For many people the thought of a holiday seems like a far off dream at the moment, but there are still opportunities to get away both abroad and here in the UK.
In this week’s BID Spotlight we caught up with Barrhead Travel who are based in the Highcross to find out about what you should consider travel-wise and some of their best deals at the moment.
Tell us about Barrhead for anyone who isn’t familiar?
Founded in 1975, The Barrhead Travel Group has grown from a single high street shop to a travel agency with 61 UK outlets, including travel agency stores, Business Travel offices and contact centres. Since the early days of the company, we’ve recognised that to be the best, we must have the best people working for us, and so our team members enjoy a programme of training and development that is unmatched in the travel business. Our specialist departments are staffed by enthusiastic and knowledgeable experts who like nothing better than to help find you the perfect holiday, from cruises to worldwide trips, from UK breaks to Canadian journeys, and from winter-sports to sun-soaked escapes. We are an Award Winning Agency & are the Best High Street travel Agency for Service with a TrustScore of 4.3. In addition to this we have a combined experience in our Leicester store of over 75 years in travel, so we truly are experts in what we do!
What holidays are proving most popular this year?
UK Hotel & Lodge Breaks plus Sea-cations with cruise lines such as MSC are the most popular this summer – Cruise Lines are offering UK cruises which is fantastic as the facilities onboard are amazing. Culinary delights to excellent Broadway style show’s on board. They really are a fantastic option for couples and families this summer wanting to spend quality time together after a difficult 15 months. Customers are also booking early for 2022 all the way through to 2024 and because most customers haven’t been able to go on holiday for a while we are seeing a trend of customers booking bucket-list destinations.
How hard has the last year been for the travel industry?
In normal times the outbound travel sector generates billions of spending in the UK and employs 100s of thousands of people but has been the hardest hit by the pandemic. Jobs, businesses, and livelihoods are at risk. The government need to give clarity to the travel industry so we can plan to operate safely and look to capitalise on the vaccine rollout in the country. As well as this travel plays a vital role in everyone’s lives – bringing families and friends together, connecting businesses and offering hardworking people a well-deserved break.
Do you have any advice for those who are hesitant about booking something?
Yes, we are always happy to assist customers with advice. Some of the best tips we recommend are…
- Use the expertise of an ABTA Member such as Barrhead Travel to help you plan your trip, we will check the Foreign Office advice for your destination and keep you up to date with the changes. Not all countries require testing so we will guide you through the changing advice.
- Book a package holiday: Booking a package holiday provides the best form of protection for your travel plans, as your holiday will be protected under the Package Travel Regulations. This means you have a right to a replacement holiday or a full refund if your holiday is significantly altered by a change in the situation at your destination.
- Use Flexible booking policies available such as our Stress Free Guarantee: We know it’s important for customers to feel in safe hands. That’s why we’ve created our Stress-Free Guarantee, to give them peace of mind on the things that matter most to them. Our Promise to customers is to always prioritise their safety*, Financial protection guaranteed & Flexibility to amend or cancel your holiday up to 6 weeks before you travel* T&Cs apply. Customers can ask in-store for more details.
- Book early for the most choice and best prices.
- And finally take out travel insurance with covid cover. Barrhead Travel offer this in store as we want to make sure customers are protected whilst travelling.
What are some of the best deals you have available at the moment?
OFFER 1 – MSC Virtuosa from Liverpool
All inclusive seacation cruise with 2 free child places included
Premium Drinks Package included
Tips Included
New Ship
Kids Club
Waterpark
Theatre Shows and Entertainment
No traffic light changes to be worried about
MSC Virtuosa – Inside Cabin
31 July 2021 | 7 Nights – Sailing from Southampton
2 adults from £1099pp + 2 FREE children (2-11) total price £2198!
Cabin upgrades available for Ocean View and Balcony – please request price
No Vaccination required, only a pre departure lateral flow test! If double vaccinated – No Lateral Flow Required!
OFFER 2 – Orlando Twin Centre 2023
From £62 per month per family
May 2023 – 11 nights at Rosen Inn International, 3 nights at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando
Book with Barrhead to also receive:
- FREE Ride ‘The Wheel’ at ICON park
- FREE Magic and Comedy Dinner Show (includes unlimited beer and wine…)
- FREE Use of the I-ride trolley for 7 days
- FREE money to spend in the Mall at Millenia
2 adults and 2 children (under 12). £3909 21 monthly payments of £163 per family per month.
2 adults and 1 child (under 12) £3369 21 monthly payments of £143 per family per month.
2 adults £1419pp 21 monthly payments of £61.62
Deposit £125pp
Prices are correct at time of posting – subject to change. *T&Cs apply
OFFER 3 – School holidays from just £56 per month
October half term 2022
Close to the beach
Great sea views
Peaceful location
Superb entertainment programme
Delicious cuisine
4.5 Stars on Trip Advisor
21st Oct 2022, Corfu
7 Nights – All Inclusive, Manchester Flights, 4 Star Hotel
Family of four – £1271, just £241 deposit and then £69 per family, per month
Family of three – £1015, just £180 deposit and then £56 per family, per month
Prices are correct at time of posting – subject to change. *T&Cs apply
OFFER 4 – Weekend stays in barn conversion with indoor swimming pool
This beautiful barn conversion is perfect for a large family gathering or a group of friends meeting up. From only £104 per person.
4 bedrooms – 3 Bathrooms
Wood burner
Indoor Heated Swimming Pool (Shared)
BBQ facilities
Modern Property
Stunning country views
Rated 10/10 from past guests
This beautiful barn conversion is perfect for a large family gathering or a group of friends meeting up.
Weekend Breaks – (Friday-Monday) – 19th November 2021 – £108pp
26th November 2021 – £104pp
14th or 28th January 2022 – £107pp
4th February 2022 – £107pp
4th or 11th March 2022 – £112pp
Other dates may be available. Prices correct at time of publishing.
Where about are Barrhead based?
We are based in Leicester Highcross on the lower level just opposite the old Debenhams entrance. We have a spacious store customers can visit however for those customers who don’t want to come into the city centre we also offer telephone and video call appointments should they need them.
What’s the best way for people to find out about news and offers?
The best way to keep up to date with our latest news and offers is to follow our facebook page @barrheadtravelleicester or instagram @barrheadtravelleicester.