How to Prepare for a Last Minute Vacation

In this day and age of uncertainty, spontaneity in traveling is difficult sometimes. Political strife, disease and illness, and increased security all contribute to make running to the airport for a last minute flight almost impossible. But with the right preparation, one can still benefit from cheaply priced vacations and enjoy the holiday.

The two biggest disadvantages to taking a last minute vacation are not knowing the destination and not knowing how soon one must depart. This will cause a real problem if the country has strict entry requirements. So we have compiled a small guide to help you prepare regardless of destination.

  1. Make a list of general areas to which you would like to travel. For example, if you are looking for somewhere hot, decide upon the Caribbean. There are many countries within the Caribbean but many have the same general rules. Eliminate those islands that might pose a problem. For example if your government has issued a travel advisory to a specific country, remove it from your list. If you decide that you might like to see Europe, choose the general area, then again, eliminate countries that have restrictive entry.
  2. Make sure you have a passport. While some destinations permit entry without a passport, it does not make sense to book a last minute vacation only to find out the rules have changed. In addition, if the passport office has a large volume of applications, you may not receive your passport in time. Apply for your passport and have it handy so you can travel at a moment’s notice.
  3. Vaccinations to specific countries will be required by the country itself or recommended by your government. There are several ways to obtain information regarding illness and disease before leaving. But remember that you are ultimately responsible so it is important for you to gather all the facts. Check with the travel agent in advance about specific destinations. But use this information only as a starting point. Read government websites, both your own and the destination’s, call the local health department or read the official health sites and watch the news for outbreaks.
  4. Most people think they can get shots or vaccinations last minute but this is not true. The vaccine may require several treatments over a course of a period, the vaccine may need to be administered a certain period of time before leaving to be effective, and the doctor’s office may not stock the serum and may have to order it.
  5. Be sure you know about the country’s entry policies. For example, if the country does not allow certain tourists to show up and visit, if visas or special documents are required, then prepare these in advance even if you choose another destination.

Lastly, although the definition of last minute seems to be “throwing caution to the wind and making a move”, it still requires a certain amount of planning. But having general ideas in advance and eliminating troublesome spots will help to prepare for a cheap last minute vacation.