WHEN it comes to holidays, travel agents know their stuff – but no one knows more than Britain’s longest serving one, Ellen Davey.
She started selling holidays in 1966 – the same year that England won the the World Cup and before the moon landings.
Ellen started selling holidays in 1966 – the year England last won the World Cup Credit: TUI
And 60 years, she said she still loves it Credit: TUI
When Ellen first started advising Brits on their travels, they’d pick their holiday from a glossy brochure rather than a website.
Some customers have even been booking their breaks with Ellen for more than 40 years who say her “knowledge of travel is phenomenal”.
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But the 77-year-old said she has no plans to stop.
She said: “People often ask me when I’m going to retire, but I genuinely don’t want to. I think work keeps me young.
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“Some people count down the days until retirement. I’m counting down the days until my next holiday.”
So where does Ellen recommend Brits travel to?
Ellen said: “Gran Canaria has become one of my favourite destinations in recent years and I am actually heading back there again soon.
“I love the RIU Gran Canaria because it is close to the shops, perfect for a real fly and flop break, with the beach just five minutes away.
“The food is excellent, the entertainment is great, and what really stands out is how the staff remember you and make you feel so welcome when you return.”
If you fancy visiting the island yourself, there’s still space to book at RIU Gran Canaria which has four pool, six bars and a nearby beach.
An all-inclusive break from August 10-16 for a family of four starts from £1,137pp including return flights from Newcastle.
Other spots that Ellen still loves are close to home.
Gran Canaria has become one of Ellen’s favourite destinations Credit: Alamy
She said: “I have always had a real love for Spain, having travelled there for around sixty years.
“I still recommend it and would love to go back again, particularly to the Balearic Islands like Majorca and Ibiza, as well as the Costa del Sol and the Canary Islands.
“I also used to visit the Costa Blanca and still have a real fondness for all of these destinations.”
Ellen says she continues to travel to Lanzarote twice a year too.
Ellen continues to go back to Lanzarote twice a year Credit: Alamy
Further afield Boa Vista in Cape Verde is the ideal holiday for relaxing Credit: Alamy
Looking further afield, Ellen added: “Boa Vista in Cape Verde is another place I absolutely love, as it is so quiet and beautiful, ideal for relaxing by the pool with a good book.
“The entertainment at the RIU Palace Boavista is brilliant, as you would expect from a RIU hotel, it is only about thirty minutes from the airport, and again the food is fantastic.
“I have been going there for around fifteen years now and always recommend it”.
A family of four can have an all-inclusive break at the RIU Palace Boavista between August 15 and September 1 from £1,010pp.
