Planning a trip last minute isn’t always the best way to go. Find out why!
Let’s talk about it: Disney World reopened during the pandemic, but reservations were made mandatory. And due to a Nevada state law, dining at a restaurant in Sin City now requires reservations. No walk-ins are allowed.
But this isn’t just a phenomenon at places where there are ALWAYS huge crowds of people. Even some major vacation destinations have pivoted to reservations-only models.
For instance, Signal Mountain and Lizard Creek campgrounds inside Grand Teton National Park have required reservations ever since COVID-19 hit.
So planning a trip last minute doesn’t always work, even if you want it to. But other than this, continue reading about the 7 biggest drawbacks of booking your travels at the last second possible!
Planning a trip last minute might not be worth it due to possible extra expenses
Unexpected expenses and last-minute changes in plans can be a nightmare. Being organized lets you keep track of your money so that if anything goes wrong, you know exactly what extra costs will come up and how much they’ll cost, like going to museums.
Even though not every expense will pop up at the last minute, many do, such as food or cabs! By planning ahead, you’ll have more than enough time to put some money aside for any unplanned expenses.
This way, you can ensure that getting around or having a meal won’t put a huge dent in your wallet. When planning a trip last minute you won’t have the same control and it might limit you.
Planning a trip last minute might not be worth it because your trip won’t be as personalized.
Spontaneity is fun at times. But it’s even better when planned! In most cases, you know exactly what thrills you about an upcoming trip. Why not play into that excitement and go all out? If certain attractions or activities interest you most, plan your trip around them.
With all you know about what you love, you can create a customized itinerary for an even better adventure! Also, if you plan ahead, you can book reservations for all of those things rather than hoping they’ll have room. When planning a trip last minute, you might miss out on some really fun adventures.
Planning a trip last minute might not be worth it because you can’t rely on online reviews alone
If you’re not organized, it’s hard to know if that guesthouse you’ve heard has terrific reviews and is worth your time or if you should just avoid it.
By planning, you can get a better idea of what the cost-benefit relationship between specific travel destinations will be like… and you can decide if they even fit into what your plans are.
When people prepare for their travels, anything that might not appeal to them becomes more apparent. So there won’t be any confusion or second-guessing. By planning, everyone can see how different attractions fit into their schedules based on convenience and location.
If something is too far out of the way for your liking, it might not be a critical stop! Being organized with your travel plans is one of the biggest secrets to ensuring that your journey goes as smooth as possible, and now you know precisely why.
Planning a trip at the last minute might not be worth it due to time efficiency
The more organized you are, the more time you’ll have to enjoy your travels. What could be better than that, right? If you plan out your itinerary in advance, you can prioritize certain parts of your trip over others depending on the available times.
Planning things out also helps eliminate any risk of wasting time walking around aimlessly trying to find something or getting lost.
Think about all that extra free time you’ll have on an unplanned adventure! With some good old-fashioned planning ahead of time, you can travel just a little bit smarter and it’ll be more manageable. You don’t get that when planning a trip last minute.
Planning a trip last minute might not be worth it because of any last-minute rate changes
One of people’s biggest oversights when traveling is not planning because they think it’s easier.
But don’t forget that planning will never leave you without options, which is why, by doing things right away, you can remove this mistake from your list, and you can forget about it! While certain things might change at the last minute, others won’t.
If something does come up, though, you can make a quick decision based on the new information rather than being forced into something else you don’t like. That’s how you can avoid any last-minute changes in rates and have more solid plans in place!
Planning a trip last minute might not be worth it because flight options might be limited (or expensive)
Even though we saw flight prices drop during the pandemic, in recent years, we’ve begun to see prices creep higher and higher, especially around holidays like Labor Day or the Fourth of July. Those dates also drew record numbers of travelers.
Obviously, we can expect the same trend to continue. But not only has there been an uptick in demand, but there are fewer seats offered as well. Many airlines reduced their schedules earlier in the pandemic.
And although things have gotten better, and some have added more holiday flights, United Airlines operated 1,400 more over Thanksgiving weekend, and there was less inventory than in years past. So planning a trip last minute might leave you without a flight.
The bottom line is that it has become increasingly more competitive to grab the route, time, and number of stops you want, which prices will reflect.
Some travelers have even reported getting notifications on their phones about additional stops being added to holiday flights they have already booked. Others are being hit with cancellations or last-minute time changes.
Travel agencies say we should take advantage of flexible cancellation policies right now and book as soon as we see a good deal, considering we can cancel later.
If, for any reason, you must wait, though, the best window for finding holiday flight deals is broad, from four months up to three weeks before travel dates, with prices likely to leap at the very last minute.
We also highly recommend being flexible with your travel dates: For instance, if you can avoid peak days, like December 21, 22, or 29, you’ll likely save hundreds of dollars and hours of your precious time.
Planning a trip last minute might not be worth it because you might jeopardize your security
We get that planning a trip last minute might be tempting. But being organized is one of the best ways to ensure travel safety. By planning your trips, you’ll have more time to research potential risks and obstacles and avoid them from happening altogether.
You also won’t be trying to find information on last-minute travel conditions. Even though, at times, it might not be bad at all, at other times, there could be political problems or dangerous storms creeping up that might put a damper on things.
Getting caught off guard is never a good thing if something were to go south, but planning everything ensures that you’ll be prepared for whatever comes your way.
The bottom line here is that people should try to plan their trips in advance because it will save them more money. This Clever Fox Travel Journal from Amazon can be a fantastic tool to help keep you organized!
And the best part is that it’ll make their travels more secure, efficient, personalized, and responsible! Anything less than planning ahead might just be a huge mistake… So, don’t let this happen to you!
