Our Favourite Late Escapes for 2024
With spring well and truly underway (although evidently, no one told the weather), conversations are turning to the summer, the sunshine and holidays - our favourite topics!
However, organising a holiday can be easier said than done. The excitement of choosing your next destination can quickly dissipate when faced with the hard slog of planning a new adventure. Choosing flights, hotels, transfers and booking tickets - all while navigating a culture and a language that's not your own - can make planning seem quite daunting. So, don't plan, leave that to our expert explorers - all you have to decide is where to go!
The good news is there's plenty to choose from in our selection of last-minute holidays. From jumping across the channel to see the Eiffel Tower to sailing the turquoise waters of the Adriatic on a luxury yacht or travelling through the Peruvian jungle by train to see the legendary Machu Picchu, you'll find lots of exciting adventures ready to book-and-go, completely hassle-free. We've got spring and summer 2024 river cruises, ocean and yacht cruises in Greece, Italy, Croatia, Norway and Canada, and tours throughout Europe and worldwide.
And to make it even more enticing (as if that were possible), look out for our special offers, available on select holidays.
Best last-minute holidays
Best last-minute river cruises
If you've never been on a river cruise, the Danube is a great place to start. It's one of our most popular rivers, you don’t have to work hard to figure out why. Passing through 10 countries and four capital cities, there's plenty along the Danube's banks to attract the discerning traveller. From famous capital cities, like Budapest and Bucharest, to dramatic natural wonders like the Iron Gates and Danube Delta. Our 15-day river cruise from Budapest to the Black Sea (and back) offers you the opportunity to visit these incredible sights and explore some of the lesser-known (but equally fascinating) towns and cities along its bank, like Veliko Tarnovo - the ‘City of the Tsars’ and former capital of Bulgaria - and Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city.
Or, perhaps you'll be seduced by our French river cruises. France is known for its joie de vivre, with incredible culture, food and art seeping from every pore. Along the Seine, you'll be introduced to some of the most romantic and historic landmarks in Europe - including the Notre Dame and the Arc de Triomphe – as well as visiting sites that changed the course of history in Normandy and taste the fragrant apple ciders produced in the orchards that line the banks of the river Seine.
And if wine is more your thing, you could choose to explore Burgundy from the banks of the Rhône. You'll spot ancient Roman ruins, medieval castles and quaint French villages from the comfort of our five-star ship and stop to explore some of the area's landmarks, like the papal palace in Avignon and the historic city of Lyon. And, of course, we wouldn’t visit this historic wine-producing region without learning more about winemaking or tasting some of the best red wines in the world - it would be rude not to! And, if you’re looking for 2024, you can save up to £200 on selected departure dates.
Sound good? Don't forget, you'll enjoy unbeatable value for money on all our river cruises, including luxury accommodation, full-board dining, flights from your local airport at no extra cost, transfers, services of a wonderful Riviera Cruise Director and Concierge, and all excursions with knowledgeable local guides.
You'll also enjoy drinks on us! We've added our drinks package to every cabin on every European river cruise. So, whether you want to enjoy a glass of wine or three over lunch on board or a cocktail after dinner, you can - absolutely free!
Best last-minute ocean cruises
Looking for a great deal on our luxury yacht cruises? Look no further than our Split, Hvar and the Delights of Dalmatia. Not only do you get to stay on our luxurious MS Mendula, our twin-masted luxury yacht, you'll also get to explore the historic city of Split, stop in the most picturesque little ports along the Dalmatian coast and visit medieval towns that have remained unchanged for centuries.
We have several itineraries exploring the Croatian coastline from more northerly locations, all the way up to the Kvarner Gulf and Istria or further south, to Dubrovnik.
Our yacht cruises really do include everything you need within the price you pay. Like expertly crafted itineraries made by explorers, insightful excursions with local guides, swim stops in idyllic locations, exclusive yacht accommodation, hand-picked hotels in the best locations, direct flights from your local airport at no extra cost, breakfast every morning (and select other meals), transfers and the services of a wonderful Riviera Tour Manager who’ll look after you throughout.
Best last-minute European tours
If you'd prefer to keep your feet on dry land, you can take your pick from our last-minute European tours. Spanning 6.8% of the earth's land area, Europe is a rich and diverse continent - there's so much to explore but we’ve gathered a few of our top picks to whet your appetite:
Take a look at our Pompeii, Capri and the Bay of Naples tour. Not only do you get to stay in one of the most beautiful corners of Europe, but you'll also get to step back in time to the Roman Empire. Thanks to Pompeii's almost perfectly preserved state, much of what we know about the Roman way of life comes from these ruins - you'll see murals and mosaics, as well as graffiti describing political events, romantic entanglements and even gossip (how little things have changed!). You'll also be able to relax with a free day in the centuries-old resort town of Sorrento as well as sample a taste of this verdant region with an authentic farm lunch surrounded by the tranquil countryside.
Away from the mainland, Sicily has seen a resurgence in popularity, thanks to its recent stints as the glamourous backdrop of film and TV shows, such as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) and White Lotus (season two). Our tour allows you to see the quintessential citrus and olive groves, fragrant pine forests and sweeping bays of the Mediterranean's largest island. You'll sample Sicily's culture - which is similar yet distinct from the mainland - and savour authentic Sicilian cuisine at a local farmhouse, part of the Italian tradition of agriturismo (farms designed to receive guests for food and/or accommodation). Our Sicilian adventure also includes visiting the stunning Greek remains of the Valley of the Temples, seeing an exquisite example of a 4th-century Roman Villa in Piazza Armerina, and taking a drive up the sometimes snow-capped peaks of Europe's highest volcano, Mount Etna. And with £100pp off select dates, you're enjoying truly unbeatable value.
You can also upgrade your experience with our Signature Small Group tour, available on select dates. You'll travel with a smaller group with an average of 22 guests and enjoy all the above plus additional excursions designed to help you immerse yourself in the island's culture, history and cuisine. This includes an unforgettable lunch on the fertile slopes of Mount Etna at a historic winery, a glimpse into the life of a Sicilian aristocrat with a tour of Palazzo Conte Federico in the company of a member of Count Alessandro Fedrico's family, and an aperitive and nibbles overlooking Taormina and the surrounding coastline.
Read more about Sicily in our travel guide
Byron christened it the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, George Bernard Shaw called it ‘Paradise on Earth’, and to us, Dubrovnik is simply a must-see. Once the centre of a thriving commercial empire, this historic city is almost a living museum with a distinctly medieval character heavily influenced by the Baroque period. Here, modern life spills onto its pedestrianised marble streets. And you'll have plenty of time to explore with a four-night stay in the city on our tour of Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian Coast. You'll start your stay with a guided tour with an expert local guide before being unleashed on the city to continue wandering its beautiful streets independently. You could watch the world go by as you have a leisurely lunch in the main square, enjoy a cruise around the harbour or take in the views from the city walls. We'll also visit Croatia's second-largest city, Split - most famous for the colossal palace of Emperor Diocletian, which takes up most of the picturesque Old Town.
Of course, not to be outdone by the cities, the countryside also holds its charms, including the immensely impressive sequence of lakes and interlocking waterfalls of Krka Valley - you'll want your camera handy for this visit as the views have to be seen to be believed.
Best last-minute worldwide tours
What could be better than exploring further afield destinations for less in 2024? You can save up to £500pp on our worldwide tours.
Keep your cameras handy to capture the 'big five' on film in Botswana. Visiting three southern African countries - Zambia, Botswana and South Africa - our Victoria Falls, Botswana Safari and Cape Town tour offers an incredible variety of natural and cosmopolitan experiences. From taking a helicopter ride over one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders, Victoria Falls, and watching the fire-red sunset over the mighty Zambezi River during a cruise on the 'African Queen' to watching penguins waddle up and down Boulder Beach, this tour is jam-packed full of once-in-a-lifetime moments.
Dive into the world of jazz music, gumbo and good times in the USA's Deep South. This classic American road trip takes us through five southern states, stopping at some of the country's most renowned attractions, including the Country Music Hall of Fame, Graceland, the National Civil Rights Museum, NASA’s Johnson Space Centre and the site of the Alamo. You’ll stay in some of America’s most fascinating cities: Austin, Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans, as well as Houston, San Antonio and Dallas.
Alternatively, you may choose to take a tour of Northern India's Golden Triangle with stays in Delhi, Jaipur and Agra. Each city boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage with landmarks reflecting the country's Mughal past. In Agra, we'll see the UNESCO-protected Taj Mahal - one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Amber Fort in Jaipur and Jama Masjid in Old Delhi, one of Asia’s largest mosques. Our tour ends in Shimla, the summer capital of India under the British Empire, where you can see reminders of British colonial life and bag a few last-minute bargains in the markets before returning home.
And don't forget, our tours include everything you need within the price you pay. Like expertly crafted itineraries (made by our expert explorers), insightful excursions with local guides, hand-picked accommodation in the best locations, direct flights from your local airport at no extra cost, transfers and the services of a wonderful Riviera Tour Manager who’ll look after you throughout. You can relax knowing that you’ll get unbeatable value for money (even more with our latest offers).
View all our last-minute worldwide tours
Feeling spontaneous? It’s never too late to book your next holiday and these are just a small taste of the holidays we have on offer. Want to find your next adventure?
