Laid on a sunlounger sunning myself on our recent holiday to Crete I realised I’d barely shared any imagery on social media – and as a travel blogger that was pretty unusual. Apart from the customary outfit boomerang each night before dinner and shots of Boo jumping in the pool (for the 3479859th time!) there wasn’t much else on IG stories. It dawned on me: I wasn’t keen on shouting from the rooftops that we were on a package holiday. When I did talk about where we were on social media and subsequently when I wrote about our time at Althea Village Suneo I was eager to defend it being a package holiday and how it was a last minute bargain – as if that somehow explained us signing up for a week of animation teams and buffets for three meals a day. Surely package holidays were never a prefered choice?
My first ever press trip was a package holiday to Majorca and was only the second package holiday I’d been on.
I immediately saw the benefits to tour operated holidays when travelling with children – but even then I wondered how long until I could return to independent travel with Boo in tow. I couldn’t wish for a better travel companion in Boo, we’ve done it all – and whilst she’s a sponge when it comes to culture nothing beats laying by the pool watching Boo play pool games with the reps.
Holidays aren’t about storing up bragging rights for your return to the office, it’s for making memories, memories that keep us smiling and laughing as we’re walking to school in the rain on a bitterly cold Tuesday in January.
Package holidays are seen as the lesser of the travel treasures we can obtain, a sub-standard experience – one that requires travellers to forsake a seemingly authentic holiday in favour of all you can eat buffets and a holiday rep.
Here I am making a stand for unlimited ice-cream and a sea of sunloungers but what about the majority of Brits at the resort and often culturally tone-deaf theme nights? For every potential pitfall of package holidays there are just as many when it comes to independent travel: ever hiked up a mountain to explore an ancient Roman town ruin to be mansplained by a fellow traveller you encounter? I have and it’s just as annoying.
No family’s holiday is more valid because they went off-piste and stayed in a remote setting as opposed to becoming emotionally invested in the dance routine to baby shark – just me?!
I’d be a hypocrite if I said I’m satisfied by package holidays alone – we have travel in our blood and love exploring. What I am saying is that you there is room for both types of holiday with no one better than the other.
Perhaps the title of this post is completely wrong; package holidays don’t need defending, they’re not the poor relation when it comes to family travel they very much hold their own. It’s time we as travel bloggers were less snooty and more inclusive when it comes to showcasing the best holiday options to our audiences.
