The Summer season of 2014 is almost over. Some you are sad because of this while some of you are not. The chances are if you had enough time to go on Holiday you are now relaxed and ready to go back to work. However, some of you may have not had the chance to go on holiday. You may be thinking that it is too late now and you will have to wait until the next year to get a proper break. But do not worry. Over the last week or so a number of travel consultants have agreed to share their expert opinion on late Summer Holiday Planning. Hopefully you will find the tips useful.

Richard Frampton- Hurlingham Travel

Know what you want to get out the holiday – is it relaxation and maybe a spa or are you looking for something more cultural or perhaps a combination of both.  This will help narrow down the search and means that the holiday we search for will hopefully tick all the boxes.

Think outside of the box for your destination, sometimes a bit of imagination can lead to a totally unexpected and enjoyable experience which is what going on holiday should all be about.

Money may not be an object but flights to a lot of of the most popular destinations will often be very busy at the last minute so being a bit flexible with your dates can make a big difference to the final cost.

John Kumm- Online Travel Consultant

Look for great locations once the summer crowds have gone

A number of places that are great to visit for most of the year become so overcrowded during the height of summer that it is often best to avoid them. However, the “shoulder season”, in Late Summer and early autumn sees a significant drop off in the number of visitors, often a more temperant climate and often lower prices for airfares as an added benefit. However, be aware that different places have different busy seasons, and perhaps do a quick online search to see what the best travel time may be.

Book a last minute luxury cruise

How about a few days all at sea? There are two opportunities to purchase cruises at a low cost. The first of these is to purchase a long time ahead of the cruise when the booking have just opened, but the best deals often come shortly before the ship is to sail. After all, the cruise line doesn’t want to have empty staterooms when it is at sea. Why not visit a website specializing in luxury cruises such as www.cruisespecialists.com and search for “Last Minute Cruises”

Seek out last minute 5-star stays in luxury resorts

Remember that the value of a room in a luxury resort falls to zero if there is nobody using the room on the day. At this time of the year, as the mid-summer rush is over, a number of luxury resorts begin to find their bookings falling. You may be able to take advantage of this by seeking out special seasonal last minute deals through sites such as Travel Zoo. You may well be able to find a wide range of last minute opportunities that may offer you just what you are searching for.

Stephen Smith- Vision Travel

Get active!  Active and experiential travel is at the top of our list right now.  Cycling tours, wine tours, safaris and arctic expeditions offer an extraordinary view of the world.

The late summer / early fall is a great time to visit the major cities of the North East like Boston, New York, Washington and Philadelphia.

Use a travel agent – they will get you better pricing, access to otherwise unavailable opportunities and they often have exclusive added value

Margarita Fedorova- Vega Travel

Act fast!

Be flexible. If your dream getaway is not available, try a couple different destinations. Many travelers book their summer holidays in advance because of rigid work schedules, so any deals are either an attempt to move inventory or last minute cancellations.

Ask your travel advisor for advice. Maybe your Caribbean fantasy is not ideal (it’s hurricane season).

Russ DiTusa- DiTusa Travel Group        

Weather.  It is still hurricane season in the Caribbean ( depending on which island), parts of Mexico, Central America and the eastern US coast.  Although the odds of getting hit by a hurricane are slim, it could be rainy.  If you don’t mind the increased chance of getting wet, this could be a bargain and a much less crowded destination

Cost. Generally , prices drop when school is back in session.  Air is generally cheaper, especially with travel to Europe.  Use a “jump city” to get the best rate.  That means fly into a town like Madrid or Dublin, spend a night or two, and then take a cheap airline to your final destination like Paris.  You will save some money and have a chance to spend some time in another exciting destination

Take advantage of the spectacular fall foliage.

Three Top Places to Visit

• For fall color, visit Vermont-New Hampshire or Coastal Maine and Acadia national Park
• Vancouver Island. The perfect time of year to visit one of the world’s most diverse and beautiful ecosystems.
• Spain.  Cooler weather without the crowds.  Perhaps the most flamboyantly romantic place on earth.
• Ditusa Travel Group can create the perfect itinerary for a memorable  late summer experience.

There you go! A big list of useful tips and strategies for finding deals during the end of the season. Big thank you to all the consultants who agreed to participate in this.  Please, share this post on Facebook and subscribe to our email list if you think it was useful.

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