By Gilly Bachelor

Christmas should be joyful, calm, and magical — but let’s be honest, it rarely is when you’ve left your holiday plans until the very last minute. Every year, I see lovely families, couples and solos panicking, stressed and worried about finding a festive break at the eleventh hour. And, if I’m honest, I hate it.

Not because I don’t want to help — of course I do! — but last-minute bookings are rarely the calm, relaxing experience you deserve. Here’s why, and how we can still make it work — if we know exactly what you need.

  1. Availability? Forget It

By November, most of the best hotels, resorts, and festive extras are already snapped up. Those magical rooms you dream about — family rooms, sea-view rooms, or even seats together on flights — are usually long gone.

Booking late often means settling for whatever’s left, and honestly, that’s rarely what anyone wanted. I had a client this afternoon; I quoted three hotels, and by the evening, only one was still available, and it had gone up £500. Soul-destroying doesn’t even cover it.

  1. Prices Are Shockingly High

It’s simple supply and demand. Christmas is the busiest time of year, and last-minute bookings usually cost far more than if you’d booked months ago.

Sadly, we don’t control the prices, and it genuinely breaks our hearts to see people paying so much more for a holiday that, had it been booked six months ago, would have been considerably cheaper.

Even “flash deals” can be misleading — resorts know that desperate bookings mean clients will pay whatever is left. It’s frustrating for us and heartbreaking for you.

  1. Stress? Guaranteed

One of the things I love most about my job is helping clients enjoy their holidays without a care. Last-minute bookings? They come with stress by the bucketful:

  • Endless checking for availability
  • Worrying about flights and seating
  • Scrambling for transfers, rooms, and festive extras

We really do hate rushing clients. Normally, we like you to mull things over, ask questions, and make considered decisions. But with last-minute Christmas bookings, there’s no time for that — decisions have to be made quickly, which isn’t how we like to work, but that’s the reality.

  1. How We Can Make It Work — And What We Need From You

Even at this late stage, it’s often possible to make a Christmas holiday happen — if we know what’s absolutely essential to you.

To give you the best chance, we need a clear idea of:

  • Your non-negotiables
  • Your nice-to-haves (things that would be lovely but aren’t essential)

If we were booking for 2026, we’d happily take a list of requirements as long as your arm. But the reality for last-minute bookings is this: the more requirements you have, the less choice you’ll actually have. Giving us a clear hierarchy of must-haves versus nice-to-haves gives us the best chance of making your holiday happen — quickly and successfully.

  1. Looking Ahead to 2026

If this year’s stress is making you think ahead, the silver lining is that Christmas 2026 planning is already open. Booking early gives you more choice, better pricing, and the luxury of taking your time to mull over every little detail.

For now, though, let’s focus on making this Christmas work. The sooner you tell us your non-negotiables, the better chance we have of finding something that suits you perfectly — before it’s gone.

Get in touch as soon as possible! Send me a message, give the office a call on 01902 288104, or book an appointment.