Last minute holidays

[Fat Thor]

Thinking of just packing my bags when I finish work for Xmas and getting away for 7-10days, don’t care where really but maybe not canary isles.

Anyone recommend companies/websites for proper last minute stuff? Can you still get bargains like the old teletext deals?

[bakerstreet]

Personally I don't think there is much of a deal to be had anymore.

1. You will get the least popular hotels/rooms/flights
2. You will pay more for the same holiday than the person who booked it 11 months ago
3. Booking any trips or restaurants will be much harder

If you are ok with these points then happy days.

[raceboy]

Lastminute.com a bit too obvious?
I'd be tempted to rock up to the bricks and mortar Agents and sit down and say I want to go tomorrow what have you got?

[cliffords]

My experience of the last minute options are they are generally poor choice and expensive. We have tried a couple of times this year it appears when you say you want to go now or tomorrow the price goes up for the worst choices.

[LuS1fer]

Plan it. Find a cheap flight to a cheap destination and book a cheap apartment.

As an example, you can go to Fuerteventura in December for about £100 return and an apartment for about £350. Hire car is about £100 and you eat out every day.

[RichFN2]

LuS1fer said:

Plan it. Find a cheap flight to a cheap destination and book a cheap apartment.

As an example, you can go to Fuerteventura in December for about £100 return and an apartment for about £350. Hire car is about £100 and you eat out every day.

This is probably the best approach if you can be semi flexible. I'm looking at a winter city break in January or February and so far I have found a return flight to Lithuania for £38 but I reckon I can get one cheaper so I will keep searching.

Also avoiding a weekend flight seems to help, accomodation is looking reasonable being the low season.

[Charlie Foxtrot]

RichFN2 said:

LuS1fer said:

Plan it. Find a cheap flight to a cheap destination and book a cheap apartment.

As an example, you can go to Fuerteventura in December for about £100 return and an apartment for about £350. Hire car is about £100 and you eat out every day.

This is probably the best approach if you can be semi flexible. I'm looking at a winter city break in January or February and so far I have found a return flight to Lithuania for £38 but I reckon I can get one cheaper so I will keep searching.

Also avoiding a weekend flight seems to help, accomodation is looking reasonable being the low season.

£38 return is a bargain, don't think we've ever managed it that cheap. Paying 10x that for our Christmas visit.

OP, I keep an eye on HolidayPirate and I'm tempted to do that for a February or March break. My opinion is if you're completely open minded then a bargain can be had. But if you have to go to certain place on certain dates then you'll never truly get a bargain.

[LuS1fer]

Charlie Foxtrot said:

£38 return is a bargain, don't think we've ever managed it that cheap. Paying 10x that for our Christmas visit.

Christmas is always expensive.
One week return flight to Fuerteventura from 6-13 December, Easyjet, Bristol - £78
Change that to 20-27 December and it's £364

[Charlie Foxtrot]

It's to visit family, so at least we're not spending on accommodation or eating out every night.

[Mercdriver]

Just booked Tenerife in February it is costing more for the hold case than it is for me, can you book a seat for your case

[RichFN2]

LuS1fer said:

Charlie Foxtrot said:

£38 return is a bargain, don't think we've ever managed it that cheap. Paying 10x that for our Christmas visit.

Christmas is always expensive.
One week return flight to Fuerteventura from 6-13 December, Easyjet, Bristol - £78
Change that to 20-27 December and it's £364

To clarify this was with WizzAir on a Friday in mid January to Vilnius, the outbound flight was £12.

Think the cheapest I saw was Lublin for £11, even Ljubljana was around £17. In the spring your looking at £100 each way!

[LuS1fer]

Mercdriver said:

Just booked Tenerife in February it is costing more for the hold case than it is for me, can you book a seat for your case

I only ever pack hand luggage - wear jeans and fleece, pack shorts,t-shirts and essentials and you'll still not fill the backpack.
A lot of these apartments have a washing machine as well with 15 minute cycles.

[raceboy]

Mercdriver said:

Just booked Tenerife in February it is costing more for the hold case than it is for me, can you book a seat for your case

Had exactly that issue with EasyJet for Bilbao, my seat £18, the bag in the hold, £35 but apparently I can't buy a seat for the bag, and it can't weigh 15 stone either

[Shaoxter]

Sign up to Jack's flight club, even the free version gives you some decent deals/inspiration.
There's some very cheap flights to LAX during xmas time around £400...

[Griffith4ever]

raceboy said:

Lastminute.com a bit too obvious?
I'd be tempted to rock up to the bricks and mortar Agents and sit down and say I want to go tomorrow what have you got?

Don't. Just DONT. Go read the reviews of lastminute.com . They got bought out a few years ago and are now a web support only company who are truly aweful.

I used them this year. I have never dealt with such a st show , ever. You CANNOT speak to a human on the phone,and they will not reply to any emails other than standard drone-replies.

2 weeks before departing they told me my hotel was closing for a refurb and gave me a choice of two other hotels. They claim they are upgrades as the are either an increase in stars, or, full board. I booked a quiet sea front hotel with a beach front sea view room.

They offered two family oriented waterpark type mega hotels ,both with horrific reviews , buffet all you can eat slop, car park views.

I declined and asked for a!ternatives,suggesting a room at another hotel they had on offer, same price, same self catering. You have to do this on an automated "live chat".

"Thank you, we wi!ll Check and come back to you within 3 days". AT this stage three days is stressful as I've booked flights with them and car hire seperately.
Three days passed and they emailed me back saying they could not find the hotel I suggested and offered the same two hotels again.

Three more chats, same suggestions, gave them web URL of THEIR hotel offer I wanted. 9 days of the same replies.

In the end I told them I'd had enough and wanted the accom part of my booking refunded. They told me they could not do this. Each time getting told the next reply would be within three days....

In the end I told someone on live chat that I WOULD be getting a refund, I'll book my own accom, leave my flights alone, and Ill take them to small claims court if they did not refund me, after my holiday. He dug his hee!s in with the three days thing again and I just said, I'm not playing this game any more and I'll see you in court.

Someone rang me the next morning and processed my refund.

Never, ever again, Absolutley fking shocking, and it is a common experince according to a gazillion reviews.

Booked a lovely villa independently in the end.

[KAgantua]

Griffith4ever said:

raceboy said:

Lastminute.com a bit too obvious?
I'd be tempted to rock up to the bricks and mortar Agents and sit down and say I want to go tomorrow what have you got?

Don't. Just DONT. Go read the reviews of lastminute.com . They got bought out a few years ago and are now a web support only company who are truly aweful.

I used them this year. I have never dealt with such a st show , ever. You CANNOT speak to a human on the phone,and they will not reply to any emails other than standard drone-replies.

2 weeks before departing they told me my hotel was closing for a refurb and gave me a choice of two other hotels. They claim they are upgrades as the are either an increase in stars, or, full board. I booked a quiet sea front hotel with a beach front sea view room.

They offered two family oriented waterpark type mega hotels ,both with horrific reviews , buffet all you can eat slop, car park views.

I declined and asked for a!ternatives,suggesting a room at another hotel they had on offer, same price, same self catering. You have to do this on an automated "live chat".

"Thank you, we wi!ll Check and come back to you within 3 days". AT this stage three days is stressful as I've booked flights with them and car hire seperately.
Three days passed and they emailed me back saying they could not find the hotel I suggested and offered the same two hotels again.

Three more chats, same suggestions, gave them web URL of THEIR hotel offer I wanted. 9 days of the same replies.

In the end I told them I'd had enough and wanted the accom part of my booking refunded. They told me they could not do this. Each time getting told the next reply would be within three days....

In the end I told someone on live chat that I WOULD be getting a refund, I'll book my own accom, leave my flights alone, and Ill take them to small claims court if they did not refund me, after my holiday. He dug his hee!s in with the three days thing again and I just said, I'm not playing this game any more and I'll see you in court.

Someone rang me the next morning and processed my refund.

Never, ever again, Absolutley fking shocking, and it is a common experince according to a gazillion reviews.

Booked a lovely villa independently in the end.

totally - lasminute and booking com are amazing for cheap places, convenience and searching whole of market. But I wouldnt book anything more than a few days with them, (Or over say 750 quid) i.e. stuff im prepared to lose.

Once it goes wrong, they ghost you big time,

[Griffith4ever]

Hehe, I just found teh transcript:

Conversation between customer and agent

Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:41:41) : Hi, welcome! I'm Lia, your virtual assistant, and I'm here to
help you.
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:41:42) : Do you have a booking with us?
Customer (06/09/2023 14:41:46) : Yes ?
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:41:48) : Please enter the email address used to make your booking
and the Booking ID. It's a 10-digit number, and you'll find it in the top right of your confirmation email.
If you did not get an email, log in to your account area and go to Trips to see your trip details and
the Booking ID.
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:41:48) : Do you have the email address and Booking ID?
Customer (06/09/2023 14:41:51) : Yes ?
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:41:52) : To find your booking, enter the email address you used to
make it.
Customer (06/09/2023 14:42:02) : [e-mail]
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:42:03) : Is [e-mail] the right email address?
Customer (06/09/2023 14:42:06) : Yes ?
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:42:08) : You can read the privacy policy available at
https://www.lastminute.com/en/info/privacy/bravone...
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:42:10) : Now I need your Booking ID. It consists of 10 numbers - you'll
find it in your booking confirmation email.
Customer (06/09/2023 14:42:19) : xxxxxxxxxxxx
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:42:22) : For security reasons, please enter your full name.
Customer (06/09/2023 14:42:27) : xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:42:30) : It looks like you tried to contact us just a moment ago. Don't
worry, I'll make sure your request is handled as soon as possible.
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:42:41) : Okay, how can I help you?
Customer (06/09/2023 14:42:47) : Other
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:42:49) : Can you provide more details about your needs?
Customer (06/09/2023 14:43:02) : my hotel has been cancelled - I need to speak to someone
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 14:43:04) : OK, I'll connect you to the first available agent. Please stay in
the chat.
Agent (06/09/2023 14:43:12) : Hi, I'm Rubi, how can I help you?
Customer (06/09/2023 14:43:55) : You are tryign to arrange a new hotel for us as you cancelled the
ecisting one. Someone the day before yesterday promised ot escalate and contact me in 36 hours.
This hasn't happened
Customer (06/09/2023 14:44:06) : we are supposed to be leavign next week
Customer (06/09/2023 14:44:14) : this is my 4th or 5th session on here, and many emails.
Agent (06/09/2023 14:44:34) : Sure, I will help you for this I am checking the information you have
requested and will be right back. Please do not exit the chat.
Agent (06/09/2023 14:46:07) : Thank you for being connected,
Upon checking your booking I would like to inform you that our team is working on your request.
Once it will be manage by our relevant team, they will check and get back to you via e-mail or call.
Customer (06/09/2023 14:46:46) : That's not good enough - I've been goign round in circles for 2
weeks now. I was promised it had been escalated. I havea question - are my flights paid fopr?
Customer (06/09/2023 14:47:10) : Because, I will take the flights and arrange my own
accomodation, and then you can refund me for teh accom I paid for but isn't available.
Customer (06/09/2023 14:47:23) : I am not prepared to leave this any longer.
Customer (06/09/2023 14:47:36) : I am flying next weekend. I have paid for car hire, airport parking
etc.
Agent (06/09/2023 14:48:36) : I understand your point however as I checked our team is working on
your request and they will contact you via call or e-mail with in 3 days.
Customer (06/09/2023 14:49:22) : no - you said that 2 days ago, and that was 36 hours. You can't
keep adding 3 days. I am here by giving notice that I will be seeking a refund fo rtthe accom, and if
you don't, I'll use a small claims procedure to get it back. Enough is enough
Customer (06/09/2023 14:49:53) : YOu either offer suitable accom, today, or I want a refund. Nop
more "wait for 3 days"
Agent (06/09/2023 14:50:57) : I understand your situation but as the team is already managing your
request I would request you to kindly wait for an update.
Customer (06/09/2023 14:51:21) : You can't keep sayign that - they are not "managing it". Here is
the tranmscipt from our last session...
Customer (06/09/2023 14:51:33) : This was on 4/9
Customer (06/09/2023 14:51:35) :

Below - from 2 days previously

Agent (04/09/2023 15:05:52) : Mr xxxxxxxxxx, I have escalated
your booking to our escalation team.
Please provide us 36hours more.
Agent (04/09/2023 15:06:33) : they will contact you via email or call and definitely try to provide you
a solution.
Customer (04/09/2023 15:07:45) : All teh emails have been fruitlerss and I've ended upi back here.
Much longer and I won't get a refund on car hire, car parking etc. They need to call me xxxxx
xxxxxxx. I can't be at my desk liek this. I have to work, I would also like to know why the hotel I have
suggested is "not available" when I can' book it right now on your site
Agent (04/09/2023 15:08:53) : Sure I will update them to contact you on this number xxxxxx xxxxxxx.
Customer (04/09/2023 15:09:24) : thank you. I will wait until tomorrow, then I am going to HAVE to
book something else

Chat resumes:

Customer (06/09/2023 14:52:35) : That is after me waiting "3 days" x 3 times at least.
Agent (06/09/2023 14:54:07) : xxxxx, our team is working and they will contact you via call on your
register contact details.
Customer (06/09/2023 14:54:45) : but they have not - 36 hours is passed - who would I accept thsi
again? Is there a way to contact "your team" - becaused clearly this isn't the way
Agent (06/09/2023 14:56:16) : As I checked our team is currently working on your request and I will
make sure that they will contact you via call on your register contact details. I will request to you
please allow us time to manage your request.
Customer (06/09/2023 14:57:03) : enough. enough. I'm going to book my accomodation as leaving it
until the week we travel is unnaceptable. I will claim back from you the accomodation cost, through
court probably as I cant' see me getting anywhere on here. You've missed the "36 hour escallation"
deadline and I'm not prepared ot wait any longer
Agent (06/09/2023 14:59:58) : I will make sure that you will get call from your relevant team end of
day.
Agent (06/09/2023 15:02:19) : Hi xxxxx, are we still connected on this chat?
Since, I am not getting any response from your side. I am closing this chat.
Thanks for contacting us.
For any other queries, please log into your "My lastminute.com" account on our website. Have a
nice day.
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 15:02:26) : Chat ended. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require
any further assistance. Have a nice day.
Customer (06/09/2023 15:02:26) : you can close this so I can save the transcipt, thanks
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 15:02:31) : We'll invite you to complete a short survey after this chat. Your
feedback helps us improve.
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 15:02:32) : Would you like a copy of this conversation in an email?
Customer (06/09/2023 15:02:36) : Yes ?
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 15:02:38) : Thank you. We'll send a copy to
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 15:02:39) : Do you want to continue and answer our short survey?

Customer (06/09/2023 15:02:47) : Yes ?
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 15:02:48) : Based on your experience using our chat, how likely are you
to recommend us to friends and family? Enter a number between 0 (not at all likely) and 10
(extremely likely).
Customer (06/09/2023 15:02:53) : 0
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 15:02:55) : On a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent), how would you rate
your interaction with the agent who helped you today?
Customer (06/09/2023 15:03:02) : 3
Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 15:03:04) : Did you get all the information you were looking for?

Edited by Griffith4ever on Thursday 2nd November 10:33

[raceboy]

Griffith4ever said:

Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 15:02:55) : On a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent), how would you rate
your interaction with the agent who helped you today?
Customer (06/09/2023 15:03:02) : 3

And after that you gave them a '3'

[captain_cynic]

raceboy said:

Griffith4ever said:

Virtual Agent (06/09/2023 15:02:55) : On a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent), how would you rate
your interaction with the agent who helped you today?
Customer (06/09/2023 15:03:02) : 3

And after that you gave them a '3'

That's the problem with ratings and NPS systems these days, anything below an 8 out of 10 is sub par and 5 is a failure, meaning that an out of 10 system is really just an out of 5 system.

The sad part is people have been trained not to give bad marks for poor service.

Back on topic, experiences like the one Griffith4ever had are why I steadfastly refused to use travel agents. Once they have your money they don't care about you. An airline/jotel at least has to deal directly with you and there are grievance processes you can go through.

[KAgantua]

Pretty good service from LM there compared to booking.com. I agree they are frustrating to deal with.