STA Travel has opened three new stores this year, as it continues its ambitious retail expansion strategy.

Last week its first store in Swansea opened, which followed the new store in the INTU shopping centre in Milton Keynes in September.

The STA Travel store in the Bluewater retail complex in Kent opened in August.

These stores are an important milestone for the company as it broadens its reach in the regions, and take the total number of UK stores to 54.

Jackie Knell, STA Travel sales director, commented: “STA Travel caters for everyone with a passion for travel: from student, to young professionals, to the young-at-heart traveller.

“For more than 35 years we have offered market-leading prices including our unique ‘blue ticket’ student and youth airfares.

“Thanks to our global buying power, our well-established relationships with airlines and tour operators, and our incredibly knowledgeable staff, we are the very best people to help you plan your travels from a round-the-world adventure to a trek to Macchu Picchu to a volunteering project in Brazil.”

Knell added: “We’re delighted to be continuing to expand our physical retail presence on the high streets of the UK.

“It’s an important part of our distribution strategy and one that is growing, rather than receding, despite the fact we are catering for the most tech-savvy travelling generation ever.

“When it comes to booking a bespoke long-haul trip, gap year or round-the-world adventure there really is no substitute for talking to professionals who have experience and knowledge of these destinations themselves.”