Last Minute Travel Packages to Las Vegas

Because of the downturn in the economy, Las Vegas' tourism business is in a slump. However, this is good news for those looking for last minute travel packages to Vegas.

On lastminute.travelocity.com, travelers can find a number of last-minute packages to a variety of cities, including Las Vegas. Buyers usually can choose among three different packages: flight + hotel, flight + luxury hotel, and flight + car.

Currently, Travelocity has a special Vegas package for $323 per person that includes hotel, flight, taxes, and fees. Travelers must depart from New York City.

If you would like to depart from a different city, you are free to do so, but the price of the package will likely go up.

Last Minute Bargain Travel Easy to Find in Recession

If you can afford to travel right now, you can find better deals than ever because of the recession. Airlines have never been hurting for passengers so badly, which means consumers have an abundance of last minute bargain travel from which to choose.

For those who have always wanted to travel overseas, now is an excellent time to do so. Fares as a whole are down, and fuel surcharges are lower this year than last.

Last week, Orbitz was advertising a roundtrip ticket from Baltimore to London for just $136. However, fees and other charges brought the real price of the ticket up to $500.

Last minute travelers might also consider booking travel packages for even deeper discounts. Cheap international flights are fairly easy to find when combined with rental car and hotel room bookings.

Why Travel Last Minute

The reasons to travel last minute abound. The affordability and convenience are just two of the strongest appeals of scheduling travel close to the time of departure.

Travelers can save a substantial amount of money by booking at the last minute. In fact, on some sites, traveling at the last minute will save you up to 70%.

Additionally, purchasing plane tickets and hotel rooms at the last minute together will help travelers save even more. Travel sites provide large discounts to customers who book rental cars, hotels, and plane trips at the same time.

With most sites, travelers can book their last minute trips anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 hours before the flight departure. Such a flexible window allows customers to either plan somewhat in advance or take advantage of spur-of-the-moment opportunities.

Tips on Finding Last Minute Travel Bargains

Looking for last minute travel bargains? We'll tell you the secrets to finding the best deals in this post.

First, airlines and travel websites usually release last-minute fares on Tuesday or Wednesday for the upcoming weekend. Wait until then to book your flight and you'll have a better shot at a good fare.

Secondly, consider staying over at least one weekend day. Typically, the lowest airfares require travelers to stay over on Saturday night.

Finally, consider booking your flight and hotel together. Most travel sites offer discounts to travelers who combine lodging and airfare bookings.

Airline Price War Gives More Options for Last Minute Discount Travel

A price war has begun recently among airlines, which is good news for those seeking last minute discount travel.

The airlines are hurting right now because demand has stalled. One airline, AirTran, decided to do something to try to remedy the situation.

AirTran has announced a sale on airfares that has some one-way tickets priced as low as $39. Of course, there are some provisos. For one, customers must book their trips between March 5, 2009 and November 4, 2009.

"I don't remember a sale this extensive in the last twenty years," stated Tom Parsons, the chief executive officer of Bestfares.com. Parsons points out that it's unprecedented for an airline to offer such discounts 5 days per week.