NEW 2011 TOURS

1st October 2010

Over-55s specialist Grand UK Holidays has unveiled more than 50 new holidays in its summer 2011 brochure.
Added for next summer are new hobby holidays, such as walking and dancing breaks; extra itineraries by rail; and a fresh range of cruises.
The 196-page brochure has been redesigned to make its layout clearer, enabling customers to see at a glance how much is included in each tour.
Also new for 2011 is the ‘Superdeal’ range of coach holidays in the UK - aimed at price-conscious customers - as well as home pick-ups for cruise passengers.

Sales director Harold Burke said: “We incorporated a lot of feedback from customers in the design of our new brochure – the fresh layout is more user-friendly and we have a staggering number of new tours featured.
“Extra hobby holidays have been added because of demand, such as new walking and dancing breaks.
“Also for 2011, our programme of holidays by train has been boosted, following increased sales over the past year.
“And we have introduced a new cruise ship, Athena, the flagship of Classic International Cruises, which joins the ever-popular Marco Polo in the brochure.”

With a high proportion of its holidays being in the UK, the operator has been boosted by the “staycation” boom over the past year.
The range of domestic coach tours in East Anglia and the West Country has also expanded thanks to the acquisition of hotels in Great Yarmouth and Weston-super-Mare by sister brand Grand UK Hotels.
But Grand UK Holidays is also seeing bookings increase for ocean and river cruises, because its target audience of over-55s still has the time, money and inclination to take such holidays.
As well as a chance to see Germany’s National Flower Show on a river cruise, there are new river cruises on the Douro and in Bordeaux for 2011 including options by air.

Burke added: “We cater for a wide range of tastes and budgets – our new Superdeals offer something for customers who are watching the pennies, but equally, we have many clients who take several tours a year to see the sights of Europe and the UK, by all means of transport.”

Sample new packages from the summer brochure:

• Dorset’s Olympic Coastline:
With the 2012 Olympic sailing events taking place WeymouthBay and PortlandHarbour, this new coach tour will capitalise on the excitement in the run-up to the Games.
Five or eight days, half-board, from £269pp.

• RiverGardensBeside the Rhine:
Offers the chance to enjoy garden displays along the Rhine and Moselle, as Koblenz hosts the 2011 National Garden Show in Germany.
£299pp for five days, including two day-long river cruise excursions.

• Land’s End to John O’Groats by Train:
A legendary journey encompassing the length of Great Britain. Nine days, £999pp.

• Great Western Holidays:
Another addition to the growing Holidays by Train section, with four or five days based in Torquay or Weston-super-Mare and travelling with First Great Western Railways.From £129pp.

• Waterways of Scotland:
A chance to see the Falkirk Wheel, Loch Lomond and Crief, and travel on the steamship Sir Walter Scott on Loch Katrine. Eight days, £469pp.

• Atlantic Panoramas and Aran Isles Experience:
Offers excursions to Ennis, the Burren, Inis More and GalwayBay. Five days, £549pp.

• Friendship Club:
New options dedicated to solo travellers, from £205pp for five days, half-board.