Getting the best last-minute travel deals often requires a lot of patience. Be prepared to act when the moment is right, but not too soon. You never know when a better deal is right around the corner.

I was feeling restless at 3:15 p.m. on a Friday. "Crazy idea," I said to my husband. "How about we get out of town?" I sent to a text to my friend, asking if he could come by a couple times to ...