At first glance, consumers increasingly come across ultra-cheap tour offers. But how realistic are these promises? Do such prices hide deception — and how can travelers really save money without unnecessary risks?

What Stands Behind an Extremely Low Price

Most cheap tours fall into the category of so-called last-minute deals. To assess their value, it’s important to understand how they appear.

Tour operators create last-minute tours when they fail to sell all seats on upcoming flights as part of package deals. If an aircraft has 180 seats and only 60 are sold, the remaining seats generate direct financial losses. To reduce these losses, operators sell such seats at cost — or even below it.

For this reason, last-minute deals exist only for very close departure dates and usually during the low season, when demand remains weak. That reality leads to a clear conclusion: travelers almost never find last-minute tours for New Year’s holidays, peak seasons, or popular travel dates.

The Illusion of “Cheap Travel”

Aggressive advertising often creates the impression that everyone travels constantly — and does so cheaply. Recently, an acquaintance of mine shared her frustration:

“It feels like everyone around me is endlessly flying and traveling — and it’s all so cheap. Wherever you look, you see ads for almost free tours: pay $300 and go on vacation.”

Accommodation: The Main Risk of Last-Minute Tours

Accommodation remains one of the weakest points of last-minute travel. In these cases, travelers don’t choose hotels in advance — they receive whatever remains available at the last moment.

Market logic works simply: travelers book the best options first. Hotels with strong ratings and good locations usually sell out months ahead. As a result, last-minute packages rely on leftover options from the final days.

Such hotels rarely offer real comfort. Even if travelers only need a place to sleep, most still expect a clean bed — without insects, moldy odors, noisy neighbors, or other unpleasant surprises.

Hidden Fees: Unpleasant Surprises After Arrival

Another common risk of cheap tours is hidden extra charges. Formally, you pay $300 at the agency, but upon arrival you may face mandatory payments that were never clearly explained in advance.

It’s important to note that this is not a universal practice. However, such cases do occur regularly, and sometimes the additional costs are comparable to — or even exceed — the price of the tour itself.

Geography and Economics: Why Cheap Tours Don’t Always Work

Our country’s geographical position also plays an important role. Flights to both Europe and Southeast Asia take around seven hours.

Among relatively nearby destinations with package tours, the UAE is one of the most popular. Yet it is a country with a strong economy and high prices for almost everything. For example, a burger at McDonald’s can cost around $20, while entrance tickets to attractions average about $100.

As a result, traveling to the Gulf countries on a minimal budget often leads to disappointment: the feeling that “everything is expensive and inaccessible” can accompany a tourist throughout the entire trip.

When a Low Price Signals an Illegal Scheme

Not all low-cost tours we see are last-minute deals. There is another category — agencies that use tourism as a cover for other, less legal businesses.

Put simply, these are companies involved in cashing-out schemes. You can often find tours priced below market value or even below cost with them, because their main goal is not satisfied tourists, but a constant flow of money.

As with any illegal operation, such businesses can disappear overnight. In practice, we have encountered clients who trusted such companies and were left without both their money and their booked trips.

That’s why in tourism — as in any other field — it’s important to remember that a low price is not always a sign of luck or savings, but often an indicator of serious risks.

So, Is It Still Possible to Save on Travel?

Yes, absolutely — and the best way to do it is to act like a true professional: plan and book your trips in advance. Early booking offers all the key advantages — the best prices, the best hotel options, and special deals.

Here is a real example, without exaggeration: by booking a summer trip in autumn, I saved $2,500 on a tour that originally cost $4,700. One month before departure, the same tour was already priced at $7,200.

That’s why my message is simple: let’s save your money, reduce travel risks, and choose high-quality vacations at the best possible prices.