If I wanted to take my wife on a surprise holiday where should we go? Sorento or Saint Lucia were the clear recommendations from Julie Bennett, Personal Travel Specialist, in her recent talk to Largs Probus Club. Julie gave a brief background on holiday travel which Thomas Cook started organising in 1841, with the first holiday flight taking place on 1st January 1914 in Florida. The biggest tour operator currently is Jet2 Holidays, taking over 6.7 million passengers to holiday destinations across the globe. Her business, Brilliant Travel, is part of the Barrhead Travel Group and provides peace of mind through ABTA and ATOL coverage.
Julie’s role is to give a personal service from holiday enquiry stage until the return home, tailoring each trip to suit the enquirer’s individual needs, even coping with the very rare complaints. With over 32 years in the travel industry, and having travelled widely herself, she was able to give recommendations based on first hand experience.
The benefits of different types of holidays, be they package holidays or tailor made ones, were mentioned in relation to ocean and river cruising; adventure travel; golfing, bowls or popular walking holidays in up-and-coming destinations like Madeira and Andorra with a number of short videos. Julie also gave suggestions for gift experiences such as to Lapland to see Santa; Route 66 across the USA; the Orient Express; Rocky Mountain train in Canada; food and wine trips to Italy; ranch holidays in America and many more.
In answer to a question in relation to travel insurance, which Probus members over 70 years of age with medical conditions found to be an expensive addition to holiday costs, Julie recommended getting an insurance quote prior to booking a holiday as costs vary depending on one’s personal circumstances.
Bernie Rafferty, who had arranged several short holiday breaks for members to the St Annes area, thanked Julie for a very interesting and informative talk and would consider Sorento for a holiday with his wife.
Largs Probus Club will next meet in the Willowbank Hotel on Wednesday 31st July at 10am when Norrie Wilson will speak on Lost Glasgow.
Men over the age of 50 who are retired, or nearing retirement, can attend three meetings as a guest before deciding whether to become a Club member. Please use our Contact Form if you wish to attend as a guest, or to enquire about joining.