My Holidays, since 2003

Why do I used Alfa so often? They are cheaper than most other companies, have a good selection of destinations and tours.
For the cost of a B&B you also get travel to/from the hotel, evening meals and excursions all included.

Why only from 2003? Well, I was single again so started new adventures.

Unfortunately as a solo traveller my options are often limited, unless I pay large supplements, which I don't really want to do.
Despite these challenges I'm still managing a lot of exploring.

All Alfa Holidays coach holidays (in bold) unless stated otherwise - (A)lfa Holidays, (B)&B/Airbnb, (C)aravan, (D)avid Urquhart, (H) Hotel, (4-8)days
Key: SS = Single Supplement, SV = Sea View, LD = Loyalty Discount, NSV = No Sea View available, CD = Cosy Double, EMA = Evening meal allowance

In January 2026 Alfa Travel became Alfa Holidays and Leisureplex became Alfa Hotels

2003-2014

2003 - Carlisle (B&B)
2004 - Braemar, Scotland (Alfa)
2004 - Folkestone & Calais, France (Alfa)
2005 - Ostend, Belgium (Urquhart)
2005 - Ballater, Scotland (Alfa)
2006
2007 - Dunoon, Scotland (Alfa)
2008 - Fort William, Scotland (Alfa)
2008 - Bournemouth (Alfa)
2009
2010
2011 - Morecambe (B&B)
2012 - Dunoon, Scotland (Alfa)
2012 - Llandudno (B&B)
2013 - Towyn (Caravan)
2014 - Criccieth, Wales (Alfa)

2015-2021

2015 - Rhyl, Wales (Pub B&B)
2016
2017 - Blackpool (B&B)
2018 - Strathpeffer, Scotland (Alfa)
2019 - Dunoon. Scotland (Alfa)
2019 - Porthcawl, Wales (Alfa)
2020 - Great Yarmouth (Alfa)
2020 - Dunoon, Scotland (Alfa)
2021 - Exmouth (Alfa)
2021 - Sandown IOW (Alfa)

2022-2023

2022
Scarborough (Alfa)
Llangollen (B&B)
Edinburgh (Airbnb)
Tenby, Wales (Alfa)
Weston-super-Mare (Alfa)
2023
Llandrindod Wells, Wales (Alfa)
Sandown IOW (Alfa)
Eastbourne (Alfa)
Dunoon, Scotland (Alfa)

2024-2025

2024
Durham (Pub B&B)
Blackpool (Airbnb)
Morecambe (B&B)
Bognor Regis (Alfa)
Ilfracombe (Alfa)
Weymouth (Alfa)
2025
Newquay (Alfa) 2 visits
Porthcawl (Alfa)
Bridlington (Alfa)
Melrose, Scotland (Alfa)

2026-2027

2026
Eastbourne (Alfa)
Torquay (Alfa)
Leicester (ibis)
Criccieth, Wales (Alfa)
Sandown, IOW (Alfa)
2027
Exmouth (Alfa)

2027

Thinking of ideas

Alfa Coach Holiday (5 days) seat 5 (34049)
£309 - £77.25/night

(5155B) Delightful Devon
Cavendish Hotel

Mon 15th - Outward Travel
Tue 16th - Teignmouth & Dawlish
Wed 17th - free day
Thu 18th - Sidmouth & Exeter
Fri 19th - Return Travel

2026

4 Alfa Holiday (=34) +1 Half Board Hotel - £2,400

Alfa Coach Holiday (8 days) seat 13
£706 (£569+£147CD+SV-£10LD) - £100.86/night
Balance of £681 is due on 29/08/2026 - QZH30

(195BW) Wonderful Isle of Wight
Bayshore Hotel

Sat 10th - Outward Travel
Sun 11th - Trip to the Donkey Sanctuary
Mon 12th - free day
Tue 13th - free day
Wed 14th - Osborne House & Whippingham Church
Thu 15th - Carisbrooke Castle & Quarr Abbey
Fri 16th - Alum Bay & Yarmouth
Sat 17th - Return Travel

Alfa Coach Holiday (8 days) seat 13
£619 (£629-£10LD-NSV) - £88.43/night
Balance of £594 is due on 13/06/2026 - RWB34

(365BW) Snowdonia, Portmeirion & Railway
George IV Hotel

Sat 25th - Outward Travel
Sun 26th - Porthmadog & Portmeirion
Mon 27th - Scenic Snowdonia & Barmouth
Tue 28th - free day
Wed 29th - free day
Thu 30th - Llanberis & Snowdon Mountain Railway
Fri 31st - free day
Sat 1st - Return Travel

ibis Hotel £405 + approx £70 train fare
Double Room - Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

Wed 1st - Outward Travel - check in from 3:00
Thu 2nd - free day
Fri 3rd - free day
Sat 4th - free day
Sun 5th - Return Travel - check out before 12:00

Alfa Coach Holiday (5 days) seat 28 (RSL97)
£385 (£335+£60SS-£10LD) - £96.25/night

(5154) South Devon Delights
Metropole Hotel

Wed 29th - Outward Travel
Thu 30th - free day - exploring Torquay, instead of Plymouth & Buckfast Abbey
Fri 1st - free day - exploring Torquay
Sat 2nd - Totnes & Brixham
Sun 3rd - Return Travel

Alfa Coach Holiday (7 days) seat 5
£365 (NSV) - £60.83/night

(217) Eastbourne, Rye & Battle

Queens Hotel
Mon 16th - Brighton
Tue 17th - Royal Tunbridge Wells & Sevenoaks
Wed 18th - Alfriston and walk to Seven Sisters visitor centre
Thu 19th - Rye Cat Cafe & Hastings
Fri 20th - Michelham Priory House and Gardens & Battle
Carr Taylor Vineyard was due to be included on this tour but the vineyard closed permanently in August 2025

2025

5 Alfa Holidays (=30) - £2,100

Alfa Coach Holiday (5 days)
£279 (£289-£10LD-NSV) - £69.75/night

(5443) Edinburgh & Border Country

Waverley Castle Hotel
Thu 16th - Edinburgh
Fri 17th - Seahouses & Bamburgh
Sat 18th - The Peebles

Alfa Coach Holiday (7 days)
£544 (£509+£45SV-£10LD) - £90.67/night

(279) Bridlington & North York Moors Railway

Monarch Hotel
Sun 31st - R&J Travel - driver unknown, no microphone and no stop en-route. Arrived at hotel 1:40pm instead of 3:30pm
Driver change: Trevor (Alfa) - called upon the day before but did his best, with A4 notes before each trip.
Mon 1st - North York Moors Railway & Whitby (2.3m)
Tue 2nd - York (3.63m)
No driver for 2 days
Wed 3rd - Bridlington (3.13m)
Thu 4th - Bridlington Old Town (4.11m)
Driver changer: Nigel (Alfa) - Tour went to Scarborough & Filey on Friday but I skipped that for Sewerby Hall, due to great weather.
Fri 5th - Sewerby Hall, Gardens & Zoo (4.7m)
Sat 6th - Beverley (2.23m)

MapMyWalk approx 20m 11h - slightly limited due to knee injury
Longest single walk approx 3.5m
Daily average 3.35m
I forgot to start the app a few times and now I also pause the app when using public transport between route sections, so longest specific sections aren't as easy to track.

Alfa Coach Holiday (8 days)
£575 (£585-£10LD-NSV) - £82.14/night

(130) Cream of Cornish Coast
Removed excursions: Port Isaac* (coach ban) & Flambards (closed)
*2hr45 by 3 service buses - not practical

Eliot Hotel
Sun 6th - Newquay (3.50m) - missed the trips to Falmouth & Truro due to cloudy and very windy weather
Mon 7th - Land's End (1.47m) Mousehole (0.89m) from Penzance (0.44m)
Tue 8th - Newquay (5.07m)
Wed 9th - Prideaux Place & Padstow (2.69m) Newquay (0.88m)
Thu 10th - Boscastle (1.80m) & Tintagel (1.67m)
Fri 11th - St Ives (4.00m)

MapMyWalk 22.43m 12h25 - slightly limited due to knee injury
Longest single walk 5.07m
Daily average 3.74m

Alfa Coach Holiday (5 days)
£395 (£365+£40SV-£10LD) - £98.75/night

(5389) Royal Mint & Mines
Seabank Hotel
Thu 15th - Royal Mint & Welsh Coal Mining Experience
Fri 16th - Bridgend castles & Parc Slip Nature Reserve
Sat 17th - Margam Country Park, Port Talbot

MapMyWalk 16.83m 10h20
Longest single walk 5.65m
Daily average 5.61m

Alfa Coach Holiday (5 days)
£285 (£295-£10LD-NSV) - £71.25/night
(5132) Cornish Towns & Eden
Eliot Hotel
Tue 11th - Eden Project (2.49m) & Mevagissey (1.72m)
Wed 12th - Newquay (4.55m)
Thu 13th - Truro (2.33m) & Falmouth boat trip

MapMyWalk 11.75m 7h03
Longest single walk 4.55m
Daily average 3.92m

2024

3 Alfa Holidays (=25) + 2 B&Bs + 1 Airbnb - £2,100

Alfa Coach Holiday (5 days)
£309 (£319-£10LD-SV) - £77.25/night
(5161) Wonderful Weymouth
The Royal Hotel
Thu 17th - Weymouth (0.72m), West Bay (2.51m) & Dorchester (2.76m)
Fri 18th - Weymouth (4.60m)
Sat 19th - Swanage (2.54m) & Poole (1.71m)

MapMyWalk 14.84m 9h05
Longest single walk 4.60m
Daily average 4.88m

Alfa  Coach Holiday (8 days)
£515(NSV) (£525-£10LD) - £73.57/night
(110) Devon's Hidden Gems
Imperial Hotel
Mon 9th - Woolacombe (2.06m) & Arlington Court (3.83m)
Tue 10th - Minehead (2.07m) Lynmouth* (1.27m) (*heavy rain)
Wed 11th - Ilfracombe, inc Tunnels Beach (4.79m & 1.41m)
Thu 12th - Bude (Gee Vee Travel) (4.85m)
Fri 13th - Quince Honey Farm (0.57m) & Barnstaple (2.87m)
Sat 14th - Ilfracombe (3.04m)

MapMyWalk 26.75m 15h57 (0.3 miles not recorded due to technical glitch)
Longest single walk 4.85m
Daily average 4.56m

Alfa Coach Holiday (7 days)
£550 (£515+£45SV-£10LD) - £91.67/night
Tour: Splendid Sussex & D-Day Story
Royal Norfolk Hotel
Mon 15th (rain) - Brighton & Aquarium (1.14m) & Worthing (2.29m)
Tue 16th - Bognor Regis (0.94m) & Arundel (half day) (2.27m)
Wed 17th - Weald & Downland Living Museum (5.19m)
Thu 18th - Bognor Regis (4.12m)
Fri 19th - Portsmouth (.3.88m) D-Day Story (1.50m)

MapMyWalk 22.03m 12hr05
Longest single walk 3.88m
Daily average 3.67m

B&B Broadwater Guest House (near Town Hall) (wk20)
£330(SV) - £55.00/night
Sun 12th - Canal Walk & Morecambe Winter Gardens Tour (5.73m)
Mon 13th - Lancaster & Heysham (St Patrick's Chapel Remains) (3.44m)
Tue 14th - Bare (2.16m)
Wed 15th - Lancaster Butterfly House & Mini Zoo (2.76m)
Thu 16th - Kendal & Happy Mount Park Morecambe (3.93m)

MapMyWalk 21.15m 11hr53
Longest single walk 4.04m
Daily average 3.53m

Self Catering Apartment (wk8)
£212.22 - (£182.42+£16.80train+£13taxis) £53.06/night
Tue 20th - Fleetwood Market & Cleveleys via Tram (4.45m 4hr15)
Wed 21st - Central Blackpool (3.25m 1hr23)
Thu 22nd - Sea Life Centre & South Blackpool via Tram (2.74m 1hr47)

MapMyWalk 10.43m 5hr28
Longest single walk 3.25m
Daily average 3.48m

B&B Gilesgate, Durham (wk4)
£252 - (£150B&B+£102train) £84/night
Wed 17th - Durham, inc Cathedral (5.08m 2:48hr)
Thu 18th - Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens (0.95m 0:54hr)

MapMyWalk 6.04m 3:42hr
Longest single walk 5.08m
Daily average 3.02m

2023

4 Alfa Holidays (=22) - £1,800

 Alfa Coach Holiday (wk42)
£249 (£239+£20SV-£10LD) - £62.25/night
Selbourne Hotel
Thu 19th - Luss (1.08m 0:37hr) Loch Lomond (1.56m 1:41hr)
Fri 20th - Dunoon (2.30m 1:06hr)
Sat 21st - Inveraray (3.26m 1:59hr) Dunoon (1.47m 0:36hr)
Sun 22nd - Moffat (1.09m 0:47hr)

MapMyWalk - 10.76m 6:46hr - slightly limited due to knee injury & poor weather
Longest single walk 3.26m
Daily average 2.69m (short)


Previous visits:
October 2020
May 2019
April 2012
October 2007
March 2006

Alfa Coach Holiday (wk36)
£609 (£539+£40SS+£40SV-£10LD) £87.00/night

Queens Hotel
Mon 4th - Battle & Carr Taylor Vineyard (4.45m)
Tue 5th - free day - Newhaven & Lewes (5.79m)
Wed 6th - free day - Eastbourne Theatre Tour & Pevensey (4.55m)
Thu 7th - Rye, inc Cat Café & Hasting (3.74m)
Fri 8th - Brighton (3.85m)
Sat 9th - Rye, inc Cat Café (3.79m)

MapMyWalk - 26.18m 15:55hr - slightly limited due to knee injury
Longest single walk 3.85m
Daily average 4.36m

Revisit booked for Mar 2026

Alfa Coach Holiday (wk28)
£609 (£539+£40SS+£40SV-£10LD) (island visited Oct 2021, inc. Alum Bay & Yarmouth) £87.00/night

Bayshore Hotel
Mon 10th - free day - Shanklin Old Village (2.46m)
Tue 11th - Osborne House & Whippingham Church (3.33m)
Wed 12th - free day - Ryde, Newport & Arreton Barns (4.47m)
Thu 13th - free day - Red Squirrel Trail & Newport (3.95m)
Fri 14th - Carisbrooke Castle (2.69m)
Sat 15th - free day - Shanklin (1.45m)

MapMyWalk 18.35m 11:15hr - limited due to December knee injury
Longest single walk 3.95m
Daily average 3.06m

Alfa  Coach Holiday (wk20)
£348 (£289+£69SS-£10LD) £87.00/night

Commodore Hotel, Llandrindod Wells (0.81m)
Tue 16th - Aberystwyth & Devil's Bridge (4.13m)
Wed 17th - Half day to Elan Valley, free time to explore Llandrindod Wells (1.23m)
Thu 18th - Berrington Hall & Ludlow (4.06m)
Fri 19th - Llangollen (1.72m)

MapMyWalk 11.95m 7:39hr - limited due to December knee injury
Longest single walk 2.62m
Daily average 2.79m (short) 

2022

3 Alfa Holidays (=18) - 1 B&B - 1 Airbnb - £1,650

Alfa Coach Holiday - 5 days - £234 (£224+£20SV-£10LD) (£58.50/night)

Anchor Head Hotel,
15-20 min walk to town and main buses. Hourly buses from hotel.
30min walk to train station. Fairly regular buses and trains.
Tue 25th - Cheddar Gorge & Wells (4.93m)
Wed 26th - free day - Bristol (7.92m)
Thur 27th - Bath (3.26m)

MapMyWalk 16.12m 8:45hr
Longest Single Walk 4.89m
Daily average 5.37 (long)

Alfa Coach Holiday - 7 days - £539 (£469+&80SS-£10LD) (£89.83/night)

Cliffe Norton Hotel
5 min walk to town. 10 min walk to buses. 15 min walk to train station.
Buses mainly just hourly services. Trains hourly at best.
Mon 5th - Broad Haven & St David's (2.29m)
Tue 6th - Tenby (1.95m)
Wed 7th - Tenby (2.81m)
Thur 8th - Narberth - trip to Saundersfoot cancelled due to bad weather
Fri 9th - Pembroke Castle (1.24m)

MapMyWalk 8.29m 9:50hr
Longest single walk 2.81m
Daily average 2.07m (short)

AUGUST 2022
Airbnb £194.13 + £92.40 train
Piershill Square West
Thur 4th - 5 mile walk around Portobello and Leith (5.25m)
Fri 5th - Bus Tour and 2m walk around the city (2.06m)
Sat 6th - a couple of Fringe events (0.47m)

MapMyWalk 7.79m 3:05hr 4 walks
Longest single walk 5.25m
Daily average 2.60m (short)

June 2022
Wed 8th - DAY TRIP
£55.30 train (£19.70 ROB-LAN + £35.60 LAN-EDB)
Walk around the city and 1 hour Cobbles bus tour £10

MapMyWalk 4.93m 2:10hr

B&B - 5 days - £220 (£55.00/night)
£220.00 + £19.70 trains + £22.00 buses = £261.70
Cambrian House
Fri 1st - Dep approx 11:00 - arr 14:00 (My Birthday) (1.33m)
Sat 2nd - Bala Lake Railway (bus T3) (3.83m)
Sun 3rd - Llangollen Railway & Classic Transport £27.56 (?m)
Mon 4th - Llangollen (3.03m)

MapMyWalk 8.08m 4:50hr
Longest single walk 1.37m
Daily average 2.69m (short) 

Alfa Coach Holiday - 7 days - £329 (£299+£30SV) (£54.83/night)
Additional: tours £40, travel £15, eating out £50

Cumberland Hotel (very limited sea view)
10-15 min walk to town & train station. 5 min walk to buses.
Regular buses. Trains hourly.
Mon 25th - Filey & Bridlington (6.27m)
Tue 26th - Scarborough Castle £9.00, Peasholm Park & Train ride £4.50 (7.07m)
Wed 27th - Scarborough Sea Life £15.20 (1.29m)
Thur 28th - York (3.26m)
Fri 29th - Pickering, Goathland (Aidensfield) & Whitby & boat ride £5.00 (3.20m)
Sat 30th - Beverley (1.61m)

MapMyWalk 23.23m 12:15hr
Longest single walk 4.39m
Daily average 3.87m 

Unlikely to visit again, due to hotel location.

2021

2 Alfa Holidays (=15) - £1,850

Alfa Coach Holiday - 7 days - £328 (£54.66/night)
Bayshore Hotel
Hotel 5 min walk from nearest bus stops. Regular buses. Some trains.
Mon 11th - Ryde (Half Day) (2.80m)
Tue 12th - Newport & Cowes (4.68m)
Wed 13th - Adgestone Vineyard & Brading Roman Villa (4.65m)
Thur 14th - Godshill Model Village (2.10m)
Fri 15th - Alum Bay & Yarmouth (3.54m)

MapMyWalk 17.77m 10:15hr - limited due to ankle injury
Longest single walk 2.80m
Daily average 3.55m

Revisited again in July 2023

Alfa Coach Holiday - 8 days - £514.00 (£73.43/night)
Cavendish Hotel
5 min walk to town. 10-15 min walk to buses and trains
June
Sun 27th - Exmouth (3.09m)
Mon 28th - Sidmouth & Seaton (6.27m)
Tue 29th - rest day (1.60m)
Wed 30th - River Cruise & Exeter (4.68m)
July
MY 50TH BIRTHDAY: Thur 1st
Thur 1st - Buckfast Abbey, Dartmoor & Torquay (1.60m)
Fri 2nd - Teignmouth & Dawlish (4.86m)

MapMyWalk 22.1m 10:30hr - limited due to injury
Longest single walk 4.68m
Daily average 3.36m

2020-2015

5 Alfa Holidays (=13) + 2 B&Bs + 1 caravan

Alfa Coach Holiday - 5 days
Selborne Hotel
Tue 13th - Inveraray & Tighnabruaich
Wed 14th - Dunoon
Thu 15th - Dunoon

Alfa Coach Holiday - 5 days
New Beach Hotel
Tue 8th - Sheringham & Cromer
Wed 9th - Great Yarmouth, St Olaves, Caister-on-Sea & California
Thu 10th - Norwich

Alfa Coach Holiday - 5 days
Seabank Hotel
Mon 14th - Cardiff inc Tour
Tue 15th - Tenby
Wed 16th - Cardiff
Thu 17th - Swansea - did not visit due to heavy rain and strong winds

Revisited again in May 2025

Alfa Coach Holiday - 5 days
Selborne Hotel
Tue 6th - Dunoon
Wed 7th - Largs
Thu 8th - Oban & Inveraray
Fri 9th - Moffat

Alfa Coach Holiday - 5 days
Mackay's Spa Lodge Hotel
Tue 18th - Highland Folk Museum & Cairngorms
Wed 19th - Elgin & Nairn
Thu 20th - Urquhart Castle & Inverness

B&B - 3 days
The Tulip Hotel
Wed 14th - Blackpool
Thu 15th - Blackpool Zoo

Caravan - 5 days
Happy Days Caravan Park
Towyn & Rhos-on-Sea

B&B - 5 days
Imperial Hotel
Tue 17th to Sat 21st
Wed 18th - Holywell

2014-2008

4 Alfa Holidays (=8) + 2 B&Bs + 1 caravan

Alfa Coach Holiday - 5 days
George IV Hotel
Thu 17th - Caernarfon & Llanberis
Fri 18th - Criccieth
Sat 19th - Blaenau Ffestiniog & Porthmadog
Sun 20th - Chester

Caravan - 5 days
Happy Days Caravan Park
Rhyl, Denbigh, Rhuddlan & St Asaph, Rhos-on-Sea, Caernarfon & Conwy, Llanberis

B&B - 5 days
Llandudno, Conwy, Betws-y-Coed & Rhos-on-Sea

Alfa Coach Holiday - 7 days
Selborne Hotel
Mon 23rd - Oban & Inveraray
Tue 24th - Dunoon & Benmore Botanic Garden
Thu 26th - Loch Lomond & Callander
Fri 27th - Tighnabruaich

B&B - 5 days
Morecambe, Heysham, Overton & Carnforth canal

Alfa Coach Holiday - 7 days
Devon Towers Hotel
Mon 20th - Salisbury
Tue 21st - Poole
Wed 22nd - Bournemouth
Thu 23rd - Weymouth
Fri 24th - Christchurch

Alfa Coach Holiday - 5 days
Croit Anna Hotel
Thu 5th - Commando Memorial Spean Bridge, Fort Augustus Locks (Loch Ness), Inverness, Old Packhorse Bridge Carrbridge, Laggam Dam
Fri 6th - Lower Falls
Sat 7th - Eilean Donan Castle, Portree (Skye), Loch Duich Viewpoint

2007-2003

4 Alfa Holidays + 1 B&B + 1 Urquhart Travel

Alfa Coach Holiday - 5 days
Selborne Hotel
Thu 26th
Fri 27th
Sat 28th
Loch Ruel viewpoint, Tighnabruaich, Oban, Inveraray, Rothesay

Alfa Coach Holiday - 5 days
Hotel & Excursions unknown

Urquhart Travel Coach Holiday - 5 days
Unable to remember the hotel.
Somewhere just over the border in The Netherlands, Unable to remember where.

Alfa Coach Holiday - 5 days
Grand Burstin Hotel, Folkestone
Calais and other places that I can't remember

Alfa Coach Holiday - 7 days
The Fife Hotel, Braemar
Ballater, Aberdeen and several other places that I can't remember

B&B - 5 days
Carlisle, Brampton & Hadrian's Wall

Referral Link
Referral Link
Referral Link
Referral Link
Referral Link

© Copyright 2026 Beth Nicole Gordon - All Rights Reserved
Site Version 2026.01.06 - Last Updated 2026.04.22.1037
Benico Enterprises - L36 UK