When planning a vacation, travel professionals, as well as airlines, hotels, and other lodging, always emphasize planning ahead. However, there are sometimes advantages to making your reservations at the last minute, especially if you can spend a short period of time comparing prices.

The top five advantages of last minute hotel reservations are:

1. Discounted prices. While the common approach is to book a hotel room three weeks to a month in advance, last-minute hotel reservations can often garner significant discounts. Hotels are rarely fully booked under normal circumstances, so they are often happy to accommodate last-minute requests to fill rooms. When it comes to choosing between giving a significant discount and having an empty room, the significant discount often wins.

2. Ensure high-quality accommodation. On the other hand, the significant discounts often gained through last-minute hotel bookings can make a first-class hotel room, which would otherwise have been well over your budget, a very popular option. possible. Unlike staying at a budget hotel with limited amenities, you may find a great deal at a luxury hotel.

3. Ease of online reservations. Whereas in the past, making last-minute hotel reservations meant spending a lot of time on the phone, now it’s easy to find information online. With a few quick clicks of your mouse, you can find special offers available to travelers at a number of convenient locations, decide which one will work best for you, and make your reservations right away.

4. Discover a new destination. Successfully making last minute hotel reservations requires a certain amount of flexibility. The exact hotel you wanted to use may not have rooms available, but a nearby one you’ve never tried might have a great package available at significant savings. This diversion could make it possible for you to live a completely different vacation than the one you had imagined.

5. Create the perfect romantic getaway. Last minute hotel reservations are often more available to couples. If you’ve always wanted a private getaway with your spouse or partner, taking advantage of last-minute arrangements in luxury accommodations can provide that perfect weekend love nest.