The British weather has been playing its caprices on us
again this summer and for many of us it is even hard to
imagine that the 'real' summer is still at its height
everywhere else... You know which one I'm talking about -
the one with clear blue skies and hours and hours of
unobstructed golden sunshine when you don't have to dash
out to make the most of it today because it will simply be
still there tomorrow and the next week for you to enjoy.

On a positive note, this is a good excuse for us to leave
everything behind and set out on a journey in search of the
'real' kind of summer. Luckily, and even on a more positive
note, this doesn't necessarily need to be a long and
expensive trip! This is actually the best time to book that
cheap summer holiday. Although the tour operators have been
telling us how they slashed their capacities due to the
recession, there are still plenty of empty beds in the
hotels and empty seats on the flights waiting to be filled.

Deciding to book a holiday on the spur of the moment can be
such a good idea. If you are one of those experienced and
internet savvy travellers, just turn on your computer and
immerse yourself in all those jazzy looking travel websites
competing for your attention. Lot of them offer full
service 'under one roof' from the initial search of your
destination to making your reservation including your
payment processing, weather service and pre-ordering your
foreign currencies. And the best thing is that this is all
actually happening under the roof of your own house!

To get the best possible bargain out of booking your
holiday online, here are just a few useful hints and tips:

- Be flexible, whether it's the airport you fly from or the
date, you will increase the chances of the system searching
for more available options.
- Ideally, be also flexible on the destination. Of course,
if you are a party animal, nobody would expect you to book
your holiday in a tranquil village on the outback of Turkey
or Greece. But the legendary party scene of Ibiza can also
easily be found in booking your last minute holiday to
Marmaris, Malia, Ayia Napa, Magalluf or Faliraki.
- Book a package holiday with standard duration of 7 or 14
nights, they always tend to be cheaper
- Try to avoid the Eurozone if possible, for example last
minute holidays to Turkey or Tunisia are a good example how
inexpensive a good quality all-inclusive holiday can be.
- Booking your holiday online can offer extra discounts.

As booking your cheap package holiday online is in
principle a DIY thing, some of us may feel a bit lost or
lonely in this process. In this case, many travel websites
encourage their customers to contact their call centre
staff by providing them with free phone numbers, so why not
reach for your phone? The call centre teams are formed of
fully trained travel advisors who are always at hand to
help you with your holiday choices and any advice you may
need. They can even make the reservation on your behalf.
Speaking to a friendly, well mannered and erudite person
can only enhance the whole experience. Of course, whilst
this is all happening from the comfort of your own home,
some of us may prefer the most traditional method of
booking our holiday face to face with a high street travel
agent. You are assured to have their undivided attention
and many of them will gladly share their personal holiday
experience with you and become your favourite 'real person'
to book your holidays with on regular basis.

Last minute holidays to Spain, Greece, Turkey and other
Mediterranean destinations can be booked at amazing prices.
Whether you are travelling with children, you are a couple
or a single traveller, there are still some great bargains
around to be pocketed this summer. How about last minute
holiday deals to Crete, Corfu or Zante in Greece starting
from only £230 per person? Fancy all inclusive? No problem,
Turkey has still got deals to Marmaris from £329 per person
in four star hotels! And the list could just go on and on...

Why not cheat the British weather for a change this summer
and exchange it for a sun-toasted sandy beach lined with
palm trees and warm blue sea? There is still time and
hundreds of last minute holiday deals available begging to
be booked. They are hot, hot, hot.... And just a few clicks
away... so stop enviously watching all those tempting TV
adverts, it could be actually you on that sunbed with a
book and exotic cocktail!

There is an art to getting that cheap holiday, whenever you
speak to someone about their holiday they always love to
tell you what a bargain it was and how little they paid or
how clever they were at booking it. Well here are ten top
tips on how to book that cheap holiday;

1) Always be flexible about the date you can travel. Don't
restrict yourself to going on one date. Be able to travel
two or three days either side of your first choice of date

2) If you can avoid peak season dates such as Christmas &
New Year, Easter, the start of school holidays and half
terms. These dates are popular and a holiday is sold like
any other commodity the more in demand it is the more
expensive it will be

3) If you can book at the last minute. Operators, hotels
and airlines become keener to sell space that is left at
the last minute and one of the only ways to achieve this is
by reducing the price

4) Book an all-inclusive deal. Although they may seem a
little more expensive than the half board option initially,
you can get so much more for your money that your total
holiday costs can be significantly reduced. Often these
holidays, if booked at the last minute can be great value.
If you enjoy eating drinking and water sports it makes
sense to go all-inclusive

5) Avoid travelling to places with the Euro. If you live in
a sterling based economy you will find visiting a Euro
based Country expensive due to the current rates of
exchange. Visit Turkey, Tunisia or Croatia

6) If you have to travel to Europe avoid some of the
traditional Countries like Spain and Greece regardless of
the Euro the prices of things like drink and food has shot
up in the last couple of years. If you have to go there go
all-inclusive. Think Bulgaria, Portugal or France

7) If there is a choice of flights choose the night flight
these will be cheaper than the day flights

8) Share a room with a friend this means the cost of the
room is split two ways not one. If you travel with children
have them in the same room as you

9) Use the regional airports they are cheaper to fly from
than the main ones and also to park your car is often a lot
less and so are things at the airport

10) Collect points and miles with loyalty schemes and
redeem these against the cost of your flights or hotels -
don't forget you have them keep a record of them

If you are looking for a cheap holiday follow this advice
and it could be you telling someone about the bargain you
have got.