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Last minute holidays are one of the best ways to travel on a flexible budget, and one of the easiest ways to get frustrated if you search the wrong way. As a Sussex-based travel specialist, we spend a lot of time looking at what is actually available from Gatwick and other UK airports at short notice, and the same lessons come up again and again. This guide explains how last minute holidays work, when they are genuinely good value, where to go, how to search, and what to check before you pay.
Whether you live in Brighton and can be at Gatwick within the hour, or you are searching from somewhere much further north, the principles are the same. Flexibility wins. The more you can move your dates, your airport and your destination, the better your chances of finding something worth booking.
What counts as a last minute holiday?
There is no official definition, but most travel companies treat a last minute holiday as one that departs within roughly the next few weeks. Some deals appear only days before departure. Others are released a month or so ahead when a tour operator knows it still has rooms or seats to fill.
It helps to think of three broad types of last minute trip:
- Package holidays. Flights, accommodation and often transfers sold together by a tour operator or online travel agent. These are the most common type of last minute deal.
- Flight and hotel combinations. You book a flight and a room separately, often through different websites. This takes more effort but can give you more choice.
- Short breaks and city breaks. A few nights in a European city, often booked at short notice. See our guide to city breaks for ideas.
How last minute holiday deals work
Holiday companies commit to flights and hotel rooms well in advance. When departure gets close, any unsold capacity has no value once the plane takes off or the night passes. That gives sellers a reason to reduce prices to fill space, which is why you will often see last minute holidays advertised at lower prices than the same trip would have cost earlier.
It is important to be honest about the limits of this. Last minute pricing is not guaranteed to fall. Popular dates, such as school holidays, bank holiday weekends and the peak of summer, can sell out completely, and the remaining options can cost more rather than less. Prices respond to demand, and demand for popular destinations at popular times can be strong right up until departure.
The sweet spot tends to be flexible travellers heading to places with a lot of capacity, outside the busiest weeks of the year. That means resorts and cities with many flights a day and plenty of hotels, rather than a small boutique property that is nearly always full.
Is a last minute holiday cheaper than booking early?
Sometimes, but not always. Booking early gives you the widest choice of flights, rooms and board types, and early booking offers can be good value. Booking late can produce bargains, but you accept less choice. The honest answer is that neither approach is always cheaper. What matters is how flexible you are and how popular your dates are.
If you have fixed dates, a particular hotel in mind, or you are travelling with a large family that needs connecting rooms, booking early usually reduces the risk of disappointment. If you can go almost anywhere on almost any date, last minute searching can be rewarding.
The best time to search for last minute holidays
Different people swear by different days and times, and we would be cautious about anyone who claims a magic formula. Prices change constantly, and there is no single moment that is always cheapest. What does help is a routine:
- Search regularly in the weeks before you want to travel, rather than once.
- Note the price of a few options so you can recognise a genuine drop.
- Check both package sites and airline sites, because deals can differ.
- Look at midweek departures as well as weekends, since midweek flights are often cheaper.
- Set up price alerts where the website offers them.
Where to go for last minute holidays from the UK
Destinations with frequent flights from UK airports and plenty of accommodation are the most reliable for last minute searches. Here are the areas that come up most often.
Spain and the Balearic and Canary Islands
Spain is the classic last minute choice. The mainland coasts, Majorca, Ibiza, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria all have large numbers of flights and hotels, which gives sellers room to price competitively. The Canary Islands are popular in the colder months because they are a reasonable flight from the UK and enjoy a milder climate than mainland Europe in winter.
Portugal and Madeira
The Algarve has a long season and many hotels and apartments. Madeira and Lisbon are also well served. Portugal suits travellers who want sunshine plus things to do beyond the beach.
Greece and Cyprus
Greek islands and Cyprus are strong in the summer and early autumn. Availability gets tighter in peak weeks, so flexibility on dates matters here more than most places.
Turkey
Turkey has large resorts, many of them offering all inclusive board. If you like the idea of one price for most of your holiday costs, read our all inclusive holidays guide.
European city breaks
For a shorter trip, cities such as Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rome, Lisbon, Prague, Budapest and Dublin offer plenty of flights and hotels. Our city breaks guide goes into more detail on choosing a city and keeping costs down.
Winter sun and longer trips
If you want warmth in winter, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Egypt, the Gambia, Dubai and the Caribbean are all options at different distances and price levels. Longer flights usually mean a higher cost and more to plan, so check entry requirements and health advice for your destination.
Staying in the UK
You do not need a passport for a last minute break at home. Cottages, coastal hotels and holiday parks often have short-notice availability, particularly outside school holidays. Browse our guide to UK holidays and short breaks, our ideas for UK coastal holidays, or closer to home our Brighton and Sussex breaks.
Last minute holidays from Gatwick and the South East
Living in Sussex or Surrey has a real advantage for last minute travel. Gatwick has a very wide range of destinations, which means there is usually something available at short notice. Brighton has a direct rail link to Gatwick, so you can travel to the airport without a car, and trains and coaches also serve other South East airports.
When searching, try these approaches:
- Search Gatwick first, then widen your search to Heathrow, Luton, Stansted or Southampton and see whether the price difference outweighs the extra travel.
- Include the cost of getting to the airport and parking in your comparison. A cheaper flight from further away is not cheaper if you pay a lot more to reach it.
- If you will drive, compare airport parking prices in advance. Our car hire guide covers hire at the other end.
- Consider a short break by train for a quick escape. See our ideas for weekend breaks from Brighton and day trips from Brighton.
We also bring together ideas for flights from this airport on our holidays from Gatwick page.
How to search for last minute holidays properly
A good search starts with deciding what is fixed and what is flexible. Write it down before you begin.
Decide your non-negotiables
These might be the number of travellers, a maximum budget, a maximum flight time, or the need for a certain board type. Everything else can move.
Widen your dates
Many search tools let you flex your departure by a few days either way. Even moving by one day can change a price noticeably, and midweek flights are often cheaper than Friday to Sunday.
Compare packages with separate bookings
Package holidays can be good value and bring extra protection, because the seller is responsible for the whole trip. Booking flights and accommodation separately can sometimes be cheaper and gives you more freedom, but you are responsible for connecting the pieces. If something goes wrong with one part, the other part may not be refunded. Check what applies to your booking before you pay.
Look at the total price
A low headline price can rise quickly once you add hold luggage, seat selection, transfers, resort fees and airport parking. Always compare the final total for the same set of extras.
Check nearby resorts and airports
Two resorts a short drive apart can have very different prices. Likewise, flying from a different airport can unlock a cheaper deal, as long as you factor in the journey.
Last minute holiday tips for families
Family travel is the hardest to do at the last minute because rooms need to fit everyone, and school holiday dates are the most expensive and the most popular. If you travel outside school holidays and are able to do so, the choice and value are generally much better. If you must travel in school holidays, be prepared to stay flexible on destination, board type and departure airport.
- Check whether the room genuinely sleeps your whole group, and what the age rules are for children.
- Look at all inclusive options, which make costs predictable. See our all inclusive holidays guide and its section on family resorts.
- Check transfer times from the airport. A long coach ride after a flight is tiring with young children.
- Confirm that cots, extra beds and kids clubs are available if you need them.
Last minute holidays for couples and solo travellers
Couples and solo travellers often have the most flexibility. Adults only hotels, boutique properties and city hotels can all appear at short notice. Solo travellers should look carefully at supplements. Some hotels charge extra for single occupancy, so compare the price per person across a few properties rather than assuming the cheapest headline price is best.
What to check before you book a last minute holiday
Booking quickly does not mean booking carelessly. Before paying, check the following.
- Passport validity. Many countries require a certain amount of remaining validity on your passport. Check the government travel advice for your destination and give yourself time to renew if needed.
- Entry requirements. Some countries require visas or travel authorisations. Some can be obtained online quickly, others take longer.
- Health and vaccination advice. Check official guidance for your destination.
- Baggage allowance. Low cost airlines charge separately for hold luggage and sometimes for cabin bags beyond a small personal item.
- Cancellation and change policies. Last minute bookings are often less flexible. Understand what happens if you need to cancel.
- Travel insurance. Cover generally only applies from the date you buy it, so buy it as soon as you book. Read our travel insurance guide.
- Financial protection. In the UK, many package holidays are covered by financial protection schemes. Look for details such as ATOL for flight inclusive packages sold by many UK sellers, and read the booking confirmation to see what protection applies to you.
Common mistakes with last minute holidays
- Booking the first cheap price you see. Cheap is only good if the hotel, location and total cost suit you.
- Ignoring reviews. Check recent guest reviews for cleanliness, noise, food and building work.
- Forgetting extras. Transfers, baggage and insurance can add up.
- Not allowing time for documents. A passport that is too close to expiry can ruin a trip.
- Assuming you will always find a bargain. Sometimes the best option is to wait for another week, another airport or another destination.
Last minute holiday checklist
- Passports valid and in date for every traveller
- Entry and health requirements checked
- Total price compared across at least two sources
- Baggage allowance and extras added up
- Reviews read for the hotel and resort
- Airport transfer and parking arranged
- Travel insurance bought
- Booking confirmation and protection details saved
- Some local currency or a suitable card sorted
Frequently asked questions
Are last minute holidays cheaper?
They can be, especially if you are flexible on dates, airport and destination. But there is no guarantee, and popular dates may cost more as they fill up.
How late can you book a holiday?
Many sellers will book holidays up to a few days before departure, subject to availability and time to sort travel documents. Always check passport and entry requirements first.
What is the best day to book a last minute holiday?
There is no single best day. Prices change constantly, so searching regularly and comparing is more reliable than relying on a rule.
Can I get a last minute holiday from Gatwick?
Often yes, because Gatwick has many routes. Check package sites and airline sites, and consider other airports if the price difference is worth the extra journey.
Are last minute all inclusive holidays available?
Yes, many resorts in Spain, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and further afield offer all inclusive deals at short notice. Read what is actually included before you book.
Do I need travel insurance for a last minute holiday?
It is strongly advisable. Buy it as soon as you book, so cancellation cover applies from the start. General information is in our travel insurance guide.
Can I find last minute holidays in the UK?
Yes. Cottages, coastal hotels and holiday parks often have short-notice availability, particularly outside school holidays. See our UK holidays guide.
Are last minute package holidays protected?
Many UK package holidays carry financial protection, but the details depend on the seller and the type of booking. Check your confirmation documents for protection details.
Where to go next
If you are still deciding, compare ideas on our cheap holidays, all inclusive holidays and city breaks pages. If you want to get to know us, visit our about page, or contact us with questions or suggestions.