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With spring in the air and summer on the horizon, many will start looking for last-minute trips abroad at affordable prices.
But planning a short-term vacation is often easier said than done, whether it's a spontaneous getaway as a couple or a last-minute stay with friends or family. The excitement of searching for a destination can quickly dissipate once the task of scouring the websites of travel agents, airlines and tour operators begins. Comparing flights and accommodation costs on different days for different destinations can really seem like hard work, the antithesis of the fun vacation you're hoping to book.
The good news is that whether you want to cross the English Channel to see the Eiffel Tower or travel long-distance to the beaches of Cancun, there are hundreds of options online to help you find the best booking deals transport, accommodation. and other extras.
Instead of spending hours on dozens of different websites, check out this list we compiled of the best in the travel market. You'll also save time on research and money on vacations – what's not to love?
Your next trip to paradise could be just a few clicks away
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Holiday Pirates
This travel deals site manually searches daily for the best vacation deals, finds a range of deep discounts, and emails them to subscribers. Right now, you can book an eight-night tour of Turkey, staying in four and five-star hotels, for less than £560 per person. Other destinations offering deals range from Amsterdam to destinations as far away as Mexico.
Jack's Flight Club
Join the club – for free – and receive the cheapest UK and Ireland flights by email, including discounts, hidden deals and error fares – think UK United to Brazil for £290. Many are last minute deals, but remember that with prices like this, it's the quickest finger first.
Google Flights
As you would expect from the algorithm masterminds, this site compares and tracks rates to find you the best deal. But it also has features for last-minute travelers, like the ability to search for flights in a number of cities for a specific date – so you can see if it's cheaper to fly to Athens or Oslo this week-end.
Hotel tonight
This convenient website has last-minute deals if you need a place to stay tonight, tomorrow, or within the next seven days. Although some deals – especially in the US – aren't very good, they can offer significant discounts in Europe and the UK while saving you time browsing for the best deals.
Long-haul getaways may be more accessible than you think
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Kayak
In the 'Explore' section of Kayak, you can enter your trip duration, trip duration and dates and the site will give you a range of options to choose from. The easy-to-use map feature is a great way to compare locations and prices for a last-minute trip.
BA Holidays
No, it's not a discount specialist, but BA Holidays – the packages arm of British Airways – can offer big discounts for last-minute trips, matching unsold flight stock with empty hotel rooms. In fact, the deals can be so good that a city break with a hotel included can be cheaper than flights alone, and a week's car rental in Europe can be almost free.
Travel zoo
With over 30 million subscribers worldwide, Travelzoo has a host of deals ranging from overseas trips to activities like spa visits, theater ticket deals and cruises. Registration is required to see full details of the deals, but it seems worth it for four-night trips and return flights to Ibiza for £149 per person.
Secret getaways
You'll find discounts of up to 70% at Secret Escapes, which follows a similar model to Private trip, offering flash sales to registered members. It's a great place to look for high-end discount holidays and the site's customer service has been praised as excellent.
European city breaks can be especially cheap if booked at the right time
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The best of travel
This company's call center in central London means someone is always available to help. This is a 'normal' tour operator, but they have a last minute deals section on their website which can offer good discounts on premium holidays. At the time of writing, deals included seven all-inclusive nights in Crete from £811 per person including flights, departing April 15.
Travel Republic
With around two million customers using the site to book holidays, Travel Republic is bound to have some good deals, and there's plenty to choose from, offering flights, attraction tickets and traditional holiday packages. For its main destinations, such as a week's rental in Corfu, you can find a holiday for as little as £218 per person. The site also offers a lowest price guarantee, should you spot a better deal for the same holiday elsewhere.
Skyscanner
Perhaps the most well-known site on this list, Skyscanner currently claims to have over 100 million monthly users. The site offers you the cheapest, fastest and “best” flight option. Available in over 30 languages and offering a quick comparison of flights, hotels and car rentals, chances are you've used it before and will use it again.
