Late Travel: Should You Pack Your Bags and Go?
Pros: First, being so spontaneous is fun! Imagine deciding on Tuesday you’re off to Greece on Friday – how fab! There’s nothing quite like throwing caution to the wind and just doing it.
Secondly, by making a late booking you can decide based on the reality of the situation right now. Feeling fed up with the dreary British drizzle? Go and chase the sun. Boiling in the UK sunshine, then head off to a cooler destination and avoid the heat (I will admit this second scenario is probably less likely!)
Another possible benefit - availability could unexpectedly swing in your favour. Those impossible-to-get hotel rooms that have been fully booked since January occasionally free up late in the day, giving you access to hidden gems you otherwise might’ve missed.
Finally, you could well find a holiday you may not have considered if you had planned ahead. Maybe Albania’s unspoilt beaches or the Azores with its volcanic landscape…or a long-haul destination you’d have talked yourself out of trying.
Cons: But, I am a realist. Booking within weeks of departure isn’t always fun. For starters, you can kiss careful itinerary planning goodbye. Forget months of research; you’ll need to make snap decisions about flights, accommodation, and activities.
One of the biggest things to consider is availability. Some popular destinations, especially during school holidays or peak season, will be unavailable. So if you have your heart set on a particular resort, hotel, restaurant or activity…you may find they sold out months ago.
Then there’s the stress factor. Late travel means swift packing, hurried passport checks, and a frantic scramble to sort travel insurance, pet sitters, and work cover. If you’re someone who likes the steady build-up of holiday excitement (ie, you love a packing list!) then you may feel cheated out of the delicious anticipation that’s half the joy of going away.
Lastly, and perhaps most crucially, the myth of last-minute bargains is exactly that. A myth. The days of the late deal are gone. Contrary to popular belief, prices can stay stubbornly high. Airlines and hotels often bank on desperate travellers, meaning that you are more likely to be paying a premium for your impromptu escape, rather than bagging a bargain.
Booking your holiday either way can work. The planner will get the pick of the crop, the early booking deals, and plenty of time to pay for the holiday they have carefully fine-tuned. And the spontaneous booker…well they may just bag an absoloute gem, they may go somewhere they would never have discovered and they can wait to decide just how they are feeling before they jump in.
Whatever way you like to book your holidays, I am here to help!
