“Siesta Holidays” in Middlesbrough displays travel brochure from the 1980s

Middlesbrough-based Siesta Holiday has been offering coach tours across Europe since 1980 – long before budget flights and Airbnb revolutionised the travel industry. But last week the company announced it will cease operations at the end of 2024 due to financial pressures.

The travel provider organizes trips to France and Spain, excursions to Disneyland Paris and other European destinations.

After announcing the closure, the company gave its customers one last trip – not by bus, but into the past – by digging out decades-old travel brochures.

The brochures provide a fascinating insight into the package holiday world of the 1980s and 90s.

One of the most popular budget short breaks on offer in 1982 was a 17-day all-inclusive trip for just £69 – the equivalent of £250 today.

The cover of the 1982 brochure featured a 17-day trip for just £69. (Image: SIESTA HOLIDAYS/SWNS)

Children under 19 also travelled free, while a one-week stay cost just £49 and a two-week stay was available from just £69.

The holiday, which included all travel and accommodation, took the tourists to the south of France, the Italian Riviera and Spain.

Siesta Holidays brochure from 1983. (Image: SIESTA HOLIDAYS/SWNS)

In 1989, the company also travelled with its holidaymakers to more distant countries, including the former Yugoslavia and Austria.

From 1989 onwards, the journeys also took us further afield. (Image: SIESTA HOLIDAYS/SWNS)

Tourists could not only travel with the “Superbus”, but also through the French
Country with the new “Holiday Express” of the SNCF.

Despite the success, the company management announced that it would close the company at the end of the year due to financial difficulties.

A brochure from 1994. (Image: SIESTA HOLIDAYS/SWNS)

As early as the summer of 1999, there were short trips starting at 49 pounds per week, (Image: SIESTA HOLIDAYS/SWNS)

Director John Harrison said: “We have decided to close for a number of reasons.

“One of the reasons for this was the difficulties caused by Covid, which completely paralyzed our operations for two years and prevented us from spending on marketing.

“Another reason is that Brexit has made crossing the Channel more complicated, increasing the cost and duration of the holiday.

(Image: SIESTA HOLIDAYS)

“Young people are more likely to travel to mainland Europe by budget airlines than by bus.

“Another reason is that our customer base has gotten older and one or two members of the group may no longer be able to travel for health reasons.”

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Despite the company’s closure, customers said John had fond memories of their bus trips to the continent.

He said: “When we announced our closure, we were inundated with customers, past and present, telling us how much they had enjoyed their holiday with us.

“The brochures show how important it was to us to offer families affordable trips to the continent that create lifelong memories.”