You could sit and pray that a last minute deal heads your way but there’s a good chance that that might not work out for you. The best way to plan things isn’t to think where the cheapest option is, in fact many people look at places that have become synonymous with cheap getaways such as Prague. These types of areas are no longer secrets and the amount of tourism has alerted the locals bump up the prices of things in order to take advantage of unsuspecting foreigners.

In fact the best method for getting a bargain holiday is dependent on what time you go. With the peak times covering the summer months from June to August people tend to think autumn/winter means rain and snow, and I suppose for us British who can blame us? So let me alert you to the yearlong sun found in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and most places south of the Equator.

September is considered the last day of summer, yes I was shocked too, and as many resorts quiet down they still remain open long into the winter. Destinations in the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands has temperatures reaching as high as 30°C in the summer, but during winter that figure is halved. That still provides good sun and pretty much as good as can be found around the British Isles during summer. Popular destinations in the north of Africa such as Egypt comfortable make 20°C as late as December. These deals will be a fraction of what you’ll pay over the summer though things will be quiet so these bargain holidays are better suited for families, couples and people who just want to relax.

There are places like South America, Australia and even South Africa that offer good sun in the winter months but the price of reaching those locations wouldn’t make those holidays much cheaper at all.