Last Minute Holidays 2024
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Our Guide To Last Minute Holidays
Last minute holidays are fun and exciting and can save you money if you can be flexible on where you go, where you fly from and when you go. The thought of spontaneously booking a quick, last minute break leaving next week, this week or even tomorrow excites us all, from exploring a new city or just chilling out by your swim up pool in the sun. Here's our comprehensive guide to booking a last minute holiday, whether you want a weekend break at a Haven holiday park in the UK, or an all inclusive family holiday in Spain.
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If you're less about the beach and sun, and more about the city and culture, take a look at our last minute city breaks page to see what else is on offer in destinations like Amsterdam, Barcelona, Istanbul and even New York.
Popular Last Minute Holiday Destination
The Top 9 Best Last Minute Holidays
If you're looking for a last minute holiday anywhere, we've pulled together some of our favourite destinations below to take a look at for inspiration.
Spain
You'll probably find that last minute holidays to Spain in general are one of the best options. With loads of flights from across the UK, popular destinations like Benidorm, Costa Del Sol, Majorca or the Canaries, you've got a wide choice to choose from.
Dubai
Although likely a little pricier, a last minute holiday to Dubai is likely to be hot and sunny. There are loads of hotels to choose from and with a six hour flight from the UK, you can fly overnight, taking off in the evening and landing in Dubai the next morning.
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Tenerife
Year round sunshine and warmth make Tenerife a favourite destination for last minute fans. Try Las Americas or Los Cristianos to be close to the bars and nightlife, while areas like Golf Del Sur and Los Gigantes offer a more local, quiet holiday feel.
Cape Verde
Increasing in popularity ith Brits over the last few years for its sun and warm weather during the winter months, Cape Verde doesn't have too many flights from the UK, but if you simply want to fly and flop, a last minute all inclusive holiday to Cape Verde might be just up your street.
Gran Canaria
Another great island in the Canaries for some last minute sunshine, Gran Canaria is perfect for couples, single travellers, families and groups of friends looking to escape. Try resorts like Puerto Rico, Playa Del Ingles, and Maspalomas for sandy beaches and a good range of accommodation options.
Cyprus
With two airports to fly into (Larnaca and Paphos), there's more choice in Cyprus for a late deal. And if you fancy a quiet holiday, don't mind self catering and would love a private pool, there can be some great last minute villa holiday deals available too.
Dalaman, Turkey
To make the most of your hard earned cash, the hotels and resorts around Dalaman like Fethiye and Marmaris offer excellent all inclusive deals that are great value for money. Try TUI's Holiday Village Turkey in Sarigerme for a great all round family holiday.
Palma, Majorca
Popular for both the sunshine and as a city break, Palma in Majorca is a great last minute holiday destination, and you don't have to spend hours on a coach airport transfer to be by the pool. Some of the island's beach hotels are easily accessible to the airport and Palma, as well as enjoying a beachfront location.
Kos, Greece
Another favourite holiday destination, this Aegean island is well known for it's beautiful sandy beaches and clear, turquoise waters. Like many of the other Greek islands, Kos welcomes holidaymakers year round, but still has that fantastic traditional side of Greece we've all fallen in love with. Check out the latest last minute holidays to Greece.
More Last Minute Holiday Ideas
While having a few destinations at the back of your mind is good, sometimes you've got a few criteria you want to keep to. So here are a few more last minute ideas:
Last Minute Holidays In The Sun
For a last minute holiday in the sun, areas like the Costa Blanca, Costa Del Sol and the Algarve are good places to start. Frequent and cheap flights, plus a huge range of accommodation from self catering apartments to luxury, 5-star resorts, make these sorts of destinations ideal for getting away at the last second. During the winter months of December, January and February, you might want to head to somewhere a little warmer like the Canary Islands, where Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Tenerife all have plenty to offer sunseekers.
Last Minute Holidays In The UK
From Cornwall to the Lake District and everywhere in between, a last minute holiday in the UK means you don't have to worry about flight prices and can head out in your own car or by train and discover what's on your doorstep. How about a cheap glamping break with friends, or a bargain last minute uk beach holiday with the family at one of hundreds of seaside holiday parks? Both Hoseasons and Breakfree Holidays work with a variety of UK brands including Butlin's, John Fowler, Haven and Parkdean for the latest offers.
Retreat holidays and spa breaks at places like Center Parcs are also worth looking into. Sunday nights are particularly good for this. Many spa hotels in the UK have swimming pools, and there are also some excellent lodges with hot tubs to enjoy in areas like Cornwall, Dorset and Ayrshire in Scotland. Don't forget last minute holiday cottages in the UK either. Like villas in Europe, the owners hate to see their properties vacant, so there could be some great offers available. Check out the likes of Airbnb and Sykes Cottages for some inspiration.
Last Minute Holidays By Train
If you don't have a car, or don't fancy driving but want to get away, a last minute holiday by train or even coach is an option. Heading abroad, you have the likes of Eurostar to European cities like Paris, Bruges and Brussels, with connections on to other cities in Europe. In the UK, exploring a city is easy when travelling by train but not as easy if you want to discover somewhere less accessible. Be sure to take a look at our favourite caravan parks near train stations if you want a holiday by rail.
All Inclusive Holidays
Hoping to escape and not worry about a thing? All inclusive holidays at the last minute can help you keep an eye on your holiday spending, allowing you to not really worry about spending any more while you're away. Of course, the odd ice cream on the beach is always a nice little treat!
Last Minute Holidays Discounts & Promo Codes
Last minute holiday discount codes may be available depending on the holiday provider. If the holidays are on offer already, a promo code may not be required but certain brands like TUI and First Choice will show the promotional code in their website already, and may even add it to your booking automatically when you go through the booking process.
If you're looking for a very late deal, a last minute holiday leaving tomorrow or leaving in the next 48 hours could be a bargain too. Check out destinations like Majorca, the Algarve and the Canary Islands for top late locations.
Free Child Places
Last minute holidays with free child places are another way to save money. While some of the best late deals are discounted to sell, some hotels and resorts will have free child places to encourage families to book with them. Look at destinations with big hotels like Antalya and Dalaman in Turkey.
Our Favourite Websites For Last Minute Holiday Deals
Many travel brands offer late deals but with so many on offer, it can be difficult to know which to spend time looking at, so here are our favourite last minute holiday websites for you to check out:
Secret Escapes
Started in 2009 to help 4 and 5 star luxury hotels sell their last minute empty rooms (also known as distressed inventory), Secret Escapes is definitely one to take a look at. Their flash sales now include UK, Europe and worldwide destinations, including favourites like Cornwall and Majorca, as well as more upcoming destinations like Montenegro and Israel. The best offers are usually only live for 2-3 weeks at a time so you'll need to sign up to their offers email (be warned, they do send quite a few, but it can be worth it)
lastminute.com
The clue is in the name here. The team at lastminute.com offer all sorts, from beach holidays and city breaks to spa weekends and theatre tickets. They've got lots of inspirational ideas whether you want a last minute holiday in October, or a late weekend getaway in June. They also offer lastminute.com gift cards which are perfect presents for those who like to get away.
Breakfree Holidays
For last minute caravan holidays in the UK, Breakfree Holidays is another one to look at. They work with a number of holiday parks to offer the latest deals and availability, like Haven Holidays, Park Holidays and Parkdean. So if you fancy some time by the seaside, or are looking for a caravan park in the UK with a swimming pool and don't mind a self catering break, check them out to see what's on offer. The benefit of staying in the UK is that a lot of the parks are dog friendly.
TUI Holidays
TUI's late deals are another one worth looking out for. As a package holiday brand, they often use their own flights and exclusively contracted hotels, so it's in their best interests to make sure those planes and hotels don't go empty. From Crete and Cyprus to Malta and Morocco, there are lost of last minute holiday offers available with TUI, even from your local airport, whether that's from Birmingham, Bournemouth or Belfast. And don't forget family savings too.
Jet2holidays
With so many flights from across the UK, Jet2 like to fill their seats, so occasionally Jet2 does have some great last minute deals. If you have a certain hotel or travel dates in mind, you might get disappointed at no availability, but stay flexible and you could save a lot of money.
Last Minute Holidays From Your Local Airport
Last Minute Holidays Reviews
When looking online at the likes of TrustPilot and TripAdvisor last minute holidays reviews are generally positive. Any negative reviews are around their customer service and ability to contact them during the coronavirus situation.
Why Book A Last Minute Holiday?
It's exciting! The thought of being able to jump online, book a holiday and upsticks for a few days or weeks is pretty fun. It's something we've all dreamt of and it's actually relatively easy to do (provided you get the leave approved from work!)
You can also get some great deals. Not all the time. But if you can be flexible, there is the opportunity to save money on your next holiday.
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We are privileged to support the Family Holiday Charity, an incredible organisation which helps families get away together.
We're here to help people take a break, and we promote various travel companies as an affiliate partner, which means we are paid money for promoting companies, deals and destinations. Find out more about our affiliate disclosure here
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