Traveling to various destinations with careful and pre-planned arrangements is one of the habits of Type A travelers. However, there is another type of traveler who prefers to leave planning until the last minute. A new study reveals which destinations are popular for last-minute vacations, which include trips booked only within a week before arrival.
Popular Destinations for Last-Minute Travels
The hotel management company Sirvoy examined its customer database, which includes independent hotels, guesthouses, and vacation rentals, to identify which destinations globally have the most last-minute bookings. The study analyzed the percentage of stays booked less than a week before arrival, as well as the percentage of bookings made on the same day or the day before arrival. Among the top 10 destinations, four are in Europe: Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
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Asia Tops Last-Minute Travel Destinations
Although European destinations are present on this list, more distant countries have taken the lead. Thailand, the Philippines, and Australia rank first to third, respectively. Nicholas Lindberg, Chief Customer Officer of Sirvoy, emphasized that travelers are embracing spontaneity when planning their trips, and each of the top 10 destinations has received over half of their bookings less than a week before arrival.
Thailand is recognized as the most popular last-minute travel destination, with 74.8% of accommodation bookings made within a week before arrival. If you are traveling to Thailand, you should remember that the rainy season is currently ongoing, so the warm weather and low prices may come with heavy rainfall. The Philippines also ranks second, with 71.7% of accommodation bookings made last minute, although there is a chance of rain until October.
Australia, despite being early spring, has temperatures in Sydney exceeding 20 degrees Celsius. This means that 61.2% of those who booked their stay last minute can enjoy culture, swimming, and surfing in pleasant weather. Mexico, with its rich history and pristine beaches, ranks fourth, with 59.7% of bookings made last minute as well.
Interestingly, European countries are also present on this list; Norway ranks seventh, with 53.8% of its bookings made less than a week before travel. Finland is eighth with 53.3%, and the Netherlands is ninth with 52.3% of bookings made a week before travel. Finally, Sweden ranks tenth, with 51.9% of trips booked last minute.
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