Advice on last minute holidays?

[dirtyred619]

Not planning a particularly fancy holiday this year and just looking at a week in September. Got the time booked off and tentatively looking at an all inclusive in Egypt.

We're going to book it last minute and see what we can get, if it's not Egypt we'll be open to most other places just looking to get a cheap deal really.

Having never booked a last minute holiday I was wondering if you lot had any views on the best time to book? A week before, day before etc?

Cheers
Mike

[fenjer]

I booked mine on Saturday and flew out the Wednesday. if you have a rough idea when you want to go it helps, for really last min (ie the day before) you need to be very flexible on when you can return, and where you want to go.

you might find to get the best deals you have to fly mid week or very late night / early morning.

[Spank86]

Best time to book is about six months to a year before you want to go.


Of course that's only "last minute" from a historical perspective.

[dirtyred619]

I booked mine on Saturday and flew out the Wednesday. if you have a rough idea when you want to go it helps, for really last min (ie the day before) you need to be very flexible on when you can return, and where you want to go.

you might find to get the best deals you have to fly mid week or very late night / early morning.

Got a week booked from the 13th I think so as long as its within that I'd be fine with flights being quite early or late

Best time to book is about six months to a year before you want to go.


Of course that's only "last minute" from a historical perspective.

Usually do and book everything myself but just thought I'd try and make the package holiday work for me ans see how cheap I can a holiday for.

[fenjer]

As you're near manchester I'd say you'll probably get a good deal on a holiday. It makes it easier for airport too.
I definitely found midweek stuff much cheaper. A week (wed-wed) AI in Majorca for me and my daughter was under £500.

[Specialone]

Actually, I disagree about 'best' deals being a year before, I've mostly booked all ours a few weeks before departure and saved a small fortune over the years.

My only advice, pay for it on a credit card so you have some cover in the event of a problem.

[dirtyred619]

It'll have to be the Friday, Saturday or Sunday leaving unfortunately but will hopefully get a good deal still. Think I'll book a good few days in advance now though just to be sure.

[Sir Trev]

Some holiday hotspots only have incoming charter flights on certain days. Have been to Corfu a couple of times and the only charter flights in from London when we looked were on a Monday. You may do better with scheduled flights but to get a package price you may be a little more restricted on days.

Charter planes also pack people in like sardines. If we go back to Corfu I may well take a scheduled flight to Athens next time and the scheduled Olympic Airlines flight to the island as part of a DIY package. More risky but I know but chatting to the hotel owner in Corfu told me I could get a great deal if I book myself direct.

Find a proper independant travel agent and discuss the options. I use one in Maidenhead and they had some great suggestions as well as dong a lot of the legwork for you.

[SvNewbie]

Back it in the day my parents used to watch teletext for cheap deals to Florida. One year we got flights and hire-car for £75 each! Booked it on the Tuesday and flew out on the Thursday. I think with the internet these days its slightly different, too many people watching for any kind of deal.

[dirtyred619]

Some holiday hotspots only have incoming charter flights on certain days. Have been to Corfu a couple of times and the only charter flights in from London when we looked were on a Monday. You may do better with scheduled flights but to get a package price you may be a little more restricted on days.

Charter planes also pack people in like sardines. If we go back to Corfu I may well take a scheduled flight to Athens next time and the scheduled Olympic Airlines flight to the island as part of a DIY package. More risky but I know but chatting to the hotel owner in Corfu told me I could get a great deal if I book myself direct.

Find a proper independant travel agent and discuss the options. I use one in Maidenhead and they had some great suggestions as well as dong a lot of the legwork for you.

I do normally do all the booking myself but just thought I'd give the last minute holiday thing a go to see what I can get. Looking for a cheapish holiday as to save for a more luxurious one next year.

2 years ago by doing all the leg work myself I booked us a 20 day trip to Koh Samui, Thailand which included return flights from Manchester, internal return flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui (only thing that couldn't be had cheap as Bangkok Airways own Samui Airport!), hotels in Bangkok and Samui etc for approx. £770 each. Closest price from anywhere else was about £1200 ish!! Could have done it cheaper too if I didn't pre book accomadation but wanted the security of knowing I had somewhere booked.

[Red Herring]

I love the unknown of last minute holidays. My wife and I were married on a Saturday, went into the travel agents on the Monday morning, went to bed that night in Tunisia.... It was brilliant.

[dirtyred619]

I love the unknown of last minute holidays. My wife and I were married on a Saturday, went into the travel agents on the Monday morning, went to bed that night in Tunisia.... It was brilliant.

I suppose this is what I'm after. If there's no availability for Egypt or at a decent price then I think it would be great to just head off somewhere random. Out of interest what did you think of Tunisia?

[stuR]

I havent done tunisia myself but have heard vastly mixed reviews. Some say its a slum, others really enjoy it. I think its ok if you are looking to just stay all inclusive and not leave the resort

[Red Herring]

This was 25 years ago.....and we were on honeymoon. What can I say, the hotel room was great and we had a fine view from the balcony!

[Terah]

We usually start looking about 6 weeks before we're going away with the only requirements being somewhere warm and not too busy. We've always enjoyed where we've ended up and had a good deal.

Have been to Port El Kantaoui in Tunisia about 10 years ago and we really enjoyed it. If you're going then a trip to the amphitheatre in El Djem is well worth it and we also went to the Great Mosque in Kairouan. You have to be prepared for a bit of hard selling from some of the locals but if you like haggling this can be good fun and the markets are well worth going to.

If you're putting something together yourself then definitely pay by credit card, but if you're going through an operator or agent then check their own guarantees as it might provide the same level of cover and save you the fees.

[NTECUK]

Actually, I disagree about 'best' deals being a year before, I've mostly booked all ours a few weeks before departure and saved a small fortune over the years.

My only advice, pay for it on a credit card so you have some cover in the event of a problem.
Yep This for me every time

[Biker Biggles]

Personally Id avoid the Middle East and North Africa altogether as I regard them as very unstable and dangerous for westerners.Plenty of sun available in Southern Europe.