Bargain Holidays

Bear in mind that tour operators and major airlines operate all year round and have to maintain their profit margins. You can find yourself a good holiday deal either for last minute breaks or for next year's holiday if you are prepared to put some work into searching.

Booking a holiday is no longer a matter of just picking a destination and letting the tour operator sort out all the details. Holiday deals are becoming more sophisticated and you can grab a good deal by paying closer attention to what is on offer. Late deals can be found on the internet or teletext if you are prepared to travel at very short notice. Just be aware of the hidden costs, such as transfers from the airport, airport taxes, flight meals, single supplements. The prices quoted are rarely the final amount.

Bargain Books

If you are looking to book in advance, then now is a good time to bag a bargain with the tour operators and airlines needing to entice customers in order to maintain their profit margins.

If you want to go away next year, look for deals that include free child places. Look for low deposit holidays - if anything happens between now and your holiday, then losing a small deposit is preferable. Use comparison sites - most of these are up-to-date and some of the best will point out the hidden costs.

If you are looking for a package holiday, compare the price of self catering against all-inclusive. All inclusive holiday deals can offer extremely good value for money, especially if you are travelling as a group. If you have children, then this may also be a cost effective option - there's nothing worse than paying for a meal that isn't eaten!

Sign up for holiday newsletters and check them regularly. Also, widen your horizons - if you want a beach holiday, try looking away from the perennial favourites to less well known destinations.

Finally, holiday deals are only good if the holiday itself turns out to be good. You won't appreciate saving a few hundred pounds if the resort isn't to your liking. So don't go with the cheapest option unless you have researched the destination thoroughly. A cheaper hotel full of partying young people won't go down too well with a family trying to get a baby to sleep!

Bargain Holidays

Luc Besson writes many articles on holiday advice. Luc has written articles on how to find last minute holidays and on holiday destinations worth travelling to.