Have you ever wanted to just jump on a plane and go somewhere? Wondering what booking last minute travel is really like? It’s different for everyone, but here’s my experience when booking a last minute vacation.
What booking last minute travel is really like
As a full time blogger I don’t have to worry too much about when it comes to my work schedule. I can basically work anywhere, and let’s be honest… Travelling is work when you write about your trips!
Recently I managed to score a great last minute deal to Cuba. The flight departure time was less than a week from when I booked! Sure, it’s not quite as spontaneous as just picking up and going – but it was something I did without any prior planning.
My experience booking last minute travel
First of all you have to have a job with some flexibility. Freelancing, retirement, or any job where you’re your own boss are pretty safe bets to be able to sneak away on a sudden vacation. Some employers are great, others not so much. Be aware of your schedule before booking any trip!
Here’s the good (and bad) that I discovered from my last minute vacation.
No anticipation
A huge part of travelling is the anticipation. Having a trip on the horizon, even if it’s far into the future, makes people happier. Since I booked last minute, I only had a week to get excited for my trip. In fact, I didn’t start getting really excited until a couple days before departure.
Lots to do beforehand
In my case I had to scramble and clear up some work items on my plate before going. Besides that, there was also a bit of shopping that needed to be done. (You have to have a new bathing suit!) Not to mention packing.
Booking last minute travel was a good deal
This is one advantage of booking closer to the departure date: the prices were great. I booked with a travel agent because the rates were the same and she managed to get me a room upgrade at no extra cost, too. Turns out we had the last booking available on that flight!
Helps with that spontaneity itch
I love being spontaneous so booking a last minute vacation was an exciting spur of the moment thing. It’s not often you can just decide on a whim to go somewhere so you have to take advantage of those chances when they come up!
No time for research
Personally I like to research before I go on vacation. For this trip, I did limited research both into the resort and where we were going. Thankfully I had family who’d been before. Plus online reviews were super helpful in making my last minute resort decision!
Another thing I like to do when going to a foreign country is learn some of their language. Of course you can’t learn every language with limited free time, but you can at least brush up on some common phrases. I speak French fluently and can sort of understand Spanish, but I would have liked to brush up on it a bit more before going.
Booking last minute travel made me feel really fortunate
One thing that’s hard to value is how a trip makes someone feel. By being able to pack up and go I was reminded how much I love my job. And who doesn’t enjoy making their social media followers envious, even just a little bit? There’s something special about a last minute trip that differs from planned travel.
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