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Phil Hopkins
Group Travel Editor & Theatre Correspondent
@philhopkinsuk
1:00 AM 4th November 2024
travel

Saga ‘Learning’ Holidays On The Up

Photo: David Becker on www.unsplash.com
Photo: David Becker on www.unsplash.com
Special Interest bookings at Saga Holidays, where travellers choose to combine their vacation with some ‘later life learning’, by trying something new or indulging an existing hobby or pastime, have seen a two-thirds year-on-year increase in bookings.

According to recent research conducted by YouGov, more than 65% of British travellers agreed with the statement that “I like to come back from holiday having learnt something new”.

And Saga Holidays customers are increasingly mindful to use their holidays doing just that, with demand for ‘SPINs’, which range from bird watching on the Costa Blanca to astronomy in Tenerife – rising by 64% between 2024 and 2025.

Now the company is predicting a continuation in the trend.

Zoe Tasker, Product Director, Saga Holidays, said:
“Special interest holidays, or SPINs, have always been a popular option among our customers as they offer so much more than just a typical getaway.

“However, the significant rise in bookings is particularly noteworthy. What sets Saga apart is the presence of a local expert guide in addition to our dedicated Saga hosts with access to local expertise.”


Saga Holiday’s top selling SPIN holidays are:

Walking Madeira's Levadas – 7 nights all inclusive from £1,225 per person
Madeira’s levadas – or ‘mini canals’ – were built to transport water across the island’s rugged interior but are now popular walking routes that hug mountainsides and offer spectacular views of valleys, forests, and waterfalls. Rated as grade three, the paths are ideal for those who enjoy a variation in walking levels from easy to moderate, and guests should be prepared to walk between 5-9 miles each day, with moderate ascents and descents.

Archaeology in Greece – 7 nights half board plus from £1,495 per person

Photo: Mauricio Munoz on www.unsplash.com
Photo: Mauricio Munoz on www.unsplash.com
Using the comfortable and welcoming Hotel Alkyon in Vrachati on the Peloponnese Peninsula as the base, this seven-night hosted visit will immerse guests in the world of ancient Greece with tours of Athens and the Acropolis, Olympia and the ruins of Delphi, Epidaurus, and Mycenae – all guided by an expert host.

In response to the growing demand, Saga is announcing a host of new SPIN holidays for 2025, catering to a variety of interests.

These include Walking in Gran Canaria, Archaeology in Crete, Birdlife of Malaga, Madeira’s Enticing Gardens, and Bridge in Tenerife.

More details
https://holiday.saga.co.uk/holidays/holiday-types/special-interest, or speak to one of Saga’s trusted travel advisors on 0808 303 0095.