We prefer to plan our trips entirely ourselves: you know that by now. Spending hours getting lost in itineraries, finding hidden gems for accommodation, figuring out for ourselves how to get from A to B: that’s half the fun we have when (preparing for) a trip. But to be perfectly honest? Sometimes we just can’t be bothered with all that! And that’s when an organised trip, such as a last-minute package holiday, is actually quite nice. And that doesn’t have to mean you’re just lazing around at a resort. Even on a spontaneous trip, you can still go on a road trip in Crete, go hiking in Madeira, explore volcanic landscapes in Lanzarote or discover hidden gems in Albania.
In this blog, we’re sharing the best last-minute destinations for travellers who love adventure, freedom and spontaneous trips. Find out why and when a last-minute trip is actually a good idea, and where you really ought to head off on a spontaneous adventure, in this blog featuring destinations you can still explore.
When is a last-minute booking actually a good idea?
A last-minute holiday sounds appealing, but it isn’t a good idea for every trip. For us, the sweet spot in this regard is mainly for shorter trips of, say, three to seven days. When you have to sort everything out yourself for a trip like that – from flights to transfers, accommodation and a hire car – you sometimes end up spending more time planning than on the actual trip itself! That’s not really the point.
It also helps if you’re already a bit familiar with a destination. You don’t need to know the place inside out, but you do need to know that you can find your way around easily. And perhaps most importantly: flexibility with your departure date is often more valuable than flexibility with your destination. If you can shift your dates by a few days, you’ll often find better deals! If you look at the current last minute range, you’ll see the difference straight away.
Advantages of booking at the last minute
As far as we’re concerned, booking a last-minute holiday has more advantages than many people realise. For us, these are the main advantages:
- Often cheaper: Prices can drop significantly, particularly when airlines or hotels are still trying to fill vacancies. Especially outside the peak season, you can sometimes save hundreds of euros.
- Planning for a shorter period: Sometimes you just want to get away for a bit without spending weeks sorting out itineraries, hotels and flights. A package holiday can actually be a really relaxing option in that case.
- More spontaneity: Last-minute trips often feel more adventurous. You tend to make your choices less on the basis of a strict plan and more on a whim.
- Ideal for short trips: City breaks or trips lasting a few days are particularly well suited to spontaneous bookings.
- Flexibility is rewarded: Can you postpone your departure by a few days? If so, you’ll often find the best deals.
Disadvantages of booking at the last minute
That said, a last-minute holiday isn’t always the best choice, and there are, of course, some downsides too. Especially if you have very specific requirements, booking early can sometimes be the smarter option.
- Fewer options: Popular hotels or unique accommodation options are often already fully booked.
- Not every destination is getting cheaper: Popular destinations, in particular, can sometimes remain expensive during the high season.
- More uncertainty: Sometimes you don’t find out until quite late exactly where you’ll be staying or how convenient the flight times are.
- More difficult with families or larger groups: The more people you have with you, the harder it becomes to find good deals.
- May cause stress: Not everyone likes waiting for “the right moment”.
Our top 5 best last-minute destinations
A last-minute holiday doesn’t have to mean you just lie by the pool. Because if you choose the right destination, a spontaneous trip can be surprisingly adventurous. Think of road trips past hidden coves in Crete, walking through volcanic landscapes in Lanzarote or hiking above the clouds in Madeira. The great thing about last-minute travel is that you can sometimes just set off on a whim without having to spend weeks planning everything. And to be honest? That can not only save you a lot of time, but sometimes make a real difference to the price too. Here are our 5 favourite last-minute destinations for adventure and spontaneity:
1. Crete: for island-hoppers
Crete in Greece is the sort of destination that’s always a good idea and works really well as a last-minute getaway. There are regular flights, plenty of great-value package deals to be found, and once you’re there, the possibilities are endless. That’s why Crete is the ideal destination for a last-minute trip with a touch more adventure. For example, fly to Heraklion, hire a scooter or a car, and drive on to Chania or Rethymno. Fancy getting active? Then the Samaria Gorge is a real classic that’s well worth a visit. Or simply take the ferry to Santorini! In short: a real adventure.
2. Lanzarote: volcanoes beyond the beach
Another destination that’s well worth a last-minute trip is Lanzarote. This Canary Island is often underestimated. Many people see it as a lazy sun holiday destination where you never leave your sun lounger. But… if you look a little beyond the resorts, you’ll discover just how brilliant this island really is. Instead of spending five days in the touristy Puerto del Carmen, it’s worth venturing out. Discover the amazing Timanfaya National Park with lava fields stretching as far as the eye can see, drive on to La Geria, where vines grow in black volcanic ash, and round off your day in Caleta de Famara to go surfing or watch the surfers.
3. Albania (Sarandë / Riviera): for those who want to visit a place where few Dutch people go
What we consider to be one of the most interesting last-minute destinations at the moment is Albania. This country is still just at the stage where it isn’t overrun with tourists, but is becoming increasingly accessible. You’ll still find plenty of small local restaurants, quiet beaches and villages where life seems to move at a slightly more relaxed pace. It is particularly the combination of mountains, clear blue water and the laid-back atmosphere that makes this destination so special. What’s more, from Sarandë you can easily catch the ferry to Corfu, allowing you to combine several destinations in a single trip.
4. Cyprus: history and beaches
And what about Cyprus? Cyprus is one of those destinations that’s often overlooked. That’s a shame, because the island is incredibly diverse and compact enough to explore in just a few days. The big advantage is that it’s easy to get around by car here. You’ll pass beautiful beaches, quiet villages and mountains with lovely walking routes. The Akamas Peninsula here is perfect if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, as are the Troodos Mountains, where you’ll find small villages and lovely walking routes. Also good to know: the food in Cyprus is delicious! That automatically makes any trip better.
5. Madeira: for the walkers amongst us
Madeira isn’t a typical last-minute beach destination like Lanzarote or Crete. And that’s exactly why we’ve included it on this list. Madeira is, in fact, the perfect place for outdoor activities: from walking to cycling, and from exploring to spending the whole day outdoors. The levadas, the ancient irrigation channels, form a network of walking routes across the whole island. Some run along steep cliffs, whilst others take you past waterfalls and fields of flowers. Fancy a Hiking in Madeira? Then be sure to check out the hike to Pico do Arieiro, where you’ll be walking above the clouds if the weather’s on your side. Funchal on Madeira is often the destination: you can often find some great last-minute deals for trips there.
Read also: 7x The best sights on Paros, Greece (with map).
Read also: Island hopping through the Cyclades, Greece. A 3-week round trip.
How we decide for ourselves whether to go for a package deal or organise things ourselves
We’re often asked: when should you opt for a package holiday and when should you organise everything yourself? For us, it’s actually quite simple: if we find ourselves spending more than a few hours searching for the right combination of flight, accommodation and transport, a sort of internal alarm goes off. This is certainly the case for shorter trips. In those situations, there’s a very good chance that a package holiday is simply more efficient: both in terms of the time you spend organising everything and in terms of cost.
Many people think that in such cases they have to compromise on adventure, but fortunately that’s certainly not the case. After all, with a package holiday, you’re only booking the basics: your flight and your accommodation. You can simply organise everything else yourself, such as day trips and sightseeing. If you’re keen to act quickly, it’s definitely worth checking the latest last-minute deals to see which destination has an adventure in store for you. Do you have any questions about our top 5 best last-minute destinations? Feel free to send us a message via Instagram!
This blog post about the best last-minute destinations was written in collaboration with a partner. Thanks to collaborations like this, we can continue to travel and share free travel tips on Thousandtravelmiles.
