| Copyright (c) 2009 Casper da silva | | | | departure and finding nothing go somewhere they did |
| Let's begin with the buzz words of the year Credit | | | | not plan on going and end up not having the best of |
| Crunch, and what it means for holiday seekers this | | | | holidays so book a minimum of four weeks before |
| year. I remember when I first started working in the | | | | departure so that can clinch your dream deal. If |
| Travel Industry last century (oh yes I do chuckle | | | | however you are the type who wants to just turn |
| when I throw that one out), and up to twenty two | | | | up at the airport with a suitcase not caring where |
| years ago going on holiday was a luxury. By the late | | | | you go as long as you get a bit of sun then a few |
| eighties quickly followed by the nineties, going on | | | | days before departure for a great late holiday deal |
| holiday evolved from been a luxury shared by a small | | | | will suit you just fine. |
| minority to becoming an absolute necessity shared | | | | Again word to the wise, gambling with a last minute |
| by the majority and a way to keep your sanity for | | | | holiday a day before a Bank Holiday or the start of |
| the rest of the year. It was also something to aspire | | | | any school holidays is a definite no-no, trying to find a |
| to and look forward to and despite the saturation of | | | | suitable last minute holiday bargain a couple of days |
| the travel industry it still holds that certain magic for | | | | before you want to get away can be an extremely |
| people going away wanting to leave their humdrum | | | | stressful exercise for a family with specific needs and |
| lives behind and live the dream, catching the rays, | | | | requirements, so always start looking five to nine |
| looking at beautiful sunsets, tasting different foods | | | | weeks before departure. Be prepared when booking |
| meeting different people. Needless to say this year in | | | | a last minute holiday make sure your budget is |
| 2009, there has been a bit of panic about whether | | | | accounted for on your debit or credit card, losing a |
| going on holiday is going to be a possibility for most | | | | holiday to something as routine as a ten minute |
| couples and families and the media's ongoing credit | | | | account to account fund transfer. If you are sans |
| crunch mantra hasn't helped alleviate the fears to the | | | | debit or credit cards, then phone a friend or family |
| average traveller. | | | | member and ask them to help you out with the use |
| However, I am going to go on record and state with | | | | of their card details which you of course repay, and |
| absolute confidence and clarity that this is going to | | | | make sure you have this in place before you start |
| be a dream year for last minute holidays and great | | | | searching for your last minute holiday, as some |
| bargains will be bountiful in this buyers market. But | | | | offers need to be booked and paid for straight away |
| and there is a 'but' here, you need to know what to | | | | or you may lose out on a great deal by the time you |
| do and when to do it. As any self respecting gambler | | | | try and sort out ways to pay for your holiday. |
| will tell you, you just have to know when to gamble | | | | Remember no one holds options on last minute |
| and when to fold. Last minute holiday bookings do | | | | holidays anymore. You will find companies are more |
| not necessarily mean that you book your holiday a | | | | than willing to offer competitive prices, and it's easy |
| day before departure to get the best deal, infact it | | | | to get caught up in getting companies to compete |
| can work against you and you end up paying more | | | | with each other to get the best deals. But take too |
| than someone who probably booked five weeks | | | | long and use too many companies to do your bidding |
| before you even nine weeks. If I could count the | | | | war and it could end up you become the loser, as |
| amount of times I have heard my clients literally | | | | the electronic data been gathered by the operator |
| kicking themselves for playing the waiting game on | | | | gives them the idea that the demand on the holiday |
| brilliant offers they were given a few weeks before | | | | you are searching for is great and the price will go up. |
| and because they have gambled and waited till a day | | | | So snap up that fantastic lasty minute holiday, and do |
| before departure thinking they would get it even | | | | so with some defiance, 2009 is going to be one of |
| cheaper, was a foolish gamble and it wont work in | | | | the best years to find last minute holiday, so enjoy it! |
| your favour. Make sure you leave yourself enough | | | | Casper da Silva is a travel writer and Travel Specialist |
| time before booking if you are looking for something | | | | for HolidayClick with over 22 years experience in |
| quite specific, I have often found disappointed clients | | | | researching holiday destinations. |
| searching for Sharm El Sheik two days before | | | | |