Family vacations are a luxury that everyone deserves to enjoy at least once a year but can often come with a high price and stress. Last minute holidays are one way to cut vacation costs but preparation and organization is key and not just when it comes to booking. I have come up with a few easy steps to help make planning and booking your last minute holiday easier!
Decide Where You Want To Go
Do you want to stay local? Or do you want to get adventurous and travel abroad? Travelling abroad will widen your families horizons with cultural richness. It’s my dream to take my children to Europe some day to eat crepes in Paris, see castles in Switzerland and family in Germany. However travelling abroad definitely takes preparation but doing so last minute can actually save you money. Here is how:
Do Your Research
Online travel companies are the best place to find great holiday deals but with so many late deal holiday companies around – researching can cause a headache in itself. Choose two or three companies and research their prices based on your requirements, remembering to look out for free places and free deals for children. If you’re booking a resort or cruise, check out the all-inclusive deals but always find out what is actually included in the price and don’t be caught out by any crazy last minute surprises.
Photo Credit: Moyan Brenn on Flickr
Be Flexible
Prices are at a premium for the popular vacation hot spots during the peak school vacation times. Being flexible with your booking dates, even by a week or two can bring massive price reductions. This is a great opportunity to look at destinations you wouldn’t normally consider, as the most popular vacation destinations will come with higher prices. Be adventurous!
Read The Destination Reviews Before You Book Your Stay
I couldn’t imagine anything worse than arriving at the hotel or vacation rental and finding out it’s nowhere near the travel website description. This is where guest reviews are vital towards finding out exactly what we will receive for our money. Use a couple of websites where previous guests will tell other potential customers the standards they can expect from their vacation accommodation. This won’t take long to do and will definitely be worth it by giving you peace of mind over where you’re staying.
Get Vital Documents In Order Early
It may be a last minute holiday but you should get vital vacation documentation ready well in advance. Passports, visas and spending cash should all be set in place as early as possible. Visas may be needed for certain countries but the good news is you can often arrange these online for a small fee. If children require certain types of medication then ensure this is arranged before leaving or check that these medicines can be purchased at your destination.
Photo Credit: Kamal Zharif Kamaludin on Flickr
Book Your Fun Activities Abroad
You can usually save a bit of money by booking activities and excursions once you’re abroad. Find even lower prices by using websites that offer large discounts on purchases ranging from spa days to restaurant meals. If you are staying in a hotel then ask staff for recommendations on the local area. Word of mouth recommendations are always the best!
Remember that time is of the essence if you’re looking to find a last minute vacation. If you’ve undertaken your research and found a great price then get it booked to ensure you get the best deal. Enjoy the thrill of it and reap the benefits of planning in advance and booking last minute!
Do you have any other last minute booking tips?
* Title Image Photo Credit Nick Kenrick on Flickr (text added)
