By Parkdean Resorts on 19/01/2023
While we’d always recommend booking early to secure your first choice of park and accommodation, we know some of you last minute lovers can’t help but thrive on being spontaneous - especially when you manage to find a great deal on a cheap last minute UK holiday.
We’re all about offering great value at Parkdean, and with that in mind, we’ve pulled together some of our very best tips and tricks for finding a bargain break at short notice, to save you the legwork.
Plus, whether you book months in advance, or snag a last minute deal, you’ll still enjoy all the perks of booking direct with us, including your Hub Pass - giving you free access to the facilities on the park, from evening entertainment to swimming pools!
Cheap last minute holidays
If finding the cheapest deal is top of your priority list when booking a last minute holiday, we’ve made this super quick and easy to do. Simply head over to our last minute holidays UK search page and select your preferred region and the number of nights you’re looking to stay. You’ll automatically be shown the next available dates, as well as the lowest price available for each arrival date.
Our prices do fluctuate throughout the year, however, with so many parks and accommodation options to choose from, you’re almost always guaranteed to find a great last minute deal at a competitive price. Depending on when you book, you might even snag a bargain, too!
If you’re more flexible on dates and can hold off packing your bags, we recommend checking out our cheap UK holidays page, where you’ll find our lowest prices for short breaks and 7 night stays.
How do I get a good last minute holiday deal?
Whether you’ve got a few days of annual leave left to use up, you’re looking to surprise the kids with a weekend away, or fancy treating your better half to a romantic getaway - there’s a last minute deal to be had for everyone. Here are our top tips for securing a last minute holiday at the best possible price:
- Book direct - when you book direct with Parkdean Resorts, you’ll get essentials like your Hub Pass included in the price, meaning you won’t have to pay extra to access and enjoy a wide range of facilities on park
- Sign up to our mailing list - we’re always running exciting offers and discount codes. Be the first in line for our next holiday sale by joining our mailing list and keeping an eye on your inbox
- Follow us on social media - we’re on Instagram, Facebook and even TikTok (yes, we’re down with the kids!) so give us a follow to keep up to date with our latest news and offers
- Set up Google alerts for Parkdean Resorts - Google will email you if anything comes up in the news about exciting offers and last minute deals
- Look off peak - you’ll often find the most availability and our lowest prices during term-time, outside of the school holidays. So if you’re able to holiday at those times of year, it’s a sure-fire way to get a great deal. Simply search for a holiday online, and use the date selector to avoid peak times like half term or the summer holidays
- Think midweek - naturally our parks are often busier at weekends, meaning there’s usually great deals to be had with a midweek break. We offer 4 night breaks checking in on Monday and checking out on Friday - it’s a great way to enjoy a longer break without the additional weekend costs (or traffic!)
- Be flexible on location - with 66 parks to choose from, if you can’t find a price that suits at your preferred park, why not try somewhere new? With several parks in each of the counties we operate in, the difference could just be a short drive away and may have cheaper rates available
Where is the best place to go on a last minute holiday?
The best place to go on a last minute holiday all depends on what exactly you want from your break. Maybe it’s relaxing on golden sands and exploring pretty seaside towns, or perhaps you’re looking to escape to the countryside, surrounded by greenery and walking trails.
Whether you’re looking for relaxation or an action packed holiday, you’ll be able to find plenty of last minute options on our website. To help you focus your search, we recommend having a good idea on location, perhaps selecting a region, or 3-5 holiday parks you’d be interested to help you narrow down your search to find the best and cheapest deal for you.
When to book a cheap last minute holiday
This all depends on your definition of last minute, however, there’s no hard and fast rule as to when to book or what qualifies as ‘last minute’. Generally speaking, the further ahead you book your break, the more choice of locations, accommodation, arrival dates and price points you’ll have.
If flexibility is key, and you’d prefer to hold off booking until a day or two before, you may have to compromise on some of your preferred first choices, depending on the time of year and how busy our parks are (we’re regularly fully booked throughout some of the most popular times of year, such as August). However, with thousands of caravans, lodges, touring and camping pitches and glamping tents available, there’s always a good chance there will be a number of great value options left to choose from.
How flexible do I need to be to book a cheap last minute holiday?
One of the main things that’s going to help you find a great deal with booking a last minute UK break is how flexible you can be. Last minute staycation breaks are perfect for people who have no limitations on the dates and times they can go on holiday. Whether you’re travelling solo, with friends, as a couple or your kids aren’t in school yet - you’ll be able to make the most of the cheaper holiday options available during term time.
We’ve even launched Tots’ Breaks at a number of our parks during selected term-time dates, offering holidays designed specifically for parents with toddlers and pre-school age children. On these extra special breaks, you’ll find additional entertainment and activities on offer specifically designed around keeping little ones entertained and smiling.
If you’re one of the lucky few who can be flexible on dates, you’ll have your pick when it comes to finding the cheapest last minute UK deals available.
How to find a last minute school holiday break
As you’d expect, our busiest periods are during the school holidays, especially Easter and summer.
If, like many of us, you’re bound to only going away during the school holidays, you can still find plenty of great last minute deals at competitive prices - however, you might need to be quicker off the mark in terms of planning and booking.
Our top tips for snagging a last minute bargain during the school holidays include:
- Consider holidaying in a different county, region or country to where you live - we’ve got holiday parks across England, Scotland and Wales. Lots of counties vary their school holiday calendar, meaning that while the kids may be off for half term where you live, it might still be termtime elsewhere - so you might be able to bag a break at peak time, for an off peak price! We recommend checking out the local council websites of the destinations you’re interested in visiting, to find out their school calendar dates before beginning your search
- While you might end up paying a little more to take a break during the school holidays, many of our parks offer additional entertainment during peak dates, so you can enjoy more value for money against the price you pay - with plenty activities for you and your kids to choose from on park
- With school holidays spread throughout the year, you’re not just limited to the summer holidays. Explore our school holiday offers page to find out when is cheapest for a last minute escape
Last minute accommodation deals
With such a wide range of accommodation on offer at our parks, you’ll find great last minute deals across a number of stays, including cheap last minute caravan holidays, lodge holidays, touring or camping holidays and even glamping breaks. If you fancy upgrading for a touch of luxury, we even offer last minute hot tub breaks at selected parks.
Our top tip when it comes to grabbing a last minute deal on cheap accommodation is to stay flexible and open minded. Our caravans range from great value basics to luxury extra-wide models - and everything inbetween. Whichever you choose, you can always be sure to expect comfortable, clean and practical accommodation, so if some of our more luxurious models are out of your price range, you’ll still be sure to have a brilliant break.
If budget is the top of your priority list, why not check out our camping holidays? Available at 17 of our 66 holiday parks, they’re a great budget-friendly option. Plus if you’re booking last minute, you can check the weather forecast before you go to ensure you get some sunshine on your next staycation.
Head to our accommodation page to explore our full range, or simply select your preferred accommodation type when searching for your holiday online.
Book online
If you’re on the hunt for the perfect cheap last minute break, we recommend booking online. Our handy holiday search will guide you through the options available, and when it comes to choosing a date, you can easily flip through the coming weeks and months, where you’ll see the lowest price available displayed underneath each arrival date. Don’t forget to sign up to our mailing list to be the first to hear when we launch our next offers.
Happy holiday hunting!