Do these exist these days? Not so long ago I used to just plonk myself down in a travel agent saying someting like "I want to go somewhere hot for a week ..... tomorrow" I usually got some stunning discounts on the standard deals but had to be really quick at packing sometimes

Does that still work today or is t'internet the best bet?

[Edited on 18-8-10 by RazMan]

I'd be interested in this too. I remember the days of Teletext cheap holidays, literally a day or so notice but I don't think these genuine bargains exist anymore!

Used laterooms and lastminute last week and couldn't find anything I considered cheap or even reasonable!

http://www.skyscanner.net/
http://www.kayak.co.uk
www.eurocheapo.com

i used these.

went to ibiza on a last minute deal for work late year and it cost me bugger all! well ok £57 in flights from LBA
and £19 per night hotel 4 star.

totally great deal and work gave me £1000 in expense money lol

dave j

There's usualy still late deals in the travel agents windows that change every day. They're the same deals you can find on the net usually.

This morning I went into our local travel agent and had a chat with the girl behind the desk. The prices she offered me were WAY above what I have just found on t'internet - up to double the price for the same hotel / resort! I asked if it was worth the gamble of booking a day or so before the holiday and she said "it depends"

I realise that if you book through an agent you normally get a 'reliable' package, but these days nothing is certain.

Methinks I will get surfing again

got all inclusive one with 2 days notice of internet last month for a good saving need to constantly look as offers changing constantly. only issue is think there have been a number of independant internet travel companies going to the wall last month some may appear to be still trading, if you do get what apears a never repeatable bargin and goes t''s up cant really complain

[Edited on 18/8/10 by will121]

If you don;t live too far from an airport (e.g. Stansted...) you could go there with a passport and a case and go to the holiday company desks and ask them what's available for that day

Got ours on tesco vouchers! (OK, big caravan thing on the Med, and we drive down....but very locost)

Depends what you mean by lowcost really...

I've been doing some searching recently for as cheap a holiday I can get, but for a specific destination (Mallorca, which isn't the cheapest of destinations for holidays overall).

I found very nice villa's for between £260 and £350 per week (diff in price was for quality and no. of beds - 2 to 8 in these price ranges!) and with flights for around £62 each I think it's a very affordable holiday. I know the island quite well, I know what/where to shop for food etc to make that aspect cost effective and carhire is something like £7 per day, I'd have for the whole week saving on airport transfers for us all. And other little savings like that...

So, all in all, a reasonable price for what would be a very very nice holiday!