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Last-minute holidays are all about embracing your spontaneous side – and scoring a great deal while you’re at it. After all, there’s no better feeling than knowing the person in the plane seat next to you paid double what you did.
Finding a cheap last-minute holiday is all about flexibility. From the big stuff, like your destination, right down to the little details such as your flight time, keeping an open mind is the key to getting a last-minute bargain.
You’ll have more luck if you’re looking outside of peak travel periods, too. If you can, avoid school and bank holidays and travel during less popular times (early or late in the day, or during the week) to increase your chances of finding a package holiday price you love.
Booking last minute is a brilliant way to bag a cheap holiday – but only if you’re truly flexible. According to TravelSupermarket data, around three weeks before your departure date is the best time to book for a cheap deal, but be aware that you’ll have less choice than if you booked early. Leave it too late, though, and you may find that you’re paying over the odds. Prices can creep upwards again around a week before departures.
Rocamar Apartments
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H10 Tenerife Playa
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Caybeach Sun
4.2
Very Good
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The best place to go on a last-minute holiday depends on one thing: you. Short city breaks in top European cities such as Paris and Rome will satisfy your adventure cravings, or you can snap up a cheap sunshine break in Spain, Greece or Turkey.
If you can avoid Easter, spring is a great time to score a cheap last-minute holiday. Sneak in some early season sunshine in Sicily or Malta or see cities like Amsterdam and Tokyo in full bloom before the flowers disappear for another year.
Acacia Resort
4.2
Very Good
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Acacia Palace
4.4
Excellent
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Hotel Ipanema
4.2
Very Good
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Only have a few days to get away? Need to use up your annual leave before Christmas? Last-minute city breaks in Europe are the answer. Touch down in some of the world’s best cities in a couple of hours and get set for cool culture, great food and plenty of sightseeing.
Last-minute holidays aren’t really about the destination, but the experience. When all you want to do is get on a beach, like, yesterday, take off to the sun-drenched shores of the Algarve, Majorca and Cyprus.
Vila Galé Ampalius
4.3
Excellent
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Oceanus Aparthotel
4.4
Excellent
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Ukino Family Palmeiras Village
4.6
Excellent
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With over 300 days of sunshine a year, the Canaries are a great bet for some spur-of-the-moment warmth.
Rocamar Apartments
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Casablanca
4.5
Excellent
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H10 Tenerife Playa
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Whether you’re dreaming of lush hotels or waterparks for the kids, a last-minute holiday to Turkey delivers both.
Jasmin Beach Hotel
4
Good
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Hotel Istanköy Bodrum
4.6
Excellent
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Toloman Bitez Park Apartments
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Great value resorts, a three-hour flight time and pristine beaches for days? Say hello to up-and-coming Tunisia.
Diar Lemdina Hotel
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Paradis Palace
4
Good
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Royal Nozha
4.4
Excellent
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Go to Morocco for the great prices, stay for the endlessly sunny skies, lush resorts and cool, colourful cities.
Lunja Village
3.3
Poor
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Anezi Tower Hotel & Apartments
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Club Al Moggar Garden Beach
3.9
Good
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The cheapest time to book a last-minute package holiday is generally around three to four weeks before you go, but it can depend on the destination. You’re more likely to score an off-season winter bargain at the last minute than you are during the peak of the summer school holidays.
It depends on how flexible you are. You could book as late as a few days out if you don’t mind where you’re going or where you sit on the plane. But if you have a few non-negotiables, like your hotel or departure time, you may want to book at least four weeks in advance.
Last-minute holidays can be cheaper than booking in advance, but it’s not always the case. Prices will depend on demand and availability – and it goes both ways. Hotel and flight prices can rise as they near capacity, but they can also drop at the last minute as companies try to fill any remaining seats or rooms. A good rule of thumb is to book when you’re comfortable with the price you see.
Yes, you can book all-inclusive deals as late as you like. However, you’ll have to pay for the holiday in full at the time of booking as most pay-monthly plans require at least ten weeks’ lead time.
Booking your last-minute holiday as an ATOL-protected package is a good way to protect your finances should your holiday company collapse. If you pay with a credit card and the holiday costs more than £100, you’ll also be covered by Section 75 of The Consumer Credit Act 1974. Travel insurance is also a good idea – take out a policy as soon as you book your holiday to get the most from your cover.