planning ahead? only in the states

Lately, there has been much discussion on the internet about planning trips at the last minute and how flexibility can result in some killer last minute travel deals. I'm unsold, though. It would appear that most "last minute" offers aren't last minute at all. Rather they are contingency plans that were already set in motion weeks before the "last minute" was approaching. As such, there is usually little room to bargain for find exclusive deals. There are also certain areas that just don't participate. Finding a last minute deal in Vegas, for example, appears much easier than finding one in Boston. So is it the platform that is missing for that last minute line of communication between merchant and customer?

In the U.S., we've got bargain based sites like Priceline which never seem to work. I've tried numerous times to get good last minute deals on airfare with no success. It would appear that certain locations just don't care whether they fly and empty plane or a full one.

In the UK, they have sites like HotelShop which specialize in last minute hotel rooms. What's really coo about this site is that the hotels aren't your typical chain hotels, which tend to have a single mindset and established rates for their supposed "last minute" rates. Instead, we get awesome little historic establishments like the Inverness Crown Court Hotel or the Barcelo Cardiff Angel that offer visitors a unique lodging experience. Why can't we have a service like this here in the States? Something that consolidates last minute offers from smaller family-owned inns and hostels would be a great asset for the more adventurous traveler who is tired of the same old Holiday Inn Express.

It's unbelievable, really. In the UK, if I booked through HotelShop, I could stay in a castle built in 1282 for only 60 pounds a night. In the states, I'd be stuck at the Econolodge. Of course, if you were traveling to the UK and were willing to stay in hostels, you'd probably find even cheaper rates, but you wouldn't get hotel service or the grandeur that you would get staying in one of these historic establishments. I truly am impressed with this site. Not only does it compile a great selection of historic hotels in one place (with ratings, details and multiple photos), but it lets you shop for last minute specials.

If you're heading to Europe at any point in the near future, and will be staying over in the UK at all, you should keep this site handy. If you're still trying to find last minute deals in the States, best of luck.