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Top10TravelAgents.com – First Choice Reviews of Best 1st Choice Holidays

First Choice Holidays Limited is a UK-based online travel agency and tour operator, headquartered in Luton, England. It is a subsidiary of TUI UK . First Choice previously traded as a subsidiary of First Choice Group plc until its merger with TUI Travel plc in 2007. The current Managing director is Andrew Flintham.

This top travel agents’ holidays are all about that great value, Top10TravelAgents has loads of these deals to suit every kind of budget on our Discounts & Offers Page. Everything from adults-only and family breaks to once-in-a-lifetime retreats in the company’s catalogue. You’ll find holidays that are just right and if you want a one-click package that takes care of everything.

Maybe you are the type that wants control over everything to the minor details – like your break’s duration, the airport you fly from and the board basis – you have got loads of options to keep your cravings at bay, too.

A BTA & ATOL Protection:

As part of the TUI Group it does fall under the same ATOL and ABTA licences as TUI.

All of this top travel agents’ package all inclusive holidays that are include both flights and hotel or accommodation are included in the ATOL protection. In any event that might affect your holiday, your money will be safe, and you won’t end up stranded abroad keeping you calm and secure in any situation.

ABTA member, when booking with one of the members you can travel with confidence and keep calm with the safe knowledge you have booked with a reputable travel agent. Any European Economic Area (EEA) holiday booked through an ABTA member you are financially protected and can continue your holiday as planned or ask for your money back.

Why book with First Choice?

The travel company is pushing the boat out to offer the biggest variety of more bang-for-your-buck breaks than ever before. Talking everything from getaways to family favourites like our action-packed Holiday Villages and SplashWorld waterpark hotels, to luxurious couples’ escapes to far-flung spots like Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

Plus, this travel company has got oodles of hotel-only deals, which are spot on if you’d prefer to sort out your own travel. But that’s not all, they have maxed out the board bases in our roster, meaning you can now take your pick of Self Catering, Half Board and Full Board holidays. But, of course, you can still opt-in for good old favourite All Inclusive Holidays.

How do you use a First Choice discount code?

• Copy the code from the Top10TravelAgents.com main page or the offers on this page?
• Click on the “Visit [agent]” or “Get Deal” buttons on this page.
• Search and select the holiday you would like to book. Holiday must meet discount code’s terms & conditions.
• On the holiday summary page, enter the code in the box under “Price Breakdown”, then click “Validate Code”. The price of your holiday should have had the discount amount taken off. (Any problems entering your promo code, please contact the travel company, who can direct and help)

Please note that the promo codes can only be used when you make a new booking! If you have already booked your holiday, the travel company can not add any codes after that.

The video below takes you through how to use a Holidays Discount Code. During any year this top travel agent releases promotional codes that can be used when booking a holiday with this travel agent.

What Choice Holidays can you book ?

The top travel agents’ value package all inclusive holidays take the hassle out of booking your next trip abroad. Whether you’ll be looking to travel with a large group or just as a couple, maybe it will be a whole family and friends type of booking. The company will help with your search for that bespoke break just for you.

Here is what the company can offer you as 1st choice:

Family-focused fun, go-slow spa escapes or luxury getaways – you can find it all at this top travel agent, they do cover all the bases when the time comes to finding a holiday. They even go down to the minute details of the holiday, which means it is easy to come across award-winning hotels, best destinations for beaches and retreats just for grown-ups.

From beach getaways to globe-trotting tours, this travel company can take you anywhere. Nothing will beat their beach holidays, family breaks or a couples’ retreat, all is at your fingertips. Everything from party pads and great sun holidays to the family-run properties, all are handpicked by the top travel agent.

All Inclusive Holidays

This top travel agents all inclusive holidays will be liked by anyone. Forgetting about your wallet for meals, snack and local drinks, because all is included. On the hotel side with a 5-star all inclusive holiday, everything is a little better, not only the food and drinks. There are hotels and places that include free activities, like bike and boat rides, aerial adventure course and much more.

Some of this travel company top destinations for all inclusive holidays that are recommended are known places like Ibiza, Costa del Sol, Majorca, Benidorm and Tenerife are the Spain offerings. But there are also destinations like, Turkey, Cyprus, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Jamaica that this top travel agent will take you on a All Inclusive Holiday.

What UK Airports can you fly out from?

This travel company has access to 26 airports spread across the United Kingdom. Here is the full list of UK airports, with Airport Codes, that First Choice can fly you out from on your holidays:

Aberdeen – ABZ, Belfast International – BFS, Birmingham – BHX, Bournemouth – BOH, Bristol – BRS, Cardiff – CWL, Doncaster – DSA, Durham (Teeside International) – MME, East Midlands – EMA, Edinburgh – EDI, Exeter – EXT, Glasgow Int. – GLA, Humberside – HUY, Inverness – INV, Leeds Bradford – LBA, Liverpool – LPL, London City – LCY, London Gatwick – LGW, London Heathrow – LHR, London Southend – SEN, London Stansted – STN, London Luton – LTN, Manchester – MAN, Newcastle – NCL, Norwich – NWI, Southampton – SOU

How do you deposit or pay for your booking with this top travel agent?

Debit Cards like Maestro, Mastercard Debit, Visa Electron, Visa Debit and Delta. For all of these cards, you won’t even have to pay a charge when you book with this travel company. Other payments options include Credit Cards from VISA and MasterCard but only restricted to UK Issued cards. Cheques, where if you have booked in one of TUI’s travel shops you can pay using building society cheque or bankers draft.

Direct Debit: if you rather split the cost of your holiday and make it more manageable you can set up a Direct Debit payments option. How does the Direct Debit with this top travel agent work? You pay your deposit and the rest of the cost is spread out across monthly instalments with a minimum of at least three payments and the final one 98 days before you are due to fly.

PayPal: Fast and secure way to pay for your holiday, although like any other payments you need to follow the PayPal Terms & Conditions.

First Choice App:

For some reason, this top travel agent has chosen to compare the upgrade of their new travel App to a Fairy Godmother deed. What they have actually done is updated the look and feel, they have added some new features.

Because the company is owned by the TUI Group the mobile app will be a carbon copy of what you see with the TUI App . So, for any customers that have previous experience with the TUI App , they will find the travel App exactly the same with all the perks.

Y ou can’t use the First Choice App if:

• You didn’t book directly with TUI either online , in-store or over the phone
• Your booking includes more than 1 hotel or 2 First Choice flights.
• You have booked a Marella Cruise.
• Your booking includes flights with another carrier.

Environmentally Friendly: Protecting the planet

Looking after its customers is the top priority for this top travel agent, but looking out for the planet is, too. Making sure in the best way to make your favourite destinations stay nice and clean for years to come. The company claims to set the bar high when it comes to keeping its carbon footprint light.

A lot of the hotels associated with this travel company are taking on new things like growing veggies or caring for wildlife near the hotel. Head over to the Better World page for more information.

How do other travel companies reviews  compare to Top 10 Travel Agent Reviews?

There are two types of reviews that you can come across online – expert and the more traditional customer travel agent reviews.

• The expert travel agency reviews will usually provide you with an unbiased evaluation of a UK agency and will highlight its pros and cons.
• A customer holiday review, on the other hand, will offer a more subjective view of an OTA website or service. It will be sharing personal experiences and will most likely focus on a certain feature that wasn’t for whatever reason up to standard.

Flight only

Overall rating.

Top10TravelAgents.com Best Travel Agent Reviews – TUI Reviews and Guide to Holidays 2024 About: The World’s leading tourism group! They do have a broad…

Top 10 Travel Agency Reviews – Best Holiday Deals – Love Holidays Reviews   About: Love Holidays offers a fantastic range of cheap all inclusive…

Top10TravelAgents.com Travel Agency Reviews – Expert easyJet Review About: easyJet Holidays is part of the British Low-cost airline group Easy Jet plc., with its…

Top10TravelAgents.com – First Choice Reviews of Best 1st Choice Holidays About: First Choice Holidays Limited is a UK-based online travel agency and tour operator,…

Top10TravelAgents Reviews – all-inclusive holidays Expedia reviews About: Founded in 1996, this top travel agent is one of the world’s leading full-service online, helping…

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How to restore confidence in travel during an uncertain time

Safety is top of mind for consumers as they look beyond the current shelter-in-place mandates toward a recovery period when they can resume traveling. What else are they looking for beyond safety? What sources do they trust for information? What reassurances do they need when they travel?

To find out about expectations, attitudes and behaviors, PwC surveyed more than 1,000 consumers nationwide during the week of April 22. All respondents had taken at least one flight or spent at least one night in a hotel during 2019.

Consumers seek trusted sources

The leading authority survey respondents trust for safety guidelines is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with 59% of consumers rating the CDC first among sources they will consult before traveling. In fact, they are 70% more likely to trust the CDC than the federal government (36%), which ranks fourth on the list of trusted sources, after state governments (49%) and other health organizations (37%).

Implications

Use every touch point with consumers to help reassure them by giving them some control of their environment. With driving taking precedence over flying, especially during summer 2020, hotels should look to use data-driven marketing to target those customers most likely to stay at their property within the travel radius of a car in the short-term. They can even provide sanitized parking services to reassure consumers during their stay.

CDC is most trusted source

Consumers want control of their surroundings.

Safety matters so much to consumers surveyed that they are willing to pay more for it: 43% are likely to spend more to confirm physical distancing on their next flight. Families with children are even more safety-conscious, with 60% willing to pay more, as are 55% of younger consumers aged 18 to 40 years.

After having to adjust to stay-at-home orders during the recent past, consumers surveyed are likely seeking control of their surroundings when they travel: Almost half said they will drive to their next vacation in a personal vehicle, and 40% said their next vacation will not include any flying. Among those who took at least one round-trip leisure flight in 2019, 80% plan to drive to their next vacation in a personal vehicle.

Brand trust can make a difference to consumers, with more than double the number of consumers surveyed saying they will avoid spending the night in a short-term rental property (37%) versus a brand-name hotel (16%). Brand-name hotels have the opportunity to build on that trust as demand rebounds by touting their ability to adhere to new safety standards at scale.

Use every touch point with consumers to help reassure them by giving them some control of their environment. With driving taking precedence over flying, especially during summer 2020, it should be important to provide sanitized parking services to reassure consumers.

Consumers prefer personal vehicles and brand-name hotels

Consumers want evidence of safety protocols.

Consumers are putting their faith in brands they trust and they are likely equating brand trust with cleanliness. While factors such as price, loyalty programs, location for hotels and schedules for airlines carried fairly equal weight in the past, brand trust — including confidence in safety and cleanliness — is now the top purchase driver with our consumer respondents.

In fact, almost 75% of respondents said employees wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and third-party certified sanitation reviews offer them a sense of security. They are also hungry for information: The vast majority of consumers surveyed — almost 85% — said their travel decisions will hinge on communications they receive from hotels and airlines about safety. Some 40%, however, said they are unsatisfied with the communications they’re currently receiving about safety protocols.

Communicate to consumers about safety by equipping workers with PPE. Outfit the cleaning crew assigned to COVID-19-related sanitization procedures with special uniforms that identify them as such. Communicate frequently with consumers about your safety policies, including identifying which trusted sources — such as the CDC — are helping guide the policies.

Brand trust encompasses safety and cleanliness

Consumers  want  to travel again.

Consumers surveyed are most definitely looking forward to traveling again. Almost 40% of consumers plan to travel by July 2020, while close to 75% plan to do so by September. Leisure travel by younger consumers (18 to 40 years old) will help lead the return. Some consumers are so eager to travel that once restrictions have eased, almost a third of respondents who did not travel at all in 2019 plan to take at least one round-trip leisure flight, while 13% of all consumers plan to fly more than they did in 2019.

In the 12 months after restrictions have eased, some 90% of consumers expect to travel again. However, more than a third plan to take fewer flights than they did in 2019. So, while travel will rebound, a segment of consumers will likely continue to be wary of resuming their pre-COVID-19 pace of travel.

While demand for travel should eventually bounce back, the nature of that demand is likely to be different. Identify and nurture new customer segments — those who plan to travel more than they did in 2019 — to confirm they are comfortable with safety and sanitization protocols. TTH companies that will emerge stronger from this crisis will likely recognize that every traveler matters.

Consumers choose destinations based on healthcare access

When they do travel, consumers surveyed are seeking destinations that are adequately equipped with healthcare facilities. They are aware that any environment that requires being around a lot of other people may have risks, and public transportation, bars, arenas, movie theaters and other entertainment venues may have greater risks.

While a vaccine inspires the most confidence in potential travelers — and is at least two-thirds more influential than any other factor — consumers surveyed also seek easy access to testing at their destinations. They are more likely to select destinations that are past the peak of COVID-19 infection and have adequate contact tracing and hospital capacity.

Deepen relationships with customers — and potential customers — so you can better understand their travel preferences. Tailor communications programs to help communicate that safety is paramount.

What do consumers perceive as risky?

What matters in a travel destination, preparing for a different future.

The travel ecosystem is intrinsically linked to government officials easing restrictions, companies determining travel policies for their employees, and scientists devising vaccines and treatments. Consumers are paying close attention to each of these factors, but they are also ready to resume traveling soon — some even more than they did last year. However, travel may grow gradually at first, as people acclimate to a different future, one in which health and safety are the top priorities.

Leisure travel is an experience consumers have historically associated with having fun. Layered on that expectation — in the wake of the current crisis — is an expectation of protection. Travelers want to be informed about what TTH companies are doing to improve their safety standards, based on protocols provided by trusted sources like the CDC.

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Solo Traveler

Solo travel tips, destinations, stories... the source for those who travel alone.

Travel Solo for the First Time: Complete Guide for Newbies

June 7, 2023 by Janice Waugh

You're going to travel solo for the first time. It's a big deal and yet, not such a big deal if you know how.

You likely have some questions.

You may have some concerns.

Don't worry, we're here to help.

For more than 14 years, Solo Traveler has been helping people with solo travel tips for newbies, as well as for those stretching their solo travel muscles to more challenging destinations.

Some people don't give their plan to travel solo a second thought. Others live with anxiety at every stage of the planning process. For still others, their worries only come at the 11th hour. They are about to leave and start to panic.

Having a good sense of what solo travel is like and planning for it will go a long way to easing you into your first solo trip. There is a lot of information on Solo Traveler. In fact, there are over 700 posts about the many aspects of solo travel.

This post covers the basics of how to travel alone for the first time. It will also point you to more in-depth articles on specific aspects of solo travel. If you're in your 20s or 30s, check out this piece on solo travel .

It's my hope that it will help those who are new to solo travel find what they need to go with confidence.

Table of Contents

How to Travel Alone for the First Time

When first-time solo travelers announce their intention to travel alone, they often face a lot of questions from family and friends. The primary one is, “why”? To get this issue out of the way, read about the why of solo travel here .

Now, let's get on to the how.

Preparation for your first solo trip can be broken down into a number of parts. You need to decide:

• How much you have to spend.
• Where to go.
• How to get there.
• Where you will stay.
• How long you will stay.
• How you will travel at your destination.

Huh! Those six decisions look pretty familiar to anyone who has traveled. Yes, much of solo travel is the same as all travel.

However, there is another list, this time of questions, that first-time solo travelers need to consider:

• Am I ready to travel by myself?
• How challenging a destination should I consider?
• Am I comfortable with my own company?
• Do I want to meet people on my trips or is solitude my objective?
• What do I need to do to be safe?
• How do I ensure my loved ones that I will be safe?
• Am I better to go solo on a group tour or is independent solo travel right for me?

Those seven questions are not the questions that every traveler asks. They are, however, important for those traveling solo for the first time.

Below, we'll get into tips and advice that will help you answer each question.

Is Solo Travel a Good Idea? Get Ready for Your First Solo Trip

Solo travel is a confidence booster but you have to actually travel solo for that to happen. So how do you gain confidence before you go? I have a few suggestions.

• Find your cheerleader . When you tell people about your trip, notice who is excited about it. Spend as much time as you can with those people as they will build your confidence. Try to avoid the naysayers.
• Stop watching crime shows. They are not representative of the dangers in the world.
• Plan how you will stay in touch with home . The fact that you will stay connected will build your confidence.
• Find a local contact . Chances are, someone you know, knows someone where you're going. Get the concept of six degrees of separation working for you.
• Find out if there is a Greeter program in your destination so that you can meet up with a local.
• Be patient with yourself . Take your time. Please know that even very experienced solo travelers become overwhelmed from time to time, especially at the outset of a trip. It will pass! Be prepared to handle this by reading Feeling Overwhelmed? How to Conquer First-Day Solo Travel Anxiety .

Best Countries for a First Solo Trip

Your choice of destination for first time solo travel is important. It can make the difference between a successful, confidence-building first trip with a future of many more solo trips, or one with mixed results. I suggest that first trips be to destinations where it's easy to find people who speak your language. In your own language, you'll find it easier to navigate, feel safer, and meet more people.

Certainly you can travel your own country. There is always more to see near home. But if you want to visit another country, as many new travelers do, consider Canada , the United States , the United Kingdom , Ireland , Australia , or New Zealand .

You'll find more specific ideas for where to go on your first solo trip here.  You may also want to read  Best Solo Travel Destinations: Real Solo Travelers Love These,   Best Budget Destinations for Solo Travelers , and Summer Solo Travel: Great Destinations, Good Times Guaranteed .

Travel Solo but Not Lonely

Solo travel need not be a lonely experience. Many solo travelers say that they meet more people traveling alone than they do when traveling with others. After all, you are not focused on a companion. You are open to meeting people and that makes people feel comfortable approaching you.

However, there are things you can do to make sure you have a social experience. Here are a number of posts that will help.

• How to Travel Alone Without Being Lonely: 10 Tips & 12 Posts
• Eating Alone Is Easy When You Know How
• Expert Tips for Shy Travelers and Solo Travel Introverts

Stay Safe While Traveling Solo

There is so much to be said on this topic, especially when you are traveling solo for the first time.

Here's a link to our  Solo Travel Safety: 50 Tips post that covers just about everything you need to know.

Here are a few basics:

• Arrive at a new destination well before dark . Daylight gives you a better sense of the safety of a place.
• Take the business card of your hotel with you when you go out for the day.
• Don't tell people you meet where you're staying. Your accommodation should be your safe zone.
• Be prepared to be impolite if someone is bothering you. This comes up in Solo Female Travel Safety: Advice for What Women Worry About .
• Always have travel insurance . Since I started to travel at 15 years of age, I've always had insurance. Read: A Complete Guide to Travel Insurance for Solo Travelers .
• Use public Wi-Fi with a VPN. If you're planning to use public Wi-Fi for doing anything that requires security, such as booking a hotel room with a credit card, make sure you have a VPN. Read  Best VPN for Travel: What, Why, How & New Recommendations .
• Keep your money and credit cards in multiple places . Here's  How to Manage Money While Traveling .
• Download these safety apps . Here are 10 Solo Travel Safety Apps to give you peace of mind.

Remember, as you travel you're in a holiday mindset and a different culture. Both factors will affect your ability to judge situations. To keep you safe in a variety of situations, it's helpful to be clear on your safety rules before going. And, most importantly, trust your instincts.

Should Your First Trip Be a Tour?

When does a tour make sense?

• being alone
• your safety
• finding the time to plan
• missing important highlights
• navigating new cities
• getting lost
• If you want to go to a destination that you consider challenging.
• If you want to break up a long trip. If you're on your own for a month or more, you may want to include a tour so that you have company for a while and you can relax while someone else manages the details.

Tour companies are not all the same. There are a wide variety of experiences available and a number of things to consider when choosing a tour.

Read  How to Choose a Tour: Top Tips for Solo Travelers.

Taking a tour can be a good way to get an introduction to a destination and help you build your confidence. By adding time on your own at the end of a tour, you can then travel solo independently for the first time as well.

You'll also want to browse our solo travel tours  page or, if you already have a good idea of what you're looking for, use our searchable trips page to get to what you want faster. Solo Traveler is the best source for a continuously updated list of a variety of tour companies offering trips with no or low single supplements. If you'd like to receive it by email each month, you can sign up here .

How to Plan to Travel Alone

If you have decided that you have the confidence, that you are comfortable in your own company, and that you can take care of your safety, you may have decided that you will travel solo independently.

Here are my suggestions:

• Make a budget . Know how much you can spend so that you plan your transportation and accommodation, the two most expensive aspects of a trip, accordingly. Here's more on creating a budget , along with a handy interactive spreadsheet.
• K now the basics . Before you leave, be sure you understand the visa requirements and spend a few moments to understand the currency exchange. Make sure your passport doesn’t expire for at least three months after your trip ends as some countries have such a minimum for visitors.
• Book your flights/trains.  Yes, you check your passport and visa needs first and then book your flights. You don't want to get ahead of yourself, put the money out for a flight and discover later that you have to pay a fee to have it changed. Also, book your transportation so that you arrive before dusk. Everything looks better in daylight and, if your hotel/hostel isn't to your liking, you'll have time to make changes.
• Book your accommodation. Arriving in a new city, not knowing how it works, and still having to find a place to stay can be stressful, especially when it's your first time traveling solo. Plus, you can end up spending more than you budgeted because you just have to get a place. If you're looking for a hotel, we use and recommend booking.com . Here are a variety of other options: Best Accommodation for Solo Travelers: The Choice is Yours .
• Study a map. Maps provide a bird’s-eye view of a new destination. They give you a sense of distance between places and, therefore, what’s possible to do in a day. You’ll also get a sense of where the areas are that you want to avoid for safety reasons.
• Add important numbers to your phone. Research useful apps for your phone and download them when you have free Wi-Fi. While you may not want to stay connected with home as you travel, important numbers should be in your phone before you leave. Get the front desk staff at your accommodation to help you add important local numbers to your phone such as the one for your hotel or hostel.
• Pack light so you can manage your own things. One carry-on sized bag and a daypack or large purse should do it. Here's how to pack light . A reader recently provided an excellent reason for this from their own experience: “I used the info on your blog about traveling with only carry-on and a small wardrobe when I traveled solo to Peru. Having no checked bag saved me from missing a connecting flight in the Lima airport.”
• Arrive at the airport, train, or bus station early. Whether it’s traffic congestion or a massive lineup at the airport, many things can slow you down when trying to catch a flight.
• Don’t plan much for your first day. Take the time to settle in and get to know the city and how it works. Do people line up for the bus? What’s the street food like and where are the busiest stands? What’s within walking distance of your lodging? Take it slow and learn.

Tips from Seasoned Solo Travelers

Over on the Solo Travel Society on Facebook, there are many experienced solo travelers as well as people who are new to traveling alone. I asked those experienced travelers what tips they would offer a solo travel newbie and here's what they had to say.

• Annalie   Carry a game with you, like a backgammon set, chess, a pack of cards. People all over the world can become friends over a simple game!
• Scott   Leave the third pair of socks and the fourth t-shirt at home. Pack more smiles than you think you'll need, and more patience. Take all the expectations out of your pack and leave 'em at home.
• Pamela   Go to the market while you are traveling. The experience will shed light on cultural, culinary, agricultural, linguistic, and family composition differences. People are always willing to teach you something new and befriend a stranger with a wealth of information. My first experience of this was in Aruba. I saw very little at the market that I was familiar with, but I came out with knowledge and friends.
• Tony   Join free walking tours whenever you can! It's great for getting to know the city, learning its history, and meeting other backpackers.
• Laurie   When you travel solo for the first time–or any time, for that matter–spend Day One at your new destination getting oriented: stop at the local chamber of commerce for a free map and suggestions for must-see points of interest; if you ride, rent a bicycle, you'll cover a lot more ground and still be able to see things up close and personal; chat with storekeepers, cab drivers, and servers and ask them their thoughts about their mayor, their favorite place to eat and drink, changes they've seen in the area over the years, and where they would take out-of-town visitors. Spend the rest of your time following up on their suggestions and return to let them know how you fared.
• Toni   Give yourself the gift of strangers: ask questions, share impressions, get directions. Use Facebook or Twitter to friend or follow for ongoing exchange and learning.
• Sam   Make sure (wherever possible) that you arrive at your next destination during daylight hours. When you have to find your way from the airport or train station to your accommodation it is much less nerve-racking to do this during the day when you can see where you are going and there are lots of people around and shops open to ask for directions. Once you get to your accommodation you then still have some time up your sleeve to get your bearings, have a look around, and plan where you will start exploring the next day. Plus, if you are staying at a hostel it is good to arrive before people are making dinner or having afternoon drinks as this is one of the best times to get a feel for the place and meet new people.
• Tracey   Take the time to observe how people interact and how things work. While sitting at a sidewalk cafe, on a park bench, or just killing time standing in a lineup, I love to watch locals going about their day. If you pay attention to the little things, you can learn a lot: how to use public transit (and how to conduct yourself on it), whether to pay your bill at your table or at the counter, whether people are expected to line up in an orderly fashion or just jump in where you can, how to tip, or how to hail a cab. I find this particularly useful in a place where I don't speak the language.

Stories About First Solo Trips

What is first time solo travel really like? Well, that depends a bit on you, but here are a few descriptions by readers of Solo Traveler.

• Deborah I was a late bloomer as far as travel goes. I took my first solo trip to Nassau, Bahamas when I was 34. I was nervous at first, but I got there and made so many travel friends. I had a glorious time. I haven’t stopped traveling yet and I’ll be 64 soon. I'm planning another big trip around the world. I'm retired now and will live on the “road” until I decide to come back.
• Massy On my first solo trip I went to Japan. I am an introverted person and I get very self-conscious about myself (seriously). On January 1, 2013 I posted on my Facebook page the “2013 mission to Japan.” On my birthday in July 2013, I bought a ticket as a gift for myself. I got a lot of questions from friends because no one really went solo. I made it to Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. It was the most worthwhile and enjoyable experience. It was fascinating to see how communication clashes and cultural differences bring people together. It was just an amazing journey. I learned so much. I met new people. What a journey! It’s addictive.
• MG I went to Puerto Vallarta and I was depressed. Then I met new friends at the hotel. I didn’t expect to end my vacation having so much fun. This is one good thing about traveling solo. You get to meet new friends that you wouldn’t have if you were in a group.
• Leslie I had just gotten my professional designation, which took 7 years of exams (post-college) and I wanted to do something big to celebrate. I love to travel, but several of my friends said they couldn’t get the time off or couldn’t afford to go somewhere too far away. I finally decided I shouldn’t be held back just because no one could travel with me, so I booked a camping safari in Tanzania! I love animals and an African safari had always been one of my dreams. Surprisingly, I wasn’t that scared to get on a plane and fly halfway around the world by myself (and to a Third World country, no less). It was exciting! I learned that I’m much more self-sufficient than I thought and that traveling alone can be fun and very rewarding. Now that I know I can travel alone and be just fine, I feel like the possibilities are endless!
• Zola My first earned vacation out of college I booked a week in Mexico. I loved going on an adventure by myself. I learned a few lessons from first time solo travel that have been useful for my other solo trips I have taken to Bali, Egypt, and Thailand.

If you're looking for even more tips, don't miss The Ultimate Solo Travel Guide: Travel Alone & Love It .

Enjoy your first solo trip!

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Editor Tracey: tracey @ solotravelerworld.com

Sales Simon: simon @ solotravelerworld.com

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• March 29, 2024

First Choice Travel Reviews

First choice travel.

First Choice prides themselves as being “UK’s leading leisure travel company” , which highlights sunny vacations and holidays throughout Europe.  First Choice also specializes in family travel with fun perks for kids and parents.

Editor’s Review

There is a wide selection of family holiday packages to sunny destinations, making First Choice one of the easiest options for busy parents. Their website is easy to navigate and clearly displays pricing and destination information.  We especially like their “Top 10” lists for families, which includes a nice description of the destinations, keen advice such as “when to go”, maps and weather information. Each destination page lists the top 3 rated hotels in the region, along with current deals available.  We highly recommend this website for its pricing, speed, and ease of use when planning a family holiday .  Of course, singles and couples will also enjoy the ease of use of the First Travel website and will find great deals here.

That being said, we have read some poor reviews and complaints about First Choice elsewhere online.  Common complaints include problems with their hotel room reservations and poor customer service.  Use caution before you book with First Choice, and verify your reservation has been made to your liking with the hotel (call the hotel and make sure you are getting what you want before you leave).  In addition, definately pick up some travel insurance  after you book your trip.  It’s cheap and necessary in today’s travel climate.  We recommend using SquareMouth for insurance that doesn’t break the bank (medical and cancellation policies are available).

First Choice Travel Fees & Policies *

• Change Fees:  From £25 per person to 100% of the total cost of your booking.  To save the most money on changes, make sure that you  apply your changes at least 22 days prior to departure, as fees rise sharply the closer you get to your trip departure date.
• Cancellation Fees:  From 30% to 100% of the total cost of your booking.  Again, to save the most money on cancellations, cancel your booking at least 57 days prior to departure (30% of booking will be lost).   Prior to cancelling, check out SquareMouth  to see if you can obtain cancellation insurance that will sheild you from some of these costs.

Prior to completing your booking, First Choice will provide you with a “Booking Terms and Conditions” page with their cancellation and change fee information. We highly recommend that you print this page for future reference.  Feel free to post details in the comments section below for our readers.

* Based solely on research done by TravelSiteCritic.com, these figures may be inaccurate and are subject to change.Verify policies with First Choice before you book. Please  be aware of airfare taxes & fees , applicable to any booking that includes airfare.

First Choice Customer  Reviews

Have you used First Choice and have an experience to share? We want to hear it! Add your own review of First Choice Travel in the customer comment box below. All user reviews and comments are moderated by a human being and will be posted LIVE on TravelSiteCritic.com as soon as they have been reviewed by a moderation team member. Thank you for contributing to our great community!

First Choice Customer Ratings

Cast your vote for the Best Rated Travel Sites by clicking one of the dynamic rating stars for First Choice below, or on any of our travel website reviews . Cast a vote of 1-star, 5-star, or anything in between. A user rating of 1-star indicates you had a horrible experience (its the lowest you can go and brings down the total rating), while a user rating of 5-stars indicates you had the best experience. The travel websites with the most 5-star votes end up on our Top 10 List .

First Choice  Coupons:

Save the most on your holiday with these Last Minute Deals on FirstChoice.co.uk

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Read our  review disclosure  for more information.

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Meet our Team

First Choice Travel  & Cruise  Destination Specialists   are contstantly studying and traveling often to the vacation areas in which they specialize!  

Gayle Zielke

Gayle Zielke, the president of First Choice Travel and Cruise has been selling vacation travel since 1989.  With over 30 years of experience in selling exciting Honeymoons, Destination Weddings, Unique River & European Cruises along with mastering the All-Inclusives in Mexico and the Caribbean! Ask her about all the new resorts in Jamaica, a Mediterranean or Baltic or any River Cruise, getting a Group together, breathtaking Alaska, down under Australia and New Zealand, the Blue Lagoons of Fiji and the ultimate, exotic experience... Tahiti (Bora Bora)! 

To find out more, click the links below to see Gayle in...  

Alaska                           New Zealand                 River Cruise

Cook Islands                  Tahiti

Germany                       Cruise

Lisa Conley

I’m Lisa and I absolutely love being a Travel Agent!!! I sell the whole world but particularly love anything that involves sun sand and sea!!!!! I specialize in destinations weddings, honeymoons and family travel. I have three children, my husband and I have been traveling with them since the first one was still in a car seat, she is 20 now!!!!! Traveling with them and exploring the world with them is so rewarding. I love watching them as they  learn different cultures and explore so many new things. 

To find out more, click the links below to see Lisa in...

Family vacation

Mary Malsch

To find out more, click the links below to see Mary in...

Alaska               River Cruise

New Zealand

Tana Kubricky

To find out more, click the links below to see Tana in...

Nikki Colletta

Some people may say I'm a Disney Fanatic, but really, I just love Disney! I think there is something at Disney for everyone, not just kids!

Now that I've completed the Disney College of Knowledge that love has only grown.  I enjoy helping families plan the ultimate vacation for all-things Disney-Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise or Adventures by Disney.

I also love helping clients find just the right fit for other vacations as well. Group trip? Cruise? European Travel? Honeymoon? I am here to help you get exactly what you are dreaming about.

I've enjoyed travels to not only Disney World and Disneyland but the Caribbean, Mexico, Italy, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Scotland, Greece, Hawaii and more. And you know that I am looking forward to adding even more destinations to my list!

To find out more, click the link to see Nikki on a Uniworld Cruise

Gesica Zelechowski

To find out more, click the link to see Gesica in...

Heather Loewe

Heather has been traveling with her family since she was young. She has been on many road trips across the United States as a child and young adult and has visited 41 states. She eventually hopes to make it to all 50! Heather is a huge Disney fan and has visited Disney World and Disneyland many times. She also loves to cruise the Caribbean with her boyfriend to get away from the cold in the winter. Heather has traveled to the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Mexico and almost all of the islands in the Caribbean.

Trinity Zelechowski

At First Choice Travel and Cruise, we have some exciting news to share! We are thrilled to reveal that a third generation joined our family travel agency! Trinity has spent her entire life listening to how excited her mother Gesica and her grandmother Gayle get talking about travel.

Bianca Yetzke

Bianca has come to us in 2019 with plenty of energy and motivation. She has visited many Caribbean and Mexico vacation destinations such as Jamaica, St Thomas, the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, and one of everyone's favorites...The Riveria Maya!

You may ask why First Choice Travel and Cruise agents go through all the bother to get certified and visit the many destinations we specialize in so often.     ​If you were planning the vacation of your lifetime, or perhaps your honeymoon, and you wanted to go to an exotic island destination, wouldn’t YOU want your travel agent to have been there first?You would feel more confident with an agency where someone has visited the hotels, knows how to get around, where to get a decent meal, and knows the best sightseeing options first-hand. We will also tell you what we didn’t like or if we think the hotel or destination might not be right for you.

Have Questions? When you start planning your VACATION,  contact the EXPERTS ,  not the Amateurs! We would love to recommend a vacation for you that will exceed your expectations!"

Find out more about our dedicated agents who work from their own home offices!   Meet our Independent travel planners

are also motivated and excited to help you plan your trip of a lifetime!

Find out why everyone thinks our Travel Planners are the most motivated, experienced and FUN Destination Travel Specialists!  Awards and Testamonials  Service and Motivation equals repeat business ....and success!

Thanks for voting us "Simply the Best" Travel Agency Again and Again!  

Extraordinary Service!!  No Extra Charge!!  Clients that appreciate us are worth the extra effort!!

***Please note our office hours are Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm ****** We are also available by  email .  **After hours and Saturdays by  Appointment  only.

HOURS & MAP TO OFFICE

Servicing Waukesha, Brookfield, New Berlin, Sussex,  Pewaukee, Big Bend, Mukwonago, Muskego, Milwaukee, Waterford, Burlington, East Troy, Lake Geneva, Elkhorn, Delafield, Oconomowoc, Rhinelander, Antigo, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Minnesota, Michigan, Texas and all over the U.S.

View prices for your travel dates

• Excellent 120
• Very Good 65
• Terrible 14
• All languages ( 232 )
• Russian ( 151 )
• English ( 50 )
• German ( 7 )

" Before check in, check if hot water is working! "

" Corner rooms are slightly larger and more quiet. "

" HIgh floors quieter "

" rooms with good size, none are close to the elevator "

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

HOLIDAY EXPRESS MOSCOW SHEREMETYEVO AIRPORT - Hotel Reviews (Moscow Oblast/Khimki, Russia)

View prices for your travel dates

• Excellent 120
• Very Good 65
• Terrible 14
• All languages ( 232 )
• Russian ( 151 )
• English ( 50 )
• German ( 7 )

" Before check in, check if hot water is working! "

" Corner rooms are slightly larger and more quiet. "

" HIgh floors quieter "

" rooms with good size, none are close to the elevator "

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

HOLIDAY EXPRESS MOSCOW SHEREMETYEVO AIRPORT - Hotel Reviews (Khimki, Russia)

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Cheap flights from kazan (kzn) to moscow (svo).

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Kazan to Moscow Flights

Whether you’re looking for a grand adventure or just want to get away for a last-minute break, flights from Kazan to Moscow offer the perfect respite. Not only does exploring Moscow provide the chance to make some magical memories, dip into delectable dishes, and tour the local landmarks, but the cheap airfare means you won’t bust your budget. So no matter whether your ideal itinerary involves flying one way, non-stop, or round trip, you’re bound to find flights that match your schedule on Expedia, and at prices that won’t shock your wallet.

Bagging a cheap flight from Kazan to Moscow may mean more dollars to spend on for one-of-a-kind souvenirs when you arrive, but it doesn’t mean you have to skimp on your travel experience, as Expedia offers a sizzling selection of cheap airlines that’ll put you in your happy place on their planes, whether that’s getting lost in a hair-raising airport thriller, dreaming on the passing landscape over a glass of bubbly, or jotting down your vacation bucket list at 38,000 feet. There’s also bound to be plenty of opportunities to snap a few photos of the high life that will make your friends green with envy. After all, enjoying the journey is part of the fun.

With so many affordable flights and so many wonderful adventures awaiting you, there’s no reason to put off booking a fantastic flight from KZN to SVO today. So don’t leave it to the last minute to make your dream trip a reality: pack your bags with your go-to travel accessories, put together your list of must-see attractions and can’t-miss activities, and get ready to broaden your horizons – with Expedia, the wonders of Moscow are only a plane trip away. Book your travel arrangements with us today!

If you would like to book flights to Moscow more flexibly many prefer to purchase one-way tickets with options to take different airlines. A one way ticket to Moscow is now!

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Top Routes to Moscow

• Chicago to Moscow (ORD - SVO)
• Newark to Moscow (EWR - SVO)
• Mexico City to Moscow (MEX - SVO)
• Los Angeles to Moscow (LAX - SVO)
• Norfolk to Moscow (ORF - SVO)
• Miami to Moscow (MIA - SVO)
• Chengdu to Moscow (CTU - SVO)
• Lahore to Moscow (LHE - SVO)
• Peoria to Moscow (PIA - SVO)
• Charlotte to Moscow (CLT - SVO)
• Sofia to Moscow (SOF - SVO)
• Istanbul to Moscow (IST - SVO)

Top Flight Destinations

• Flights to Moscow
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• Uzbekistan Airways
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Nearby Airports

• Cheboksary Airport (CSY)
• Vostochny Airport (ULY)
• Begishevo Airport (NBC)
• Izhevsk Airport (IJK)
• Saransk Airport (SKX)

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