Last minute travel is typically defined as within 3 weeks of travel. Sometimes folks think of it as even less than 3 weeks, more like 3 days. When you wait until the last minute to book your travel plans, you are playing with fire. You could find a smashing deal, but you may also pay out the nose.
BootsnAll recently launched a Last Minute Travel section. A lot of the inventory is based on the Site59 last minute travel site which is now owned by Travelocity. So you'll see a lot of deals and promotions from them as well.
We tried to build the section based on what travelers were asking about last minute travel. Last minute hotels, last minute flights, and last minute cruises.
Another thing we kept in mind when building this, is just the, "what can I do at the last minute" thought that I often go through. You know, you think - what about next week popping down to San Diego at the last minute. What will it cost? An idea section for last minute ideas will be coming soon as well.
Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:
- Joey is in the midst of his RTW trip, and has paused long enough to post some good advice for all of us - "Don't rent motorbikes if you aren't experienced." He lived through the ordeal, but will have scars to show off for years to come!
- Is wanderlust something we're born with, or does it come from the people we grow up with? It's a nature vs. nurture debate of another kind...
- If you're on a long trip, how do you handle your incoming mail and paying your bills? Dante is planning to forward mail to his sister's house, but isn't sure if there's something more he should be doing.
- Most travelers can agree on the basics that need to go with you on every trip, but every traveler is going to have a few items that others might think are funny to bring along. Nath_160 wants to know what the top three "unnecessary" items are in your pack.
- Have you had any jobs while traveling that helped enhance your experience? Even if they didn't pay you anything? Come share!
- BootsnAll is full of animal lovers, it appears - we've got threads going on cats seen around the world, and one for dogs, too!
- Every traveler is unique, and yet most travelers can be lumped into two general categories, which GingerSpesh has called "Fast and Furious" and "Slow and Steady." It's a pretty old debate, and everyone's going to have their own travel method that makes them comfortable, but what's your preference?
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Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:
- Most people, even the most seasoned travelers among us, still probably experience feelings of trepidation when going to a new place. Fear is a natural part of life, as long as it's not crippling! This thread proves that fear can be something to learn from, not something to keep you at home.
- We all run into kids when we travel, and they can be a great source of amusement. Share your photos of children from your travels here!
- Are you a history buff when you travel, or do you prefer to interact with the people when you visit? Does the historical significance of a place leave you with a sense of awe or boredom?
- Most of us have a list of "must-see" places in our heads, and also a list of places we'd rather not go. Are there places you wouldn't visit for ethical reasons?
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Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:
- People who are seasoned travelers tend to be methodical about packing - even if they're last-minute packers, there are things that go in their bags that they'd never think of leaving home without. But what about the carry-on? What goes in your carry-on bag?
- Totleigh-in-the-Wold wants to know - what are the most overrated and underrated pieces of gear you've used or seen? She thinks a pashmina is overrated, and a comfortable pillow is drastically underrated. See if anyone thinks the gear you can't live without is overrated!
- Bigmaude is planning to take her three teenage children backpacking through Europe - and it sounds like they don't want to go! Can you offer her advice about how to convince them it'll be wonderful?
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Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:
- Some travelers never pick a guidebook up, others never put them down. Most of us fall somewhere in between. VickyNewell wants to know why some backpackers are so reliant on their guidebooks? Are they all first-time travelers who need the safety net? Are they afraid to step too far off the beaten path? What do you think?
- Bargaining is central to some cultures, and is therefore a key part of many travel experiences. But not everyone is comfortable haggling. Do you bargain when you travel?
- There are often questions on the boards about whether people going on long trips should bring their laptops along, and there is rarely a shortage of opinion on both sides of the issue. If you don't want to bring your own computer with you, you might still want to visit internet cafes every couple of days. On the other hand, you might take your travels as the perfect excuse to get away from email and cell phones. So, when you travel, how connected do you like to stay?
- Often, people who go on RTW trips have been working like dogs and saving money in order to quit one day and fund their trip. Lucky me wants to know how much you're willing to give up money-wise to fulfill the dream of long-term travel.
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Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:
- Complete this sentence: "If I never went RTW, I..." Quimby has posed the question, and provided a few answers already. They're great, including, "If I never went RTW, I wouldn't check for creepy crawlies in my boots every time I put them on." So, how would you complete that sentence?
- Mono loco is back from 2.5 years of traveling the world, and is offering his assistance to anyone who's interested. He was traveling for 2.5 years without working, too, so the main question so far is, "How did you save all that money before you left?"
- Most people - and certainly most frequent travelers - have an opinion on this: Where do you like to sit on an airplane? And further, what does said preference say about you?
- So, you tell your friend you'd really like to go to Pisa. He tells you it's not worth it. Where does that leave you? Rawjer asks, "Can you skip an attraction just because some say it's overrated?"
- Those of you who are lucky enough to have traveled for long periods of time may find it a bit depressing to come home, get a job, and then only take two-three week trips. Cherie's feeling this way, and wonders if anyone else has gone through something similar. If so, how did you cope?
- Are you one of those people who takes pictures of the toilets you encounter around the world? If so, don't be shy - you're not alone. Post your bathroom pictures here!
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Check out the topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:
- We'd all like to find the perfect job that earns us money while allowing us to be permanent vagabonds, if we so choose. KPG thinks she may have found it - hairdresser. What do you think? Could it work?
- Some might say traveling is a gamble. So why not try your hand at the local games while you're out and about? Willis wants to know what foreign casino experience you've got. He's interested in checking out casinos in Central and Eastern Europe.
- It's time to help settle a domestic dispute... Katerina Urda and her boyfriend can't agree on how much they'll need to save for their year-long trip. He thinks she's overestimating with her $20,000 number. What do you think?
- Smells can evoke powerful memories - and not always good ones. Quimby wants to know - what's the stinkiest place you've been? She's voting for the open sewer in Sukhumvit (Bangkok). What about you?
- Jaydeschizo is trying to decide - now that he's nearing the end of his undergraduate career, should he get straight to work to collect some "travel money," or go to grad school (which he'd like to do eventually anyway) in order to be better qualified to make more money down the road?
- Would you rather save for retirement so you can play when you're done with work, or work until you're unable to do it anymore, playing all along the way? Or is there another option?
- Does your pantry look like a travel guide? Can you whip up foreign dishes with the right spices at a moment's notice? Do you bring home food-related souvenirs when you travel?
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Check out these topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:
- Struggling with what to get for that vagabonding friend before their next round-the-world adventure? How about the Globetrotter's Logbook? Seriously, this thing looks pretty cool. And it's not prohibitively expensive, either!
- Most of us like to travel on the cheap, and that usually means staying with friends on occasion. Maybe we've even played the host role as well. The thoughts in this thread will help make sure that you're always invited back after a stay on your friend's couch. You could also pass it along subtly to the last person who shaved her legs in your living room when she stayed with you. (And no, I'm not kidding. Read the thread.)
- Now that airlines don't always offer the "freebies" they used to (full meals, in-flight movies), are you one of the people who springs for the "extras" when you fly?
- Unless you're very, very lucky (or perhaps you've made a deal with the devil), you'll experience jetlag after a long flight. Are there any tricks to avoiding jetlag that actually work?
- What are the best ways to get around that nasty currency conversion fee bank and credit cards charge? What cards have the lowest conversion fees?
- Returning "home" can be a serious adjustment after a trip, especially if you've been away for a long time. What are the best ways to cope with the returning-home blues?
- Smells can remind us of places we've been, and so can food. What's the best food you've ever eaten, and where were you? Come share, and make all our mouths water.
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Check out these topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:
- There are a few things that everyone has to deal with the world over, regardless of nationality, income, race, education... And one of them is using the toilet. Poochythedog has had some trouble with squat toilets in the past, and is looking for pointers. (Warning: Don't read this thread if you've got a weak stomach.)
- It's that time of year again... When people are planning their summer European backpacking adventures! Get educated on your Eurail options, and read one person's Eurail tips. You could save yourself money and headaches if you're well-informed!
- What is your travel personality? Find out and post the results!
- Bigmaude wants to take her three teenagers backpacking through Europe this summer and wants to know if she's nuts to even try it! She thinks she's going to have to drag them kicking and screaming because they want to go to Disneyland instead... There are already plenty of volunteers ready to stand in for her kids if they don't want to go! Can you offer any advice for her to get her kids interested in the trip?
- Time to reminisce - what was the first stamp in your passport?
- Madhu met a young American filmmaker while traveling who's making a film about aid, volunteerism and the passion that makes NGOs work - and also fail. This gal thinks that "2 week volunteer programs where you pay to go teach, or similar ones where you volunteer for a very short period fail...they harm more than they do good." What do you think?
- An oldie but a goodie - if you need inspiration to pack your bags and get outta dodge, this video should do it.
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Check out these topics currently being discussed on the BootsnAll Travel Forums:
- Sean posted a great list of the cities he visited in 2006, which inspired me to create my own. What does your year in cities look like?
- I've got a serious sweet tooth, so it's no wonder my favorite part of the grocery store is the candy section. What are your favorite foreign sweets?
- This is a timeless thread... When we're not able to travel, most of us like to dream about our next trip. What books help transport you when you're stuck at home?
- Do your experiences of "deja vu" increase when you're traveling? Houseblend says it's not necessarily the been there, done that kind of deja vu, but more of the "I've dreamt of this place before" kind of feeling. Is she the only one?
- Finally, scubamama's New Years resolution is to not date anyone who doesn't have a valid passport... Her date the other night asked if she'd ever be content with a life where she wasn't planning another trip. Yeah, I'd say that's a pretty red flag, too.
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