ABTA says a third of people will book their holidays at the last minute this year
Packing for holiday
There has been a surge in people booking last-minute holidays as travellers ‘leave it late’ this summer thanks to global instability and the cost of living, but many passengers are making the same five mistakes. The latest data from travel trade association ABTA shows 64% of people plan to take a foreign holiday this year, but a third will book it just two to four weeks before they go.
According to TUI, there are five common mistakes people make when they leave booking their holiday to the last minute. TUI travel expert Stephanie Lipsombe, who has been helping people book holidays for 27 years, said: “The later you book, the higher the pressure can feel: less time to compare, more fear of compromising, and more worry about getting it wrong.”
Stephanie says she has seen more people opting to secure trips just weeks – or even days – before departure, than ever. “They are looking for more flexibility, especially in uncertain times”, she explains but warns “If you’re not a natural last-minute traveller anxiety can build.” Stephanie, who is a senior retail manager at TUI’s Exeter store, explained the five biggest mistakes she’s seen people make when booking at the last minute:
1. Date mix-ups and wrong trip lengths
“When people feel like time is running out, they often miss out key information. I regularly see last‑minute bookings where the wrong dates have been selected, the trip duration isn’t what the customer thought, or names have been entered incorrectly in the rush to secure the deal.”
Stephanie explains that these tend to be small oversights made under pressure, but depending on what the mistake is, how close you are to departure and the holidays’ booking conditions, they can incur fees to fix.
“I’d always recommend spending an extra five minutes double checking the details or enlist the help of a family member or friend to get a second pair of eyes on your booking. Alternatively, speaking to a travel agent is a great way to alleviate some of that pressure as they’ll be able to support you throughout the booking process.”
2. Last minute passport or visa panic
“This is often the mistake that hits hardest, when people are scrambling to get a holiday confirmed, they often assume their documents are valid. It’s only afterwards, sometimes days before departure, that they check and by that point, it can be too late to fix.”
She continued “Many destinations require passports to have several months’ validity remaining, so in last‑minute booking scenarios I always recommend to customers that this step should always come first – not as an afterthought.”
3. Getting caught out by payment T&Cs
“Many people assume they can secure a holiday with a small deposit – but when you’re booking within three months of departure, that’s rarely the case. Most last-minute holidays require full payment upfront.”
“In the rush, customers often don’t check the payment terms properly – they just want to lock something in before it’s gone. That’s when the shock hits, as they realise they need to pay the full balance immediately, which can put unexpected pressure on their budget.”
4. Assuming last-minute always means cheaper
Stephanie says that this is one of the most common myths and it’s often made worse by the pressure of booking late. “While there can be great deals closer to departure, booking last minute can mean you’re making decisions with far less time to properly compare your options.”
“Instead of weighing up hotels, locations and prices at your own pace, you’re often having to choose from what’s left, quickly narrowing your options which can make it harder to feel confident you’re getting the right holiday for you. What I always say to my customers it that it’s more important to make the choice that works best for you and your travel party, not simply the lowest price.”
5. Overlooking travel insurance
It’s understandable that when people feel under pressure to lock something in quickly, they focus on the holiday and assume everything else will fall into place. But it’s often the smaller details that get missed.
When people are focused on securing a last-minute deal, it’s often the essentials that get overlooked – including travel insurance. Stephanie says: “I regularly speak to customers who’ve booked their trip, only to realise later they never sorted travel insurance.”
“These details aren’t always front of mind when you’re booking quickly online, but they can have serious consequences. Without insurance, something as simple as a missed flight, a lost gadget or medical issue abroad could leave you facing unexpected and potentially significant costs.”
TUI’s “Last-Minute, Holiday Check It” service aims to help people at any stage of their booking journey. Search for your local TUI store and make an appointment here: https://www.tui.co.uk/shop-finder/. Appointments will be available until July 18, 2026.
Customers who book and attend their Last-Minute, Holiday Check It appointment can also enter into a prize draw to win a £2,000 TUI gift card.
