Realistically...how quickly can you plan a trip?

Ok, I'm just wondering if anyone has travelled very spur of the moment. I'm trying to plan another trip to Negril this summer for just my husband and myself (leaving the child at Nana's house!). Unfortunately, I won't know if it will be a definite thing until perhaps a month before I'd like to go. I would buy our tickets then but would love to wait until a few days to book a place. I'm looking to go the first week of July because we just can't make it in June. I know this is slow season so I'm not too worried about not finding a place and we won't be too picky. Has anyone done something like this? Usually I like to have everything planned and paid for long before the trip.

I've decided on a Tuesday and left on Friday. It can be done. Just start emailing about prices for rooms so you have it all lined up,then when you are sure email again to make sure there is still availability. No problem :)

I've planned a trip in two weeks..

mind you i didn't have a passport at the time since it was my first time going to Jamaica in a very long time.. so i also had to fly to miami to go to the passport agency so i could get my passport the same day.. one month is plenty of time as long as you have everything in order.

We have used NegrilOneStop and I really like them. I was thinking about calling them up the few days before (I've been in contact already) and saying, "Ok, what do you have available???" Like I said, we are not going to be picky. I'm actually going to try and do a low-budget AI so we have the basics covered and have extra money. Rastagal, did you wait that long for your plane ticket also?

Wow, lol...that is last minute! We have our passports so all we'd have to do is book air and room. I would love to wait for the last minute on the plane tickets because our dates our flexible.

At a Happy Hour years ago in Columbus Ohio, some friends bet me I wouldnt go to Negril that night.... needless to say I won that bet... (grin)

My first trip I booked on Friday & left on Saturday morning - LOL! Another trip - maybe 1995, I returned on a Sunday night, quite late; broke up w/ my S.O. on Monday; returned to Negril on Tuesday. Of course, this was before 9/11. If need be, I'd still pull it off now.

LOL@ Rob...I can definitely see how some adult beverages may have been involved in that bet!! But talk about the sense of adventure! Love it!

Yvonne, that is FAST!

Ok, so it looks like I could wait for both plane tickets AND hotel! WOOHOOO!

I'm with Rob. I'd feel comfy hopping on a plane and letting the chips fall where they may...packing usually is an exercise in overindulgence....passport...cash, cc's...sandals...shorts...toothbrush, and a few shirts...boom...on da plane.

As one wise boardie used to say ..BOOK ...PACK ...GO !! I have visited many times ..and seldom have booked a room before arriving ..sort of adds to the adventure .. and no problem mon ..

Quickest ever notify to fly was 50th birthday party, but Coleen had pre-planned, notify at 5 in friends plane headed to ORD at 7

Airfare Thursday fly Saturday a couple times, but that is with caveats, rental car company in MoBay has always had a car, we always have a Jamaica bag ready here, we have a lot of stuff in Negril and we are willing to room shop once we get there (Blue Cave Castle, Heartbeat, Kuyaba, Caribbean Delight are just a few of the no reservations places we have stayed)

Not so much today now that Worry Free & Ryan & a couple other charter air companies are gone, but in the day last minute charter airfares were un-believable discounts.

I have bought tickets one day and traveled the next. If I have money--there is nothing holding me back. I pack pretty light-- as long as I have a couple of swimming suits, flip flops, a few tops and shorts etc, I am good to go. I have picked up sunscreen, sarong and towels down there before. Spur of the moment trips can be the best.

Hahahaha.... Last year it was three days notice! It was great!

I have never know for sure more than a month in advance. We just got back yesterday and didn't know until 2 weeks ago that we would be able to go. I am not sure I could stand booking and having to wait for months. We are both self employed so it does make it easier to wait and be able to go when plane prices drop

you can play a trip the same day and bring it off successfully once you have what it takes...tha funds!! grins with rob lol

Once you know, you go and once you get there you can find a place to stay on your way to Negril from MoBay. Once you get there you'll get a chance to get your bearings. There is always space available close to where you want to be.

Sounds like it is do-able. Great!

Any time I can drive the wife nuts until instead of NO! She says just go,I am gone in days!

five minutes ....

I decided to go on a Friday and was on the beach Monday. Would have been sooner if I hadn't had out of town company staying with me that weekend. And this was from Int'l Falls, MN...aka..the edge of the planet!

This is good news! I just won't be sure if we really can go until *almost* the last minute.

REALISTICALLY?? if only I had the cash for a trip I would show you! I think I could realistically book in less than one minute and 30 seconds flat.I would throw everything in a bag that would take up to 2 minutes and I can be at my local airport in around 30 mins so realistically 33 minutes 30 seconds top of my head guesstimate just need the cash now:D

haha. Tic, it'd go like that for me too. I live 15 minutes from my airport...

If I had the cash (and vacation time) right this very minute I'd book a flight on my iPhone and find a place to stay when I land.

BTW: I am worried my boss-man won't let me take vacation in April. I gotta do something about this job. Really? I mean, they should schedule events and plan on releasing publications I lay out around when I'm not planning a vacation. haha. Having to work is such a drag. LOL

OMG Brasi you do not follow RULES do you?LOL if I want a vacay I am taking a vacay meetings shmeetings life will roll on without you break the rules lol

Sigh. I know...you are right. I am working on being more of a rebel. For a guy in a band I sure am geeky/lame. LOL

Brasi don't let Tic get you fired LOL!

I'm so not that spur of the moment. Even when I decide to just go, I'm always at least 2 - 3 months out from my projected depart day. I could never wait until I got there to book a room. I need to KNOW I have a place to lay my head. One day I will be a little bit more of a rebel, just not today!

Decided on a Wed to fly Friday, called Onestop, got a room, worked out great!

I was planned a return trip while I was still in Negril - booked and everything. Went home, dealt with what I needed to deal with and was back on-island 3 weeks later.

That's about as spontaneous as I can do with my life the way it is. Damn, I can't even plan a "spontaneous" trip to the North Coast due to "responsibilities".

Poo.

I've gone with nothing but the airfare booked. Off season you can get some good rates if they know you'll just head down the road. A couple of caveats I wish I'd known the first time. First, they may ask you at immigration where you are staying. Give them a hotel name, any hotel name. If you say "I don't know yet" they may force you to make a long distance call to book a room. Just have a name ready. Second, if you don't have transportation prearranged your driver will almost certainly try to steer you to accomodations with whom they have arrangements. Not necessarily bad, I've had it work out, but it helps to be clear that you want to rate shop. Let them know what your budget and your lodging plan is and they'll generally be pretty helpful as they'd like to be your transportation hook up for your trip.

for example - i intend to be in Negril Feruary 12ish for 8 nights - but i havent booked anything - although i have been window shopping rates - probably wont book anything for at least aonother week..

If money was no object... less than 24 hours.

Luckily we have been enough that I sort of know where I'd like to stay so I'm thinking about what last minute good deals I could wrangle. I wouldn't try this if it was high season...I am not that brave lol! I am a control freak so the thought of booking and going in only days is a little scary but I'm going to try it.

Also waiting last minute gives my husband less time to complain! haha!

I've done it in a week...The airfare was of course pricey,being so last minute..but no trouble finding a room or getting transfers,and my passport and carry-on are always ready to go.And now a days if you forget something -no big deal- you can usually get it in Jam ...

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Originally Posted by Luvsdaislands

If money was no object... less than 24 hours.

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Same here!
I would call in sick, throw my swimsuit into a knapsack and jump on the plane.:)