What are the advantages and drawbacks for bargain-hunters looking for last-minute holiday deals? Raisingkids.co.uk's guest travel expert Barbara Murray, runs through the pros and cons!.

Raisingkids member's question
I've heard you can get great deals by booking your holiday at the last minute. How can I find out about them?

Barbara Murray's advice
There are pros and cons of booking your holiday at the last minute. Undeniably, you can get some great deals, but there are some serious drawbacks too. As the old saying goes: if it's too good to be true, it probably is.

The cost of the annual holiday takes up a fair proportion of the family budget, so you need to do some research to make sure you get your money's worth. Last-minute bookings often require you to make a snap decision and some 'bargains' can be misleading.

The dates when families can take their holidays are restricted by the school year, and often by parents' work obligations. This often leads to a greater demands at peak times. Although you will probably be able to book a holiday somewhere, you may have to settle for a different location and a longer journey, or travel at an inconvenient time.

If you're planning to travel to a location where malaria or diseases such as typhoid, yellow fever or polio are an issue, last-minute trips are not an option as you'll need to plan your preventative medicine in advance. Ideally, travel advice should be sought 6 weeks prior to departure as as some immunisations have to be given in 2 doses, up to 4 weeks apart, to give maximum protection. You will need to start taking most anti-malaria drugs at least 2 weeks before leaving the UK. There's no point in risking your children's health just to get an amazing last-minute deal to a far-flung location.

Late deals often 'allocation on arrival' accommodation - this can be because tour operators have spare plane seats which they need to fill. Sometimes not all the necessary accommodation checks have been made, as the tour operators enter into short term contracts with local suppliers to fulfill the last-minute demand.

I'd always recommend choosing your holiday from a brochure (so you can read the details of the holiday before you book) and leaving enough time to receive the holiday paperwork. If you use a last-minute direct sales travel agent they will read you the details over the phone. In case of a dispute, you will have problems making a complaint without written proof of the claims that the tour operator made.

Remember the insurance! It's one of the easiest things to forget, and it's not always included in last-minute deals.

Kids hate waiting around in airports at the best of times, and I shudder to think how they would react to a 48-hour wait. This is one of the many reasons why you should always make sure that you book your holiday through an ABTA-bonded travel agent. If you're unlucky enough to find that the holiday company or your travel agent go 'bust' while you're abroad, you won't be left stranded as your money is protected by the ABTA Bond. All ABTA-bonded travel companies display a logo and number. You can call ABTA on 0207 637 2444 to check the company you're booking with offers ABTA protection.

It's easy to find last-minute holidays on the internet - just try typing it into www.google.com and see what comes up! - but the vast majority of these holidays are aimed at single people, or couples without children, who are prepared to be flexible and spontaneous. As a successful family holiday relies on planning and preparation, maybe you should give last-minute bookings a miss until your offspring are away to university.