Saga expands range and reduces deposits to £75

Saga Holidays has released new programmes featuring 20% more itineraries and hotels, and reduced deposits of £75.

The escorted tours operator issued Worldwide, River Cruises, Europe and British Isles brochures this week featuring the company’s new branding and a ‘keep doing’ tagline to promote more-active holidays to a younger audience.

Saga insurance is included on all trips automatically. Customers who opt out receive a discount.

Free Wi-Fi is included in hotels on all European Unwind bookings and flights are available from 27 airports. Deposits have been cut from £150 or 10% of the booking cost to £75 and there are no charges for credit card payments.

The operator has expanded its itineraries to Africa, with managing director Maria Whiteman claiming Saga now offered one of the most “diverse programmes” to the continent on the market.

A 13-night Last Great Eden tour taking in Victoria Falls and circumnavigating the Okavango Delta has been added for 2018 and the operator has also introduced its first Saga-branded bush camp in Kruger, South Africa.

Also new are a 13-night Wildlife and Waterfalls of Brazil itinerary, touring Rio and Iguazu National Park, and a 14-night Tale of Six Cities tour of Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“We’re moving away from what people typically think of as Saga and towards more adventure,” said Whiteman. “The Africa programme fits in with where we want to go with the brand.”

Saga has also reintroduced Israel after a two-year break.

Brochure price panels have been “simplified” and now show lead-in prices by month, with signalling to visit Saga’s website or call for accurate pricing information.

The brochures are valid variably from August 2017 to May 2019.