It’s no secret that planning a trip last minute can come with an expensive price tag for airfare, hotels, and even some restaurants if you don’t book ahead.

With airfare, companies know that last-minute purchasers will pay full price for a ticket because they don’t have the flexibility of waiting for cheaper deals compared to people who buy earlier, as reported in USA Today.

Related Post: Here’s How To Tell If A Cheap Flight Is The Real Deal

As a result, prices increase dramatically as travelers get closer to their travel dates because some airlines know that many people don’t have any other options.

Despite the expensive trends with last-minute tickets and accommodations, analysts from NerdWallet say there are ways to “avoid getting gouged” if you’re in a situation that requires last-minute travel. Here are a few ways:

Search various booking sites

Booking sites such as Momondo and Fare Compare will allow you to check airfare and hotel rates from various platforms at the same time, allowing travelers to compare prices and times.  NerdWallet analysts suggest using these multi-search engines to compare deals but also cross-check their rates with prices offered directly from the airline and hotels. 

Before booking the flight, check prices of accommodations on different dates

Searching different travel dates will help you to gauge the average prices for a hotel stay another time of the year to compare it to what you are being offered for booking last minute. 

Another good place to check for hotel reservations last minute is roomertravel.com, an online booking platform where travelers can purchase someone else’s hotel reservations for a discounted price.

Bundle deals actually help

Package deals that include a hotel and a flight can turn out to be some of the best last-minute travel deals, according to NerdWallet.  When booking last-minute travel, be sure to check the “package deals” or “bundle deals” tabs on the company website.