September 4th 2024.
For over four decades, Siesta Holidays has been offering European vacations to travelers. Their old travel brochures from the 1980s and 90s provide a fascinating peek into the world of package holidays during that time. It's hard to believe that Siesta Holidays, based in Middlesbrough, has been organizing coach tours around Europe for 44 years. Back then, before the rise of budget flights and Airbnb, they were one of the pioneers in the travel industry.
To celebrate their long-standing history of providing affordable holiday options to the people of North East England, the company has recently released their earliest brochures. These brochures reveal some interesting budget deals that were on offer in the early 1980s. In fact, one of their most popular packages in 1982 was an all-inclusive 17-day trip for just £69, which would be equivalent to £250 in today's money. And if you had children under 19, they could travel for free. A one-week vacation would only cost £49, while a two-week trip was priced at just £69. This amazing offer covered all travel expenses and accommodations, and took tourists to beautiful destinations like the south of France, the Italian Riviera, and Spain.
In 1994, Siesta Holidays went a step further and offered free holidays to all children under 19. And it's not just Europe that this company covered. In 1989, they ventured out and took holidaymakers to other parts of the world, such as the former Yugoslavia and Austria. They even introduced a new mode of transportation, the SNCF Holiday Express, which allowed tourists to zip through the picturesque French countryside.
Sadly, despite their success, Siesta Holidays announced their closure last month due to various financial pressures. According to director John Harrison, the company had been struggling for some time, especially after being completely shut down for two years due to the pandemic. This made it difficult for them to invest in marketing and attract more customers. Another setback was the complications caused by Brexit, which made it more expensive and time-consuming to organize trips across the Channel. Additionally, John mentioned that their client base had aged over the years, and some of them were no longer able to travel due to health reasons.
However, even though Siesta Holidays had to shut down, they will always be remembered by their loyal customers for the fond memories they created. John shared that when the news of their closure was announced, they were flooded with messages from past and present customers expressing their appreciation for the amazing holidays they had experienced with Siesta Holidays. These brochures not only showcase the wide range of affordable trips they offered, but also highlight the important role they played in making family vacations to Europe possible for so many people.
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