When to get the best last minute deals?

SeagullFTB

My partner and I have a week off at the end of July and I was planning to book a last minute holiday for us. I've been monitoring prices for several weeks, but they actually seem to be increasing as we get closer to the time. Unfortunately, our week off coincides with the first week of school holidays, so this is a major price factor.

Am I better off biting the bullet now or holding off and hoping the prices drop down again?

I'm looking for an all inclusive week in the sun, but not bothered where. Just ideally want temperatures in the high 20s (maybe low 30s). So our dates are fixed but our destination has lots of flexibility.

Alan_Bowen

There have been lots of bargains this year, still seeing offers for the beginning of July but for the last week of the month it is much more difficult to call. Many families book the first two weeks of the school holidays as soon as they become available, often with 'free child places' and other offers, so there is usually very little on offer, basically what no one else wanted, for that week. TUI were offering free child places as recently as last weekend, at least according to their radio adverts, but I suspect if you have no choice, book sooner rather than later and look forward to being surrounded by the lovely free children

richardw

High demand and fixed dates get in the way of a last minute bargain.
It may be best just to book a holiday that you like within budget.

NoodleDoodleMan

Schools holidays = price rises, hard to get good deals, last minute offers are generally what nobody else wants.

Scottish schools have different summer breaks - term ends last week in June and return mid August - so if you can travel from GLA or EDI outwith these times you'll have better offers.

jimbo6977

Try destinations with business-focused gateway airports.

Eg fly to Munich and get a train or coach to Lake Constance.
Bavarian school holidays don’t start til 29/7.

suki1964

You could pack a case and turn up at the airport, look at the destination board and go see what seats are still available - and haggle hard

Vegastare

I have found in past that the cheap late deals fall flat when they use low cost air lines that they factor in there price for flights- but if the travel company has it's own airline like Tui and Thomas Cook Jet 2 seem to throw up good last minute deals, but might need to take a different airport or not best flight.
Wanted a certain destination and nice hotel and instead of using Manchester we went out of Birmingham last year, saved a lot.

bradders1983

suki1964 wrote: »

You could pack a case and turn up at the airport, look at the destination board and go see what seats are still available - and haggle hard

Haggle hard with who? You cant book the accommodation with people at the airport you know.

Katiehound

Luffy_Ryan wrote: »

Hey, since you're traveling at the end of July (or early August), and you want somewhere warm (temperatures in the high 20s but low 30s), so you have to go to the high northern latitudes, my friend. I have a list of popular travel times for the different country and here are a few places to consider a trip: Canada, Italy, Spain, and Ireland.
.

Clearly you aren't in Europe- high 20s & low 30s in Ireland :eek: That'll be the day,
Italy & Spain would certainly fill that criteria. however it is school holidays in UK so all the prices go up for package tours. Probably Rome & Madrid will be hot enough as the locals move out to cooler areas.....

suki1964

bradders1983 wrote: »

Haggle hard with who? You cant book the accommodation with people at the airport you know.

You don't say?????????


YOU HAGGLE FOR THE SEAT ON THE PLANE

If there are empty seats, its costing the airline money. The say the seat is £100, you offer half and see where they go to meet you

Have you never travelled somewhere and turned up at the nearest tourist board and asked for accommodation at a certain price?

Im not even widely travelled but even I have taken the cheapest late availability to get to country of choice ( package usually cheaper then flight only ) then once in the country, jumped on a bus, travelled to where I really wanted to be and have paid as little as £8 for a room for two, with breakfast, in a hotel with a pool

suki1964

Katiehound wrote: »

Clearly you aren't in Europe- high 20s & low 30s in Ireland :eek: That'll be the day,
Italy & Spain would certainly fill that criteria. however it is school holidays in UK so all the prices go up for package tours. Probably Rome & Madrid will be hot enough as the locals move out to cooler areas.....

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