Sometimes the best trips are the ones decided on a whim, with little planning and an open mind. If this is the kind of adventure that sounds right up your alley, then take heed of some of our top tips for making those last-minute plans, whether they are for a weekend getaway or longer vacation. The following considerations will ensure you have an awesome trip, with minimal hassle.
Be flexible
Spontaneity is great, but you can’t be picky. If you are looking to go to Thailand on a shoestring budget over Christmas and New Year, that ship probably sailed several months ago, and all that’s left are the super-pricey options. That said, if sun, sea and sand are what you are looking for, keep an open mind and look into alternative destinations which, while perhaps not at the top of your list, might have have everything you want.
Choose the right destination
It’s not only about looking at options you may not have considered but also the places that others won’t be going – think outside the box and head to spots where it’s not peak season. Look into less-visited locales and off-the-beaten-track destinations – you never know what you might find in a place that you’ve never thought of before. It may even be worth looking at exchange rates – destinations with weaker currencies can make for a cheaper trip.
Find the time
Look into how much time you can take off and make use of public holidays if possible. Then, see if there’s a way you can fly at less-popular times. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are the least popular times to fly and therefore often the most reasonably priced. If you don’t have plans for Christmas, perhaps you won’t mind flying on Christmas Day when most others hope to have already arrived at their destination. Not a fan of New Year’s? Spend it in the air – you’ll likely save a few pennies and land feeling refreshed and ready for your break on New Year’s Day.
Be realistic
Once you’ve worked out how much time you can take off, factor that into your planning. Just a weekend? Pick a getaway destination that’s fairly close by – with a shorter travel time you’ll be maximizing your time away. If you have a week or more available then you can look further afield and even factor in cheaper flights by going indirectly and stopping over.
Don’t rush into it
It may be last-minute, but there’s no need to pick the first flight or hotel you see unless the price is truly amazing. Take the time to shop around and check what else is out there. Having said that, don’t put off booking for too long– as the trip date approaches, prices for things like flights and hotels can increase quickly overnight.
Be aware
If you’ve found a deal to an unusual and intriguing destination that’s too good to be true, then it probably is. Always consider the catch. Check your visa regulations – if visas are required, can you get them on arrival? And if not, what’s the turnaround time? You don’t want to go ahead and book only to be turned away at the borders, or have to pay a hefty surcharge for an express service visa.
Do your research
The advantage of booking a last-minute trip is that detailed information about events will be readily available, so whether you pick up a local listings magazine as you arrive or pre-plan via the Internet, you’ll be in-the-know about last-minute events.
Don’t overplan
While it’s good to know what’s going on in the place you’re heading, there’s no need to overplan. The beauty of a spontaneous trip is the sense of adventure and unknown that it brings with it. If you’re not used to going places last minute and more often find yourself being the person who plans detailed itineraries, try and let those things go. Be flexible, open-minded and just go with the flow.
Don’t forget
Notify your credit card company that you are traveling – the last thing you want is a rejected card and the inability to spend more than the cash in your wallet while you are away. Credit card companies are known to sometimes get suspicious if everything is booked last minute followed by increased spending in a far-flung place.
Feature image: iStock.com/FotoSpeedy
Slider image: katyveldhorst, Travel suitcase, via pixabay CC0 Public Domain
