First port of call should be Teletext’s own site, www.teletext.co.uk. It trawls through last-minute deals offered by a wide range of tour operators — prices can change pretty rapidly as packages are snapped up, so be prepared to move fast. Similar sites include www.latedeals.com and www.lastminute.com.
The big operators also have their own sites. The best is www.mytravel.co.uk — an excellent chart shows how many holidays are left to each destination in each price bracket, and there are some good deals. TUI, the owner of Thomson, has a dedicated low-cost site, www.budgetholidays.com: it’s not the cheapest, but it’s fast and easy to use.
... THEN PICK YOUR RESORT
The best last-minute deals are almost always going to be to mass-market spots on the Med — but some are better than others for going off-piste. Here are the favourites:
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The destination: the Costa Brava.
The resort: Lloret de Mar.
What’s it like? Some say it’s an ugly behemoth, the monster of European package tourism. Others say: lighten up — it’s fun, and the beach is great. Packed with casinos, go-karts, theme parks and nightclubs, it’s as tacky as they come, but strangely civilised with it. There’s even an old town surviving at the centre of the sprawl.
Going off-piste: nearby Gerona makes a great first stop. The medieval old town is a warren of delightful alleyways, with fine museums, a grand cathedral and invigorating street life. There’s plenty of accommodation (from £20 to £45 for a double). From here, you’ve a choice: head northwest, for the Pyrenees and the dramatic Parc Nacional d’Aigüestortes, or go east, to the wild cliffs of Cap de Creus and the cultured harbours of Cadaques, Port Lligat and Port de la Selva — the most beautiful coast in Catalonia.
The destination: the Costa del Sol.
The resorts: Torremolinos and Fuengirola.
What are they like? Torrie’s a cheap, cheerful, full-pelt hunk of package-holiday hedonism. The town council is making efforts to upgrade the place, but to lovers of kitsch it’ll always be about sun, sand, full English breakfasts and raging nightlife (peculiarly, there’s a particularly vibrant drag scene). Stick your tongue firmly in your cheek and enjoy it. And Fuengirola? A more sedate, family version of Torrie. Not so many tranvestites, either.
Going off-piste: you’re spoilt for choice. Seville, Cordoba and Granada are all within reach, the white villages and high valleys of the Alpujarras are worth a day or two, and for another vision of the Spanish seaside — one that Andalusians prefer to keep to themselves — nip over to the Costa de la Luz. Accommodation away from the resorts is plentiful and cheap — £20 will usually get you a pleasant double room. Car hire goes as low as £14 per day.
The destination: Mallorca.
The resort: Cala d’Or.
What’s it like? Low-rise and comparatively sympathetic — rows of whitewashed, pueblo-style buildings. On the other hand, it doesn’t half sprawl — you’re likely to be a good 15-minute walk from the beach.
Going off-piste: Mallorca was just made for roving. Tourist development has been kept in tight little zones, and you often only have to nip around the next headland to find some unspoilt coast or countryside. Add to that a surprising number of good little pensiones with doubles around the £20 mark and you’ve got it made. Good touring ideas include the mountains around Soller and the underrated towns of the central plain, Es Pla — try Sineu and Porreres.
The destination: Tenerife.
The resort: Playa de las Americas.
What’s it like? Not as bad as you think. Central Las Americas is a concrete monstrosity, but to either side, Torviscas, Fanabe and Los Moritos are more pleasant — still touristy, but with decent beaches and a more civilised, family atmosphere.
Going off-piste: grab a ferry to the tiny island of La Gomera. It’s laid-back and picturesque, with no great beaches — so no big developments — but plenty of charming places to stay from £15 to £35 for a double. The ancient laurel cloud forest at its centre makes for great hiking, such towns as there are have kept their charm, and cafes serve robust and genuine Gomeran cuisine. Car hire is cheap — from £18 a day — or, for fun, rent a motorcycle.
The destination: Skiathos.
The resort: Skiathos town.
What’s it like? As mass tourist destinations go, not bad — the coves retain their natural beauty and you won’t find so many of the monumental blocks that scar the costas.
Going off-piste: the obvious direction is east, to the less developed Skopelos. Obvious, and wrong. West is best: a ferry to the idyllic Pelion peninsula, where the beaches are twice as good and a hundredth as crowded as those on Skiathos, and the green mountains are dotted with traditional villages. Hire your car in Volos (you should get away with about £25 a day). Accommodation can be pricey, though: nice places cost £30-£60 for a double.