| If you have children who are of school age you will | | | | than it would if you go mid week. Certainly mid week, |
| almost certainly have experienced the frustration that | | | | during term time towards the cusp of the peak season |
| comes with trying to book a family holiday. You look | | | | will give you all the best advantages as far as price |
| eagerly through the brochures that the travel agent | | | | and availability are concerned. |
| gave you, and find locations and hotels that seem to | | | | One other little trick to try is this: let us assume you |
| offer a good price. You then find out when the school | | | | want to stay in a hotel for the Friday and Saturday |
| holidays are, and check the prices for those holidays. | | | | nights. Almost certainly the Sunday night rate will be |
| You then are astonished to discover that these hotels | | | | the cheapest of all, as this is very unpopular and most |
| can charge almost double the amount during the | | | | hotels are almost empty on Sunday nights. Book well in |
| school holidays than they do during the term time. This | | | | advance of your planned trip, and get the Sunday night. |
| does seem incredibly unfair and has been raised as a | | | | On your reservation you will down as having this rate. |
| concern even to government level, but at the end of | | | | A few days later, call back and ask to extend this to |
| the day the demand is there and therefore the rates | | | | also include the Saturday night. A few days later, call |
| will reflect the demand. | | | | again and ask them to include the Friday night. Then |
| It is unsurprising that many parents end up taking | | | | call one more time to cancel the Sunday night. |
| children on holiday during term time when the rates are | | | | This may all see rather a farce, but the truth is when |
| far cheaper. Although done very occasionally this is | | | | the receptionist changes or adds in a day to your |
| acceptable, done frequently or for long periods of time | | | | holiday they very rarely change the rate which is |
| it is of course not a good idea. | | | | calculated separately, and you may well find that you |
| If you do not have children then of course this gives | | | | are being charged the Sunday night rate, even though |
| you much greater flexibility, and being aware of when | | | | you are only staying on the Friday and Saturday nights. |
| the schools are on holiday will give you a good idea of | | | | Of course, you will want to make sure that the hotel |
| what times to avoid. This will also mean, of course, that | | | | sends you out confirmation of the rate you are being |
| when you do go on holiday there will likely be fewer | | | | charged, either by email or post, so that you can make |
| children around, which may well be a preference. | | | | sure that they don't catch on to your little scam when |
| If you are going away for the equivalent of a | | | | it comes to paying for the days you have stayed. |
| weekend, again it is worth considering the actual days | | | | Timing is everything if you want to make sure you get |
| that you use. Going on a Friday and returning on a | | | | the absolute best deal. |
| Sunday or Monday will actually give you a higher rate | | | | |