“I usually book a hotel when I land. You never know what’s going to happen. I could change a flight, so when I land I usually use Priceline,” says Dan Herman, IT practice senior advisor at The Chartis Group. “I look at the area where I want to stay and check the star level, then grab one and go.” His approach illustrates a growing trend: many business and leisure travelers now make reservations very close to departure or even upon arrival. Definitions of last-minute travel vary—some people consider it booking within a day or a few days of departure, while others extend that window to a week or more.
“Overall, we see that last-minute travel is becoming the norm,” reports Jared Simon, COO and cofounder of HotelTonight. “Half of U.S. domestic hotel bookings are now made within three days of arrival, and half of E.U. bookings are within seven days of arrival, according to Sojern. With millennial business travelers surpassing Gen X as the top business travelers, business travel is also shifting toward more last-minute planning.”
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Mobile apps and websites have made last-minute booking simple. Companies such as Priceline, Expedia, Travelzoo, Hotels.com, CheapOair, Hopper, Airbnb and HotelTonight let travelers reserve flights, hotel rooms and packages with a few taps. For many travelers, waiting until close to departure can yield significant savings as airlines and hotels discount remaining inventory rather than leave rooms and seats empty.
Recent data highlight the trend toward late bookings. “In 2016 alone, Expedia saw over 2.9 million unique visitors to its United States last-minute deals page,” says Nisreene Atassi, public relations director at Expedia. “While no single destination dominates, beach getaways tend to be popular overall. We’ve seen last-minute bookings increase over the years, and travelers are increasingly comfortable booking on mobile devices.”
CheapOair’s Thomas Spagnola, senior vice president of supplier relations, reports a similar pattern: “So far in 2017, 31 percent—the largest share of our passengers—booked travel within 10 days of departure.” CheapOair maintains a Last Minute Travel section with flights departing the next day up to about six days out, and the site also lists vacations, cruises and hotels.
One advantage of booking late is the potential for deals. Hotels prefer some revenue at a discounted rate rather than none at all, and tour operators may lower prices to hit minimums. To take advantage, keep the apps and last-minute deal pages for major travel sites easily accessible on your phone, tablet and computer. Bookmark or save the deals pages so you can check availability quickly when an opportunity arises.
Flexibility is essential for successful last-minute travel. “It takes flexibility to save money on last-minute travel,” says Dave Boehl, CEO of GoLastMinute.com. “You may need to be open about travel dates and even destinations. Simply waiting until the last minute won’t automatically save money—you have to hunt for deals with a general idea of what you want.”
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Jetsetter’s Today’s Deals page highlights deeply discounted properties. Kelsey Blodget, executive senior editor, notes that all-inclusive resorts and nearby destinations are particularly suitable for last-minute trips because they involve less logistical complexity. Many travelers use curated sections—like Jetsetter’s Wanderlist—to gather ideas before narrowing choices to a specific hotel or resort.
HotelTonight sees many travelers choosing short, local trips. “Local travel continues to be on the rise—more than 40 percent of HotelTonight bookings are within 50–150 miles of the booker’s residence,” Simon says. This trend reflects the growing preference for quick escapes that are easy to arrange at short notice.
Membership status can provide perks and access to better last-minute rates. Atassi advises signing up for an Expedia account to access additional savings on select hotels. Frequent travelers often rely on loyalty benefits: Jack Herman, operations manager for imagery and mapping collection at Uber, books roughly 25 nights a month and typically reserves rooms within 24 hours of arrival. He values Hotels.com for its rewards program—collecting nights toward a free stay—and for responsive customer service tied to his status.
Choose airlines that offer flexibility. Iris Solomon, vice president at HearthSong Wholesale, prefers Southwest because its no-change-fee policy makes last-minute adjustments easier. If Southwest doesn’t serve the time or airport she needs, she checks aggregators such as Expedia, Orbitz or Kayak. Booking at least ten days in advance is her norm, but flexibility on the road is important when schedules shift.
Social media and fare-alert services can uncover fleeting deals. Airlines and hotels sometimes post limited-time offers on Twitter and Facebook, while specialty feeds share instant discounts. JetBlue’s dedicated deals feed and other rapid-alert services highlight bargains that can disappear within hours. Fare-watch services let travelers subscribe to alerts for deals from their preferred airports.
Check destination and resort websites for last-minute specials, too. Even high-end areas like Aspen, Snowmass and Vail often post short-term inventory at reduced rates. VailonSale, for example, lists featured offers for rooms and condos available in the coming weeks. During peak periods such as holidays and major events many properties remain booked, but midweek stays and off-peak windows can produce bargains for flexible travelers.
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Sites like GoLastMinute.com aggregate alerts from top booking platforms, directing users to partner sites to complete purchases. Boehl points out popular last-minute cities such as Las Vegas and Orlando, where luxury accommodation and theme-park-area stays can sometimes be secured at steep discounts. He also notes frequent bargains on Caribbean cruises at various times of the year.
Whether you’re a business traveler who must secure flights and lodging at the last minute or a leisure traveler looking to seize a sudden getaway, a variety of apps and booking sites make it easier than ever to find and confirm reservations quickly. With mobile booking now mainstream, the convenience of last-minute travel continues to grow—so long as you stay flexible, monitor deal channels, and act fast when a good rate appears.