Last-minute summer vacation: where you can still soak up the sun at a reasonable price

Created: 08/11/2022 14:26

By: Franziska Kaindl

If you book last minute, you could find happiness in Malta.

© Imago

A spontaneous summer holiday can sometimes be quite expensive - but it doesn't have to be.

You can still find cheap offers at some travel destinations.

Anyone who wants to go on vacation will have to pay an average of around 20 percent more this year than in the pre-Corona year 2019. The consequences of the pandemic are responsible for this, but inflation is also making itself felt in popular holiday countries.

Travelers were therefore well advised to book their summer vacation early.

Nevertheless, those who decide spontaneously do not have to be put off by this.

The important thing is: look away from the big tourist magnets and be flexible in terms of time.

Sought-after summer travel destinations: This is where things get tight for last-minute vacationers

Spain, Greece and Turkey are the most popular travel destinations for summer holidays in 2022. Nothing has changed since the pre-corona year 2019.

However, there is a clear trend towards the Greek islands.

Crete and Rhodes in particular are enjoying increasing popularity, as a data analysis by the online travel portal weg.de shows.

The booking share of both destinations rose by 37 percent compared to 2019. Last-minute bookers in particular are increasingly looking for the most popular destinations and, due to the high demand this summer, they do not always find a suitable offer.

The most popular destinations this summer – just like last year – are Crete and Mallorca.

Many accommodations are already fully booked, and around a third fewer trips are available to Crete in August than in October.

There are 20 percent fewer offers available on Mallorca than in autumn.

Last-minute travelers must therefore reckon with cutbacks at these travel destinations.

4-star hotels in particular are popular for summer holidays, which is why the offer here is scarce.

According to weg.de, the demand for 3-star hotels is already increasing.

Where else can you find cheap offers for summer holidays in August?

Even if things are getting tight at popular holiday destinations, last-minute travelers need not despair.

There are many great alternatives that are at least as beautiful.

According to weg.de, you can still book relatively cheaply to the following travel destinations:

• Malta (e.g. a week including flight and 4-star hotel, all-inclusive from 589 euros)

• Bulgaria (for example a week including flight and 4-star hotel, all-inclusive from 549 euros)

• Cyprus (for example a week including flight and 4-star hotel, all-inclusive from 739 euros)

• Maldives (e.g. one week including flight and 4-star hotel, all-inclusive from 1,899 euros)

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Summer vacation: tips for last-minute bookings

Even with a "last minute" booking, it's a good idea to be early.

Because: According to weg.de, early in the morning there are better prices because flight systems are usually loaded around one o'clock in the morning.

Flights that were only released overnight are then visible to travel fans for the first time.

It is also advantageous to choose a flight that departs in the early hours of the morning – these are usually cheaper too.

However, if you are flexible in terms of time and do not necessarily need a holiday during the summer holidays, you should look for offers in early autumn.

On Cyprus, the Canary Islands or on some Greek islands it is still pleasantly warm there.