7 tips you need to know when booking a last-minute holiday

Ever wished you could be one of those cool, care-free travellers who seem to jet off on a whim at a moment's notice? Our tips can get you started on that journey, and save you a bit of money along the way too.

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Use a travel agent

Yes travel agents are still a thing and can be the perfect way to get your last-minute trip organised without doing any of the work. They can do pretty much all of the legwork for you, except the bit where you go on holiday – that's all you.

Walk into your local high-street branch or talk to them over the phone and they'll get all aspects of your trip for you – including the obvious flights and hotel, but also your holiday extras like parking and transfers – in a neat little bow. This is particularly ideal if you're planning something last minute as they'll be able to find you the best prices and save you the time of having to search for them yourself. Plus if you're nice they might even throw in a freebie.

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Be flexible

Flexibility is key when booking last minute. And this doesn't just mean in terms of when you go, but also where and to some extent how. Last-minute can mean any time from 10 weeks before, so keep a vague idea of what date you'd like and think about the type of holiday you want. Whether it's fly-and-flop or a city break that you're after, the flights available in that time period may well dictate where you go.

This can actually be a good way to jet off somewhere you might not have thought of. Or book a different kind of trip entirely – cruise ships absolutely hate sailing with empty cabins.

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The 14-day rule

If you want to take 'last-minute' more literally then you can always try and play the 14-day rule. This is a sort of unwritten expectation that hotels and airlines will drastically cut their costs in an effort to fill seats and rooms in the two weeks beforehand. This does mean there'll be less choice of where to go, but if you play it right you could find yourself enjoying a luxury break for a fraction of the price.

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Do 'anywhere' searches

By this we mean get onto Google Flights or Skyscanner and search using just dates. Skyscanner's 'explore everywhere' button will suggest a full manifest of flights that you can sort by price and other handy filters. It even uses AI to suggest destinations based on vibes – like beach, city, art & culture, and good food.

Google offers a similar service. But it also provides tons of data to make use of as well if you really want to fall down a rabbit hole. It can tell you how cheap the flights are compared to other searches and also gives you the option to track them so you can decide the best time to book. You can even look at past trends to make an educated guess on when the best prices will be available.

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Don't forget the essentials

Just because you're going last-minute that doesn't mean you should skip the important stuff like insurance. It may well end up being cheaper than usual as you'll be booking it last-minute too – this is because you won't need the cancellation cover for as long.

Also if you're going somewhere you haven't been before it's worth checking the FCDO guidelines before you go so you're up to date on the latest advice.

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Search 'last minute holidays'

Not to state the obvious but we're going to anyway. Chuck last minute holidays into Google and you'll find dozens of sponsored results fighting for your attention. Take the time to separate out the good ones and you might stumble upon a cheeky flash sale that could save you tons. Again, if you're not fussy about where you go and can travel at short notice this is the way to go.

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Talk to the hotel directly

If you've got your eye on a particular hotel it's worth trying to reach out directly. If they've got the rooms at short notice there's a good chance they might be willing to give you one at a much lower price – you could even ask for an upgrade if you're feeling brave. Hotels always prefer it when you go to them directly, so there's always a chance they'll give you a better rate than other booking sites.

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