There are positives and negative with booking your holiday at the last minute. You can of course get some great deals, but there are some large drawbacks too.

The cost of a holiday takes up a large proportion of anyone’s annual budget, so to get your moneys-worth you need to do your research and shop around. Last-minute holidays, and apparent bargains, can mislead anyone who is shopping on a budget.

If you have a family to consider, holidays are restricted by the school year as well as parents work obligations. This obviously leads to a larger demand for holidays during peak times, such as the summer and Easter holiday periods. Although you can find some cheaper holidays, you may have compromise on a different location or a more difficult journey for example.
If you are planning to travel to a destination in which diseases such as typhoid, yellow fever or polio are rife, or where you can find malaria, last-minute trips are not a great option. This is because you should seek medical advice for your destination around 6 weeks before you travel, as some immunisations are given in 2 doses that have to be given 4 weeks apart. You will also have to start taking anti-malaria drugs at least 2 weeks before you travel. There is no point in risking anyone’s health for a last-minute holiday bargain.

Late deals can also be tricky when it comes to accommodation, as most companies operate with ‘allocation on arrival’. This is because many tour operators have spare seats on a flight and need to fill them. Sometime you can even book a holiday without the company doing all the necessary accommodation checks, as operators enter into short-term contracts to fill last-minute demands.

It is recommended to choose your holiday from a brochure, as you can read the details of your holiday before you book. Also leave enough time to receive the paperwork about your holiday, so that you have concrete confirmation. If however, you do use a direct last-minute dales agent, they will also be able to read you the details over the phone. But be careful, as you would have a problem in making any complaints if you do not have written proof of the claims that the tour operator made at the time.

Insurance is something that many people can forget – it is not always included in last-minute deals, and it is necessary!
You should always make sure you book your holiday through an ABTA-bonded travel agent. This means that if you are on holiday and your travel agent goes ‘bust’, you are not left stranded at your destination as your money is protected by the ABTA Bond. All ABTA-bonded travel companies display a logo and number. You can call ABTA on 0207 637 2444 to check the company you're booking with offers ABTA protection.

It is easy to find many last-minute offers and deals on the internet, just by using search engines. Many of these offers are aimed at single people or couples, who have more flexibilities than families. But to get some great family last-minute holidays, as well as holidays for single, couples and groups, visit: www.freedomdirect.co.uk