Osprey Holidays

Osprey Holidays is an independent, family-run tour operator with a longstanding tradition of assisting clients in securing the highest standard of tailor-made short breaks and experiences to hundreds of the most exhilarating short and city break destinations around the globe.

Recognised as one of the best operators at the British Travel Awards in 2018, 2019, 2023, and 2024, Osprey Holidays is ATOL and ABTA bonded, providing complete financial protection. Their well-travelled staff offer expert advice and personal recommendations on the destinations and hotels available, ensuring comprehensive and accessible travel documentation along with superb value for money. For further details on their booking process, one can find more information on their website.

Osprey  

In the early 1950s, Joseph Bennett transitioned from his service as a pilot in WWII to establish a travel agency in a shop in the coastal town of Musselburgh, on the fringes of Edinburgh. Initially known as Bennett’s Travel, the business expanded to a multi-branch operation across East and Central Scotland, with a tour operating division, Osprey Holidays, launched in October 1973.

In 1985, Bennett’s Travel was sold to AT Mays, which the Moffat family later managed before being acquired by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 1998. However, the Bennett family retained Osprey Holidays, which was then overseen by Joseph’s sons, John and David Bennett.

Today, the company is well-regarded throughout the UK as a specialist in tailor-made short breaks. It stands as one of the oldest British tour operators still under family ownership. Over the years, Osprey has offered a diverse range of holiday options, including city escapes, winter holidays to Reykjavik, farmhouse stays in Denmark, and cultural tours across India, the Far East, and Africa, as well as charters to Corfu and Faro. Notably, they have also organised popular rugby weekends in Paris, Dublin, and, more recently, Rome.

 

In addition to their short break offerings, Osprey Holidays operates two specialised ski brands:

– **Ski Independence**, founded in 1994, are experts in tailor-made ski holidays, providing the finest experiences in a carefully selected range of hotels and apartments across France, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, and the USA.

– **PowderBeds.com**, established in 2010, offers swift, safe, and secure online bookings for ski apartments and hotels in France and Switzerland.

Now based in Edinburgh, Osprey Holidays Limited is managed by the third generation of the Bennett family, with Michael Bennett at the helm and John Bennett serving as Chairman.

With over 50 years of experience, the company looks forward to continuing its legacy. It will offer clients and agents exceptional short breaks and ski holidays, with an unwavering focus on outstanding customer service, knowledge, advice, and expertise.