Coach Holidays: Tips for First Time Travellers

So, you’re considering taking your first coach holiday? Or, maybe you’ve just booked it? We know how excited you must feel at the prospect of visiting so many spectacular destinations in one holiday! But, you’re probably wondering just what you’ve let yourself in for.

What will it be like? Will I enjoy it? Well, earlier this week, we asked our fantastic Facebook fans for their top tips and advice for a first time traveller, and they didn’t disappoint.
We’ve pulled together our favourite snippets of advice for you to take a look over to give you a better understanding of just what to expect as you step on board a Leger coach for the first time…

Your drivers are always there to help…

Anne Greaves Brilliant company to travel with. knowledgeable drivers. been to Austria in 2009 and just come back from a St Patricks day tour.you meet great peopke on the coach from all ages. wouldnt hesitate to book with them again.
[quote]Anthony Okell As a driver I have worked for companies who have worked for Leger they are a first class company with top class holiday’s, I would holiday with them any time. Â They will go the extra mile to help you.[/quote]
Lynn Cooke Leger holidays are fantastic from start to finish, the drivers are fantastic they take care of you and tell you about the places you visit.
[quote]Tony Lewis Listen to your drivers, and you won’t go wrong. Your driver’s do the journeys week in, week out, they are all very professional. Enjoy your holiday, you won’t go wrong with Leger[/quote]
Karen Selby Love Leger. Very professional drivers who make your whole experience a holiday of great memories to reflect on and savour forever. Can't rate high enough. I have no worries about travelling alone either. There are always so many interesting people to meet. You even get very helpful advice. I recall when visiting Rome in 2014 one driver in particular was very helpful with regard to protecting us all from being victims of thieves. He did it in such a subtle and jolly way, but it did impress the thought firmly in your mind. Can't wait for my next trip

Elizabeth and Meinir’s tips are great if you’re considering some optional extras…

Elizabeth Wallis Listen to your drivers take the optional excursions relax take it all in and enjoy your holiday. Leger are the best

[quote]Meinir Ann Thomas Do all the optional excursions – best way of seeing everything.[/quote]

Meinir also says, treat yourself on your ferry crossings…

Meinir Ann Thomas Have a meal at the brasserie on the ferry - perfect way to start and end a holiday. Best to book a table in advance at Christmas though as it tends to get very busy - you can do this on the P&O website.

If you’re wondering about what happens when you get to your destination, here’s that June has to say…

June Rice We have travelled abroad with other Coach Companies, but always return to Leger, as they are the best. The drivers really look after you and you are taken into the Cities and dropped off and picked up. We travelled with another Company to the Classic Cities of Spain. We were dropped of at our hotels, most times and told what local buses to get into the Cities. Not good. We had a great time on our Leger's Russian Spectacular. Fantastic experience.

And, what about the Leger comforts?

[quote]Julie Bessant Wouldn’t book with anyone but leger professional drivers really comfortable journey and drinks prices were excellent.[/quote]
Pat Armstrong Simkin About to take our third holiday with this fantastic company. Silver Service all the way, two drivers, lounge to relax in, fantastic tours what's not to like
[quote]Jackie Thornton My friend & I are one our 3rd holiday with Leger we sit back,relax and enjoy[/quote]

A couple more…

[quote]Yvonne Riley Prepare yourself for the first of many holidays you will take with Leger. A great company[/quote]
[quote]Tim Forster Bring an open mind and a sense of humour.[/quote]

But maybe most importantly…

[quote]Sheana Kenyon Enjoy the ride and enjoy your holiday[/quote]

And these are just a selection of tips and tricks, see the full thread, here. Why not join in our conversation and get to know fellow travellers over on our Facebook page? We also have dedicated pages for our Battlefields and Motorsports tours. See you over there soon!

Will and Pat Nicol take on our Highlights of Eastern Europe Tour

Will and Pat Nichol recently travelled with Leger on our Highlights of Eastern Europe tour, after sending some great photos to Leger HQ, they have kindly taken the time to answer a few questions for our blog.

So, if you’re looking to head off with Leger shortly, here’s what they have to say about their experience:

What was it about the tour that made us want to book? We had planned to visit these cities on a backpacking trip booking as we went, until, your brochure dropped onto our mat. It was going to every city we wanted to visit. Now, having reached a mature age, we decided to let you take the strain.
Which day were we most looking forward too from the itinerary? The day we were looking forward too, was the trip to Auschwitz and Krakow. Both places have been high on our list, due to the fact we have always been interested in WW 2 history. Auschwitz, what can we say, the impact  was exactly as we had imagined. Krakow, we had been told the old town was stunning, yes it was, both by day and by night.

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“Thanks for laying on a flypast of a Lancaster at the Mohne Dam. Surprised everyone one on the coach. Took a model of a Lancaster with a loop of fishing line and my wife held it in a suitable position near the dam – looks brill.”

How did we find the travelling aspect of the holiday? It was easy, sit back and relax, comfortable seats, excellent drivers, plenty of refreshments, good choice of DVD’s to pass the time on the long days, what more could you ask.
Which city that you visited, was the most memorable? Prague, without a doubt, so much to see, so much to do. A city to re-visit, finished off with a boozy ride around the city in a vintage tram – brill.

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“Mike and Keiran try to recruit a new Leger driver”

Did we find any hidden or unexpected delights on our tour? Yes, we did. Being aircraft enthusiasts we found a hidden aircraft museum in the middle of Warsaw.  Amongst all the hidden gems were four WW2 Russian aircraft, which we never dreamt of seeing, they are as rare as hens teeth!
What was the best part of the trip? the evening tour of Budapest. A fantastic champagne organ recital followed by a stunning tour of floodlight Budapest. We took hundreds of photographs!

"Keiran and Mike present the Budapest guide with two cuddly sheep for her children"
“Keiran and Mike present the Budapest guide with two cuddly sheep for her children”

What would we say to someone who was thinking of booking this tour? Don’t think about it, just do it, you will not be disappointed.
What was our favourite part of the whole experience? Spending a whole day wandering around Prague, its bridges, its squares and shops… and a pint of beer (or two!), watching people and the river activities. Ending the day with the vintage tram ride as already mentioned
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Do we have any funny stories from the tour? Yes, I spent twenty minutes riding the lift. Having forgotten my room key card in haste to collect my suitcase from the lobby. The key card was designated to the floor we were on, so it took considerable time  to find a guest staying on the same floor. I thought I would be spending the night in the lift and without dinner too.(Moral, always carry your door key when leaving the room).  Four fellow travellers after hearing about my dilemma decided to take the stairs to breakfast the following morning. Not realising they were using the fire exits, once the door had closed behind them, they were trapped. After shouting and banging on the doors to no avail for over half an hour, they thought to call Mike Brannon on their mobile phone to come and release them. They made breakfast, just (Moral to this one, don’t use fire escapes except in an emergency).
Finally, would you head off on  tour with Leger again? Yes, already thinking about taking the Bavarian Castle’s tour.

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“My wife Pat really appreciated the coach named after her, seeing as it was her 60th birthday, she thought I had arranged it, I haven’t said I didn’t.”

One of the most rewarding things from a travel company’s perspective is to hear that customers have had great experiences on their holidays and we’d love to hear from you too!

If you fancy becoming a Leger Blog Star, get in touch at blog@legerblog.co.uk

Top Tips to get Your Air Holiday off to a Flying Start

To celebrate our new booking system, allowing you to now book your fly and tour holidays online, we’ve pulled together some of our top tips to get your next air holiday off to a flying start.

It’s the quickest way to get to your destination and the views from thousands of feet up aren’t too bad either.
Every three seconds, an aeroplane somewhere in the world is taking off and, it’s safe to say, we’ve come a long way since the Wright Brothers first took flight.
 

Roll your clothes when packing

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Cramming all of your clothes into a suitcase is one of the biggest headaches when getting ready to head off on holiday.
At some point, we will have all come across that time when sitting on top of your suitcase has been the best solution to getting it to close.
A great tip is to roll your clothes, rather than fold them, to save room. Rolling compresses your clothes allowing you to find a lot more space to tuck your items into. You’ll also avoid the majority of crease marks you get from folding.
 

Arrive in Plenty of Time

It definitely pays to be prepared. Before you journey, check the traffic reports and make sure you have plenty of time to get to the airport.
Arriving early definitely has its benefits. If your seats aren’t pre-booked, you’re more likely to sit together. If upgrades are on offer, the early bird really does catch the worm. And to top it off, you can spend more time making the most of the duty free.
A great tip is to check in online. When given the option, always take it. It saves you time, and with some airlines, money.
 

Speed up your Security Check

The ever complicated security systems at airports can be one of the most frustrating experiences of your journey.
Be prepared, pack all non-essential liquids in your hold luggage, try and keep your pockets empty and avoid wearing a belt. Keeping electricals at the top of your bag will make it far easier to get them onto the tray ready to be scanned, too.
A good tip is to follow the business flyers. It may be a longer line, but avoiding queues with larger parties and children could save you a lot of time, frequent flyers will more than likely be prepared to pass through as quickly as possible.
 

Dress smartly…

And not in the way you’d think. The best way to fly is by wearing comfortable layers. From hoodies to scarves, these casual numbers offer a lot more than you may think.
Whilst you’re benefiting from the comfort of casual clothes there’s even more benefits to enjoy by leaving the shirts or dresses at home.
Pull up your hood to block out the cabin noise whilst sleeping, roll up your scarf to use as a pillow and by layering up you’re more than prepared for the changing temperatures from your home to your destination.
 

Stay Hydrated

Dry mouth, rough skin and your lips feeling a bit tight, the recycled air flowing around the cabin has a lot to answer for.
Fear not, these can all be eradicated by just keeping hydrated. It’s recommended that you drink around 0.2 litres of water every hour or two whilst you’re in the air.
Keep this in mind and don’t forget to drink a little more if you’re going to have a coffee or alcohol and you’re well on your way to a more comfortable flight.
 

Earplugs and Eye Masks

Simple, yet effective. If you’re looking to sleep through your journey, these little objects will work a treat, by regulating your circadian rhythms.
Your circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioural changes that are responsive to light and dark, block it out and your body will be tricked into thinking it’s time to go to sleep.
With sunlight bouncing off the clouds below and the cabin noise around you, these simple accessories will be worth their weight in gold.
 

Bring your own entertainment

Watch the time fly (excuse the pun), when you’re enjoying yourself.
You can bring that book that you’re really enjoying or stock up on magazines. Or, of course, you could just bring your tablet or smart phone on board with you.
You can load these up with TV programmes, films and music that will play even whilst using the aeroplane safe mode and you have a great variety of content that will keep you entertained until you land.
 

Keep Moving

It may sounds like the simplest of advice, but to move about whilst on an aeroplane can also be the best advice.
From stretching to taking regular walks about the plane, these simple activities will keep your blood flowing, prevent stiffness and reduce the risk of travel related conditions leaving you a very happy traveller when disembarking your plane.
 
With a great selection of escorted tours by air now available to book online, do you have any of your own flying tips to share?
 

My top 10 tips for a comfortable coach journey

One of the great things about coach travel is that you get to sit back, relax and let someone else do the navigating and driving!

 

Of course, all coach holidays are different “ different durations, different countries, different climates, etc, but here are a few things I’ve found useful on all the coach trips I’ve been on.

 

1. Wear comfortable shoes

Wear comfortable footwear that can be removed or slackened off if required. Remember to keep moving from time to time by pointing and flexing your toes, and circling your feet and ankles.

 

2. Wear loose-fitting clothing

Dress for comfort so you can relax as you travel, and dress in layers. Layering your clothing means you can dress/undress to make yourself more comfortable in the temperature of the coach.

 

3. Take a travel pillow

It’s easy to nod off with the motion of the coach as you travel along, so to enhance your relaxation, why not purchase a travel pillow and make your snoozing more comfortable.

 

Make your snoozing more comfortable with a travel pillow
Make your snoozing more comfortable with a travel pillow

 

 

4. Carry wet wipes

Wet wipes are great for freshening up as you travel and take up very little space in your luggage.

 

5. Stretch your legs

If you’re travelling on Silver Service, make use of the rear lounge. It’s a great place to stretch out, read a book or magazine and chat to your fellow passengers or just have a snooze or listen to your music. At comfort stops, even if you don’t need to use the facilities, step off the coach for a few minutes and stretch your legs.

 

6. Carry some change

Some service stations may make a small charge for using the toilets, so keep some change to hand. At some service areas, you’ll be required to pay and take a ticket to use the toilets, these tickets can then be used against payment for items bought from the service area shop.

 

Spare change, anyone? Be prepared with a handful of coins.
Spare change, anyone? Be prepared with a handful of coins.

 

 

7. Choose your reading material

It’s always interesting to read a book fact or fiction with tales of the area you’ll be visiting.

 

Choose reading material relevant to your holiday.
Choose reading material relevant to your holiday, this was mine on my Highlights of Provence & the Dordogne trip!

 

 

8. Listen to music

If you’re travelling on Silver Service you’ll have complimentary headphones provided for your own personal use. On all coaches, of course, you can take your own, personal music player to enjoy your favourite tracks through headphones/earphones as you travel along.

 

Music to your ears: listen to music while you travel.
Music to your ears: listen to music while you travel.

 

 

 

9. Learn a language

Why not learn a language while you travel? There are lots of language CDs with books to accompany them; learn the lingo while you travel and practice it when you get to your destination!

 

Learn the lingo and practice it when you get there!
Learn the lingo and practice it when you get there!

 

 

10. Keep a diary

With so much to see and do, why not record your experiences in a holiday journal. Not only will it help you identify places in your photos, it’ll also jog your memory when you return home.

 

Keep a diary or travel journal to look back on.
Keep a diary or travel journal to look back on. ©Flickr

 

Also for the comfort of your fellow travellers

Please ensure that your mobile phone is turned to low volume and that any portable devices (tablets, mp3 players, games consoles etc) are used with earphones when travelling on the coach. Please make sure that volume through headphones/earphones is kept to a minimum so that it cannot be heard by your fellow travellers.

 

Check your volume.
Check your volume!

 

And that’s it! My top ten tips for a comfortable coach journey.

 

If you have any more, please let us know.

 

Happy travelling!