You’ve found yourself with a free weekend and want to get out of town. Where do you start? Booking last minute travel can be difficult — and pricey — if you don’t know where to look. Don’t get taken advantage of and use these tips for finding last minute hotel and flight deals.
Be Open To New Destinations
Certain destinations are always cheaper to fly into than others. If you’re willing to open up your options to new cities, you’ll be more likely to find deals on flights. How do you find the cheapest last-minute flight deals? Make sure you’re using all of the technology at your disposal.
The Best Apps And Websites To Find Flight Deals
Hopper: This app tells you the best time to buy and fly. Looking for a sweet deal on a flight from Chicago to Orlando? Enter the dates you want to travel in Hopper, and you’ll receive a notification when it’s the cheapest time to buy.
Kayak: Visit Kayak when you want to compare multiple travel sites. This is a great tool if you’re looking to make flight, hotel, and car reservations together. For last minute flight deals, you’ll be able to search many different travel sites at once instead of spending days or weeks checking out rates.
Skyscanner: With the ability to search over 1,200 trusted airline and travel sites, Skyscanner will allow you to see all the last-minute options available. The “Everywhere” search option is great for those open to new and different destinations: it tells you where the cheapest locations to fly are during your selected dates.
Momondo: This is a perfect tool for those looking to travel internationally. Allowing users to search by cost, time, or best deal, Momondo will provide thousands of options for last-minute cheap flights.
Google Flights: Search Google Flights and see on a map which locations you can get to for cheap flight. This easy-to-use website allows you to easily change the dates you’d like to travel and pick the best and cheapest last minute flight.
Know Where To Find A Hotel At The Last Minute
Certain apps and websites are better than others for finding last-minute hotel rooms. Use one of these to ensure you’ll spend the night in a clean, safe room.
HotelTonight: Great for use on mobile phones and tablets, HotelTonight is designed specifically for those looking for last-minute hotel rooms and deals. It’s so last-minute that the best room deals appear the day before or even around noon on the day of check in. This is the best choice for those in a pinch who need a hotel in the area they’re already at.
Travelocity: Travelocity sells rooms at low prices to last minute travelers — with a catch. If you search deals through their “Deals Tonight” option, you’ll be able to find a cheap last-minute hotel, but you won’t know exactly which hotel until you’ve finished booking and paying.
Orbitz: If you’re already in the city you’ll be staying in, check out Orbtiz’s “Nearby and Available Tonight” option. This will show you rooms that are open in the area. You can also sort by price and other features you’re looking for.
Jetsetter: Perfect for those looking for same-day deals, Jetsetter Now features last-minute options for hotels and vacation homes. Visit their website or download their app to find these deals.
Expedia: Inside Expedia’s “Tonight” tab, there is a “Tonight Only” option – perfect for finding those same-day last-minute deals.
Consider Lodging Besides Hotels
A great alternative to traditional hotels and resorts, vacation and home rentals provide travelers with a completely different experience. Usually available at a cheaper rate, homes, rooms, and spaces open for rent are almost always managed by individuals instead of giant corporations and franchises. This allows for last-minute booking opportunities, as renters are often looking to make some extra cash.
If you’re not sure where to find a safe, clean place to rest your head, check out one of these reliable sites.
Airbnb: Different from other vacation rentals, Airbnb lets you rent a shared room, a private room, or the whole house. Renters and rentees are all verified and the booking and payment is done through a secure website. Certain renters allow you to “instant book” — perfect for last-minute bookings.
VRBO: VRBO stands for Vacation Rentals By Owner. This site offers unique listings with plenty of “entire” or “whole” houses, which are great for a large family or group of friends.
HomeAway: Looking to stay in a castle, bungalow, or a yacht? HomeAway provides unique options such as these — and many more to choose from. Get adventurous when booking your next last-minute travel.
Just because you didn’t spend weeks or months planning your next trip doesn’t mean it can’t be everything you want. By using all the technology available, you can find a last-minute flight at the right price and the perfect hotel or vacation rental getaway.
