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Ready to Make Your Next Holiday Extra Special!

We've upgraded our services to ensure you get the help you need in lightning-quick time. Our team is ready to assist in any way we can. The easiest way to reach us is via live chat (check our opening times).

We've worked hard to make our services more flexible, with FLEXTRAS - when you book with Holiday Extras, you'll enjoy the most flexible terms available. Plus, we're continuing to enhance our app with innovative features like HEHA! - The Holiday Extras Holiday Assistant, making it easier and faster than ever to search, book, and save.

Thanks for choosing Holiday Extras. Wishing you happy travels!

Matthew Paxton

Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)


I joined Holiday Extras in 2000. Having already handed my notice in at my previous role at SAGA, I was contemplating the next step in my career when Helen (then girlfriend, now wife) saw the advert for 'ABC Holiday Extras Head of Commercial' in the local paper and phoned me to say "I've found your new job". She was right!

From day one I have considered it an absolute privilege to work at Holiday Extras. The company has grown enormously in that time and I am proud to have played my part. I was part of the team involved in both the 2005 and 2018 management buyouts, played a key role in the launch of our German and Short Breaks businesses, and our acquisitions of Essential Travel and Purple Parking. I became Commercial Director in 2007, Chief Operating Officer in 2009 and Chief Commercial Officer in 2015. I love finding an opportunity to grab, or a problem to solve, and doing so in a way which means all parties win.


Life before Holiday Extras

I studied law at university and fully intended a legal career. However during my university summer holidays I worked as a holiday rep, the first summer for SAGA Holidays running tours of the UK, the next two summers for First Choice in Turkey and Corsica. My love of working in travel was off and running, and I secured a place on Saga Holidays graduate training scheme, a great education which saw me working there for seven years, taking on various roles in contact centre management, yield management and overseas contracting, an amazing job which gave me the opportunity to travel the world. My last job at Saga was contracting in Brazil including visits to Rio, Recife, and taking a boat up the Amazon from Manaus. In fact I was on this trip when I got the call about ABC from Helen!


Life outside Holiday Extras

Helen and I have a beautiful 19 year old daughter called Molly, and for us life is all about spending time together and creating memories. Helen works at SAGA (where we met), and Molly is studying Psychology at Winchester University. We love simple pleasures, our house in Hythe looks out to sea and we try when possible to take ten minutes in the morning to drink our coffee outside and take in the view, we also love to travel. I am also a trustee of the https://theeviedovefoundation.org/ and in the last couple of years I have done two IronMan triathlons, raising funds for a charity that is very close to my heart.


What's your perfect holiday?

Good question. Sunshine, family, laughter, adventure, relaxation, food, drink, culture.


Inspiration

I'm inspired by people who challenge themselves to be the best they can be.