Booking a Last-Minute Family Holiday
When the stresses of everyday life become too much, sometimes the best thing for us and the family is to get away to relax and recharge our batteries. Believe it or not, booking a last-minute trip is often the best way to do it! Booking last minute sometimes results in finding the best deals. From flights to accommodation, you might be able to score yourself a low-budget family holiday. Here is why you may want to book your next getaway at the last minute.
Why book at the last minute?
The main advantage of booking just before you travel lies in some particularly interesting tariffs. Some offers can allow you to bag 75% off the original price! The later you book, the more the price drops, so it’s a careful balance of booking as late as possible and booking while there is still availability. Reservations can usually be made between a few days and a fortnight before travelling to your chosen destination.
Surprising holidays
If you decide to book a last-minute holiday, you won’t necessarily be able to bag that specific cycling tour of India, or a month of volunteering in South America you wanted (those require more organisation, and will be for another time), but they are ideal for a getaway with your family. This is the perfect occasion to discover places with the kids or destinations you’d knocked off your wish list because they were too expensive for example.
Exclusive packages
As well as largely reduced prices, last-minute booking offers other benefits: you could enjoy a luxurious getaway in a heavenly location, which you may have never even looked at considering the original prices and your budget! Late booking will enable you to bag reduced plane or train tickets, but also fantastic prices on accommodation, including in luxury hotels.
If you’re looking for somewhere you can unwind while the kids are busy building sand castles, European destinations like Spain and Portugal are always great for snagging spur of the moment deals.
For something slightly more interesting and educational, a city break is always a great option. Why not discover Paris or Berlin or somewhere scenic like Geneva? Serviced apartments are a great accommodation choice when travelling with kids as they give you plenty of space to make yourselves at home. Visit http://geneva.frasershospitality.com/ to explore this option in Geneva.
Do have a look around, especially if you’ve been dreaming of a relaxing all-inclusive holiday, with any luck you’ll find an offer including accommodation plus meals, drinks and activities!
A few tips for booking and organising your last-minute holidays
Check before you book!
You may find some irresistible deals for dream destinations, but before booking, do check that you are in possession of the necessary documents for travel. If travelling abroad, make sure your passport is valid (for at least the next 6 months for most destinations). If your little ones don’t have passports yet, you can expedite the process for additional fees.
Finding the trip that’s right for your Family
You may be tempted to just grab the lowest price on a holiday package – that could, after all, be a clever way to head for a surprising destination. But the best way to ensure you enjoy your travels is to gather a bit of information on places you may be interested in. Have a look at cultural agendas, weather conditions and current social/political situations in countries you’re looking at and most importantly, make sure the place and accommodation you are booking are family friendly to ensure everyone will be entertained and having a good time.
Your luggage
When we say always be ready, we, of course, know that you won’t permanently have bags packed, as much for chilly Norway as for the Mallorcan sun. What you can do is always store essentials to face any weather: sandals, hats and swim costumes for beach destinations, big coats and boots for the cold, waterproof jacket for monsoon season…
As soon as you’ve booked a holiday, gather the most important items for your destination. This includes, of course, passports and your tickets! If you’ve managed to book at least a few days before travelling, make sure everything is ready a couple days ahead of time. Being a bit organised definitely beats throwing your things in a bag a few hours before leaving (especially when you’re packing for little ones).
There you have it: there are amazing benefits to booking last-minute family holidays. You could enjoy destinations and packages you’d never dreamed of visiting!