You´re never too old to go on holiday – as has been proved by Madge and Charlie Pallett from Shepway in Kent this week. The couple hit the UK national headlines last week, as at the ages of 91 and 93 respectively, they had never taken a holiday abroad throughout their 71 years of marriage! Well that changed as they, together with daughters Yvonne Elliott, Doreen England and granddaughter Leigh Plumbly headed to the top holiday destination for Brits – BENIDORM!
Staying at famous Solana resort!
I met with the family yesterday evening to ask about their first experience abroad – and what better place to be staying than the iconic Sol Pelicanos Ocas Hotel, better known to millions as the Solana resort from the hit ITV comedy series "Benidorm". I went expecting to find a dithery couple and was dumbfounded when introduced by the assistant manager Alberto Varela to a very sprightly and young looking pair – easily knocking 10-15 years off their ages! Daughter Yvonne booked the holiday through "DisabledAccessHolidays.com" as sister Doreen is wheelchair dependent and told me the service has been first class.
Maiden voyage to Benidorm on Monarch airlines
They flew over at the weekend on their newly acquired passports, which they were delighted to discover were free for the over 90´s – a lovely bonus. Madge has never been in an airplane before and Charlie's last experience was in a military plane during the Second World War. Sensibly Yvonne had them checked out at the doctors before embarking on the holiday, who declared them both "Fit to Fly" – and ensured that they had travel insurance before leaving. The Monarch flight was delightful and on landing the pilot invited the couple into the cockpit on hearing that it was their first holiday abroad. Madge has only been abroad once – on a daytrip by ferry to France so this has been a real adventure. The hotel, particularly the staff have been second to none and nothing is too much trouble, making their first holiday abroad a real positive experience, which the younger members of the family are most appreciative and thankful for.
Night stroll along Levante promenade
Despite Charlies age, it hasn´t stopped him enjoying the facilities at the hotel – and he takes a daily dip watched over by Madge from the poolside. Like something from the comedy series he told me that the other day he took his teeth out and put them in his pocket before getting in, but you´ve guessed it, on getting out they had gone! Granddaughter Leigh, together with a few bystanders then dived in searching before thankfully Leigh retrieved them from the bottom... he has been told to keep them in now! Meal times at the All Inclusive have been a culinary adventure for the pair – and they have tried food from the extensive buffet that neither have ever tasted before. They have been on some lovely evening strolls along the Levante promenade and on Monday Charlie rolled up his trousers and went for a paddle in the sea with Leigh – it´s true about the saying that the simple things in life bring so much pleasure.
Evening at Benidorm Palace
On hearing about the couple, Christine Climent – owner of Benidorm Palace has invited the family as her special guests to tomorrow evening's performance. The Palace was voted Europe´s number one nightspot and is Benidorm´s top visitor attraction. The new show "EFEX" is visually stunning and this year has surpassed everyone's expectations with elaborate costumes and spell binding visual effects and illusions – I am confidant that Madge and Charlie will have never experienced anything quite like it and very generous gesture.
I have just met up with the family after their special night out and they are still beaming and in awe of the spectacle that they saw. They would like to say a special thank you to Christine Climent for making their first holiday abroad a truly memorable one and were each also presented with a special commemorative book as a souvenir from the Palace.
As Madge – I still chuckle that it is the same name as that in the series, and Charlie have another 9 years before they have to renew their passports, I hope that we welcome them back here again. Im delighted that they have had a great and positive first experience and that would like to repeat it again.
