My husband and I recently went on a package holiday. Eyebrows were raised. Because I’m a travel writer, you see, and so people expect me to be doing things such as backpacking between hand-selected fincas in Spain or carefully curating an independent foodie tour of Italy.
But even travel writers deserve a holiday. And when it comes to booking that holiday, the absolute last thing I want to have to do is trawl through hotel and review sites trying to work out which place won’t have surly staff or turn out to be miles out of town on an industrial estate. I don’t want to check every airline for the lowest flight price or research local taxi fares to avoid being ripped off at the airport. My time, like yours, is valuable. I would much rather spend it getting excited about my holiday, reading books and websites about my chosen destination and all the things I’ll be able to do and see: the meals I can have, the walks I can take, the sights I can post on Instagram. Frankly, I just want somebody else to do the boring stuff for me.
This is where the good old package holiday comes in. Reliable, hassle-free and extremely easy to book, a package holiday takes care of all the details for you. My goodness, do I want that – and I’m not alone.
Abta’s holiday habits report 2017 shows that a whopping 62% of “social grade A” households booked a package holiday in 2017. In 2015 only 23% did, and Abta reckons that this is “a reflection of the range of package holidays now available”. Today’s options can also include activities – hiking to Machu Picchu, say, or taking in the opera in Verona. Or, if you prefer, they can keep things simple, incorporating your flights and your accommodation and leaving you to choose the rest.
You needn’t stay in a large hotel either. Instead, you can try self-catering accommodation, making your own meals and going out for dinner when the mood takes you. Being on a package holiday doesn’t mean you can’t immerse yourself in the local culture. You could also include car hire, giving you independence.
Even better, a package holiday comes with support. Sunvil, for example, has 60 passionate travel experts in its London office, as well as numerous representatives on the ground. All are ready to offer proper, in-the-know advice on everything from the best restaurants to the must-visit spots. Excursions are trips Sunvil’s own travel experts have enjoyed, and when it comes to finding a place to stay, the majority of Sunvil accommodation is locally owned and has been checked out thoroughly.
This sort of expert knowledge is invaluable. On my package holiday earlier this year I was determined to try the local restaurants, and my rep was able to tell me not only which places had the freshest seafood but advise me to book if I wanted dinner in town on Friday night. He told me how to hire a car for a day’s exploration and which sights were worth making time for. I could have taken the group excursion, but my independent streak won out and, thanks to his advice, it was an excellent day out. I may have been on a package holiday but my experience was entirely personal.
And so, when I returned from my holiday, I told my friends that I was a package holiday convert. I love the peace of mind that comes with knowing there’s a support system in place. I love the expert knowledge that can lead me to the freshest fish and sunniest beach. And above all, I love that I don’t have to do any of the boring bits. This is truly the way to travel.
The full package: five of the best Sunvil experiences to try
Greece
Visit Greece with a seven-night holiday to the island of Samos, close to the picture-perfect fishing village of Kokkari. Stay in a self-catered apartment in Villa Penny, a five-minute walk away from the pretty white-pebble Lemonakia beach and its tavernas. Prices are from £659 per person, including return flights from London Gatwick.
Spain and Portugal
Explore Portugal and Spain with a seven-night fly drive to the undiscovered regions of the Alentejo and Extremadura, with two nights in the M’Ar de Ar Muralhas hotel within the city walls of Evora and three nights at the Palacio de Oquendo hotel in Caceres. Prices are from £795, based on two people sharing.
The Azores
Whale and dolphin watch in the Azores with a seven-night trip, staying at the Marina Atlantico hotel in Ponta Delgada or Quinta dos Curubas in Vila Franca do Campo. Four three-hour whale and dolphin watching trips are included, plus a briefing by a marine biologist. Prices are from £1,078 per person.
Sweden
Island-hop your way around the west coast of Sweden, with accommodation on the island of Tjörn in Sweden’s first floating hotel, Salt and Sil, Klädesholmen, and the Stora hotel Bryggan in Fjällbacka. There are opportunities for guided walks, kayak trips and seafood experiences. Prices are from £1,027 per person.
Costa Rica
Enjoy Costa Rica family fun as part of a 12-night trip, starting in San Jose with a visit to Paos volcano, moving to Mawamba lodge, Tortuguero, surrounded by rainforest, then visiting Arenal, before a relaxing stay at Parador resort and spa in Manuel Antonio. Prices are from £2,455 for adults, and from £1,305 for children (up to age 11).
For personal, expert travel advice to all of these destinations and more, call Sunvil on 020 8232 9788 or visit sunvil.co.uk
