Haven't we heard enough about lastminute.com?
Well, you've doubtless heard about the sought-after Martha Lane Fox. And you've probably gloated over the sharp fall in the company's stockmarket valuation, unless you bought some of the shares.

Is it only for last-minute deals?
No, although they tend to be better value. Lastminute is by no means the cheapest place to go for bucket-shop deals. The site can also be infuriatingly slow. And, like a number of regular visitors, I once used lastminute.com to find a hotel, rang directory enquiries for the number, and negotiated a better deal myself over the phone.

What could I have done this weekend?
Tried to solve a murder on the Orient Express (£420 for two); taken a gourmet break in Cornwall (£175); flown Concorde on a tour of Paris and the Riviera (£599); visited Athens (£259); or bought a flight to Dublin (£83).

Package holidays with an edge?
Yes. Lastminute doesn't use charter airlines. It makes liberal use of pastels and pink, and only rarely do sentences escape a daubing of exclamation marks. It certainly wins no prizes for web design, but holidays are easy to search for and find.