What Is Considered a Last Minute Deal for Holidays?

Ever scrolled through a travel site at 10 p.m. on a Friday and found a beach villa in Portugal for half the price-just because someone canceled two days ago? That’s a last minute deal. But what exactly makes a deal "last minute"? It’s not just about timing. It’s about supply, desperation, and opportunity all crashing together.

How Late Is "Last Minute"?

There’s no universal clock that ticks off "last minute." For some, it’s 72 hours before departure. For others, it’s the day before. In the travel industry, a last minute deal typically means a booking made within 14 days of departure. But the sweet spot? Between 7 and 3 days out. That’s when airlines, hotels, and tour operators are scrambling to fill empty beds, seats, and spots.

Why? Because unsold inventory loses value fast. A hotel room that sits empty on a Thursday night doesn’t earn anything. An empty seat on a flight to Tenerife? It’s gone forever once the plane takes off. So around 10-14 days out, prices start dropping. By day 3, you might see 50% off-or even more-if the operator has no other choice.

What Kinds of Deals Are Actually Available?

Last minute doesn’t mean "junk." You’re not stuck with a windowless room in a noisy part of town. The best deals often come from:

• Cancelled group tours that need to be rebooked
• Overbooked hotels with excess rooms
• Flights with low demand on less popular routes
• Resorts in shoulder seasons with empty pools

For example, in January 2026, a couple in Vancouver booked a 5-night stay at a 4-star resort in Cancún for $499 total-flights and all. The original price? $1,250. The catch? They had to leave in 48 hours. No time to pack slowly. No time to second-guess. But they got a spa package, breakfast daily, and a private poolside cabana-things that usually cost extra.

These aren’t random discounts. They’re strategic moves by companies trying to avoid losses. And if you’re flexible, you can turn that desperation into your advantage.

Where Do You Find These Deals?

You won’t find them on the first page of Google. Last minute deals live in places most people ignore:

• Travel aggregators like LastMinute.com, Travelocity’s "Deals of the Day," or Expedia’s "Last Minute" filter
• Hotel apps like HotelTonight, which only shows same-day or next-day bookings
• Airline apps-especially budget carriers like Ryanair, easyJet, or WestJet-often push flash sales to fill empty seats
• Newsletter alerts from niche operators (like Intrepid Travel or G Adventures) who specialize in group tours with last-minute openings

Pro tip: Turn on push notifications for apps like HotelTonight. One user in Toronto got a $120/night suite in Barcelona for $65 because a family canceled after a baby got sick. She booked it at 11:30 p.m. and was on a flight by noon the next day.

What’s the Catch?

There’s always a catch. Last minute deals come with trade-offs:

• No choice: You get what’s left. If you want a specific resort, view, or flight time-you’re out of luck.
• Non-refundable: Almost all last minute bookings are final. Change your mind? You lose it all.
• Less flexibility: No upgrades, no early check-in, no special requests.
• Stress factor: Packing in 2 hours? Booking flights while your kid’s throwing a tantrum? It’s not for everyone.

One couple in Calgary booked a last minute trip to Jamaica after their boss canceled their weekend off. They got a great deal-but realized too late that the resort didn’t have a pool. They’d been expecting one. No refunds. No swaps. They spent their week in a room with a balcony view of a parking lot.

That’s why flexibility isn’t just helpful-it’s mandatory.

Who Should Book Last Minute?

Last minute deals aren’t for everyone. But they’re perfect for:

• Spontaneous travelers who hate planning
• People with flexible schedules (freelancers, remote workers, retirees)
• Budget-focused travelers who prioritize savings over control
• Those with travel credit (air miles, hotel points) that can cover non-refundable fees

If you’ve ever said, "I’d love to get away, but I can’t plan ahead," this is your loophole. You don’t need a 6-month calendar. You just need to be ready to say yes when the right deal pops up.

How to Get Ready for a Last Minute Trip

You can’t just wait for luck. You need to be prepared.

1. Keep a packed suitcase with basics: clothes, toiletries, chargers, meds. Rotate items every 3 months.
2. Have a digital passport copy saved on your phone and email.
3. Sign up for alerts from at least 3 travel apps and 2 travel newsletters.
4. Know your non-negotiables: Do you need a pool? A kitchen? A beach? A quiet room? Know them before you book.
5. Use a credit card with travel insurance-many cover cancellations if you book with it.

One woman in Edmonton keeps a go-bag under her bed. When she saw a $329 flight to Reykjavik with a free hotel stay, she booked it in 9 minutes. She left the next morning. No stress. No panic. Just a 4-day trip to see the Northern Lights-because she was ready.

Is It Worth the Risk?

Here’s the truth: last minute deals aren’t magic. They’re math. Travel companies have algorithms that predict how many rooms they’ll sell. When they see they’re at 70% capacity with 5 days to go, they drop prices. If you’re in the right place at the right time, you win.

Some people lose money on last minute bookings. Others get their best trip ever. The difference? Preparation. Flexibility. And knowing when to act.

It’s not about being reckless. It’s about being ready when opportunity knocks-at 2 a.m., with no warning.