Decades old travel brochures have revealed a fascinating glimpse into package holidays from the 1980s and 90s.
Siesta Holidays in Middlesbrough has been operating coach holidays around Europe for 44 years – long before cheap flights and Airbnb transformed the travel industry.
To celebrate its almost five-decades providing affordable holidays for people in the North East, bosses have released their earliest brochures.
One of the most popular budget offers in 1982 was an all-inclusive 17 day trip for just £69 – the equivalent of £250 in today’s money.
Children under 19 also travelled free while a one-week break cost just £49 with a fortnight costing from £69.
The holiday, which included all travel and accommodation, took tourists to the south of France, the Italian Riviera and Spain.
In 1989 the firm took holidaymakers further afield, including around the former Yugoslavia and Austria.
As well as travelling by ‘super coach’, tourists could also whizz through the French countryside on the new SNCF ‘Holiday Express’.
Despite the firm’s success, bosses announced they will be closing next month as a result of financial pressures.
Director John Harrison said: ‘We have decided to close due to a number of factors. One of the reasons is we struggled as a result of Covid which shut us down completely for two years and meant we couldn’t afford to spend on marketing.
‘Another reason is Brexit has made it more complicated to get across the Channel which adds to the costs and time it takes to go on holiday. Young people were more likely to travel via low-cost airlines to mainland Europe than by bus.
‘Another reason is that our client base has gotten older and maybe one or more of the party can’t travel anymore for health reasons.’
Despite the company closing, John said customers had fond memories of coach trips to the continent.
He said: ‘When we announced we were closing, we were inundated with past and present customers telling us how much they had enjoyed going on holiday with us.
‘The brochures show just how vital we were in providing affordable trips to the continent for families to make life-long memories.’
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