Is there any point waiting to book?

[Kissesgingers]

We've left it too late for an early booking bonus like a free kids place, is there any point waiting until the week before and gambling on a cheaper last minute deal? Before children (and the internet) we would walk into a travel agent on Thursday and fly on Saturday to accommodation allocated on arrival. Is it naive to think this might still work? Any advice welcomed

there will be no cheaper last minute deals in school holidays - not any more. the last minute holidays left the week before you go are the ones that no one else wants and you have to ask yourself why that is. either because they are poor or poor value for money ie massive expensive.

we used to do the walk in thing before children but it worked out only because we weren't going in school holidays. really, I wouldn't risk it. you could end up somewhere like shagaluf - completely unsuitable with children or with nothing to do. holidays are so expensive in school holidays that I just wouldn't take the risk.

you read of a lot more people who stayed in dives doing this than those that found a gem and in school holidays they will be like hens teeth.

Agree with Mummy. The last minute deals I looked at last summer were just the odd left over deals - flying out of Aberdeen and mostly going to 18-30 hotels or Turkey.

You need a cheaper holiday you can always book flights yourself and stay in the accommodation for less nights. Although not even sure flights for August are cheap.
If you can bear the thought of driving the Chunnel prices don't really go up so you can get to France for £70 ( for a car full) and go on from there.

Not during school holidays. There might still be some discounts around, keep looking. We booked a hotel today on the Spanish coast for late July (via booking.com) and it was hugely discounted, as were quite a few others in the same place. Also if you book somewhere where eating, drinking, etc. are cheap then you will spend less when you get there.

A hotel with a pool (including a kids' pool) can be a good investment as it saves spending so much on days out or other activities - depending on your children's age and likes, of course.

When is the best time to book in the school holidays to get the best savings? Looking at Mexico for late June/early July 2018( ds at private school) and seem to have big discounts if book before end of march. Will these be even bigger if we wait until later in the year or Jan 2018 though?

Thanks for these answers. We're now looking at Mon-Fri and staying in an independent Italian 2 star b&b as we know these will be basic, clean and cheap (trip advisor will be used too) an affordable school holiday break!

Why B and B? Apartments are cheap and you get to use the kitchen when you want. We rented one in Rome and it was fab. Loved Rome in August ( and January and April !) and but you may want a pool which is hard to find.

romelofts have some good cheap apartments on their website.

Last minute deals for May HT. We've been with [http://www.gustocamp.co.uk/2017-05/last-minutes Gustocamp] in the past to Union Lido. Last minute flights may not be bargainous though but accommodation certainly is!