A travel hub promoting a fun and unique experience from the moment customers book their holiday has opened in Swindon.

Shaun Jones and Ashley Hunt have over 15 years of combined expertise in the travel industry and opened the Swindon Travel Hub in Old Town on Friday, August 9, offering a wide range of ATOL- protected holidays.

The space features an Instagram wall, a whiteboard wall, mystery holidays starting from £199, a spin-the-wheel to win prizes and a bar.

Ashley said: “We want people to have fun, the holiday starts now. They can pose with props in front of the Instagram wall and there’s a game of noughts and crosses they can play. If they beat us, they will get £50 off their booking because we want to give something back.

“Children can draw on the whiteboard wall, so they don’t have to sit there bored. The bar is inspired by a rum shack and we have an exclusive beer brewed by Hop Kettle just down the road. What other travel agents have beer? It’s something a bit different and nobody else is doing it.

“People are spending lots of money on the holiday, so we want them to enjoy the whole experience from booking it and leading up to the holiday. When you book it online, there’s no excitement. You get an email to confirm the booking but that’s it. We can control the experience now so why not have some fun?

“The mystery holidays are great because a lot of people don’t know where they want to go on holiday and you can see it through the window so it really draws people in.”

Shaun added: “It works because we are big kids at heart. It is hard work but rewarding when you get it right. Customers walk out with a smile on their face knowing we will do the paperwork and get everything organised for them.

“We’re independent so we can sell anything and we have great relationships with suppliers. Everything from the Disney parks, bucket list items, all-inclusive beach holidays, city breaks, world cruises and last-minute holidays.

"I’ve been to Disneyworld Florida around 40 times and it’s my favourite place I’ve been to, along with New York.

“Locals have been coming in already saying we’ve uplifted the area and stopping for a cuppa. We’re already talking about an expansion and we’ve only just opened.”