Chattanooga-based travel agent says: Be spontaneous with your travel plans for the perfect getaway

Showing up at the airport and spontaneously booking a flight out that same day is something people sometimes dare to do — especially in movies or on reality TV shows. But it’s a practice that’s not for everyone, whether due to astronomical last-minute flight prices or their comfort level.

Yet you can still be spontaneous with your travel plans without breaking the bank or journeying outside your comfort zone. Travel agents can use their knowledge of a variety of destinations and your preferences to suggest places that may not otherwise have occurred to you. You can also spring for a surprise trip, with options that range from ultra-curated vacations based on your interests to more random adventures chosen by lottery.

Last-minute deals and promotions are harder to come by now than they were before the pandemic, says Patience Harris, a Chattanooga-based travel agent with The Travel Agency, Inc. She credits high demand for that change.

“The flights, the hotels, resorts, cruises, whatever you’re talking about — they’re selling out,” she says. “They don’t really need to have last-minute deals, because they’re normally full at that point.”

As the industry struggled to survive during Covid, hotels cut back on staffing, and airlines put fewer planes in the air. Now that travel is booming again, the industry is struggling to keep up.

Demand is higher now than it was in 2019, which was a big year for travel, Harris says.

If you’re flexible on your destination and willing to travel outside of peak season, you may be able to book a somewhat spontaneous trip without a huge price increase if you book at least a month out.

“A lot of times, we’re really seeing that price increase substantially when you wait till the last minute, because availability isn’t there,” Harris says. “The airlines are charging a premium because there’s not that much availability on the flight. The resorts, hotels — you really start to see those tick up, especially once you enter within 30 days.”

Booking with an agent may be helpful, as agents have connections with different tour companies and airlines and may have access to promotions or rates not available to the general public.

For a truly spontaneous travel experience on a budget, Groupon offers “mystery getaways,” in which you choose from a list of departure airports (Atlanta is the closest option) and select your travel dates (which must be at least 14 days ahead of departure and no more than 90 days in advance). Your destination, hotel and length of stay (ranges from two to seven nights) are chosen by lottery, and you pay the same amount regardless of what you get.

Vouchers for recent trips on offer were going for $199 per person, and you must buy a minimum of two vouchers. Your destination will be revealed within 72 hours of booking. Possibilities include seven nights in London and Paris, four nights in Aruba or two nights in Austin, but potential destinations vary based on your departure airport.

Pack Up + Go provides a more tailored approach to mystery travel, planning detailed surprise itineraries based on your travel dates, history, desires and budget. Choose from several trip types: a plane trip to a surprise destination one to six hours from your departure airport, a plane or road trip to an outdoor-focused destination picked for you, a road trip to a surprise destination with a suggested pit stop or a surprise itinerary for a destination of your choosing from a list of about 300 options across the U.S.

All trips include pre-booked accommodations, dinner reservations and prepaid cards for activities included on your itinerary. The company doesn’t do trips to international destinations, but it’s a fun way to explore U.S. destinations that may have flown under your radar. While you’re not necessarily getting a great deal, you can feel spontaneous without paying extra to book last-minute.

Learn more or book travel at packupgo.com, thetravelagencyinc.com or groupon.com.