Based in Rossendale

Mike Bridges

Looking for help with your business travel? Find out how I can help here

It's Nice To Meet You

Hi,

I am Mike Bridges - I have worked in travel for 36 years with the last 16 as a Travel Counsellor. In that time I have seen a radical change in how travel is sourced, so much so that I am now more of a tour operator than a travel agent, putting together bespoke packages to long haul destinations such as Australia, South Africa, U.S.A., the far east as well as all over Europe and the middle East. I also arrange corporate travel for my business clients.

I have personally travelled extensively to most of these destinations over the years both as a consumer on family holidays and also as a delegate on educational/travel agency visits. Some of the places I have visited include:

I have particular expertise in the Australian travel market, having just been awarded the status of Premier Aussie Specialist by Tourism Australia.

If you are seeking a personalised service from an experienced independent agent/operator then be sure to contact me for:

That overseas wedding, your own or as a guest
That special weekend treat
Where to take some foreign visitors for a typical English experience
That exciting first trip abroad
The holiday of a lifetime
That special cruise to mark your birthday, anniversary, retirement
The annual family summer holiday - compare and contrast places, hotels and prices -
The winter sports holiday
The long haul trip
The holiday ‘where you are looked after’ by a resident tour guide
Arranging that conference abroad
PA’s booking hotels, airlines, meetings for your boss
Visiting that trade exhibition in Europe

These are just a few of the services I can offer you but in short your travel needs become my personalised concern - let me take the hassle away from your time consuming surfing on the net, that thumbing through brochures - leave it to someone who knows - ring for a discussion and together we will create your holiday experience.

I look forward to hearing from you soon…

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Contact Me

Whatever your holiday needs I'm here to help you, so simply give me a call or send me an email with your contact details on and I can get things started for you:

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My Blog

I absolutely live and breathe travel and I love to write about my experiences! Please take a look through my posts - you might find your own holiday inspiration.

The Golden Triangle

20 June 2019

On the 21st May 2019 my wife Kath and I were picked up at home at 1230 pm to start what was a really enjoyable 7 day tour of India's Golden Triangle arranged by tour operator Travelphere whom I must admit were excellent throughout. After arriving at London Heathrow we boarded our Virgin Atlantic Flight to Delhi, we chose to pay a little extra for the Premium Economy which was well worth it. On our arrival in Delhi we were met by our tour guide Vedprakash (Ved) and the driver and his assistant who were to stay with us for the duration of the trip. We arrived at the Vivanti by Taj Hotel at around 3pm after a transfer through the free for all that is the Delhi traffic a mixture of cars, buses, tuk tuks, bicycles and motor scooters all vying for the same road space and pipping their horns to make a cacophony of noise that is deafening, it was a pleasure to get into the peace and quiet of the Vivanti and check in this spacious very stylish hotel. The rooms were excellent in size and amenities that you would expect from a hotel by Taj! Before dinner we braved the traffic and visited Qutub Minar the site of one of the tallest minaret standing in a Unesco World Heritage Site in the Mehrauli area of Delhi and well worth a visit. The next morning after breakfast we delved into the narrow maze of packed market streets of Old Delhi on board a cycle rickshaw, then on to then onto the famous street bazaar of Chandni Chowk passing the spectacular Red Fort, the impressive marble domes of Jamid Majid Mosque. Finally we visited Raj Ghat the simple memorial to Mahatma Ghandi, before heading to the "Pink City"of Jaipur A day of discovery today, with the highlight being the Amber Fort a 17th century stronghold that stands on the surrounding hills of the valley where Jaipur is located. We arrived at the fort and boarded a jeep to take us up to the top. You can go up on elephants but they are not that well treated and our guide will not support the owners of the elephants. The visit to the amber fort is one of lasting memories of the trip. In the afternoon we explored the Pink City of Jaipur and the City Palace with the elaborate facade of the Palace of the Winds with its 953 intricately decorated small windows. Today we travel to Bharatpur the home town of our guide Ved and his family. On the way we called at an ancient water storage Abhaneri’s Step well. Somewhere I had never heard of before this visit but really did enjoy our time there. With over 300 species of birds and a number of other animal species The Bhuatpur Bird Sanctuary is well worth visiting it is a well run national park which enables you to view the wildlife and birds in their natural habitat. Excellent day and tomorrow we have a long journey to the City of Agra and the Taj Mahal! It’s an early start today for our journey to Agra via the deserted city of Fatsphur Sikri which was built by an Emperor in 1569 to celebrate the birth of his Son. Well worth the visit for the serenity and marvellous architecture of the palace. Arrived at the Ramada Plaza Agra to the welcome of an Indian Wedding party, needless to say it was quite busy, after a freshen up we headed for The Agra Fort built in the 17th century by the Mughal dynasty then in the early evening on to Mehtab Bagh a centuries-old garden complex built on the opposite side of the Yamuna River to the Taj Mahal complex with stunning views of the great Monument! The final full day of this awesome trip as come all too soon, but up at 4am for the highlight of the tour a visit to the Taj Mahal, I have to say that it was as special and moving as I thought it would be. At that time of day there were no crowds and we got in without the trouble of queuing. It hard to put into words the feeling of sheer awe. Built to house the tomb of Muzmat Mahal the favourite wife of the Mugal Emperor Shah Jahan and it now also houses his tomb. As the Sun rose the building does seem to change colour. It took 20 years to complete and over 20000 men worked on it. The perfect place to end a tour of this lovely part of India. After our visit to the Taj Mahal it was time to travel back to the hustle & bustle of Delhi and the Vivanti by Taj Hotel to prepare for our long journey home the next day.

The Seychelles

22 September 2017

On the 1st December 2016, myself and five other lucky Travel Counsellors enjoyed a marvellous six-day visit to the beautiful Indian Ocean destination that is the Seychelles; an archipelago made up of 115 islands located just south of the Equator. The main island is Mahe, where the international airport is situated. After arriving on our Etihad flight (via Abu Dhabi) we were whisked off to the Savoy Resort & Spa which lies on Beau Vallon Beach; 3km of pristine sand and the only beach in the Seychelles where motorised water sports are allowed! There are many beautiful hotels on Mahe, including some that are ideal for couples, such as the Hilton Northolme or the Banyan Tree, but there are others that are perfect for families, my favourite being the Constance Ephelia, with fantastic villas offering families great accommodation with all the benefits and services of a 5* hotel. The Capital of Victoria on Mahe is definitely worth a visit, with its own mini “Big Ben” clock tower and its colourful market which remains the bustling heart of the capital. Take a visit to the oldest historic site in Seychelles, the Bel Air Cemetery - the tombs contain some historical characters including a 9ft giant Charles Dorothee Savy. I would recommend seeing more than one island in the Seychelles, namely Praslin, La Digue and Silouette Islands. From Mahe, we took the 60 minute ferry crossing to Praslin Island (a flight is also possible) and visited the famous UNESCO site, the Legendary Valle de Mai. It is home to six different indigenous trees, including some 6000 Coco-de-mer trees, and it is also the last habitat of the endangered Black Parrot. It was well worth the visit - a really enjoyable experience. Praslin has a good variety of hotels and we visited the 3* Indian Ocean Lodge; a lovely 32 room hotel with ocean views from the contemporary rooms. The hotel is owned and run by locals and has a very friendly feel to it. Interconnecting rooms make it a viable family option. We then went on to our hotel for the night. The Constance Lemuria has recently completed a renovation and it is a truly stunning hotel. The location is fabulous, with several beautiful beaches and the rooms were also large and of a very high standard. It does have a kids’ club and villas are available for families or groups. It is also home to the only 18-hole golf course in the Seychelles and certainly one of the most picturesque ones I’ve ever seen. La Digue was my favourite island where you will find Ans Source d’ Argent, said to be most photographed beach in the world. With its giant granite boulders which have been sculpted by the elements over time and its shallow reef, it is a safe place for children to paddle. We also visited what was my favourite hotel, a small B&B boutique hotel and restaurant - Le Repaire. It is in one of most stunning settings I’ve ever seen, a real little gem where a two or three night stay would be well worthwhile. La Digue has a real taste of the Caribbean and it is a great place to chill out! A day visit was all too short. We returned to Praslin and spent the night at the Coco de Mer hotel, which backs onto the Valle De Mai and overlooks the ocean. It is a wonderful hotel in a wonderful setting albeit a little off the beaten track. A 45-minute private ferry crossing took us to the unspoilt Silhouette Island, where we stayed at The Hilton Labriz Resort. Our villa was right on the beach, perfect for couples or families. There are no cars or roads on the 25km spanning island; only a handful of people live there. This was a perfect island for eco-tourists who will marvel at its unspoilt nature. All in all the Seychelles was all I expected and more. As the Valle de Mai guide said when I asked “how are you today” his reply “ I’m great, I live in paradise” - a perfect answer! Footnote: Since I travelled to the Seychelles, BA have announced they are starting a direct flight from London in March 2018!

The Joys of Jersey

30 June 2017

8th May I worked in the morning. At 1pm our friends John and Liz picked up myself and my wife Kath and off we headed to Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport for our flight to Jersey .for our four night break at the Talana Hotel situated just outside St Helier parish. It is a long time since I've flown from Liverpool and I must say if the same airport experience could be guaranteed I would use Liverpool every time. Took off at 4.15 pm and 55 minutes later arrived Jersey airport, collected our hire car and checked into the hotel around 6.30pm. 9th May - Liberation Day Up at 8am, breakfast, then out for our nice walk to make our way to Liberation Square in St Helier via the lovely Howard Davis Park, where you will find WW2 memorial gardens and some beautiful flora and fauna! The marching parade starting point was Royal Square near the centre of St Helier and then onto Liberation Square, where the re-enactment of the Liberation took place in front of very large crowds of both locals and tourists. After which there was a parade of WWII military and civilian vehicles along the Esplanade. After a leisurely walk along the sea front, we enjoyed a bar snack at the Talana, making for a nice end to a lovely first day on Jersey. 10th May We made our way to St Brelade where we had a nice walk through Churchill Memorial Gardens and then onto La Corbier Lighthouse on the south west tip of the island The walk across the causeway is a must do! We then drove up the west coast road, passing various surfing schools and clubs after lunch in in a beautiful place on the north coast Greve de Lecq. Then we travelled across the coast and down to Gorey, the site of the famous Gorey Castle. Thursday 11th May After breakfast we visited the Jersey War Tunnels. This is another must see attraction which gives you a great insight as to what it must have been like to live through such a horrific time. One day free as a bird in the countryside with not a care in the world, the next day, faced with the choice of leaving your home and heading for the mainland and safety, or taking your chances with the Germans and what life would be like under the occupation. A very poignant and humbling experience and really well presented! The rest of the day we spent visiting and seeing some local sights. 12th May Our last day! We packed and made our way to what had become our favourite place on the island, St Brelade for one last look as our flight back to Liverpool did not depart until 6pm. We also called in at St Aubin, another picturesque coastal village. After lunch at the 'Smugglers Inn', we made our way to the airport to catch our flight home! A really great four day break just an hour's fight away yet I felt I was truly abroad! I can recommend the Seymour near Gorey for great pub food and a good pint! If you would like to know more about a short-break in Jersey, please feel free to contact me to arrange your trip.

Fergus Style Cala Blanca Suites Hotel Santa Ponsa Majorca

27 April 2017

In May 2016 my wife and I were lucky enough to spend a week here with my daughter and her family. We had a wonderful time. This is the second time my daughter and her family have been, they love the place and so do I. It’s a perfect family holiday destination, the flights are only two and a half hours and Jet 2 have a good choice of flight times. They offer self-catering, half-board and all-inclusive options. The rooms are spacious and the whole hotel is very clean. We stayed All Inclusive and the choice and quality of food was excellent. The entertainment was also excellent but not over the top, they have a kids club, which is based mainly outdoors, around the pool they play pool games, dance and they use the park, volley ball court and for the younger ones they have a park, a pony called Pongus they get to feed and a club house where they do crafts. Also just off the Reception they have a games and film room open to children/teens all day. At night they have a mini disco and play games for the children. They also have shows performed by the entertainment team and some outside artists. The entertainment finishes at 11pm so any families with younger children are not disturbed. The pool is great it has a shallow beach style half with small slides perfect for toddlers and a deeper half for more able swimmers. There is also an undercover heated pool which is reserved for adults at certain times, and an adult only roof terrace. The beach is a small rocky cove with sand providing beautiful views, but the long sandy beach of Santa Ponsa is only a short walk away. There are plenty of shops, bars and restaurants within walking distance. We went on a boat trip leaving from nearby Parquera, this is also a beautiful place. There are lots of trips available around the Island and the staff are happy to help, nothing is too much trouble. I would definitely recommend Fergus for a relaxing family holiday, with plenty of activities to keep the children entertained. I would also recommend it for anybody who requires help with accessibility, there is a harness/lift in to the pool, the corridors to all ground floor rooms are wide, the dining room, bar, reception and other communal areas are spacious and although it is set back into the hillside as well as steps there are gently sloping paths down to the pool, entertainment a garden areas.

Iceland

19 January 2017

This time last year I was looking forward to a trip to Iceland along with my wife and other Travel Counsellor colleagues and their families. We went in March and what an experience, we weren’t fortunate enough to see the Northern Lights (never guaranteed), but this did not detract from the fabulous time we had. What an amazing country steeped in folklore and amazing Natural wonders. We flew from Manchester to Reykjavik. Stayed at Hotel Klopp in Reykjavik (a 50 minute transfer from airport), the hotel is located about 15 min walk from The Old Harbour area. This hotel is a basic, very clean and functional, but there are plenty of more luxurious hotels to choose from. Even though it was cold we still went to the beach! Not your normal white sandy beach but the black beach Reynisfjara. The contrast of the calm white snow/ice and strong gusty waves and sea took my breath away. The black sand and formations are due to the volcanic activity. The cliff is made of basalt columns produce when the lava from a volcano cools. It’s like a pyramid of columns. The rock in the sea is also formed from basalt rock. It is told in folklore that two trolls were dragging their ship to land and when daylight broke they were turned to stone and that’s the Reynisdrangar stacks, visible from the beach. (there’s only one on my photo). We travelled around Reykjavik mainly on foot taking in the atmosphere and we visited Hallgrimskirtja (Hallgrims Church). What a fascinating modernistic church. It took 41 years to build, completed in 1986 and designed in 1937 by Guojon Samuel. He was inspired by columns of basalt rock throughout Iceland produced from cooled lava. It is the highest building in the city and can be seen from almost any point within the city. The highlight of the trip for me was seeing Gullfoss Waterfall and the Geysers of Thingvellir National Park.Gullfoss Waterfall plummets down 32 meters of a rocky canyon that is 70 meters high. Located in South Iceland on the Hvítá River which is fed by Iceland´s second biggest glacier, the Langjökull. This is an unspoiled natural wonder to behold. And, the hot geysers – all I can say is wow! The food and drink is expensive but very good. We ate in local restaurants offering a wide range of international and traditional cuisine. We had a meal at a Turkish restaurant on the first night, which was very good. But for the rest of the trip, we ate more of the traditional cuisine, including meat stews, mainly using Lamb and lots of fresh fish, mainly Arctic Char. All of our meals were fresh, beautifully cooked and warming, just what we needed! We stayed for 3 nights and squeezed in a lot, but there is so much more to see. I would definitely visit again and take a trip to experience The Blue Lagoon and would like to catch a glimpse of The Northern Lights.

South Africa

16 March 2017

I have just returned from a trip to South Africa. It was my first visit and I would like to share a few of my experiences with you of this diverse country. The first pleasant experience was the really nice service given by the Virgin staff on my flight from Manchester to London Heathrow. The second pleasant experience was the Virgin Clubhouse at Heathrow with marvellous facilities and great food and refreshments, setting you up for the 12 hour flight to Cape Town. We arrived in Cape Town at around 10.30am and transferred to our first night’s accommodation in Franschhoek at the La Residence, set in beautiful grounds with magnificent views of the surrounding hills and mountains. A luxury hotel in every sense of the word, the food and wine were excellent. The rooms were spacious with all the amenities you would expect in a luxury hotel. After a good night’s sleep it was an early departure for the journey back to Cape Town. On the way we visited the Babylonstoren, one of the oldest Cape Dutch Farms in the area with beautiful fruit, vegetable and herb gardens. We also had really nice lunch here. After lunch it was off to Cape Town via Steenberg winery (well worth a visit) before our two night stay at the Queen Victoria Hotel, Cape Town Waterfront. This is one of three sister hotels and is a 35 room luxury boutique hotel. Apart from the great location, you can use all facilities at the two other hotels - The Dock House and Victoria & Alfred. I definitely recommend any of these hotels. Saturday was a day of mixed emotions - the morning was spent on a tour with James from The Uthando project and we saw some of the great work that James and his team do for some very deserving causes in and around the township’s on the outskirts of Cape Town. The afternoon was a whistle-stop tour of the Cape Peninsula and to Boulders Beach to see the South African penguins. It was well organised by our Cape Town based colleague Gail. Sunday was an early start for our flight up to Mpumalanga, staying in the MalaMala private game reserve at Sabi Sands in the Kruger National Park. Arriving with just enough time to get in our rooms at the Sable Camp at Mala Mala (this is a collection of exclusive villa type rooms set away from the main camp). We set off on our first game drive and after seeing zebras and impalas we were lucky enough to see leopards before setting off back to camp for dinner in the camp’s BOMA. After a good meal and entertainment from the camp staff we were escorted back to our rooms by our rangers Roan and James, as MalaMala is an open camp. We discovered how open when we were greeted by a wild elephant munching on branches of a tree, only a few feet away from the patio door! Monday morning and an early start! A cup of coffee and onto our second drive where we saw rhinos, hippos, giraffes and various other species. The beauty of staying on the private reserves is that the rangers can go off road when they spot an animal so you get really up close! After the three hour game drive back to camp for breakfast, an inspection of MalaMala, we take the short transfer to our lodge for this evening - the sumptuous Mala Mala Rattray’s lodge. Our room was beautiful and had its own plunge pool! One good feature of all rooms in MalaMala is that they have two bathrooms, one with shower and one with bath. On an evening game drive we saw more leopards and witnessed a stand-off between a male lion and a male leopard! Another early start and game drive on Tuesday and we went in search of buffalo to complete the sighting of the “big 5”. We found a herd of approximately 150 and as we were on a private reserve we ended up driving into the middle of them; a truly awesome experience. After our goodbyes to our rangers we transferred to the Pretoriuskop Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park, where we spent the night under canvas. The camp is fenced so you feel much safer. Our last day started with another game drive, and the last animals we saw were a she lion with some cubs! All in all a fantastic experience that I would recommend!

My customer stories

Sent by Steve Doyle

Helpful from the start to finish, With a personal touch, Mike got us great deal on or two Center holiday, paper work and tickets delivered in plenty of time, and only to happy to help with our questions, I would definitely recommend to anyone , we are seasoned travellers but letting someone else taking the strain was a welcome change. Advice and customer service seemed to be a priority. Really good to hear a friendly helpful voice at the end of the phone.

Sent by David Livesey

As always an excellent service from Mike when helping us with our holiday plans will definitely be contacting him again with any future trips.

Sent by Lynn Russell

Mike is a fantastic guy that will will go the extra mile and then some more to get you your perfect holiday. Mike is professional, friendly and very approachable. I would highly recommend him.

Sent by Margaret Malcolm

Help is always just a phone call away! Our Travel Counsellor Mike is on hand to guide us through the intricacies of booking a holiday, and treats each client as a friend! Will always recommend to friends, family and colleagues.

Sent by Philip Walker

Normal business hours didn’t limit Mike when I found myself in extremis due to bad weather at resort and we had to reschedule flights home from Alaska? First class service!

Sent by Michael Flood

Mike was professional and excellent all the way through the process. I hope the trip is as hassle free. It was difficult for him as I kept changing numbers etc but he did everything that was asked. Many thanks

Sent by John Lord

Great service as always

Sent by Lee Ashworth

Mike is very good at working to our requirements, and always has ideas to suit our needs.We will continue use Mike for our holidays in future.

Sent by Jean Case

Excellent service and advice

Sent by James Heaton

Personal service at it's best

Sent by Darren Brierley

Cannot thank Mike Bridges enough. Brilliant service from start to finish. I gave Mike a list of my wants and needs for our holiday and he put together a package tailored to us all at a very reasonable price. I would highly recommend Mike Bridges for all your holiday bookings.

Sent by David Livesey

Would highly recommend Mike to anyone looking to book a holiday in fact already have done so. He very quickly and efficiently found us just the right holiday. Thank you.

Sent by Margaret Gent

We always use Mike, as do other members of my family. His attention to detail is impeccable, he's always knowledgeable and amenable to assist with additional queries. We would recommend his services highly.

Sent by Karl Kempson

Always book holidays with mike, excellent service he's always happy to help!

Sent by Cheryl Settle

This is the fourth time I have used Mike Bridges' services. He is very patient and always does his very best for you. In the days of self-service, online buying, etc., it really is nice to have someone else do all the legwork for you. Would definitely recommend,

Sent by Bob Martland

Because of our circumstances Mike is very patient and helpful, you could say he goes the extra mile.

Sent by Mervyn Kay

Had a great time and all went smoothly with no hitches thanks to your help at all hours of the day and night. I will certainly recommend you to any of my friends who are planning a trip

Sent by Paul Gregson

Mike took all the hassle out of sorting flights and all arrangements - he is a god send. As we are not frequent flyers it seemed a minefield to us, but one phone call to Mike and it was all arranged with no hassle. What a blessing. We can't thank him enough.

Sent by John Lord

I have always found Mike most helpful and value his knowledge of the travel industry and world travel.

Sent by Tess Slavickova

Excellent response times and support - thank you Mike .

Sent by Lee Ashworth

This is the third time I have used TC. Mike is always very helpful and quick at responding to any questions we have. Would recommend Mike to anyone.

Sent by Emily Worswick

Great service, very efficient and found us a fantastic holiday we would have never found without Mike's help.

Sent by Paul Fitton

Mike is always willing to achieve exactly what we ask for in our holidays. A really helpful and friendly Travel Counsellor.

Sent by Jacqueline Morton

Can always rely on Michael doing his best. Nice and friendly.