Last-minute holidays
Holidays from £219 per person
Feel like a spontaneous getaway? There’s nothing stopping you from booking a holiday and jetting off in just a few weeks or even days. You don’t always have to get things sorted months in advance.
The short wait isn’t even the best bit about a last-minute holiday. You can find some incredible late holiday deals and make huge savings as hotels and airlines look to fill rooms and seats. Compare deals now and find cheap last-minute holidays.
Top last-minute holiday destinations
Compare last-minute holiday deals
Use the filters to narrow down by price, star rating, board basis, departure airport and more.
Prices and availability may change, confirm with the provider before booking. Mandatory fees may not be included in all prices.
Spring Hotel Bitácora
- 28 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- All-inclusive
- From Manchester
Prices from
Alexandre Gala
- 28 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Manchester
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THB Tropical Island
- 27 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Self-catering
- From Manchester
Prices from
HOVIMA Suites Costa Adeje
9.3
Excellent
- 28 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Half board
- From Manchester
Prices from
Cheap last-minute holidays under £250pp
Prices and availability may change, confirm with the provider before booking. Mandatory fees may not be included in all prices.
Gazipasa Star Hotel & Apart
9.1
Excellent
- 23 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Gatwick
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THB Tropical Island
- 23 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Leeds/Bradford
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Melissa Garden Apart Hotel
8.9
Excellent
- 24 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Self-catering
- From Luton
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Very last-minute holidays leaving within a week!
THB Tropical Island
- 12 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Self-catering
- From Manchester
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Charmillion Club Aqua Park
- 14 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- All-inclusive
- From Manchester
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Allegro Isora
- 17 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Glasgow
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Gazipasa Star Hotel & Apart
- 18 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Gatwick
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Hotel La Estación
- 12 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Manchester
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Servatur Waikiki
- 17 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Manchester
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Apartamentos Cordial Mogán Valle
- 15 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Birmingham
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Catalonia Oro Negro
- 17 Sept 2026
- 7 nights
- Half board
- From Glasgow
Prices from
Prices and availability may change, confirm with the provider before booking. Mandatory fees may not be included in all prices.
Best spots for a spontaneous sun fix
Last-minute Majorca holidays
Tenerife Last-Minute
Last-minute city breaks, less than 3 hours away!
Park Centraal Amsterdam
- 12 Sept 2026
- 4 nights
- Room only
- From Birmingham
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Best Western Globus Hotel
- 5 Oct 2026
- 4 nights
- Room only
- From Manchester
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Forum Roma
- 5 Oct 2026
- 4 nights
- Room only
- From Manchester
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WestCord Fashion Hotel Amsterdam
- 12 Sept 2026
- 4 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Birmingham
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Pestana Amsterdam Riverside
- 12 Sept 2026
- 4 nights
- Room only
- From Birmingham
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XO Hotels Blue Square
- 12 Sept 2026
- 4 nights
- Room only
- From Birmingham
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Nova Hotel
- 12 Sept 2026
- 4 nights
- Room only
- From Birmingham
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Rome Garden Hotel
- 5 Oct 2026
- 4 nights
- Bed & breakfast
- From Manchester
Prices from
Prices and availability may change, confirm with the provider before booking. Mandatory fees may not be included in all prices.
Why go on holiday last minute?
There’s more than one reason to be tempted by a cheeky last-minute holiday.
Bargains galore
By looking for last-minute deals, you’re basically going to a holiday clearance sale. And who doesn’t love a sale? Five-star hotels for half the price, discounted spa deals or longer stays for a few quid less; there’s every chance you’ll find a bargain getaway as holiday providers try to shift their stock.
The spontaneity
Last-minute holidays are straight-up spontaneous fun. Planning in advance and waiting around is overrated. There’s more excitement in the unexpected. Just grab your stuff and go. One minute you’re sitting at your desk wiggling your mouse, the next you’re sitting on a sun lounger sipping a cocktail.
The upgrade potential
You’ve saved money by booking last minute, so you’ve got more cash to splash when you’re away. Maybe it’s a tenner, maybe it’s hundreds. Either way, there are plenty of ways to put that money to good use on holiday. Some extra duty free? Hire a jet ski? The world is your oyster when you’ve bagged a bargain.
How to bag the best last-minute holiday bargains
When you’re looking for cheap last-minute holiday deals, there are a few tricks you can try to make even more savings.
Consider early or late flights
Don’t be picky when it comes to flight times if you’re looking for the absolute cheapest deals. You’ll usually save by picking a super early or late flight. Getting up at the crack of dawn is part of the fun anyway.
Compare nearby airports
We all have a favourite airport to fly from, but sometimes departing from somewhere else can save you a fair few quid. Check others in the area and you might find that travelling a bit further is well worth it.
Compare board types
Don’t just jump at the first price you see. Sometimes upgrading to all-inclusive can work out cheaper in the long run. Remember, if all your meals are included, you’ll barely spend anything while you’re away.
Be flexible with travel dates
If you’re booking a last-minute holiday, you’re probably pretty flexible. And that’s also key for getting the best prices. Compare different departure dates to find a bargain sweet spot, which is usually midweek.
Try different holiday lengths
Any extra night or a night less can make all the difference. Sometimes lengths like 13 nights or 15 nights can offer surprisingly good value. Two-week holidays are too mainstream anyway.
The savvy travel ticklist: Last-minute checks
Don't let a last-minute bargain turn into a last-minute headache. Get these things sorted and you’ll be ready to go.
Want to turn a quick four-day last-minute deal into a nine-day epic escape? Use these 2026/2027 UK bank holiday sweet spots to get the most time off using barely any leave.
| If you book a deal for… | Take these days off | To get… | Perfect for… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn half-term | 26–30 Oct (5 days’ leave) | 9 days off | Mid-season sun and city breaks like southern Spain, Cyprus, Rome |
| Christmas | 21-24 Dec and 29-31 Dec (7 days' leave) | 16 days off | Winter sun escapes like the Canary Islands or Egypt |
| Easter | 22-25 March (4 days' leave) | 10 days off | Family holidays using minimal annual leave |
| Early May bank holiday | 4-7 May (4 days' leave) | 9 days off | Early season sun somewhere like Turkey |
| Spring bank holiday | 24-28 May (5 days' leave) | 10 days off | Enjoying the sun without the crowds in places like Greece |
| August bank holiday | 23-27 Aug (5 days' leave) | 10 days off | Catching the last of the peak summer escapes |
Late holidays: your questions answered
FAQs
Is it cheaper to book a holiday last minute or in advance?
Whether booking last minute or in advance is cheaper depends almost entirely on who is travelling, when and where. Flexibility is key to finding cheap last-minute holidays. Generally, solo travellers or couples booking outside of peak times like school holidays will have a better chance of finding a bargain – especially if you experiment with midweek departures and early or late flights.
How late can I leave it to book a holiday before flying?
If you’re booking a package holiday, providers will generally have a cut-off of between 24 and 48 hours before departure. For example, Jet2holidays allow bookings up to 48 hours before departure. However, you can technically book standalone flights and hotels on the same day you fly.
Are last-minute holidays still ATOL protected?
All package holiday deals you find on icelolly.com that include a flight are ATOL protected, including last-minute holidays. If your last-minute package holiday doesn't include a flight, financial protection will be provided by ABTA. So, you can book with confidence, even if it’s a last-minute getaway.
Do I have to pay the full holiday balance straight away?
Many package holiday providers don’t require you to pay the full holiday balance straight away when you book. There are several companies you can find on icelolly.com that offer flexible payments and low deposit options. However, if you’re booking a last-minute holiday, you’ll likely need to pay the full balance up front, as most providers require full payment at least a few weeks before departure.
Where are the cheapest destinations for a last-minute holiday right now?
The cheapest destinations for a last-minute holiday can vary depending on when you’re travelling, but the likes of Benidorm and Majorca are reliable short-haul choices for a bargain late getaway. Turkey and Egypt are usually good-value options if you’re looking to go a bit further, and Tenerife nearly always features among the best last-minute deals, particularly out of season.
Can I still get all-inclusive deals if I book last minute?
Yes, you can certainly still find all-inclusive deals if you book last minute. Holiday providers prefer to sell rooms on the cheap rather than leaving them empty, so there’s every chance you could even find a bargain all-inclusive package by booking last minute.
Will I get a worse room if I book a late deal?
You won’t necessarily get a worse room if you book a late deal. There is a chance you’ll get a room with a less attractive view or location, but equally, you might pay less to stay at that hotel than you would have done if you booked in advance.
Travel tips and advice
More holiday options
The Destination Finder
Know what you want from your holiday but don’t know where to get it? Just ask our Destination Finder! We’ll narrow it down to your perfect destinations and find the best deals to get you there!
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