With the start of Ramadan, summer has well and truly launched into full flow here and as I busily plan my next trips (Canada, Peru and Ecuador – watch this space!) I’ve been shocked to see how quickly prices are rising. Ideally, I would have preferred to have the holidays already sorted by now, but it is what it is, and I thought I’d share my tips on how to still try and bag a bargain even if you’ve left it till the last minute (I fly out to Canada two weeks today – oops!) 

If you don’t mind where you go then there’s still plenty of time to find a deal as you can take advantage of sites such as lastminute.com.There are plenty of other holiday websites that will offer cheap deals if you’re booking at short notice too, so once you’ve found them, check them on a daily basis to see if anything takes your fancy.

For me however, I am a bridesmaid at a wedding in Canada so the destination is not negotiable, as is the case with many people who already have an idea of where they want to go. Once you know and you’ve found flights (personally I prefer using SkyScanner to find them) you need to make sure you’re prepared in terms of passports/visas etc, I prepared a checklist in a previous post here. Don’t forget to check the prices of flying into other airports too, you never know if the price will be seriously reduced by traveling an extra thirty minutes to another airport. Also check websites like Groupon to see if there  are any hotels or travel packages offering discounts for where you want to go, and I use Booking.com to find the best deals on accommodation.

If you’re looking at going somewhere a bit more remote, deals don’t usually come around all that often. In this case, it’s worth looking at group packages that tour around the location. Not only does this save money, but it’ll ensure that you’re kept safe while you’re traveling, and that you get to see it all – we’ve had to do this for our trip to the Galapagos Islands that we are planning. In remote places like jungles and deserts, lots of safety measures are required, click here to find out more details about some of these you might need. 

Of course, you can never be sure that you’ll get a great deal at this late stage. I’m sure I’m paying over the odds for the hotels because I’ve left it so late (and because it’s Canada Day weekend and peak summer season) but I am already trying to get organised for the next trip now to stop the same thing happening next time! Generally, the earlier you book, the better the chance of reducing the cost – I loved this infographic explaining the best times to book depending on destination.

Don’t leave it as late as I did! I’m just finalising details now, so check out the next post for details of the planned road trip around East Coast Canada solo!