26/04/24

Top 10 early-season best sellers

We've had a look at which of our coach holidays sold the best from January to April in 2024, to give you some insight into what is popular with our valued customers, and perhaps some inspiration for 2025...

1. Warner Hotels

The top spot has to go to Warner Leisure Hotels. A firm early-season favourite with our clients, and it is easy to see why - with comfortable bedrooms, leisure facilities, activities throughout the day, and cabaret entertainment every evening, the Warner group offers everything you need on-site for a winter getaway. Our annual Warner Mystery Break in January, which we can now reveal stayed at Nidd Hall in Harrogate, was so popular that we added a second date, and both were maxed out to capacity!

A big thank you to Margaret who said about her stay: “I had a really good time. Aaron was a very careful and competent driver. Nothing was too much trouble for him, he was very patient and helped everyone. We all had a few laughs and a very good time was had by all. Thoroughly recommend G-Line.”

Other top sellers were Alvaston Hall, Studley Castle, and Thoresby Hall, and these hotels can be viewed here. Keep your eyes peeled for our 2025 Warner dates, which will be published around July this year.

2. Rob Roy Scottish Winter Warmer

Our second most popular tour was to the Rob Roy Hotel in Stirling, offering a fabulous drinks package - a glass of wine with dinner each evening, and three drinks vouchers per person per day, plus entertainment on two evenings.

Wonderfully situated in the Trossachs National Park, in the village of Aberfoyle, this tour grants the opportunity to break up the year and sample some of Scotland's most quintessential sights and attractions, including the city of Stirling, the world-famous kelpies, a distillery tour, Cream Tea in a grand Scottish mansion and a loch cruise. The Rob Roy Hotel, where one of Scotland's most famous rogues "Rob Roy McGregor" once roamed, is loved for its friendly staff and excellent food.

3. Yorkshire Highlights, or Freedom of York

Third place goes to Yorkshire Highlights. This unique tour offers two prices, one with excursions and one without. The latter gives guests the option to spend their time freely, visit family and friends, shop the historic streets, or relax in our centrally located hotel.

Small and mighty – York is the medieval walled city that packs a punch. Its backdrop of medieval lanes, Snickelways, and even a shopping street that dates back to the Domesday Book, means this compact city is brimming with things to do and see. One of the most impressive visitor attractions is the 2,000-year-old Gothic Cathedral, with halls tall enough to fit the Leaning Tower of Pisa inside, or the pretty 13th-century timbered streets of The Shambles. Visitors can learn about York’s fascinating chocolate heritage at The Chocolate Story, or visit the National Railway Museum where the Flying Scotsman is on display until July 2024.

4. All-Inclusive Springtime at the Palace

Our fourth best-selling break was to the Inverness Palace, a 4* city centre hotel with river and castle views, stylish rooms, a pool, and a spa. The Palace’s ‘All Inclusive’ packages are second to none. Our clients received a welcome cocktail reception, wine with dinner each evening, a packed lunch each day, Afternoon Tea in the lounge each day, entertainment on two nights, a Free Bar between 19:00-22:00 every evening, and more. There are so many inclusions, that it is impossible to list them all!

The Palace also offers fabulous Turkey & Tinsel and New Year packages, which sell out quickly every year. These breaks can be viewed here.

5. Suffolk's Sunshine Coast & Constable Country

A new favourite that was great to see, was our 5-day holiday to Bury St. Edmunds. This tour offers the opportunity to learn about the life of famous landscape painter, John Constable. Set by the River Stour, Dedham is in the heart of Constable Country. It was here that Britain’s greatest landscape artist went to school. The attractive main street is lined with Georgian-fronted houses, old inns, and a large arts & crafts centre. The magnificent 15th-century church was built from the wealth of the medieval cloth industry.

Nearby Flatford is a charming hamlet that was the inspiration for some of John Constable's most famous works, for example, the Hay Wain. Wandering beside the River Stour or looking at Flatford Mill and Willy Lott's House you can feel as if you are actually walking through one of his paintings. This tour also includes a scenic drive through the idyllic 'Sunshine Coast' of Essex and the unspoiled villages of Dedham, Sudbury, and Lavenham of Harry Potter fame.

6. Llandudno Landlubbers Cruise

It is no surprise that Llandudno is one of our top 10 best-selling early-season breaks! Located on the prestigious central promenade, the 4* Tynedale Hotel offers the Regency Restaurant serving excellent food, two bars, a small dance floor, and a luxurious lounge where you can enjoy the magnificent views across the bay.

Their innovative Landlubbers package is a mock cruise on land, where MV Tynedale visits a variety of destinations each day. With exciting menus, entertainment, and great props, the Tynedale successfully delivers the feeling and atmosphere of actually having been at sea on a cruise ship. Our ports of call in 2024 were Paris, France – Acapulco, Mexico – Honolulu, Hawaii – Venice, Italy – Llandudno, UK. Check out our Facebook page to see some shots of their ‘camel’ boarding our coach!

7. Keukenhof & The Dutch Bulbfields

This annual favourite allows you to experience the very best of traditional Holland. Marvel at the horticultural beauty that is the majestic gardens of Keukenhof, enjoy a Dutch ‘Rail and Sail’ day, and visit the 18th and 19th-century Dutch residential neighbourhood at Zaanse Schans, evoking memories of a bygone age.

Our staff member Marcia travelled on this holiday and she said: “The Keukenhof holiday has been on my radar to visit for many years after customer feedback from previous trips. The gardens were simply stunning with more varieties of tulips than anyone could ever imagine, certainly a photographer's dream.” You can read more about Marcia’s experience here.

8. Springtime in Captivating Kent

This tour to Kent offers many contrasts, from Canterbury with its famous Cathedral, to the Historic Naval Dockyard at Chatham, with comfortable accommodation at the 4* Bridgewood Manor Hotel, offering leisure facilities and the Squires Restaurant.

One highlight of the holiday was a day excursion to the land of mysterious marshes and smugglers with a Blue Badge guide, arriving first in New Romney. A Cinque port since 1155, the Great Storm of 1287 changed the course of River Rother and made New Romney an inland town. We then took our passengers to Lydd. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the town was notorious for the activities of 'owlers' - local smugglers hooting to each other in the dead of night. The day ended with some time free in Tenterden, known as the 'Jewel in the Weald'.

9. Spring into the Peak District

This delightful holiday to the Peak District came in at number 9. The trip highlighted the crown jewels of the beautiful Peak District during Springtime. Our varied itinerary included a journey aboard Peak Rail, entry to Chatsworth House, a relaxing lunch cruise along the Upper Peak Forest Canal, and free time in the honeypot tourist destinations of Buxton & Bakewell. Our group was accommodated at the Hollin House Hotel in Macclesfield. A Tudor gothic-style building, originally built in 1870, this wonderful hotel is cosy, luxurious, and unassuming all at the same time.

Thank you to Brian who said about his stay: “The hotel was well up to G-Line standards. The activities on the outward and return journeys really extended the holiday.”

10. Isle of Man Spring Special

Finally, with four dates on offer each year, the Isle of Man remains ever popular, not just with our clients but with holidaymakers across the UK, which is evident by the increase in visitor numbers year on year according to the island’s tourism agencies. The number of holidaymakers visiting the Isle of Man quickly bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, rising by 43,000 in 2023. Read more about it here.

Just 33 miles long and 13.5 miles wide, this enchanting kingdom certainly makes for a unique and memorable holiday destination. From our base in seaside Douglas, we visit the Isle of Man's traditional towns and fishing ports, and travel in the vintage carriages of the Steam Railway, through lush countryside. Our 'Spring Special' package includes two nights of live entertainment in the bar for added value.