Holidays of the year 2011

It’s time to find out which overseas holidays our guests enjoyed the most in 2011.

Our survey results show which holidays, hotels and walks they rated best on our Europe and Worldwide holidays. With approval rates increasing across the board, it’s an exceptional year to be a winner and congratulations to all our suppliers for such excellent results.

Best Worldwide holiday – South Africa

Joint 1st for South Africa’s Drakensberg & Zululand and The Cape & Garden Route – both voted 100% 'very good' for both leadership and overall enjoyment.

Runners up: Imperial Japan; Jordan, Petra and the Ancient Lands


Best European holiday – Selva

Congratulations to our resort in Selva, the Dolomites – 95% of guests rated it 'very good' for overall enjoyment.

Runners up: Mayrhofen, Austria; San Quirico, Tuscany and Menton, French Riviera


Best Worldwide walks – Patagonia

Walks beneath the towering pillars of Paine, amidst glaciers and ancient icecaps in Patagonia left a lasting impression, with scores of 100% 'very good' for enjoyment of the walks.



Runners up: Western Canada & the Rockies and New Zealand, South Island


Best European walks – the French Alps

The French Alps this year have wowed our guests with a amazing 95% of guests rating the walks 'just right' in Les Contamines.

Runners up: Selva; Malta & Gozo and Lesvos


Best overseas trail – Camino de Santiago

Our number 1 overseas trail for 2011 is the Camino de Santiago. Guests who followed this ancient route across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela voted an incredible 100% 'very good' for overall enjoyment.


Runners up: Amalfi Coast Path and Cinque Terre Coast Path


Best Worldwide hotel – Vietnam

Strictly speaking not a hotel, but a deluxe Bhaya. The evening aboard, watching sunset in Halong Bay, Vietnam, received fantastic feedback in letters from guests.

Best European hotel – Ca’del Lupo Hotel, Montelupo

Yet again the wonderful family run Ca’del Lupo Hotel in Montelupo, Piedmont, has won our prestigious Hotel of the Year award. That’s four years in a row! With an amazing score of 95% 'very good', Piedmont is the place to be.


Runners up: Hotel Erhart, Sölden, Austria; Hotel Bacchus, Baška Voda, Croatia and Hotel Kristall, Weidach, Austria


Best Worldwide cuisine – Jordan

The Bedouin feast under the starry skies of the Wadi Rum, Jordan, takes 1st place. Guests tell us they loved the desert experience and the warm hospitality of our Bedouin team.





Best European cuisine – Ca’del Lupo Hotel, Montelupo

The legendary dinners at Ca’del Lupo, Montelupo, Piedmont, win again here with 96% 'very good' for dinner by our delighted guests.





Runners up: Hotel Malleier, Selva, The Dolomites; Hotel Erhart, Sölden, Austria; Hotel Bacchus, Baška Voda, Croatia and Hotel Grotta, Naxos, The Cyclades

Best Cycling holiday – Veneto Highlights

The Veneto Highlights tour received a fantastic 100% response of 'very good' in both the categories for accommodation and overall enjoyment of holiday.




Runner up: Amsterdam to Bruges


Best Cycling leadership – Slovenian Vineyards & Hot Springs

A beautiful part of the world where you can enjoy great cycling and some excellent local tipple. A great performance saw 100% of our guests score our Slovenian Vineyards & Hot Springs tour as 'very good'.



Runner up: Southern Dalmatia


Best Cycling accommodation – Austrian Lakes & Mountains

Stunning scenery with a rich combination of cultural and historical options is the order of the day here. 100% of our guests scored the accommodation on our Austrian Lakes & Mountains holiday as 'very good'.


Runner up: Historic Dordogne