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It is undeniable that in pre-pandemic times, finding a last minute the travel deal was an all-too-familiar story among travelers – with many discount flights, hotel bookings and even all-inclusive stays to have been to win at unbelievably good prices.
However, fast forward to this current moment and the situation couldn’t be more different – with last minute travel deals seem to be a thing of the past – well at least for now anyway.
And, there are many factors as to why this is the case – with the increased cost of airline tickets and hotel rooms – as well as the fact that the travel demand is increasing per day.
Even the managing director of one of the world’s leading tourist groups, Tui, has had his say on the matter – with Friedrich Joussen claiming that “there will be hardly any last-minute cheap offers this summer”, in a recent interview with the BBC.
So why shouldn’t travelers wait for a last-minute trip this summer?
Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why waiting to find a great travel deal might not be the best idea right now.
Hotel occupancy is nearing full capacity
With more and more people seeking to travel both internationally and domestically – following border closures and lockdowns throughout the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years – the demand for reservation of hotel rooms worldwide has reached an all-time high.
Just last month, we reported that hotels in Mexico’s famous tourist destination, Cancun – which was recently ranked as the most popular destination for American travelers – were already on the verge of being sold out for summer months.
In fact, up to 90% of hotel rooms – in the city, which borders the Caribbean Sea – have already been booked through the end of July, which could see Cancun become even more popular than it is. was in the pre-pandemic era of 2019. .
The cost of hotel rooms is rising
However, increased demand for hotel rooms has also led to higher prices – it was recently revealed that for the first time ever, hotel rooms in Mexico have a higher average price than hotel rooms. hotel in the United States. states.
For example, in the latter stages of last year (2021) – when the majority of countries around the world were closed for tourism purposes – Mexico saw the average price of a 4-star hotel in its popular tourist destinations announced at a price of 280 USD per night.
An amount that clearly underlines why it can be difficult for travelers to find this cheap hotel deal – with demand almost about to outweigh supply.
And it’s not just Cancun that’s seeing an influx of tourists – with other popular destinations for travelers – like Las Vegas – also seeing the return of large numbers of tourists.
It has been said that up to 80% of hotel rooms in Vegas are currently occupied by visitors – all of whom want to experience adventure again, in what is commonly known as “Sin City”.
Airline ticket prices continue to rise
Another factor as to why you’re very unlikely to find the last-minute travel deal – which you may have already been able to grab – is that the price of airfares is on the rise.
A few days ago, we reported that the price of airfares had reached an “all-time monthly high” – with prices rising significantly between March and April.
We’re not just talking about an increase in the price of international airfare either – US travelers are seeing the average cost of a domestic round-trip flight peak at US$358.
If that wasn’t enough, the average cost of a round-trip international airfare jumped to US$865.
And, sadly, it looks like airfare won’t be getting cheaper anytime soon – with travelers having to brace themselves for a summer of sky-high prices for flights and hotel rooms.
Just yesterday, the CEO of Europe’s biggest low-cost airline, Ryanair, Michael O’Leary suggested that the price of a plane ticket could indeed increase by a “high percentage single digit” – which is likely to happen due to the large number of holidaymakers booking flights.
There are still budget travel destinations on offer
While it may be an almost impossible task right now to find those last-minute deals – which were more widely available in the pre-pandemic era – it’s still possible to visit places that are budget-friendly and hopefully the, will not touch you. wallet too hard.
Just yesterday, we featured 7 budget beach destinations – which not only offer great value for money – but also offer travelers the chance to experience beautiful scenery, culture, food and more. .
And, while you’re likely to have to pay more for the cost of transport when heading to and from your desired travel destination – as well as for your accommodation – there are still opportunities for travelers to save money. money by opting for more economic activities.
For example, for American travelers heading to the popular Mexican tourist destinations of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, there are plenty of things to do on a budget – that probably won’t break the bank.
The same goes for American travelers heading to other destinations – whether domestically to Florida or to international cities like Vancouver or London – with the ability to find entertainment without having to spend big sums of money.
In conclusion
Of course, as travelers, we’re always looking to find the best possible deals when it comes to booking transportation and accommodation, especially when we can save a lot of money in the process.
However, while it’s likely we’ll struggle to find the vast amount of last-minute deals we’ve become all too familiar with in the past, there are still ways travelers can find bargain deals. reasonable – and also to offset their transportation. and accommodation costs when planning their trip.
For example, there are still some great value flights to catch, including for American travelers looking to get to the island paradise of Jamaica, for example.
There are also a number of ways travelers can look to buy cheap flights – along with tips for planning their trip – so they can stick to their budget.
Read more:
Travel insurance that covers Covid-19 for 2022
Flight prices face biggest monthly rise: Here’s how to keep travel affordable
These are the 5 most affordable US airports for domestic flights
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