Last minute travel deals

Have you ever decided at the last minute to take a vacation, but didn’t know where to go, or if you could afford it? If you’re open-minded, flexible and ready to explore, these online travel agencies might be for you.

Last Minute Club — The Last Minute Club is a travel club that offers members great deals on last minute trips as well as perks like rental cars, airport parking, travelers insurance and group vacation rates. By buying a high volume of unsold air seats, package holidays and cruises the company can sell their trips at a discount of 50 per cent or higher. They are the same vacations that are available through travel brochures, only priced much lower. The only catch is an annual membership fee of $49.99 (classic) or $149.99 (premium), although that doesn’t seem like too high of a price when the savings are this good.

Exitnow.ca — There are many last-minute travel sites out there that offer fantastic deals on last minute vacations. This one in particular is of interest because of their ‘lowest price guarantee’. If you find another deal anywhere, they will match it and give you a travel voucher for $50 off a travel package and $25 off a flight for a future purchase. You must find an identical vacation package or flight at the time you book your trip on a Canadian website.

Redtag.ca — This site not only allows customers to take advantage of last minute travel savings, but also offers a variety of services for those with the travel bug. From their monthly newsletter, to advice on the current top vacation destination, this site offers a great deal of worthwhile information. Red Tag works with various Canadian travel partners to help you obtain the best deal for your money.

Sunwing Vacations — If you are looking for a warm, sunny place to escape to, check out Sunwing vacations. This online travel company specializes in last minute travel deals to sunny destinations such as Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico and many more. When you book through Sunwing, they provide you with round-trip airfare to your destination, return transportation and baggage handling between the airport and your resort, hotel accommodation and a welcome briefing upon arrival at your destination. They also offer group travel rates. Prices depend on destination.

What constitutes a last minute travel deal?

How early can you book and still get a decent deal? There is no set time period; however, cruises usually start lowering the price about 30 to 40 days before departure. Airlines will keep discounting flights as late as hours before the flight is ready to take off.

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Possible trade-offs

One thing to remember about booking a last minute getaway is that you may not get the exact type of room or seating on the plane that you prefer. If you are locked into a fixed schedule or have little flexibility with your preferences, last minute traveling may not work for you. Agents also advise against looking for last minute deals for a business trip or wedding. Finally, be aware of the hefty cancellation fees — they can be up to hundreds of dollars if you need to cancel your trip.

There are a number of websites that offer these “last minute travel deals.” Ensure that you read all the fine print and research where it is that you are going to be staying before your departure. Also consult websites such as tripadvisor.ca and realtravel.com to help make your trip every bit as wonderful as you’re hoping for.

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