It’s Not Too Late To Sneak In A Last Minute Vacation This Year

Summer may be almost up, but what’s stopping you from going away in September? It may be traditionally out-of-season, but almost all tourist destinations are open for business. The weather is usually still hot and there are less screaming kids about because they’ve all gone back to school. On top of these reasons to go away in September is the fact that it may be cheaper.
That said, even at a lower rate, a few weeks isn’t long to save up holiday funds. And once it gets to October you are taking a risk with the weather. But don’t worry, you can still get creative and score yourself that last minute vacation break you deserve. Here are a few tips to fund your trip.

Who wants a road trip to Colorado?

Have a long weekend away
A full week may be pushing the boat out a little bit. A long weekend away (say, Friday to Monday?) ould still give you that time away that you need whilst costing very little. You won’t have to book as much time off work either, which could be handy for those that have already booked a lot of holiday this year.

Take advantage of last minute deals – but be wary
Booking a couple days before can get you amazing deals. This is largely because few people are able to simply pac up and go without giving their work a few weeks’ notice and taking care of other responsibilities. The trick is to book off some time a few weeks ahead and let your destination be a surprise until a few days beforehand.

Look specifically for all inclusive last minute deals. Some packages may seem as if they include a lot on the surface but upon closer inspection you may realise certain things are missing such as transfers or baggage costs. A holiday company may then try to sell these to you on top, which could bring the price up – making it less of a deal. Don’t let holiday brokers talk you into buying these extras without adding up the total cost and then comparing that to other holiday deals.

Try a staycation
You don’t have to jet off abroad for a vacation. You may not even need to jump state. You may be able to drive away to a destination nearby for a couple days. This will cut out the expense of flights and transfers/hire car costs. Of course, you may be hedging your bets with the weather, so consider this risk.

Visit non-traditional holiday locations
There are places around the world that you wouldn’t automatically think of for a vacation, but could in fact be the perfect sunny getaway – and very cheap. When looking afar to Asia, forget Bali and big Thai hotspots and think places like Cambodia and Vietnam instead. Swap out the usual Caribbean destination for Latin American countries such as Guatemala, Honduras and Ecuador. Forgo the European classics such as France, Spain and Italy for more off the beaten track Eastern European countries like Romania, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. All of these countries still have traditional tourist hotspots if you’re not looking for wild travelling, so you can still relax.

Break up flights
Quite often, having a stop-gap can save you money on flights. Most people avoid breaking up the flight due to the added stress on the journey. However, when you consider the fact that it could save you hundreds, it can be worth it. Be wary of stop gaps that are too short, sometimes longer is better in case the first flight is delayed. You may even be able to stay overnight and fit in a new destination en route.

Go camping
For those that aren’t averse to staying in a tent, camping is the easiest way to save money on accommodation. In a hot country, it doesn’t have to be the rainy ordeal you may commonly associate it with. There are also glamping sites in which the tent is already set up for you. These tents may even have proper beds, heating and electrical sockets for charging up your gear, whilst still costing very little compared to a hotel.

Consider a loan
There’s no shame in taking out a loan in order to pay for a holiday. If you see a great holiday deal but aren’t able to pay for it straight away, why not look into payday loans that could allow you to pay there and then. This could prevent the risk of such a deal disappearing a couple weeks down the line. Most emergency loans will have interest, but you could still make up the costs by being able to secure a cheap deal early rather than paying extra later.

Sell your clutter
On the topic of making money in order to pay for a last minute holiday, why not sell a few items you no longer need. This is an easy and immediate way of gaining some extra funds that could allow you to jet off somewhere hot. Buy and sell Facebook pages and sites like Gumtree are a great way to sell locally online without having to pay added postage charges. There may also be flea markets and auctions in your area that you can sell your stuff at.

Make money from odd jobs online
If your current job isn’t paying enough to make up the necessary funds in a few weeks, why not try doing a few odd jobs on the side to pay for that last minute vacation. The likes of Fiverr allow you to get paid for offering skills to people online. This could be providing a digital skill such as photoshopping an image for someone or building a website. Alternatively, you may be able to make money writing blog pieces. Other odd jobs that don’t require any specific skillset include filling in surveys and donating hair, but don’t expect to earn too much from these.