May 27

May 27 South West turns to UK coach holidays

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Bookings for coach holidays are soaring in the Southwest as people look for an alternative to overseas and cruise holidays.

Coach tour operators Bakers Dolphin say bookings for August and beyond are running at record levels after coach holidays were given the go-ahead once again as Government restrictions were lifted.

After a year with the business unable to operate due to Covid-19 and many drivers seconded to work as ambulance drivers Bakers Dolphin are seeing bookings for July and August running at five per cent higher than 2019.

Sales and Marketing Director Amanda Harrington said: “We have had a large number of people turning to UK coach tour holidays for the first time as a safe way to get away at a time when they do not feel confident about going abroad or on a cruise.

“Our luxury gold coach holidays for August and the school holidays are selling out quickly and we are looking at securing more hotel rooms to try to increase capacity. The message we are getting time and again is that people are desperate to have a break away after such a long time in lockdown.

“Many people are nervous and we are working closely with hotels and resorts to ensure things are Covid secure. It means careful loading and unloading of coaches and short delays at check-in but everyone seems to be pleased to get away and have a fun break.”

Bakers Dolphin has been providing coach travel for more than 100 years from the days of open-top charabancs through to the latest Gold Coach fleet. These modern coaches have extra leg room meaning people are seated further apart and high seat backs and sophisticated air conditioning mean that particulates are not recirculated within the cabin.

Every coach is “fogged” before use to clean surfaces and similar cleaning is now in place in hotels where tourists are staying, following the pandemic.

All destinations are proving popular with some people trying out day trips and short stays as a way to try out holidays once again. Details of Bakers Dolphin tours available can be found at www.bakersdolphin.com.