Last minute holiday deals

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

Normally, given work commitments, I’ve booked holidays well in advance, sometimes up to 12 months or more when I’ve needed to book a particular destination, activity or if I wanted to use Amex 2-for-1 flight vouchers on a particular route etc.

However, later this year we are planning a few days away and haven’t really got a strong desire to go anywhere in particular, just somewhere reasonably warm with good facilities.

I recall that many years ago, my sister went to see a travel agent a few days before they wanted to fly and was able to access some great holidays at massive discounts as otherwise flights / hotel rooms would have been unused.

Does that still happen and if so, what is the best way of accessing last minute deals? Or with the internet and people easily being able to search for their own deals does it not really happen to the same extent?

[p1stonhead]

Don’t airlines/hotels etc do dynamic pricing these days so can change their prices like hour by hour to suit demand and capacities? I’m not sure the last minute deals are a thing anymore.

[Sport_Turismo_GTS]

p1stonhead said:

Don t airlines/hotels etc do dynamic pricing these days so can change their prices like hour by hour to suit demand and capacities? I m not sure the last minute deals are a thing anymore.

That makes sense, but thought it was worth asking!

[_Rodders_]

Yep, doesn't work these days unfortunately.

[Quattr04.]

Not as good as a week in turkey for £150 but they are still about

Download the easyJet/ tui app etc and take a look for yourself


We went to gran caneria last Christmas, when we looked in September the holiday was £2400 each!! And when we looked on the 21st December to fly on the 23rd, it was £1800 for both of us, so they definitely still do exist, we went and had a great time

[AB]

You'll still find decent prices but you'll end up in Turkey or Egypt!

[InitialDave]

I'd imagine a cruise could be a good candidate?

Boat is leaving however you cut it, unsold cabins are just money left on the table.

[E-bmw]

InitialDave said:

I'd imagine a cruise could be a good candidate?

Boat is leaving however you cut it, unsold cabins are just money left on the table.

You would think so but having booked the same cruise as friends 6 months after them the price had gone up quite a bit, don't know about true last minute obviosly though.

[JimmyConwayNW]

I think the later you leave it the more expensive it seems now to be honest.

[alangla]

Try phoning/visiting your local Hays/Tui/Barrhead (if you live in Scotland) shop and asking them what they’ve got? Usually there’s the odd very late deal in the window for each of them but as mentioned earlier, unsold inventory just now is likely to be within drone range of Tehran unfortunately.

You could also try these: https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/deals/last-minu...

https://www.jet2holidays.com/last-minute-holidays - Jet2 have a discount code for September/October departures only, they’ve often got some sort of promotion on very close departures

https://www.easyjet.com/en/holidays/deals/summer-h...

Not a thing now, but years ago Barrhead used to have a shop at Glasgow airport where you would be expected to turn up with luggage as a purchase usually meant you were travelling almost immediately and wouldn’t have time to return home!

[Agent57]

Some good deals in Egypt at the moment.

[Jasandjules]

Doesn't really seem to work in quite the same way in the main, we did get a decent price on Mexico a couple of years ago flying out two days after booking but it still was not a "bargain"

[Doesitdrive]

AB said:

You'll still find decent prices but you'll end up in Turkey or Egypt!

Absolutely nothing wrong with Egypt, here now, last minute, 4th time since Xmas.

Last two times I just booked flights and asked a local shopkeeper we got to know to sort out everything.

First two times last minute to resorts.

To answer the question, they do exist, online and in travel agents that survive. Which in the OP,s case I would probably try first. Not hard to find them with Google.

Not only Egypt or Turkey either, have done Thailand last minute as well as Europe.
I find booking months in advance a risk lol, might not be feeling it or life gets in the way at the time.

If doing it online, do it earlier in the week rather than the weekend, dynamic pricing does come into play, more clicks equals higher price usually.

Looking at the heatwave across Europe, Egypt is a good choice, its hot, but different heat, easily manageable.