How to Score Last Minute Travel Deals

Our last minute trip to Daytona Beach

When making your travel plans, you might be surprised to find that you can get better deals by waiting until the last minute than by booking far in advance.  The reason behind this is that hotels and airlines would rather make a little money than have an empty room or seat.  When it gets close to time for the flight to take off or the hotel to accept empty rooms for the night, prices can drop very quickly.  Get your luggage packed and use these tips to find great deals.

Set Up Airfare Alerts

There are several sites that provide this type of service, with one of the most popular being AirfareWatchdog.com.  Their expert team takes the time to comb through the deals at travel sites like Travelocity and Orbitz, as well as deals from the airlines that aren’t included on travel sites.  Once they find a good deal for you, they send an email to let you know.  Keep in mind that special rates can expire very quickly, so you’ll have to act fast.  

Check Deal Sites

Sites like Expedia offer a “last minute deals” option to help airlines, cruise lines and hotels sell unsold spots that are still available at the last minute.  These deals are usually available with very short notice.  Most discounted deals take place within the next few weekends, with some of them only being available on a day-by-day basis.  If you can make plans to depart mid-week, you’re more likely to get really great deals.  Mid-week fares may be as much as 35% less than weekend deals.  

“Like” Destination Social Media Pages

If you’re planning to take a trip to a destination like Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags or other similar venue, a “like” on their social media pages can net some great exclusive deals.  Some destinations offer 2-for-1 deals, flash sales and special giveaways.  These are only available to those who have liked the pages, so visit Facebook and search out your favorite destination pages.  

Use Smartphone Apps

If you do a lot of spontaneous traveling, you can use apps on your smartphone to find the best deals.  Priceline, Hotels.com and others offer excellent options for finding same-day lodging and deals.

Finding the Deals

While it’s not always feasible to wait until the last minute to plan your travel, if it’s an option for you, there are great deals to be had.  

How do you score last minute travel deals?