25 Best Tips To Plan A Last Minute Getaway

It’s not difficult to plan a last-minute getaway when you have the right essentials and a how-to guide.

Here are 25 best tips on how to plan a last-minute getaway for you and the family.

I’m sharing ways to save money on last-minute travel ideas, plus travel planning tips on where to go and how rewards can help you save and plan a last-minute trip! 

25 Best Tips To Plan A Last Minute Getaway

It’s August, y’all! Where did summer go? It seems I was counting down the days when the boys would be out of school, and now we’re getting ready for the back-to-school craze. 

But wait, before all of THAT happens, we still have a few weeks left of summer.

And just maybe, there’s time to sneak in a few last-minute trips.

Before kids, Derrick and I took a lot of last-minute getaways. It was easy to pick a destination and go.

A last-minute trip is usually spontaneous, sometimes planned on the eve of the vacation.

However, when you have a family and pets, you must juggle a few things. 

But guess what? It’s still possible to plan a last-minute getaway with kids!

I’m going to show you how we plan last-minute vacations.

Here are a few ideas for planning a last-minute getaway and staying on budget! 

1. Visit family + friends. If you have family or friends in a nearby city or a quick plane ride away, plan a visit to see them (make sure they are available). This will save money on hotels, food, and entertainment. 
2. Go camping. Head to your state or national parks for a night or two. (You can also have a camping experience right in your backyard). 
3. Have a staycation. When was the last time you took the time to explore your city? This was on our bucket list this summer. We live in a beautiful state (Michigan), so exploring our state parks, beaches, and sand dunes was great this summer. Plus, we were able to spend time exploring family-friendly things to do. Go to your local city’s website to find activities and explore your city/state like a tourist. 
4. If traveling solo or with a partner, save money by staying at a hostel or couch surfing. 
5. If you plan on flying and it’s last minute, you may get lucky. Set up flight alerts as soon as possible; I like to use google.com/flights (Airfare Watchdog is another good one). We’ve picked last-minute destinations by finding the cheapest place to fly to from our airport hub. Tip: book your flight on a Tuesday or Wednesday for the best deals. See: TOP Need To Know Tips On Scoring the BEST Airfare Deals
6. Watch for 24-hour deals on flights. Many times if a flight has a lot of seats left within a 24-hour window, they will release a new batch of low prices. You can also take the risk of going to the airport and booking a last-minute deal. Another option is to fly standby to score a low airfare price. 
7. Check out daily deal sites for hotels to find low and reasonable hotel deals. You can also call the hotel when you arrive and ask about the manager’s special and walk-up rates. Hotels want to fill every room (just like the airlines). If they have rooms available, they will lower the price to fill them. Don’t be afraid to ask!
8. Every city has something free to do. Check out the destination’s website for free events and activities. 

Tips on planning a last-minute getaway:

1. Seriously, don’t spend a lot of time agonizing over where to go. Last-minute getaways should not break the bank or stress you out. Pick a destination and go. If you’re unsure where to go, pick your top five spots, write them each on a piece of paper, stick them in a jar, shake it up, and pull one out.
2. If you have the flexibility, the best last-minute travel deals will be in your favor. 
3. There are a ton of great travel apps to use to help you plan your trip. BEST Free Travel Apps + Best Apps To Use When You Travel.
4. Research the destination on your way. Look for things to do in the area while on the plane, train, or automobile. Be sure to check out Instagram. The locals and other travel lovers have already posted things to do in that destination (use the location’s hashtags to find something to do/best places to eat). 
5. Social media is a GREAT way to find excellent last-minute getaways. I’ve seen some awesome vacation ideas by browsing various social media platforms. 
6. Always keep a compartment bag full of travel-size essentials nearby. 
7. Pack light. 

Use Rewards 

Another way to save money is through rewards.

Many credit + debit cards have a point system attached to them.

If you’ve been racking up points for a while, use them to help pay for your last-minute trip! 

Here’s another way the Fuel Rewards® program is fantastic: 

Send your referral link to friends and family so they can join the Fuel Rewards program. Then, the first time a friend uses the program by earning a reward or using their card at a participating Shell station, you will instantly earn 25¢/gal. There’s no limit to how many friends you invite or how many times you earn!

Also, with the Fuel Rewards* program, we can rack up rewards through participating vendors with our stay at hotels, eating at restaurants, shopping, and other activities.

Plus, we’re taking advantage of Gold Status and the 5 cents off per gallon, which will stack with other rewards. Talk about winning!

Sign up for the Fuel Rewards® program here and start saving with Instant Gold Status! It’s free and takes less than a minute to do! 

Last-Minute Road Trips:

If you are planning a last-minute road trip, here are a few things to remember. 

1. Make sure your car is road trip ready. Check the tires, get an oil change, and stock the car with road trip essentials. 
2. I’m grateful to own a KIA Sorento, which gets fantastic gas mileage (and this also saves money, too!). 
3. Sign up for the FREE Fuel Rewards program.
4. While traveling, you will be earning rewards at participating gas stations, saving on gas, earning rewards inside Shell gas stations on select snacks, and (participating) in dining and hotel locations. 
5. Map out your road trip. If you have small kids, you know there will be several bathroom stops. 
6. I also map out coffee locations. Just sayin’…
7. Pack the car the night before. 
8. Pick a destination within a few hours from your home (departing location). With a last-minute getaway, you do not want to spend many hours on the road. 

Whew! Hopefully, this has helped you nail down everything you need before planning a fabulous last-minute getaway for you and the family (or if you’re traveling with a partner or solo). 

Last-minute travel plans shouldn’t be stressful.

It does require a little planning, but the thrill of taking risks and winging it is part of the adventure!

What last-minute vacation are you planning this summer or fall? Drop me a line below. 

Need a few last-minute getaway ideas? Check out these tried and true getaway ideas:

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Things For Families To Do In Grapevine TX

Town of Wooster {foodie tour}

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Midwest Travel Destinations

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Things To Do In Chicago

Reasons To Love Lake Erie Shores & Island

New Buffalo, Michigan Attractions

Couples Getaway To Northern California

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Shell. The opinions and text are all mine.

This post was created on 8/2017 | Update 8/2023