DESTINATIONS GUIDE | FESTIVE BREAKS experts ASK THE Ashley Dellow,


head of retail sales, Leger Shearings Group


ts Richard Forde,


head of trade sales, Newmarket Holidays


Lloret de Mar, Costa Brava


“Following two Christmas seasons with Covid restrictions, demand for festive breaks is back to full strength. Last year, demand for our UK festive breaks, such as Turkey and Tinsel, was high, as people were still nervous about


travelling abroad. Now consumer confidence is back, European festive breaks have shown a big rise in demand, not just for this year but for 2024. Try encouraging clients to book


early to secure their first-choice destination and dates.”


Tom Morgan, head of


trade for UK and Ireland, Riviera Travel


“For holidays over Christmas, show your client the value of a


package by focusing on everything that’s included – not just the accommodation, but meals, activities, tours, attractions and whether there’s a tour manager to


keep things running smoothly. If big holidays are out of their budget, show them Christmas market


breaks in the UK or Europe, which are shorter and more affordable.


The gloriously decorated markets do a great job of getting people into the festive spirit.”


Mike James, product and operations director, Exodus


GET AWAY FOR CHRISTMAS DAY 5


CHRISTMAS IN CATALONIA For a flight-free slice of sun over Christmas, try Shearings’ two-week trip to Costa Brava by coach. Based in the quiet


resort of Calella on the shores of Costa Brava, this itinerary combines chilled-out Christmas fun with a sprinkle of cultural interest. On Christmas Eve, an excursion leads the group to Montserrat, a mountaintop monastery that’s just as spectacular inside as it is on the out. Your clients then head back to base for a Christmas gala with their new-found friends, before spending Christmas Day and Boxing Day entirely how they choose – all they need to do for dinner is head down to the hotel restaurant. The next few days include day trips to Barcelona and Girona, before New


Year’s Eve is welcomed in with a glass of local cava. Book it: Christmas and New Year on the Spanish Coast, which departs on


December 22, 2024, starts at £1,429, including 13 nights’ half-board. shearings.com


6 “There are various ways to keep


costs down without compromising on the holiday spirit. Avoid peak dates by travelling in early December, when it’s still festive, but less popular. Or choose a less- obvious destination, steering clear of the crowds and the premium


price tag. River cruises are a cost- effective option and often include flights, meals, tours and visits to


world-famous Christmas markets, as well as enticing extras – Riviera’s 2024 sailings come with a free superior drinks package.”


travelweekly.co.uk “There are many reasons why


travellers want to be away over Christmas, but being with


like-minded people has huge appeal. It’s a good time of year to travel to maximise annual leave, as people can take advantage of the bank holidays, and some


companies closing over the festive period. The adventures we offer aren’t necessarily more expensive over Christmas, as we tend to avoid the hotels that include mandatory Christmas dinners or minimum-stay requirements.”


PALATIAL PEAK DISTRICT New for 2023, Newmarket Holidays’ Christmas in the Peak District trip, which departs on December 22, proves that magical Christmas getaways can be found on our doorstep. A Victorian spa hotel with landscaped grounds in picturesque Buxton serves as a festive residence for six days. Customers will enjoy a day trip to Grade I-listed Chatsworth House, which looks astonishing in its Christmas finery – at night, the rear facade is lit up like a giant advent calendar. On Christmas Eve, an optional outing to Bakewell to taste its famed tarts is on offer, while on Christmas Day clients tuck into lunch with all the trimmings. They can blow the cobwebs away on a Boxing Day stroll through the Peak


District National Park. Book it: From £756 for five nights’ B&B, including excursions and some meals, but excluding transport to Buxton. newmarketholidays.co.uk


Peak District ² 19 OCTOBER 2023 31


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Pajor Pawel


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