The Most Frequently Asked Questions

An Interview with Catherine Crone, Managing Director.

HEADWATER

What are the differences between Headwater and any other tour operators featuring similar holidays?

There are a few companies that provide similar activity based holidays in Europe. One of the main differences is that Headwater employ their own representatives to move bags, assist with the wine service and so on. We consider this to be very important and we choose our staff with the utmost care. They must have the combined skills of languages, being good with people and liking activities themselves. Headwater has very reasonable prices compared to other companies and also offer unique and exclusive tours and products.

What do I do to find my ideal holiday?

Simple, if you are not sure where to go after reading the brochures with their useful descriptions of all our products, just pick up the phone and consult one of our especially trained assistants. We have specialists on every area we feature and we have dedicated lines to these different departments – Iberia, France and so on.

How do you select the destinations you feature?

Many of the places we have in our brochures are there through popular demand, but also we see the trends in holidaymaking and plan accordingly. So, for example, we have selected more small island tours for the new winter brochure. We look for a suitable venue for an activity – whether that be walking or cycling or canoeing, then for great properties – small friendly hotels usually with a warm welcome and excellent food. There must be some local colour, something of interest to see or do and the routes must be off the beaten track.

Do I have to be a proficient cyclist or ardent walker to enjoy one of Headwater’s Holidays?

Certainly not! We have holidays for all. In every brochure we have a symbol to indicate the level of difficulty of a walk or ride. So you will find one ‘boot’ for easy, two - a little more strenuous and three for a bit more of a challenge. We want our customers to enjoy themselves not worry about the state of their health! We can usually find something, even for the person who does nothing more active than rush around the supermarket once a week! At the other extreme, Chris Bonington has taken a Headwater trip in the past!

Which holidays are your top sellers?

This changes of course as certain types of holiday or certain places become more ‘in vogue’. At present we are having great success with walking holidays in Andalucia. Accommodation is on a working farm (with a pool!) so you are surrounded by orange groves, cork trees, olives …Another popular tour is cycling in Provence – great scenery, warm weather and a string of charming hotels.

Do all your clients understand what a Headwater holiday entails?

For the most part, yes they do, but we have had some surprises. There was one family of six a few years ago, diplomats from South America, who booked a canoeing holiday in the Dordogne. They flew into Barcelona (!) with twenty-six suitcases and came down to breakfast the first morning in flowery skirts and sunhats carrying a picnic basket and wondering where the ‘Captain’ was.

What has been the strangest request you have had from a client?

To guarantee that the dining rooms of the hotels on a tour in part of France would not smell of garlic! I won’t tell you what we said!

On the individual unguided tours, is there a chance of getting lost?

We hope not, although I am sure there has been the odd detour here and there! We provide copious notes, maps – both IGN and sketch maps, and we “waymark” the route. No one has got lost in sixteen years.

Can I find Headwater on the Internet?

Yes, you can. We are proud of our award – winning website. It has been developed and designed in-house. You can view the brochures, order brochures and request availability of a holiday.

What financial safeguards does Headwater have?

We are an ABTA bonded company therefore the public is always protected. No-one should book a holiday with any company that is not ABTA bonded. It is the best safeguard you can have. Additionally we hold an ATOL licence protecting all our air inclusive holidaymakers.