H: Katie Pullinger, host
J: Judith Chalmers
K: Karen Gee, WA Shearings

H: Hello and welcome to today’s show, I’m Katie Pullinger and today we’re talking about travelling. Now of course many people are travelling further a field, more exotic places, more exciting adventurous places, and today we’re going to be talking about going by coach, more so for the over 50s. Of course travel is accessible for everyone, but today with the over 50s income that is more easily spendable, these travel holidays are more readily at your fingertips. Today I’m joined by the queen of the travel show –

J: Oh my God, I’m not sure about that

H: Judith Chalmers

J: Hi Katie, hello

H: Hello there, how are you?

J: Very well thank you

H: Good good. And I’m also joined by Karen Gee who is from WA Shearings, hello there

K: Hello Katie

H: How are we all today?

K: Oh we’re so well, ready to talk about holidays

H: Wonderful, I think it’s everyone’s favourite subject isn’t it. Now if you want to be asking us any questions you could send them to us right now, on your screens there’ll be a little box at the bottom where you can submit your questions, tell us where you’re from, and your name and we will try and get through as many as possible. Wonderful, let’s get on with it because we all want to talk about our favourite holiday destinations. Now you must have travelled the world Judith – everywhere, anywhere. Where are your favourite places, where did you start with the show Wish You Were Here?

J: Wish you Were Here started filming in 1973 and the first place we went to is a place that’s still very very popular with people if they’ve given it a chance to show itself to them, Mallorca, so we went – we did two sides of Mallorca, the quiet side in Puerta de Soller and took the little train down to the coast there, to the port. Also then we did Magaluf which has a ruder name but I won’t say it on air, and it really was the high spot of holidays for the young, drinking, heavy living people and we did the two resorts in the one story, but I’ve just been back to Mallorca this year and have been reminded how pretty it is, and Deo with all its restaurants and wonderful hotels, it was worth going back

H: Absolutely and I like what you said, nothing’s really changed about Magaluf has it?

J: Well I didn’t go near Magaluf, I have to be honest

H: But I mean obviously holiday companies have targeted that younger audience of people that just want to go and party, but you know that’s not the kinds of holidays that everyone wants to go on is it?

J: Of course not. It seems that when you read about these times, and Aya Napa and all these places, that that’s what all the young people are doing, pub crawling and getting absolutely out of their minds, but that’s certainly not all the young people by any manner of means and I think in fact that’s changing a bit. I do actually think that young people are actually saying they’ve got so used to having opportunities for travel put at their feet and their fingertips that they don’t need to think “oh my goodness we’ve got one holiday this year, let’s go and get absolutely out of our minds on a Greek island.” They used to do that, they used to actually get there at sort of midday they’d wake up after the night before and then lie in the sun, scorch themselves, burn themselves, go out to the pubs and the clubs all night and then not wake up until 12 o’clock the next morning – what a holiday!

H: It’s certainly wasting the day –

J: Absolutely

H: Not seeing anything

J: I think there are many more things that they want out of holidays, everybody in fact does

H: But it’s also not the case so much that the 20 something’s are desperate to spend all their money on holidays because so many people are thinking about saving and trying to get on the property ladder and all of that kind of thing, and it’s actually the over 40s and 50s that have that disposable income to be able to go, you know maybe further a field and see maybe exotic and exciting places

J: Particularly the over 50 market we’re really talking about today isn’t it –

H: Absolutely

J: They’ve been offered more through the years prior to that and they’re hungry aren’t they for more and more

H: They are indeed. Karen tell us a bit more about the actual coach trips we’re talking about today with WA Shearings

K: Well coach holidays are just one of a number of choices that are available to the over 50s today, but they are particularly popular I think because everything’s taken care of, you know not worrying about what’s the right time to leave or is this hotel going to be good enough because we literally just do take care of everything, and I think what’s great about the range of holidays on offer today is they’re much more reflective of the over 50s lifestyle today you know sort of 20, 30 years ago the range of holidays was quite poor and you know there might be a spot of gentle bingo and then an early night, an early night – plenty of early nights and it’s just not like that now, you can go to some amazing places in the UK, I mean there’s definitely a resurgence of popularity in the UK but throughout Europe and also activity-based, you can go to a Spa, you can do a holiday with a course on digital photography – we’ve all got those digital cameras, and learning how to get the bet of them so we can take pictures of the grandchildren and that sort of thing. It’s really, really important so I think you know the world literally is your oyster

J: And it’s cycling too. We met a lady the other day who was off to do her line dancing

H: Oh brilliant

J: Now imagine that 10 years ago, you know you can’t really

H: Now tell us what’s different about the coach holidays with WA Shearings because of course some people might still have a little bit of an old-fashioned view of the coach holiday, and is it uncomfortable – why is there, the ones that you’re offering different?

K: Well I think you’re absolutely right, people do have that sort of perception if they haven’t been on a coach holiday recently and I think it comes from our school days you know when you had a school bus –

J: You wouldn’t know about that Katie

K: Sort of cramped and no leg-room and there was always a very strange smell coming from the back of the bus somewhere and you’d eaten your egg and cress sandwiches before the bus even left the car park, but of course it’s entirely different today because people expect more, they’re better travelled and therefore the whole coaching industry has really developed, so coaches today are incredibly luxurious vehicles, they’ve got lots of leg room, sat nav, a lot of them have reclining leather seats –

H: Wow

K: And it’s a wonderful experience particularly, it’s interesting really, when you’re driving along in your car you can see what’s around you, you can look out of the windows obviously, particularly if you’re driving and sort of see what’s going on around you but on a coach you’re physically seated so much higher than you would otherwise be and that means you get to see things from a different perspective, you really do see more and you’re much more kind of part of the wonderful scenery that you’re going through

J: And of course when you’re not watching that scenery you have got video and DVDs on a lot of coaches

K: Oh yes, yes

J: And superb loos and washroom facilities –

K: Yes I think that would worry some people

J: No more of those nasty smells from the back hopefully

H: What about more elderly people, I mean are they going to be comfortable, and when we talk about things, the lavatories and things, you know are they awkward, are they easy to use – I mean what about for disabled people, anyone that might need a little bit of help, are there people on board –

K: Most of the loos on the new coaches are at ground level, so you don’t have to go up and down steps or anything like that, they used to be and you used to have to contend with going up and down stairs whilst the coach was driving and I think that’s pretty tough, so most of them are ground level, plus there are regular comfort stops and it’s just nice to get off and stretch your legs a bit and have a bit of a break, so it’s quite different isn’t it?

J: And steps are lower to get on in the first place, on the coaches, so there’s no high climbing up high stairs –

K: Yes

J: Because I was trying one out the other day, I was having a look at it, and it’s very easy, you almost slide onto the pavement at the same level don’t you?

K: Yes that’s right

H: We’re actually going to have a look at some of the footage of you actually starting one of the journeys, would you please tell us exactly what’s going on?

J: Of course Katie, anything

H: Let’s have a look at this

J: This was actually a new service which is being offered by WA Shearings and because they do all these innovative things, they really ask their customers what they would like and one of the things was the getting too and from the destinations where they picked up their main bus which was taking them on the whole holiday, and here I am standing out in the sort of wiles of Sheffield, now it was a very windy, gusty day, waiting for the Home Connect bus, this is one of the innovative things – a bus can come to your home, literally to your home so you can be sitting having your cup of tea or your cup of coffee when you hear that rat tat tat on the door, and this marked vehicle which I can’t really just call a bus, I’m calling a sort of smart minibus, and it says “Home Connect” which you can see on one side, and “We take care of everything” is the slogan of WA Shearings, and here I am being helped on by Dennis who is very courteous, and says “Miss Chalmers” so I said for goodness sake call me Judy, and then I sort of strapped myself in, all the mod cons of a good piece of transport, your luggage you don’t have to put it anywhere –

H: That’s wonderful

J: Dennis did that, he put it in the boot for me, and you can imagine the ease of comfort because if you do have to take your luggage with you to airports, it’s a bit of a fiddle faddle and of course taxis or your form of transport to catch your main coach can be expensive and this is available in certain parts of the country, not in all at the moment –

H: Ok

J: But I imagine it’s going to be very popular, about £20 for each return as well, they take you home as well, and of course its big sister, or its big brother standing beside it is the main coach for the holiday

H: They do look really luxurious as well, and you’re so right about the whole headache of checking-in and things like that, I mean I’m only 26, I can’t stand it, I don’t want the queues, I don’t want to lug my luggage –

J: Yes

H: You know, and it’s stressful –

J: It is

H: And you’re supposed to be having a break and enjoying yourself

K: Yes

J: Well these people certainly were that we met in Yorkshire and in Lancashire only last week, they came to meet us and us to meet them and they were telling us about their own holidays, they were talking particularly about the friendships they’d formed on these sort of holidays, you know when you get on a plane you get of at the airport at the other end and you go your own separate ways, but one of the – I had it time and time again – didn’t you Karen?

K: Absolutely

J: That people were saying “oh do you know, I was on my own, my other half had gone, had died, and I was not sort of sure if I could go on a holiday on my own, very nervous about it” – one particular lady and she met up with this couple, they’re real buddies now and they plan their holidays together, and there are quite a few of those sort of stories which is brilliant

K: I think if you are a solo traveller and you’re a bit unsure of yourself, it’s a very easy, gentle way of having a holiday

H: Because there are a lot of people that do travel on their own aren’t there?

K: There are and they want to be with other people but also not to feel that they’re imposing on anyone, you know that’s a horrible sort of – am I taking up too much of their time?

H: You don’t want to feel like a tag-along –

K: Yes and everyone’s together so it’s just, it’s a wonderful opportunity

J: And this is where we were meeting some of them, as I say it was quite a busy 2 days, 4 meetings in 2 days, meetings with people I mean you know but they – everybody always says, I suppose the first question they ask me is “where do you go on holiday?” but the second question they ask is “where should I go on holiday?” and there are so many opportunities to go to so many different, wonderful places in the world now and at very competitive prices too I think. People say “oh but it’s expensive” but when you compare it with prices of when we started in the ‘70s there’s not that much difference at all

K: I think prices have actually come down in real terms

J: Yes if anything it’s gone the better way

H: So what sort of price range are we talking or does it really vary depending on the holiday that you’re going on?

K: It’s, not trying to get out of answering that question at all –

H: No I understand it yes

K: But it is quite difficult to answer it, you know it’s everything from maybe £100 up to £3000 and everything in between, but there’s lots of really good value holidays in the UK and particularly certain parts of Europe that are very very affordable so there’s something for everyone

J: And in the brochures, which were just launched in September, I think September 14th; there are actually prices that have come down again –

K: Yes there are

J: Which is very good news

K: Yes

J: Were you charging too much before?

K: What kind of question is that?

J: How dare you ask me!

K No not at all but we have adjusted how we run things so that the prices have come down in many cases, so that’s good

J: Very good

H: Now we have had quite a lot of questions coming in –

K: Oh yes, good

H: Already, actually we had one from Sarah, we’ve kind of answered it already, “why are more people – elderly people – travelling?” because it’s to do with the disposable income and the ease isn’t it?

J: And more on offer and as Karen was saying we’re healthier now, that over 50s, and we want to do more things, we’re not satisfied with just sitting and playing, as you say, a little bit of bingo, I’m not quite sure I ever did do that but a lot of people do, or did – now they can actually do all the activities, their bodies are better, they can cope with it better and there’s much more choice

K: Plus I think there are more people in that category –

J: It’s the dominant part isn’t it?

K: It’s the biggest section of the population and growing, and they’re a force to be reckoned with and they demand the kind of holidays that the travel industry is now having to provide

H: I think also you know a holiday for a lot of people always meant a hot summer holiday and I think that maybe put more elderly people off. I remember when I was a kid and if our granny came away with us there was one holiday actually where it was too hot so she did actually go home early, but now there is so many more places that you can go that you know it’s not just about being on a beach, it’s about being on a tour round Florence or something like that –

J: Very nice idea for a holiday!

H: I love Florence

J: Short breaks are so on hand now aren’t they?

K: Yes lots of short breaks and special interest things, yes

H: Great now we’ve got a question, it’s another one from Sarah actually, Sarah says “do you know I’ve never holidayed in my own country, preferring always to go abroad. I’d like to break with tradition and stay in the UK next year – can you think of an ideal place for me? I like walking, countryside, nature, photography and good food.”

J: Something springs to my mind straight away, I don’t know whether we share the same idea, but Sarah how about the Lake District up in the north of England, wonderful scenery, fantastic lakes and mountains too, small little hills really more. I always used to go in Easter to Windemere with my family, and the daffodils there and the flowers in the spring are wonderful

H: Ah, Wordsworth’s country

J: And you get these little - yes

K: There are a few hills there, which aren’t quite so little –

J: No I know

K: I’m thinking of Helvelin

J: Yes but you would do that, you get on your walking boots don’t you and go up –

K: I certainly have done, yes. I think that’s a good recommendation, also Scotland you might want to think about that, a lot of similar idea in terms of the scenery and the food and everything

J: And the photography of course –

K: Yes

J: Marvellous marvellous opportunity –

K: It’s just wonderful

J: To take the most wonderful pictures in Autumn, the reflections – Beatrix Potter country, there’s this new film about Beatrix Potter –

K There is

J: Which are own Rennie is taking part in

H: She is indeed. Now this is a question I think quite a lot of people will be thinking as well, we’ve kind of talked about it, it’s from Wendy “the thought of a coach holiday fills me with horror, travelling in a stuffy coach for hours and hours on end – am I missing something here?”

J: Yes

K: Yes you are

J: Definitely Wendy you are, you really are yes

K: Definitely, I think from what you’ve said you perhaps haven’t been on a coach holiday for along time or maybe even ever from school days, so I think the best thing is to have a look at what’s actually on offer and I think you might be surprised by what you find because it is a world away from what your thoughts are, so have a look and then you can make your own decision

J: And enjoy it

H: And this one from Josephina “any top tips for a nervous traveller?”

J: Well I wonder if Josephina has actually had problems with flying, is that what she’s nervous of?

H: Possibly, we should just talk about the whole area really, car sickness, travel sickness maybe, any of those –

J: Yes but there are more people who are actually are frightened of flying than I would ever have imagined until we did a course on fear of flying –

H: Yes

J: With some ex-pilots at British Airways, it was near Heathrow and believe it or not one of them was called Captain Bird which I found rather extraordinary, but it’s the same sort of people who perhaps suffer from going in lifts and so –

H: Right, claustrophobia

J: But I think again coach –

K: Coach is wonderful

J: I mean we keep coming back to the coach holiday but there you’re in the hands of a very safe driver, people like Dennis, who was showing me into the Home Connect bus and you’re looked after all the way along, and you feel – the seats now, the space, you’re not sitting like that all the time and if you are sort of a bit nervous to begin with you can switch on your video and on most of the coaches now, and just watch something that will take your mind off it, until you’re used to it, but you’re not driving yourself through traffic and you’re not going up in the air –

H: But also unlike a plane journey or a long haul flight, you can get off

K: Yes

H: You can get that break and you can stretch your legs, because that’s also the whole deep vein thrombosis and worries like that on plane journeys, you don’t have to worry about that on a coach do you?

K: And I think the other difference is when you are on a long haul flight you have no connection to the countries that you’re travelling over during the flight, whereas actually on a coach holiday you have because you’re experiencing all the different regions that you’re driving through, you’re being taken through, and I think that’s part of the appeal

H: Do you have somebody telling you where you are and what you’re looking at if there’s a point of interest?

K: Oh absolutely, absolutely yes

J: And getting that right is important too isn’t it?

K: Oh it is

J: Because the coach journeys I’ve been on when I’ve been working and filming for programmes, the guide who actually never stops talking is the one you switch off from, so again you’ve got good judgement on your people haven’t you?

K: Yes you have to give just enough information for people to be able to relate to what they’re looking at, but not be you know just becoming the coach bore by going on and on and on because people do like to have their own conversations and just drift off and just do whatever they want

H: And again we’ve got a question in from Imogen which still ties in with the old-fashioned coach trips, but she’s saying “how have coach trips changed in the last 10 years, are they still like day trips to Blackpool?” I think we have answered that, I mean they’re not, it’s a luxury journey now, picking up from door to door, that’s what I think is so great about these –

J: In many areas in the country, not all of them

H: Not in all of them

J: Not the South East is it in fact?

H: But they’ll be able to find out about that with the website and obviously when they start booking their trips

J: And plenty of room on the seats, I mean I do think that’s a big thing, sitting on the back seat going to Blackpool illuminations, you know I remember that to this day

H: With your “kiss me quick hat”

J: Oh yes, all that

K: Can I just say that Blackpool is still a very very popular destination, there are some people who like the nostalgia of –

J: Oh yes

K: Of that kind of destination but there’s a whole lot more besides than Blackpool

J: I wouldn’t put Blackpool down –

K: No

J: I’m a northerner!

H: Let’s talk recommendations though because we’ve got a question from Mr R. Adams and he says “Judith –“

J: Yes

H: “I’m a huge fan – “

J: Thank you

H: “Can you please tell me where to go this Christmas, I would love to have a personal recommendation from you, I do not want to have a particularly adventurous time, I have my two grown daughters with me, and my wife, but we’d all prefer to relax. A little bit of sightseeing and have some fine dining. Really we want to experience the festive season in another country. Many thanks.”

J: Well thank you very much indeed for the question, we’re going to experience something new for us so I can’t guarantee 100% that it’s absolutely right and what suits one person doesn’t always suit another, but we’re actually going to Austria for the first time, my husband and I are joining are son and his wife and our little twin grandsons and their family, Mark’s in-laws and we’re going to Austria, to Lech and I believe there’s a lovely hotel and Neil and I won’t be skiing, the rest of the family will but there are some lovely walks which I think will be great and that’s also I believe some very “fine dining” as you put it, so I very much hope that will suit you with your daughters and your wife because we too will go in a different range, we’re going to go up the mountains at lunch time, drink a bit of the Gluhwein, let the others come in from the skiing and then have lunch. I think that will work well, I hope it would for you

H: Lovely, I think that’s a lovely idea

J: I might see you there!

H: Now I’ve got one – we’ll all come! Now Karen “I’m looking for” – this is from MKH, just the initials – “I’m looking to invite a friend on a coach trip and I’m unsure about how to go about sleeping arrangements as we’ll be travelling on the coach overnight” – now this is one that we don’t have to worry about isn’t it?

K: Yes we don’t really have that kind of holiday on WA Shearings because most people don’t want to sleep on a coach overnight, they want to stay overnight in a hotel and that’s what we offer

H: Yes which is wonderful for people like yourself that if you’re going to feel awkward about sharing that space with someone you don’t have to worry because it will all be absolutely comfortable and luxurious. I’m really quite jealous I really want to have a go, but that’s the great thing, it is for everyone isn’t it?

K: It is yes

H: I mean it isn’t just limited to the over 50s is it

J: It seems to be more used by the over 50s without a doubt but seeing some of the people the other day it was the daughters of a couple who’d actually gone with, they’d gone together and all three of them had a very nice time so it can be that it works with different generations going also on those coaches

H: So it’s fine if perhaps a grandparent wanted to take their grandchild or something like that –

K: Oh yes

J: Not very young children I wouldn’t think

K: We do have some children who go away with their grandparents and you know we’re open to everyone if you like –

H: The travellers aren’t going to have to worry about screaming children running down the –

K: Oh no no no no

J: Actually those are often on the short breaks aren’t they Karen?

K: Yes

J: So they get to a destination and stay there, the same hotel for 4, 5 nights

K: For 4 or 5 nights, something like that

J: So that’s fine

K: That is a possibility because I think grandparents are increasingly having a role with grandchildren and holidaying with grandparents is really lovely

H: I think that’s a really nice idea, you know bring the generations all together

K: Yes particularly if the parents working, it’s just a very nice idea as you said

H: Yes especially, I mean it’s half term at the moment I mean that is an issue, parents have to actually take their time off work as well just to fit in with the holidays

J: Oh we love it, we’ve got 5 grandsons now –

H: Oh wow

J: So we do all go together so it’s a joyous part of life

H: Yes which is lovely. Now we’ve got one from Nancy and she says “I’m nearly 65 and feel that I’ve been everywhere now” – you lucky, lucky thing! “I know the world is a big place but I’ve run out of ideas on where to go and what to do that’s new.” Obviously we haven’t got a list of places where she’s been but think of somewhere just really different, maybe a little bit unusual that perhaps people wouldn’t think of straight away

K: For me it would be Eastern Europe

J: Me too I think

K: Russia, Poland

J: Croatia

K: Croatia, those sorts of areas. Full of history, wonderful architecture. They’re countries that we’ve seen a lot of change in the news you know over recent years and I think it’s just wonderful to be able to go there, not have to worry about whether you need a visa, whether there’s you know any sort of red tape that’s involved so I would definitely recommend that

J: Well so would I, certainly again because we actually, I’ve just been back to Croatia, Dubrovnic part of former Yugoslavia, and we went when it was, you know what it was before in Yuguv Yugoslavia, but the sea is wonderfully clean and clear. The beaches aren’t sand, I do like a sandy beach but they’re little tiny pebble beaches

H: Yes

J: And the interest in that part of the world now is huge isn’t it at the moment, it really is

K: Yes

J: A number of us going to Bulgaria, and also Prague is very good, I love Prague, it’s a very good short break destination and the King Charles II bridge you know with all the artists painting on their sort of sketch pads along the bridge, absolutely wonderful and lovely buildings, lovely history

H: And I think that’s going to be something a lot of people want to do, maybe even avoid the beaches and make sure they get all the history

J: Yes

K: Yes

J: It depends on the time of year you go doesn’t it what you want to go for?

K: Bit more sightseeing, bit more experiencing the culture really

J: And Dubrovnic in the walled city is one of the most attractive places in the world

K: Yes it is

H: I like the sound of that

J: And you sit there in the cafes watching the world go by which is one of my favourite pastimes, in fact yours too –

H: Same here, just looking at what people are doing

K: Eating ice cream

J: Did I say pass times or pastimes? I am a northerner

H: That keeps coming back! Now we do actually have time to get some more questions in so if you are sitting there and thinking “I want to ask Judith something here” then you can – there’s a screen at the bottom, well there’s a square at the bottom of your screen where you can submit your question and if you do it now we might have time to get through them. Right then, I’ve got a question from Irene, we have again talked about this but it’s nice to go over things just in case people are just joining us “I’m over 50 but my husband passed away and since then I haven’t been able to face the thought of going anywhere alone. I do know I feel ready, but I’m concerned about the pitfalls of travelling alone having never done this before, what do you advise?”

J: Well we’ve talked a lot about the United Kingdom haven’t we?

K: Yes

J: And with these terrorist alerts this year and the wonderful summer we’ve had, many more people – as Karen said – are actually going into the UK

H: Staying around

J: And the brilliant thing is WA Shearings have 43 hotels they own within Britain, and one of the things that really really bugs people is the single supplement as you well know, people say “why do I have to pay the single supplement and then be pushed in a little box room at the back of the hotel with no view.” Well all of WA Shearings hotels I think I’m right in saying in Britain, have in fact no single supplement

H: That’s really good to hear

J: So that’s a very good tip

K: That’s right

H: I had a radio talk show about this fairly recently about this actually –

J: Did you?

H: And there was a lot of people ringing in and complaining about that so that’s a really good thing to know

K: It is because it really sort of eats into your budget more than other people so I think it is a great feature and I would also agree that a UK holiday would be a good place to start first of all because it just feels more –

J: You get the feel for it

K: More accessible, it’s not such a big step –

H: Exactly

K: And then once you’ve done one, I’m sure the world’s your oyster

J: Well people do seem to go back that’s another thing Katie, they make friends and they seem to – apparently going through what you were saying to some of your already clients, they actually go again and again don’t they?

K: Yes

J: Let’s say Bournemouth or somewhere like that

K: Yes, we met some people just last week who had met on holiday and now always go on holiday together, they sort of get the brochures and they sit together over a cup of coffee and say “ooh I fancy this one, what do you fancy?” and they go on holiday away together so I think it’s a very sociable type of holiday

J: But you’re not forced to be with someone

H: No

K: No

J: I think that’s something also that if people want to be private and have their quiet times then they can certainly do that. You do get the odd person whose rather garrulous on any holiday, who won’t stop talking –

H: Oh there’s always one!

J: There’s always one as they say, you’re absolutely right Katie, yes there usually is

H: I’ve got quite a nice question here from Colin, “I’m looking for a cost effective short break around 4 days to surprise my wife for her (well for their) Ruby wedding anniversary. She doesn’t like the heat particularly but I don’t like the cold too much.” Holidays have always been tricky for them for this result, what can you recommend to a gentleman who is running out of ideas?”

J: Oh poor gentleman and what’s the gentleman’s name?

H: His name’s Colin

J: Colin, yes well Colin I don’t know what you will suggest Karen, you’ve got a wealth of knowledge about places I know, but we think possibly that the Italian lakes might be an idea, I don’t know whether you’ve been there with your wife, I hope you have a lovely Ruby wedding anniversary but lake Komo I love and I’ve stayed on the lakeside there and there are some very nice holidays and it’s very easy to get about actually and you go on the lake, and that might suit you weather-wise. It depends on the time of the year but it should be all right, it wouldn’t be too hot in the summer and yet the autumn would be all right as well. You might get some rain

H: You might spot George Clooney round there as well, he’s got a place –

J: Oh my gosh I’ve got to go as well I think!

H: We’ve got a question from Darren; he wants to know do many mature travellers really take gap years? I hadn’t thought of this, do they?

K: Oh yes –

J: It’s the new thing isn’t it?

K: There’s the grown-up gap year as we call it, definitely because I think what happens is when you’re working you only have a certain number of days holiday and you think “oh I’d really love to go to such and such a place I can’t really afford it with my time budget” and then suddenly you know people are taking early retirement or they’re retiring you know at the planned age and it’s suddenly like “wow there’s all these places I want to go to”, so it’s not about winding down quietly it’s about sort of winding up –

J: Gearing up as you –

K: Gearing up yes to doing all these things you want to do, seeing the places you want to see and just having a go

J: And learning things along the way –

K: Yes

H: Now we’ve only got a few more minutes left so Karen would you give us just a quick recap on exactly what the service has to offer and perhaps you’ll give us your top few destinations after that?

J: Right yes ok

K: Well we have a very wide range of holidays in the UK and to Europe, by coach and all on these really rather advanced luxury coaches that we were talking about with lots of leg room

J: The Grand Tourer

K: And the Grand Tourer which is a very premium coach with leather reclining seats and then of course the Home Connect service that we were talking about which comes to collect you from your own front door and takes you to connect to your holiday coach, so there really is something for everyone and a wide range of holiday destinations and something to suit every pocket

H: And if you would like to be able to see these listings of holidays then you need to check out the website which is all the w’s .washearings.com – brilliant. So where would you recommend then for all our viewers out there?

J: Hard to recommend because –

H: It’s different for everyone

J: I recommended somebody something and they came back and said, “don’t ever recommend –

H: Oh no!

J: Anything again.” Because I thought it was something for them with young children because she’d just split up, but anyway that was the oddity, most people fortunately say “we saw on your programme and we’ve talked about where you were going and we’ve gone and we’ve loved it.” So I breathe a sigh of relief mostly that people have enjoyed them. We go to the Algarve down in Portugal –

H: Lovely

J: That’s where we go every summer and love it, because what was good for our children, Emma and Mark when they were young, building their sandcastles now it’s for Charlie, Sam, William, Freddie and Archie! So they’re doing the same now and it has glorious beaches, lovely little cafes, eating the fish, drinking the local wine which we do quite easily sitting beside the Atlantic in the summer –

H: Oh it must be tough; it’s a hard life!

J: And New Zealand’s the other, I know it’s a long long way, and Devon, we go to Devon as well and we eat sand with our sandwiches and we have cricket on the beach, fantastic

H: Wonderful well thank you so much to you Karen Gee from WA Shearings –

K: Thank you Katie

H: And to Judith Chalmers thank you so much

J: Oh Katie it’s been great to see you

H: You too, and thank you for all joining us today, we shall see you in the next webchat, I’m Katie Pullinger, see you soon