Summer is almost here with Memorial Day weekend just in sight! Don’t worry about that last minute Memorial Day travel booking blowing your budget. There are several ways you can book travel without making a dent in your wallet.
Follow The Deals
If you are flexible with your last minute Memorial Day travel plans, you will be able to spot the deals more easily. A late booking doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have any options. There are usually a number of choices left.
“I know people want what they want, but with last minute bookings, being open to options gives you more opportunity,” said Sean Murphy, editor-in-chief of Jetsetter.com. “But once you commit, don’t look back.”
Check out hotel rates in cities like Seattle; Savannah, Georgia; Portland, Oregon; Key West, Florida; and even Miami where price may be more than 10 percent cheaper than they were a year ago. If you are able to find a good last minute Memorial Day travel deal, make sure to use any frequent flyer miles or travel reward points you’ve racked up to maximize your benefits. Some credit cards that offer travel rewards will often offer bonus travel points to new customer signing up. Just don’t forget to read the fine print.
Get Social
You now have a great excuse to stay on top of social media. Many airlines, hotels, and travel sites post deals via social media for holiday weekends. Now is the time to search for Memorial Day travel deals. “With airfares, there are just fewer and fewer sales, but often airlines will post last-minute sales on Twitter,” Frommer said. Murphy agreed, but said you have to “act fast, [the deals] disappear quick as they come.”
Some of my personal favorite travel sites are Travelocity and CheaptTickets because they usually have package deals on both flights and accommodation. However, there are also some travel sites that specialize in last minute travel deals for cheaper than most people might assume. Lastminute.com, Airfarewatchdog, and Booking.com will help you search airlines to check availability and costs for this Memorial Day.
Off The beaten path
Visiting a national park may not be your first choice when planning for Memorial Day, but it’s been said by travel experts that national parks provide some of the greatest vacation value in the U.S. Fortunately, as a last minute traveler, you have a great chance of finding a spot because national parks hold open 20 percent of their campground space for day-of reservations. There are many things you can do at a national park such as hiking, fishing, rafting, kayaking, swimming, and camping. Make sure to research your destination so that you take full advantage of all the activities available to you.
Head Out On The Highway
Gas will likely be cheaper this summer than last year, in response to oil prices coming off six-year lows. If you can’t catch a last minute airline deal, take a ride to your destination. One suggestion by Frommer is to drive somewhere and book your hotel the morning of your arrival. This will help you get the best deals for the holiday weekend. If your travel plans are on the more spontaneous side, check out HotelTonight or Booking.com, which can help you find the availability and prices for Memorial Day travel deals.
If you are on a student budget, there are always alternative accommodation options such as those found on Couchsurfing. If you are willing to stay for free as a guest in someone’s home, you might find that the best way to travel to another place is to stay with a local who can serve as your tour guide. It goes without saying that you should always take precautions when staying with someone you have just met. However, based on my past experience, these have been some of the most memorable and pleasant stays I’ve had while traveling.
If staying with a local isn’t your thing, there are always bed and breakfasts where you might find some worthwhile last minute Memorial Day travel deals. Check out Airbnb to see where you could be spending this holiday weekend.
Last Minute Memorial Day Travel Deals
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