“I want to travel more” is a phrase that you hear more and more these days, as people are making up for lost time in a post-pandemic world. The biggest barrier for most people is the associated cost, as taking time off of work, booking flights and hotels, and the cost of attractions and events can easily add up to make a vacation's price tag drain your pockets dry. But if you follow the deals and are frugal and flexible, it is entirely possible to cut that cost to a fraction. The less you spend, the more trips you can take. So let’s explore the art of last-minute travel and how you can use it to help you sate your burgeoning wanderlust.
A Common Misconception
(Image provided by Adobe Stock)
Airlines use dynamic pricing structures and will often lower prices if a plane is not likely to fill all of its seats. This gives some people the idea that it is a good tactic to watch a specific flight and wait for the price to drop before booking. But it is much more common for a flight's prices to increase as the plane fills up. If you have a specific date and destination set, then your best bet is to book as soon as you can. Last minute travel is not a good tactic for these situations.
Be Flexible with Your Dates and Destinations
(Image provided by Adobe Stock)
The way to save with last-minute flights is to be flexible in your planning. Instead of planning a trip and then trying to find good deals for a set itinerary, wait until you find a good flight deal and then plan your trip around that. This way, you can take advantage of those really stellar deals whenever they come up. Incidentally, low demand for flights will usually mean low demand for hotels as well, especially if it is the off season or shoulder season at your chosen destination. So there is a better chance that you’ll be able to get a good deal there too, regardless of what city you visit.
The ability to be flexible with your dates is not a privilege that everyone has. But the more flexible you are able to be, the more likely you will be able to jump on a good deal. Flight prices tend to drop during the middle of the week and rise during the weekend, so traveling on a Tuesday or Wednesday can help you save some cash. You can also often find better deals when a flight is very early in the morning or late at night, so being able to deal with a little inconvenience can also help. Price drops happen when they happen, and the best way to get those deals is to not be picky about when you go.
Keep an Eye on Multiple Destinations
(Image provided by Adobe Stock)
Being flexible with your plans does not mean that you have no control over where you go. If your goal is to take as many trips to as many places as possible, then you should have a reasonably large list of possible destinations. Use this to your advantage and watch flight prices for each of them. You can sign up for fare alerts when you complete a GoLastMinute flight search, and they will send recently found deals right to your inbox. You have to be able to jump on them when they come in, however, as live pricing is always changing. But these alerts are your best bet for seeing when good deals are available, and they will also show you other recent deals for other popular destinations that you might be interested in
Flight prices tend to be cheaper when they are between major airports, as there are many flights between these places with many seats to fill. Oftentimes, when the price of a flight is very high, it is because of connecting to a smaller airport. If you are close enough to a major, international airport that you can fly out from there, that will be your best bet for finding a good deal. You’ll also want to make a major city your destination for the same reason. Fortunately, big cities tend to have a lot to see and do for free, like festivals, monuments, parks, beaches, and hiking trails. They also usually have good public transportation, so you won’t have to waste money on cabs or car rentals!
