What You Really Get When You Book with Holiday World

When planning a holiday, especially a big one, it’s natural to start with the destination. But over 40 years in the travel business has taught us that where you go is only part of the story.
How you get there, and who you trust to help you along the way, can be just as important.

At Holiday World, we’ve spent decades helping travellers turn dream holidays into effortless experiences. But we’re not just here to make bookings. We’re here to advocate for you, support you before, during, and after your trip, and quietly handle the things that you probably won’t even notice... unless something goes wrong. That’s when you’ll be glad you booked with us.

1. Real People, Real Continuity

When you call us, you’re not going into a call queue or being handed from one agent to the next. You speak to the same person; someone who knows your name, your preferences, your travel plans, and even your travel history.
You’re not a reference number in a system; you’re a valued guest.

Take the couple who phoned us from Venice late at night our time, panicked because they couldn’t find their cruise ship. Within 30 minutes, we had contacted the European supplier, confirmed the pier location, and had them enroute with clear instructions — no stress, no drama, no app downloads needed.

2. We Do the Work Behind the Scenes

Much of what we do, you won’t see and that’s the point! We work quietly behind the scenes to manage your flight reservations, seat selection, travel insurance, visa and entry requirements, and real-time travel advice. You don’t have to chase updates or guess whether you’ve missed a deadline. That’s on us.

We recently helped a traveller who had their Canadian ETA denied due to a simple mistake. With the possibility of having to cancel their trip, we worked with both the client and the Canadian visa office for nearly eight weeks, getting everything resolved in time for their departure at no extra cost.

3. Exclusive Offers and Priority Access

As a Diamond Agent with APT and Travelmarvel, and other travel providers we’re often given access to exclusive discounts, early booking promotions, and priority cabin allocation. Whether it’s a limited flash sale extended just to our clients, or extra flexibility for deposits and deadlines, we can often offer more than meets the eye, simply because of the relationships we’ve built over time.

These are not generic offers you’ll find online. They’re extended to us because we consistently deliver trusted service and strong support to our clients and suppliers alike.

4. Award-Winning Experience You Can Rely On

Our team has been crafting holidays of a lifetime for over 30 years. We've won many accolades with our most recent being Top NSW Agent and $1 Million Consultant for APT & Travelmarvel, but the recognition we value most is the loyalty of clients who return year after year and the friends they refer to us.

We work with clients across Australia, many of whom we've never met face to face. We chat over the phone, via email, or on Zoom or Facetime. Others pop into our Nelson Bay office when they’re in the area and some have been booking their holidays with us since the very beginning.

5. We’re a Family Business and We Treat You Like Family

Holiday World isn’t part of a franchise or corporate call centre. We’re proudly independent and family-owned, founded in 1995 by Doug and Narelle Melhuish, who still lead the business today. Now joined by their daughters, Tash and Hayley, we’re a true second-generation travel busines; built on relationships, personalised service, and a strong commitment to our clients.

To ensure we continue offering the very best to our clients, Holiday World is now part of the Envoyage Travel Group; a global network of independent travel agencies powered by the Flight Centre Travel Group. This gives us access to world-class supplier relationships, buying power, systems and support, all while remaining proudly independent. It’s the perfect blend of small-business service and big-business strength.

And for your peace of mind, we’re also ATAS accredited, which means we meet Australia’s highest standards for travel agency professionalism, training, and business ethics. You can learn more about what that means for you here.

At Holiday World, you get the best of both worlds: the personal connection of a family-run business, backed by the strength and scale of a global travel network.

Final Word:
Why Booking with Us Isn’t Just “One More Step”

Sure, you can book direct. And often, the price may be the same. But what you don’t get is the safety net, the service, the experience, and the genuine care that comes with booking through us.

So next time you're dreaming about your next big trip, remember — it's not just about where you're going. It's about who you trust to help you get there.

Let Holiday World make your next holiday the easiest part of your year.

Whether you’re cruising Alaska, exploring Europe, or planning your next big escape, it’s not just the trip that matters; it’s the team behind it!