Unveiled: The Shockingly Low Prices of 80s Vacations

Travel brochures from the 1980s and 90s have recently surfaced, shining a delightful spotlight on the vacation packages of days gone by. Siesta Holidays, a company rooted in Middlesbrough, has been bringing joy to travelers with its coach holidays across Europe for an amazing 44 years—long before budget airlines and Airbnb transformed the way we travel. In celebration of nearly half a century of affordable getaways for the North East community, the company has unveiled some of its earliest promotional materials.

Take a trip back to 1982, and one of the most appealing budget deals was a staggering 17-day adventure priced at just £69 (which is around £250 today). Hear that? Under-19s could travel for free, and a week's escape could be enjoyed for a mere £49. If you were up for two weeks, you could start your journey for just £69! This fantastic package covered all travel and accommodation, whisking holidaymakers away to sunny southern France, the enchanting Italian Riviera, and vibrant Spain.

Fast forward to 1989, and Siesta Holidays was expanding horizons further, taking eager tourists to more distant places like the former Yugoslavia and Austria. Not only could they enjoy travel by their “super coach,” but they also had the option to zoom through the picturesque French countryside on the freshly launched SNCF “Holiday Express.” It makes you wonder—do you think holidays have become pricier compared to the 1980s? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Looking to the present, the average British traveler is planning to spend around £1,690 on holidays abroad in 2024, slightly lower than 2023's projection of £2,115. Last year, the average cost of a holiday was reported at £894, making a small bump from £877 in 2022, according to Finder. Interestingly, Spain remains a favorite destination for Brits, with a staggering total spend of £12.6 billion in 2023, out of approximately £70 billion spent on trips abroad