Last Minute Holidays & Late Deals

Your last-minute holiday checklist

Your family holiday should be one of the highlights of the year, yet so many parents return from their break vowing never to attempt it again... Read more

If you are flexible on your travel destination, last-minute holidays can be a great way of snapping up a bargain. So if you are yearning for a break, why not take advantage of one of our late deals above?

If you can't find what you're looking for there, simply fill in the search tool on the left with your ideal dates and leave the destination box blank to be inspired by the holidays that are on offer.

And, when you're booked and are getting excited about your trip, why not use our checklist below to make sure that your holiday goes smoothly and you don't forget a thing?

Things to organise before you go to save time and money

• Airport parking

• Airport transfers

• Travel insurance and EHIC card

• Travel money

• Car hire

Check before you go

Your passport is in date - some countries require it to be valid for at least six months from the date of your arrival

You have all necessary documents - such as an entry visa and your driving licence

Whether you will be charged to use your normal credit/debit card abroad

How much you will be charged to use your phone/tablet while you are away

Don't forget to pack

Your passport, driving licence and any other travel documents you will need such as a visa

Your travel money

A list of useful phone numbers - for your travel insurance provider, your bank etc

A pen and notebook

Toiletries and medication. Keep medication in your hand luggage and remember the 100ml liquid rule

Clothing suitable for your holiday

Suncream and sunglasses

Travel adapters and chargers for any electrical items you take

A camera

Entertainment such as books, mp3 players, games and toys

Download a full packing list here to make sure you don't forget a thing

Before you go away...

Switch all electrical items off at the socket

Cancel milk and newspaper deliveries

Ask a trusted neighbour to move your post to prevent it piling up

Sort out pet care

Check your route to the airport for any potential delays that could affect you

Reconfirm your flight details

Create the affect you're at home with timers on lights etc

Ensure all doors and windows are locked before you leave the house

Last-Minute Tips

Looking to book a last-minute holiday? Read our handy tips to help you snap up a bargain and find the perfect deal for you... Read more

Be flexible

The more flexible you can be on the day, time and date of your departure, the more likely you are to snap up a bargain. For example, demand will not be as high mid-week at an antisocial time as it will be at the weekend. And if you can travel outside of peak holiday periods - such as the summer school holidays - your savings will be even more significant.

Look at holidays of different durations too as sometimes two-week breaks offer excellent value for money compared to seven-night trips.

Check out the weather in the resort you are considering

Whether your heart is set on sunning yourself on a beach or you'd like a cooler destination as you want to pack in as much sightseeing as possible, check the weather in your potential destination before you rush to book a tempting deal.

Consider all of the options

Make sure that the great deal you've found is the most competitive offer out there by comparing the price of last-minute package holidays with booking accommodation and flights separately. And take a look at a few types of places to stay - from apartments and villas to hotels - to stand the best chance of finding a bargain.

An easy way to see all of the options in one place is to use a price-comparison site such as TravelSupermarket - just use our search tool and its filters down the left-hand side.

Think outside of the box

Fancy a city break combined with a beach holiday? You could head for the Costa del Sol to get a cheap holiday by the beach, and then use it as a base for exploring places like Granada, Seville, Malaga and Cordoba. Or head to the Costa Brava or Costa Dorada and get Barcelona on your doorstep for the price of a cheap beach break. Or why not consider a package holiday to Orlando and get a few days on the beach in Miami thrown in giving you theme parks, beaches and a city all in one trip?

And don't let your prejudices about a place prevent you from discovering a new destination at a snip of the price. If you are unsure, do some research on the resort by talking to friends and family, and reading reviews online - you may discover an up-and-coming destination that you return to again and again.

Don't forget the extras

If you've found a great last-minute deal, don't throw away all of your hard work at the final hurdle by paying a penny more than you need on your travel extras such as travel insurance, car hire, airport parking and travel money. Shop around for your travel extras online using TravelSupermarket and save valuable pounds to spend while you are away.

When is a deal not a deal?

Have you ever snapped up a deal that seems too good to be true only to discover it was? Make sure you don't get caught out... Read more

Have you ever been in the situation where you've been convinced that you've bagged a great deal only to find out later that it was a bad decision?

We've all been there! For example, snapping up must-have reduced items in the sales or being hoodwinked into buying goods only to find out they are not quite what you think they are.

Well, travelling away on holiday is no different. But you can do a lot yourself to ensure that the bargain beach package or the incredibly priced city break you find really is the amazing deal you expect it to be.

So, what should you do when researching to check whether a deal really is great value?

Our tips below will help you ensure you don't have any nasty surprises.

1. Always read user reviews of the accommodation you are considering using sites such as Trip Advisor (remember, though, to focus in on British reviewers as many north Americans are used to very different hotel styles in the USA).

2. Check the location of the accommodation on offer. Is it far from all of the action meaning it will cost you in taxis and car hire? Or, will you be stranded and forced to pay for overpriced meals at the only restaurant within walking distance?

3. Check the weather as travelling at the 'wrong' time of year can result in suffering cold chills and rain on the beach or heat so intense you feel like you are being cooked.

4. Are the resorts open? Many hotels in holiday resorts may be open year round but the resorts themselves can be like ghost towns outside of the peak season. This can really make your holiday dull if you want to enjoy the hustle and bustle of cafes, bars and restaurants. So, do your homework paying close attention to early spring and late autumn months in the Med as well as the opening and closing dates of kids' clubs.

5. Always read the small print. What is actually included in your holiday price? Check room type, board basis and any extras you may have to pay in resort such as local taxes. Will you have to pay extra for activities and entertainment? Is baggage included in your holiday price and what about transfers from your arrival point to the hotel?

6. Always compare the price you are looking at with other holidays to the same or similar destinations and check the cost of both package holidays and DIY trips to ensure your deal is the best available.

7. Don't forget 'hidden' extras such as the costs of visas for places like Turkey, Egypt and India (vital when looking at last-minute prices to Goa, for example).

8. Check the cost of living in the destination you are considering. Some places can be very expensive locally and you may end up returning home to an unwanted and unexpected bill.

9. Are your flight times excessively long? Many airlines offer connecting services at great rates from UK airports via European hubs, especially on city breaks. However, this can result in very long flight times due to the stopovers. It may well be worth paying the extra to not spend time you could be in your destination sitting in airports or on unnecessary flights.

10. When checking car hire prices, ensure you know if there are any 'hidden costs' such as a compulsory tank of fuel, extra driver and excess waiver costs that can bump up the price.

And, once you've read and followed our advice, and found the perfect offer for you, get booking before someone else snaps up the deal!

Don't waste your money on expensive holiday extras

If you've bagged a great late deal, don't throw away all of your hard work at the final hurdle by wasting any unnecessary money on your travel extras... Read more

Don't throw money away on last-minute holidays

You've grabbed a last-minute bargain to Spain. You're already dreaming of getting a tan, nights out, great food and loads of fun. And best of all, your holiday really was a deal.

So don't ruin it all at the final hurdle by racking up a huge bill for all of your travel extras.

Now is the time to put your money-saving skills into practice and keep a lid on your holiday costs, giving you more to spend in Duty Free or on treats while you are away.

Follow our tips to keep the costs down:

Getting to the airport

If you are using your own car to get to the airport then pre-book your parking space (http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/extras/airport- parking/). Doing this in advance online can save you up to 60% compared to drive-up gate prices

And, if you are travelling to the airport by public transport, it is nearly always cheaper to book your tickets ahead, especially for rail travel http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/train-tickets/

It's also cheaper to pre-book a local cab both to and from the airport in the UK than to use black cabs.

Travel insurance

Don't leave home without this travel essential! If you don't already have an annual policy that definitely covers your trip (check the details) then get online http://www.moneysupermarket.com/travel-insurance/?Source=TS and compare policies. This only take a few minutes but will give you holiday cover from only a few pounds - and is substantially cheaper than the cover you can buy from travel agents or at the airport.

Holiday money

The easiest way to throw money down the drain is to exchange your money at the airport as you race through to your flight. If you really don't have time to get online http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/extras/travel-money/foreign-currency-listings/to order your money for delivery, then pre-order your currency from Travelex or ICE for airport collection. It will save you up to 6% on walk-up rates.

And watch out for the costs of using your cards overseas in ATMs and shops. Hidden fees and currency loading charges can ramp up the cost of goods, so ensure you know these before using your plastic.

Holiday car hire

It never pays to walk up and rent a car on arrival. Firstly you will pay more and secondly you will only get a choice between cars that are left - in high season, these tend to be the more expensive models. So, always take a few minutes out to pre-book online http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/cheap-car-hire/ from the UK where you can save literally hundreds of pounds on longer rentals of up to two weeks.

Airport shopping and dining

Fancy a bit of retail therapy in your UK airport before you jet off? Then have a quick look at your departure airport's website for money- saving vouchers on everything from a coffee to a meal as well as many of the different shops beyond security. You could make even further savings with a few minutes' work.

Packing

Whatever you do, ensure you check the baggage allowances you have with your airline. Go just one kilo over or have a bag just a couple of centimetres too big and you will get fined at the airport. With costs of up to £50 per bag now commonplace, it's a hard lesson to learn. And don't forget the liquids ban in hand luggage - no more than ten 100ml bottles in one clear sealable bag. You don't want to have to throw away your expensive perfume because the bottle is too big!