These Last-Minute Travel Deals Are Here to Save You From Winter
We get it - sometimes you just need to get out of Dodge. Lucky for you, affordable last-minute vacations are easier than ever to book. Whether you're thinking of a weekend close to home, an all-inclusive getaway with the family, or a weeklong solo trip to a place like Belize - named one of the best places to take a trip in 2019 - we have you covered. From hotel-booking apps to flight-booking sites and more, here's how to find extremely cheap last-minute deals.
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 There's also a toll-free number to call to hear about unpublished fares.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
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.
One:Night
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.
LateRooms
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
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.
Cruise.com
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.
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