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How To Find Really Cheap Holiday Deals

Want to book really cheap holidays but don't know how to find the best deals? Let us give you a helping hand. Are you tired of hearing how your friends and colleagues have booked really cheap holidays? Don't despair, we have a number of tips and tricks to help you get in on the action and cut down the costs of your next trip.

happy holidaymakers 

Don't travel at peak times

It may sound incredibly obvious, but if you want really cheap last minute holidays then don't travel during the school holidays unless you really have to. Airline companies, hotels and villas all take advantage of travellers with school-age children, because they know that these families have no other option but to book their trip outside of term time. This means that flight prices and room rates will be sold at hugely inflated prices, and can sometimes double or even triple in the space of a few days. Therefore, if you are in a position to travel in May, June or even September, you will still find a number of summer destinations with great weather. Likewise, early December or late January through to Easter can offer great skiing conditions for those winter sports fanatics.

 

Delete your browsing history

Ever wonder why flight tickets always seem to go up in price before you finally get around to booking them? Those of you who are into technology might have already realised that many airline companies adjust their prices according to the number of hits they receive on their website. So when you are next trying to find really cheap last minute holidays, bear in mind that that company has registered your interest and can up the price of your seat in an instant. By deleting your browsing history after each session, you can ensure that your logging back on is kept securely under wraps and you can save some pennies in the process!

 

Book flights during the early hours of the morning

According to experts, the best deals are released during the early hours of the morning, when reserved flights are re-released to the public market. It might seem a little far-fetched but it wouldn't harm to stay up late, if it could save you a good percentage of the original cost. As with repeat hits to their sites, airline companies (especially budget airlines like http://www.ryanair.com) are said to change their prices according to peak booking times. This would include lunchtimes and evenings when most people are surfing the web.

 

Consider a stopover or connecting flight

In some cases, like if you are travelling a very short distance, it may not be worthwhile breaking up your journey. However, some travellers have found that by booking a connecting flight, they pay less than if they were to fly to their chosen destination directly, which can result in really cheap last minute holidays. You may have heard of these irregular fares when it comes to rail services - in some cases direct trains from one main city to another are more expensive than the fare from a lesser-known town, even if that town is further away, for example. Airlines are no different to this. Similarly, breaking your journey up over two days can reduce costs in some instances.

 

Don't book your room too early, nor too late

If you are one of those people who can't wait to get everything booked and organised, try to remember that booking early doesn't always get you the best financial deal. Equally, leaving everything to the last minute isn't going to do you any favours. It is rumoured that the optimum time to book your hotel room is around a month in advance. It's at this pivotal time that hotel owners aren't sure if they will get booked up and so release attractive rates to secure the numbers.

 

Book refundable accommodation

Many hotel booking sites such as https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ and https://www.booking.com offer room reservations that are refundable up to the day of check in. Why not take advantage of this service by booking your preferred location and then keeping track of hotel prices in the area right up until your holiday, to ensure you get the best deal. You literally have nothing to lose! Don't forget to delete your browsing history after each session though...

 

Sign up to email newsletters

Everyone hates marketing emails and ticks 'no' when asked if they want to receive news and special offers. The truth is, though, that many companies do actually treat you like a VIP and send you promotional codes and discounts. Whether it is a discount code for your favourite holiday shop, a coupon for your next flight booking, or a 2-4-1 deal for your next hotel room, any money off deal is a bonus and can contribute to making your trip one of those really cheap last minute holidays.