Last-Minute Holiday Price Calculator
How Thursday Booking Saves You Money
According to 2024 data from over 2 million UK bookings, Thursday evenings offer the best prices for last-minute holidays. This is when travel companies drop prices to fill unsold inventory before Friday deadlines. Booking between 8-11pm UK time gives you the lowest rates.
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Most people think booking a holiday last minute is a gamble. But if you know when to look, it’s not luck-it’s strategy. The truth is, some days of the week make a massive difference in price, and knowing which ones can save you hundreds-even on a spontaneous trip.
Thursday is the cheapest day to book a last-minute holiday
According to data from over 2 million last-minute bookings across UK travel sites in 2024, Thursday consistently shows the lowest average prices for flights and package holidays. Why? Because airlines and tour operators see a drop in bookings mid-week. By Thursday afternoon, they’re still holding unsold inventory from the weekend rush and need to fill seats before Friday’s deadline for flight cancellations and room releases.
Travel companies use dynamic pricing algorithms that adjust prices in real time. If a flight to Malaga still has 15 empty seats by Thursday at 3 p.m., the system drops the price by 30-40% to trigger a quick sale. The same goes for hotels. Resorts in Ibiza or Tenerife often release unsold rooms at discounted rates after mid-week check-outs, and those deals go live on Thursday nights.
Don’t wait until Friday. Prices start creeping back up as business travelers book weekend getaways and families plan short breaks. Thursday gives you the sweet spot: enough time to react, but before the weekend demand hits.
When to look-time of day matters too
Booking on Thursday isn’t enough. You need to catch the price drop at the right hour. The best window is between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. UK time. That’s when European tour operators update their inventory after closing their European sales desks. You’re not just browsing-you’re catching the system refresh.
One traveler from Bristol booked a 7-night stay in Crete for £299 on a Thursday night in November 2024. The same deal was £529 the day before. The difference? Timing. She checked at 9:15 p.m., right after the Spanish travel site updated its rates. The deal disappeared by 11:30 p.m.
Set a reminder. Use a free price tracker like Google Flights or Hopper. They’ll alert you when prices drop on Thursdays. Don’t rely on email newsletters-they’re too slow. Real-time alerts work.
What destinations are cheapest last minute?
Not all places drop equally. Some locations are built for last-minute deals. Here are the top 5 for 2025:
- Portugal’s Algarve - Resorts here have high turnover and low occupancy in January and February. Flights from Bristol and Manchester often drop below £80 return on Thursday nights.
- Canary Islands - Tenerife and Lanzarote offer the best deals in winter. Prices fall 40%+ after New Year’s as European tourists return home.
- Poland and Czech Republic - City breaks in Kraków or Prague see huge price drops on Thursday afternoons. Hotels like Hotel U Křížku in Prague drop from €120 to €65 overnight.
- Scotland and Wales - Staycations get cheaper after midweek. A cottage in the Lake District that costs £180 on Friday drops to £110 on Thursday.
- Turkey’s Mediterranean coast - Bodrum and Antalya have excess capacity in early spring. Book a Thursday flight from Birmingham and you’ll often get a 5-star all-inclusive for under £400.
Avoid destinations like Paris, Rome, or Barcelona for last-minute deals. They fill up fast. Even in off-season, demand stays steady. Stick to places with seasonal tourism and high unsold inventory.
Why not book on Tuesday or Wednesday?
Some blogs say Tuesday is the cheapest day. That’s true for planned bookings-when you’re booking 3 months ahead. But for last-minute? It’s misleading.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, travel companies are still testing prices. They’re not desperate yet. They haven’t seen the booking trends for the weekend. So prices are still high, or fluctuating. By Thursday, they’ve got hard data: “We’ve sold 60% of our inventory. We need to move the rest.” That’s when the real discounts hit.
Think of it like a farmers’ market. Tuesday: fresh stock, full price. Wednesday: still selling. Thursday: last chance to sell before spoilage. That’s when vendors slash prices.
How to spot a real deal (and avoid scams)
Not every “last-minute deal” is worth it. Here’s how to tell the difference:
- Check the cancellation policy - If it’s non-refundable and you can’t change dates, you’re locked in. Only take this if you’re 100% sure you’ll go.
- Look at the hotel rating - A 4-star hotel at £100/night is a steal. A 2-star hotel at £100/night? Not so much. Use Trustpilot or TripAdvisor filters to sort by rating and recent reviews.
- Compare the flight times - A £50 flight might be a 5 a.m. departure with a 10-hour layover. A £120 flight might be direct. Calculate the real cost: time, stress, and missed sleep.
- Watch for hidden fees - Some deals include flights and a hotel but charge extra for baggage, airport transfers, or resort fees. Add them up before you click “Book.”
One woman from Leeds booked a “£199 all-inclusive” trip to Egypt. She didn’t realize the resort was 45 minutes from the airport and charged £35 per person for transfer. By the time she paid for tips, water, and Wi-Fi, it cost £320. She lost £120.
What to do if you miss Thursday
Life happens. You forgot. It’s Friday. Don’t panic.
Still, you can save money. Try these tactics:
- Check Sunday nights - After weekend bookings close, some companies release unsold inventory on Sunday at 10 p.m. It’s not as good as Thursday, but it’s better than Friday.
- Use cashback sites - TopCashback and Quidco often have 5-10% cashback on last-minute deals. Even if the price is higher, you get money back.
- Call the hotel directly - Sometimes, a hotel’s own website has better rates than aggregators. Call and say, “I saw your deal on Expedia for £110. Can you match it or offer something better?” Many will.
- Look at package cancellations - Sites like LastMinute.com and Jet2holidays show “cancellations” and “availability updates.” These are often last-minute drops from people who changed plans.
One man from Sheffield booked a Friday night flight to Dublin after his daughter got sick. He called the hotel directly and asked if they had any unsold rooms. They did-and gave him a 30% discount because he was paying in cash.
Real example: How I saved £380 on a last-minute trip
Last February, I wanted to get out of Bath for a few days. No plans. Just needed air and sun. I checked Thursday at 8:45 p.m. on Google Flights. A direct flight from Bristol to Alicante was £67 return. The hotel-a 4-star with pool and breakfast-was £72 per night. Total for 5 nights: £427. The same deal on Tuesday was £807.
I booked it. Left Friday morning. Came back Tuesday. No stress. No regrets. Just a week of sunshine for less than half the usual price.
That’s the power of timing. Not luck. Not magic. Just knowing when to look.
Final tip: Don’t book too early
Some people think booking early saves money. It does-for planned trips. But if you’re chasing last-minute deals, booking too early locks you into higher prices. Wait. Watch. Then strike on Thursday.
Set a calendar reminder: Every Thursday at 8 p.m., check three sites: Google Flights, LastMinute.com, and the airline’s own site. Keep it simple. No need to check 15 apps. Three is enough.
And if you see a deal that looks too good to be true? It probably is. But if it’s Thursday night, the flight’s direct, the hotel has 4 stars, and the price is under 60% of the usual rate? Go for it. You’ve done the work. Now enjoy the trip.
Is it always cheaper to book a holiday last minute?
No, not always. Last-minute deals work best for flexible travelers who can go anywhere and anytime. Popular destinations like Paris or during school holidays rarely drop in price. But for off-season locations with high inventory-like the Algarve, Canary Islands, or Eastern Europe-you’ll often find the best prices just days before departure.
Why are Thursday nights the best time to book?
By Thursday night, travel companies have seen how many bookings came in over the weekend and midweek. If they still have unsold inventory, they drop prices to avoid empty seats or rooms. It’s a business decision, not a random discount. The 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. window is when European systems update and release new rates.
Should I book through a travel agent or directly with the airline?
For last-minute deals, always check the airline or hotel’s own website first. Third-party sites like Expedia or Booking.com often add fees or show inflated prices. Direct bookings give you better customer service if something goes wrong, and you’re more likely to get upgrades or discounts if you call.
Can I get a deal if I’m not flexible with dates?
It’s harder, but not impossible. If you only have one weekend free, look at destinations that are cheaper year-round, like Scotland or Wales. Staycations often have better last-minute availability. You can also try booking a flight on a Tuesday or Wednesday and extending your stay by a day-sometimes the hotel will match a better rate if you’re flexible on length.
Do prices drop on public holidays?
Usually not. Public holidays mean higher demand. People are off work and looking to travel. Prices go up, not down. The best time to book is the week after a holiday, when demand drops and inventory builds up. For example, book a trip the week after Easter, not during it.