Booking late might be the smartest travel move you make this year

Spontaneous travel is taking off, and it's blowing traditional vacations out of the water. According to the 2024 Global Travel Trends Report by American Express, 78% of millennial and Gen Z respondents said they were up for spontaneous getaways. It turns out, unplanned trips are often cheaper, less stressful and even more fun than meticulously planned itineraries.Spontaneous travelers don't wake up to an alarm to catch a sunrise tour or rush across town for a reservation they made six months ago. They keep their options open, following their instincts and saying yes to detours that lead to unexpected discoveries. It's not about being reckless — it's about being open. And it turns out, the best moments often happen when you stop trying to plan for them.How last-minute trips can actually save moneyIt's a common belief that booking in advance is the most cost-effective way to vacation, but experienced spontaneous travelers know that some of the best deals appear only days or even hours before departure. That's because airlines frequently offer unsold seats at bargain prices. Online tools such as Google Flights, Skyscanner and Hopper help travelers track these discounts and take advantage of flash sales.Hotels and vacation rentals also lower their rates at the last minute. High-end hotels often prefer to discount their rooms rather than leave them vacant, and platforms like HotelTonight cater specifically to same-day bookings at reduced rates. Airbnb hosts with unfilled nights between reservations may offer steep discounts for travelers who can book on short notice.Spontaneous trips often happen outside of peak travel seasons, which means lower prices across the board. Avoid school vacations, major holidays and popular travel months to easily find affordable flights, accommodations and even activities. Many tourist destinations offer lower off-peak rates, with fewer crowds, too.Travel bundles can also be a great source of deals. Some booking sites, including Priceline and Hotwire, offer exclusive discounts on flights and hotels when booked together as a package. While the tradeoff is that travelers might not know every detail of their booking until after purchasing, the savings can be substantial.Why spontaneous travel can make trips more funPlanning a trip months in advance creates a lot of pressure and high expectations. Spontaneous travel flips the script, allowing people to follow their mood, explore at their own pace and remain open to the unexpected.According to the 2024 Global Travel Trends Report by American Express, 77% of millennials and Gen Z have booked a last-minute trip, compared to 65% of Gen X and 52% of baby boomers. Plus, 44% said they preferred these unplanned trips. Younger people, it seems, are stepping away from rigid planning and embracing the freedom of on-the-fly getaways."Spontaneous travel opens your mind to being more in the flow and less in a 'pack it all in' mentality," says Alex Alioto, co-founder of Whimstay. Spontaneous travelers "aren't deciding on the destination and then searching for the best value," Alioto says. They are doing the inverse. They are checking the app, finding value in a place they like, then deciding to travel to that spot."Travelers who book on a whim are more likely to stumble upon hidden gems. Unplanned moments — whether happening upon a live music performance in a small bar or striking up a conversation with a local who offers insider recommendations — can turn a good trip into a great one.You might find yourself in a small neighborhood restaurant in Seoul and eat a bowl of jajangmyeon you'll never forget, or pop into a corner cafe for a quick breakfast of kimchi fried eggs that beats any five-star hotel buffet. It's those unexpected experiences — the ones you couldn't have penciled into a day-by-day itinerary — that end up sticking with you.Being flexible also means avoiding tourist traps, many of which require advance reservations, long waits and premium prices. But off-the-beaten-path experiences are often just as memorable and far less stressful. Maybe your Airbnb host points you to a local cooking class that turns out to be the highlight of the trip. You go in with zero expectations and walk out knowing how to fold wontons like a pro.How to make spontaneous travel workFor those used to planning everything in advance, the idea of taking a trip on short notice might feel overwhelming. The trick is knowing where to look and being flexible."The key is staying open and being willing to travel midweek or off-peak," says Bella Bucchiotti of xoxoBella. "Low expectations mean everything feels like a win, and Google Flights price alerts help me jump on deals quickly."Travel alerts from websites and apps, like Next Vacay and ASAP Tickets, allow you to receive notifications when airfare prices drop, making it easy to jump on a deal before it disappears. Some travelers even book flights based on price alone, choosing destinations solely because they can get there cheaply. Hotels, too, often release discounted rates in the days leading up to a stay, and travelers willing to grab rooms on short notice can score major savings.Start with short, nearby trips to ease into the lifestyle. A weekend getaway within driving distance or a quick flight to a nearby city can be a low-stakes way to experience the benefits of spontaneous travel without the stress of international logistics.That's exactly what travel writer Ashley Wali of Wanderlux did. "When I found out I was pregnant," she says, "I hopped on HotelTonight and booked a spontaneous babymoon to celebrate that very night! We didn't go far — just a two-hour drive from San Francisco to Carmel — but it was such a special way to honor the huge changes coming in our life and check out an adorable town I hadn't yet explored."Once you get comfortable making decisions on the fly, booking an overseas trip for a week from Tuesday won't seem so far fetched.Remember: Not having a plan is the whole ideaSpontaneous travel isn't just a fallback for when your plans fall through. It's a purposeful approach to travel that lets you experience the world with more joy and less stress. Whether it's an impromptu weekend road trip or jumping on an unexpected international flight deal, being open to travel on short notice can lead to some of the best adventures of your life. And if it also means spending less money and skipping the stress of overplanning, that's a bonus.Robin Donovan is a food and travel writer and the founder and creator of All Ways Delicious, a food site loaded with easy recipes from around the world. Her writing is featured in major media outlets including Chicago Sun-Times, Huffington Post, MSN, Associated Press, Cooking Light, PopSugar, Fitness, Mercury News and many others.