Summer holidays: when a last-minute package is best

It could be the deal of the year, or the worst scam, with money completely wasted. All-inclusive packages for last-minute summer vacations should be purchased with great caution and considerable care. The old, classic concept of last-minute travel, whereby a super-convenient price is offered at the risk of not leaving until the last minute, has been largely outdated by the widespread use of algorithms by all operators in the tourism industry. A hotel, for example, if it has empty rooms close to the scheduled date, will certainly offer them at a good price, based on the algorithm; however, if bookings are in high demand, prices will only rise.

Yet a good deal can still be had with a last-minute package , provided that you choose the right time to try it, with due caution and without ever missing the possibility of comparing prices through specialized platforms for this type of evaluation.

The best times to look for deals

You need to have the patience and courage to wait 2-3 weeks before departure, when you may find convenient and attractive last-minute deals . And obviously, you need to be very flexible about departure and return days and times, and especially about the destinations you want to visit. The logic is more or less the same as searching for good airfare . Other good times are during the low summer holiday season: late May to mid-June, when tour operators start discounting remaining seats for June and early July, and late August and September , when it's easier to find deals because demand is lower than in mid-August.

Channels for finding offers

First, there are sites that typically offer last-minute deals. The most reliable are:

• Lastminute.com: very well known for offers flight + hotel, all-inclusive stays and packages.
• Kayaking:  It searches hundreds of portals simultaneously and allows you to easily filter packages.
• Expedia: allows you to compare packages with flights, hotels and activities.
• eDreams: offers flight + hotel combinations and seasonal offers.
• Booking.com: in addition to hotels, it also offers packages and promotions (availability depends on the destination).
• Skyscanner: useful for comparing flights and finding cheaper times.

If you frequent a physical agency, then you can make an offer: if a traveler cancels a non-refundable reservation, you're willing to take over, but at a discounted price. 

As for online agencies, they may have one of these sections dedicated specifically to last-minute offers:

• Last minute summer
• Imminent departures
• Offers within 7/14 days
• below cost
• All inclusive

Another channel that can prove useful is newsletters, both from tour operators and travel agencies. 

Characteristics of a good offer

A convenient offer cannot fail to have these characteristics:

• includes direct flight + hotel of at least 3 stars
• final price is 30–50% below the actual average
• includes extras (transfer, luggage, all inclusive)
• the structure has good reviews (8+/10)

Comparison with other proposals

In any case, never forgo comparing similar offers once you've found your last-minute package. Many seemingly affordable packages hide hidden extras that offset the savings compared to a trip booked separately, making the commercial offer merely a clever and inconvenient marketing ploy, and not a real saving. Comparing is very easy thanks to the Internet: just look at what the specialized sites we've listed offer compared to yours.

When last minute is definitely not a good idea

Last minute is often not a good idea for:

• Central August (about August 5–20), when demand is very high;
• families with specific needs (triple/quadruple rooms, services for children);
• highly sought-after destinations such as islands with few connections or particular facilities;
• scheduled flights to distant destinations.

Read also:

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