How to find deals on last minute flights and hotels

It's not too late to plan that last minute summer getaway. Here's how to get great deals on spontaneous trips.

Being organised is totally overrated. If you're the spontaneous type (or maybe prefer leaving everything to the last minute) there are still ways to get great deals on hotels, accommodation and flights for that special getaway.

Before you get started, here are some general tips to help find the best deals:

General tips and tricks

• Always check the hotel or airline's site for a base price, then see if you can find it cheaper on a price comparison site.
• When using comparison sites, check the terms and conditions. What you see might not be what you pay, if booking fees and charges are added on afterwards.
• Join the hotel's loyalty program (if they have one) as you might get discounts on your stay or deals for food or entertainment.
• Pick up the phone. Not to use an app, but to actually call someone from an airline or a hotel. You never know, you might end up with a great deal that no one else can find online. Sites like getaroom.com offer secret, unpublished rates for callers.

Flights

The general rule when it comes to getting a good deal on flights is to book early. As the departure date draws closer, seats often rise in price. But that doesn't mean you're out of luck, as there are some ways to find cheap seats.

Comparison sites like Fare Compare and SkyScanner will let you sort through the lowest fares to your selected destination.

If you have a bit more time to spare before your selected departure date, it is worth checking and following social media accounts from airlines as they often post last minute deals. Alternatively, sign up for price alert emails from several comparison websites, and you'll automatically get an alert to tell you when a flight drops below your specified amount