Gen Z Turns Last Minute Travel Whims Into Budget Friendly Trips

Last minute travel means booking a flight or hotel within days, sometimes hours, of departure, and it has become the default style of trip planning for younger travelers. According to American Express's 2024 Global Travel Trends Report, 77% of Gen Z and millennials booked a trip on short notice last year, and same day bookings for flights and hotels climbed 30% between 2024 and 2025, mostly among travelers aged 20 to 35.

At a Glance

• 77% of Gen Z and millennials booked last minute trips in 2024
• Same day flight and hotel bookings rose 30% year over year
• Roughly 40% of last minute reservations were for solo travelers
• Discounts often surface two to three days before check in
• Flight tracking apps and social media groups help travelers find deals fast

Why Younger Travelers Are Booking on Impulse

Gen Z, generally defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, has a reputation for spending enormous amounts of time online, which sometimes earns them the label of the loneliest generation. But that same digital fluency makes them unusually good at pulling together a trip on the fly. Deciding on Madrid on a Monday and landing there by Thursday is not unusual, and it doesn't necessarily blow the budget.

These trips tend to be short, often just a few nights rather than a full week, and they skew personal. Nearly 40% of last minute bookings were made for a single traveler, according to the Amex data, suggesting many young travelers are comfortable striking out alone rather than waiting to coordinate a group trip. Destinations are frequently chosen based on individual interest rather than popularity, whether that means chasing a specific cultural experience or simply picking somewhere new.

The Trade Off: Flexibility for Savings

Booking close to departure can mean real savings, but it demands a willingness to compromise. Ben Julius, founder of Tourist Japan, says the biggest obstacle in last minute travel is simply finding a place to sleep.