We’ve all been there. Whether it’s procrastination at its finest or an impromptu trip, we all know the panic of trying to find last minute travel accommodations without breaking the bank. As much as I would like you to think that I have all my travel plans mapped out months in advance with a full printed agenda, it’s simply not true. In fact, booking flights the week before has become all too much a reality for me.
Luckily my procrastination “spontaneous” personality has allowed me to acquire an entirely new skill set that might just help you when booking a last minute trip. See, I’m just looking out for you 🙂
How to Get There
Personally, I think flights are the hardest to secure with a short time frame. No matter how many times I’ve done it, I will still find myself paying more for a flight to Nebraska than our RT tickets to Thailand (Omaha Eppley, we need to talk). However, Farelock has recently become my friend. How does it work? You pay around $8 and locks in your airfare for a certain amount of time. No more second guessing your decision.
Points, points, points. Since flights will most likely be more expensive, this is the perfect time for you to get the most in your saved up airline/credit card points.
It’s all about the when. Flying mid-week will cut your ticket prices in half. Getting a seat on the 5am or the red-eye, another way to score a deal.
Social Media. This is my biggest secret. Today I found $70 RT tickets to a place I have been dying to go through a Facebook post. Follow all the airline Twitter accounts, like your favorite travel accounts on Facebook, and subscribe to emails. Airlines are starting to use Social Media more and more to fill their empty seats. It’s my goal to post more travel deals on my Facebook page, so be sure to “like” to get alerts.
Where to Stay
With Airbnb and other house-sharing apps, hotels are becoming easier and easier to secure. The only difficulty you might run into is a price hike. This is where hotel points are key. Points are usually based on the tier of the hotel, not the price. Even if prices are doubled/tripled, the amount of points needed to book is a locked rate.
Really really last minute? “I am in the city already and don’t have a room” last minute. Hotel Tonight is a great app that allows you to book a hotel room for that night or the next for a discount. Best part? These are usually some of the highest ranked hotels in the city.
Finally, if hotels are $$$ and your points account is running low, Airbnb and other house rental websites are a life saver. While it might not be the cream of the crop, these websites typically do not price hike when the date draws near.
Where to Eat
Whatever you do, don’t make reservations just to make reservations. When I first started traveling, I would panic and think if I didn’t have a reservation, I wouldn’t have a spot to eat. Dramatic much Erin? With these random reservations I would find myself taking a cab across the city and maybe missing the “next best thing” a block from the hotel. Which brings me to the next…
Use the concierge. I am unsure how many times I will use this sentence on this blog. I have yet to meet a concierge that hasn’t been able to snag a table for me while traveling. In fact, we just used the concierge at The Ritz NYC to secure a reservation at a three star Michelin restaurant. I don’t know how they do it, it’s a magic of sorts, but point is, they can.
Take a seat at the bar. My husband and I use this mentally in Chicago. We have been able to enjoy some of the best restaurants by sitting at the bar. Full menu, faster drinks, and we tend to meet the most fascinating humans. Look what happened at The Ritz Paris.
What are some of your last minute booking tips?
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Thank you for sharing, will use your tips!