Last-minute trips are one of the biggest travel trends of 2023.
According to the 2023 Travel Trends Report from the travel booking website Hopper, travelers are spending 30% less time planning trips compared to 2019.
Travelers are planning trips just 5 weeks in advance, compared to almost 7 weeks in advance for pre-pandemic trips.
And when it comes to actually booking trips, travelers are doing it just 3 weeks in advance.
So how can you save money on last-minute trips this year when everything from hotel prices to airfare has skyrocketed in 2023?
Here are six savvy tips to help you score a good deal on last-minute travel:
1. Be Flexible On Travel Dates
One of the best ways to save money on last-minute travel is to be flexible with your travel dates. Departing mid-week is an especially good way to save money on airfare.
According to data from Hopper, travelers who fly mid-week can save an average of $90 on domestic flights and over $140 on international flights.
2. Avoid Saturday Night Stays
Another big way to save money is by avoiding Saturday night hotel stays. This is often the most expensive night at hotels, and avoiding it can help travelers save 25% off their nightly rate, according to Hopper’s report.
Checking out on a Saturday morning isn’t ideal if you were hoping to make the most out of the weekend, but it’s a big way you can save money overall.
3. Be Flexible On Destination
If you don’t have your heart set on one particular destination, being flexible about where you go is a great way to save money.
The “Everywhere Search” feature on Skyscanner allows you to search flights to all destinations from your home city so you can see the cheapest options. You can also do something similar on Google Flights by clicking the “Explore Destinations” button after you put in your home city for departure.
4. Opt For City Breaks
Last-minute airfare to big cities in the United States is often cheaper than you might expect. For example, the average airfare to Miami is $264, and to Las Vegas it’s $298.
Compare that to West Yellowstone ($772) or Martha’s Vineyard ($375) and you can see that a city break works out to be cheaper than visiting a national park or beach town destination.
5. Find Last-Minute Hotel Deals
Hotels that still have room inventory a few days in advance often offer great last-minute deals as an attempt to fill their rooms.
Websites like Hotwire and Hotels.com are worth checking for last-minute hotel deals. It’s possible to score great prices that just aren’t available weeks or months in advance… but be careful if you’re traveling during a destination’s peak season because last-minute deals may not be available, and hotels can even be fully sold out!
6. Combine Work And Travel
“Workations” that combine work and travel have become extremely popular in recent years as more employees have the ability to work remotely or in a hybrid environment.
According to Hopper, 77% of travelers plan to tack on work to the beginning or end of a vacation this year. If you can work remotely during part of your trip, it makes it easier to depart mid-week and get better deals on flights and hotels.
Other Ways To Save Money On Travel This Year
Looking for more ways to save money on travel this year?
These international destinations are some of the most affordable for 2023.
These tips will help you save money on airfare, and these are some of the most affordable rental car companies if you’ll be driving during your vacation.
