How To Get Last-Minute Summer Travel Deals

Advertiser Disclosure: At Slickdeals, we work hard to find the best deals. Some products in our articles are from partners who may provide us with compensation, but this doesn’t change our opinions. Our editors strive to ensure that the information in this article is accurate as of the date published, but please keep in mind that offers can change. We encourage you to verify all terms and conditions of any product before you apply.

The end of summer might be right around the corner, but many people are hoping to squeeze in another trip before fall rolls around. In fact, a 2024 Deloitte travel survey found that more than half of Americans surveyed plan to pay for some form of travel lodging this summer. And while inflation and travel costs were top of mind for participants in the report, summer travel deals can still be found on everything from airfare to car rentals to hotels and beyond.

The Power of Human-Sourced Deals

According to the Deloitte survey, despite expectations of artificial intelligence tools helping them find travel deals, only 10% of participants actually used AI to plan for travel. Even as technology advances, that human touch often makes the difference in sourcing the best summer travel deals. Whether you’re asking friends and family about discounts or turning to sites fueled by community, like Slickdeals, real people are often a terrific source for finding the best deals on airfare, rental cars and more.

Consumers Are Still Snagging Airfare Deals

Even as August comes to a close, travel buffs are booking last-minute trips to soak up those last days of summer. The good news is that airfares are about 5% down on average compared to last year, according to July 2024 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. 

With plane tickets hitting some of the lowest rates since the post-pandemic increase, now’s a great time to take advantage of flight deals and jet off to the destination of your dreams. 

Here are a few ways travelers are finding great deals on flights:

• Using points and miles from their travel rewards credit cards
• Searching for airfare price mistakes
• Keeping travel plans flexible to grab cheaper seats 
• Joining deal-savvy communities, like Slickdeals, to hear about low fares early

A Free Hotel Stay Is Possible

A survey from the American Hotel & Lodging Association reported some interesting travel insights in May 2024. More than half of those surveyed said they’re likely to travel overnight with family this summer. And more than a third said they’d probably stay in a hotel. 

If you’re also looking to book a hotel, it’s smart to comparison shop and scour the web for the best discounts before you commit. But if you’ve got a travel or hotel credit card in your wallet, it may be easier than you think to score a free hotel stay. 

These travel cards are often stacked with bonus offers and rewards programs that translate to discounted or even free lodging. If you’ve got a favorite hotel chain or don’t mind trying out a new one with credit card points, look into loyalty programs and give this method a try.

Road Trips Are Up

The Deloitte survey also weighed in on recent consumer travel spending habits, noting that deal seeking is up for many travelers this season. The survey also found that 70% of respondents planned to take a road trip this year. And around half of those folks noted that hitting the road was a money-saving tactic.

Six Tips for Getting Summer Travel Deals

Take advantage of these strategies to enjoy the final days of summer and save some money while doing it:

• Sign up for Deal Alerts: Create custom alerts to get notified of discounts on airfare, rental cars, hotels and more. You can personalize your alerts for trip deals and travel essentials, like snacks, headphones, neck pillows and other products.
• Look for mistake fares: Airline price mistakes only last a little while (until the airline realizes the error). But if you’re following deal websites or savvy travel pros, you may luck into a ticket that’s too good—and too cheap—to pass up. 
• Be flexible: Whether you’ve got your eye on mistake fares or are just looking for cheap flights to your next destination, you may have better luck finding a good deal on tickets if your travel dates aren’t set in stone.
• Check your miles and points: Got a travel credit card in your wallet? You may be racking up rewards toward a flight or hotel stay and not even know it. Log in to your card accounts and see if you’ve got a stash of miles that could help cut the cost of your next vacation.
• Get a travel credit card: On that note, consider applying for a great travel card if you don’t yet have one. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or just getting started with your bucket list, the right credit card can help you maximize your spending, earn big bonuses, and even nab a free flight or hotel.
• Install the Slickdeals browser extension: Take even more effort out of the process of scoring a great deal with the free Slickdeals browser extension. This handy tool will go to work finding all sorts of discounts automatically as you browse the web.

Summer Travel Deals Are Out There

You might be looking to score a last-minute deal on a trip to Europe, want to grab a discount on an affordable beach house rental or are planning to rent a car for one final epic summer road trip. But don’t settle for the first price you see. Shop around for the best summer travel deals, ask for discounts and check in with your friends and family. And keep an eye on Slickdeals, where savvy deal hunters are digging up some of the best deals on travel all year round.