COVID-19 Update - Christmas Departures Cancellations

Date Added 01/12/2020

ITS CHRISTMAS - BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT!
Following the latest announcements that Warwickshire and their surrounding areas are to enter Tier 3 restrictions from Wednesday 2nd December 2020 we had made the difficult decision to cancel all departures up to the 16th December which was announced in our last statement. Today however, with regard to our Christmas and New Year programmes, following consultations with our festive hotels we feel we have no choice but to make the sad decision to cancel our festive programme altogether!  Whilst the government have proposed a 5 Day amnesty of the ‘Tiers’ to allow for 3 households to mix, we feel that as a family business - morally and ethically we cannot allow or encourage customers to travel from a Tier 3 area to a Tier 2 area, which could potentially increase the spread of COVID-19. We are extremely disappointed and we know our customers will be too. Our popular programme, which in recent years has attracted over 800 customers, is always appreciated.  Our Christmas holidays are always full of festive cheer, good food, good company and fantastic entertainment; but with restrictions currently as they are, we feel that they just won’t live up to ours or our customers’ expectations.  We will be contacting all passengers affected, in date order, by post – so please do keep a lookout! However, on a brighter note… we have recently launched our Summer 2021 Holiday and Great Breaks programme with hundreds of holidays to choose from – which will give our long suffering customers really something to look forward in 2021! 

SUMMER 2021 IS GOOD TO GO!
We are looking forward to 2021! We know 2020 has been full of uncertainties, disappointment and worry but we want to remind you of how positive 2021 is looking… There is news of the vaccine we’ve all been waiting for, we have hundreds of holidays available throughout the UK and Europe AND our BRAND NEW Day Excursions brochure will be out early 2021! In addition, our BRAND NEW Luxury Traveller programme is due to launch in 2021 and is proving to be very popular indeed with over 33% of bookings being for our Luxury Traveller holidays since last week when we launch our new brochures! We are looking forward to Spring 2021 when hopefully this new vaccine will be making its way around the British population so that we can welcome you back, for a well-earned holiday!  If you would like a copy of our brochures sent to you in the post just call 01564 797000 or click here and speak to a member of our friendly Reservations team – we look forward to hearing from you! 

SUPPORTING ONLINE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!
Our Coach Hire department have been busy supporting some very well-known online retailers this past month - and not by ordering lots of parcels! With the recent boost in online shopping, major online retailers are increasing their staff levels and consequently have turned to us to help support with socially distanced staff transport. We were more than happy to lend a hand! As a result we have taken on more drivers to fulfil their requirements – who are now getting used to the required 5am starts, so Christmas will still be busy for us after all! This work has come as a nice Christmas surprise! Looking forward to 2021, we are now seeing an increase in enquiries from event organisers and from happy couples itching to get married at last, having had their plans cancelled this year! If you have any questions, queries or would like a quote please call 01564 797000 and speak to a member of our very knowledgeable Coach Hire team.  

Travel safely with Johnsons Excelbus! 
Our bus services are running at nearly normal frequency, getting you where you need to be safely this festive season. However, as usual, there are some changes over Christmas with service’s pausing on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Click here for the full service schedule from Wednesday 23rd December to Sunday 3rd January 2021. Our buses undergo strict nightly cleaning and sanitisation routines, as well as having hand gel available on board and masks being worn whilst aboard the bus, so you can travel in confidence and safely this Christmas. 

Finally…
Thank you for your understanding, co-operation and support during this very difficult year. On behalf of all of us here at Johnsons, we want to wish you a very happy and healthy Christmas, stay safe and well and we look forward to welcoming you back on board for a much happier 2021!

John, Peter and everyone at Johnsons.