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Want to get away this summer? It’s not too late to book a last minute vacation away. Here are five tips for booking the ultimate last minute holiday.
Book the time off work now
Few people have flexible jobs that allow them to get up and go. Before starting the holiday booking process, make sure that you’ve booked the time off work. Some people book time off months in advance and then wait until the week before to book the actual holiday just so that they can take advantage of last minute deals.
Hunt online for last minute deals
One big advantage of booking a holiday last minute is the cost – many airlines will slash their prices in order to fill up airplane seats whilst hotels will offer massive discounts in order to get empty rooms filled up. There are sites out there that specialise in last minute deals such as Holiday Pirates, these can be great for helping you to track down cheap bundles. Always read terms and conditions so that you know exactly what is included.
Check the weather forecast
Another advantage of booking last minute is that you can often have a more accurate idea of what the weather may be like before you book. By booking a couple weeks beforehand, you may be able to avoid destinations that have rainy forecasts or places that have been hit by extreme weather. You may also be able to check travel warnings if you’re going somewhere that’s politically unstable.
Consider borrowing some money
Going last minute may mean having to pay the full sum upfront rather than being able to pay in instalments. Borrowing some money could be useful for helping to fund your trip away. Try to avoid emergency loans if you can and look for lower interest options such as peer-to-peer lending – check out these Prosper reviews to better to get to grips with this form of borrowing. You can also try paying part of your trip using a low-interest credit card.
Be wary of documentation
When booking last minute, it’s easy to forget various documentation such as visas that may need to be applied for in advance – always check that you’ve left enough time to buy a visa. Similarly, you should check that your passport is in date – there are fast-track passport renewal services that you can pay extra for but you may prefer to simply delay your holiday plans if your passport is about to run out so that you can save money on ordering a new one. Travel insurance and currency are two other things you may want to look into, although these are generally easy to obtain last minute. If you’re planning on driving abroad, make sure that you don’t have to apply for any permits such as highway vignettes or an international driving license.
This is a collaborative post.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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