vacations” or “package deals” option on airline websites, as well as with online travel agencies like Pleasant Holidays, Costco, Travelocity or Orbitz.

Don’t forget about vacation rentals

Sites like VRBO.com and HomeAway.com offer a comprehensive, searchable database of privately owned vacation rentals that might be booked up by the time you’re planning a last-minute trip. But you won’t know until you look. And if they still have openings, private owners may be willing to cut their rates to fill rooms.

» Learn more: Beyond Airbnb — your guide to peer-to-peer travel platforms

Know your airline’s 24-hour cancellation policy

Unless you’re willing to pay a premium, most airfare is nonrefundable. But did you know that “nonrefundable” often doesn’t kick in until 24 hours after you’ve made your purchase? All major U.S. airlines will let you cancel for a full refund within 24 hours (they’re subject to rules from the Department of Transportation, which other booking sites may or may not follow).

Since last-minute travelers are navigating a landscape of wildly fluctuating prices, you might as well check fares one more time 23 hours after you book, just in case you find a better deal.

Don’t assume award redemption rates mirror cash rates

If you’re thinking of using points or miles to avoid a high last-minute fare, check out your options first. The formula airlines use to decide when to make saver-level award seats available is famously opaque. Sometimes the airlines can offer well-priced redemptions when you least expect them — like at the last minute. If you have miles to spend, check cash prices vs. redemption rates; the better option may surprise you.

Look at seating charts, available rooms and car rental options

By the time you’re reserving a last-minute flight, there may be only two seats on the plane: a middle seat for you in row 20 and a middle seat for your travel companion in row 39. You’ll want to know that in advance, and decide whether it’s worth paying extra to sit together on another flight or in an upgraded cabin.

For hotels, regardless of where you book, check the hotel website to see what room categories are still available. If they’re down to just one room type, that means you probably won’t be able to change rooms if you’re unhappy since they’re almost at capacity. You may get a better rate at a property that still has many empty rooms.

Definitely reserve a car as soon as you can. You don’t want to arrive at your destination airport to learn there are no rental cars available. And just because you’re able to make a reservation online doesn’t necessarily mean the car rental company has vehicles available. Call ahead to be sure, and ask about any active discounts.

Peruse restaurant and activity reservations online

If you’re headed to a ski resort, theme park, spring break hot spot or other likely crowded destination, restaurants could be booked weeks in advance. If you envision a sit-down meal or two, take a quick peek at OpenTable or Yelp Reservations to make sure you’re not left wandering around hungry. You can also check the availability of many tours, spas and activities online by playing with their reservations tool to select various dates.

Get to know your credit card’s travel concierge

If you have a travel rewards card, you may have a personal travel assistant right in your wallet. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , The Platinum Card® from American Express , the Citi Prestige® Card and Mastercards with the World Elite logo come with complimentary 24-hour concierge service. Terms apply.

This means real humans are standing by to help you find everything from hotel rooms to Broadway tickets. When better to tap their expertise than when you’re looking for last-minute deals? If you’re not sure exactly what the concierge can do, they can help you with that too — just ask.

Get your house in order

In the scramble to find last-minute deals, don’t forget all the other things you must do to get out the door fast. Make sure the dog walker is in town. Put a vacation hold on your mail delivery. Get your prescriptions filled and load the kids’ devices with books, games and in-flight entertainment.

We recommend making a list of every task you need to complete, to make sure you’re not boarding a plane and wondering if you remembered to pack your reading glasses or unlock the gate for the landscaper.

Last-minute travel deals, recapped

When looking for vacation deals at the last minute, make sure to review your options, use the resources available and remain flexible. But bbove all, have fun. Last-minute travel can be a great adventure when you’re doing your best to both save money and experience something new.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Travel Tips
• Mobile Apps

8 Best Apps for Last-minute Flights and Hotels

Download these travel apps so you're prepared for your next last-minute getaway.

If you're feeling spontaneous and want to head out of town for a last-minute getaway, you'll need some help finding affordable airfare and hotel rates on a whim. There's a good chance you won't be in the mood to sit on your laptop and track price trends, either.

So instead of wasting time bouncing between websites, download these tried and true apps to make planning a last-minute vacation easier. These flight- and hotel-booking apps will help get you on the road — and likely save you money, to boot.

Whether you want a flight, hotel room, car rental, or total trip package, Expedia's easy-to-navigate app has thousands of last-minute choices for any destination. Though actual prices are usually around 20 percent cheaper than what's advertised on Expedia's website, it's not unusual to find savings of up to 50 percent.

Download for iOS or Android .

Type in where you want to go, and this app (or its website) offers up the lowest available fares over the next several months. Being flexible about your destination pays off: if you want to skip town this weekend, simply select your dates, and Fareness will display a list of the cheapest airfares to various cities.

Download for iOS .

If you're looking to book a flight tonight or tomorrow, this app from flight tracker Hopper is your go-to helper. The inventory is from major airlines as well as low-cost carriers, and the prices are always favorable. The app even allows you to keep track of flights so you will be alerted when prices go down.

HotelTonight

Snag a discounted hotel room for the same day or up to a week in advance in more than 1,700 cities. Look for properties with special Geo Rates, which target users based on their GPS location. For example, while you're waiting for a flight at the airport, search for a room at your destination — you can sometimes get a better deal than if you wait to book after you've landed.

Download for i OS or Android .

Cruise Finder by iCruise.com

You normally have to book cruises well in advance — sometimes even a year out. But those looking to hop on deck on short notice can use Cruise Finder's Hot Deal feature to find last-minute savings. Go ahead and book that ocean-view room on a three-night cruise in the Bahamas. You'll pay as little as $200 for a departure within the next month or about $500 for next-day travel.

Download it for iOS or Android .

SecretEscapes

This app lists last-minute deals for upscale hotels — sometimes as much as 70 percent off the rates published online — at properties all around the world. Travelers can also use it to book air and hotel vacation packages.

Travelzoo's app not only lists discounts on packages, hotels, cruises, and flights, but also has an extensive range of special offers for restaurants, spas, and activities. For example, on a recent search, we found a deal for business class tickets on round-trip flights to South America starting at $799.

This app is loaded with suggestions for dining, activities, and events, which you can search based on your travel preferences. It also offers savings on hotel rooms that average around 25 percent off rates advertised online.

Related Articles

TTC family of brands

My Trafalgar

Destinations

Get Inspired

866 513 1995

Today's Best Travel Deals

Last minute deals, september deals.

These deals won't last long

Save on tours departing soon

Save on top tours in our most popular travel month.

See All September Deals

Popular searches

Domestic Trips

See America in a new light

Vacations under 14 days

Limited availability. Selling fast.

Today's best travel deals

Save now. Don't miss out. 

Offers for travel groups of 9+

Save when you book 9+ guests

Past guest benefits

Savings with Global Tour Rewards

Tours under $2000

Browse our value vacations

All Last Minute Deals

Simply the best and most relevant way to travel

Everything Taken Care of

Value for Money

100+ Years of Travel Expertise

We MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Looking for inspiration?

Order or download your free brochure

The top 10 'travelling solo' myths debunked

The power of shared experiences: how travel bonds us together

Why September is the perfect time to visit Italy

Got questions? Find your answer in our popular FAQs >

See All Destinations

See happy guests traveling now #simplyTrafalgar

We are the world's most loved tour company.

Ready to be inspired?

Get your free brochure and plan your next escape.

Request a Brochure

5 million happy guests...

...and counting. See what our past guests have to say.

Read Reviews

Learn More >>

Help & Info

WE MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Unedited Reviews

Our Destination Management Companies

Frequently Asked Questions

Travel Updates

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Travel Planning

Get Your Free Brochure

Travel Insurance

Booking Conditions

Trip Deposit Level

Recommendations

Trafalgar Tours Limited is a proud member of  The Travel Corporation  family of companies.

#SimplyTrafalgar

Travel House, Rue du Manoir St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 2JH

Selected Region

United States

United Kingdom

New Zealand

South Africa

Copyright 2024 Trafalgar. All rights reserved.

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Compare package deals to find the right one.

Search vacation deals by destination, find vacation packages, las vegas vacations, honolulu vacations, toronto vacations, paris vacations, new york vacations, cancún vacations, rome vacations, san juan vacations, miami beach vacations, montego bay vacations, punta cana vacations, key west vacations, orlando vacations, barcelona vacations, hawaii vacations.

Search vacation packages on KAYAK. Search for the cheapest package for all major destinations around the world . KAYAK is a travel tool that searches hundreds of travel sites to help you find the vacation package that suits you best.

Not what you’re looking for? Find thousands of other hotels , flights , car rentals and trains and buses with KAYAK.

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Search vacation packages & trips.

As a  One Key member , earn up to 10x more OneKeyCash on your flight when you book a package.

Enjoy flexibility with our Book now Pay later option & fully refundable rates on most hotels

Customize your vacation with ease all in one place

Las Vegas Vacation Packages

Book your trip to Las Vegas and save by bundling a flight + hotel!

• Vacations Under $500

Find deals on great vacations under $500 in your area and beyond.

Top Destinations by Month

Choose from incredible vacation destinations.

Top domestic vacation destinations

Tick one more destination off of your bucket list with one of our most popular vacations

Los Angeles

Top international vacation destinations

Explore the world with international vacation packages and visit one of our most popular destinations

Cabo San Lucas

Playa Del Carmen

Find your perfect vacation

Take a break from work and soak up the sun at one of our hottest vacation destinations

• Beach Vacations

Build a beach vacation package to suit your every need. Life is better on the beach!

• All Inclusive Vacations

All your needs are catered for with an all-inclusive vacation package. All the extras that make a lifetime of memories.

Family Vacations

Great offers for the entire family. Find peace of mind when you book a family vacation package with Expedia.

• Cheap Vacations

Expedia's cheap deals on vacation packages ensure your next trip is memorable and affordable.

Last Minute Vacations

Planning a romantic break for 2 or an impromptu trip with the whole family? Expedia helps you find last-minute vacation deals.

Romantic Getaways

From honeymoon packages in far-flung destinations to a weekend luxury spa break, find your perfect couples vacation.

Find your next vacation package 

Are vacation packages worth it.

Vacation packages can save a lot on your vacation, as discounts may be available when booking multiple aspects of your vacation at once, such as the hotel and the flight. Flights and hotel packages can include a car rental at your destination. Check our package deal today on Expedia!

How much do vacation packages cost?

The exact cost of a vacation package varies based on various factors such as destination, accommodation quality, flight class, and even the time of year you visit. The type of vacation you embark on can also affect cost with options like family packages and all-inclusive packages . You can search for your specific price range, too, with plenty of vacations under $1,000 , for example. 

How to choose your vacation package?

To find the best vacation package, you'll need to consider the type of vacation you're looking to enjoy and the destination. Using the site's search function, you can find a wide variety of packages available for your chosen vacation location, while search filters can narrow down options based on vacation type. Browse our deals now.

How to find cheap vacation packages?

If you're looking to save, be sure to set filters for any budget limitations you may have in your search. Additionally, you can sort by price to automatically put the cheapest options first in your search results. Weekend getaway packages can be relatively inexpensive as well if you are looking for cheap getaways. 

How to vacation on a budget?

Budget-friendly travel is easy when you book with Expedia, as we can help you keep prices low via search filters, but that's not all. There are general trends to keep in mind regarding prices, such as travel packages generally being cheaper during the off-season of your vacation destination. Additionally, the higher the quality amenities you opt for, the higher the price typically is.

How to get great vacation deals?

Vacation deals are common with Expedia, as we offer plenty of discounts on great packages, with packages already being a deal compared to booking hotels and flights separately.

How to find last-minute vacation deals?

To book last-minute vacation trips, simply input your travel dates into the search and see what's available at that time for your destination. You can still filter based on virtually anything you can imagine, including amenities, price, star rating, and more.

Where should I go on vacation?

Booking a Hawaii vacation package is especially popular with all sorts of travelers, whether it's families or couples, and Disney World packages have much to offer for families. Consider the kind of vacation you're looking for to determine the perfect destination. 

What are some of the best vacation spots?

Top vacation spots include cheap Caribbean vacations and European vacation packages . With rich culture, history, and stunning natural beauty, a vacation package to these destinations can provide an unforgettable adventure. 

Where to go on a vacation in the US?

Staying in the US still offers easy access to great vacation places with Vegas packages and a Grand Canyon vacation being popular choices among other options. Whether you’re seeking the thrills of the Vegas Strip or the majestic views of the Grand Canyon, browse your options today.  

Where to go on vacation on a budget?

Cheap vacation ideas can still take you to a variety of great cheap vacation destinations, including Yellowstone vacations and Glacier National Park vacations . Parks and outdoor experiences tend to be free, so national park vacations are excellent for a budget-friendly trip. 

What are some great all-inclusive vacation packages?

All-inclusive vacations to the Bahamas and all-inclusive vacations to Cancun are some of the best options available, putting you in a Caribbean paradise. However, all-inclusive vacations are more varied than you might think, with worldwide options. 

What are the best destinations for a family vacation?

Traveling with kids means you'll need to find fun for the whole family, and Orlando vacation packages can put you and your little ones in the world's theme park capital. Of course, a vacation package to Anaheim offers a similar experience on the West coast. 

Where should I go on vacation this summer?

If you're looking to embrace the season, head to the beach with a summer vacation package to Destin . Of course, you may be more interested in escaping the heat with something like a vacation package to Vancouver . 

How to find cheap beach vacations?

In your search, you can apply search filters for beach trip packages and sort your results by price to see the cheap vacation options first. With those standards, you can find amazing cheap trips with beach vacation packages like vacation packages to Panama City and vacation packages to Myrtle Beach . 

What are some great couples' vacations?

Traveling with your partner means a more romantic adventure, which is easy when you book vacation packages to Honolulu . However, you can always opt for the classics and get a vacation package to Paris . Even a simple 3-day cheap getaway can be suitable. 

What are the best destinations for a luxury vacation?

One of the best destinations for luxury is a Las Vegas vacation package , as the city was essentially designed to make visitors feel luxurious. Of course, a Lake Tahoe vacation package can be just as fulfilling as a more outdoor-oriented experience. Golf vacations also tend to be quite elegant. 

How to find great Christmas vacation packages?

To find an excellent package for a Christmas vacation, simply put your travel dates into the search and discover what's available. Vacation packages to New York and vacation packages to Chicago are trendy around Christmas. 

Where to get ski vacation packages?

Ski vacation packages are readily available on Expedia, including vacation packages to Aspen , vacation packages to Vail , and packages to other notable ski resorts. Check out the deals now and book your next ski vacation today.  

Can I cancel my vacation package with Expedia?

Yes, you can cancel your vacation package via your itinerary page on Expedia or by contacting customer service. Remember that some packages are fully refundable, but the details vary based on each unique booking. A fully refundable package may depend on how far out from the travel dates you're canceling and what airline you are travelling with.

Why should I book my vacation package with Expedia?

Booking with Expedia makes it easy to plan your entire vacation in advance. Vacation packages with airfare included can also feature a rental car and even activities in some cases, with discounts typically coming with booking more than one aspect of your trip at a time. One Key members will earn  OneKeyCash  with every eligible booking that you can use to save on future eligible bookings. Membership is free, sign up today!

*OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia,  Hotels.com  and Vrbo.

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Domestic vacation packages & getaways.

• New Orleans Vacations
• Fort Lauderdale Vacations
• Chicago Vacations
• Phoenix Vacations
• Williamsburg Vacations
• Laughlin Vacations
• Atlantic City Vacations
• Portland Vacations
• Austin Vacations
• U.S. Virgin Islands Vacations

Popular Vacation Destinations in Mexico

• Mexico Vacations
• Tulum Vacations
• Quintana Roo Vacations
• San José del Cabo Vacations
• Puerto Vallarta Vacations
• Cozumel Vacations
• Acapulco Vacations
• Tijuana Vacations

International Vacation Packages & Trips

• Paris Vacations
• Greece Vacations
• Bahamas Vacations
• Aruba Vacations
• London Vacations
• France Vacations
• Bali Vacations
• Colombia Vacations
• Belize Vacations
• Toronto Vacations
• Honolulu Vacations
• Nassau Vacations
• St. Thomas Vacations
• Bora Bora Vacations
• Montego Bay Vacations
• Dominican Republic Vacations
• Negril Vacations
• Tampa Vacations
• Puerto Rico Vacations

Vacations from

• Vacations from Atlanta
• Vacations from Austin
• Vacations from Boston
• Vacations from Chicago
• Vacations from Dallas
• Vacations from Houston
• Vacations from Las Vegas
• Vacations from Los Angeles
• Vacations from Miami
• Vacations from New York
• Vacations from Orlando
• Vacations from Philadelphia
• Vacations from Phoenix
• Vacations from Pittsburgh
• Vacations from Seattle
• Vacations from Washington

Best Vacation Destinations by Month

• January Vacations and Deals
• February Vacations and Deals
• March Vacations and Deals
• April Vacations and Deals
• May Vacations and Deals
• June Vacations and Deals
• July Vacations and Deals
• August Vacations and Deals
• September Vacations and Deals
• October Vacations and Deals
• November Vacations and Deals
• December Vacations and Deals

Other Vacation ideas

• Vacation Payment Plans
• Weekend Getaways
• Last Minute Vacation Deals
• 3 Day Getaways
• Plan a Trip
• Thanksgiving Getaways Deals
• Christmas Vacation Deals
• Vacations Under $1000
• New Year's Vacation Deals

More Types of Vacations

• Adventure Vacations
• Golf Vacations
• Kid Friendly Vacations
• Luxury Vacations
• Romantic Vacations
• Ski Vacations
• Northern Lights Vacations
• Honeymoon Vacations
• Mountain Vacations
• Fishing Vacations
• Adults Only Vacations
• Waterpark Vacations
• Scuba Diving Vacations
• Yoga Vacations
• Solo Vacations

The 16 Best Sites for Last Minute Travel Deals

Don't forget to pack some underwear

Are you planning your next epic trip to Cancun, Miami, Florida, or the Caribbean? Then, stop what you’re doing and check out the best sites for last-minute travel deals to get the most for your money.

In this article, we will explore sites and apps for finding travel deals where you can get significant discounts for your next flight , vacation rental, and car rental. Finding last-minute travel deals is simple nowadays if you know where to look. You can save a lot of money on your trip to Las Vegas or your family’s favorite vacation spot.

1. Last Minute Travel

As the name suggests, Last Minute Travel is all about the deals you can get on last-minute flights, hotels, cruises, and even car rentals. If you become a member of the Last Minute Travel Club for $50 per year, you can benefit from exclusive hotel deals available only to the members. You will also collect points that you can later use on free travel.

If adventurous, you will love the “Undercover Hotels” feature. Super low travel offers will keep the hotel’s identity a secret until you complete the booking. However, you won’t go through the booking process blindly. You’ll know the hotel’s general location, rating, and review score. With “Undercover Hotels,” you can get up to 65% discounts on your hotel room.

2. Priceline

Priceline lets you customize your travel package if you don’t like the hotel room or the flight times they have offered. But keep in mind that every change will come at a cost. That said, flexible travelers will be awarded Express Deals that give up to 60% discount on hotel stays. The only downside is that you won’t know the hotel’s exact location or name until after the booking is completed.

For those who don’t want to take the risk with Express Deals, Priceline offers a very detailed and easy-to-use map that shows all accommodations available for your last-minute trip. Once you hover the cursor over the location (labeled with the price), a pop-up display will tell you the hotel’s rating, name, and guest review score.

Kayak is a search engine that will allow you to find flights, but you won’t book them with Kayak. The search engine will not charge any fees for the booking, and there are no hidden charges you need to worry about. You can use many filters that Kayak has to offer to narrow down the search to match your exact criteria.

Since you can’t book through Kayak, you won’t have any loyalty programs. However, if you are a frequent flier, you can earn airline points by searching for flights through Kayak.

4. Travelocity

Travelocity is a website where you can book everything you need for your last-minute trip. There are options to book a flight, a hotel, and a car, and if you choose a combination of two or more items, you’ll get a discount. You can even add excursions after you finish the booking process. Travelocity is a great platform to plan your whole trip.

Once you register on the Travelocity website, you will receive a 10% discount on hotel stays. The website also has a price match guarantee, which means that if you find the same hotel, car, or cruise on a different platform that offers a lower price, Travelocity will refund the difference. 

5. Groupon Getaways

Groupon is a well-known online marketplace that offers its customers great deals. But many have wondered if last-minute vacation packages offered on Groupon Getaways are worth it. It is essential to know that travel agencies or individual travel agents run these travel packages, and they are fully planned. That means you will not be able to make any hotel, flight, or trip changes. However, if you’re a first-time traveler, this could be a great option for you.

International travel can be very stressful, and having it all planned out for you will take the edge off. But be aware that the dates are set in stone, and the accommodation might not live up to your expectations. The excursions can add extra costs on top of the price displayed for the travel package. Read carefully about what you’re buying and check for any hidden fees.

6. Travelzoo

Travelzoo will find the best deals from other websites, so you don’t have to search multiple platforms. It serves as a link between you and an appropriate booking website. Travelzoo has a vast database, and members benefit from special deals. However, these deals are time-limited.

The Top 20 Deals page changes every week, so you have access to only the best packages. The Travelzoo team tests these deals and verifies them. Some of the deals you find through Travelzoo are fully refundable.

Using Orbitz, you can find vacation deals that include any combination of flight, hotel, and car rental bookings. The website will even allow you to book accommodation for a part of your travel period. The search is very detailed, and you can browse hotels by their cancellation policy or specific amenities such as spas or free Wi-Fi.

Orbitz has its reward system for which you need to register. It will allow you to collect Orbucks which you will be able to spend on a hotel room. Orbucks can be collected through flights, travel packages, and hotel bookings through the Orbitz app.

Expedia is both an online booking platform and a mobile app. Through Expedia, you will be able to easily find suitable vacation packages, cruises, hotels, excursions, flights, and car rentals. You can search for a vacation package by simply entering your desired location, duration of the planned trip, and the location from which you’re departing.

Expedia has a very generous reward system. You will get one point for every dollar spent on your travel plans (apart from flights). Flights will give you one point per $5 spent, but only if you hold a Silver or Gold membership. The points will be doubled if you’re booking through the mobile app. You can spend accumulated points to get free travel.

9. CheapOair

If you are in search of cheap flights, CheapOair might be the right solution for you. An online travel agency, CheapOair offers up to a 20% discount for booked flights. You can also book hotels through this online agency, and members can receive up to a 55% discount.

CheapOair also has a reward program based on a point system. You will receive your first 500 points just for signing up. Then, the site will add another 500 points to your account after your first booking, hotel, or flight. After you collect these initial 1000 points, each dollar spent through CheapOair will land you another 1 point. You can also opt for a CheapOair credit card that will add $7 for each dollar spent.

10. Google Flights

If you want a simple and clean search engine with some handy filters for finding last-minute flights, Google Flights might be what you’re looking for. Use the map view to see the prices all over the world. This is particularly useful for flexible travelers who don’t care much about the destination.

If you already have a set destination in mind, you can use Google’s price graph to find the dates that have the cheapest flights. Just keep in mind that booking is not done through Google. Instead, Google will direct you to the airline. 

That said, Google Flights has a flaw that you have to be aware of. Sometimes it displays cheap flights that are no longer available.

11. Hoteltonight

Hoteltonight is a booking service that will allow you to find a hotel, book it, and go straight to it, all on the same day. This is a fantastic option if you’re searching for last-minute hotel deals. The service works both in web browsers and as an app for smartphones.

That said, Hoteltonight also lets you plan your last-minute vacation, not just book a hotel on the same day. It will allow you to book a hotel room up to seven days in advance. The later you book a room through Hoteltonight, the better hotel deals will be available.

12. Hotwire

Hotwire is a booking website that promises cheap travels that you won’t regret. You can book flights, hotels, car rentals, or any combination directly through Hotwire. They even have a mobile phone app. In fact, if you want the lowest possible prices, additional discounts are available if you book through their app.

The Hotel Rate tool will allow you to be adventurous and book an undisclosed hotel within a specific rating range. However, some hidden fees might be a problem with Hotwire, so read all the details carefully. 

13. Airfare Watchdog

Airfare Watchdog is a great solution for people looking for last-minute flights or who are flexible with their travel dates. The company employs real people that will search various websites to provide you with the best flight deals possible.

The best feature of Airfare Watchdog is its capability to track the prices over time. If you sign up for air alerts, Airfare Watchdog will send you updates on flight prices through an email. This will help you decide when to book a flight to get the best deal.

14. Cruise Direct

Cruise Direct can be an excellent solution for people looking for affordable cruise deals. Last-minute cruise offers usually happen due to a cancellation. Someone opting out of the trip can be your way into a luxury room at great bargains. Keep in mind that prices will fluctuate depending on how long until the cruise departure.

Cruise Direct doesn’t charge booking fees, and it offers a price match guarantee. However, the website doesn’t offer any exclusive cruises to its users.

15. Tourradar

Tourradar is a digital travel agent with over 40,000 tours offered worldwide. From the Caribbean to the East Coast of Australia, Tourradar has so many travel sites and tours to offer. You can even personalize your family’s vacation by opting for a private tour that Tourradar will tailor just for you.

Last-minute deals are only a tiny part of what Tourradar has to offer. Using this online tour agent, you can spend less on your next vacation with Early Bird Savings and 2 for 1 deals. However, returning customers have no benefits as the booking is never done directly with the tour operators.

16. Booking.com

Probably the best of all accommodation booking sites, Booking.com will provide you with an excellent search experience with many filters to narrow down your next vacation spots. But Booking.com doesn’t limit itself only to hotels. It also gives you the option of choosing between apartments, entire villas, and some very unique properties at discounted prices.

Booking.com will also let you book flights, car rentals, airport taxis, various activities, tours, and museums. It also has a reward system called Genius that will give you a 10% discount if you book a hotel through their service twice in one year. You can get even bigger discounts and other benefits such as free breakfast, or free room upgrades with the Genius perks.

Related posts.

• Amazon Fire Stick Home Screen Not Loading? 9 Ways to Fix
• How to Share Your Amazon Cart
• 10 Best Free Audio Converter Tools (Online & Offline)
• 7+ Free Tournament Bracket Generators and Templates
• How to Remove a Google Account From Chrome

Nicolae is a Jack of all trades technology writer with a focus on hardware, programming languages, and AI image-processing software. Over the last five years, he has ghostwritten numerous tech how-to guides and books on a variety of topics ranging from Linux to C# programming and game development. Nicolae loves everything that has to do with technology and his goal is to share his knowledge and experience with others. Read Nicolae's Full Bio

Good Trips Only.

Small group travel that's good all over.

Good views, good friends and good times on hundreds of trips in more than 100 countries.

Ways to travel

Get inspired on the good times.

Finding the secret sauce to a great group in Patagonia

Intrepid’s new Women’s Expedition is exploring Saudi Arabia through a different lens 

10 ways 2023 was Intrepid’s most impactful year ever

An agricultural renaissance is underway on the outskirts of Rome

Why 2024 is the best year to see the northern lights

What it’s like to spend a day gorilla trekking in Uganda

A trio of Intrepid women is shaking up Botswana’s safari scene  

The silly side of small group travel you have to experience to understand 

Why choose us

Travel plans change. We get it – and we're here to help! Learn all about our flexible booking options.

Connect and share experiences with a community of spirited explorers who care about the planet.

Whether near or far from home, your trip will be local led and full of unforgettable experiences, with everything taken care of.

Need to book a last-minute trip? These 5 tips can help you save on plane tickets.

• Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be the cheapest days to fly.
• Early morning and red-eye flights are often the least popular with other travelers.
• Using online booking platforms can help you explore your options.

Sometimes, a last-minute trip pops up and it can be expensive. Airlines often raise ticket prices as the departure date draws near, so savvy travelers try to plan well ahead.

But, experts say, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you need to travel unexpectedly, there are some strategies you can use to find the best possible deals. A big part of finding the best deal is being as flexible as possible, but there are also a few best practices that can increase your odds of finding cheap tickets.

Here are five things to know if you hope to find a last-minute flight deal.

1. Fly midweek if you can

Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be the cheapest days to fly, so if you’re not tied to a specific day for your travel, it’s best to seek out departures on those days.

“By flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday, you can save an average of 18% or $51 per ticket on domestic airfares this summer. For trips to Europe, flying on weekdays can save you as much as $435 per ticket this summer,” Hayley Berg, lead economist at travel platform Hopper, said in a written statement.

Are Tuesdays still the best day to book flights? Here's what major travel platforms found.

2. Book the first or last flight

Early morning and red-eye flights are often the least popular with other travelers, so tickets for those departures can be cheaper.

“These flights tend to be less desirable and thus less expensive and less crowded. That means you’re likely to score a deal and be able to stretch out comfortably across empty seats,” Laura Lindsay, global travel trends expert at Skyscanner, said in a statement. 

Berg added that an early departure comes with the added benefit of being less prone to disruptions.

3. Search nearby airports

Berg and Lindsay said it’s a good idea to seek out flights from more than one nearby airport.

“Destinations with multiple airports give you more airline, itinerary, and price options,” Lindsay said. “By expanding your search to nearby airports, you expand your flight options. So, you may end up getting a better flight time and a better deal. Consider airports that are also within driving distance of your final destination. You can book a last-minute car rental and drive the rest of the way. Depending on the flight options, you may be able to get in even earlier than the quickest direct flight.”

For example, Berg said, if you’re flying to South Florida, consider Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in addition to Miami. Or, if you’re leaving from Boston, think about looking for flights out of Providence, Rhode Island, as well.

Renew your passport online: Here's how it works.

4. Do your research

Using online booking platforms like Hopper and Skyscanner can help you explore your options. If you’re flying at the last minute, it's best not to be too wedded to one airline.

Calling a tour operator can also help you get a good deal if there are unsold seats at the last minute, and booking two one-way flights rather than a round-trip itinerary can save some cash as well in some cases.

5. Play chicken

This high-risk, high-reward strategy can pay off but also could cost more.

“Waiting until the very last second before making a move could pay off. Flight prices can drop as the departure date draws palm-sweatingly closer. Want to travel on Friday, but can’t find the right fare on Tuesday? Don’t give up just yet – try Wednesday, Thursday, and the big day itself before you throw in the towel,” Lindsay said.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

GOBankingRates works with many financial advertisers to showcase their products and services to our audiences. These brands compensate us to advertise their products in ads across our site. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site. We are not a comparison-tool and these offers do not represent all available deposit, investment, loan or credit products.

Vacations To Go: Can You Really Book Cheap Last-Minute Travel?

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology .

20 Years Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed by Experts

Trusted by Millions of Readers

There’s nothing like taking a cruise. Looking across the ocean with no land in sight, the amazing dining and amenities on the ship and the experiences around the world are exciting. 

Read: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases

If you plan on taking a cruise, you’ll want the best price possible. After all, cruises can easily cost thousands of dollars. That’s where Vacations To Go comes in.  

Vacations To Go is a travel booking website that’s centered around finding low-cost cruise accommodations. The company’s website claims to offer the “world’s best last-minute cruise markdowns.” 

What Is Vacations To Go?

Vacations To Go is a travel website that’s centered around the cruise industry. The company lists  last-minute cruises , or cruises that set sail within the next 90 days.

However, you’re not just limited to last-minute cruises on the website. You can also use it to find bargains on cruises you plan out further in advance. Simply use the “Find a Bargain” tool on the left sidebar of the company’s website. 

How To Use Vacations To Go

Follow these steps to use the Vacations To Go website to find and book your next cruise:

Step 1: Register for Vacations To Go

You have to register on the Vacations To Go website to see the company’s prices. Follow these steps to register:

• Navigate to the company’s website at vacationstogo.com. 
• Click the “My Account” link at the top right corner of the website. 
• Click the registration link to fill out the form and create an account.

Step 2: Start Your Search   

Next, it’s time to start searching for your perfect cruise. To do so, navigate back to the Vacations To Go homepage and follow these steps: 

• Locate the “Find a Bargain” Tool : The “Find a Bargain” tool is in the left sidebar of the website. Locate the tool to start your search.
• Choose a Cruise Time : Determine which months are best for you to set sail and choose those months in the dropdown menu at the top of the “Find a Bargain” tool.
• Choose a Cruise Line : Only do this if you have a specific cruise line in mind. If not, leave it blank to see all of the options.  
• Choose a Cruise Ship : If you want to sail on a specific ship, choose that ship next. If you’d like to see all your options, don’t choose a specific ship. 
• Choose the Number of Nights You Want To Cruise : This is the total number of nights you plan to spend on your vacation. 
• Choose the Departure Port : This is especially important if you want to depart for your cruise from a port that’s close to home. 
• Choose Your Destination : Select your destination or look at all of the available choices.     
• Choose the “Return to Same Port” Option: Use the “Return to Same Port” checkbox if you want to return to the port you sail out of. 
• Click “Show Me the Deals” : When you click “Show Me the Deals,” you’ll get a list of all the deals available within your search criteria. 

At this point, you can choose to book your cruise with Vacations To Go, or you can consider other options — and it may be wise to consider other options. 

Should You Book a Vacation With Vacations To Go?

Although Vacations To Go has an effective cruise search tool it may not be the best place to book your vacation. Unfortunately, the company doesn’t have the greatest online ratings. According to Consumer Affairs, the company has only earned1.4 stars out of a five-star rating based on 264 consumer reviews, with the vast majority of those consumers rating the company one star.

However, online booking services are notorious for poor service and bad consumer reviews. For example, Hotels.com has a 1.2-star review at Consumer Affairs.

Nevertheless, poor reviews are often a cause for concern. As such, it may be best to use the Vacations To Go search tool as a means to find the vacation you’re looking for, then use your  trusted travel agent or cruise agent to book your trip.   

The bottom line is that there are few online tools available that are as effective at finding great deals on cruises as Vacations To Go. While the company may have poor reviews, and you may want to consider purchasing your cruise elsewhere, there’s no discounting the value of the tool from a planning perspective.

Our in-house research team and on-site financial experts work together to create content that’s accurate, impartial, and up to date. We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct. You can learn more about GOBankingRates’ processes and standards in our editorial policy .

• U.S. News Travel. "How Much Does a Cruise Cost in 2023?"

Share This Article:

Related Content

6 Cheap (or Free) Things To Do in Los Angeles This Summer

June 21, 2024

Top 6 Travel Destinations That Are Much More Affordable in the Summer

3 Ways To Travel Rich on a Middle-Class Budget

June 20, 2024

Top 6 Travel Destinations That Aren't Worth Your Money

June 27, 2024

5 Places To Travel This Summer That Are Like Florida, but Way Cheaper

June 19, 2024

23 Theme Park Insider Tips That Will Save You Money

June 17, 2024

12 Cheap and Fun Activities for Summer Vacationers in Florida

The Most Expensive Vacation Spot in Every State

June 16, 2024

12 Fun and Cheap Things To Do in Hawaii This Summer -- And How Much They Cost

June 18, 2024

Uncategorized

6 Reliable Car Brands If You're Renting a Car This Summer

June 14, 2024

I'm a Retiree: 5 Ways I Travel on Just a Social Security Budget

June 13, 2024

5 Luxury Travel Destinations That Aren't Worth Saving For If You're Middle Class

Avoid These "Bargain" Travel Destinations: More Costly Than You Think

June 11, 2024

6 Southern Zip Codes That are Just as Cheap as Mexico, Portugal and Costa Rica

5 Tips for Saving Money on Airfare This Summer

10 States Where It Costs the Most Just To Drive Through Them

• How To Save Money Fast
• How To Save $10,000 in 3 Months
• How To Save $10,000 in a Year

Best Ways To Save Your Money

• Best Ways To Save Money
• Best Clever Ways To Save Money
• Best Ideas To Save Money Each Month
• Best Frugal Living Tips To Help You Save Money
• Best Tips and Tricks for Saving Money
• Best Money-Saving Challenges
• Best Budgeting Apps

Make your money work for you

Get the latest news on investing, money, and more with our free newsletter.

By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . Unsubscribe at any time.

You're now subscribed to our newsletter. Check your inbox for more details.

BEFORE YOU GO

See today's best banking offers.

Sending you timely financial stories that you can bank on.

Sign up for our daily newsletter for the latest financial news and trending topics.

For our full Privacy Policy, click here .

I booked a weeklong trip to a mystery destination. I had a lot of fun, but I'd do a few things differently next time.

• I booked a solo  trip to a mystery destination with a company that planned everything for me.
• I traveled to Lisbon and enjoyed group tours and activities — as well as some alone time.
• It was fun to step outside my comfort zone, but I would have liked more time to explore by myself.

When traveling, I prefer leaving things to chance, as many of my most memorable moments typically happen on less-crowded streets or when I'm chatting up strangers at a restaurant.

That's why when my friend suggested I check out Journee — a travel company that specializes in mystery tours and plans everything, including your destination — I couldn't resist trying it out for a solo trip .

Companies like Journee have become more popular in recent years as more travelers lean into the idea of having a trip planned for them. In fact, a survey of 27,000 travelers by Booking.com found that over half of the respondents would welcome the idea of a trip to an unknown destination.

I was excited to see what all the hype was about and book a surprise trip of my own. Here's what it was like to travel to an unknown destination with Journee.

The company asked me questions about my travel preferences and sent clues leading up to the reveal

When booking my trip, the company provided me with an in-depth travel questionnaire that asked about my interests, curiosities, risk tolerance, well-being, and overall travel philosophy. It also dug into the "why" of my trip, the safety criteria, and logistics and budget.

The company then sent me a trip proposal, which provided a few clues about the city I'd be traveling to. There was no pressure to book and the proposal itself was completely free.

Once I committed, they built up the suspense by gamifying the pre-trip content, slipping fun facts and clues into my WhatsApp DMs.

I challenged myself (and my friends) to rely on our brains (no Googling) to figure out where I might be going, which led to many meaningful conversations about travel.

The company also provided a high-level packing list , which included items like a bank card, phone, charger, passport, and comfortable walking shoes.

The destination reveal turned out to be pretty underwhelming

On the day of departure, I added some euros to my carry-on before taking an Uber to Newark Airport. In the car, I found myself daydreaming about my destination, secretly hoping it was somewhere I'd never been.

My plan to film a reveal video at the airport was quickly foiled when my driver informed me that Newark has two international terminals.

Related stories

Because the tour company didn't note the terminal information on the envelope, I had no choice but to open the card in the car, which was underwhelming.

However, I was excited by the location listed on my card — Lisbon.

Along with the destination, the envelope included a detailed itinerary with daily pre-booked excursions, including an e-bike tour and a sunset cruise, with one free day to myself.

The company did a great job arranging my accommodations and activities

I arrived in Lisbon mid-morning after my basic-economy flight . I was relieved to find the company booked me a studio apartment with a sweeping balcony overlooking the street.

I liked being in a residential area, and the proximity to a metro hub and grocery stores made it feel like I had moved abroad.

My first group excursion turned out to be a one-on-one personalized e-bike tour of the city when folks bailed because of the rain.

My city guide took me on a two-hour tour along the Tagus River waterfront, and I ended up taking that same route several times throughout the week.

I also enjoyed the other trips Journee booked for me, including a drive along the countryside to a small village southeast of the city. Here, my group dodged the rain to visit a Stonehenge-like megalithic complex dating back 7,000 years .

One of the last curated events of the trip was visiting the Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Feeling utter tranquility in the cloisters was worth the 90 minutes I spent waiting in line.

As the week went on, I started veering from the pre-planned schedule

Although I enjoyed the group excursions, I worried that I wouldn't have enough time to explore the city on my own. That's why I decided to skip my third-day excursion to wander off the beaten path.

I weaved through the Alcântara district, stopping at the LXFactory, an old industrial textile complex turned food and art hall.

I also biked to explore the Mouraria and Alfama districts, filling up on bacalhau, Lisbon's salted codfish tapas. I even spent a few hours at the Fado Museum , an interactive and immersive cultural arts center where I learned about the history of Portugal's soulful music.

I loved being able to explore another side of the city, which hadn't been in my original itinerary.

I enjoyed the trip, but would make a few changes next time

Overall, it was exciting to step outside my comfort zone and hand over the travel planning to someone else. I loved the surprise of not knowing the destination and visiting historical sites off the beaten path.

Next time, I would book with a friend and have a more direct conversation with the tour company about having more time for independent exploration.

Watch: Marriott International's Tina Edmundson tells Insider that the travel mindset has changed since the pandemic

• Main content

StarTribune

Short on time have special requests a travel agent may be just the ticket..

When Debbie Reynolds embarked on a whirlwind trip last fall it nearly turned into a disaster, but her travel agent saved the day.

She was flying to Amsterdam to meet family and continue on to Africa, but another passenger had a medical emergency. The flight was delayed five hours and Reynolds missed her connection to Tanzania.

"That gets really complicated when you're trying to rebook flights and connections and do it on your cellphone," the 75-year-old St. Louis Park resident said. "The travel agent figured out how to rebook me and I didn't have to do a thing. I was able to join my family a day later."

Once thought to be on the brink of extinction due to digital platforms, travel agents are enjoying a revival.

Travel agents say they see more older clients seeking assistance as travel has become more complex — with considerations like foreign visas, tourist taxes and travel insurance. In addition to serving as an anchor during an emergency, they can save you time, reduce stress and help meet older travelers' special needs — from dietary restrictions to hotels with elevators to wheelchair accessibility.

"Travel has changed quite a bit over the past four years," said Erika Richter, spokeswoman for the American Society of Travel Advisors. "[Travel advisers] leverage a network of travel suppliers they know and trust. People place more value on that type of advocacy these days. There are so many things that can go wrong."

As post-pandemic leisure travel exploded, many travelers turned to one of the more than 66,000 travel agents nationwide. Nearly three-quarters are home-based independent agents and many market through social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. The number of travel agents is expected to grow through 2032.

Teri Waataja, a travel consultant at Preferred Adventures Ltd. in Mounds View, with 27 years of experience, estimates that 60% to 70% of her clients are age 50-plus.

Travel agent clients tend to be older and wealthier than the average traveler, with 72% over age 40 and 55% with annual incomes of at least $100,000, according to a report by tourism research firm Phocuswright Inc.

Whether they're world nomads or people on their first international trip, many don't have the time or inclination to research, plan and book itineraries. Others are overwhelmed by the online options. Phocuswright data shows the top reasons people frequent travel agents are a personal relationship (34%), customer service (34%) and expertise (28%).

Here are five ways travel agents can help travelers.

They sweat the details.

Laurie Johnsrud, a travel adviser with Travel Leaders Market Square in Rochester with 40 years of experience, has noticed that some older adults aren't comfortable booking online or are wary of inputting their credit card information.

"Many times, we can get a better deal for them," she said. "We can think of things they don't think of such as they book an air-and-hotel package and forget to look at transportation between the airport and hotel."

They're experts.

Nowadays, travel agents often specialize in certain parts of the country or world, such as Europe, or in certain types of travel like adventure and family travel. Phocuswright data shows that ocean cruises are the most common specialization (63%), followed by Disney (59%) and tours/packages (53%).

Charuta Fadnis, senior vice president of research and product strategy for Phocuswright Inc., also thinks travelers increasingly will turn to travel agents for luxury travel to "ensure that a high-cost, luxury vacation goes off without a hitch."

Minneapolis resident Beth Hawkins began working with a travel agent a few years ago when she found an airfare deal to Bali, but felt "so out of depth for how to prepare for that trip" that she contacted a travel agent referred by a friend.

"The travel agent arranged a number of tours for us with bilingual guides" and booked a three-bedroom villa with a kitchen and a pool "that I never would have imagined we could afford," Hawkins, 59, said.

They handle complexities.

As 50-plus travelers book complex bucket-list and adventure trips, travel agents can advise them on where to go and stay, what to do and ensure that special requests are conveyed to the travel provider, Fadnis said.

On a more recent trip to New Zealand trip this past winter with her 21-year-old autistic daughter, Hawkins was short on time so once again she turned to a travel agent.

"The travel agent was a godsend with the New Zealand trip because I have aging parents [both in their 80s who live nearby] and literally did not end up with time to figure that trip out," she said. In addition to planning and booking the whole trip, the travel agent also helped obtain their visas and replace a lost passport.

Some travel agents also help you determine if you need travel insurance, what type and file a claim for you.

They troubleshoot emergencies.

Waataja, who is available by cellphone 24/7 for emergencies, recalls once taking a 3 a.m. call when her clients' flight was canceled in Europe. Over the years, she has helped handle the death of a client in Cambodia, arrange an airlift to the United States from the Costa Rican jungle for a woman with an aneurysm and rebooked travelers who went to the wrong hotel.

"I have some clients who are very seasoned travelers," she said. "Regardless of if they book something on their own, they always book their airfare with me because if there's a schedule change or they miss a connection, they have somebody to call and help them work through it and fix it."

They can access deals and discounts.

Travel agents' buying power and network lead to services, such as free upgrades, free Wi-Fi or spa credits, that travelers can't get on their own, Richter said.

Some travel agents don't charge a fee for their services, usually if they're getting paid a commission by a tour operator or preferred partner such as a resort. (Airlines and railroads don't pay commissions.) Others charge a service or booking fee, depending on the trip length, number of people and services required, but others don't. Some charge a flat fee for services like booking hotels or obtaining visas.

"The power of access is really what you get when you're working with a travel adviser if you're willing to spend the money," Richter said. "If you want to camp on an iceberg in Antarctica, they can make that happen."

• Dems must confront Biden debate debacle
• Defense lets Twins down in 3-2 loss to Mariners in 10 innings
• Walz: Biden 'had a bad night' in debate but should be Dems' nominee
• Nisswa saves its turtle races as pressure grows from new Minnesota law, conservation groups
• Wild draft Denver defenseman Zeev Buium with 12th overall pick
• Blue Earth County buys, demolishes Rapidan Dam Store as a safety response to area flooding

What to know about water safety before heading to the beach or pool this summer

Omg jose iglesias performs after mets win, japanese emperor reconnects with the river thames in state visit meant to bolster ties with uk, 8 homeless moms in san francisco struggled for help. now, they're learning to advocate for others, florida arts groups left in the lurch by desantis veto of state funding for theaters and museums.

• Walz: Biden 'had a bad night' in debate but should be Dems' nominee Jun. 28
• Martin Mull, hip comic and actor from 'Fernwood Tonight' and 'Roseanne,' dies at 80 Jun. 28
• Short on time? Have special requests? A travel agent may be just the ticket. • The Good Life

© 2024 StarTribune. All rights reserved.