Has anyone gambled at booking a UK holiday v last minute?

[hooplahoop]

We're hoping to have a weeks holiday in August, ideally Dorset way but pretty flexible.

I know it's my problem, but can't seem to get over the costs of UK holidays. Looks like it could easily be between 800- 1500 for a week. But what if the weathers rubbish?

So I'm thinking... How about booking something 1 or 2 weeks before we have booked the time off work? If the forecast is bad we can come up with fun day trips from our house, and best case scenario we get some late availability deals?

Am I being really naive? Will everything be booked up, or at least the decent places? As I said can be very flexible on location and don't care if we stay in a caravan or cottage.

Thanks

If you are really flexible about where and type of holiday, then maybe ok to wait until the last minute.

Though looking at the site we use every year (we have had gorgeous holidays with them for the past 5 years) many of the cottages are full already, only ones newly on the books have availability...

www.abovebeachcottages.co.uk/special_offers.html

the change to the school holiday rules seems to have meant that places are booked up for school summer holidays much earlier. whilst last year I might have said risk it then this year I just wouldn't. just done a quick trawl of a dozen or so places - Cornwall, Wales etc that we have stayed in over the past few years and they are all full in August already. If you can be really flexible then go for it. but do bear in mind the last minute holidays that are left are usually the ones that no one else wants (told this by a travel agent never a truer word and all that)

Thanks, that makes sense. I suppose if I was thinking of going to/ could afford Europe, I may try and save and book ahead of time so get something we particularly want. But its also the risk of spending a fair amount of money of a Uk holiday and then getting rubbish weather, whereas we could double check the forecast before looking last minute.

Oh its so tricky....