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Get on Board with a National Holidays Mystery Tour!

Discover why a National Holidays coach holiday is great fun for travellers of all ages, especially on a Mystery Tour weekend ! 

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I’ll admit it – it’s nearly two decades since I last went on a coach trip. And I also have to admit that since then, I’d never really considered booking another one.

So when National Holidays invited me to go on a Mystery Tour Weekend, I was both intrigued and a little bit sceptical. I mean, coach holidays aren’t really something I do. I always fly or drive when I go on holiday, or occasionally I take the train.

But I happily accepted the challenge and so at the end of June, I found myself in Manchester city centre at 7am on a Saturday morning. My travel companion (or partner in crime) for the weekend was my good friend and fellow blogger, Mellissa from The Diary of a Jewellery Lover .

Over the course of the next 48 hours, I would discover that my pre-conceptions about coach travel were really outdated.

Where do National Holidays go?

National Holidays specialise in coach travel, and provide short breaks and holidays across the UK and Europe. They operate across the Midlands and North of England, with several departure points available.

Their range of tours includes thousands of different holidays to choose from, catering for all sorts of different tastes.

In the UK, you could go and see a show in the West End  or take a weekend by the seaside . Or maybe you’d prefer to visit the RHS Chelsea Flower Show or watch a top flight sporting event .

Click here to read my review of an F1 Spectacular Weekend at the British Grand Prix

And National Holidays’ European breaks cover everything from an action-packed break at Disneyland Paris  to a relaxing stay on the Amalfi Coast . You could even take a river cruise on the Rhine or the Danube.

Every National Holiday break includes carefully selected accommodation, excursions, and of course reserved seating on one of their plush coaches.

But I know what you’re probably thinking – is a coach holiday really for me?

Who travels with National Holidays?

So you might be thinking that coach holidays are only for the older traveller. It’s certainly a common assumption.

And yes, the group that I was travelling with did have quite a few people aged 60+. But there was a real mixture of people on our coach, so I wanted to find out who books a National Holiday tour.

Well, in addition to the senior travellers, there was a family with young children, a group of friends in their thirties, and a works trip from a school. One woman had travelled over from Canada to take her Mum away for a National Holidays weekend.

Caroline and Ryan are a couple in their thirties who have been on several National Holiday tours. When I asked them why they keep coming back, the cost of the trip was one of the big attractions.

The 2 day Mystery Weekend costs as little as £59 per person based on two people sharing a room, which is fantastic value for money!

Caroline told me that they had visited Isle of Wight during the school holidays, and paid around £170 each. She said “You just can’t beat it for value, and the beach was right outside the hotel!”

They also visited London between Christmas and New Year. Ryan was really impressed that although the cost of the trip was reasonable, the hotel was in Canary Wharf, just a quick train ride into town.

And then there were the ‘golden girls’ – Rita, Jane, Sylvia, Anne and their ringleader Kath from Buxton. These seniors love to go away on regular girls’ weekends to get a break from their husbands!

This was their first National Holidays trip, and they told me that they will definitely be booking another one.

“They’re such great value,” said Kath, “and I definitely want to do another mystery weekend. We’ve really enjoyed it!”

On Board the National Holidays Coach

If I was surprised by the mix of people on board a National Holidays coach, then the coach itself was another surprise.

The last time I travelled by coach was nearly 20 years ago, and they’ve really changed since then. Our National Holidays coach was plush and spotlessly clean inside.

National Holidays coaches all have free WiFi on board so you don’t have to eat through your data allowance while you travel. And their new on-board entertainment system will allow you to choose from films, music and box sets on your journey.

These comfy seats are all fitted with a safety belt. There’s also an adjustable foot rest and plenty of leg room, far more than I was expecting.

The coaches have air conditioning and tinted windows, which were very welcome on an incredibly hot and sunny June weekend. There’s a small fridge filled with chilled bottles of water that you can buy, and yes, of course there’s a loo on board!

Based upon my previous experience of coach travel, I was expecting to have an aching back by the time we reached our first destination. But in fact I actually arrived feeling fresh and relaxed.

The Man in Charge: Gary, our Driver

Of course, a good coach driver is a vital part of your National Holidays tour.

They do far more than just get you from A to B safely. They’re also responsible for building the excitement, keeping you informed about where to go, and when to meet back at the coach.

Without a good driver, the whole experience could be a let down.

Luckily we had a fantastic driver on our Mystery Weekend. Gary has been driving for National Holidays for over 28 years, and his partner drives for them as well – it’s a real family affair!

Gary built up the anticipation for our weekend brilliantly. Every time we reached a point where the motorway split, he’d tell us where each of the motorways could be taking us. But the actual destination wasn’t revealed until we were just a few miles away from our first stop.

As Gary told us on board the coach “I never tell you where you’re going, because that way it doesn’t matter if I get lost!”

I chatted to Gary about what it’s like working as a National Holiday driver for so many years. He told me that he used to think he would have driven every tour that the company does by now. But they keep adding on new routes, so there’s always somewhere new for him to visit.

And the mix of the group always varies, so a route is never exactly the same each time. Gary told me that some groups really gel together and that makes it even more fun. And he loves it when passengers have a joke back with him!

But has he got a favourite route from all the different options that National Holidays have?

“No, I couldn’t pick a favourite, as they are all so good!”

Day 1 of my Mystery Weekend with National Holidays

So what happened on our Mystery Weekend?

After a slow start to the journey, while the rest of the passengers joined the coach, we headed down the motorway towards the Midlands. And of course, our driver kept on teasing us about where we might be heading. There are so many Mystery Tour locations, but which one would be our destination?

At first I thought we might have been heading to London to visit the Warner Brothers Harry Potter experience . Then I thought it might be Cadbury World in Birmingham or the West Midland Safari Park .

I even thought for a few minutes that we might have been en route to Shrewsbury – that’s only about 25 minutes from where I live!

Stratford upon Avon

But in fact the first stop on our Mystery Tour was the historic town of Stratford upon Avon in Warwickshire. And when we arrived at the town, we discovered that the River Festival was in full flow. So the town was absolutely buzzing with street entertainers, market stalls and much more.

And of course you can watch his works being performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

On the day we visited, an open air theatre company was performing Much Ado about Nothing in a park. What a lovely way to spend a summer’s afternoon!

But our itinerary only allowed for a few hours in Stratford upon Avon.

So rather than spending time indoors, Mel and I decided to investigate the River Festival. As you can see from the bridge above, the town was absolutely teeming with people.

And what a fantastic event it is, definitely one that I’d love to return to in the future.

Away from the crowded parts of the festival, the River Avon was host to several small rowing boats and narrow boats.

I love being near the water, and for me this peaceful view really was heavenly.

We had time for a spot of lunch in Stratford as well, and there is a wide range of places to choose from.

As well as well known national chains like Carluccio’s, you’ll find plenty of small independent eateries. I can highly recommend the Garden Cafe on Sheep Street. The service was very speedy, which is great on a flying visit and my sandwich was stuffed full of guacamole, hummus and grated carrot. It was so good!

After a few hours of sightseeing in Stratford, we returned to the coach for the journey on to our hotel.

Accommodation on a National Holidays tour

Each National Holidays tour includes accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. The standard price is based upon two people sharing a room but if you prefer, you can book a single room by paying a small supplement.

On a Mystery Weekend you won’t know exactly where you’re staying until you get there. But you can work on the assumption that you will stay in 3 or 4 star hotels.

On our weekend, the accommodation was at the Holiday Inn Northampton, not far from the motorway.

I was staying in a double room on my own, and the room was very clean. The bed was comfy, and there were plenty of pillows and crisp white bed linen.

The room had free WiFi and 24 hour room service was available. It was actually a very comfortable place to rest my weary feet, and I slept very well at this hotel!

Although the decor in the bedroom looked a little dated, the hotel had obviously had the bathrooms remodelled recently.

My bathroom looked fresh and modern, had a fantastic shower, and was spotlessly clean.

Dinner at the hotel was a buffet meal, with salad and soup as a starter. There was then a choice of three main courses: Spaghetti Bolognaise, chicken Tikka Masala and Four Cheese Ravioli with Spinach. And a selection of cold puddings rounded off the meal nicely.

I was really impressed by the level of service at the hotel, all of the staff were very friendly and helpful. And although drinks are not included in your holiday price, it was very easy to set up a tab on my credit card to cover anything else I needed.

Day 2 of my National Holidays Mystery Tour

I woke up early the next morning, feeling refreshed and ready for the second day of my mystery tour.

Breakfast at the hotel was also served as a buffet, with everything from fruit and yoghurt to a full cooked breakfast.

After packing up, it was time to get back on the bus and discover where we were heading next. This time, Gary let us know straight away that we would be visiting two idyllic villages in the Cotswolds.

Bourton on the Water

Our first stop was the popular village of Bourton on the Water.

It’s known as ‘the Venice of the Cotswolds’ because the River Windrush flows right through the middle of the town, spanned by several little bridges.  

It’s ridiculously picturesque, and there were gorgeous honey-coloured buildings at every turn.

As well as the beautiful scenery, there is a miniature village and a car museum to visit, amongst other attractions.

It’s very popular with tourists though, so it’s worth heading away from the main High Street. Down the quiet side roads, you’ll find plenty of chocolate box cottages with gorgeous gardens.

And of course you’ll find lots of places to indulge in a cream tea.  I definitely recommend the Green and Pleasant tearoom, which also has a fantastic shop full of gorgeous furniture, homewares and ornaments.

After a couple of hours in Bourton on the Water, we got back on our coach for the short journey to Broadway.

No, not Broadway in New York City!

Broadway may not be as well known as Stow on the Wold or Bourton on the Water. But it’s quite possibly the loveliest village in England, and I definitely fell in love with it.

It’s a little quieter than Bourton on the Water, with fewer tourists around. Again, you’ll find quaint cottages built from Cotswold stone, and Hollyhocks growing in every nook and cranny.

My lunch at the Tisanes Tearoom was a home-made cheese, tomato and rocket quiche, still slightly warm from the oven. It was served with granary bread and a fresh crisp salad – just what I wanted on a hot summer’s day.

There are several shops to look around in Broadway, and a selection of tea rooms and restaurants. But there isn’t much else to do, so it won’t take too long to visit.

The two day Stratford upon Avon and the Cotswolds tour really is a flying visit to each of the locations. If you want to look around at a more leisurely pace, you may like to consider the four day version of the tour.

Time to Go Home

We started back up the motorway towards Manchester around 3pm, and the journey went without a hitch.

By now lots of the passengers were chatting amongst themselves, playing guessing games to while away the journey. It was strange to think that we had only met less than 48 hours ago. I could really see what Gary had meant when he said that the holiday is even more fun when the group gels together.

By early evening we were back in Manchester and it was time to say ‘Goodbye’ to Gary and the rest of the passengers. I headed back to the train station with one question on my mind…

National Holidays Mystery Tour Review

I really enjoyed my first National Holidays tour – the first coach holiday I’d been on in over 18 years.

The coach was incredibly comfortable, the company was excellent, the hotel accommodation was very good and I enjoyed the places that we visited.

How Much does a National Holidays Mystery Tour cost?

And of course, the holiday was exceptionally good value. I travelled as a guest of National Holidays, but my 2 day Mystery Weekend Special, with the single room supplement, would have cost just £73. A Mystery Weekend for two costs just £118.

The hotel room and meals alone would have cost at least that much if I’d booked it myself!

So the question is, would I consider travelling with National Holidays again?

Of course I would!

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip, and would definitely love to go on another coach holiday with National Holidays. I’ve already been browsing through some of their European holidays, and I’m also quite tempted by the Christmas market tours .

If you’ve never considered a coach holiday, or think that they’re just for the older traveller, I really urge you to think again. A National Holidays tour is great fun and great value – what more could you ask for?

National Holidays Mystery Tour: The Details

Visit the National Holidays website to check the range of holidays available and current pricing, find the latest special offers and book your National Holidays coach tour.

Thank you to National Holidays for a fantastic weekend!

This competition has now closed, and the winner is sarah morris – congratulations sarah.

Yes, you could find out for yourself how much fun a National Holidays Mystery Weekend is. National Holidays will be sending one winner plus a guest on a Mystery Weekend for two, worth £118.

There are a few extra terms and conditions for this giveaway:

• The holiday must be taken within 12 months of prize winner being announced.
• The prize is one Mystery Weekend Special break with National Holidays for two adults. 
• The dates and pick-up destinations are limited based on availability. 
• The prize includes transport from the selected pick-up destination to the hotel and return travel back to the original pick-up destination with reserved seating, one night dinner, bed and breakfast in select hotel accommodation and a full inclusive touring itinerary.
• The prize is as stated, non-transferable, and cannot be exchanged for an alternative trip or a monetary value. 
• Travel to the departure point is not included
• The competition is only available to people 18 and over
• It is the winner’s responsibility to ensure they have travel insurance

To enter this fantastic giveaway, you simply need to log into the Rafflecopter below and answer the simple question. There are a number of optional social media entries that you can use to boost your chances of winning.

You can get an extra boost by following National Holidays on Instagram. Using this entry method will give you an additional 4 bonus entries into the draw!

So take a look at National Holidays’ range of tours and let me know: which of their destinations would you most love to visit?

This competition will close at 11.50pm on 12th August 2018 and entries after this date will not be counted.

Listed on  Loquax ,  Competition Database ,  Prize Finder , SuperLucky

Sally Akins

Sally Akins is the owner and editor of The Getaway Guide. She loves exploring new places, enjoying good food and writing about them here on the blog. When Sally isn't travelling or working as a freelance copywriter, you'll find her out and about in her beautiful home county of Shropshire, or hard at work on her Open University English Language degree course.

208 thoughts on “ Get on Board with a National Holidays Mystery Tour! ”

What a fab review!! I’d travel a long way for a slice of that warm quiche…but lots of tempting destinations- the Lake District – Torquay- the wonderful faded Victorian splendour of Scarborough…hmmm I think I’d go for the Yorkshire Dales x

That looks so much fun! Totally going to look them up :-)

I’ve never been to Weymouth but everyone says it’s really lovely, clean beach and plenty to do so this would be my number one choice!

would like to try The Cotswolds

I’d most like to visit Scotland.

Thank you for a very interesting review. I’d most like to visit the Isle of Bute.

thank you for such an inspiring review id love to visit the Scottish Highlands.

Seaside or Eurodisney!

I’m ashamed to say; I’ve never been to Wales. So a weekend in Snowdonia would be a dream for me. It looks absolutely beautiful. If there was time to swing by a town or city too, to load up on cheese, all the better!

we did the italy 7 day hol and tho there was a lot of sitting in the coach, we made so many friends and still know them on fb even now! I’d love to do the france, especially Paris and versailles trip!!

I would like to visit Brighton

Bath would be wonderful

Llandudno, childhood memories relived there

I’d love to go to Durham

I would love to head up to Fort William, always wanted to go further North

round the cotswolds would bring back lots of memories for me

I’d most like to go to Bath.

the cotswolds

Great Britain is such a beautiful place I would be delighted to travel anywhere at all, if I had to choose maybe somewhere in the Highlands or Islands.

I’d like to go to yorkshire

The Cotswold’s would be really lovely

Fingers crossed! I’d love to visit Bath!

I would like to go to Chester

I’d love to go to the Lake District!

My pattern adores the Lake District – but I totally love the idea of a surprise mystery tour – going somewhere you’d never think to go!

Would love to visit Loch Lomand!!!!

I would love to try this out with my sons. We often do what we call ‘mystery tours’ which usually are just me following my nose and seeing where we end up but it would be exciting to go on an arranged trip!

I think I’d like to visit Paris

Bath would be lovely

I’ve never been to Wales, I would love Snowdonia.

Sounds like great fun!

I want to go to the isle of sky

I think York Fayre & Lincoln Christmas Market sounds lovely

Love that National holidays do mystery tours and at such great value!!!!

I would love to go on one of the Christmas market tours, the German themed Leeds one sounds amazing.

Whitby, because of the Dracula connection!

I’d love to see Bath, it’s been on my list for a while! The mystery tour looks so much fun!

I would love to go to the Manchester Christmas Market

I know the Cotswolds is lovely, as I live there! But one place I’ve never been to (and I can’t believe it, because I’m such a Jane Austen fan!) and would love to visit, with my mum, as a special treat, is BATH. thanks for the lovely competition. Coach holidays have certainly moved on, haven’t they?

Always the Lake District, can’t visit it enough!!

My daughter is 16 in December would love to visit one of the Christmas markets with her.

I would love to go on one of their tours of the Lake District.

The Lake District

I’d love the Yorkshire Dales

Where I would like to go would depend on who I went with, Germany or Poland with hubby, London with eldest granddaughter, Drayton manor with youngest grandson

We have done a lot of National holidays holidays and short breaks plus weekend trips all have been exceptional value and we have enjoyed all of them.

I’d love to revisit my childhood holiday and visit Yarmouth & the Norfolk broads x

this looks so much fun

Done a lot of the tours but would love to go on the Fort William one

I’d love to do the Fort William tour!

there are so many places in the UK that im yet to visit. Edinburgh, Stratford Upon Avon, The Cotwolds, The lake district etc etc! i love the idea of a mystery trip sounds amazing!

I’d love to go to Torquay

they all look pretty amazing such a hard choice maybe somewhere in the south west

A West End show would be fabulous x

Llandudno, as never been there and friends have said it is a nice place to visit.

Would love to win this for my mom and dad so they can have a nice surprise as there always helping me with my kids

lake district

Been on a couple of National Holidays trips, favourite one up to now was… Dancing On Ice Live tour……..absolutel brilliant

It would be the Cotswolds for me, it looks spectacluar

Wales – its years since ive last been

The Cotswolds.

I would love to go to Cornwall and for as little as 59 quid that’s cheep as chips

I would Love a mystery weekend to Harry potter studios or York Think I’m definitely going to check out National holidays x

amazing! would love to see the lake district

I would like to visit Bourton on the Water

I would love to visit Wales by coach!

id love to go back to Torquay,i haven’t been since i was a very small child

I’d love to visit the lake district!

I think it would be bath

cornwall would be fab for me!

Llandudno for me

I would love to visit The Cotswolds!

EuroDisney!

It would have to be The Cotswolds for me! Beautiful.

I’d love to visit the lake district :)

The Cotswolds would be my choice! I have never been to that part of the country before!

disneyland woop woop

I would love to visit London as I have never been!

I think Bath or the Cotswolds maybe :) Although anywhere would be nice!

I’d love to take my Mum to the Lake District as a thank you for all she does for me

There’s so much of the UK that I’ve not visited or explored yet. And it would be wonderful to be able to relax, enjoy and not have to drive!

Bath Christmas market

Northumberland, The Yorkshire Dales, or Scottish Borders

I must admit I did have a bad judgement of coach trips before but this looks lovely!

I would really like to go to the Lake district. My other half has never been but its absolutely stunning.

I think for me it would have to be London

Bourton on the Water looks fabulous so I’d love to go there! It looks like you had such a wonderful time, it was very interesting to read! :)

Would love to visit the Lake District as I’ve never been there

LOVE TO VISIT SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

I’d love to go to Torquay!

Bourton on the water as it’s not far from me and it’s really lovely, Meant to be going there next month for Grandma’s 86th birthday to the model village.

The Cotswolds looks wonderful and being on a coach trip is fabulous. You are always well looked after.

Love going on a coach trip, always well looked after. The Cotswolds look lovely.

Somewhere in Germany at Christmas time with an amazing Christmas market would be amazing.

I’d love to go to Bath

I’d love to visit Bath!

i would love to visist staford upon avon, it looks so lovely. your blog is fab too xx

It would be the Lake District

The blackpool illuminations sound lovely

I would love to visit Chester .

You made Broadway look very appealing for a nice cuppa- I must be getting old!

I’d like to visit Torquay as I haven’t been there for many years. Great comp – thanks fotr running this.

I would like to visit Torquay as I haven’t been there for many years.

Somewhere in Scotland I think.. A mystery weekend sounds like so much fun!

The lake district sounds tempting, but I love the idea of a mystery tour! :)

I would love to take my mum to the Scottish Highlands

It would be nice to visit Lake District!

I would love to see Rome!

The Lake District or the Cotswolds would be brilliant

Would love the chance to give this type of break a try!

I think I would like to visit York

I’d love to visit The Cotswolds!

I’d love to visit the Cotswolds

Italy or Lake District would be nice.

I’d love to visit paris and Versallies :)

the lake district

I would love to visit Cornwall as I havent been since a little girl. This looks like an amazing prize! A mystery tour would be awesome!

pretty Cotswolds

Liverpool or The Yorkshire Dales as I have never been to those places.

I would like to go to Venice – but if it was a choice in the UK I would choose Scotland

I’d love to visit the Lake District.

I’d love one of the mystery tours as you don’t know where you will end up but one of the Christmas markets would be a great second choice!

Fantastic review, it looks really good fun and a great way to met new people, I’d love to visit Stratford upon Avon.

I would like to visit Stratford upon Avon.

Love the Christmas markets tour!!

Scotland -although would be a very long journey!

Fingers crossed

Dublin would be great

What an amazing prize! My great-grandparents love National Holidays and would love to re-visit the Lakes. This prize would be amazing gifted to them

I would love to go to Stratford upon Avon and the Cotswolds

I would love to revisit Bourton on the Water, because it is the heart of the Cotswolds and ideal to travel by coach to.

The Cotswolds FOR US

It has been a long time since i visited Stratford upon Avon and would love to go back

I would love to visit scotland, this would be amazing!

I would really love to go to Yorkshire.

I would really love to visit Yorkshire the most.

Definitely a West end show

Cotswolds it looks fab xxxxxxxxx

Paris would be fab

I would love to go on the Foodies Festival Christmas – Tatton Park

Bonny Scotland is calling!

Oxford & Stratford

I love surprises but actually Stratford would be a fab place to go

I have always fancied the Yorkshire Dales but the thought of driving that far is daunting. What a wonderful opportunity to sit back and just enjoy the view and let someone else get me there!

I’d love to visit the lake district.

I’d most like to visit Bath

Dublin, i would love to visit most of all but love travelling to new places making memories with my lovely husband and meeting new people fingers crossed xxxxxx

The fort william tour looks epic

I’d like to go to Durham but a mystery sounds perfect.

I would like to visit the Scottish Highlands

The Christmas Market tours sound amazing, there’s always something magical about Christmas Markets

I’d love to visit Stratford upon Avon

The Fort William tour

Snowdonia would be amazing as I’ve always wanted to visit.

christmas tours

I would love to go back to my childhood homeland of Scotland especially Loch Lomond where my family lived.

Scotland & The Secret Lochs Cruise

I’d like to visit The Cotswolds guys

I would love to go to Stratford Upon Avon

I would love to go to The Cotswolds. I have not been there yet.

There are so many, Wales and Snowdonia, Isle of Wight, the Cotswolds and Manchester Christmas markets would be top of my list.

Would love to go to one of the Christmas markets

The place that I would most like to find myself as a result of a Mystery Tour is, The Lakes. I must admit that as a lifelong inhabitant of the UK, in all my time I have never so much as travelled through this region. By all accounts it is a spectacular area of the country so it would be great to see it for myself.

Beautiful Scotland looks like a wonderful five days. We’ve never visited Scotland so it would be very interesting to see the landmarks that we have only heard about.

I have never been to Scotland so would love to go there

i would love to go to Scotland or Cornwall. Decisions decisions lol

I’d like to go to the Cotswolds

Would love to visit Bath

Would love to take my mum round York with our cameras :)

I’d love to go to the Lake District

Somewhere on the coast.

I’d want to go everywhere!

I would most like to go to Dublin or Belfast :)

I’d love to visit snowdonia as I haven’t been in Wales yet!

The Cotswolds looks amazing, I would love to escape to that part of the country,

We’ve been n several holidays with National Holidays in Europe, but never in the UK. I’d love to go to the Cotswolds!

the cotswolds, been a few times and the countryside is stunning…. rain or shine

It would have to be the Scottish Highlands for me.

My parents took my daughter and niece on a coach holiday to the Isle of Bute Scotland a few years ago and they all loved it we always say we are going to go on one together after reading your review I think I will remind everyone again we should definitely go on one maybe to the Cotswolds or Scotland

I’d like to visit the Scottish Highlands.

Scotland or Yorkshire for me

If Europe it would be the Amalfi Coast. If UK then Isle of Wight

always wanted to go down to cornwall

Oooooh you have me tempted!!

I would love to visit Bath

Fort William would be lovely

Whitby or Scottish Highlands

the christmas markets

I’d most like to visit Scotland.

id go anywhere really!!! i love travelling and finding new places….. there is always something new to see even if you have been to a town many times before!! great comp!!!

i would love to visit dublin ive never been to ireland before

Bath – so beautiful! I’d really love a couple of days there.

Anywhere! But definitely would love to explore Scotland some more :)

Haven’t been on a coach trip since I was a child, I’d love a trip to the Scottish highlands

I would love to go to Bath.

I would most like to visit Scottish highlands with national holidays

I would most like to visit Cotswolds with national holidays

I would love to visit Cambridge

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Introducing the latest trend in travel: surprise trips to places that won’t be revealed to you until it’s go time.

Jubel , a tech-enabled travel company founded in 2015 in California, offers customized multi-destination getaways and route planning. It can also save you more than 55 percent in travel costs compared with booking a trip yourself, thanks to insider travel deals. Jubel also offers surprise trips .

Fill out its survey with your preferred dates, budget, and travel style, and it’ll send you a trip proposal. You can be completely surprised by the destination or learn the continent or country ahead of time. Once you’ve booked, you’ll get sealed envelopes to open along your journey, plus details on what to pack and when to show up at the airport. International trips start at around $1,000 per person per week.

Pack Up and Go

Want a weekend getaway in the U.S. without any hassle of planning it? Enter Pack Up and Go , founded in 2016 in Pittsburgh. Give the company your dates and budget, and complete a quick survey (sample question: Do you want action, relaxation, or culture?), and it will do the rest for you. Prior to your trip, you’ll get a packing list, flight information, and a weather forecast. Days before you leave, an envelope with your destination and itinerary will arrive in the mail. Open it at the airport. Trips start at $400 per person.

The Vacation Hunt

Whether you have three days or two weeks, the expert travelers at the Vacation Hunt , started in 2017 by a husband and wife in Washington, D.C., will plan a trip for you. Tell the reps what you’re looking for (spas or zoos? bars or museums?) and they’ll start sending you clues as to where you’re going. Packaged trips in the U.S. start at $750 per person; international trips start at $950. They also offer gift certificates if you want to give someone else a surprise trip.

Magical Mystery Tours

With Magical Mystery Tours , you won’t know where you’re going until you show up at the airport. First, enter your preferences: Do you want a foreign trip? Do you dislike the cold or the beach? Would you prefer heading to the desert or someplace tropical? Then input your dates, budget, and who you’re traveling with. The company will take care of the details. Magical Mystery Tours has been booking destination vacations to locations all over the globe since 2009. Cost depends on the length of the trip, whether it’s international or domestic travel, and the kind of accommodations you want. Weekend trips for two start at $1,500.

Surprise Me Trips

Choose between quick road trips from your hometown or far-flung destinations via airplane. You’ll get details about what to bring and where to be just before your departure. For its weekend road trips, tell the company where you want to start, and it will plan a surprise itinerary around your region, including a few nights in different locales and major landmarks and activities to check out along the way. Despite this travel company’s name, it will also arrange trips that don’t come as a surprise, if that’s more your thing. Surprise Me Trips was launched by three well-traveled friends in Texas in 2016. Weekend regional road trips start at $375.

Black Tomato

In 2017, high-end travel company Black Tomato  debuted its  Get Lost service, which creates adventurous tailor-made expeditions to wilderness destinations like Mongolia or the Arctic that are kept entirely a secret from you. Here’s how it works: select a polar, jungle, coastal, desert, or mountain trip—or have Black Tomato choose that, too—and book at least six months in advance to give you time to train and prepare. When you arrive at your location, you’ll be outfitted with all the gear you need, plus a private transfer from the airport to your starting point and a satellite phone for emergencies. Chart your way through a series of mapped-out checkpoints using navigational technology and your own two feet. The journey ends at a luxury retreat. Average Get Lost trips cost around $15,000 per person—but there are shorter, less expensive options, too.

Rustic Pathways

Designed for high school students looking for an exciting summer group trip, student-travel company Rustic Pathways offers a mystery trip to an unknown international destination. Before departure you’ll get a Patagonia duffel bag sent to you that’s filled with clues and a few essentials. Then arrive at the designated airport and spend the next two weeks exploring foreign cities and remote villages with other intrepid students as a guide leads the way. As of press time, there were still a few spots left on an upcoming trip in late June. It costs $5,995, not including airfare.

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Desperate to travel anywhere? Mystery trips will make it happen

May 12, 2021 • 5 min read

Ready for a surprise? © Hello World/Getty Images

Mystery trips - where you pay an agency to organize your vacation and don’t find out the destination until the last minute - have been a niche section of the travel industry for a number of years. With travel gradually returning to some countries, they’re betting on people wanting to shake up their routine and embrace spontaneity after many months of staying at home.

Lonely Planet reader Markus Wittich from Germany is a very frequent traveler, racking up 18 trips in 2019 alone. After more than a year of staying at home, the idea of holiday where he doesn't know the destination is extra-appealing to him right now.

“That Groundhog Day feeling is real! We've been stuck at home for over a year and it feels like every day has been kind of the same. Since there haven't been many - or any - pleasant surprises throughout the pandemic, a surprise trip could be a fun idea to visit places that haven't been on your radar before.”

For river cruise company Uniworld, that bet is already paying off. A 10-day Mystery River Cruise in June quickly sold out and a September voyage is on the horizon. CEO Ellen Bettridge confirmed to Lonely Planet the original idea actually came from their customers.

“Our guests communicated that they’re willing to travel anywhere to get back out there and explore the world again as vaccines began rolling out and the light at the end of the tunnel finally neared. We created the Mystery Cruise with that sentiment in mind, to spoil our guests and provide them with a surprise trip of a lifetime with all details and decisions taken care of.”

But after so long being careful, are travelers ready to hand over the reins to someone else, especially when safety is still such a top priority? A quick poll of Lonely Planet readers revealed a mixed bag; 21% said they would be more likely to take a mystery trip now but 27% of people said they would be less likely, expressing concerns of safety or the possibility of being exposed to COVID variants despite being vaccinated. But others were tempted by the novelty. Rachel Van Raan-Welch, a reader from New York City is torn.

“I LOVE the idea of a mystery trip, and especially after being more or less on lockdown for the past year, I'm totally up for traveling anywhere right now. But that's in a hypothetical world in which COVID suddenly totally disappeared. In reality, it's hard to know when ‘after the pandemic’ may be. I wouldn't be comfortable taking a trip without knowing where I'm going or what I'm doing, and I think I'll probably feel that way for a long time.”

Safety and reassurance are priorities of any travel company right now and established surprise travel agencies have been quietly changing up their offerings. Netherlands-based Srprs.me expanded their themed vacation packages to include self-guided road trips in 2020. As travel slowly returns to Europe, spokesperson Anneke told Lonely Planet that road trips remain the top choice for their customers.

“We only send our travelers to safe destinations, so there's no need to stay updated on the travel advice to decide where to go; we do that for them. I think that people definitely still have an appetite for the mystery [and] spontaneous element, but under the current circumstances they prefer the more 'safer mysteries', such as our road trips closer to home.”

Of course, there’s another big reason why many seasoned travelers want to try out a mystery trip and it has nothing to do with the pandemic. “I sometimes plan out my trips too much by researching all the restaurants, museums and sights that I absolutely want to visit,” Markus says. “This can sometimes eliminate the opportunity to being spontaneous. Not knowing the destination before you arrive at the airport forces you to keep an open mind and to go with the flow.”

“Please sign me up!” he adds.

5 mystery trips you can book right now

Pack up + go.

A surprise travel agency specializing in domestic US vacation packages. After a personalized survey, they’ll send you to a mid-size US city with a list of curated recommendations. Since COVID, they also have a Staycation option to explore closer to home. 

Guess Where Trips

Embracing the hyper-local, this Canadian company specializes in creating itineraries around Ontario. They are all self-guided which means it’s a great budget option when you really want someone else to do all the planning for you. They are expanding their offerings to trips starting from Vancouver soon. 

Uniworld Mystery River Cruise

A 10-day river cruising experience, the first voyage in June this year has already sold out and a second date added in September due to popular demand. Everything is included in the price and you’ll be sent a detailed recommended packing list beforehand, One thing you’ll need for definite is your passport. 

With departure airports in Europe, this company specializes in city breaks and has a few different themes that you can choose from or you can specifically request them to send you somewhere new. Self-guided road trip itineraries are also available from the UK, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands. 

Departing from the UK, Spain, Germany and more, this is a straightforward surprise platform where they will set you up with a flight and a hotel. There is no option to customise with your interests though you can veto a few places during your booking process. 

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Serve up Surprises with Mystery Tours

The best motorcoach tours serve up at least a few surprises along the way. after all, the wonderment that comes with exploring new places is why most americans leave home in the first place. it’s also why mystery tours have become such a hot group travel trend nationally..

Mystery tours, which whisk participants away to destinations unknown, up the adventure quotient while still allowing for the relaxation that comes with letting someone else take the wheel. They also specialize in visiting lesser-known locales that travelers may not have heard much about but will quickly fall for once they arrive.

Looking to take a group on a magical mystery tour but not sure where to head? Here are five can’t-miss ideas your travelers are sure to relish.

Coastal Mississippi

While many group travelers may not even realize that Mississippi has a shoreline, it actually stretches 62 beautiful miles, between the state’s borders with Alabama and Louisiana.

“It really is such a surprise,” said Anna Roy, public/media relations manager at Coastal Mississippi, the area’s convention and visitors bureau. “That’s the reason we rebranded a couple years ago to The Secret Coast. If you haven’t been, you just don’t know there’s so much here! It’s a place that’s poised to surprise and delight visitors.”

Though Coastal Mississippi is filled with everything from charming cities to endearing small towns, leaders might want to zero in on Biloxi, which offers a wide range of attractions, restaurants and hotels ideal for groups. Best bets for accommodations include the posh Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, which dishes out not only gaming but also great shopping, live entertainment and more. Meanwhile, the sleek and stylish Hotel Legends features 132 all-suite rooms. For superior gulf seafood prepared by a James Beard nominee, White Pillars Restaurant and Lounge, with plenty of private dining space, is always a hit.

In between sleeping and eating, groups can enjoy an educational shrimping excursion or charter a sail aboard a Biloxi Schooner through the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum. The institution will also arrange a private seafood boil on its grounds for groups.

Roy suggests leaders arrange a stop at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum. Designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry, it features the work of the famed “Mad Potter of Biloxi,” George Ohr.

“They offer group tours and they also have a studio, so they may also be able to do a group ceramics class,” Roy said.

coastalmississippi.com

Gallup, New Mexico

With an indigenous population that’s responsible for about 80 percent of the world’s Native American-made jewelry, Gallup, New Mexico, is a haven for group visitors that love to shop. But that’s not all that makes this city located midway between Albuquerque and Flagstaff special, according to Jennifer Lazarz, tourism and marketing manager, Visit Gallup.

“Groups get off the highway, see the beautiful red rocks, and they’re also traveling down historic Route 66,” Lazarz said. “The neon signs are still up, so there’s this Western Americana feel that meets this incredible blossom of Native American art that people just don’t expect.”

Among the timeless Route 66 properties Gallup boasts is the El Rancho Hotel, which was built in 1934 and still retains its classic charm. Groups can stay there overnight or visit for lunch and a tour of fun curios like John Wayne’s hat. Richardson’s Trading Post, also founded in the 1930s, not only features a massive retail shop and museum but also offers special group tours of it, including the Navajo rug collection.

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Lazarz recommends leaders plan their Gallup trip during the first weekend in December, when the Red Rock Balloon Rally takes over the area. Groups can actually crew for the balloons and might even get a chance to hop aboard one. The cost? Just five dollars per bus.

Tour participants will also love the experiential learning available at the Gallup Cultural Center, where tribes including the Navajo and Zuni “work exclusively with groups to offer Native artist demonstrations, lectures, storytellers and musicians, and more,” said Lazarz. “It’s really nice — they’ll customize an event that’s anywhere from an hour to four hours long.”

visitgallup.com

Columbus, Ohio

Most people don’t know it, but Columbus is not only the largest and fastest-growing burg in Ohio, but the 14th-most populous city in the United States. Despite its size, Columbus doesn’t really have a recognizable brand, although once group visitors arrive, they will find a wealth of diverse attractions for every taste and interest. As a result, Columbus makes for an especially great mystery destination, noted Roger Dudley, senior director of community and customer engagement for Experience Columbus. “We find many mystery tours come through Columbus,” he said.

Groups may want to begin their visits with a Columbus City Adventures tour, which can include a step-on guide and stops at popular sights like Topiary Park, with an array of larger-than-life topiaries, and German Village, featuring 200 acres of homes and businesses listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among the other historic sites in Columbus are the Ohio Statehouse, providing free guided tours for groups, and Kelton House Museum and Garden. Tours there are led by a costumed guide who surprises visitors by pulling them into a secret space once used to hide enslaved peoples.

“The house was a documented stop on the Underground Railroad,” said Dudley, “and the Keltons were big abolitionists. So it adds an element to the tour that’s unexpected.”

Leaders should also make time for their groups to explore two of Columbus’ most beloved attractions: the National Veterans Memorial and Museum and the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Opened in 2018, the former is the nation’s only museum to honor veterans from all branches of service, while the latter features not just pretty plantings but also the world’s largest collection of Dale Chihuly’s glass inside of a botanical garden.

experiencecolumbus.com

Aiken, South Carolina

Blessed with a walkable downtown lined with independent shops and restaurants, Aiken, South Carolina, is one of those small Southern cities that specialize in welcoming visitors with a hospitality not often encountered elsewhere. But though its population is only about 30,000, Aiken — which sits off Interstate 20 between Columbia, South Carolina, and Augusta, Georgia — serves up a smorgasbord of attractions and activities that are great for groups.

Groups of 28 or less may want to take a two-hour, guided trolley tour through the city, or leaders can arrange for a step-on guide. Stops include Hopelands Gardens, which ranges over 14 magnificent acres that formerly comprised a historic estate, and the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, tucked inside what was once the estate’s stables.

“Aiken is well known for horses, particularly Thoroughbred racing, and so we’ve got all kinds of racing silks and trophies in the museum,” said Mary Rosbach, tourism supervisor, for the city of Aiken. “Aiken also holds several major equestrian events throughout the year. I would recommend groups attend the fall steeplechase, because the spring event gets very crowded.”

Other city highlights include the Aiken County Historical Museum, offering guided tours, and the DuPont Planetarium, which can be booked for a private show. For groups looking to fuel up after all this fun, Rosbach recommends the 1950s soda shop-themed Betsy’s Round the Corner, as well as the more upscale Malia’s Restaurant, specializing in seasonal, locally procured ingredients. Both The Wilcox and Carriage House Inn provide not only luxurious stays but also a look at Aiken’s fascinating past, when it was the “Winter Colony” of wealthy Gilded Age northerners.

visitaikensc.com

Mystic, Connecticut

Perhaps still best-known as the setting for “Mystic Pizza,” the romantic dramedy that made Julia Roberts a star, Mystic, Connecticut, is far more than the location of that admittedly adorable movie. Depicted in the film as more sleepy than bustling, this seaport village of less than 5,000 actually boasts “a lot packed into a small area,” said Bruce Flax, president of the Mystic Chamber of Commerce. “There’s the aquarium, the seaport, the charm of downtown, and the Mystic Bascule Bridge, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with different celebrations. There’s a lot of history here.”

Founded in 1654 and once a significant center for shipbuilding, Mystic is now home to two of Connecticut’s most popular attractions, the Mystic Aquarium and the Mystic Seaport Museum.

“At the aquarium there are beluga whales, which are spectacular, and then they have penguins and a seal show daily,” Flax said. “With some calling by the group leaders, the possibility exists for behind-the-scenes tours. At the museum there are tours groups can take, there is the re-created 19th-century maritime village, and the shipyard, where they repair ships. And then there are special exhibits that change out like any museum.”

Speaking of sailing, the gorgeous 81-foot schooner Argea is available for private charters out of Mystic, while shoppers will want to stroll Olde Mistick Village, a re-created 1700s-style Colonial village with dozens of shops and restaurants. Now recognized widely as a sublime destination for foodies, Mystic also offers eateries like S&P Oyster Restaurant and Bar and Red 36 that not only dish out superior seafood and other goodies but also include private dining for groups.

thisismystic.com

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Mystery Trips: Going No One Knows Where

Mystery Trips: All the Fun, None of the Hard Work, No Idea Where You’re Going

By Samantha Butts

Oftentimes planning a trip is the most grueling part. You have to research places to stay, eat, and visit.

This part isn’t always bad, but sometimes it would be nice to not have to worry about all the details of your trip. Planning a vacation has become a long and often difficult process to do alone.

Travel agencies and tour companies are great for organizing trips with ease. However, there is a more exciting option that requires almost no planning on your part: mystery trips.

Mystery trips are not only planned for you, but they also create a sort of suspense for the traveler. For the journey to their location, the traveler never knows where they are going.

New England Coach Mystery Trips

New England Coach offers a variety of tours that suit your needs. They offer retail tours which are open to the public and private pre-formed tours for groups. The tours can be one-day trips or multi-day trips .

One tour, in particular, stands out against the rest. New England Coach’s mystery trips are its fastest and most popular tours according to Belinda Grace-Leonard, Vice President and co-owner of the company.

“Honestly, it’s something that would never sell on a piece of paper,” said Grace-Leonard. “It’s something that people have never heard about or have never done.”

The mystery trips give New England Coach the opportunity to give people an experience that they wouldn’t normally know about. The company wants to give people unique experiences that they may not sign up for on their own.

Keeping it a Secret

“It’s all about the surprise,” said Grace-Leonard. “We don’t tell them anything about the tour until we’re on tour.”

If you’re concerned about what to pack, don’t be. For the mystery trips, New England Coach makes sure to send you a packet of information that does not reveal too much about the tour. The packet informs you of what the temperatures are going to be and gives slight clothing suggestions.

The tour company may give some clues and hints, but only once on the road, and you are never going to know more than one stop ahead. Some people attempt to trick information out of the tour leaders, but they never give in.

What is included?

What you pay, which varies for each trip, includes a few amenities.

Your transportation is always included. Along with breakfast and oftentimes lunch and dinner. All attractions and hotels are included. Tour managers and sometimes guides are also included in the upfront cost.

What to expect on a Mystery Trip?

Everything with New England Coach revolves around group travel, so you can always expect to be with other travelers excited to discover something new. The tour managers work to get everyone involved and make sure everyone is enjoying their trip.

Grace-Leonard, who both plans and creates the itineraries for the mystery trips, tries to stay away from heights or anything that might cause motion sickness.

This means that she usually steers clear from boats. She doesn’t want to have to give anything away to travelers, so tries not to book tours that would require special warnings.

With its trips, New England Coach’s goal “is putting together a great product and seeing the enjoyment that it brings to other people’s lives,” said Grace-Leonard.

Learning en Route

When going on mystery trips with New England Coach, you are sure to learn something new from your travels, whether it’s a fact from a museum you stopped at or something you learned from a local.

In the past, the mystery trips have taken travelers to a wolf sanctuary in Eastern Massachusetts, the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma, alpaca farms in Amish country, and so many more fun and exciting places that take you off the beaten road.

For Grace-Leonard, one of her favorite places she has ever taken a group was Custer State Park in South Dakota .

During the day, the tour group rented jeeps which they rode through the range allowing them to see the regrowing Bison population up-close.

Afterward, they retreated to a ranch in the park and got on a hay wagon along with a singing cowboy who serenaded them through the park. It was an experience you would not find anywhere else.

“The next tour is always my favorite tour,” said Grace-Leonard. “I truly never get tired of taking people to new places, even if I’ve been there multiple times.”

Christian Tours

Christian Tours is a tour company that offers trips from one day to twenty-four days. The company offers international tours, cruises, and motorcoach tours.

All of the motorcoach tours depart from North or South Carolina, where the touring company is based.

Like New England Coach, Christian Tours offers mystery trips.

Grand Reunion Mystery Tour

Christian Tours has been offering the Grand Reunion Mystery Tour since the late 80s. The trips occur in November and usually last six to eight days.

“We try to keep it different and unique and not the same as our normal catalog tours or normal offerings,” said Heather Paul the customer service and personnel director for Christian Tours.

Paul said they try to have fun with their travelers on these trips, even the coach drivers get in on the fun. They might take a wrong turn somewhere or wait till the last moment to switch lanes to make the journey more exciting for the travelers.

In advance of the trip, Christian Tours gives their customers clothing suggestions and tells them the average temperature but that is all.

What is included and what to expect

“We normally feed them really well,” said Paul. Travel is often known for feeding people, Christian Tours’ mystery trip includes two meals a day that you would not want to miss.

The tour company’s annual trip also includes attractions, luggage handling, and the services of the driver and tour director.

During the mystery trip, you can expect to be up and out by 8 a.m. and usually done for the day around 6 p.m. with dinner following shortly after. Some nights there may be evening entertainment.

Christian Tours is family-friendly and aims to make people feel safe, but the company also wants people to experience something new that they cannot get from the usual catalog.

During last year’s reunion tour, Paul recounts that they did the Grafton Skytour , which took them on a gondola ride up to the top of a small mountain. They were able to have a unique dinner on top of the mountain at Aerie’s Resort in Grafton, Illinois .

Mystery trips are a new and exciting way to travel. They offer the best of traveling and exploring without the hassle of having to plan the trip yourself.

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National Holidays Coach Trips 2024 & Late Deals 

National Holidays 2024 – Offer a huge range of affordable holidays and short breaks around the UK and in Europe by coach. National Holidays are travel experts and one of the largest coach operators in the United Kingdom providing a good choice of coach package holidays for thousands of customers each year. 

Enjoy a traditiona l British seaside holiday , a scenic countryside holiday or a coach and holiday park stay. National Holidays popular British Mystery Breaks offer fantastic value and excitement as the driver reveals your destination as you set off. You can makes your National Holiday booking easily online 

National holidays will usually offer coach holidays for any special events so look out for these when a new show, music, major sports event or museum exhibition is announced. If there is a major new special event it will be clearly displayed on the National Holidays website. 

Mystery Coach Trips with National Holidays

Enjoy one of the many mystery coach trips with National Holidays. You pick your departure date and the duration. National Holidays will put together your Mystery Special Superdeal. These holiday deals are great fun, great value and very popular!

Part of the fun of these trips is when the driver reveals where you are heading for your Mystery Break. 

Included in the price is your return coach travel, your mystery 2 or 3 star hotel with dinner and breakfast. You will also have some free time in your mystery location and 2 free mystery excursions. 

Enjoy a break of up to 5 days plus there are Mystery Weekend Specials as well > more

National Holidays Classic Coach Holidays

Classic Coach Holidays from National Holidays offer a range of coach holidays that showcase the best of Britain and Ireland. With holidays in sleepy seaside towns around the coast to historical sites, amazing scenery of the countryside and the unique islands around the coast.

Discover coves and sandy beaches or harbours with fishing boats returning with their catch of the day. Traditional seaside resorts with Victorian piers and promenades ideal for a stroll along. Experience the unique atmosphere and sights each destination offers.

Heading inland there is a different type of scenery to discover. Discover the hills, countryside, mountains with castles, battlefields, standing stones and other ancient sites. Immerse yourself in the history of each unique location and see where it all happened.

National Holidays Classic coach trips excursions include many famous sites and areas of scenic beauty. Depending on your destination, these may also include heritage railway trips or cruises on a loch or waterway.

These Classic holidays offer holidaymakers a great way to see the best locations and destination without having to spend a fortune. Each Classic holiday includes return coach travel, selected meals, carefully planned itineraries and hand-picked accommodation.

Discover the Classic range of tours with National Holidays and discover a great way to holiday!

National Holidays UK Coach Holidays

As you would expect National Holidays UK coach holidays and tours are quite extensive covering all parts of Great Britain & Ireland. 

So expect to see coach holidays to traditional British seaside resorts like Blackpool, Great Yarmouth, Skegness, Brighton, Bournemouth and many more.  City breaks by coach to Edinburgh, London, Dublin, York, Oxford are just a few of the city break options.

Countryside and Heritage breaks offer holidaymakers views of some of the best scenic countryside in Britain. Travel to the Isle of Skye, visit the Lake District or immerse yourself in the beauty of Snowdonia or a Cotswold village. Make sure you remember your camera!  

National Coach Holiday Destinations in England

This is a list of some of the towns and cities in England that National Holidays feature Bath, Birmingham, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Brighton, Chester, Durham, Eastbourne, Folkestone, Great Yarmouth, Harrogate, Isle of Wight, Lake District, Leeds, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Newcastle, Newquay, Oxford, Scarborough, Skegness, Southport, Stratford Upon Avon, The Cotswolds, Torquay, Weston super Mare, Weymouth, Whitby, York, Yorkshire Dales

National Holidays to London

National Holidays to London will let you enjoy a few days in London and do some sightseeing, shopping or take in a show. Perhaps you are looking to go to a particular event such as the Chelsea Flower Show or Hampton Court Flower Show or a visit to the popular BBC Gardeners’ World. Perhaps a show at the Royal Albert Hall, a ride on the London Eye, visit to the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace or a Thames river cruise. 

Pick your departure point, date of travel and standard of hotel and your return coach travel is included. 

Theatre Breaks in London by Coach

Enjoy a show in London's West End theatre district. There are lots of shows to pick from with return coach travel, overnight stay in a 3 or 4 star hotel (you choose) Grand Circle ticket (evening performance) and free time in London for shopping or sightseeing.  Pick from show such as Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables, Phantom of The Opera, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and many more. Not forgetting the family favourites Mary Poppins, Frozen and Cinderella > more

National 2024 Coach Holidays

National coach holidays in scotland.

National coach holidays to Scotland include Edinburgh, Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Oban, the Highlands. See the Cairngorm mountains, Glencoe, Ben Nevis, pine forests deep dark lochs and so much more. There is miles of coastline and islands with wildlife such as dolphins and whales on view. Inland you may even spot an eagle or one of the many deer. Keep a look out for the Loch Ness monster as well. Coach breaks to Edinburgh are very popular during the Edinburgh Tattoo and Festival in August. Think of a backdrop of the castle lit up with the sounds of the pipes. These shows generally sell out but if you book one of the Edinburgh Tattoo National Holidays deals you get entrance tickets, hotel accommodation and coach travel throughout your holiday. 

National Coach Holidays in Wales

The National coach holidays to Wales is to Llandudno, Wales's largest resort.  A traditional seaside resort with it's promenade, tramway to the top of the Great Orme and the longest pier in Wales. Plus Llandudno is a great place to explore North Wales and the historic town of Caernarfon and it's castle. Plus the fantastic scenery surrounding Snowdonia. 

Holidays to Europe by Coach

National Holidays to Europe by coach includes destinations in Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Austria and Poland.  There are city breaks, mini cruises, lakes and mountains holidays, Christmas Markets and the popular bulb fields in Holland.

A National Holidays European holiday it a great way to tick off a few European locations from your travel bucket list > more

Italy Holidays by Coach – Lakes & Mountains

Italy holidays by coach to the Italian lakes and mountains areas like Lake Garda are very popular. National Holidays offer all inclusive coach holidays in Italy plus the chance to visit other destinations during your stay. On these amazing holidays you can combine a stay in Lake Garda with trips to Venice, Pisa, Florence, Portofino & Santa Margherita. 

There are other Lakes and Mountains holidays out with Italy to choose from taking in Lake Constance & Munich > more

Disneyland® – Coach Trips Disney Paris.

Sit back and relax with the rest of your family as you head off to Paris and a visit to Disneyland Paris. These awesome holidays to France includes your return coach travel, ferry crossing, accommodation, Disneyland® admission tickets and coach transfers. You can usually pick from double, triple, twin and family rooms > more

Coach Trips to Dutch Bulb Fields

A very popular coach holiday option with a visit to the largest flower garden in the world. Keukenhof Gardens is set in 32 hectares of beautiful parkland with millions of daffodils, hyacinths, tulips and other flowering bulbs on display. > more

Holidays by Coach to Spain

Holidays by coach to Spain are a great option for anyone who does not like flying. Also for holidaymakers who enjoy watching the scenery and enjoying the “road trip” Typically a holiday by coach to Spain feature holiday destinations in the north eastern part of mainland Spain.

You will resorts in the Costa Brava and the Costa Dorada. Some holidays also include a break in the journey in France with the rest of the trip in Spain. Pick from a 3 or a 4 star hotel.

Regardless of your choice of resort you will generally be able to add extra excursions to nearby towns and villages. Plus a day trip to Barcelona with a wander along the Ramblas, Gaudi’s incredible cathedral and the Sagrada Familia.

Coach Holidays to Spain include return coach travel and ferry crossings, accommodation half board or all inclusive in your resort hotel, hotel entertainment some evenings plus some included excursions. There may be some optional extra excursions if you want to explore more > more

Coach Trips Christmas Markets

Get in the mood for the festive season. Combine a coach holiday, shopping trip and get unique gifts for friends and family. Wander through all the stalls filled with gifts and amazing food and drink. Christmas market breaks are available in great locations such as Bruge, Moselle, Ostend, Paris and more. Your National Holiday Christmas market break includes your hotel stay plus transport to and from the markets. So you can concentrate on enjoying the food and drink, shopping and the overall holiday experience > more

Family Coach Holidays in UK

For families there are theme park breaks to Alton Towers, Peppa Pig World, Legoland Windsor, Cadbury World, Harry Potter Studio Tour and more. Don't forget to check out the Coach holidays to Disneyland ® Paris. > more

Coach Trips Alton Towers

Enjoy a family break with one of the National Holidays coach trips to Alton Towers including CBeebies Land. Pick your departure point and departure date and get your return coach travel, overnight stay at a 3 star hotel plus admission to Alton Towers on both days.

A coach break like this is perfect for the shorter school holidays for families to spend a fun time together. There are twin, triple and family rooms on offer.

C hristmas Holidays by Coach

A great way to relax at Christmas and avoid the cooking, washing up and annoying relatives is to escape! National Holidays offer Christmas breaks over Christmas, New Year and in between. Why not travel with some friends or family?

There are lots of great destinations to pick from for your festive celebrations. In Scotland you could opt for a stay in Edinburgh or the traditional charm of York or Chester. How about a seaside celebration in Blackpool, Brighton or Torquay. National Holidays have festive breaks and all over the United Kingdom so the hardest part could be deciding where to go! 

Expect to be looked after with a traditional festive meal and entertainment and perhaps some excursions during your stay. Each break is different so have a look and see what is includes > more  

Turkey and Tinsel Breaks by Coach

Get in the mood for the festive period with a Turkey & Tinsel break. These breaks are a fantastic option to get some Christmas shopping at different shops or a Christmas market. Plus you get to enjoy a short break with breakfast and evening meals and excursions. 

Polar Express Breaks by Coach

The Polar Express train journey is an amazing break for families before Christmas. National Holidays offer 2 days away in York with a trip on the the Polar Express Wensleydale Railway. Listen to the Polar Express story, sing carols and look out for Santa Claus. Each child receives a gift with this unique festive experience. Your rail trip also comes with hot chocolate and cookies on the train. You can also upgrade your seat for a small extra charge > more

Game of Thrones Tours of Northern Ireland

If you enjoyed the show like millions of people around the world then this National Holidays trip is for you. Not only do you get admission to the Game of Thrones studio tour you also visit the filming locations.

This special trip includes 3 nights accommodation in Belfast with breakfast and evening meal and a trip to the Giant's Causeway and also offers free time for you to explore Belfast.

Sporting Break by Coach

Have you ever thought about going to see one of your favourite sport events live rather than on the television? National holidays can let you do just that! You can enjoy a great value short break with return travel, accommodation and a guaranteed ticket with transfers to and from the event. All you have to do is just enjoy the event. 

Sporting breaks include the British F1 Grand Prix, Monaco F1 Grand Prix, darts, cricket. rugby, football and horse racing. The horse racing breaks by coach include the big events at Aintree, Ascot, Cheltenham, Ayr, Epsom, Haydock, York and more.

National Holidays Pick Up Points

Coach departures from the north east.

Billingham / Darlington / Gateshead / Hartlepool / Middlesbrough / Newcastle / / South Shields / Stockton / Sunderland / Wallsend / Whitley Bay 

Coach Departures from The North West

Altrincham / Ashton Under Lyne / Blackburn / Blackpool / Bolton / Cleveleys / Manchester / Oldham / Preston / Stockport / Birkenhead / Liverpool / St Helens / Warrington .

Coach Departures from Yorkshire

Anlaby / Barnsley / Beverley / Bradford / Bridlington / Castleford / Cottingham / Dewsbury / Elloughton / Filey / Goole / Halifax / Hessle / Huddersfield / Hull / Leeds / Rotherham / Scarborough / Wakefield / Sheffield .

Coach Departures from The Midlands

Fosse Park / Leicester / Loughborough / Northampton / Acocks Green / Birmingham / Chesterfield / Dudley / Mansfield / Milton Keynes / Solihull / Sutton-in-Ashfield / Walsall / Wolverhampton .

Booking A National Holiday

For your peace of mind you will find details the financial security provided with your booking with National Holidays on their website (click here) Plus a comprehensive list and choice of coach holiday deals with online booking. 

If you have any special requests you can enter these during the booking process. If you have a specific requirement for medical reasons it is best to phone and speak to a member of the friendly customer service team.

By simply calling the helpline before booking to make sure any requirement you may have can be accommodated will make sure there are no problems when you travel or get to your chosen hotel.

National Holidays Coach Seat Numbers

When making your National Holidays booking online you will be able to select specific seat numbers on the coach. You can guarantee the front seat on your coach trip by paying a small supplement. There are also seats designated for disabled passengers to select. 

National Holidays North East Pick Up Points

Billingham, Chester-le-Street, Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Heworth, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, North Shields, Peterlee, South Shields, Stockton, Sunderland, Thornaby, Wallsend, Washington, Whitley Bay

National Holidays North West Pick Up Points

Altrincham, Ashton Under Lyne, Birkenhead, Blackburn, Blackpool, Bolton, Cleveleys, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Preston, Rochdale, St Helens, Stockport, Warrington, Wigan.

National Holidays Yorkshire Pick Up Points

Anlaby, Barnsley, Beverley, Bradford, Bridlington, Castleford, Chesterfield, Cottingham, Dewsbury, Doncaster, Elloughton, Filey, Goole, Halifax, Hessle, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds, Mansfield, Rotherham, Scarborough, Sheffield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Wakefield, York

National Holidays Midlands Pick Up Points

Acocks Green, Birmingham, Derby, Dudley, Fosse Park, Leicester, Loughborough, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Nottingham, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton

Be Travel Aware

When travelling abroad make sure you know the latest travel rules and regulations. You can do this easily on the British Government website – https://.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice You can get free advice on travelling abroad and the latest news on safety, health, security and entry requirements.

• 8 Meals: 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners
• Free home or local pickup and return
• Travel to exciting locales featuring unique entertainment, delicious dining experiences and surprising twists and turns

BLIND  EXPERIENCES

Mystery Vacation

Mystery vacation: spice up your next holiday.

A mystery vacation is a trip you don’t know anything about. No clue about the destination, activities or even accommodation. You only know that you’re leaving and that it’s going to be epic. Everything else it’s happening little by little, and you’re discovering it along the way.

Wish you could just jump on a mystery vacation straight away? Well, you can start creating your dream surprise vacation right now!

In case you’re not convinced yet, we will make you change your mind by digging deeper into this exciting new travel trend!

When to go on a mystery vacation

First of all, let us tell you that there’s always a good reason to embark on this kind of journey. Mystery vacations are definitely extraordinary, though, so we believe they perfectly fit equally special life milestones. Such as:

Blind Legacy: an adult-child bonding experience (NEW)

Time flies, and before you know it, toddlers become teenagers! As life progresses, you change and so do children. A surprise trip would be the perfect way to break the ice and bridge all the communication gap – whilst having a lot of fun! A Blind Legacy Experience will be a tool for you to reset, reconnect, and rejuvenate. Is going to bless you with special moments and memories that you two can cherish for a lifetime!

…Because as we say, in the end, the only thing that will matter is the legacy you leave to the ones you love!

Your honeymoon

Why set off for a traditional trip, when you can have a  surprise honeymoon ? It’s the best way to kick-start your marriage! You won’t have to worry about anything before or after the wedding: your only duty will be to enjoy the romantic yet thrilling time you get to spend together with your brand new spouse.

A family vacation

Whether you’re looking for an  unforgettable Christmas present  or you want to celebrate your children’s birthdays in a different way, a mystery vacation will leave all of you speechless. Countless adventures will be waiting for you somewhere in the world – you just have to pack up and go get them!

A multigenerational travel

In the few last years,  multigenerational vacations  have been one of hottest trends for families. They consists on trips that involve 3 (or more!) generations that decide to venture out together, usually in order to celebrate a family milestone – grandpa and grandma’s wedding anniversary, for example. Can you imagine how memorable it would be for them to go on a mystery holiday with you, your partner and their grandchildren?

Why choose the unknown

Vacations are good times by definition, but we can tell you that mystery ones are more than “average good”: they are absolutely amazing. If you’re wondering why, here are the main reasons:

you can skip the planning, which takes time and energies: someone else ( Blind Experiences , perhaps?) will do everything for you;

it’s tailor made, which means that it will include what you love the most and make your travel dreams come true;

it’s exciting from the first to the very last day: there’s no time for boredom or melancholy, when every experience is a surprise;

it will turn your vacation into a huge treasure hunt, whose most precious prize is your happiness;

you will live the journey at the fullest and keep a never ending memory of it, shared with the ones you love the most.

Isn’t this enough to make you want to leave as soon as possible for your very first mystery vacation? We can’t wait to get to know you through our questionnaire, so that we can start planning the most incredible adventure of your life!

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National Holidays   Reviews

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The trip was not in reality matching but a good trip…

The trip was not in reality matching the title of the trip. In total 2 hours on a train. The coach driver had good driving skills, although he could have communicated more, a lot of time on the coach travelling between hotel and excursions. Good sites but not a lot of time at places. Coach was clean. The hotel was clean and comfy, friendly, helpful staff. We should have had clear communication about closing times of hotel restaurant. We should have had clear written communication that the trip would end early on Tuesday, the trip is advertised as Friday to Monday.

Date of experience : April 12, 2024

National Holidays are a disgrace to the travel industry. CEO sort this out

I have received no response from National Holidays. The only tine they seem to act is when they see this page. The response means nothing as I still have heard nothing about my complaint. National Holidays shame on you. You have all of my details and e-mails from all of the previous trips I have taken with you. Never, ever will I travel with your company. Monica I have heard nothing. I am presuming you are still disinterested in Customer satisfaction. Unfortunately there is no nil star rating

Date of experience : September 18, 2023

Reply from National Holidays

Dear Ms Dumont, Thank you for contacting us. I am sorry to read that you have not received a response for your complaint. I can confirm that an email response to your complaint was sent 04/10/23 and then again 05/02/24. I will re send it again for you today. Please, if you do not receive it again today, do let us know so that we can arrange an alternative way of delivering our response to you. Yours sincerely, Abbie

Booking holiday

The service of the first person I spoke to on the phone was very unprofessional and she sounded bored. She was the same when I rang up a second time. She told me my original choice holiday was unavailable on the dates I wanted and from chosen pick up point. However when I rang up a third time, the gentleman on the phone was very polite, helpful and courteous. I enquired about original holiday and to my amazement, not only was it available but also it was available from my chosen pick up point. So this gentleman booked it for me but couldn't understand why his colleague had given false information. Please look I to this to avoid it happening to someone else.

Dear Mr Ahmed, Thank you for letting us know of your experience. I am really sorry to read your comments. I cannot see who you spoke to based on your booking as your booking was made by one of the female team members and I cannot see reference to a male having made the booking. I have noted your comments though and will pass them to Sales Manager to feedback to the team. Thank you for letting us know and again, I apologize for the level of service you initially received. Kind regards, Monica

On are last visit to Torquay

On are last visit to Torquay, Staying at the Rivera,disappointed with are room,but told we could upgrade for a better room or a superb room costing either £5pppn or superb room at £10pppn, we should have been tod about this when booking.Are room dull curtains hanging of and wall marked where there must have been a leak,radiator must have had an air lock so banging every morning at 7.30.People book these holidays because they are on a budget so expecting a good room,not having to pay extra.

Date of experience : April 08, 2024

Dear Mrs Thomson Thank you for leaving a review about your recent holiday. I am sorry to read your comments about your room and have passed these to our Customer Contact team who will be in touch with you soon. Kind regards, Clare

The lady I spoke to was very helpful…

The lady I spoke to was very helpful and informative.She even sold me a holiday that I wasnt aware of because I wanted two single rooms .

Date of experience : April 18, 2024

Good to hear that you had great service when booking and thank you for taking the time to leave your review. Wishing you a wonderful trip. Kind regards, Carolyne

Spectacular place to visit …

Visiting Windsor on our way down was amazing. We were mot expecting to visit anywhere on the way to our hotel. Highclere Castle was fantastic. An amazing place to visit. The staff were very informative. The house was the best kept I have ever seen, very well preserved and looked after. Countess Caernarvon was very friendly, approachable and very informative and knowledgeable about her ancestors and the role she plays in the upkeep of the Castle. The Egyptian exhibition was veriy interesting and worth the visit.

Date of experience : March 28, 2024

That's great to hear - thank you for taking the time to get in touch and leave your feedback! Best wishes, Abbie

Excellent weekend at Highclere Castle…

Excellent weekend at Highclere Castle made all the more enjoyable having driver Helen who couldn't do enough to assist us. Our hotel was excellent too.

Great feedback - thank you! Kind regards, Monica

I rang National holidays to book three…

I rang National holidays to book three holidays, my call was answered by Cathy, a very helpful and jolly lady. She took her time to make sure the correct holidays were booked, pick up area and dates. I got a confirmation through almost straight away with my receipt for the deposit paid. All very encouraging for a company that I have used several times before, and looking forward to the trips I have booked for this year.

Date of experience : April 11, 2024

Your representative was very helpful…

Your representative was very helpful and pleasant and this made the booking experience easy. The only problem for me was the music whilst I was holding despite being the first in the queue - it was loud from "Frozen". This, however, was of no fault of your lady who gave good service followed quickly by an email of confirmation

Thank you for taking the time to get in touch and leave your feedback! Best wishes, Abbie

Had a Bostin two days to downtown abbey…

Had a Bostin two days to downtown abbey coach on time great stop off at Oxford for the afternoon and the hotel was great coach driver Richard was a lovely man and couldn’t do enough for us fully recommend this company

Lovely feedback - thank you for taking the time to get in touch ! Kind regards, Monica

I join national Holidays company more…

I join national Holidays company more than five years every year at least twice thanks for the drivers and the service l love it xxx

Date of experience : April 15, 2024

Lovely feedback - thank you for taking the time to get in touch. Kind regards, Monica

My call was answered promptly and I was…

My call was answered promptly and I was able to book the trip that I wanted, the booking agent was helpful and efficient.

Waiting in the rain for pick up ,not…

Waiting in the rain for pick up ,not good Check in at hotel was terrible But everything else ok Would use this company more if there were 3star hotels instead of crappie 2star

Thank you for taking the time to get in touch - sorry to read that your experience was not as you expected on this occasion. We do offer a wide range of hotels and locations so please do visit our website www.nationalholidays.com for some ideas of where to travel to and hotels that we use. Kind regards, Monica

Lovely break away

Helen the driver was excellent. Felt really safe and she was lovely person. The hotel was lovely, clean and fresh. Dinner was OK and breakfast was really good. Downton Abbey was a really special and memorable experience. The only thing for this particular trip was we seemed to be on the coach for alot of the trip. We enjoyed it all the same and would definitely look to book another trip.

Thank you for taking the time to leave your review! Best wishes Monica

I was happy by the way I was told important things Ithat i needed to know and she was very pleasant on the phone.

Date of experience : April 04, 2024

It's really good to hear that you had great service when booking and thank you for taking the time to leave your review. Wishing you a wonderful trip. Kind regards, Carolyne

Very, very dissatisfied customer !!!

Coach journey terrible left at 7.05 in morning and arrived at 6.15 at night on an old outdated coach, no tables or chargers and very hard scruffy seats,,the worst ever. Rooms disgusting so forced to upgrade at £10pp,,,per night= £80 per couple. everyone offered upgrade on arrival, which means they knew half the rooms was well below standard..Reception staff blunt and no help at all. We had to drag our cases up and down stairwells and wander round till we found our rooms.I spoke to an elderly, disabled lady who had a room with damp on the walls, peeling wallpaper and terrible beds, she paid extra like us, but couldn’t manage the stairs ( no assistance was offered ) I’m not sure what the outcome was. Three coaches arrived together =156 passengers mostly elderly and disabled, causing absolute bedlam with only 2 on reception, no other staff in sight,,and instead of keeping us on coach to be dealt with in turn, we had to alight and join a queue outside in the pouring rain which ended up with pushing and shoving till booked in. Fire alarm went off twice late at night with no warning.The meals however were very good and the show room and entertainment was good too. I’ve holidayed a few times with National and always had nice up to date comfortable coaches and hotel rooms but sadly this was well below its advertised praise.. I would never recommend this hotel to anyone and as I am a pensioner myself I feel completely conned on the representation of this 4 day break and robbed of the extra I had to pay for a half decent room.. I think National should send out a rep and see for yourselves exactly what you are advertising.. So very disappointed.....

Date of experience : March 25, 2024

Thank you for getting in touch Diane. Really sorry to read your review which we will look into immediately. I can see that you haven't been in touch with us directly to raise this as a complaint so I will do that now and one of the Customer Contact team will be in touch. Thank you for letting us know and we will be in touch soon. Kind regards Monica

Great Customer Service

The Lady i spoke to was very helpful with my gift card and ensuring my discount codes were entered

Date of experience : April 17, 2024

The girl wasn’t very pleasant when I…

The girl wasn’t very pleasant when I booked up. I had two vouchers to help pay for the holiday and it sounded like it was a lot of trouble to her.

Date of experience : April 14, 2024

Thank you for taking the time to let us know. I am sorry that your experience was not as I would expect. I have passed your comments to the Sales Manager and will ask her to discuss it with the member of staff concerned. Kind regards, Monica

Pricing issue.

Having made my upset at original price charged on invoice I am pleased to say that National Travel dealt with this issue very quickly. Am now a very satisfied customer at this stage. Many thanks. J. Durkin

Dear Mrs Durkin Thank you for leaving your review - we will always look into any price discrepancies when brought to our attention and I can see that our Customer Services have been in touch already and apologised for the error on our system. Your booking has been corrected and you are indeed paying the advertised price. Kind regards, Clare

Great trip great hotel lovely food fantastic driver and the prole we met on our trip we’re so friendly on the coach

Date of experience : April 06, 2024

That's really good to hear, we're glad you had such a great time and look forward to seeing you again soon. Kind regards, Carolyne

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