The first signs are emerging of a quiet bookings week around the time of the general election on 7 June, with a wide selection of late deals available. Cadogan Holidays says bookings are 25 per cent down in the weeks leading up to the election compared with the same period last year.

'The closer to the election, the more pronounced it becomes,' said a spokesman. 'It creates uncertainty.' Cadogan, which caters for the upper end of the market, says it won't be discounting, but other operators are already cutting prices.

Steve Endacott, managing director of Holidays by Phone, said a family of four could save up to £200 on a holiday in election week. He added that the large operators' prices had come down by £50 in the last week, with deals such as seven nights in Minorca for £99. 'Election week couldn't possibly come at a worse time for tour operators as it comes after half term,' he said.

Owen Whitehead, marketing manager of Panorama Holidays said they were considering launching election-buster offers if bookings slumped. 'Historically there are slumps around elections. It 's a time when people hold back and reflect over their spending,' he said.

Any discounts would come on top of lower prices typically available in June, which has always been a quiet month for bookings.

Sue Ockwell spokeswoman for the Association of Independent Tour Operators said: 'June is traditionally a flat month anyway so this year is a double whammy.'

She said that operators had taken strong early bookings for June but since the election was announced, reservations had stopped coming in. 'Anything big seems to put a stop to bookings. It doesn't matter if there is no change of government.'

But she added that a lot of small specialist operators were against discounting.

Travel agents Thomas Cook said there would be bargains available because of the time of year, but added that sunny weather in Britain was more likely to cause an overseas booking slump than an election.

You can arrange a postal vote through local councils before 30 May. Alternatively, arrange with the local council for a person you trust to vote by proxy. And if you don't go away, be warned - after an election, there is always a rush in bookings.