January 2016 – Leger Blog

January 28, 2016

Why Coach Holidays Offer More Than You Think

We know that coach holidays are some of the best holidays that you can head off on, but some might say we are biased.

We get it, though. Some people may have never even considered a coach holiday before, for many reasons. But, we’re here to tackle that stereotype and tell you why coach holidays are great!
So, whether you’re new to coach travel, just want to see what it’s all about, or, of course, if you’re a seasoned traveller looking to sway your unconvinced friends and family, here are our top reasons to try a coach holiday in 2016.

Tick some of the best destinations off your list in one fun-filled trip.

Take Italy for example, we know it’s full of iconic places and it would probably take quite a few trips to see them all.
Venice, Lake Garda, Pisa AND Rome. We can dream, right? Well, there’s no need for dreaming, on a coach holiday, you can visit all of them during one trip. There are even tours that will take you to several different countries!
And, best of all, you don’t even have to lift a finger. You don’t have to worry about arranging your own transport and booking hotels in various destinations, it’s all part of your coach holiday package. Sounds ideal, right?

You don’t even have to stay close to home

Coach holidays are more than just fish and chips by the sea, they’ve entered the 21^st century with a bang!
With exciting itineraries that will rival even the most enthusiastic traveller’s bucket list, you won’t be left longing for that gap year never taken.
With coach tours of New Zealand, South Africa and the USA thrown into the mix, you can sit back, relax and let some of the world’s most impressive destinations come to you.

You can use our local joining points

Forget about the long drive to the airport, hours in advance, the worry of parking and packing all your luggage into a small space. On a coach tour, we’ll pick you up closer to home.
With over 500 joining points around the UK, your holiday will start right away. There’s even the option to be picked up from your home with our door-to-door service. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
Plus, there’s a maximum of only 5 pick-ups on your journey, so you know you’ll be on your way in no time.

Meet new people

Coach holidays are a great opportunity to socialise and meet some fantastic new friends, this also makes them a great choice for single travellers.
If the fear of setting off alone has held you back, you can be safe in the knowledge that you will be included and looked after with your tour group, guides and drivers.
Plus, with lounge facilities on board, our Silver Service coaches with drinks and snacks available, it’s almost like a hotel on wheels.

But, the Journey is long and boring, you say?

Whilst we do have a lot of ground to cover in some cases, the journeys certainly aren’t boring, and here’s why…

Entertainment

Of course, you can bring your own entertainment. Books, magazines, Sudoku, even bring along a pillow if you fancy catching a few hours’ sleep. But, we also like to do things a little more high-tech.
Take our Luxuria coach, for example, you will have a world of fun right at your fingertips. Your own, personal, seat back T.V. and entertainment system with USB ports and plug sockets to keep your devices charged, the journey might not be long enough to fit it all in!

Fantastic Scenery

Don’t get us wrong, the view from up in the clouds is pretty spectacular, but it gets a bit samey, don’t you think?
Swap those clouds for something a little different. How about a jaunt through the snow-capped mountains of the Alps? Or, maybe driving along the stunning Amalfi Coast? The Wild Atlantic Way?
When even your journey is a photo opportunity, you know you’re in for a good ride.

And, whilst we’re talking about those photo opportunities, get your selfie-sticks at the ready…

On a coach holiday, you’ll get dropped off at the places that you want to see, and with guided tours and knowledgeable drivers you won’t be left fumbling with maps, you’ll be ready to get those picture-perfect holiday snaps right away, so keep your cameras charged!

Even after all that, you’re not convinced to try the whole coach travel experience

There’s the option to fly to-and-from your holiday with our Air Holiday packages, and we’ll pick you up right from the airport. The best of both worlds!
But that’s enough about us, what do you think are the highlights of a coach holiday? Let us know in the comments.

January 23, 2016July 14, 2023

Solo Travel in Your Twenties: Rachel Wade in Italy

Yorkshire-based solo travel extraordinaire, Rachel Wade, has been exploring Europe for the past four years on a variety of Leger Holidays’ escorted tours. Here she shares her first experience of travelling abroad on our ‘Wonders of Rome & Pompeii‘ tour.

It was the summer of 2012 and I had finally finished my fifth year of university. I was also quickly approaching my 25th birthday – a milestone I wanted to celebrate in style!
My previous holidays had only been short jaunts to local cities – it was time for a real adventure! I had always longed to explore Italy, so Leger’s seven day trip to Rome, Pompeii and Sorrento sounded ideal.

It was my first time travelling alone so I was full of anxious questions, but these were soon replaced by excitement as I boarded the coach. The crew and my new companions were very welcoming and made me feel at ease as we enjoyed a pleasant two-day journey to our base, Fiuggi, in central Italy.
On day three we began the adventure with a visit to Pompeii, the famous ‘buried town’. We stopped off en route to explore Monte Cassino monastery, a serene and beautiful place with a melancholy past (it was accidentally bombed during the Second World War and had to be rebuilt).

Our introduction to Italy’s history continued when we finally arrived in Pompeii. Our guide was fantastic at showing us around the huge site, pointing out the extraordinary features that had been preserved by ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. It was a truly unique visit.
My sense of awe continued with our next day excursion to the glorious city of Rome. Dropped off by our coach outside the Vatican, the city was full of vibrancy with so many sights, sounds and smells to enjoy. Armed with my pocket guide, I spent the day exploring meandering back streets, grand glistening plazas, and ‘gelato’ (ice-cream) shops galore!
Just when I thought the trip couldn’t get any better, we visited Sorrento on day five – I will never forget the stunning view as we drove down to the seafront sparkling in the sunshine. From designer stores and bijou boutiques to pretty cafes and the elegant seafront, there really was something for everyone to enjoy here.
Before I knew it, we were heading home – but what fantastic memories I was taking back! It was the perfect introduction to travelling abroad and really fueled my sense of exploration. Sharing the experience with others who travel solo, and making new friends made it all the more memorable, and it didn’t take long before I was booking my next Leger Holidays adventure!
If you’d like to take on a solo travel adventure to some of Europe’s most fascinating destinations, you can see our full range of dedicated Single Traveller holidays, here.

January 5, 2016July 14, 2023

Leger Holidays' Top 10 Viewed Tours of 2015

A new start to a new year, and no, we can’t quite believe it’s 2016 either. 2015 was a brilliant year for Leger Holidays. Our new coach, Luxuria, hit the road, our website got a new look and, best of all, we got to take more fantastic customers to some great destinations and made memories to last a lifetime.

Whilst we’ve been busy preparing for the exciting year ahead, we can’t help but look back fondly on our experiences from last year. So, we’ve compiled a list of our most-viewed tours over the last 12 months. If you’re looking for some inspiration or just curious to see if your favourite tour makes the list, here’s what caught your eye over throughout 2015:

10.

In at number 10, giving us all that warm, fuzzy feeling is the Fairy Tale Castles of Bavaria, the Rhine Valley & Black Forest. And, who said romance was dead?

9.

Taking the number 9 spot was beautiful Italy with our Lake Garda, Venice & Verona tour. Now that’s amore!

8.

Speeding in at number eight, it’s fast cars and lavish surroundings with the Monaco Grand Prix by Coach.

7.

Lucky Seven, our Splendours of Paris caught your eye for a short trip just across the channel.

6.

The stunning Dutch Bulbfields take the number 6 spot, or was it the excursion to Amsterdam that tempted you to this colourful tour? Both spectacular choices, of course.

5.

Italy sure is popular, coming in at number 5 is the fantastic Wonders of Rome & Pompeii.

4.

Our D-Day landings in Normandy comes in at an impressive number 4, proving once again, we will never forget.

3.

Into the top three for 2015, and first onto the winner’s podium, the tour taking the hypothetical bronze medal is Beautiful Bruges!

2.

And in second place, it’s another appearance for the Formula 1 fanatics, our ever popular Belgium Grand Prix Race Weekend spiked your interest for another year.

1.

Taking the top spot, the most viewed tour of 2015 is… Nashville, New Orleans and Elvis Presley’s Memphis. Heading into America’s Deep South, you liked the sound of the live jazz of New Orleans, the blues and rock ‘n’ roll in Memphis and the country sounds of Nashville. And, a visit to Graceland? We can’t disagree with that.

With a host of new tours coming up, we wonder which tour will top our most viewed tours this year. One thing we do know is that we’ve got plenty of holidays and experiences we hope you enjoy in the meantime. Where will your plans take you in 2016?