Last minute winter sun holiday needed

Rave

My wife is currently unemployed and she suffers a bit from seasonal affective disorder, so as we got some cash for Christmas from some generous relatives we want to get away for a week at the end of January (departing between the 28th and the 31st). We're basically very poor, and so the holiday needs to be as cheap as possible (I know we should really save the money, but I think the holiday will do her the world of good).

Has anyone got any tips for booking a last minute deal? We want to go somewhere that's going to be warm, so that basically means the Canaries or possibly Cyprus as far as I can see- but we'll consider anywhere. ATM I've found a couple of holidays on Lastminute for £129pp but undoubtedly that wouldn't include all the extras like transfers etc.:rolleyes:. I'm hoping to get it down to less than £150pp all in, and cheaper would be good (more spending money ;D ).

How late should we leave it to book? How hard can you bargain with travel agents on last minute deals like these? Could I get it cheaper online and if so, from where?

Thanks on advance for any help,

Rich :¬)

Edit: forgot to say: Gatwick is by far the most convenient airport for us (we're in SE London) although we could just about do Luton or Stansted if they worked out a lot cheaper.

Also: Checked my work schedule here, can't be as flexible as I thought

Hopefully final edit: ideally we want SC but half board or whatever would be doable.

TRAVELMAN_2

Hi Rave,

For your budget I'd widen it to any med destination (granted Majorca may be 17 degrees not 21 & have the odd shower but MUCH more sun than here!) & book just 1/2 days before to stand any chance of £150 all in per person.

Please...a bit of common sense....at £150 pp NO agent will negotiate-the average commision payable to a self-employed agen on text web from a 3150 pp hol is £11-70-do you really think there is any room for negotiation? Most Agents will just get rid of you quick & move to next call.

Hang fire & book a day or 2 before.

Rave

Thanks a lot for the advice mate, appreciated. I'll certainly consider the balearics, or Madeira etc. The bargaining question was more from the perspective of going into one of the high street chains rather than phoning the smaller web operators; I'll certainly not waste those people's time by haggling if those are the sort of margins they're on.

There's one on Lastminute now advertised as 'from 119pp' but they reckon there's a £11 booking fee which I guess is standard (probably the agent's comission as you say). As a rough guess how much would all the stuff like inflight meals and transfers add on top? I would phone and ask were it not a flipping 0870 number:rolleyes:.

How risky is the 1 or 2 days in advance strategy? I like a bit of a risk and I'm not fussed about where we end up going, but I don't want to book a week off work only to end up sitting at home

Thanks again for the advice.

Rich :¬)

Edit- had a look on teletext, looks like there's loads available, but what are all the codes about TOD for example. Is there a jargon buster anywhere?

TRAVELMAN_2

Good point re:jargon-buster! Will list 'extras' payable on lates below-might ask Martin to put as a 'sticky'!

Ok-firstly, extra charges on most late deals. Whilst I'm not a legal expert as far as I'm aware Agents can advertise a lead-price WITHOUT including the following;-

Ticket on departure fee-£10-£12 pp (for bookings within 2, sometimes 3 weeks)
Booking fee-anything from £5-£12 pp
Credit card charges-average about 2%
Transfer cost-£15-£18 pp (in most cases-especially if a short transfer or more than 2 pax cheaper to pre-book private taxi!)
Flight meals-£10 pp-sometimes reduced to £5 for kids
Airport Security charge-£7 pp (Might be wrong on this-seem to remember this needs to be included in some arrangements?).

Jargon-buster!

TOD-ticket on departure charge if booking made within 2-3 weeks of departure (funny charge when a button is pressed on a computer & out pops ticket but hey....!)
ASL-Airport security levy (since 9/11 extra security so cost added to flight tkt)
B/F=Agent booking fee (posh word for charging extra commission)
TFR/TFRS-Transfer cost-usually an extra £15-£18 pp
CC charge/DC charge-Credit/Debit card charge-usually 2%
AOA-Allocated on arrival-you are given a minimum grade & it is at the Tour Op's discretion WHERE you stay-VERY risky ulness resort is stated-you have no comeback if you don't like location!
NMD-Named accomodation.

In respect of your last question, yes-whilst nothing is deffo you'll get something somehere a day or 2 before-if you take a bit of a risk & go allocated on arrival!

Chris

Rave

That's great, thanks! I agree that a sticky with the charges and the jargon would be a good idea.

I was expecting to have to go AOA, TBH we're not fussy as long as the place is habitable.

Rich :¬)

saveapenny

Keep an eye on https://www.holidayholiday.co.uk
alot of agents on there dont charge c/c charges so thats one saving
Take into account how much you will spend on food and drink so it might be worth paying 200 for AI
Or if your budget will stretch just a bit further there is one from Gatwick on the 31st to Taba at the SEA STAR
Half Board Rated 3star for 209 with Longwoods and you could probably get another tenner knocked off and it would be slightly warmer than some of the med
One aganet I know that will knock money off if she can or give you free insurance is on 01444 474 085 and she wont charge c/c charge either. I have used her before and she is very good at finding really excellent deals

saveapenny

How about this one
http://www.holidayholiday.co.uk/offer_detail.php?country=Egypt%20-%20Taba&cur_page=1&durlist=all&id=34628&start_item=18&departairport=any&typeid=
4 Star Half board £188 for and extra 33 quid you have all your meals ;D and staying somewhere nicer than basic ;D
Or this one
http://www.holidayholiday.co.uk/offer_detail.php?country=Tunisia&cur_page=1&durlist=all&id=31391&start_item=119&departairport=any&typeid=
4Star again and half board 148 ;D
You have to agree both good deals

TRAVELMAN_2

Savapenny me thinks you are an agent???!

Chris

perryash1

RAVE,
we booked a week in tenerife not so long ago, we travel first week in feb, we did the booking by ourselves as this works out cheaper if you are prepared to spend the time looking.
We got our flights through https://www.opodo.co.uk these worked out to be £103, and when we were looking for an apartment here were lots for around the £150- £200 per week mark, we got ours through https://www.ownersdirect.co.uk, we fly from heathrow but have to go via madrid, but for that price im not complaining. Hope this helps.

saveapenny

nope...Just a bargain hunter.
We have met before Chris  ;)
If I was an agent at least I would earn money from finding them and helping friends and family instead others earn money  :'(

PS...If I was an agent why would I put 2 different deals up and not my own...lol

TRAVELMAN_2

I'm intrigued now......SPILL!!!

It was just when you mentioned the 'holidayholiday' site which is still not that well known outside of the Trade that I thought I'd give u a bit of a ribbing if u were a 'secret' Travel Agent!

Chris