If you’re flexible and ready to travel, last minute holidays can offer some
of the biggest savings available. Airlines and hotels often drop prices close
to departure dates to fill empty seats and rooms — and savvy travellers know
exactly how to take advantage.
Last minute holidays work best when you’re open about destination and travel
dates. The less fixed your plans, the better the deals you’ll find.
Why Last Minute Holidays Save You Money
When airlines and hotels approach their departure and check-in dates with
unsold inventory, they face a simple choice: sell at a reduced price or lose
the revenue entirely. For travellers, this creates a genuine window of
opportunity.
Unsold Inventory Must Be Cleared
Airlines would rather fill a seat at £99 than fly with it empty. Hotels
would rather offer a room at 40% off than leave it vacant. This commercial
reality directly benefits last minute bookers.
Less Demand on Unpopular Travel Days
Travelling on a Tuesday or Wednesday — even last minute — is almost always
cheaper than weekends. Combining a last minute deal with a mid-week
departure can unlock savings of 30–50% versus the same trip booked months
in advance at peak times.
Package Holidays Clear Quickly
Tour operators bundle flights and hotels together and need to shift these
packages as a unit. Last minute package deals often represent the single
best value option for a full holiday, with all-inclusive options available
for surprisingly low prices.
Best Last Minute Destinations from the UK
Canary Islands — Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria offer year-round
warm weather, making them ideal last minute choices in any month. Frequent
flights from regional UK airports keep prices competitive.
Greece — Outside July and August, last minute deals to Crete, Rhodes,
Corfu, and Kos can be exceptional. September and October offer warm seas,
fewer crowds, and some of the cheapest hotel prices of the year.
Dubai — While usually considered a premium destination, last minute
Dubai deals during shoulder season (April–May and September–October) can
offer incredible value, with five-star hotels available at three-star prices.
Spain — Costa del Sol, Malaga, Barcelona, and Ibiza regularly appear
in last minute deal searches. Spain’s extensive resort infrastructure means
there’s always availability, even at short notice.
Turkey — All-inclusive resorts in Antalya and Bodrum are among the
most frequently discounted last minute options. Expect strong value on
full-board packages particularly outside peak summer weeks.
How to Find the Best Last Minute Holiday Deals
Use a Comparison Platform
Rather than checking individual airline and hotel websites, use SupaCompare
to compare last minute options across 100+ providers simultaneously. This
saves hours of searching and ensures you’re seeing the full range of
available deals.
Be Flexible on Airport
Flying from a regional airport rather than Heathrow or Gatwick can
dramatically reduce costs, particularly last minute. Manchester, Birmingham,
Edinburgh, and Bristol all offer competitive routes to popular destinations.
Set Price Alerts in Advance
Even for last minute deals, setting up price alerts 4–6 weeks before you
want to travel lets you monitor price movements and jump when a deal appears.
Consider Package vs Flight + Hotel Separately
Sometimes booking a package is cheaper than combining a flight and hotel
independently. Always compare both options before committing.
When Do Last Minute Deals Appear?
The best last minute holiday deals typically appear 2–4 weeks before
departure. For all-inclusive packages, deals often surface 7–14 days out
as tour operators make final clearance pushes.
For flights specifically, the window is shorter — the cheapest last minute
airfares often appear just 3–7 days before departure.
Explore our Cheap Holidays from the UK
guide for more money-saving tips, or check our Family Holidays
page if you’re travelling with children.
Compare last minute holiday deals now and find your perfect spontaneous trip.