Last second holidays - such a thing ?

RancidM

Our family is now of an age where we would turn up at a travel agents/website etc and say 2 adults 2 kids (over 14) 7+ nights all inclusive and can depart anytime in the next 7 days.

What bargains do you have ?

Does this actual work ?
Any advice for getting the best deal ?

richardw

None.
Nope.
Book early or go off peak. Read MSE's haggle down the price of a package holiday guide.

SW17

This market doesn't really exist as it used to, largely because over the last few years tour operators have significantly reduced the excess capacity that drove the need for last-minute discounts.

There might still be a few pockets of bargains, but as richardw mentions, they are likely to be out of main season, so not during school holidays.

This year, if bookings for Turkey remain as bad as they have been, there might be a few operators discounting, if they have not managed to move the capacity to destinations currently perceived as safer by the public.

Kernow666

back in the days of actual teletext yes you could get deals for cheap , I know we did about 20yrs ago went to florida for £199 each for 2 weeks

Alan_Bowen

As others have said the market is very different now, mainly due to low cost airlines operating on the basis that you pay more the later you leave it and not reducing prices. Since they seem to sell 90% of their seats this way, they are happy not to discount the last seats unlike the old charter airlines.

There is one period of the year where there is a glimmer of cheap packages and that is in June. the charter carriers have always had a problem due to lack of demand because of examinations taking place and sporting events, this year there are the European Football Championships starting in June which deflates demand considerably, at least until England get knocked out and this year we have a referendum on June 23rd that a lot of people claim they do not want to miss.

Apart from that month, demand is up and there are warnings that last minute holidays will be few and far between and very expensive, unless you fancy Turkey...