Siesta International Coach Holidays

SIESTA INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAYS

I stumbled across the Siesta web page by accident when I was searching for a holiday which would suit the whole family.
I have a 27 year old daughter, a 6 year old grandson and a
(PETRIFIED OF FLYING!!!) wife.

In recent years we have been on holiday together as a family in the UK. As always in the UK you have the disappointment of bad weather.

So this time ...
.../> So when I discovered Siesta Holidays it seemed to tick all the boxes!
Non flying holidays to Spain and the South of France.
I opted for a two week resort holiday with a stopover in Disneyland Paris (to break the journey) if you wish!
If you travel straight to your resort the departure days are normally on a Wednesday...with the Disney Stopover they depart on a Tuesday.

SIESTA advertise holidays to
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SIESTA INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAYS

I stumbled across the Siesta web page by accident when I was searching for a holiday which would suit the whole family.
I have a 27 year old daughter, a 6 year old grandson and a
(PETRIFIED OF FLYING!!!) wife.

In recent years we have been on holiday together as a family in the UK. As always in the UK you have the disappointment of bad weather.

So this time I decided to splash out on a holiday in the sun. HURRAY!
With a non flyer (Wife) and a (daughter) not keen on travelling overland...
Choosing an ideal holiday which suited us all was not going to be easy!

(When my wife and I have been abroad together in recent years we have used a Touring coach company such as Shearing’s or Leger providing overnight hotel stops on route until reaching your destination)

So when I discovered Siesta Holidays it seemed to tick all the boxes!
Non flying holidays to Spain and the South of France.
I opted for a two week resort holiday with a stopover in Disneyland Paris (to break the journey) if you wish!
If you travel straight to your resort the departure days are normally on a Wednesday...with the Disney Stopover they depart on a Tuesday.

SIESTA advertise holidays to
HOTELS.
Parks and Lodges.
Self Catering
All inclusive
Half Board
Bed and Breakfast.
There is also a flying option if you wish.

After convincing my daughter that a coach to the Costa Brava with a stopover in Disneyland was the way forward I went ahead and booked.
By this time my daughter was warming to the idea of an overland journey to the sun!
(ESPECIALLY WHEN I TOLD HER I WAS PAYING FOR THE LOT!)
My grandson was jumping for joy when he was told about the Disneyland stopover!

SO HOW MUCH DID IT COST...You may ask?

I can only give you the price of my holiday (OBVIOUSLY)

So as a basic run down I booked the following...
3 x Adults + 1x Child 18 Days/15 Nights
14 Nights Half Board at the Hotel Golden Taurus Park Resort.
(Spain , Pineda De Mar).
(SEE MY SEPERATE REVIEW ON THE HOTEL)
A Disneyland Paris Stopover... (1 Night) including hotel + Breakfast.
An entrance ticket to either the Disney and Park or Disney Studios.
+ Coach journey and insurance.
Departure.... peak season (IN THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS LATE JULY EARLY AUGUST)
THE WHOLE LOT (approximately) £2280.

(note: there may be a surcharge introduced to the final cost depending on the value of the £/ € and fuel costs!)

In my case about 6 weeks prior to the holiday I was asked to contribute a further £80 to the cost of the holiday!!
SO THE FINAL PRICE ENDED UP AS (approximately) £2360

THE COACH !

The Coach is a twin deck (Upstairs/Downstairs)
12 Seats Downstairs and 51 Seats Upstairs.
12 Seats boasted EXTRA LEGROOM (super plus recliners)
These are located 8 on the upper deck and 4 on the lower.
(A extra cost of £9 is charged if you want these seats and are allocated on a first come first served basis.)

We were allocated four seats downstairs for our outward journey a four seats on the upper deck for our journey home.
Once your cases are packed you don’t see them again until you get to your chosen resort, so we were advised to take an overnight bag for our trip to Disney.

LOWER DECK
I will mention at this point that if you are allocated the seats on the lower deck their is no room at all for an overnight bag!
It is cramped and claustrophobic.
It also accommodates the toilet area and the hostess kitchen.
The views are from the side windows only!
This is because the front of the lower deck is separated by a partition wall and door leading into the drivers cabin and crew compartment.
(A bit like an aeroplane!)

There is a small space under the seat in front of you but placing your bag there affects the seat reclining facilities.
The overhead storage in the lower deck is so small just about big enough to accommodate a couple of magazines , (About 3 or 4 inches!)
Providing, that is (As on our coach) it has not been stocked up with soft drinks and food by the hostess.

THE UPPER DECK

The upper deck is light and airy with sufficient space above for an overnight bag.
Both decks have TV screens. Earphones are provided so you can tune into either the audio of the visual entertainment, or music.
Their are two drivers and a hostess throughout your journey.
Food is served on a regular basis and consists of Sandwiches Hot Dogs, crisps and confectionary etc.
Tea and Coffee, Soft drinks and beer. ( Beer is not served during UK travel).

Overall the coaches are not all they are cracked up to be.
The fittings are cheap and nasty.
The general appearance of the coaches are tatty and well worn.
They are in need of a refurbishment or need replacing completely!

I found the seats uncomfortable and I am only 5’6”. Short arse!
If you are tall you could be in for a rough ride!

THE JOURNEY TO DISNEYLAND PARIS AND THEN ONWARDS TO YOUR RESORT.
As I live in London I opted for a pick up point in Dover. (Eastern Docks)
Siesta Holidays operate from the North of England and have various pick up points throughout the country.
If you browse through the website or brochure you will see the pick up points listed.
So depending on where you live will have an influence on the time you join the coach and your total journey time.
In our case, the pick up time at Dover was at 14:30 pm (UK time.)

The coach arrived on time and already full of passengers collected from other locations.
Our seats had been allocated to us prior to the departure.
The crossing to France was via the Euro Tunnel LE SHUTTLE from Folkestone.

We arrived in Paris at about 20:00 (European time) and were accommodated in the Kyriad Hotel, about a 20 minute drive from the Disney Resort.
There was a shopping Mall and a few restaurants just outside the hotel providing suitable eating establishments for your evening meal.
The Hotel was adequate and comfortable.
Breakfast was included the next morning prior to the short journey by the Siesta Coach to Disneyland.
We arrived at Disneyland at about 09:30am.

The pick up from Disney was at 20:40hrs in the evening...A LONG DAY!
My Grandson was shattered after his exiting day with Micky and Buzz Lightyear!
The 20:40 pick up allows you to see the Disney Parade in the evening before returning to the coach.

The next stage of the journey to your chosen resort was a gruelling Hard Slog!

I SUPPOSE AT THE END OF THE DAY...YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!

At 22:00 ish the coach stopped a motorway services to re fuel.
The stop was for about 45 minutes.

Then onwards!

HORRIBLE JOURNEY!
There were a couple of stops along the way so that the drivers could swap.
The hostess retired to her Cabin at about midnight.
I am so glad we decided to take a couple of blankets as the air conditioning on the coach was faulty.
We were all absolutely freezing. I’m sure that you could have transported meat in that lower cabin...it was so cold!
The lack of storage space in the Lower cabin made it impossible for anybody to stretch out!
A couple of passengers even opted to sleep on the floor!!
Eventually at about 08:00hrs the next morning the coach arrived at a Service station not far from the Spanish/French border. It was here that we were met by other Siesta coaches.
Passengers were transferred from one coach to another until we were all sorted into groups destined for different areas of the Spanish coast and your chosen resort.
Eventually after dropping other passengers at their resorts we arrived at Pineda at about 11:00am.
We could not check into the hotel room until 13:00ish.
Very tired!!

IT ALMOST TOOK TWO WEEKS TO GET OVER THAT JOURNEY!
THEN THE DREADED JOURNEY HOME!

Not quite as bad as the outward journey!
This time we were seated on the upper deck.
The Air conditioning was working and there was room for our overnight bags!
You also had a view out of the window! BRILLIANT...!!
The pick up from our hotel was at 13:30hrs ON TIME!!
What's the catch!!
It was another 3 hours later before all the passengers were picked up from their resorts.
Just what you need...a trip round the Costa’s before a long journey home!

We then stopped at the same Motorway Services near the French/Spanish border
(The same as the trip down) and met other Siesta coaches. Passengers were shuffled from one coach to another again!

Then forward!
There was another stop at a Service station at about 21:00hrs for 45 minutes.
Again there were a couple of 5 minute stops during the night to refuel and change drivers.
The coach eventually arrived at the Euro tunnel terminal in Calais in time for the 08:40hrs crossing to Dover. (European Time)
After a 35 minute crossing we were dropped at DOVER Eastern Docks at about
08:55 UK TIME.
Exhausted!

SUMMARY!
An affordable Holiday in the Sun (at the expense of a long and gruelling coach journey.)
The Coaches are not as good as they are hyped up to be (for such a long journey.)
The Drivers and the Hostesses are great.
The Service is always with a smile.
C’mon Siesta...Get some decent Coaches!!
I have now decided that it is time to give my wife a Chemical Kosh!
And put her on a plane (JUST LIKE BA BARACCUS in the A Team!)
“YOU AINT GETTIN ME ON NO PLANE BOSS! (I can hear her say!)

As a final note ...my Grandson had no problem with the journey at all.
He watched the films, then slept like a log...both ways.
He thought it was great!
Maybe I’m just a grumpy old Grandad!

Happy Holidays 

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