Super cheap, super last second holidays possible?

terobi

Hey all - new to the forums, but been using the site's tools, tips and tricks for years.

The girlfriend and I are after a holiday - a 7-day package job would do nicely, as literally all we're after is some sunshine, and a beach to veg out on.

Here's the thing, though - neither of us have a huge amount of spare money to spend. We are, however, extremely flexible as I am self-employed and can easily reschedule my workload at short notice, and she works shift work with a weekly rota which can be changed at a few days' notice. We also live less than an hour's bus ride from Manchester Airport, so we really don't need to worry about getting to the airport on short notice. We also have multi-trip insurance coverage until the end of June, left over from last July's trip to France.

My question, then, is this: Given that we could leave literally tomorrow if we were that way inclined, is it possible to get super cheap, super last minute holidays without caring at all about where we go (providing it's hot and safe), and what would be the best way to do that?

From what I can see, most of the advice on offer seems to be for knocking a few hundred quid off holidays of £1500 or more - but what about the bottom end of that? Would it be possible to get a half-decent all-inclusive 7-day holiday, including airport transfers in may/june for around the £150-200 mark per person, if we were able to leave at a few days' notice? Most sites seem to want me to pick a definite range of dates and locations - but the thing is, I don't really care where and when I go. There doesn't seem to be a site that I can find to cater for this "anywhere as long as it's cheap" approach to booking a package holiday - do you guys have any suggestions?

balletshoes

you can choose "anywhere" on holidayhypermarket.

I tracked holidays last year for a beach week for 2 people, they were at their lowest price about 6 weeks prior to travel, and they didn't go lower at all any nearer the departure date.

So I'd say for a June trip, look around the beginning of May.

eta - just had a look, chose Manchester airport departures, and Olympic have some good prices for various Greek islands, just over the £220 mark for self catering per person for mid-end June. This drops to around £160 per person in mid-May. I'd be very surprised if you got AI for that price (and if you did be prepared to take enough money to eat out on).

terobi

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah, I'd noticed that it doesn't seem to drop lower than the prices listed a month or so in advance - though I can't really fathom why, given the economics of package holidays (that either they flog it cheap or they make a loss). I wonder why the cut-off date.

Alan_Bowen

Olympic at that price will be 2 star self catering in Greece, 80% of the price will be for the flight. The days of giveaways are generally gone and it really depends when you want to travel. Early June is usually a good time as schools and universities have exams which dampens demand but AI for the price you want, no that is in your dreams

stephb34

The first 3 weeks in may in between the 2 bank holidays you can get some really cheap package deals now and over the next few weeks as the season and flights are just starting.

PeacefulWaters

Would it be possible to get a half-decent all-inclusive 7-day holiday, including airport transfers in may/june for around the £150-200 mark per person

If you manage it, expect some really bad food.

Pollycat

The days of rocking up at the airport with your passport and a suitcase and saying 'I can go anywhere' have long gone.

IME, package holidays - Olympic have been mentioned - tend to drop in price up to about 8 weeks before departure then rise again.
We've had some pretty cheap SC holidays to Greece e.g. £200 pp for 2 weeks SC including flights, 20kg luggage and transfers at the end of June a couple of years ago.

One thing I have noticed is some last minute holidays don't include transfers which will bump up the price so be aware of exactly what your holiday cost includes.

I'd avoid 'cheap' AI holidays and would always check Tripadvisor reviews before booking.

But this year may be different.

terobi

Anyone have any idea why that kind of deal disappeared? I assume some package holidays must still go unsold and they're still making a loss on it? Shall I assume it's something to do with insurance liability or similar?

Either way, it seems a shame for people as flexible-but-poor as us.

It seems that even the decent deals on self catered holidays will easily double in the amount it actually costs us once food and drinks has been taken into account, which is one of the reasons I was wondering about AI - I've been to some crappy AI places in the past, but even then it seemed worth it for the ability to spend the day drinking ice cold beer in the sun without having to pay inflated resort prices

But, I think those kinds of prices for self catered are probably manageable provided transfers are covered in the deal. Otherwise it seems it can easily run to an extra £60 or more, which would be most of the food and drink budget gone immediately.

Ganga

terobi wrote: »

Anyone have any idea why that kind of deal disappeared? I assume some package holidays must still go unsold and they're still making a loss on it? Shall I assume it's something to do with insurance liability or similar?

Either way, it seems a shame for people as flexible-but-poor as us.

It seems that even the decent deals on self catered holidays will easily double in the amount it actually costs us once food and drinks has been taken into account, which is one of the reasons I was wondering about AI - I've been to some crappy AI places in the past, but even then it seemed worth it for the ability to spend the day drinking ice cold beer in the sun without having to pay inflated resort prices

But, I think those kinds of prices for self catered are probably manageable provided transfers are covered in the deal. Otherwise it seems it can easily run to an extra £60 or more, which would be most of the food and drink budget gone immediately.

I suspect that before the days of the internet,going into a travel agents and saying " we can go tomorrow " would have got you a bargain,now you can go on line and book for the next day from the comfort of your house,i know because we have done it:rotfl:

Pollycat

Ganga wrote: »

I suspect that before the days of the internet,going into a travel agents and saying " we can go tomorrow " would have got you a bargain,now you can go on line and book for the next day from the comfort of your house,i know because we have done it:rotfl:

Have you had any recent next-day bargains?

martinsurrey

loveholidays.com

Leaving Sat 13th May from Brum to Corfu self catering near the beach, £97 per person.

Get ice+beer+soft drinks from a supermarket, sit on beach, relax!

similar price will get you to Bulgaria, Majorca, Costa Brava...

http://www.loveholidays.com/holidays/#page=1&state=AgoUKFzgIKKCbLaIEEAAQAA

or £171 all inclusive in Turkey