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…
[quote]Anthony OkellAs 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]
[quote]Tony LewisListen 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]
Elizabeth and Meinir’s tips are great if you’re considering some optional extras…
[quote]Meinir Ann ThomasDo all the optional excursions – best way of seeing everything.[/quote]
Meinir also says, treat yourself on your ferry crossings…
If you’re wondering about what happens when you get to your destination, here’s that June has to say…
And, what about the Leger comforts?
[quote]Julie BessantWouldn’t book with anyone but leger professional drivers really comfortable journey and drinks prices were excellent.[/quote]
[quote]Jackie ThorntonMy friend & I are one our 3rd holiday with Leger we sit back,relax and enjoy[/quote]
A couple more…
[quote]Yvonne RileyPrepare yourself for the first of many holidays you will take with Leger. A great company[/quote]
[quote]Tim ForsterBring an open mind and a sense of humour.[/quote]
But maybe most importantly…
[quote]Sheana KenyonEnjoy 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!
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 21st 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.
As a 73-year-old lady not used to travelling alone, I was very apprehensive about going on holiday, but one of the best decisions I ever made was to go on the Grand Alpine Adventure in August last year. The Silver Service coach was beyond all my expectations and, once we’d crossed the channel I really felt the adventure was beginning
Right at the start Stuart, one of our drivers, said “remember, you are not on holiday – you are on tour!” We very quickly understood what he meant. Staying in no less than 9 hotels over a 2 week period certainly meant having to be organised with the packing and, if you are expecting a relaxing, restful holiday, do NOT go on this tour!
One of our first visits was to a wine tasting in the Rhine Valley. What better way to get me talking to my fellow travellers who I was to share the next 2 weeks with!
We had so many wonderful experiences and saw the most spectacular sights, travelling through the Alps and Lakes of Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and France.
I was simply enchanted by all of the towns we visited, particularly Rothenburg, Innsbruck and Salzburg, feeling I was part of a storybook. And the Alpine regions we visited – welI the splendour, magnificence and beauty of what I saw was simply awe inspiring.
You’d have thought one mountain would look much the same as another, but every area we went to, the scenery was so spectacularly different. We stayed in some lovely hotels along the way and the variety of food was excellent.
The only lady amongst five other ‘singlies’, I wonder if I may have earned a bit of a reputation as we did tend to end up together as a group! But the whole camaraderie of all the passengers and crew was really good and I felt very safe and secure.
I would certainly say to anyone who is on their own that this type of holiday is probably the best they can take. You can spend time on your own when you want, but there is always someone else around who will happily have you join them for a meal, or whatever.
Our crew, Stuart and Ralph, were tireless in their endeavours to ensure everyone was happy and that everything ran like clockwork. Their commentaries were so informative and interesting and their driving – well how they get that huge coach around those Alpine bends beats me!
I very soon decided that I wanted to experience more of the world with Leger as it is such a splendid way to have holidays, particularly when you are travelling alone. So I’m off again soon, this time to Eastern Europe. Who wants to lay on a beach when you can go on tour!
Linda McKeown and her family took one of our Italian Tours over the Easter holidays, visiting Lake Garda, Venice and Verona, here’s how she found her first coach trip to Italy.
I have just returned from a wonderful holiday to Italy this Easter; the Lake Garda, Venice & Verona Tour. I had wanted to visit Italy by road for some while and was dreading the driving, as there is plenty of it! However, I persuaded my husband and 2 teenage children to accompany me on the tour – and we had a fabulous time!
All we had to do was turn up at the convenient meeting point (just 7 miles from home) with our passports, and everything else was taken care of! The first holiday I have ever experienced when I am not constantly juggling tickets, passports, hotel details and a map! We were able to relax in the knowledge that everything was organised.
The drivers (Stuart and Gareth) were absolutely excellent – they got us from one place to another in good time, their driving was faultless and their knowledge of the area unsurpassed. We were not hurried, there were plenty of comfort stops and they made sure we were always looked after.
My husband and children dreaded the journey to Italy (boredom and leg room were the perceived issues) but we had plenty of leg room (we upgraded to Silver Service) and there was so much to look at on the way, that no one was bored! There was even a DVD to watch on the homeward journey. The hotel in Belgium for the first and last nights was excellent quality and the Lake Garda hotel offered an outdoor pool which the children braved during our stay!
We found Venice an absolute gem, we were there in good time in the morning to enjoy it before it became too crowded, and the children took the optional cruise which they really enjoyed. Verona was completely different, and a beautiful city to spend the day in and enjoy – we had lunch in one of the squares and enjoyed people-watching after walking around the arena, the church and the Roman ruins.
We did a spot of shopping after lunch (credit card beware, the shops are very tempting!) and then returned to the tranquillity of Lake Garda. We did the optional boat tour of Lake Garda on Easter Monday, and despite the holiday traffic, we arrived in Malcesine in good time to enjoy the sights and the ice cream – we also had a wonderful boat ride to see the sights from the Lake.
We spent the day before departure walking around the Lake, having lunch at Riva del Garda enjoying the views and the sunshine, and sitting around the hotel pool – how fabulous! We won’t forget our wonderful holiday in Italy, and not only have we recommended this holiday to friends and family, we will definitely do it again! Thankyou Leger Holidays team! Linda, Dave, Rowan & Millie
Are you thinking of heading off on a tour of Italy? Or maybe you’re thinking about heading off on your first coach tour? Dave Tarbrook took his first ever coach holiday on our Rome, Pompeii and picturesque Capri tour earlier this year. Read his blog documenting his tour from the coach to the sights and how he found the experience on his first Leger holiday.
This was my first ever coach holiday and first time with Leger Holidays, but I was not disappointed!
Coach Journey & Hotel
I was unsure what to expect with regards to travelling by coach, but the silver service coach was very comfortable indeed with ample leg room, a reclining seat and superb, knowledgeable and professional driver and co-driver – Damien & Steve. From the moment I stepped on the coach I received a warm welcome and was very much looked after.
The coach journey itself was rather long, travelling through France, Switzerland and finally reaching my destination – Italy, but there were plenty of comfort stops and films were screened along the way which broke up the journey. Hot and cold drinks were served throughout which was great!
On reaching the hotel in Fiuggi, again we received a warm welcome from the owners who could not do enough for the coach party. The hotel was set in a beautiful little hill top town and was very clean, tidy with a comfortable room. This holiday offered bed and breakfast only, but guests were able to dine in the restaurant during the evening for a reasonable cost should they choose. The hotel itself was approximately a 5 – 10 minute walk away from the town, where there were ample restaurants and bars available, offering food and drink again at a very reasonable cost.
Trevi Fountain, Rome
Pompeii
Picturesque Capri
Sight Seeing
The scheduled sightseeing tours were superb! The beautiful Montecassino Monastery with its grand opulence and the fascinating trip to Pompeii was just out of this world! For a reasonable price, guests were able to opt into a guided tour around Pompeii and I am very pleased that I did, as it ensured that I got the very best out of this vast historical site. The trip to Rome had to be the highlight for me! On our 9 day tour we visited Rome twice. During the first Trip, we visited the Coliseum, The Spanish steps and Trevi Fountain, which were spectacular. On our second visit, we visited the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Again, optional tours were offered which were very informative, ensuring that guests once again got the most from their time spent in Rome. During the tour, we were offered the opportunity to go to either the island of Capri or visit the town of Sorrento. I decided to visit the beautiful town of Sorrento, which has great shops and plenty of restaurants offering fantastic Italian cuisine! The final trip to Frascati and Castell Gondolfo was great! We went to taste the wine and had a light lunch of bread, cheese, meat and olives… Following this, we had the opportunity to buy the local Frascati wine, which of course I did!!!
All in all, this was a great holiday and I met some truly wonderful people in our coach party. I would definitely recommend this holiday to anyone who has not visited Italy and very much recommend Ledger Tours which was extremely professional from the initial booking, right the way through the holiday itself!
Thanks for a superb and memorable holiday!
Dave
Do you have any suggestions to people taking a coach holiday for the first time? Leave your comments below.
Free holiday on offer for the UK’s biggest Scrooge
Are you the UK’s biggest Christmas Scrooge or does the thought of festive feelings bring you out in a rash? If so, you could be in for a treat with a twist this yuletide season!
We’re offering the nation’s biggest scrooge, and a friend of their choice, a free seat on one of our most popular Christmas Market tours in the hope of overcoming any Grinch-like ways they may have.
To enter yourself, or nominate a loved one, all you need to do is send us a 300 word explanation of what makes you (or the entrant) the UK’s biggest Scrooge along with a photo of the person nominated. Entries should be sent to losethescrooge@lucre.co.uk by the 25th of November 2013 at which point your entry will be put forward to the panel.
The lucky winner, who will be notified by the Leger team by the 27th November, must be available to travel on the 12th December 2013. Collected from one of a selection of pick up points, the winner and a companion of their choice will travel on a luxurious Silver Service coach to visit Brussels Christmas Markets and Valkenburg for a spectacular four day tour. Their Christmas spirit levels will of course be measured both before and after their return. Huw Williams, Marketing Director for Leger Holidays said:
“The European markets offer unbeatable festive atmospheres which are sure to melt even in the frostiest of characters. Over the years, we’ve had so many customers come back from the tours claiming to have found a new sense of Christmas spirit that we just had to put this to the test and see how powerful the sights, sounds and smells of these markets can be!
“Of course, everyone is entitled to embrace their inner scrooge should they want to. However, through this competition, we wanted to provide an opportunity for those who are more curious about exploring their hidden Christmassy side. We look forward to reading through the entries and we wish everyone the best of luck!†Looking to enter or nominate someone you know? Make sure you’ve read our terms and conditions… Terms and Conditions:
The promoter is Leger Holidays Ltd. Sunway House, Canklow Meadows, Rotherham S60 2XR.
The ‘Lose The Scrooge’ competition is open to all UK residents over 21 years old (including Northern Ireland, Eire and the Channel Islands) except for employees of the promoter, their immediate family and anyone else connected to the creation or administration of the promotion.
The prize offered is non-transferable and is for one adult (over 21) and a travelling companion of their choice.
The entry materials must belong to, or have had approval from, the entrant.
The entry period is from 12th November 2013 until midnight on 25th November 2013.
The overall winner will be announced by the 27th November 2013.
The overall winner will receive two free seats on Leger Holidays’ Silver Service, four day tour ‘Brussels Christmas Markets and Valkenburg’. The tour includes three nights’ accommodation with continental breakfast (with the two travelers sharing a room one of whom must be over 21).
No cash alternative is available and the tour must be taken on the 12th December 2013 as started, unless Leger Holidays announce otherwise.
Please check at time of booking exact dates and times of travel, as missed departure will void the prize.
Travel insurance is excluded. Winner should take out their own insurance.
Entrants will be given a choice of collection points for the tour from a limited selection of areas presented by Leger Holidays. Travel costs to these points will not be covered by Leger Holidays.
In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the promoter reserves the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value.
The judging panel’s decision is final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into.
By entering this competition, entrants and any persons featured in the entry photograph agree that their nominations may be used by Leger Holidays as they wish, without prior notice to the entrant. Entrants will also have permission of all individuals in the photograph, as well as the permission of the copyright owner of the photograph, before entering the contest.
Winners’ names and counties are available 28 days after the closing date. Send a SAE to Leger Holidays c/o Lucre, 30 Park Square West, Leeds, LS1 2PF.
By entering the competition, entrants agree that their nominations and photographs/text/content will be posted on Leger’s social and media channels including the Leger Holidays website and blog.
By entering the competition, the winner agrees to participate in any publicity involving print and broadcast media that is required.
All text copy provided in this competition remains the copyright of Leger Holidays Ltd.
By entering the competition, entrants agree to be bound by these rules and by any other requirements set out in the promotional material.
Any inappropriate or offensive material will be reported to the police and removed from the competition.
Leger Holidays may in its absolute discretion change these terms and conditions without notice or cancel the promotion without prior notice in the event of circumstances arising beyond its control that makes it necessary to do so. By entering this competition entrants are deemed to accept these rules.
Paul Prendergast had a couple of very special reasons for joining Leger’s 5-day All Quiet on the Western Front tour.
My interest in WW1 goes back a few years and was kicked off again by some research that I started at work.
I work for Royal Mail in Stockwell London SW9 where I am a Delivery Office Manager. Every office has a plaque dedicated to the dead of both wars. The plaque above my office has 6 names on it (I’ll come back to this later).
On the morning of our tour, we were met at Peace Pottage by our feeder coach and then travelled to Dover where we all boarded the ferry to head to Calais. On arrival in France we changed to our tour coach where we met Andy and Barbara who were our drivers/hosts on the Silver Service coach. We also met Iain McHenry, our Specialist Battlefield Guide who spoke about our tour. Day 2
We set off at 09.00am to Tyne Cot Cemetery, where the graves of 12,000 men are buried and remembered. It makes you realise how senseless war is when you see that. I’m a member of the Victoria Cross Trust, and I also got to see the graves of three Victoria Cross holders.
We also visited then Sanctuary Wood and some trenches that have been preserved by the owner, and on arrival we heard a guy playing the bagpipes.
We then went onto Hooge Crater and Cemetery. The place was kept in beautiful condition by the CWGC, and I also found another VC grave.
After lunch we headed towards the Messines Ridge and we stopped at the Ulster Peace Tower, where our guide pointed out the German Front lines and spoke about the famous Christmas Day truce. He also pointed out that past the tower, a house/farm still has 50,000 tonnes of explosive under it!
We then stopped at another cemetery where there was a Jewish grave. I placed a stone on top the headstone – this is Jewish custom and there was no stone on there. This was the least I could do.
The final and most moving part of the day was the Menin Gate Last Post Ceremony. On the Menin Gate are the names of 55,000 men killed or missing. I was nearly in tears when I saw this monument to the people who gave their lives for our freedom. On the wall I found the names of the people from The Post Office Rifles… this is where the story about my reason for going unfolds. I placed a small cross of remembrance there for the six men killed from my workplace. Day 3
This was going to be a day of very mixed emotions for me. When we were on the way to Wellington Quarry it gave you a real idea of the people who lived, slept, ate and dug themselves into no man’s land.
We then went to Arras. There is a wall with the names of 36,000 men missing or killed in action there, and this is when it became very personal for me. The reason for this is that there was a name on the wall: rifleman John Williams 371151, died 16/06/17 2/, Post Office Rifles LONDON 2/8 BTN. Postman, Stockwell Delivery Office… The place where I now work.
I placed a cross of remembrance on the wall.
While sitting there, trying to imagine what he went through, a thought crossed my mind. All I could think was how honoured I am that I could say to him: “We have not forgottenâ€. I felt a mixture of pride – that I now work where he worked; honour – placing a cross by his name; and sorrow – knowing that his family could not bury him.
It was a very thought-provoking day for me. Day 4
We had a long drive to La Boisselle, which is the biggest man-made crater on the Western Front. It was made by placing tonnes of explosive under the German front lines, then exploding them all at once. You cannot imagine what the scene of carnage must have been when this happened.
Our last visit of the day was to the Thiepval Memorial. It is the biggest memorial, with the names of 77,000 men missing or killed. I was looking for one: Sgt George Ryder 2512, died 07/10/13, Post Office Rifles LONDON 1/8 BT. He is the second of the two men that I traced, and the reason for my trip to the Western Front. Sgt George Ryder died 97 years ago on the week of my visit, so to finish the tour in this way, and by placing a cross by his name on the panel, again I can only feel proud. I just wish that, in some way or another, these people who fought for us could see that we still care about what they did for us 100 years ago. The All Quiet on the Western Front five-day tour is the best way to see all the sites, and the guide, Iain McHenry was first-class. He helped me to find the names of the people that I came to remember on the walls, and also pointed out the VC winners to me. His knowledge of the subject was tremendous. The coach staff, Andy and Barbara were polite and very friendly throughout. I will be going back – not just yet, but I still have four more names to find.
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
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.
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, 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.
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!
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.
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!
And that’s it! My top ten tips for a comfortable coach journey.
“Just go for it” I told myself. “What’s the worst that can happen?”.
I was thinking about going on holiday on my own for the first time. I’d always had someone else to share the decision making, the evening meals, even the journey with, so it would be quite unusual – even a bit scary – to be ‘going it alone’. But I wanted to get away. So I stopped thinking of all the reasons for not going. And I booked.
First Steps
Working for Leger, I knew that Single Traveller holidays were part of the programme, and so I decided to opt for one of them – The Beauty of Lake Como and Lake Maggiore – as my first experience of ‘single travel’. Quite literally, a ‘busman’s holiday’!
I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but knowing that I would be on a coach with other people – despite them being strangers – made going on holiday on my own seem slightly less daunting. Having said that, I was still a bit nervous on the morning of my holiday. I was getting a taxi – a woman, on my own – to my pick-up point where I would join my feeder coach. The thought of travelling in a taxi on my own always makes me a bit nervous, but the Door-to-Door service that you get on Single Traveller holidays meant that Leger had sent the car to get me, so I didn’t feel too worried.
Get to know your fellow travellers in the coach rear lounge
Strangers Become Friends
On our days out I enjoyed a walk along the edge of the lake in Lugano with one member of our group; a ride on the Bernina Express Railway through some fantastic scenery with some of our ‘gang’ – some said this was the highlight of the trip; a walk around the little town of Tirana with one lady; and a stroll around the lovely town of Stresa, finding my way around the little streets there with some of the others. We had some really great times. Great memories.
Passing over the Brusio Spiral Viaduct on the Bernina Express Railway
A walk along the promenade in Lugano
Our hotel – the Britannia Excelsior in Cadenabbia – was in an excellent location, right on the shores of Lake Como. Some evenings when we came back from our days out I enjoyed a bit of time to myself, having a drink at one of the little bars close to the hotel, just happy to sit on my own, looking out at the views over the lake. It was so peaceful.
The Hotel Britannia Excelsior in Cadenabbia sits right on the edge of Lake Como
Afternoon view over to beautiful Bellagio
As the holiday went on, we all got to know each other, chatting about where we’d been before, whether we’d been on holiday on our own before, what we thought of the holiday etc… We ate together on long tables every night and then moved to the large bar area after dinner where we chatted about the day and what we’d seen and done. When there wasn’t enough space in the bar for us all to be together, we improvised and made our own ‘bar area’ in the hotel’s lounge. We played games (invented by one individual in our group), danced to the live music, sang and laughed until the early hours each day.
No Regrets
Looking back, it’s hard to remember why I’d had any worries about travelling alone in the first place. I never once felt alone, even though everyone was travelling alone. Because of that, I think people made a bit more of an effort to talk to each other and get involved. There were, of course, those people who just wanted to keep themselves to themselves and spend time on their own and that was fine too. There was no pressure to do anything.
No Need to Worry
So, if you’re alone – for whatever reason – and still want to go on holiday, don’t be afraid of travelling alone. If I’d thought about it too much, I could quite easily have talked myself out of it, but now I know I had absolutely nothing to worry about.
If you go on a Single Traveller holiday, it’s your holiday and it can be whatever you want it to be. From my experience, if you want to have time on your own, it’s still comforting to know that the rest of the group is there if you want to join in with them. And if you like to mix and get to know people, there are plenty of people there who also want to get together and make new friends. One thing I would say, is to choose a holiday and a company that’s right for you. See what they offer single travellers. For me, the fact that I got a taxi sent to pick me up and I didn’t have to get one myself was reassuring, along with the fact that I would get my own room without having to pay a single supplement. Just see what’s right for you.
Making friends: me and my friend Joe…
… we’ve become great friends since our trip.
Just the Beginning
Since I joined my first Single Traveller holiday a few years ago, I’ve travelled many times on my own, been to some fantastic places and met so many wonderful people along the way, all of which I might not have experienced if I’d not taken that first step. I’d still not attempt backpacking around the world on my own – that would be a step too far for me – but I have no problem whatsoever in joining a group of people, both single and mixed groups of travellers, who all have the same thing in mind: to see more of the world.
So, if you’re deliberating about going on holiday alone, stop thinking and just go for it. Share your single traveller holiday stories with us! To find out more about Leger’s Single Traveller holidays, click here.
When the good people at Leger Holidays asked me to write a post on my experiences of their tours, over a decade of great memories came back to me. My wife sadly passed away last year, but some of my fondest recollections are of our numerous trips together across Spain, France and Italy. In fact, you can pretty much name any Leger European tour and I’d bet you a pound to a penny we’d been on it (at least twice). We were quite the travelling twosome!
Nowadays, I travel with the friends I’ve made over the years on Leger tours and we already have some exciting trips lined up for 2013; Picturebook Italy in March followed by the Costa Brava in April. I’ve not decided on my summer holidays yet though, I’m still waiting to hear what the rest of the gang fancy!
But it’s not just the great company on board that keeps me coming back to Leger. Over the years, I’ve become quite attached to the Silver Service coaches it offers and I wouldn’t want to compromise on the kind of comfort they provide ever again.
You see, for me, when you’re going on an amazing holiday you want to make the most of your experience and it’s often the little things that can make the biggest difference. For instance, I’m 6ft 4in, so you could say I’m a little on the tall side! Due to my height, I’ve always found travelling long distances in cars, trains or coaches uncomfortable. On a Silver Service coach, however, the extra legroom means my legs don’t get stiff after just minutes in my seat or (even worse) seize up when I attempt to get off the coach (leaving me hobbling down the aisle like Bambi)!
Having a bit of banter on board isn’t for everyone but, for a chatterbox like me, it’s essential and that’s where the rear lounge areas found in Silver Service coaches come in handy too. As the social type, I like to escape my seat every now and then, raid the on-board games supply and create my very own travelling games room. And, as nice as it is to sit and watch the world go by, there aren’t many that can resist coming up for a game of rummy, brag or pontoon once we get going! I recall one trip to Sorrento and the Neapolitan Riviera where we had a rummy league running throughout the whole tour. Unfortunately, I was at rock bottom throughout the contest but I made some brilliant friends that day; friends that I still go on tours with today.
Along with the comfort and camaraderie, I have to say that it’s the drivers that really make Leger the right company for me. Not only are they experts in their fields but they continue to make each and every journey a pleasure with their witty jokes and insider knowledge. John and Tony are amongst my favourite characters. I’ve travelled with them both countless times and they always make me laugh non-stop. They’re driving my Picturebook Italy trip in March and I can’t wait to hear the latest news they have to offer and share in a joke or two along the journey.
For more information about our Silver Service coaches, or any other Leger Holidays tours, hop on to the website or give our friendly sales team a call.
