I'm currently browsing Sky Scanner, and I can get return flights to NY for £340. I can get a hostel for £68 for the week. I could have a cheeky week in New York, leaving in 10 hours, for less than £1000. Now, I'm not going to do this but I'm wondering if any of you people have done something similar and how was it? What spurred you to do it? Would you do it again/recommend it?
Has anyone booked a holiday, extremely last minute?
- Thread starter Ahleckz
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Never done one that spur of the moment but it sounds interesting. Even a week seems long compared to that. 
I almost ended up at an airport with a few friends a couple of weeks ago to see if we could pick up a last-last minute flight but we bottled it.
I almost ended up at an airport with a few friends a couple of weeks ago to see if we could pick up a last-last minute flight but we bottled it.
I have booked a holiday and left the next day. It all went smoothly, I spent 10 days in Portugal and New Years on the beach. Last minute made it all the more exciting 
Oh and I was inspired because I was fed up around that particular xmas and just needed to do something different.
Oh and I was inspired because I was fed up around that particular xmas and just needed to do something different.
I have done it quite a few times. A couple of years ago I was sitting on the internet at 1am with not much to do and decided I wanted to go and see LA and Las Vegas. I found a flight leaving at 6 am. I booked it and was on my way.
Normally I have booked most of my trips 3 to 7 days in advance.
Normally I have booked most of my trips 3 to 7 days in advance.
I have done it a few times. Often it turned out to be a better holiday than the ones I had planned for months.
I was bored last night and decided to book a trip to Phoenix, AZ for the other half and myself next week for a few days. No particular reason other than Arizona looked cool. We have no plans and we're going to keep it that way until we arrive. The "unknown" aspect makes it more exciting IMO.
It depends on what sort of person you are. Some people thrive on the thrill of last minute, unplanned trips. Others are overcome with anxiety if they don't have a minute to minute itinerary.
I was bored last night and decided to book a trip to Phoenix, AZ for the other half and myself next week for a few days. No particular reason other than Arizona looked cool. We have no plans and we're going to keep it that way until we arrive. The "unknown" aspect makes it more exciting IMO.
It depends on what sort of person you are. Some people thrive on the thrill of last minute, unplanned trips. Others are overcome with anxiety if they don't have a minute to minute itinerary.
Caporegime
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in 5 hours you managed to:
Pack
shower (I presume you would, with a 10 hour flight ahead of you!)
get to the airport
check in
???
Sounds good guys. Did you find that it saved you a lot of money?
Yeah, I have no issue with doing it with respect to the unplanned-ness of it but I don't really think I could afford to throw away £1000 and would feel incredibly odd for doing so. And, the worry for me is that it would quickly creep up and go [far] above one grand...
If I could think of somewhere that would be awesome to go and flights were closer to the £200 mark we may be in business.
This all came about as I was checking prices for flights to Egypt!
Packing takes about 10 minutes, a shower takes 5. Taxi to the airport takes 25. You only need to be there 2 hours before. Easily done.
Yeah, I have no issue with doing it with respect to the unplanned-ness of it but I don't really think I could afford to throw away £1000 and would feel incredibly odd for doing so. And, the worry for me is that it would quickly creep up and go [far] above one grand...
If I could think of somewhere that would be awesome to go and flights were closer to the £200 mark we may be in business.
This all came about as I was checking prices for flights to Egypt!
Packing takes about 10 minutes, a shower takes 5. Taxi to the airport takes 25. You only need to be there 2 hours before. Easily done.
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I want to do something like that, but its difficult to take a week off work....I mean what do you do? call in from the states on Monday morning?
What's wrong with that? For a 2 week trip it takes me half an hour at most to pack, half an hour to get showered and dressed and 45 minutes to get to Heathrow where my car is collected outside the terminal.
5 hours is loads of time
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What's wrong with that? For a 2 week trip it takes me half an hour at most to pack, half an hour to get showered and dressed and 45 minutes to get to Heathrow where my car is collected outside the terminal.
5 hours is loads of time
I live 3 hours drive away from Heathrow if there is no delay, 5 hours is not enough. I mean, I could, if i live in London.
Maybe Dr House lives closer to an airport than you do?
Even with a 3 hour drive you could do it. Online or phone check in and go straight to the gate when you get to the airport. Sorted!
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I don't need long to pack, I go away for weekends a lot and I know what I need, it's basically the same things, but more clothes. Hell, you can buy it when you are out there anyway if you forget, all you need these days is your wallet and passport, the ticket isn't even needed as long as you know which airline you are flying with.
I wish I got a job I can leave without notice and live closer to the airport.
The closest I've come to this was the other week when I decided to go to Rome because I wanted to leave the country for a bit, and even that I planned that for like 2 months.
I wish I got a job I can leave without notice and live closer to the airport.
The closest I've come to this was the other week when I decided to go to Rome because I wanted to leave the country for a bit, and even that I planned that for like 2 months.
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oooh, found a flight to NYC for a week for £268, leaving on Feb 12, coming back on Feb 17th.
But...Kuwait Airways ???
BA is £364 and VA is £374.
But...Kuwait Airways ???
BA is £364 and VA is £374.
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I plan to go to NYC either later this year, around the fall, or the next fall, and going to budget £100 to £130 a night for hotels...that's £800/£850 for accommodation...enough you think?
That's a great price Raymond. That from Heathrow? I'd be flying from Glasgow (or Edinburgh). Direct flights are closer to £400, indirect (Schipol change) are closer to £300.
I'd hostel it up, be a hell hole no doubt but you only need a bed... Like I said, I found a hostel on hostels.com for $120 for a week... It won't be great but if you only need somewhere to sleep for 6 hours a night it'll do.
I'd hostel it up, be a hell hole no doubt but you only need a bed... Like I said, I found a hostel on hostels.com for $120 for a week... It won't be great but if you only need somewhere to sleep for 6 hours a night it'll do.
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Yup, it's from heathrow!
To fly from Heathrow, direct, in a few hours, costs £318 (returning on the 3rd). To fly from Glasgow, changing at Schipol, in a few hours, costs £323 (same return). You wouldn't have thought it would be so close. Though that £5 saving would probably buy me a drink (just) in NY...
If any rich OcUKers fancy a trip to NY, I'll take my own spending money if you pay for my flights and accommodation? Email in trust...
If any rich OcUKers fancy a trip to NY, I'll take my own spending money if you pay for my flights and accommodation? Email in trust...
Are you speaking to me Scuzi? I made a typo, which I changed... (I said "Wouldn't have thought it would be so expensive", or words to that effect. I've had a bit to drink and got confused with my words!). It's very cheap, but surprised that the difference between Glasgow and Heathrow are so slim.
Could go to Dubai in 3 hours for £310 return...
Could go to Dubai in 3 hours for £310 return...
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