Is last-minute travel more cost-effective?

Organising a last-minute trip may seem stressful, but this way of travelling often comes with great opportunities, particularly from a financial point of view.

Between discounted transport tickets, reduced accommodation rates and promotional activities, it is possible to travel smartly—provided you adopt the right strategy.

In this guide, we share all our tips to help you organise a last-minute trip, take advantage of the best deals and enjoy your stay without unpleasant surprises.

 

Key Takeaways: 

• Travelling at the last minute can allow you to benefit from attractive transport fares, especially for flights, provided you remain flexible with destinations and travel dates. Online comparison tools and price alerts are essential for quickly spotting the best offers.
• Train and coach tickets generally offer fewer last-minute discounts, making advance booking more worthwhile for these modes of transport. It is therefore important to adapt your strategy depending on the type of journey planned.
• When it comes to accommodation, late bookings can be very advantageous thanks to platforms looking to fill vacant rooms. Hotels, short-term rentals and youth hostels regularly offer attractive deals.
• Currency exchange is best planned in advance, even for an imminent departure, in order to avoid unfavourable exchange rates. Online currency reservation allows you to benefit from preferential rates and zero commission, while remaining flexible.
• Finally, good organisation relies on flexibility, comparing offers and anticipating administrative formalities. Travelling light and favouring off-peak periods or less touristy destinations significantly increases your chances of finding great deals.

 

Organising a last-minute trip can be advantageous when it comes to transport, as some companies reduce their prices to fill empty seats. However, for the most popular routes and during peak season, prices can rise sharply as the departure date approaches.

In other words, you may benefit from lower prices, but you will need to remain flexible regarding your destination. To keep costs down, you should be prepared to choose your destination based on available offers. Similarly, expect to adjust your departure and return dates to avoid paying premium prices.

To easily identify the cheapest routes, consider using online comparison tools such as Skyscanner, Google Flights or Kayak. You can also activate price alerts a few days before your trip to be automatically notified of routes that match your budget.

You may also want to check last-minute deals, which are often listed directly on the websites of low-cost airlines.

Prices tend to fluctuate far less for train and coach tickets, making last-minute discounts less common.

As a result, it is generally advisable to book well in advance to secure better prices.

You can also benefit from preferential accommodation rates by booking at the last minute.
Platforms such as Booking or Expedia often offer reduced prices to fill empty rooms in certain establishments.

Similarly, short-term rental platforms like Airbnb regularly provide last-minute discounts.

Finally, youth hostels are always an interesting option for travelling on a budget. You can usually find affordable accommodation, sometimes without even needing to book in advance.

If you prefer to book accommodation ahead of time, you can filter listings to show only those offering free cancellation in case you change your mind. It is also worth checking hotel websites directly, or even contacting them by phone to discuss their best available offers.

It is generally advisable to plan your currency exchange before travelling abroad in order to benefit from better exchange rates. However, our online currency reservation service is an ideal solution for exchanging money at a lower cost: we apply a preferential rate and a 0% commission. This allows you to maximise your travel budget in just a few clicks.

Once your reservation is confirmed, all you need to do is collect it free of charge from one of our branches. If you order a major currency from Monday to Friday, it will be ready at your chosen exchange office within just 24 hours.

Booking activities at the last minute can also allow you to benefit from promotional prices. Here too, platforms aim to fill unsold places, and you will usually find a dedicated section listing all last-minute discounts.

In all cases, take the time to check reviews of the activities you plan to book to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Finally, for the most popular activities, do not wait too long to book to ensure availability.

As we have seen, organising a last-minute trip is entirely possible and can even be financially rewarding. However, the specific conditions of such travel require a slightly different approach to avoid unpleasant surprises and enjoy your stay with peace of mind:

• Be flexible: unlike a traditional trip, last-minute travel requires adapting to current offers. It is therefore essential to let go and embrace flexibility to enjoy the experience without stress. If you have a taste for adventure and enjoy surprises, this option is perfect for you.
• Compare offers: online comparison tools will be your best allies when organising a last-minute trip. Platforms such as Skyscanner, Kayak or GetYourGuide are ideal for identifying the best prices in just a few clicks.
• Target quiet periods and less touristy destinations: this significantly increases your chances of finding good deals.
• Anticipate essential formalities: while buying a flight ticket or booking accommodation can be done at the last minute, some administrative procedures cannot. Make sure you have a valid passport, travel insurance, all required vaccinations and suitable payment methods before booking anything.
• Travel light: if you plan to travel for several weeks, you will likely need to improvise as you go. To maximise mobility and limit costs, keep your luggage to a minimum.

Last-minute travel can be particularly worthwhile if you are well organised. Flight tickets, accommodation and travel activities are sometimes heavily discounted when booked at the last moment.

Exchanging currency at the last minute is entirely possible, but you risk paying a higher price. Planning your currency exchange just a few days before departure can be enough to benefit from better offers. Booking your currency online is also an ideal solution to enjoy favourable exchange rates and a 0% commission.

We hope this guide helps you organise a last-minute trip under the best possible conditions and take advantage of great value deals!