Best UK websites for Holiday Deals & Discount Codes

What are last-minute holidays?

Booking a last minute holiday often means bigger savings but less choice, so if you're looking to depart within the next three to six weeks, you can expect to save big compared to brochure prices.

Holiday airlines are always keen to fill their planes, so if they have a number of seats available near to departure, they often reduce the seat cost to fill the plane - the same is true for hotel rooms. So, if you're flexible with 'when and where' you can usually secure a bargain at low last-minute prices.

Remember, try to be flexible with departure airports and dates - this can help maximise availability, choice and savings. Try some of our 'search options' using the direct links above - to see what's currently on offer.

Where to find the best discounts and late deals?

Travel discounts and holiday deals come in many shapes and prices. Some offers represent spectacular savings, while others not so, with some deals forming part of marketing campaigns - that can sometimes appear unsubstantial.

Last-minute deals and special offers almost always provide worthwhile savings, they're also easy to identify and 'price compare' with brochure prices. During a recent Holiday4 survey, we identified TUI as providing some of the best 'late deals and offers' for Summer 2023 season.

TUI clearly identifies the amount saved compared to the brochure price by displaying the original cost alongside the advertised offer price - this helps identify how good the deal really is.

Knowing where to look for deals can save time and effort - we found signing up for newsletters provided a 'head start', with most companies providing advanced notice of their seasonal special offer release dates. We found Easyjet's newsletter particularly informative, with great destination suggestions, special offer announcements and regular 'Flash Sales' - all of which proved good value, informative and a pleasure to receive.

What are Early Booking Discounts?

Early booking discounts allow you to book your holiday in advance with the benefit of a worthwhile saving - early booking discounts are usually released at the start of the booking season, with most tour operators now offering 'some sort' of advance booking incentive.

Some of the best deals we've seen, include early booking discount codes for up to £100-per-couple (subject to availability and T&Cs). Early booking allows you to do the hard work in advance (and at discounted prices) - Plus, it gives you peace of mind knowing your bargain 'two weeks in the sun' is sorted.

Are low Deposit and pay monthly options worth doing?

Spreading the cost of your holiday is now easier than ever. Most providers have Low Deposit booking incentives available during specific times of the year; however, both Jet2Holidays and On the Beach have low deposit offers available year-round, starting at £30pp.

When booking in advance, most tour operators offer ways to help budget for your holiday by allowing you to spread the cost with interest-free monthly (pre-departure) payments - and with no additional fees.

Should I book a package holiday? - or take the DIY route and build my own package deal.

This can be a tricky question to answer - taking the DIY approach for straightforward beach holidays and city breaks can often appear cheaper and provide additional flexibility and choice - but not always. In many cases, licenced tour operators use special low-cost IT rates - offered by airlines, hotel operators and ground transportation providers, allowing them to 'package and sell' official holiday deals - at very reasonable prices.

In our experience, the convenience of not having to spend time 'researching and sourcing' different holiday components outweighs the potential savings. Also, 'bear in mind' that you lose 'important' added benefits by not booking through a licenced tour operator, such as help with extras and add-ons, the convenience of an overseas representative (if provided), plus ABTA and ATOL protection should something go wrong.

'In our opinion' package tour operators often provide valuable extras and a safety net between you and travel suppliers should a problem arise. Also, consider using an independent licenced travel agent; they have a wealth of knowledge, expertise and great contacts - that could help you save money in the long run.

The DIY approach does have its benefits - especially if you're a seasoned traveller and know what you want and where to find it.

Remember, if you need extra flexibility or perhaps you're looking to build your own holiday itinerary, many larger and specialist licenced tour operators now offer 'tailor-made' holiday options, allowing you (or the tour operator) to source the different package components 'in-house' and at reasonable rates. This way you still receive the benefits of professional help and advice, plus the inclusion of financial and consumer protection options.

Tips on how to grab yourself a holiday bargain.

Sign up for the UK's Top Five Tour Operatours Newsletters (TUI, Jet2, On the Beach, Easyjet and First Choice) and be the first to receive advance notice of special offers and late deals, plus other interesting bits and bobs, such as Early Booking Discount Codes, Free Child Place release dates, Flash Sales, New Booking Season start dates and advanced Seasonal Deals.

• When searching for bargains, check the latest deals direct with each main tour operator. Not all third-party suppliers and online travel agents display the latest deals 'at the same time' - so do the legwork and check with each holiday company for their latest offers.
• Don't limit yourself to just one airport - include nearby departure and arrival airports in your search, (decide in advance how far you're willing to travel) and include the additional airports into the radius of your search.
• Be flexible; try not to tie yourself to a particular destination, resort or country.
• Flash Sales - Most holiday companies now offer Flash Sales, which often contain greater discounts for travellers who are flexible with both travel dates and destinations (with some departures being close to the flash sale release date). Top Tip: Sign up for newsletters to receive Flash Sales.
• Beware of baggage fees; the cost of travelling with your clothes has skyrocketed over recent years (for both European and long-haul flights) - so be prepared to add baggage fees (if not already included in the package price).

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents of this article. The use of this site and third-party links is subject to our T&Cs.