Are we booked up?

Absolutly no idea :D haha
We've just been keeping an eye out for where's going to be cheapest really - Not so dirt cheap that the holiday is rendered rubbish, but most likely somewhere in France :)

We're off to Saalbach in Jan.
Hopefully a last minute cheap and cheerful bargain early Feb, no idea where.
We had been looking into a DIY holiday in March, (Austria or maybe Switzerland for the first time), but I have not been able to find cheap enough accomadation.

Just out of interest, has anyone ever looked around, randomly found a pretty cheap deal that's booked to leave say, in the next week or two and taken it?
If so, how did that plan out for you and what was the estimate on the booking? :) I'd love to look around for a last minute deal in Feb to get away twice this year, just want an idea of what i'd be looking for

baillie353 wrote:Just out of interest, has anyone ever looked around, randomly found a pretty cheap deal that's booked to leave say, in the next week or two and taken it?
If so, how did that plan out for you and what was the estimate on the booking? :) I'd love to look around for a last minute deal in Feb to get away twice this year, just want an idea of what i'd be looking for

Yes, I have done and will do so again.

I have even arranged a trip on the Thursday for four of us to leave on a Eurostar on the Friday evening. My Ski gear is always kept pretty much ready to go, so a quick pack and I can leave. Usually I am OK with work to go on short notice, and my brother and the other guy I go with mainly, both run their own businesses so they will be aware I am looking for trips, and will let me know in advance when they cannot go.

In terms of savings, I think my best ever was to get a Mark Warner holiday at about 50% of the brochure price, including the massive loading for me being a single occupant in a room. I did that less than two weeks before the trip, and joined my Sister, her husband and some of their friends (they had young children with them, hence the Mark Warner) in Tignes.

Frankly, if you are not worried too much about going to a specific resort, then I think booking last minute can be excellent value for money.

Interesting. It's certainly something I have to try at some point, when I have the chance to!
It's quite a bummer that in my work I have to give 2 weeks notice to get away, but shift covers are always possible if the deal really is that good.
For now though i'll just need to sit back and wait it out for January to come and we're off doing what we all love :D

kateshaw wrote:We pretty much always DIY. Off to Les Houches on 2nd January :D

We like Les houches but we will be coming home on the 1st :cry:

baillie353 wrote:Just out of interest, has anyone ever looked around, randomly found a pretty cheap deal that's booked to leave say, in the next week or two and taken it?
If so, how did that plan out for you and what was the estimate on the booking? :) I'd love to look around for a last minute deal in Feb to get away twice this year, just want an idea of what i'd be looking for

Yep. I week in Sauze d'Oulx half board, flying from Manchester with BMI, transfers, hotel. £129 in March 2007.
Booked on the Wednesday, went on the Sunday.

1 week in Verbier catered chalet, flying from LGW with Monarch, transfers, fully catered board in a chalet sleeping 10. £260 in April 2008.
Booked 2 weeks in advance.

1 week in Mayrhofen B&B, flying from LGW with Monarch, transfers, 3 star hotel, £159 in Feb 2007. Booked it a month in advance.

None of these were planned, and the places I went to were not somewhere I looked to go to particularly, but the deals were good enough to take them. All 3 were excellent holidays, and massive bargains.



If you are looking for something cheap and cheerful, have a look at www.rocketski.com at their deals page. I think you can currently get a week in France Half Board for around £250. I went with them to Serre Chevalier and the ski area is amazingly good. If you are a student, their clubhotels will be perfect for you.

The only holiday is a DIY holiday 8)