Bath Travel sold

[Ray Scully]

Many have mentioned using this TA in the past. I understand that it has been taken over by Hays Travel of Sunderland. They hope to keep the brand shops and staff.

Ray

[david63]

Story here

Interestingly I always presumed that it was called Bath Travel because it was based/originated in Bath - and not the name of the owner

[Manoverboard]

We have been using Bath Travel for over 10 years so did know their origin ... but who are ' Hays ', never heard them mentioned on here or the P&O Forums.

We will wait and see how the staff respond before taking one's pennies elsewhere.

[CaroleF]

Bath Travel was named after its owner - Peter Bath - who I think died not so long ago. We have one in our village but I've never been impressed with their service. I think it very much depends on the knowledge of the particular staff - I know some people think they are really good. There are more cruise specialists around now who really know and have experienced the cruise ships whereas some of the high street agents just do not have the knowledge.

Carole

[david63]

We have been using Bath Travel for over 10 years so did know their origin ... but who are ' Hays ', never heard them mentioned on here or the P&O Forums.

We will wait and see how the staff respond before taking one's pennies elsewhere.

I have heard of Hays in the past but I don't think that they actually operate under that name but operate under several different names (Hays is the "holding" company)

These may be of interest

Travel website
Corporate site
Company check

[Jan Rosser]

I have been booking with Hays travel for the last couple of years. They are a family owned business and I actually book through one of their agents by telephone. The firm employs homeworkers and after my travel agent jumped ship so to speak and left Thomas Cook who had taken over a small independent firm he worked for I followed him - he is as much a personal friend as a travel agent to me but his knowledge of the cruise industry is second to none. Most of Hayes shops are up in the north but they do have a telephone booking service for all their holidays.

As David says they do have subsidiary companies such as Imagine Cruises and they are classed as the largest independent travel firm in the UK - they don't just sell cruises. I believe their head office is in Sunderland.

[Manoverboard]

Thanks David

Not too sure at the moment, they look a bit ' pile em high ' to me.

For various reasons we try to keep well clear of ' Homeworkers ' in the Travel business.

[arcadialover]

We have been using Go cruise with jane recently and she is excellent and she works from home. Failing that I would prefer to book direct with P&O. I also thought Bath travel was based in Bath.

[Frank Manning]

This makes us really sad. We really like the staff at our local Bath Travel and they have become friends over the years. I guess the younger Bath family members didn't have their heart in the business the way Peter Bath did.

A couple of years ago while running a Marketing Seminar at Bournemouth Uni someone ventured that Travel Agents would be put out of business in 10 to 15 years time due to the internet.

[ronay2006]

We have used Hays in the past (via phone) for booking holidays & they were first class.
Wouldn't hesitate to use again.

[gfwgfw]

Like me I am sure there a many are sadden by the demise of Bath Travel

It was always predominately a southern counties travel company founded by Reginald Bath set up his business in 1924 at a small property sited in central Bournemouth, still Bath Travels headquarters

We have lots of wonderful holiday experiences tailored by BT

Peter Bath - son of Reginald took the small company to an extraordinary level, priding himself with feat of personally being at Bournemouth Airport to ensure tat is clients were cared for, it is recorded that he missed one departure until is death in 2006

Te company has continued under the helm of his three children

RIP Bath Travel

[Southwinds]

Bath took over a local TA a few years ago.... Hope they don't lose the local flights etc if they are to be swallowed up by a midlands company....lets hope they keep,going.

Having said that...I use Bolsover for cruise holidays...excellent

[Susan Watt]

There are hays Travel shops in the North East. We used to use them when we were able to do land based holidays. They used to price match other local travel agents. Not sure if they still do that. Never used them for cruising as have always booked direct with P & O.