CELEBRATING 36 years as an Independent Travel Agency
                                                   1984 to 2018

Mike Coles has been in the travel business in one form or another since 1964. From then
until 1984 he worked for a local shipping company in Teignmouth and boarded over
9,000 ships during those years. Included in his many jobs was booking seaman's tickets
to many parts of Europe and North Africa.

During 1981, after a visit to India to visit his sister, friends started asking him for special
rate airline tickets. Seeing the potential he founded 'Mike Coles World-Wide Travel'.
On 1st November 1984 he went full time and employed his sister, for one day a week,
who was then back in the UK.

The business expanded and in 1989 Mike and his wife Faith, purchased a retail property
in Exeter. In the same year the company obtained an ABTA Licence and became a member
of ABTA - The Association of British Travel Agents.  As well as serving the public direct the
telephone operation side of the business continuing to expand.

Between 1991 and March 2011 the company was a member of the CAA but since then the
necessity and expense of having an ATOL licence was no longer necessary. But as per CAA regulations ATOL certificates are issued for bookings. Mike Coles Travel continue to be members of ABTA.
Although callers in person in recent years have decreased, booking by phone/e mail continue to be consistent. Regular and new enquiries being received from all over the UK and abroad. We are agents for many of the well known tour operators but our speciality is 'tailor made' holidays, flights and group bookings. Indeed, we are in one of the side streets of Exeter, but with our unique operation, and of course excellent communication, geographical situation is rather irrelevant.

Since the start of the business the company has been very fortunate in having excellent staff. 
The benefits of having a very low staff turnover have been proved over and over again. Many of our staff have stayed with us for 6/9/15-20+ years

The company has always endeavoured to keep up to date with the latest technology and
has been using computers since 1986 when we purchased some of the first Amstrad
PCW's on the market.

With many years in the travel business, personal service and advice is a top selling point.
With managerial and staff experiences that include staying in rat infested rooms in the African bush,
to sailing on the the world's biggest cruise ships and 5 star hotels, personal experiences certainly contributes to close a deal!

A FEW NAMES AMONGST MANY WE ARE PROUD OF...

SARAH L.
Started in 1986, a key person in establishing the business, with us for 5 years.
Then moved on to work for a Children's Charity Mission in Canada.

LINDSEY  
Started in 1987 with us for 8 years, went on to be a top sales person for AMEX TRAVEL.

DONNA
Started in 1989 a great worker, moved on in the late nineties.

JANICE
Started in 1991 in one word - a jewel! and continues to bring a sparkle to the office!... in 2018!

KATHY C
Started in 1999 ..excellent...with us for 9 years.

JON
Never employed but since 1986 a great friend of the company and very supportive in
many ways, now a Dr in computer science. In 2018 still a great friend.

RUSSELL
Never employed as such but since mid nineties - a friend who helped much with computers.

FAITH
Mike's wife - Just about impossible to operate the business without her. A wonderful support.

MIKE
Himself...well I am the privileged one...because without the support of many including those above - the thing wouldn't have happened!
                                          
Not forgetting a number of others who have been here as part time/work experience.

                                         Just a very small part of the story!

CALL NOW FOR
               RESERVATIONS INFORMATION ASSISTANCE & ADVICE

MIKE COLES WORLDWIDE TRAVEL

01392 219499 / 253064

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