Do you know the story of how we came to be one of America’s most reputable tour companies? Interestingly enough, it all started with some college students and Spring Break.

In the early 1970s, D. Patrick Stoffers, a UW-Eau Claire student, and two other college students, wanted to head to Florida for Spring Break. He rented a motorhome and went around campus to see if anyone else was interested in joining him. When there were more people interested than space available, he decided to plan another trip but rented a bus instead. He and his two friends quickly realized they were onto something. Soon after, they began a business doing student tours. Just like that, Holiday Vacations formed!

A few years later, the focus shifted to adult travel, and we expanded to operate fifteen branches throughout the Midwest and Arizona while owning 13 motorcoaches. Fast forward to the present, we now have one main office back home where it all began, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, but continue serving nationwide with exceptional guest service. As part of the prestigious United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), we operate hundreds of tours in over 65 domestic and international destinations by air, rail, motorcoach, and cruise. We are thrilled to have provided worry-free and memorable vacations of a lifetime for nearly 50 years now! And to think it all started with some college students trying to make their way to Florida.

? Tour Directors in 1989 & our office in 1986

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