How to book a last-minute winter vacation without breaking the bank
Planning a winter getaway at the last minute can be tricky to navigate, and it’s easy to think you’ll need to pay above and beyond standard prices.
Flights, accommodations and activities seem to skyrocket in price the closer you get to your travel dates.
Related: 11 great European destinations to visit in winter
The good news? With a little strategy and flexibility, it’s entirely possible to snag a winter holiday without breaking the bank.
Be flexible with dates and destinations
Flexibility is your best friend when planning a last-minute trip.
If you’re searching for a last-minute deal, it’s always worth thinking a little outside the box. For example, you could look specifically at travel during days or times other travelers usually want to avoid.
A classic example here would be considering travel midweek. By avoiding peak travel days like weekends or just before public holidays, you can often find lower airfare and hotel rates.
Similarly, you might also want to consider traveling on a holiday such as Thanksgiving or Christmas Day. These periods are always less popular days for people to travel on, with most people aiming to reach their destinations in time for the holidays — not during them.
For instance, at the time of writing, Google Flights was showing that it would be possible to book a round-trip fare to London from New York, flying in business class both ways, for $3,081 if you’re willing to fly out Christmas Day and return on New Year’s Eve.
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By comparison, that same trip but with adjusted travel dates that result in arriving in London in time for Christmas Eve and returning to New York after the New Year’s Eve celebrations would cost $8,399.
The lesson? Play around with dates and times. You’d be surprised at how different the final prices can be. Use a tool like Google Flights or Skyscanner’s “Explore” feature and search by month or with open-ended dates to get a broader overview of the fares on offer.
Another useful approach is to look toward more underrated (but still dazzling) destinations. For example, try swapping out Paris for Salzburg, Austria, or Bruges, Belgium, for Ghent, another noteworthy Belgian destination.
Set Google Flights alerts
We say this a lot, but Google Flights is one of the most invaluable tools when it comes to booking last-minute travel. If you have an idea of the destinations and routes you want to book, you can set up alerts throughout the year to be notified as and when prices drop. The second they do, you can be ready to pounce and lock in the booking. Many of the staff at TPG use this trick to secure cheap flights throughout the year.
Monitor sales and special promotions
Flash sales happen all year-round across almost every travel vertical, but winter is especially great for taking advantage of them. Why? Black Friday.
This year, Black Friday sales officially begin Nov. 29. This is one of the biggest sale periods of the year, and these days, it’s not just constrained to one day of sales. More and more, we’re seeing sales drop in the weeks leading up to the event and then spread across the following weeks.
What makes Black Friday particularly unique is that it covers all areas — whether you’re looking for flights, cruise cabins, hotel rooms or car rentals. Prices are getting slashed left, right and center.
To stay current with flash sales and promo codes, we recommend following airlines and hotels on platforms like Twitter and Instagram.
Similarly, subscribe to companies’ newsletters and sign up for any loyalty programs — members often get first looks at deals. Finally, utilize apps like Hopper and Skyscanner to notify you of last-minute sales.
And while you’re at it, subscribe to the TPG newsletter — we’re constantly sharing great deals and ways to cut costs.
Here’s a list of our current Black Friday deal roundups:
Embrace budget airlines and alternate airports
Many airlines consider a large part of the winter season as off-peak, and low-cost carriers like Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines often use this quieter period to offer cheap fares and fill seats.
They might not be your preferred airline, and these types of carriers offer a no-frills service, but they can make flying incredibly affordable when traveling at the last minute. Adding only the essentials (a carry-on bag and seat selection) can keep your ticket affordable.
Likewise, it’s also worth considering flying from a secondary airport if you usually stick to the main hub in your city. Major hubs like New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are crowded and expensive during peak travel times like the holidays. Smaller airports nearby may offer cheaper flights. For example, flying into Long Beach Airport (LGB) instead of LAX or Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY) instead of Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) could save you money.
Leverage points and miles
Points and miles can be a great way to get value on last-minute bookings.
Airlines often release unsold seats as award availability close to departure, so it’s worth having a stash of transferable points, such as American Express Membership Rewards points, and checking loyalty programs, like United MileagePlus and American Airlines AAdvantage, for redemptions closer to departure.
You might also be able to use a mix of both cash and miles. If cash fares are high, consider using miles for one leg of the journey and paying cash for the other.
Bottom line
A last-minute winter getaway doesn’t have to be expensive or stressful. With flexibility, creativity and strategic planning, you can make the most of your time and money.
