INSIDE THIS


WEEK Contents


FAMILY HOLIDAYS


NEWS Hot Stories


Bookings fall even as Brexit issues clear; Norwegian plays down card holdbacks; Indie agent gives commission to charity; Brexit and school fines hit family breaks; Small print should be clear and fair – CMA


SPECIAL ISSUE News Round-up


Special Report


6 8


10


News You Can Use 23, 27


Comment 32


Day in the Life


Mystery Shopper


34 Spotlight 42 44 Destinations 46


Round-up Safer Tourism Pledge; FHA campaign


Special Reports Family holidays: Tipto survey


08 10


Face 2 Face: Jacqueline Dobson, Barrhead 12 Royal Caribbean: Executive lunch


14 Talk Back Job losses, Brexit, China visas, Ehic card


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Butlin’s, APT, Uniworld, P&O


Operator Elegant, Funway, Just You Family Spain park, Hard Rock, Haven Cruise Carnival, Virgin Voyages


21 04


23 24 27 28


FRONTLINE Comment Jacqueline Dobson, Barrhead 32


Day in the Life Jamie Wicks, Haven Mystery Shopper Bournemouth


DESTINATIONS


Family Holidays Free Child Places: Are they the best deal? 46 Les Villages Nature: Action-packed fun 51 Easter Breaks: Bargain half-term holidays 57 Lisbon: City breaks with toddlers in tow 61


INTO THE WOODS Get back to nature on a family holiday at Villages Nature Paris


page 51


Latin America Chile: Lake District, Chiloé Island, Aisen 66 48 Hours: Costa Rican capital San José 71


BUSINESS


GTMC Lunch ‘Axe APD to boost revenue’ 78 Abta Briefing ‘Brexit confusion disgrace’ 80


WHAT


LUCY DID THIS WEEK


Feb 7 1


2 3


34 44


A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Families can trust the pros T


and conversation turned to this family holidays-themed issue of Travel Weekly. As a parent myself, I am all too aware of the stress


involved in organising and mobilising a family on holiday, and very conscious of how even the slightest hiccup can cause endless headaches. Tom reminded me of an occasion last April when strikes


led to Eurostar services terminating at Gare du Nord in Paris, instead of Disneyland Paris’s Marne-la-Vallée station. Rather than leaving clients to fend for themselves, MagicBreaks organised a fleet of coaches and dispatched staff, including directors, to Paris to ensure they made it safely and smoothly to their destination. Fortunately, my most recent visit to the theme park ran


far more smoothly (page 51). But I can easily empathise with those stranded, and no doubt relieved, parents who otherwise would have been racing around looking for alternative transport, while the children who had been eagerly waiting to experience the magic of Disney went further into meltdown. Even the hardiest of independent travellers start to think


differently when faced with organising holidays involving children and, increasingly, grandparents and other family members. And as we report this week, it is this family market that is proving most robust for the trade in these uncertain times (page 10). With so many moving parts, the risk of


holiday disruption can never be completely eradicated. But as Tom’s tale of MagicBreaks’ rescue mission reminded me, it is greatly diminished when you book and travel with trusted professionals.


his week, I had the opportunity to catch up with Tom Dunkley of Disneyland Paris specialist MagicBreaks,


Lucy Huxley Editor-in-chief @Lucy_Huxley


Learnt some interesting new trends about the mature travel market at the Silver Travel Advisor Annual Report launch.


Had a great meeting with the team from APT about all their plans for the trade in the coming year.


Enjoyed an amazing two days in Andorra with friends and travel industry colleagues on a ski trip hosted by Inspiretec and A-Rosa.


7 February 2019 travelweekly.co.uk 3


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