The Benefits of Last Minute Travel

Almost every trip we take is booked at the very last minute. I usually have a rough idea of where I want to go and when. But as far as actually booking anything, it is rarely, if ever, done more than about 2 weeks ahead of time. Especially if it is a weekend trip, those are usually planned a day or two before we leave.

{All of the images in this post are from a little agriturismo where we stayed in Sicily, a trip that was planned at the very last minute.}

The Benefits of Last Minute Travel

Although this might stress some people out, I think there are a lot of benefits to last minute travel.

It is Exciting

Deciding to go somewhere at the last minute and just doing it is exciting. It feels spontaneous. It feels liberating. It feels like you are young and carefree. Even if that completely isn’t the case.

If you usually plan things far in advance, try planning a spontaneous trip. I guarantee you will feel the excitement and thrill of a last minute trip!

You are Living in the Moment

So many people talk about how fun it is to look forward to a trip. And how they can’t wait until their departure because it is going to be so amazing. But if you are constantly looking toward that next trip, or another shiny object in the future, you can’t really live in the moment.

I prefer to enjoy what I am doing today, and really live in the present moment.

You Save Time

Planning a vacation, or any kind of travel, can be very time consuming! If you don’t have much time, you can’t spend as much time planning. Period.

You are forced to make quicker decisions and spend less time second guessing yourself. This is perfect for someone like me who often finds them self in analysis paralysis, and completely unable to make a decision. Especially with booking a place to stay, I could spend weeks (or more) going back and forth without actually making a decision.

Everything is Fresh in Your Mind

This is my number one reason why I like to plan things at the last minute.

I tend to read as much as possible about a place before we go, so I know exactly what I want to see and do. If your memory isn’t stellar, it is so easy to forget all of the great things you read while you were planning your trip. If you are planning at the last minute, these things will still be fresh in your mind.

You Save Money

While this one isn’t a guarantee, and you have to be pretty flexible, there is a good chance that you could save a lot of money by booking last minute travel deals.

Hotels often have last minute deals if they are trying to sell any remaining rooms. And since you are booking so close to your departure date, you can avoid paying extra for the flexible rate that allows cancellations or changes.

Finding a cheap flight can be more challenging, but by using tools such as Skyscanner’s Everywhere Search, you can see if there are any good deals out there.

And while I have never personally done a package deal, there are often some pretty amazing discounts on last minute vacation packages.

Is Last Minute Travel for You?

I like planning trips at the last minute. But if you are very rigid with travel dates or details, or are traveling with a group, then last minute travel might not be right for you.

What are your thoughts on last minute travel? Love it? Hate it?

I would love to hear your experiences!