Yet more quality PR dribbles, sadly, into the inbox of wrath. This time it's a posh chalet company announcing late deals for December, January and MARCH!

Are we back in the 18th Century? Is Mr D'Arcy galloping across the heath, breathlessly delivering a letter announcing an upcoming tryst which needs to be there within the very month, or season at the latest? Since when, in the age of daily newspapers and the telephone has a late offer been something that's happening in the next decade (note convenient use of the largest timespan available). Or at least next March. We've even got something called the internet which makes deal-gathering ever more exciting and momentary. My friends consider a late deal, in any area of their awareness aside from glacial advance, to be something that's at most a week away. I don't think they're that unusual.

My take on this is as follows. The company has done well and is looking to fill the last bookings with an ill-advised push. Nah, I don't believe it either.

Maybe high overheads and interest payments mean that the cash is needed sooner rather than later, and last minute bookings are a reflection of how the company is feeling the cashflow pinch?

Responding to a late offer at this point in the season - ie during one of the main booking periods for a lot of tour operators and chalet companies - might well deliver an offer. Just make sure the company is ABTA, ATOL or AITO bonded.