The best last minute travel deals and bargains

AUSTRALIA FARES BATTLE HOTS UP
STA Travel has undercut the Sinagpore Airlines fares with Down Under flights from £350 per person. The companion fares (which require two people to travel) have been released today, and start from £699 for two to Auckland and £749 for two to Sydney. Bookings must be made over the phone at 08712 308512 before Jun 30.

UK DEPARTURE CRUISES
Page & Moy has cut £799pp off the price of its Historic Britain & Ireland cruise, departing June 26 from Harwich to London, visiting Leith, Belfast, Dublin, Falmouth and London. Prices start from £399pp. Or there's the 15-day Madeira and the Canary Islands cruise departing Southampton Sept 10, calling at Vigo, Madeira, La Palma, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Cadiz, Lisbon and Brest. Prices start from £1,199pp, reduced from £1,376pp.

MED CRUISE
Oceania Cruises has cut prices by up to 50 per cent on some of its summer cruises. Prices start from £1,210 for the 12-night Ionian Inspiration including Sicily, Monaco, Montenegro, Croatia and Corfu. Price is for full-board accommodation, based on two sharing, excluding flights.

CRETE
Sunvil Holidays has dropped £207 off the price of a week in the modern Iliana apartments, three's minute walk from Panormos’ main square. The price is now £319pp based on two sharing a self-catering studio, including return flights and transfers. Departs Jun 30.

AUSTRALIA FLIGHTS
Singapore Airlines is still making headlines with its ongoing fare sale that has seen prices plummet to £369 for Auckland and £399 for Sydney. The prices include taxes and charges and are avlid for travel between Sep 1-Dec 9 and Jan 16-Mar 31 and must be booked by June 30.

News: Australia isn't the only bargain long-haul destination - The Sunday Times yesterday reported a rash of flight deals. Nikki Davies at Trailfinders says long-haul flights can’t get any cheaper.

Jun 12
AIRLINE SALES
From tomorrow until Jun 30, Singapore Airlines is selling returns from Manchester and Heathrow to Singapore from £295 (and business class from £1,585) for travel between Sep 1-Dec 9, and Jan 16-Mar 31.

New York at £385 for two is among very low fares on sale through STA. Others (all based on two travelling together) include: Bangkok (£569), Delhi £499 and Johannesburg, £499 - call 0871 2308512

BALI
Sanctuary Spa Holidays is offering a five-night luxury spa holiday at the Waka Di Ume Resort & Spa from £689p (saving £300) for departures in June and July, to includes flights from Heathrow with Malaysia Airlines, all-inclusive accommodation and transfers.

Jun 11
CANARY ISLANDS
Cadogan Holidays is offering a week at the five-star Princesa Yaiza on Lanzarote for £775pp (saving £84pp) based on a family of three, B&B, leaving Manchester Jul 5 - the 15 per cent discount applies for stays in July booked by end of June.

THAILAND
Leaving Heathrow with Malaysia Airlines on Aug 29, a week's B&B at the three star Kantary Bay Hotel in Phuket now costs from £599pp (saving £243pp) - also Oct 13/14 departures. Tour ref: K04129 - book by Jul 15.

Jun 10
FRENCH RIVIERA
SJ Villas has taken on Le Petit Faucon, a renovated country house with pool in the hills above St Tropez. Introductory offers include July from £450pp per week, based on ten sharing, or Sep/Oct for £315pp, a 20 per cent reduction.

AUSTRIA
A week in the Alps: £600 for a family of four at the Chalet Sonnenalp in Kaprun from Jul 4 - to include breakfast, packed lunch and four-course evening meals with wine. Plus a trip to the glacier with snow scooters and sledges for free. Travel excluded but still remarkable - through Esprit Holidays.

Lastminute.com is also offering great bargains in Austria - seven nights at the three-star Hotel Harfenwirt in the Tyrol on half board to include flights from Gatwick on Jun 17.

BORNEO CRUISE
Oooh, I'd love to do this. In the footsteps of explorer Redmon O’Hanlon with Bales' Into the Heart of Borneo Expedition Cruise - eight nights down the Rajang River in Sarawak with loads to do from £1,765 (saving £580) including flights, full board on cruise and guides leaving Aug 19, 31 or Sep 9.

FLORIDA
A four-bedroom villa in Orlando, with pool, plus car hire and flights from Gatwick on Jun 16 for £584pp (saving £180) through Jetsave.

HONEYMOON SPECIAL
Impress the future wife/husband/partner with a four-night Tanzania safari and six nights in Mozambique - and save £4,054 - with Farside Africa, now £9,674 per couple including accommodation, meals, game viewing, flights, transfers and park fees - but excluding international flights. The drawback? Get married quick - it's for June or July.

HOTEL SALE
They call it a promotion, we call it a sale. Jurys Inns is offering 100 rooms for £20 through June and July at its hotels in Sheffield, Watford, Exeter, Swindon and Derby.

News: the late deals section of The Times has a night in the Lake District and a Michelin-star dinner from £125; Rhodes for a week with all meals from £280 or eight nights in Thailand for £499

Jun 9
GREECE
Exclusive Escapes has a week in the harbour village of Assos, Cephalonia for £838pp (saving £225pp) in a two-bedroom villa with a private pool, based on four sharing including Heathrow-Cephalonia flights, transfers, seven nights’ accommodation, seven days’ car hire, a welcome hamper and daily maid cleaning. Leaving Jul 4.

Among the Greek island offerings from CV Travel is a Jun 15 flight to Corfu, staying in a four-bedroom villa sleeping up to eight for £547pp (saving £123pp) - includes return flights from Gatwick, complimentary food hamper, maid service and transfers.

Sunvil Sailing has reduced the cost of a week’s flotilla sailing in the Greek Ionian Sea with optional tuition down to £530pppw (was £726) for departures on Jun 28. Based on two sharing a cabin, the price includes flights from Gatwick to Prevesa and transfers. Two week breaks are also on offer at £650pp (was £992).

FRANCE
Brittany Ferries has several summer offers including Ile de Ré, La Couarde, apartments in the Charente Maritime (ref : YP0004) - the complex has an exclusive pool and is 100m from the sea. Book by Jul 4, price from £549 for up to 6, before a 25 per cent discount, including return ferry crossings with car.

Holiday France Direct has deals for June on several properties, including a four-bedroom farmhouse and three-bedroom cottage with heated pool near Deux Sèvres, Poitou Charentes – 25 per cent off (normal weekly rental from £395). ref : PS002429. Excludes ferry crossing.

Family holiday firm Siblu has launched a Summer Sale for 11 holiday parcs, with savings of more than £500 in July and August - sale until Jun 22. Includes Cote d’Azur at Le Montourey holiday parc on the outskirts of Frejus from £749 for a three-bedroom holiday home from Aug 8 (saving £518) and includes return Dover to Calais ferries.

SPAIN
Seven nights room only at the three-star Castillo De Elba is from £313pp, based on two sharing a studio, to include flights from Gatwick to Puerto del Rosario, departing Jun 24 - the hotel has an outdoor pool, health club and poolside bar - through Expedia.

AIRLINE SALES
EVA Air is cutting 25 per cent off premium economy fares. The ‘Hot E Fare’ is bookable on www.evaair.com - fares from Heathrow to Bangkok now from £706 (was £890) and from £729 (£990) to Taipei. On sale until July 15, valid for travel until Dec 9, excluding Jul 11-Aug 27.

Cathay Pacific is selling business class fares to Australia and New Zealand from £1926 and Asia from £1964 - on sale umtil Jun 30, for travel bwtween Jul 1 - Sep 30. vel between 1 July - 30 September 2009 and 1 November - 31 January 2010. Terms and conditions apply.

OMAN
Kuoni has lots of long-haul deals, including flights from Heathrow with Oman Air, staying seven nights B&B at the four star Al Waha at Shangri-La’s at Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa in a superior room. Prices from £749 per person for Sep 1-11 departures (saving £367pp) - tour ref: OM000, book by Jun 28.

NEW ZEALAND
Leave before Jun 23 and Bridge & Wickers is offering10 days camperan hire from £699 based on two sharing and including flights to Auckland with Singapore Airlines.

KENYA
All Inclusive Kenya, departing June 25 - seven nights from £599pp (saving £191pp) with Thomson Worldwide at the 3 star Diani Sea Lodge - flights from Heathrow with Kenya Airways.

INDIA
Depart any day in July with TransIndus for an eight-day tour of the Golden Triangle for £995 (saving £250pp), travelling by car - price includes hotels, B&B, flights Heathrow-Delhi, all internal travel and all scheduled sightseeing.

Jun 8
CORSICA
Coastline Villas has dropped the price of its Villa I Vaddi property near Porto Vecchio by up to £3,000 per booking - to £328pp/pw. The villa sleeps up to eight people, has a terrace and pool and the price includes flights and car hire.

COTE D'AZUR
Holiday France Direct has a three-bedroom villa near Draguignan, Var on the Cote d’Azur available during June for 30 per cent off (the normal weekly rental is from £1,500). The villa sleeps seven and has a pool.

Jun 6
CHAMPAGNE
Grape Escapes is offering 10 per cent off an adventure weekend to Champagne, Jun 19-21. Abseil 100ft into the cellars of a champagne house to learn sabrage - opening a bottle with a sword. The new price is £292pp including tastings, lunch with champagne and wine, return car ferry crossings and two nights at a hotel in Reims.

SICILY
Citalia has cut £600 per couple off the price of a mini-break to Sicily. Five nights' half-board at the five-star Grand Hotel Mazzarò Sea Palace in Taormina now costs £929pp, including flights. Offer valid until Jul 25.

NORWAY CRUISE
Thomson has dropped the cost of a two-week cruise of Norway to £749pp, saving £650, including full board. Includes a visit to the fjords, Lofoten Islands, Bergen and Tromso.

Jun 4
CORSICA AND PORTUGAL
Mark Warner holiday camps is offering 50 pr cent off holidays this month at selected properties. Fly from Gatwick on Jun 7 for week at San Lucianu Beach Resort in Corsica for £480 for two adults based on full board and with resort transfers, saving £480.

Jun 3
CARIBBEAN
Seven nights on an all-inclusive basis at the three-star Tropikist Beach Hotel and Resort on Tobago for £599pp (saving £150pp) for selected departures in June. Two pools, separate children's pool, Jacuzzi, two restaurants and the "best beach on the island just a few moments away" says Tropical Sky.

USA
New York and Las Vegas with Travelbag now costs from £679pp - includes three nights accommodation in New York and four nights Vegas with Delta flights from Heathrow. Book before Jun 23 and travel by Jun 30.

SPAIN
Eight days of activities and exploration in the Picos de Europa mountains in northern Spain are available with Exodus for £299pp excluding flights (activities £35 extra for each) , a saving of £240. Departs Jun 13.

News: the late deals from The Times, including a week in a boutique hotel on Turkey's Turquoise Coast for £237pp on June 23 and a week in Penang, Malaysia from £499

Jun 2
FRANCE
Villas Worldwide has the villa Montalivet, sleeping six, for £1,110 for a week in June (saving £240) - has a pool and garden, close to beaches and centre of Montalivet, south of Bordeaux. Also available for £1,220 in July (saving £130).

FAMILY ALPS
For arrivals on Jul 4, Esprit Holidays has a week’s stay in the French, Swiss or Austrian Alps for a family of four, staying in a chalet or chalet hotel from £150pp (£599 per family), including breakfast, packed lunch, evening meals with wine and free baby-minding patrol. Prices exclude travel.

CORSICA
Leaving Jun 28 from Gatwick to Calvi, Corsican Places is offering seven nights at the three-bedroom Villa A Macchja from £599pp,(saving £230pp), based on six sharing on a self-catering basis and including car hire.

SPAIN
Eurocamp is offering up to 40 per cent off its holiday villages, including Manilva Holiday Village on the Costa del Sol, for £485.10 for a family of four, accommodation only in apartments, arriving Jun 27. Travel excluded.

GREECE
CV Travel is offering a saving of £105pp off a week’s stay from Jun 21 at Anestis House, Kefalonia, a villa for six with pool - now £605pp (was £720pp) based on four sharing. Price includes Gatwick flights, transfers, maid service and food hamper.

News: Booking enquiries so far this year for holidays in July are up nearly 40 per cent year on year, says holidaylettings.co.uk, which has 600 discount offers on its site

Jun 1
GREECE AND SPAIN
Lowcostholidays reports "unbelievable" last minute deals - with seven night prices in June in Mallorca from £129pp at the Sol Radiante Apartments on a self-catering basis with flights from Gatwick (based on four sharing), and in Crete from £182pp at the 3 star Pela Maria Hotel on an all-inclusive basis with flights from Gatwick.

CAMP ITALY
Canvas Holidays is offering a seven nights at Camping Fabulous near Rome for £434 per family (saving £300), based on Aug 10 arrivals and including a Maxi-tent and Dover-Calais ferry crossing.

SARDINIA
Sardinian Places is offering seven nights in the two-bedroom villa Casa Querce for £996 (saving £596) for arrivals on Jun 13. Flights and car hire can be quoted.

May 31
News: The Sunday Times reports that America is looking cheap again for tourists as the dollar slides

May 29
PARIS
Take the Eurostar from London to Paris and stay for a night in a 2-star hotel for as little as £99pp with Discount London. Extra nights available from £30pp

MOROCCO
Boutique hotel Les Borjs de la Kasbah in Marrakesh is offering rooms from £48pppn including airport collection based on two sharing from Jul 2 - Sep 3, with flights at £108pp return from Gatwick. So a three-night break starts at just £252pp

May 27
ICELAND
News: The Times reports that Iceland's weakened currency now makes it an affordable travel destination

News: the late deals from The Times, including the Azores for a week's B&B and flights - for £399

May 26
CARIBBEAN
St. Lucia for under £500? Extraordinary.... Leaving Jun 23, Thomson Worldwide is offering seven nights from £499pp (saving £301) at the three-star St. Lucian By Rex Resorts. Accommodation on a room-only basis, flights from Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic and transfers.

MALLORCA
Many cottages and villas through Mallorca Farmhouses are 30 per cent reduced in June, including Sedes, a four-bedroom,cottage in the foothills of the Campanet valley - pool, terrace and citrus groves - now £808 (saving £347) based on six sharing. Not including flights or car hire.

May 25
AIRLINE SALES - BUSINESS CLASS
Times Online reports how BA and Virgin are slashing business class fares as the downturn shows no sign of easing - New York now available for £1,099 return.

May 24
CORSICA
Save a third on the price of a week’s self-catering, staying at Les Amandiers. The five self-catering apartments, near Porto Vecchio, have gardens with a shared pool and a tennis court. Fly from Manchester on Jun 7 from £419pp (saving about £200pp based on three sharing), including car hire with Simply Travel (0871 2314041, www.simplytravel.co.uk).

NEW YORK
Spend four nights for the price of three — with breakfast thrown in. The deal of £599pp (down from £799), staying at the four-star, Midtown boutique hotel The Blakely, includes BA flights and is valid for departures until Jun 30. Book with Trailfinders (0845 0505871, www.trailfinders.com).

CITY BREAKS
Take a summer city break and save up to 50 per cent with hotels.com. For example, rooms are half price (£150 a night, down from £300) if you stay four nights at the four-star Regina hotel in Milan, or £76 a night at the Minotel Seven hotel in Prague (saving 30 per cent). Book by Jun 15 for stays from now until Sep 30. Details: 0871 2000171, www.hotels.co.uk

MAY 22
AIRLINE SALE
American Airlines the latest to launch a firesale - New York from £263 all-in ex-Heathrow (Manchester, £290) plus nine more US routes for travel until Jun 30 and again Aug 22-Sep 30. Prices from £455 in summer peak. Book by Jun 22.

Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific has launched a business class sale to Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong until Jun 30. Fares start from £1,995 for travel between Jul 1-Oct 31.

GREEK ISLANDS
Vintage Travel is offering up to 50 per cent off villas on Skopelos, Kefalonia and Corfu during June, including a £420 saving on Nena, a two-bedroom cottage with private pool near Skopelos Town. It now costs £375 for the week of June 5 and £495 from Jun 19.

May 20
CANARY ISLANDS
We've put together a list of 15 hot deals to the Canary Islands, the holiday destination suffering the most from the travel downturn.

News: the late deals page in The Times today includes a villa with pool next week in the Greek islands of Skopelos and Cephalonia from £399pp.

May 19
ITALY
Novedieci, 10 minutes’ from Lucca, is a Tuscan villa with pool sleeping 20 for £354pp in July (now £7,080: was £15,250) and £4,785 for a week’s rental in June (saving £10,465), equivalent to £239pp. Contact CV Travel or on 020 7401 1039.

CORSICA
U Paese di l’Ondella, a villa in Porto Vecchio with pool and whirlpool and near the beach, room for four, flights from Manchester on Jun 14 from £529pp (saving £251pp) - car hire included.

May 18
MALDIVES
Stay for 7 nights on a B&B basis at the 4-star Bandos hotel in the Maldives with Thomson Worldwide for £599pp, saving £183pp. Includes return flights from Heathrow, departing Jun 14.

News: The Sunday Times has found 11 tailored holidays at bargain prices, from a week in luxury hotels on St Kitts and Nevis for £1,399 to two weeks in Australia staying in a campervan and five-star apartments for £1,250.

May 16
CRUISES
News: We've a couple of new features - upmarket cruises going for a song and where to snap up a last-minute cruise bargain

May 15
ITALY
Departing Gatwick with BA, staying seven nights half board at the five star Hotel Capo La Gala in Sorrento in a sea view room. Pricess now from £979pp (saving £1,123pp) for Jun 17- and Jul 1-16 departures with Kuoni - tour ref: IT5010

May 14
MOROCCO
Cadogan is offering three nights at Dar Les Cigognes, a Marrakesh riad designed by the same architects as the Marrakesh Opera, from £480pp, saving £94pp, with flights from London Gatwick on Aug 3.

May 7
EUROPE BY RAIL
Switzerland Travel Centre is offering savings of up to £132 on the seven-night Swiss Classical Tour for departures up to Jun 24. The trip costs £725pp based on two sharing including flights from Heathrow or London City, first class rail transfers, rail excursions to Lucerne, St Moritz, Zermatt and Geneva and three-star accommodation with breakfast.

FRANCE
Brittany Ferries is offering three-night breaks in Brittany for the price of two. The breaks cost from £136pp at selected hotels, including the four-star L’Agapa Spa hotel in the resort town of Perros Guirec. The price includes a ferry crossing and is valid until Jun 30.

News: Susan d'Arcy's piece from The Sunday Times on the ten most ingenous travel offers as agents attempt to beat the credit crunch by enticing us overseas.

MOROCCO
The country has launched a late deals and special offers website designed to counter a 15 per cent slide in British arrivals in January.

News: This is the year of caravan - there will be more holidays on four wheels in Britain than visits to Spain this year. Remarkable. Read the story and watch the video of this year's cool caravans

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