Trying to find a last minute cheap holiday for myself!

[cjlawrie]

Hm I finish my current job on the 2nd [I handed in my notice a few weeks back!] and start a new job on the 12th. This means I have a week to do as I please and as such I aim to be spending it on a beach, at a beach bar drinking lots of gin&tonic, reading and smoking or something along those lines...unless I get totally distracted by the bikinis...

Does anyone have any good suggestions where I can go or, more importantly, any good sites that offer last minute cheap holidays for solo travellers!?
Ideally I don't want to be stuck in the middle of a city - I think I need sand for a change...

I'm having quite a hard time finding anything through the usual such as lastminute.com

I want cheap though ?400 or less would be ideal, but somewhere nice. I'm rather picky

[Jimmeh]

Hm I finish my current job on the 2nd [I handed in my notice a few weeks back!] and start a new job on the 12th. This means I have a week to do as I please and as such I aim to be spending it on a beach, at a beach bar drinking lots of gin&tonic, reading and smoking or something along those lines...unless I get totally distracted by the bikinis...

Does anyone have any good suggestions where I can go or, more importantly, any good sites that offer last minute cheap holidays for solo travellers!?
Ideally I don't want to be stuck in the middle of a city - I think I need sand for a change...

I'm having quite a hard time finding anything through the usual such as lastminute.com

I want cheap though ?400 or less would be ideal, but somewhere nice. I'm rather picky

Scotland.

[eggopp]

I went to cyprus a couple of years ago, half board for ?450 including medical insurance travel, flights for a week, that was a last minute deal with Thomas Cook being advertised in the shop window, booked on the monday flew on the wed, was great and well worth it.

[cjlawrie]

very funny Jim, no I wont be going home :P I forgot to mention the key requirement that it be outside the UK

[El Catador]

Have you looked at sites like:

www.travelbag.co.uk www.travelmood.com www.netflights.com etc?

For anther ?100-ish you could get to locations in the Far East (Phuket is good for the solo traveller) or Middle East (Dubai?).

Or (within budget) how about the Red Sea area - great value (high quality accom) - esp snorkeling and scuba diving?

Let us know how you get on and where you end up.
Cheers
El Cat

[daverave999]

http://icelolly.com/

and my mum seems to like this http://www.travelzoo.com/uk/

Try Turkey if you haven't been?

[Big_T_UK]

Can't get to NY for ?400?

[cjlawrie]

Na, i think will stick to the Med, it will be cheaper. I've done the Phuket, Bali, Scuba thing and that always costs a lot...but I might check out red-sea area.

The price point is quite important at the moment since I'm shelling out all sorts for the first month train commute, new suits and such like for the new job.

[celsis]

Gibraltar! Sun, sea and cheap Cubans!

[cjlawrie]

Hm, Turkey. I'm not sure I fancy that. There seem to be a lot of cheap holidays there but I also seem to have some prejudice feelings for the country so I don't feel like going. Perhaps people could describe what the place is like and my mind will be changed...

[ChrisMClark]

I'd love to say something positive about Turkey...but nothing springs to mind. I went a few years back and hated the place. I'm with Eggy...Cyprus all the way. Paphos harbour is gleaming. Limasol is a dump that I wouldn't go back to if you paid me, but I love Paphos. The bars are cool (one even has a swimming pool out back), and there's nothing like a Brandy sour with a few stogies watching the, ahem, 'wildlife' in bikinis. There's a great karting track in Paphos (if that's your thing) and an absolutely fantastic waterpark that's easily accessbile if you rent a car (although driving in Cyprus can be a bit 'wacky races'). I'd go back to Cyprus in a heartbeat (stationed at Episkopi for 3 months...best 3 months of my career so far).

I'm sure you'd be able to get a cheap enough deal. Mind you, it's frickin' hot in July over there. But a trip up to Troodos would cool you off.

[cjlawrie]

Thanks for the tip! I've never been to Cyprus. I guess I must have got snobby in my old age and a little too used to international jaunts to 5 star deals that my friend organise for me teehehehe.

[skyhigh]

Greece should be cheap cos they're up shit creek with the deficit malarky, just watch out for strikes and rioting mobs.

[Habana-Habanos]

If you like Turkey you have to like cheapo holidays. The standards are a lot lower over there, what they think is awesome isn't so posh lol. I wouldn't at all recommend going there solo, you will get bored very quick and wish you kept your money.

[mackem keith]

how about madeira i visited the island a couple of years back and really fell in love with the place granted there are no beaches but hotels, restaurants, views ect are superb makes for a lovely break