Looking for last second deals in August

Macko1

I'm looking to take my two children (17,14) on a week or so long holiday somewhere warm in Europe. I cant remote afford the crazy increase prices for the summer holiday period so I'm hoping for a last second deal, i.e. bags packed ready to go an airport an hours notice
The main question I have to ask is which are the best websites to look for this type of last minute bargain and/or are there other places to look for a package deal with a slightly longer lead in time?

richardw

They don't make money out of this kind of deal so don't sell them.

Have a look at Thomson late deal pages and also holidayhypermarket.

Also look at Icelolly and Iloveholidays BUT don't book through them, if you see something you like book the flights direct with the airlines and for the accommodation look at hotelscomparison and hotelscombined websites.

Btw some of the cheapest package holidays can be on the worst night flight times with poor accommodation, you may be better off with a 5 night flight+accommodation holiday that you like.

Macko1

richardw wrote: »

They don't make money out of this kind of deal so don't sell them.

Err who are "they"? This used to be a common method of holiday companies clearing not full flights and empty rooms, has that all stopped now?

balletshoes

i also wouldn't wait for a last-second deal for August, as its still school holidays, high season, in England.

However, 3 days ago I booked flights for the 3rd week in August from Edinburgh to the Greek islands with Jet2 (with one 22kg hold bag between the 2 of us as we can take 2 carry-on bags too), then I've booked an apartment on Crete independently at around £25 per night per room (ie not per person). The flights are cheaper from Scottish airports as after mid-August they are back in school.

With transfers its worked out around £270 per person for the week. I live in the Midlands but to get good deals in summer holidays I usually have to drive to at least Manchester or Luton and stay overnight in an airport hotel, so my costs to and from Edinburgh are not much more to be honest.

balletshoes

Macko1 wrote: »

Err who are "they"? This used to be a common method of holiday companies clearing not full flights and empty rooms, has that all stopped now?

Over the last couple of years i've tracked 2-months before down to a few days before for summer holiday packages, they just don't come down to rock-bottom price in school summer holidays anymore. Just before (ie early July dates) yep they do, and early September onwards, yep, but not actual school holiday dates.

richardw

Macko1 wrote: »

Err who are "they"? This used to be a common method of holiday companies clearing not full flights and empty rooms, has that all stopped now?

Try and find one going saturday, Sunday or Monday.

Alan_Bowen

Most years there are some last minute deals but as noted they are for times and destinations that no one else wanted. This year is very different, Spain Portugal Croatia and Italy are packed, not just of Brits but other Europeans put off or prevented from travelling to Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt and so on. The last minute deals will be to Turkey or the eastern Greek Islands where fears of boats arriving on the beaches have put people off booking, in fact the situation is much calmer than last year. The events in Turkey over the weekend have now put people off even more so whether there will even be anything left in the Greek Islands in 4 weeks time remains to be seen.