Will I get a good deal if I book holiday either on same day or day before?

kevinr_3

Hi there,

Me and my girlfriend are planning on going on holiday in the last weekend of August and I would be grateful if you could give me your advice.

Basically we want to go on an all-inclusive holiday for 14 nights, we aren't bothered about where (apart from mainland Spain) as long as its nice and hot with a nice beach.

My question is, will we get a good deal if we book either on the same day or a couple of days before or would this be risky and the prices end up being more?

Views are appreciated.

Thanks!
Kev

apt

Most likely you will have next to no choice and will have to pay a tickets on departure charge. Best to start looking now.

Alan_Bowen

The last weekend co-incides with the Bank Holiday which means you don't lose 10 days holiday, regretably thousands of others without children have worked that out as well and therefore demand will be higher than the weeks before and after. Last minute holidays are what other people didn't want, occasionally you can strike lucky and get a holiday for a lot less than anyone else but often you get the accommodation that everyone else decided they didn't want to stay in. I would book for that weekend at least 3 weeks in advance, so first or second week in August at the latest or you might be spending your holiday in Butlins, which for the first time I can remember is advertising holidays are still available in August a week before the holidays begin....

stephb34

As you want to go for 14 days at the end of august you should get a very good deal as most people with kids wont be wanting to go then as the kids go back to school at the beginning of september so realistically cant do 14 days. I'd be looking now if only to get some idea as to what prices are about. Theres lots of deals about, this last weekend just gone Thomas Cook were giving free spending money away with all TC holidays departing before the end of october. Also as previously mentioned within 2 weeks of departure you have to pay late booking fees normally about £15pp, and generally the holiday companys release any hotels they haven't sold back to the hoteliers so the choice of accommodation is less.
Its a bit like the sales in clothes shop they bring out the stuff thats left with just the odd great find nestled in there.

WaxiesDargle

I think it depends how brave you are feeling...you could land on your feet and get a cracker of a deal....er...or not!

have a Plan B just in case...and that includes being in the dog house for ages after

thegirlintheattic

The best deals tend to be about 3 weeks before departure. Last minute (days before) deals tend not to be as cheap unless you want to book flights/hotels seperately, it is unlikely these will be all in, and the flights at the last minute tend to be much more expensive. Over the bank holiday there is likely to be very little left for late deals anyway, considering it is when there is a peak in demand.

If you want a good deal you have two options really:

1) Look 3 weeks before for deals slightly later in September - these will be off-peak and much cheaper as the kids are back to school.
2) Book flights to a major tourist spot about 3-4 weeks before, if not more, and then use a hotel room finder about 5 days before to get the best deals on the rooms. This will not be all inclusive and is a bit risky as you may end up in bad accommodation or having to move hotels during your stay if you can't get the dates you want. However I have got very good deals doing it this way by calling up hotels for their spare rooms, if you do this you need to make it clear that you are not desperate for a room and so will not pay over the odds for it.

eslick

ah those where the days, going to the agent or the airport and getting flights to the US for less than £100 inlaws once got £49, think most of them have changed now but sometimes there are bargains but not to the extent of years ago