Whats the best last minute deal you ever had?

adindas

WishI'dReadSooner
Do tell us where you get those bargains ?
Link to website might be helpfull ....

WishI'dReadSooner wrote: »

In the EARLY days of the internet, well before the masses arrived we frequently won travel auctions for just 99p - that was for flights, transfers and hotel often HB included. That was for 2 people, often for 2 weeks! This was before they started adding on booking fees and taxes. We often had 3-5 holidays a year.

Being self employed we were able to book last minute when there was a lul in the business - often the departure was 2-3days later than the auction. We used to get our bags packed, have NO preferences where we went - we just went for the auctions that had no bids and we very often won them at just 99p - sometimes we went up to a massive £40 if we really fancied going to this extortionate place! LOL

We went to loads of places in Greece, Spain, Balearics and Canary Islands and we never had a bad holiday - we always had funds just in case the hotel was carp (sometimes they didn't state which hotel you'd be staying) but we were extremely lucky often ending up in 4 star accommodation. If we did manage HB deals it was actually cheaper to go abroad than it was to stay at home.

Those were the days!

We were the couple who quickly drifted away when people began to say how much they had paid for their holiday. IF you'd paid a fortune (often £1000+) for your break I'm sure you'd have been well miffed that we paid just 99p for exactly the same holiday.

ponymad_3

I once had a 4 night break in Tossa de Mar - the flight was delayed and the night porter refused to let us check in... we had only paid £99 each. However us and another couple stuck to our guns and told the rep they owed us. She moved us to a 4 star hotel on HB from Self catering and gave us £30 each in compensation...Thosem were the days... Now Thomson who I have a major gripe with have offered me £25 voucher to use against another holiday and told me to go to a 3rd party if I am still unhappy. Mr Thomson I am and Iwill ... Its called ABTA

getmore4less

bcl999 wrote: »

18 night cruise, top category balcony cabin, sole occupancy, £179. Brochure price something like £2500.

fabsaver wrote: »

Wow that cruise is impressive :money: How did you manage to find that?

.

That must have been the MSE transatlantic, great deal but you then had to get back from Brazil.

miss_edith

Five years ago I got a week B+B in a 4* hotel in the Algarve for £80 and 2 months ago had a week in Austria for £129.

Those are the only package holidays I've been on in years (due to the prices) but have had some fabulously cheap city breaks thanks to Ryanair and Priceline - a week in a 5* hotel in Berlin for £130 was the best.

ixia

In 2003 got £99 all inclusive to callella that's the best I've ever had.

erdd2

I week all inclusive to cala d'or £99 pp
2 weeks all inclusive for family of 5, portugal £1099
Return flight to venice £13.01
Return flight to Rome £13.01
Open return flight to LAX £149

All from scotland, varied from 1 to 4 weeks booking in advance

WishI'dReadSooner

adindas wrote: »

WishI'dReadSooner
Do tell us where you get those bargains ?
Link to website might be helpfull ....

Sadly the cheap auction sites have all gone now. It was holidays from Thompson, First Choice, Airtours & the like. There used to be about 4 or 5 sites that gathered them all together. All were last minute auctions from the night before until normally at best the week before. It was about 13yrs ago when we took greatest advantage & lasted at 99p (holiday for 2 all in) for at least 5yrs THEN they went up - often adding £20pp booking fees, transfers and taxes.

I'd LOVE to be able to tell you they are still there but they are not.

As I said 'Those were the days!'

bobstheboy

Many last minute bargains but the best are

£99 return to Sydney (Airtours)

£798 for a 28 night cruise from Majorca to Caribbean, AI (again Airtours -Sunbird - now Thomson Destiny)

£199 for a beautiful villa, flights and car in Cyprus (7 nights)

Bargains are still out there !!!

miamoo

We paid £600pp for 2 week at riu tequila in mexico with thomson in 2006 booked 2wks before. (nowhere near the deals people have had on here, but a bargain for us) The price the week before/after was over 1kpp

Paloma club sultan turkey £199pp 1 wk all inclusive booked 2 wks before with thomas cook. usual price £400pp (june 2007)

Stella di mare sharm hotel, egypt for £150 per room on the first choice website, it had only been open around 6 months. we booked flights cheaply with easyjet (£200pp) spoke to many people who had paid 1k+ pp for a package deal with first choice! (dec 2010)

shanejones

I once got all inclusive to Majorca for just over £200 for the week, its risky leaving it til last minute though. But was a great holiday.

Found a local independent travel agent that sorted it for me.