Forget Sex and Games for the Aged. (Saga)

Member Name: jo@145

Product:	Saga
Date:	29/01/08 (319 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Travel company for over 50's

Disadvantages: Must have British Passport and be over 50

"Don't ever expect me to go on a SAGA holiday", I said to my husband a few years ago. This was after watching lots of older ladies being herded around at the airport, although the Saga rep managed to get them all to the front of the queue!
We glanced at the magazines which dropped through the door occasionally, but never considered going on a SAGA holiday, until we were looking for a cruise last year, as I was unable to walk far and decided this would solve the problem, I would be able to arrive at different ports and get a change of scenery without much effort on my part. My husband researched on the internet and discovered SAGA was actually cheaper than booking ourselves!
So, guess what? I ate my words and we joined the old ladies and just a few old gentlemen, and went with SAGA. This I might add was many years after I had uttered those words, and I was actually retired! Saga incidentally is for the over 50's, so although we were "young" at 60+, there were people younger than us, as well as many older.

Saga Magazine costs £17.95 for 1 yr by Direct Debit, and gives details of holidays, but is actually a great magazine with superb articles, competitions, recipes, puzzles etc, but you can find out about the holidays by going online at www.saga.co.uk .

Saga Travel shop online
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The travel and leisure page is bright and easy to navigate. There is even a set of three " T"'s to click on to increase the size of the text if it is too small. On the left of the screen is a list of destinations. This includes the British Isles, Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia, Australasia, plus cruises, Interest holidays and information about living abroad. Flights and hotels only can be booked, as can wildlife or specialist holidays, or group or single holidays.
They have 2 cruise ships only for Saga customers and some hotels , but in most cases you are mixed with other holidaymakers.

Booking holidays.
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If you know where you want to go choose the name of the ocean cruising ship, river cruising, resort holiday or touring holiday. Then choose the location - names appear in the drop down box. Then select holiday, and departure date. A click then gives you the cost of the holiday, with details of departure airport, dates and types of cabin if this is a cruising holiday. It is so easy then to continue and book online or you can phone Saga free of charge, with lines open 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm at weekends.
We had a few questions to ask so actually phoned and paid over the phone rather than online. The operator was very knowledgeable and helpful, and suggested we might like to get a SAGA credit card as that would give us 10% discount on the bill onboard for drinks etc as no money changes hands everything goes on a bill.
If you book online you can also get a discount, varying from £25 per person for ocean cruising to 310 for River cruising, but I can't say how easy it is to pay online.

After booking.
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All the paperwork arrived promptly and the week before we left the representative phoned to introduce herself and answered any questions we had.

The holiday.
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We were met at the airport on our arrival in Portugal, and taken by mini bus to the ship. The rep gave us plenty of information on the journey and everyday was out and about and chatting to people , making sure they were happy, and enjoying their holiday. The service was first class and I couldn't fault it.
Our fellow passengers were mostly older, but we adopted a couple of old ladies and were amazed by their energy and enjoyment of life. For more information on that holiday, feel free to read my review on The "Algarve Cruiser", called "Cruising up the River on a sunny afternoon", written last April.

Cost
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Obviously each holiday varies, and as I said we got a good deal with the holiday we went on, some might cost more than booking with High Street travel agents but especially for older single travellers they like the fact there is always a rep on hand.


Would we use SAGA again?
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We very nearly did, but booked up somewhere else, with a company who has arranged our holiday to suit our needs and saved us several hundred pounds, compared with SAGA. But we continue to look at their holidays just in case we fancy something else!

Is it safe?
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Yes they are ATOL protected and members of ABTA and have been running for about 50 years.

PS Ignore the awful jokes about Sex and games for the aged , SAGA is well worth checking out. And lastly I am informed by a Dooyoo reviewer that you need a British passport.

Summary: Saga can arrange your holidays if you are over 50, providing you with a excellent service.