Last-minute holiday bargains

Dec 12 2009

Last-minute holiday bargains

Well, the nation’s children might be excitedly awaiting Christmas but the grown-ups just want to get away from it all.

Research by travelsupermarket.com found that 51% of adults would prefer to take a break to receiving presents.

The Welsh are feeling the strain the most, with 57% saying they would much rather have a holiday than wake up onChristmas morning to a packed Christmas tree.

Bob Atkinson, travel expert from travelsupermarket.com, said: “With the economy still in turmoil, it is perhaps unsurprising that Brits want to escape the doom and gloom here – as well as the miserable weather.

“However, people will need to take a few important measures to make sure their Christmas getaway doesn’t turn into a festive flop.

“Most important is to remember to cover your holiday booking by paying with a credit card if possible and make sure you have adequate travel insurance, especially if you’re taking some presents away with you as well. And with Christmas being a particularly busy period, ensure you leave enough time to get to your destination.”

So what’s stopping you? There are loads of fantastic cheap holidays and cheap flights to snap up at this time of year – there’s even still time to book a Christmas trip.

Christmas (holi)Day

If you want to spend Christmas Day somewhere new and exciting, you’re running out of time to book a late deal, but it is still possible.

Whether it’s sun, snow or sightseeing you want, there are a range of late deals available on travelsupermarket.com.

Dreaming of a white Christmas? How about seven nights in Val D’allos from December 19th? For £229, you can grab an all-inclusive trip including ski passes and equipment hire.

For a wallet-free, all-inclusive trip, you could take seven nights in a three-star hotel in Gran Canaria for just £309 each.

Perhaps you’d rather see some sights and soak up some whiskey (and probably some rain). Then you could do a three-night Christmas family break at Aviemore, in the Cairngorms National Park, Scotland – £162 a night.

Butlins is offering entertainments galore for families over Christmas, with four night short breaks at just £96 a head, or there are three night cruises to Bilbao leaving from Portsmouth at just £169 each.

Disappear for New Year

If you’re tired of watching Only Fools and Horses re-runs, while eating your way through a mountain of leftover turkey, why not head overseas for an exciting New Year?

Once again, there are some great last minute deals to be had. See in the New Year under the Lanzarote sun for just £125 each, enjoying seven nights in a three star hotel.

If you need some exercise and excitement after the Christmas feasting, how about seven nights skiing at Val Thorens, Europe’s highest resort. For just £269 each, you can have a week in a three star apartment.

There are some luxury breaks for families too, with five nights at a five star hotel in Dubai – famed for its New Year bashes. It’ll cost the adults £1,235 each, but two kids can stay free and there’s also free access to a nearby water park.

Getaway in January

If want a cheap, all-inclusive holiday, January is a great time to go. Rates tend to plummet during the first two weeks of the year as not many people take trips so soon after Christmas.

That means a canny traveller can grab some brilliant last-minute deals, as hotels still want to fill their rooms.

In fact, there are some holiday-of-a-lifetime bargains on the travelsupermarket.com site, like seven nights bed and breakfast in Koh Samui, Thailand, flying from Heathrow, for just £869 in total.

That’s available from January 11th until March 21st and is an excellent price for a week spent on warm, sandy white beaches and exploring coral reefs.

Keeping costs down

If you want a great break at a low price then you should avoid trying to book New Year’s Eve or the peak Christmas season.

There are some excellent last-minute deals in January, especially if you are prepared to travel on New Year’s Day, when most of us are nursing sore heads.

A Christmas message

If you are going away for Christmas and taking presents with you, don’t forget to pack some extra wrapping paper.

That way, if airport security open your gifts, you can fix the damage before your loved-ones see.

Please note: Any rates or deals mentioned in this article were available at the time of writing.

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