It’s time to continue with our Coach Operator Spotlight which we have to say is proving rather popular among our readers and featured tour companies! Here is the third of many interviews with our featured tour operators who specialise in coach holidays to many wonderful destinations across the globe. As usual, the questions remain the same and under that spotlight we’ll be finding out what their favourite song to listen to on-board is, the best/worst parts of a coach holiday, the hot destinations for 2012 and why more people should go on a coach holiday instead of all the other travel options. This week the spotlight is on Louise Heatley who is the Senior Product & Purchasing Manager for Travelsphere and this is what she has to say….
1. The Hottest new destinations for 2012 are… any of our special event holidays including the Floriade horticultural show which happens once every ten years – holidays include Floriade, Keukenhof & Amsterdam, Brussels with Floriade by Eurostar, and Floriade & Valkenburg. In addition we have a unique opportunity to see the Tall Ships in St Malo.
2. The best/worst things about coach holidays are… Best – nothing beats travelling with a group, sharing experiences and holiday memories and best of all it is completely hassle free! Worst – you can’t travel everywhere by coach.
3. People should consider a coach holiday because… they are great value for money, they offer a nationwide network of pick up points so you can be picked up in your home town, a safe environment in which to travel, they are a great alternative to flight holidays and they offer well planned itineraries with a wide choice of excursion opportunities.
4. The first time I travelled on a coach was… to Lille and Bruges Christmas markets in 2009. We had great included excursions to Lille and Bruges with plenty of time to browse in the markets and do some xmas shopping, as well as enjoy freshly baked waffles and a good Belgian beer!
5. My top tips for making the most out of a coach holiday are… do your research, travel with a reputable operator which is ABTA bonded, enjoy the group experience, take tips from experienced and knowledgeable Tour Managers, and finally make the most of the excursion opportunities.
6. My favourite holiday (coach holiday if by coach) ever was… to Lake Garda. Such a beautiful lake and close to my favourite Italian city of Verona.
7. The perfect song to listen to when on a coach holiday is…. Summer Holiday by Cliff Richar – sorry I can’t think of anything else better!
8. My suitcase essentials when on holiday are… passport, money and a guide book!
9. The most incorrect myth about coach holidays is… that they are old fashioned. We have an exciting range of holidays from city breaks to special events to walking holidays. One of our more unusual coach holidays is touring Scandinavia with a chance to see the Midnight Sun.
10. What’s different about your company? We have over 50 years’ experience operating escorted tours and are renowned for our friendly, expert Tour Managers.
Have you ever travelled on coach holidays with Travelsphere? If so, where did you go and what did you think of the holiday? Get in touch as we’d love to hear from you!