12 Tips for Getting a Great Deal on That Last-Minute Winter Vacation

Have a destination wish list prepared when looking for end-of-winter getaway deals. Putting all of your hopes into a single spot could ultimately lead to you paying a pretty penny. If you’ve already got your heart set on a particular place, check out cheaper cities that are nearby, so you can take day trips into the town of your dreams while cutting back on lodging costs.

Once you’ve decided on where you want to go, be sure to stay in the know about price fluctuations. Flight-tracking apps like Hopper and Skyscanner allow you to set alerts for price changes after you’ve compared multiple airline fares. If you have flexible travel dates, set more than one alert, so that you know when prices lower to their best rates for all options.

Dedicated to finding ultra low fares and airline flight price errors, sites such as GTFO Flights and Scott’s Cheap Flights are excellent resources for getting last-minute deals. These kinds of free services usually just require you to sign up for a newsletter and wait for the deals to start rolling in, making it easy-peasy for you to plan the rest.

Airlines and travel sites frequently send out promotions and deals via emailed newsletters, but many people trash these gems before realizing their value. Search through your current emails, especially the trash folder, to see if you’ve missed any discounts that may come in handy. In the meantime, sign up directly with airlines, hotels, and sites like Airfarewatchdog — you’ll be sure to have plenty of deals en route to your inbox soon!

Escape on a last-minute cruise and save a ton before the winter is over. Cruise lines tend to lower rates on upcoming itineraries as the departure date nears. The closer you’re able to wait to book, the better chances you have on finding a great deal. That said, have a few cruises in mind in case of sold-out dates.

Breaking up a round-trip flight into one-way trips could be a huge money saver. With one-way flights, you’ll be able to combine deals from different airlines, or even multiple travel sites, whereas round-trips take that freedom away and commit you to the cost of a single agency or airline. Look at apps such as Skiplagged, which let you book one-ways through hidden-city loopholes at a deep discount.

In some cases, travel sites have specials on bundled bookings. Depending on your destination and flexibility, you might be able to snag a combo deal on airfare, lodging, and transportation. If the complete vacation package is still too high, play around with partial package combinations while booking other arrangements separately.

Being open to changing accommodations within your wintry vacation allows you to take advantage of cheap lodging that may only be available for part of your trip. When looking for lodging, try breaking up your search into one- to three-night stays, potentially revealing rooms available at a lower rate than what would have turned up otherwise. Also consider mixing different kinds of accommodations, such as staying at a hotel and a hostel.

If you use credit cards that offer rewards points, now is the time to cash them in. Even if you don’t have enough to cover all of the expenses, you can purchase supplemental points directly from issuing companies, such as American Express Travel. Check to see if your points are transferable. That way, you’ll be able to cash them in with certain airlines and hotels.

Though it seems counterintuitive to spend money to save money, memberships like Last-Minute Travel take the worry of finding the best deals off your mind. Sites like these, and good ol’ travel agents, have access to better last-minute deals than a non-industry insider, saving you much more than what you’ll spend.

Not only do travel sites like Priceline offer specials on surprise accommodations, but apps like Google Flights make it even more tempting to take a risk by letting you discover destinations by price. Remaining open to where you may go has the potential to land you major deals this winter.

Booking group tours and using sharing services like Turo, an app that allows you to rent cars directly from their owners (like the Airbnb of car services), will make a big difference in your budget. Since groups of 10 or more people receive discounts through many airlines and tour companies, ask friends and family about joining you on a vacation, or team up with another group at your destination to share savings and enjoy the last hoorah of winter together.