Generations and Curly Telephone Wires
My first holiday I am sure was up in Creswell in Northumberland I was told later I was about 2-3 years old, why I remember was we went in our car, now we never had a car for most of my life, so this car Morris Minor 1000 stood out in my memory. I cannot remember black and white television it was always colour, even though only 3 channels. We also had a phone in the house from when I was 13, yes a telephone, not a mobile for under 30’s a phone with curly wire and a dial. Back to travel, holidays were up to Scotland I remember Berwick and Solway Firth, down to Filey in North Yorkshire and many more. Trains and buses. Might be my mind but always sunny, do not remember too many days in caravan playing board games. I am sure it is my memory.
So why am I wandering down memory lane, well my generation and probably above would always plan holidays around family. Of course, this is only right, but since my first trip in a plane travel has become so much easier. Maybe not as I type this, but it has and will. We may have to get used to new ways, but we will not lose the desire to explore and visit new countries. In my time the holiday would be that family event along with Christmas, the one we all look forward to. Nothing really changed in that respect, time with family precious and memories created. I am a great believer in that, my 19 years in travel that is why I never understand why people take chances. Booking on the internet when you cannot contact anyone if help needed. But also, attitudes change and that I am sure is for younger generations.
When the world opens again, we will have a ‘New’ world with different procedures and experiences when travelling. That aside, I can assure you I am here to help you all with whatever the new world looks like. Back to younger generation, the generations below myself, they are used to travel and planes, just because they have young families why should that stop them, also forget one holiday a year, families now have multi trips, even if short breaks either in Europe or UK. Then the trend if a birthday ends in ‘0’ that calls for something special. It is this scenario that inspired this blog. You see when travelling with infants they cause the most issues, under 2 years old they do not have a seat, but need ticketing, from an agent perspective a lot of work. I often got a call to say can I add an infant to booking, these bookings just made within hours and customer wanted baby added, I always asked if they didn’t know they had a baby when making booking, I mean laptop on knee, baby in bouncer! I have never had a request to take an infant off a booking though, this I think is what I mean by different generations. Lady calls up going to Antigua with husband and baby, all looked fabulous. Lady explains it is her husband’s 40th birthday and she had second thoughts. Explained unfair on her husband to celebrate his birthday so far away when the baby would spoil it. Me I am thinking a week in the Caribbean with your new family, great beaches (any of the 365 beaches available) wonderful food and drink, nothing could be better. My generation would not have even thought of leaving the baby behind, but this lady explains she did not want the baby to ruin her and husband celebrating his special birthday. She persuaded grandparents to have the baby for a week.
As I say different generations, different attitudes, different thoughts. All I know is I can deal with whatever generation, whatever plans, make sure everyone is catered for. If travelling with infants most airlines will provide free seating, again why book with internet or someone without the experience you do not know or trust. I can arrange all this for you and would arrange that for you, explain what options you have regarding seating, bags, food you can take, I can take the stress away from you. Another trend for multi-generation holidays, so baby, child, parents, and grandparents. Might be more choice to where you can go, how you travel and arrive, who you go with. Everybody in a party or family will have different needs, it is finding someone who can understand what everybody wants from the holiday. It is someone who may understand different generations and attitudes they may have. Someone who can add value to your holiday, that is why I am a Travel Counsellor and only too happy to help all generations, whether travelling together or as a couple.
