How to Save Money on Last-Minute Travel

Oct 2, 2024

Be flexible about dates and creative about destinations to find the best value in spur-of-the-moment vacation planning.

Key Takeaways

  • Although many travel costs have increased in tandem with overall inflation, you can still manage your vacation budget – even if you’re booking at the last minute.
  • Being flexible about timing and getting creative about destinations can help to keep vacation costs under control.
  • Having an ongoing savings plan can help you be ready to take a spontaneous trip when the opportunity comes up.

Are you ready for a vacation, but worried that it’s too late if you haven’t already planned something? Last-minute trips can be spontaneous and fun, and they don’t need to break the bank if you know where to look for savings.

 

Planning a vacation may seem like it’s more expensive than ever before. Surprisingly, U.S. airfares have held relatively steady since 20191, which is remarkable in a time when prices across the economy have risen steeply. However, food prices increased by 25% from 2019 to 20232, with the cost of restaurant meals following, while rental car prices have soared 35% since May 2019.  At the same time, you could be facing competition for any trips you’re hoping to book, as 60% of Americans are planning to take a vacation in 2024.

 

Between “vacation inflation” and demand for travel, it definitely helps to have a strategy if you’re hoping to manage costs on a spur-of-the-moment trip. Organize the planning for your next getaway around three principles:

 

1. Be flexible on dates, avoiding weekends and holidays.

2. Be creative on destinations, looking for affordable alternatives to popular destinations that could be less expensive — and perhaps more interesting.

3. Be smart about the total cost, and don’t allow a great deal on airfare or a hotel trick you into thinking the rest of the trip will come at a discount as well.

 

Tips and Tools

With those three principles in mind, try a few of these techniques to find the right trip for your interests and budget:

  1. 1

    Look for online rankings of travel destinations by cost. Travel-related search engines have great tools to help you compare costs for a range of destinations and dates. Set up email price alerts for a list of destinations you like.  

  2. 2

    Online assistants powered by generative artificial intelligence are beginning to appear on travel websites and will continue to improve. Try asking for a similar destination to the one you are searching with more affordable airfare or hotels. 

  3. 3

    Be careful when comparing airfares. A discount airline may seem like a better deal than a major carrier until you look at the price of a ticket that lets you reserve a seat and bring luggage. 

  4. 4

    When shopping for a hotel on multiple sites, pay attention to the room category. A slightly higher price might get you a much better room, or a bargain may be the worst room in the house.  

  5. 5

    The website for a specific hotel or hotel chain may offer packages that get you a free breakfast, free parking or a bottle of wine. They also may have more flexible cancellation policies than booking sites.     

  6. 6

    Make sure you are seeing the full price for a hotel room or rental car, including all fees and taxes. Sometimes you may have to almost complete the reservation or purchase to find the true cost. 

  1. 7

    Hotel resort or destination or facilities fees have become common (even if the name keeps changing). These charges can be significant — another reason to read the fine print about taxes and fees carefully. 

  2. 8

    You might be able to skip the rental car, especially if you’re touring a city. Most European airports have good rail links to city centers, and an increasing number of U.S. destinations such as Denver and Seattle have added them in recent years. 

Of course, a vacation is only a good value if you like where you end up. The possibilities for hunting bargains online are almost endless, but you can start by knowing what kind of trip you want to have – for instance, exploring a new city, relaxing by the beach or hiking in the mountains. Then, some flexible thinking and focused research can help you come up with a dream vacation on a budget that won’t keep you up at night.  

 

Prepare in Advance

Even if you’re booking a trip at the last minute, you can still plan in advance to save for your future travels. Complement your Morgan Stanley’s CashPlus Brokerage with Morgan Stanley’s Preferred Savings Program for Qualifying Cash,3 which is a competitive alternative to traditional high-yield savings accounts and money market funds. Saving ahead of your next vacation may allow your travel fund to grow before your departure.  

 

Your Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor can help you explore your options and choose the right cash-management and savings strategy for you.