Alice’s Llandudno Love Story In A Welsh Wonderland

There is something perversely refreshing about being given a pen and a tick box menu with the instruction: “Let us know what you want as soon as possible so we know what to put on in the kitchen for everyone’s meal tonight!”

The great British coaching holiday is alive and well with Daish’s Holidays still leading the charge 44-years on from when the family run business was first established in 1979.

So, when the chance to be coach-chauffeured to Llandudno’s Somerset Hotel came along, me, Mrs Hopkins and mum’s 90-year-old sister, ‘Auntie Pat’ – Daish’s fiercest advocate I must declare – wasted little time in packing our bags and making for the pick-up point outside Leeds’ ibis Budget Hotel on Crown Point Road.

“I’ve got the coach air con on fairly fierce,” said our driver, Paul, “but if it’s too much, tell me. If you don’t say owt, there’s nowt I can do about it!” Somehow he had the practical tones of a man who ate Hovis bread and raced whippets at the weekend!

“Anyway, we’ll be stopping for tea and a pee at Chester services after we’ve picked up at Bradford and Huddersfield,” he continued “so, worry not, you’ll still have time for an afternoon donkey ride on Llandudno beach!”

It was just after 10am and we were on our way. Just over four hours later we were largely checked-in and filling in our evening menu cards at the Daish-owned Somerset Hotel, which boasts an enviable seafront promenade location, 84 bedrooms and stunning views across the bay.

It is also centrally located and just a short walk from the town pier and the ‘gateway’ to north-west Wales’ famous limestone headland, the Great Orme where you will discover views to die for.

At 62 I was among the youngest men on the coach! However, what rapidly became apparent is how well Daish’s know their customers. Most commercial organisations, banks and government departments seemingly spend months and millions trying to convert people to apps, new technology, online banking and a raft of other modern ‘it’s so easy’ devices or digital platforms.

Not Daish Holidays!

Menu ordering is done on paper, there’s not an app in sight, no electronic room keys and, when you leave the hotel, you are reminded to “…leave your key in the box at reception. That way we’ll know you’re out!”

At night there’s a quiz in the lounge, followed by bingo – at around £200 for a full house it is, apparently, the ‘best payout on the Prom’ - a ‘turn’ (that’s a northern euphemism for ‘cabaret act’) and, if you are caught on the hop, you can even buy your bingo dabber pens at the bar for £1 each: no stone is left unturned in the quest to please the company’s ‘senior’ audience!

But, before you are too quick to judge, you only need to ask around. Jean from Stockport had been married to John for 62 years before he passed away two years ago. “I went on four Daish holidays last year,” she said.

The FA Cup final was being screened in the lounge and Manchester Utd had just lost to City. “Oh, my neighbours will be upset,” she said, before continuing. “Why would you stay at home when these holidays offer such amazing value. I was only in Llandudno three weeks ago,” she confessed.

Bernie and Lee from Huddersfield were also on their third Daish Holiday and were near experts on the company offering.

“Don’t forget to book your day out to Caernarfon and Beaumaris Castles,” said Bernie, “it’s only a tenner on the coach. Great value. It’d cost you more in a taxi and, if you need a pack up for the journey home they cost less than a fiver,” she said.

“Ask at reception because motorway service stations cost a fortune!” advised Bernie. Yorkshire thrift was alive and well!

More to the point Jean, with her lifetime of stories, and a number of other solo travellers, were able to journey alone because at meal times – there is just one breakfast sitting at 8.30am with dinner at 6.30pm – travellers are grouped together on tables of four to six so there is never a reason to be alone and you quickly make friends.

There was a tap on my shoulder: “What are you doing here?” came the question. It was my best friend’s parents, Maureen and Colin. Was I part of a private members club? It began to feel that way!

Llandudno itself is a lovely place and, being so flat, is a favourite for those with electric chairs, walking sticks and Zimmer frames!

“We’ve hired electric scooters,” said two ladies in reception, “and we’re just waiting for them to be dropped off. Only £20 for the day,” they said, and soon they were whizzing along the spacious promenade just opposite.

As a young kid my friend Mark always used to announce that the family would soon be on its way to Llandudno for the summer vacation. In my imagination it seemed like a magical place and I suppose that’s true to some extent.

It was the holiday destination for Alice Liddell, the little Victorian girl who inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland, and, these days, there are countless references to the youngster whose memory has inspired The White Rabbit Town Trail which you can follow with the aid of a downloadable app where you can also learn ‘Welsh with Alice’!

No one is shy about jumping on the ‘Alice’ bandwagon. There are beautiful wooden carvings scattered across the city – Alice can be found outside the gorgeous Victorian railway station and the Mad Hatter on the Promenade – whilst the Wildings Hotel on North Parade has the following words written on a glass plate above its front door: ‘Alice Liddell….stayed here at the age of 8 on her first visit to Llandudno in 1861’.

That afternoon we had been to the top of the Great Orme on the vintage tram but, back at the hotel, it was feeding time!

That might sound a bit harsh but, because of the nature of the holidays – budget and low cost – it is not hard to imagine why there have to be economies of scale: this is achieved partially by having mass dining at one dinner sitting and one breakfast sitting in the same way that Butlin’s might once have done.

Food is simple and palatable with a reduced menu choice and, at breakfast, your cornflakes arrive with a pencil and evening menu tick list so that you can choose what to eat that evening.

Those earlier words echoed in my mind: “Let us know what you want as soon as possible so we know what to put on in the kitchen for everyone’s meal tonight!” You can’t knock efficiency! Blunt and practical, maybe, but it works!

I have been to three of Daish’s 12 hotels in Scarborough, Llandudno and Kendal's County Hotel in the Lake District.

They do vary slightly, particularly on the food offering, however, they all represent exceptional value for money and, without doubt, Daish’s will move you around the country with all the efficiency of a military operation, enabling you to have a friendly holiday and good access to local facilities, wherever you are, whilst in the company of a bunch of people who, very quickly, become your mates.

It is not a five-star vacation – but then it never claims to be – but what Daish Holidays do offer is clean hotels, efficient, quality coach transport (you can choose to make your own way to the hotel) camaraderie, easy access to Britain and, above all, you will have a great time.

Over to Lewis Carroll: “….`Have you guessed the riddle yet?′ the Hatter said, turning to Alice again. `No, I give it up,′ Alice replied: `what’s the answer?′ `I haven’t the slightest idea,′ said the Hatter.”

Maybe it’s time to Go Mad in Llandudno and, truthfully, if you are a little tight on the cash I can think of no better travelling companions than the affectionately mad folk I encountered on the coach to Llandudno. Your Welsh Wonderland awaits!

FACT BOX:
The Somerset Hotel St George's Crescent Central Promenade Llandudno LL30 2LF Telephone: 01492 876540 Customer reservations team: 01202 638840 Website: www.daishs.com

Facilities include a seafront coffee shop and gardens, bar, restaurant, dance floor and games room.

What’s included in a Daish’s Holiday package:
Luxury coach travel or free hotel guest parking on-site
Convenient pickup and drop-off along popular routes
Breakfast and three-course evening meal every day
On-site entertainment

The hotel is open to guests all year-round Tariff 2023 (as at June 2023), based on two people sharing a standard room: From £149pp self-drive/£169pp coach to £559pp self-drive/£579pp coach. Early booking and Kid’s Go Free discounts also apply.

TOP TIP FROM AUNTIE PAT!
"Join Daish's mailing list. They send out some 'last minute' bargain deals!" You ignore Auntie Pat at your peril!

The White Rabbit Town Trail
Apps: ‘Alice Origins’ or ‘Learn Welsh With Alice