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Destination
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Not sure when or where
you want to travel? |
Click below to find a
world of destinations
at your finger tips. |
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Untitled Document
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Historical Timeline |
1970’s - 1980’s. |
Crusader Holidays routes can be traced back to the early seventies when entrepreneur, Roger Staines, formed Staines Coaches to take on, the then, thriving daytrip market in Clacton on Sea.
As a young teenager Roger had shown he had an acute business brain washing dirty potatoes in a tin bath and then bagging them up to sell on to the local neighbourhood at a profit.
Roger, a former London bus driver, had moved to Clacton to drive coaches for a local coach company before buying a taxi licence to start his own business. He quickly realised the potential of the local holiday trade in the resort so bought his first coach to operate day excursions from the local holiday camps in the area..
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1980’s – 1990’s |
With a lot of hard work, the business thrived and Roger soon gained licences to operate coaching holidays to Bournemouth and later, Torquay and other seaside resorts. Crusader Holidays was born.
At this time coaching holidays were in their relative infancy but, by the early eighties, Crusader was among the pioneers who offered affordable short breaks and holidays to mainland Europe. In just a few years Crusader were operating frequent departures to many popular destinations such as Paris, Rhine and Moselle Valleys, Austria, Switzerland and Italy.
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1990’s – 2000’s. |
Throughout the eighties and nineties the business flourished and by the time of Roger’s premature death in 2001 at just 61 years old, the company was carrying in excess of 50,000 customers a year. His son, Antony, took over the helm and the company continued to thrive with a fleet of 28 coaches.
In 2004 Antony decided to sell the business to pursue other challenges and following two successive management buy outs between 2004 and 2011 the company, unfortunately, found itself in administration early December 2012.
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Present Day |
Motts Leisure, owned by Roger and Val Mott, had formed a working relationship with Crusader Holidays in 1998, selling the holidays in their own holiday brochure to their customers in Buckinghamshire and the Home Counties. This had continued so it was only natural that they would do everything they could to rescue the company.
On December 12th 2011, Motts took over the booking office in Clacton with many of the current staff. Roy Finch a senior director with Crusader from the time of Roger Staines and a close friend of Roger and Val was appointed as Chief Executive of the new operation.
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Inspirational Images |
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Easter | The Perfect Spring Break - 6th April | more
info.
Nostalgia | Familiar favourites and era-inspired
tours | more
info.
City Breaks | Legendary landmarks and experiences | more
info.
Battlefield | Memorable experiences and historic
sites | more
info.
Flower Breaks | Dazzling displays and vibrant
views | more
info.
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Historical Coaches |
At Crusader Holidays we have always prided ourselves on the quality of our coaches and the dedicated and professional drivers behind the wheel.
A lot has changed since the first horse drawn stagecoaches carried excited passengers to seaside destinations in the 1800’s. These early tourist where the pioneers that a built a lasting legacy for the Great British Holiday.
Today, Crusader Holidays use modern air-conditioned touring coaches to travel all over the UK, Ireland and Europe to discover a wealth of destinations and experiences.
Despite the many changes and advances in transport and infrastructure over the years what hasn’t changed is the camaraderie and unique atmosphere travelling with like-minded people can bring.
The coach is so much more than your transport from A – B, it forms a memorable part of the holiday where stories are exchanged, dinners & excursions are planned and long lasting friendships are forged.
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Plaxton Supreme |
VanHool |
Setra 250 |
Setra 315 |
Setra 416 |
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Historic Brochure Covers |
You will see below a slide show that showcases our brochure covers over the past 12 years. Every brochure brings with it a plethora of stories, memories and experiences. The hard work and dedication that has gone into producing every brochure is cumulated in the joy of seeing the season’s first tour depart. You will notice the changes in fashion and design over the years have been perfectly captured on all the front covers. Along with the covers the World has changed so much in the past 12 years yet so much as also stayed the same. Many customers who discovered a tour in our 1990 brochure are still travelling with us today. Despite all the changes in technology, transport and the holiday industry we are still determined to deliver quality and value, allow for discovery and comfort and encapsulate all that is great about a British and European Holiday.
And we believe that only a coach holiday can do all this!
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