Booking a last minute holiday

Arsenal2019

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82036113#Comment_82036113

Thank you! I’ve had a look now for a weeks time and there’s surprisingly some very good deals, but also some that are stupidly priced, still haha!

I presume with your last minute bookings you’ve managed to get yourself a good deal

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82036139#Comment_82036139

Most of our holidays are independently researched and booked - months ahead.

This was a cold wet day in April following a cold wet month, passed a travel agent's shopfront in a shpping centre where we were taking shelter and just thought….

NoodleDoodleMan

TUI have a range of late deals at attractive prices - you can use the filters to narrow down your preferences for airport, location and board etc.

https://www.tui.co.uk/holidays/last-minute

TheShape

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82036143#Comment_82036143

Yes, got good deals. It was a case of just going wherever/whenever the deal was offered though. If you've very few restrictions you should be able to get a good deal but you'd probably need to check regularly as the best deals will sell quickly.

twopenny

I've done last minute holidays.

The easiest was to go into TUI shop and give 3 destinations I wanted and ask where there any good prices. I was given prices I couldn't get on on the net. They also held or tracked the price for me. Not forever of course but a week or so. These were 6 -10 weeks in advance.

I also check on the site knowing where I want to go. These can be months in advance.

But don't stick to the idea that the net gives you greater bargains. That's as staid as your grandparents 😉 there is no one way that is better. You need to search for a good price more than just sitting on the settee with a phone.

My 2 best were Costa del sol, 4* HB beachfront for £440 because I was willing to travel back on Christmas day. Brilliant, empty airports and roads and back for Christmas lunch. 7 days

And Sorrento 4* beach side (rare) AI and 3 included excursions £650, 7 days.

I even got 2 weeks in the Maldives for £500 less than the going rate, booking direct because it was late.

The downside is that you want to go in peak season when there is high demand but no reason not to see what you can do.

Checking sites late at night is good but the deals will be gone by morning. Youll be tired so check and double check so you don't miss some catch.

Arsenal2019

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82036264#Comment_82036264

thank you for this! I guess we’re not restricted in the slightest but have just always gone in our summer months, when it’s more expensive. Guess we could look March/April or even September / October

luci

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82036317#Comment_82036317

When we were working, we always took our holidays Oct-May and left those with kids to pay the higher prices in the summer.

However, now that we're retired and can go at any time, I'm finding we are going away in June, August, September as well now. That's down to the OH never being off his phone looking at holidays, mainly TUI. We don't have Jet2, easyJet, etc from our local airport. Our next nearest airport is EDI, which is 3.5 hours drive or GLA which is about 4 hours. We've flown from GLA for years, but I prefer not to nowadays. If your local airport has a lot of choice of airline and destinations, or if you have other airports within driving distance, you should have a lot more choice and an increased chance of getting a good deal.

The days of cheap, last minute holidays are mostly gone. I've found that prices actually go up the nearer it is to departure.

It's a case of constantly looking and benchmarking prices for a few holidays, so that you know when a good deal pops up.

I haven't used a travel agent for about 30 years, but I agree with others, that they have access deals not available online. They can also put together a package for you.

thegreenone

Why would you go away in August if you are child-free?

Mid to late June and late September.

daveyjp

Depends where you are and your attitude towards such holidays, but if you want all inclusive keep an eye on cruises.

Arsenal2019

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82037561#Comment_82037561

I keep trying to push cruises to the Mrs but she won’t have it. She’s petrified of the sea (independence of the seas Royal Caribbean) . I went on one years ago and still to this day; it is up there with the best holidays I’ve been on