Disclaimer: Media Trip. REKA invited us to discover their newly renovated Lugano-Albonago Holiday Village before their grand opening on July 1st 2022. 

The story of Reka – Then and Now 

A few weeks ago, we asked you, our z’Nnüni readers, if you had heard of Reka. A whopping 59% of you surprisingly had never heard of the Swiss holiday and leisure provider! So, to coincide with the renovation and reopening of their very first holiday village, Reka Lugano-Albonago, we thought it was about time we filled you all in!

So what exactly is Reka? 

In 1939, a group of Swiss companies and tourism organisations decided to come together and start a non-profit cooperative. Their mission? To offer holiday experiences to those that could not afford them (which back then was a very large section of society). They called it Reka, an abbreviated form of the German word ‘Reisekasse’, which translates to ‘travel fund’. 

Fast forward 83 years, today, the cooperative has more than 500 members, including many well known names such as Coop and Credit Suisse, but their company vision remains; “Making holidays and leisure time possible for everyone”. Their  ‘Foundation for Holiday Aid’ further helps many economically and socially disadvantaged families every year by funding (or part funding) specially designed holidays that give them the break they so desperately need. 

Their organisation actually has two business areas. Reka Holidays (more on that later!) and Reka Money, a tax-exempt leisure currency. The latter is sold to employees at a discount by over 4000 employers. If a company does not offer this benefit, it can be purchased directly through the Reka website. 

The idea is that this discounted currency allows buyers to increase their annual leisure and travel budget. In 2006, Reka cheques were replaced with the more convenient and secure Reka-card which allows customers to easily pay for hotel accommodation, public transport, petrol and much more. 

What kind of holiday accommodation can I book through Reka?

Ok, back to Reka Holidays! They offer many types of holidays but are probably best known for their 12-holiday villages, situated in a variety of stunning Swiss locations. From city to mountain to lake, these villages have everything you need for a relaxing break and are especially popular with families. 

See their website for the full list of practical services also available but they include buggy rental, on-site laundry facilities and the Rekalino kids club (so that the parents can have some relaxation time too!). 

The Orginal: The newly renovated Reka Lugano-Albonago

In June 2022, z’Nüni founder Kristin and I were invited along to stay at the newly renovated Reka Lugano-Albonago; the very first holiday village that Reka opened back in 1964! They have spent a whopping 33 million francs updating this particular property and by the end of 2022, they will have renovated 16 out of their 20 hotels and villages. 

After checking into our modern air-conditioned 2-bed apartment (there are 49 in total with a variety of floor plans to suit every type of family), the splashes we could hear from their beautiful new infinity pool proved too hard to resist on this 30-something degree day! Thanks to its location high up on the slopes of Monte Bre, the vista from the pool across the city and lake to the mountains beyond is quite incredible. 

After much oohing and ahhing (and a fair amount of photo taking) we eventually dragged ourselves away from the pool and headed back to our apartment. This is when Kristin and I (both parents) noticed and appreciated the small details. A spacious family-friendly dining area, thoughtfully selected kitchen equipment and an apartment that was totally sound-proof! Our building was right next to the bar/restaurant area and we could not hear anything once the doors and windows were closed! 

By the time we left Lugano Albonago, we both agreed that this new village really did check all the boxes for a fun family break where the main emphasis is on relaxation. Great food, friendly welcoming staff and enough to keep everyone in the family happy from toddlers to grandparents.

Do they offer any other type of accommodation?

Reka also understands however that a family holiday village isn’t what everyone is looking for. They also offer breaks at some beautiful Swiss holiday homes/apartments as well as several hotels, including the Parkhotel Brenscino Brissago (read all about our visit there here) And if you are in the mood for travelling a little further afield, it is even possible to book in many other European locations such as Italy, France and Croatia. Or if camping and leisure parks are more your cup of tea, you can even book Eurocamp and Center Parcs breaks through Reka. There really is something for everyone! 

Why else is Reka special? 

Reka not only fulfils its social responsibilities but also its environmental ones. Reka has been recognized by Swiss Tourism and awarded their ‘Swisstainable’ certificate in recognition of its efforts to become the most sustainable holiday provider in Switzerland. They are already doing pretty well with 100% of electricity and 70% of heating energy coming from renewable sources. 

With such an interesting past and a vision that still remains today, the future looks bright for Reka as more and more people discover what they have to offer. We would love to hear from you if you decide to experience a Reka holiday or activity this summer. And take my advice. If you find yourself at the Lugano Albonago holiday village (which opened on 1st July), drop your bags and head straight for that pool… you will not regret it!