How do you plan a last-minute trip?
You'd like to go away this summer, but haven't planned your trip yet? Don't panic, good opportunities are still available, and you might even find some fun in them. Indeed, last-minute travel can be exciting and offer a spontaneous escape if you're looking to get away from your daily routine. Whether it's a sudden urge for adventure or an opportunity you didn't expect, organizing a last-minute trip can seem complex and overwhelming. But with quick and practical organization, it's entirely possible to enjoy a memorable travel experience.
Analyze your time constraints
First of all, take the time to carefully assess your time constraints. Since you're planning to leave in a very short space of time, it's essential to be flexible about your departure and return dates. Prices for airfares, hotel rooms and other services can vary considerably depending on the day of the week and the season. By being open to different date options, you increase your chances of finding advantageous offers.
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Setting a budget
When you decide to travel at the last minute, you don't necessarily have a very large budget. The best thing to do is to make a clear and rapid calculation of your available budget for this trip.
To optimize your spending, don't hesitate to look for special offers through travel agencies or specialized websites, which offer last-minute trips that are often very advantageous financially. In addition, airlines, hotels and car rental companies sometimes offer loyalty programs, enabling you to leave at the last minute at a lower cost.
On the other hand, your projected budget must also take into account your choice of destination and the means of transport you'll use to get there, as well as your accommodation and the activities you'll be doing; all the while making sure you keep a margin for unforeseen expenses.
Choose an easily accessible destination
Let's face it: it's hard to plan a trip to the other side of the world just a few days in advance. But that doesn't mean you can't plan an equally stimulating stay close to home. Opt instead for a city or region close to home; it can be a good opportunity to rediscover your country from another angle. If you're looking for additional savings, you might also consider less touristy destinations where rates can be lower due to lower demand. And if you're keen to go abroad, neighbouring countries or popular European cities such as Berlin or Rome can be a good low-cost alternative.
Once you've chosen your destination, take a look at the most time- and cost-efficient transport options that are easily accessible from home: direct flights and trains to avoid wasting time with multiple connections, car journeys (or even car-sharing), etc.
Plan your accommodation and activities in advance
Anticipating your accommodation and activities during your trip, rather than booking once you're there, can save you a lot of money.
To book accommodation and activities quickly and cheaply, check out travel apps and blogs. This will give you concrete feedback and enable you to find good deals that may not be as popular and well-known, especially if you're flexible in your search criteria. You'll also be able to take advantage of time constraints with several connections, car journeys (or even carpooling), etc.
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Check the validity of your travel documents
Last but not least, when you only have a short time to plan your vacation, it's possible to miss out on steps that are essential to the smooth running of your stay, and checking the validity of your travel documents can be one of them.
To avoid last-minute oversights and unpleasant surprises at border controls (and even while staying in Switzerland), don't forget to ensure that your identity card or passport is still valid when you travel. If you're planning to travel abroad, make sure you also have all the documents you need to enter the country, such as a travel insurance certificate or visa, for example. If you need one, check the processing times and, if necessary, the options for obtaining it quickly.
