117. Summer’s Not Over Yet! Last Minute Luxury Travel Getaways You Can Still Book

Wish you could squeeze in one more vacation before summer wraps up? In this episode, I'm sharing how to book luxury travel experiences on a whim, why last minute summer getaways can actually be budget-friendly (yep, really!), and my top picks for quick escapes that still feel like a full reset. Whether it's national parks, spa weekends, or Broadway nights, these destinations are ready when you are.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 113: Escorted Touring is a Luxury Travel Experience
• Episode 76: Luxury Travel Packing Made Easier: How to Fit Everything You Need in a Carry-On!
• Episode 59: And, Live from New York…It’s My Trip Highlights

Connect with Michele on IG: @jetsettingwithmichele or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/MMTinsiders

Contact Michele to plan your next vacation: www.makinmemoriestravel.co/contact

This episode was produced by The Podcast Teacher: www.ThePodcastTeacher.com.

Transcript

Hello jet setters and welcome back to another episode of Jet Setting with me. I know it is hard to believe it, but we are halfway through July and summer is already ticking away. So guess what? Your next unforgettable vacation might just be an upcoming three day weekend which is considered a last minute booking. So if you are ready to turn your spontaneity, hey, let's get in the car and go into some relaxation and some recharging that we all need before that very busy fall season. Today's episode is for you. I am diving into the art and it is an art of booking those last minute summer vacations. I'm going to help you figure out how to save money, stress less and deliver those unforgettable memories that you, your family, the family you choose, everyone deserves. So why are last minute summer getaways a win? Well, first of all, last minute deals can stretch your travel budget.

So hotels, airlines, tour operators, everyone that you work with, when you're planning a last minute vacation or vacations in general, they know what the availability is now for the rest of the summer and they want to fill up those seats or those rooms quickly take to hit those summer sales goals. So sometimes that can lead to discounted rates that weren't available far in advance and also some flexibility with some dates and destinations if you act fast. So some destinations actually emerge that weren't available at the same rate before. Like Alaska for example. Alaska cruises now know what they need to hit to hit that sun summer sales goal for the summer season for 2025. So there's some great last minute deals on cruising to Alaska. Hawaii though is similar in that they just announced a grant from the government to help Maui tourism recover. So now there's some great last minute deals to Hawaii that weren't available before this grant money was introduced even a month ago.

And of course the US national parks always need more visitors and funding. Even though this is the busiest time of the year for them, they have lost funding sources. And so perhaps this is the year that you go on a late summer getaway to the national parks. On a guided tour, I discuss my very own summer escape with Globus to Utah's big five in episode number 113. Hopefully hearing about my exploits in the national parks would make you want to go too. So it may seem very daunting to look at the calendar and be like, oh my God, I have a month and then we have this three day weekend and how do I even begin to wrap my head around it? So that's Where I come in. Of course I'm going to handle all the logistics of transportation, hotels, what to do, when to do it, how to do it. All you need to do is decide where you want to go.

So of course I have some suggestions for that too. We'll get to that in just a minute. But before we get into the best places to go, let's talk about one of the biggest things that happens, which is packing. Right? So I have a quote unquote go bag checklist ready for these last minute trips. I even have a separate makeup bag that has like just basic colors but with foundation and moisturizer in those travel sizes so I don't have to like think about it. I always take travel size toiletries, obviously chargers. I've got like the Apple ihome for my 3 in 1 charging. That's like again in a go bag.

I have medications from Amazon, not the pharmacy. The little boxes that are marked so that they're easy to get. Favorite comfort items I will send you if all you have to do is shoot me an email if you're thinking about, hey, what do I need to include on my packing list? I'm happy to share mine with you. When I create your itineraries, you get those personalized packing lists that match your destination and your activities. So it cuts down on the stress, especially if you're trying to plan for something that's in just a few weeks. Of course, one of the best episodes of all time was number 76, luxury travel packing made Easier. How you can fit everything you need in a carry on. A link to that show is of course in the show notes.

A couple of pro tips to remember. Always pack those reusable water bottles you want to stay hydrated and lightweight, wrinkle resistant fabrics that you can mix and match. Skirts, pants and a couple of tops will go a long way. And and then I always also bring like a collapsible backpack, like one that scrunches up real tight so I can fit it in to my carry on. But then I can take it out and I can use it on the trip for like on the go essentials like my sunscreen again, moisturizer, hand sanitizer, all the things that you want when you're gonna be off the ship or off the bus or out of the car doing something during the day. Now why is this such a topic for me right now? So I am in Austin, Texas. I am only about an hour and a half away from the flood zone and the horrific floods that took place here and I don't know about all of you, but it just made me want to hug my children closer and create some new family memories. You know, the late summer vibes, they're all about embracing the now.

And there's a thrill to that spontaneous trip. It creates unexpected stories and it deepens those family bonds. We once had a friend who very tragically lost their 19 year old daughter in a car accident. And it was right before winter break and their child was right in between the ages of our two kids or maybe just a little bit older. But as soon as we heard, we turned around and we were like, we're going away with our kids for winter break. So if you're feeling that, then this is a great time to curate experiences that mean impromptu trips that can have those unforgettable moments. And that is my secret sauce. I just am really good at helping match what you want to get out of a a three day getaway with, as I said, your own family or the family that you choose.

I can help you curate those experiences. I can take the stress out of those last minute logistics, handling everything from airport transfers to special dietary requests and that will transform that last minute chaos into calm. Another personal story. I just had a client who was taking her kids away for July 4th and and she got a notification, literally I think like four days before her departure date that her reservation had been canceled. There had been fraud on her credit card. And so when they went to see if the credit card was legit, it came back as not. And because the hotel had oversold her room category, instead of contacting her like they should have and saying, hey, do you have another credit card? They just canceled her vacation. And she contacts me and with a simple email to one of my contacts, we had her moved over to another resort to her transfers were moved in a matter of minutes so she did not have to deal with any of that last minute chaos.

So where should you go? Well, I cannot make that decision for you, but I do have lots of options for some last minute summer trips make you feel like a full reset. So even if you're only going away for just a long weekend, these quick turnaround trips are going to be really easy for you to wrap your head around and for us to plan together. They have great experiences. I have actually been to every one of those. So let's make the most of every last moment of summer sunshine and summer vacation. So here are some of my favorite weekend trip destinations that that still have availability and they are ready and they want you to come visit San Diego, California. You can fly into San Diego for a vacation that's equal parts fun and relaxing. So you can go to the beach, you can have your fun in the sun, or you can turn up the adventure by heading into LA or the theme parks In Southern California.

You can actually snorkel with leopard sharks. So it's super accessible for a quick trip. And San Diego really never disappoints. It's so beautiful there. It's like when I die and go to heaven, it's going to be like San Diego. Savannah, Georgia has that historic charm. Oh my God. The foodie scene there is amazing.

And that Southern hospitality cannot be beat. It is actually ideal for a romantic weekend or even a solo recharge because it's very, very safe there. You can stroll the cobblestone streets, you can take a historical tour, or just soak up this charm as you sip a glass of wine and relax and feel like you've gone back in time, so to speak. And you're surrounded by that, those huge trees and beautiful Southern beauty. Now if you really want something that's filled with a little more life and adventure, a trip to the Big Apple is always on my list. Broadway shows, Michelin star dining, I mean art museums, city skyline views. Let me go back to that. Broadway shows.

Right now, Hamilton has great seats available for the summer and they are advertising it. So again, like I mentioned, that last minute availability, there is some for Broadway tickets too. There's literally no shortage of things to do in New York. It's just always a win. You can hear about my life, last summer's weekend getaway to New York city and episode 59 with Ann live from New York. It's my trip Highlights was one of the best trips. Mr. Jetsetting with me and I got to take last summer.

It was just wonderful. And I'm so eager to get back because that's how much fun we had. Now if you really want to just relax and take advantage of those luxury spa, massages, peaceful yoga, Sedona is waiting for you. Sedona, Arizona. It is the perfect weekend trip for someone who needs that serenity and tranquility. Gorgeous natural environment. It's got stunning red rocks. It's the best kind of weekend trip that leaves you feeling like you had a full week off instead of just a few days.

Then of course Nashville, Tennessee, which is the bachelor bachelorette party capital, but also great if any of your kids are turning 21 or turn 21 over the summer and you want to have a fun and lively weekend. Or maybe girls without the Bachelorette. So to say, Nashville is a great place. You can have live music, hot chicken sandwiches. Come on. Electric atmosphere. You are bound to have an unforgettable weekend in Nashville. So there is still time this summer to squeeze in a real vacation and I can help you make the most of the season.

If you are ready to plan your perfect weekend escape, I would love to help you pick that destination that fits your style and your schedule. And no stress. Until then, happy, Safe travels. I will see you next week. From where I am headed for my last summer trip, Salt Lake City.