It’s a question plenty of people ask, and one that’s harder to answer than it used to be.
Last-minute holiday deals still exist, but they’re no longer something you can rely on in quite the same way. Waiting can still save you money, but it could also mean missing out on the hotel you wanted, the most convenient flights or the room that works best for your family.
Before you decide to wait, here’s what’s changed and how to work out whether it’s worth it.
Do last-minute holiday deals still exist?
Yes, but they’re no longer as easy to predict.
Years ago, waiting until the last minute often meant finding a lower price. Flights, hotels and package holidays now respond differently to demand, so prices can go up, come down or stay much the same.
When you book is only half the story. The more flexibility you have with your travel dates, departure airport or even your destination, the better your chances of finding good value.
The price isn’t the only thing that changes. The closer you get to departure, the more likely it is that your options start to shrink too. Sometimes the price comes down. Sometimes it stays exactly where it is while the choice gets smaller.
What makes a good last-minute deal?
A cheap holiday isn’t always the best-value one.
Saving money doesn’t feel like much of a win if you’ve had to compromise on the hotel, take a longer flight with a stopover or give up the room you really wanted. A good deal is one that still gives you the holiday you were hoping for.
People who get the best value from late bookings are usually the ones with the most flexibility. Being willing to tweak your plans can open up completely different holidays, sometimes at a lower price.
The more fixed your plans are, the less likely waiting is to work in your favour.
When waiting can pay off – and when it’s better to book
Waiting can work if...
You’re travelling outside peak holiday periods, you’ve got a couple of destinations in mind and your dates aren’t set in stone.
Finding two seats on a flight is usually much easier than finding five. That’s one reason couples often have more luck with last-minute holidays than families. If you’re happy to adapt your plans, waiting can still uncover some excellent deals.
When booking earlier is usually the better option
Are last-minute deals still cheaper during October half term?
Usually not - half-term is one of the busiest periods of the year to travel, so demand for family rooms and popular resorts stays high, keeping prices firm rather than falling as departure gets closer.
The same goes for other busy holiday periods too. If you’ve found the hotel you really want, or you need a larger family room, it’s worth booking sooner rather than waiting to see if the price drops.
Those holidays are always in demand, so there’ll usually be less to choose from as departure dates get closer. By then, you might not be deciding between hotels. You might be deciding between what’s left.
If you’ve found a holiday you’re excited about and the price feels right, booking sooner is often a better decision than hoping for a discount that might never come.
Is it cheaper to book flights and hotels separately, or as a package?
Sometimes, but not always.
The best approach is to compare the total cost rather than the upfront price. Once you’ve added baggage, transfers and any other extras, a package holiday can work out much closer to a DIY booking than you might expect.
There’s more to think about than the upfront cost. With a package holiday, your flights and accommodation are booked together, so if something changes before you travel, you’ve got one company to deal with rather than trying to sort everything out yourself.
When a package holiday makes sense
Package holidays often work well if you’re travelling as a family, booking during busy periods or simply want everything organised in one place.
They’re also covered by the Package Travel Regulations, while eligible flight-inclusive package holidays include ATOL protection. That extra protection can become particularly valuable if your holiday doesn’t go to plan.
Our team sees this play out time and again. If you've booked a package and something changes close to departure, it's one call to sort it. If you've booked everything yourself, you're often the one juggling the airline, the hotel and the transfer company separately - all at once, with the clock ticking.
Package holidays
What happens if the Foreign Office advises against travel?
If the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to your destination after you’ve booked, what happens next depends on how you’ve booked your holiday.
If you’ve booked a package holiday
Package holidays come with extra legal protection under the Package Travel Regulations.
If the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to your destination, your holiday provider will explain your options. You may be offered an alternative holiday or, where appropriate, a full refund.
Instead of contacting your airline, hotel and transfer company separately, you’ll have one company handling all your arrangements.
If you’ve booked flights and accommodation separately
When you’ve booked each part of your trip yourself, every booking has its own terms and conditions.
Your airline could still operate the flight while your hotel has different cancellation rules, so you’ll need to deal with each company individually and check what your travel insurance covers.
Everything can seem much the same when you book. It’s only if something changes later that the differences become much clearer. Booking a package holiday isn’t just about convenience when everything goes to plan. It can also make life much simpler if things change before you travel.
Should you book now or wait?
There’s no single right answer, and that’s probably the biggest change.
If you’ve got plenty of flexibility, waiting could still help you save money. If you’ve already found the holiday you really want, booking now can make just as much sense as waiting for a lower price.
Sometimes saving a little money is worth waiting for. Sometimes knowing you’ve booked the holiday you really wanted is worth even more.
If you’re ready to travel soon, check out our last-minute holidays to see what’s available now.
About the author
Adele has worked in travel for a number of years now, which has taken her to some amazing places. When she’s not at home cuddling her dog, she loves to explore new places. From Mexico to Croatia and Iceland, she has some great insider tips.