Has anyone just booked thier flights and found an hotel on arrival and got a bargain?

What time of year is he planning on going over. I would thing if it was in the quieter season he might get lucky. I would imagine he might even manage to get private apartment rentals rather cheap. I know I have been in Torremolinos in July and there were lots of private room rentals available. You know the ones over cafes etc,

He plans to go sometime this month or just before xmas.

I think just pitching up and looking around for a bargain is a hit and potentially miss approach. In October, many hotels, even if they have rooms, will not sell if they are under contract to a tour operator; so he would need to find one that is not bound to a contract. Just before Xmas, there will be far fewer hotels/accommodation available, and pre-booking would be advisable. At that time, there are unlikely to be real bargains owing to the relatively low supply of accommodation.

One euro a night? Bellevue in Alcudia offered this as some sort of special early this season, but it is hardly common. I'm not sure I'd ever take the word of a bloke in a bar.

Cheap accommodation is often available in hostels. Tourist offices can often help here, assuming they are open, and by no means all of them are after the season ends.

Apartments - maybe, but this time of year, owners are looking for longish lets, rather than a few days.

To be honest I think your mate would be advised sorting it out before he comes. One of the online hotel brokers might be best to try.

He is looking to buy property in the santa ponsa area so he hopes to find accomodation around magaluf or palma nova while he and his wife look around.

Book ahead. Try the Sol Hotels at http://www.solmelia.com - Magalluf Park and Antillas are open over the winter, and it's cheaper (much cheaper) to book on-line than it is to book at the desk. Mag Park will be less than 50 euros a night for a double room half board, the Antillas maybe 5 / 10 euros a night more for a 4 star.

They'll charge you twice as much if you try and book at the desk.

Cheers

Adam