How to Avoid the Pitfalls of a Last-Minute Family Holiday
A last-minute holiday can be a great way to grab a bargain or simply escape on a whim. But booking in a hurry, especially with children, leaves little time to fix problems. Run through these checks before you click "book" and you'll avoid the most common late-booking headaches.
1. Passports for everyone
Check every family member's passport, including the baby's. Children's passports are valid for five years, so they expire sooner than you might expect.
- Expiry and issue dates. Many countries require a minimum period of validity remaining, and the rules for travel to Europe also look at when the passport was issued. Check the entry requirements for your destination on the GOV.UK foreign travel advice pages.
- Blank pages. Some countries need one or two blank pages for entry stamps.
- Names. The name on the booking must match the name on each passport exactly.
If a passport needs renewing, an urgent appointment can be expensive and hard to get, so factor this in before committing.
2. Visas and travel authorisations
Some destinations require a visa or an electronic travel authorisation, such as the ESTA for the United States, and every traveller, including children, needs their own. Applications can take time to process, so check what is needed for your destination before you pay for the holiday, not after.
3. Vaccinations
Some travel vaccinations need several weeks to become effective, and some are given as a course of doses. If you are considering a destination further afield, check the advice on fitfortravel and speak to your GP practice or a travel clinic as early as possible. A short-notice trip may rule out some destinations altogether. Our guide to family travel health before you go has more detail.
4. Why is it so cheap?
Sometimes a deal is cheap simply because rooms are unsold. Sometimes there's a reason: the rainy season, hurricane season, extreme summer heat, or building work at the resort. Check typical weather for your dates, read recent reviews of the accommodation, and look at exactly where it is in relation to the beach, shops and airport.
5. Check what is actually included
- Are flight times family-friendly, or is it a 6am departure and a midnight arrival?
- Does the price include checked luggage, transfers and seats together?
- Is a cot available, and does the room really sleep your family?
- What board basis is it, and what does "all inclusive" cover at this property?
Extras for a family of four or five can quickly eat into a headline saving.
6. Financial protection
Package holidays that include a flight and are sold by a UK business should be protected under the ATOL scheme, which means you won't be stranded or out of pocket if the company fails. Look for the ATOL logo and make sure you receive an ATOL certificate when you pay. The Civil Aviation Authority explains how it works. If you are booking flights and accommodation separately, check what protection you have, and consider paying by credit card.
7. Insurance and GHIC
Buy travel insurance as soon as you book, for every member of the family, and check that it covers any pre-existing conditions and the activities you plan. If you are heading to the EU, make sure everyone has a valid GHIC (or an in-date EHIC). The card is free, but new ones take time to arrive, so apply as early as you can.
8. Pets and home
Kennels, catteries and pet sitters book up early in school holidays, so arrange care before you commit. Ask a neighbour to keep an eye on the house, and cancel any deliveries.
Late deals can offer real value, as long as the practical details are sorted first. For more ways to stretch your budget, see our family holiday money-saving tips and our checklist of things to consider when booking a family holiday.