02 July 2023

Ahhh Italy, there is a reason this famous boot-shaped country is a best-seller. I have blissful memories of driving along the meandering, lemon-clad Amalfi Coast roads gasping at one incredible view, believing it couldn’t be beaten, only to round the corner and be treated to another, then another…. Having travelled down from Rome the coastal air was a welcome change from the frenetic capital where ancient Roman ruins are perfectly juxtaposed with vibrant, European city life. City days were spent with the morning delving in to the lives of the great civilisation of the Roman Empire followed with afternoons people-watching from street-side aperitivo bars as the sun went down. Of course no trip to Italy is complete without a gelato or two, but where is the best? The answer (in my opinion) is Gelateria Santa Trinita in Florence (if you dispute this then let me know your favourite). But of course there’s more than just Gelato to draw you to the Renaissance capital of Tuscany. Never have I felt so close to the history of art as when gazing at Michelangelo's statue of David in the Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze. But is there anywhere on earth quite like Venice? I recall skipping through the streets in joyful delight because it felt exactly walking in to a postcard. Discovering the magic with a local guide taking us on a Cicchetti & Wine Tour was a highlight of mine, exploring the key sights whilst feasting on Italian the tapas, as well as unearthing a few hidden spots that only the locals know about. Italy is waiting to be explored and never waivers in popularity, but why choose a touring holiday in Italy? Holidaying with our partners Travelsphere, or their solo holiday sister company Just You, guarantees that you will visit all the highlights of the country with an itinerary carefully planned by destination specialist, providing amazing experiences all led by expert holiday directors that has a wealth of knowledge of the destination. A touring holiday will offer unique encounters of Italy that you just won’t get anywhere else within the company of like-minded travellers, some of whom may become friends for life. Imagine yourself getting an authentic taste of the world feasting on speciality local dishes from the atmospheric terrace of the idyllic, Castello di Verazzano overlooking miles of lush Tuscan vineyards within the company with new-found friends. This kind of experience can’t be found in a guide-book but is just one example of a highlight included in a Travelsphere or Just You tour. Touring holidays are one of my favourite no-worries ways to travel. Plus, Travelsphere and Just You offer amazing value with return flights, overseas transportation and handpicked accommodation all included and financially protected for your peace of mind. If you want to chat more about touring Italy with Travelsphere or Just You then get in touch with me today. Call 0203 432 4720.

20 March 2023

In the 1990’s the rise of the internet lead many to believe the human travel agent was a thing of the past. Yet 30+ years later the number of people consulting independent, trusted travel professionals, like me, shows no signs of slowing down. When booking with Travel Counsellors clients enjoy the friendly, personalised service of a local travel agent, but yet still benefit from some of the best travel technology there is. All potential new, and existing clients, get the option to set up a free myTC account. This account – available as both an online platform and mobile app – is where travellers manage all their bookings and enquiries. Providing the perfect hybrid experience; after an initial, telephone or face-to-face consultation the holiday quotes can be viewed via myTC on a computer, or from the comfort of your sofa in mobile friendly format. Here customers can browse the full itinerary details, plus maps and images of the accommodation and experiences. Proposals can be marked as ‘Liked’ or ‘Request to Book’ notifying me, your Travel Counsellor, to get back in touch. myTC is also our secure payment portal, meaning every payment is protected and also allowing travellers to make payment at a time to suit, and pay off in increments up to the final balance due date to help with budgeting. All travel documents can be found in myTC – no more searching through emails for booking confirmations, boarding passes and tickets – everything is in one place and forgoing paper as we move to be more sustainable. Plus with notifications switched on myTC will alert travellers of flight delays and go to gate notifications – often before they appear on the screens at the airport. Now that’s some pretty awesome technology! myTC shows a countdown to your trip – for me nothing beats the excitement of counting down to your next holiday. Plus you’ll also find my contact details there too. Because don’t forget – despite all this award-winning technology a human who cares can still be found at the end of the phone to answer any questions. It’s the ultimate example of having the best of both worlds – and there’s not many times in life you get that! I am passionate about making every element of your travel experience completely personal to you, whilst ensuring I am there for you every step of the way. To get planning your next trip contact me, your trusted Travel Counsellor on 0203 432 4720.

15 November 2021

If you’re getting married the Travel Counsellors Weddings and Honeymoon Gift Registry service could be for you. Weddings can be tough to plan and setting up a traditional gift list is just another thing on a long list of pre-wedding prep. However, the Travel Counsellors Gift Registry service is the easy, stress-free way to manage your dream wedding and honeymoon online. You may already have all the bed linen and towels you need but our Honeymoon Gift Registry service allows your guests to give you the most memorable gift of all – your dream honeymoon with every detail tailor-made to suit you. Whether you’re planning the adventure of a lifetime, a romantic escape to a tropical location or a luxury city-escape, the Gift Registry means you can have the honeymoon you always wanted. When setting up your Honeymoon Gift Registry you will get a unique Honeymoon Gift Registry webpage personalised to you with a photo and personal message. Here guests, friends and family can contribute towards your honeymoon and leave a message. This service is free of charge when your honeymoon is booked through me. As part of this unique service, you can also purchase a Honeymoon Registry pack, which includes guest cards designed to send out with your wedding invitations, to let guests know how they can contribute to your dream honeymoon. The Honeymoon Registry pack also includes thank you cards and envelopes, to let your guests know how much you appreciate their contribution. Setting up your Honeymoon Gift Registry Service is quick and easy – contact me, your personal Travel Counsellor on 0203 432 4720 or email rebecca.berzins@travelcounsellors.com

14 October 2021

In September I was invited on the Visit Orlando Super Fam – a special familiarisation trip for 50 UK Travel Agents. This special, VIP trip offered a whistle-stop tour of Disney, Universal and Sea World all crammed in to 6-days. I returned exhausted but equipped with all the insights I need to help my clients make the most of this often once-in-a-life time trip. First time visitors to Orlando often get overwhelmed by the sheer scale of it and don’t know where to start. Sometimes I find that people don’t know that Disney incorporates 6 separate, individual, and unique theme parks whilst Universal and Sea World both have 3 each in Orlando. That’s 12 renowned and vastly different theme parks to enjoy all with something different to offer. If you think you can ‘do’ Orlando in 7-days you might be disappointed. It would certainly give you a good taster, but it will always leave you wanting more! The key to starting is to identify which theme parks can’t be missed and to identify that I’ll get to know you. For younger kids, it’s always the Disney parks. For Harry Potter fans, Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure – linked by the Hogwarts Express – are not to be missed. Animal Lovers – you’ll be wanting to include Disney’s Animal Kingdom and perhaps Sea World’s Discovery Cove. Roller-coaster fans – you’ll find them in most of the parks but thrill-seekers shouldn’t miss Sea World and Universal Studios. Star Wars fans won’t want to miss Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And if you’re a water park lover then you won’t be left disappointed in Orlando – my favourite was Universal’s Discovery Cove but Disney also has two of its own and Orlando’s Aquatica. Once I’ve worked with you to identify which theme parks to focus on we’ll then talk accomodation. On-site or off-site is often the key question but there’s more to consider. Close to some of the parks there’s some great apartments with hotel-style facilities that offer the best of both world. Whereas larger, multi-generational families might want a spacious villa with private pool. Location is key to ensure easy access to International Drive. Younger families might prefer to stay in a Disney hotel with easy access to the parks on complimentary transport and exclusive character meet-and-greets at some hotels. But with more than 25 Disney Resort Hotels to suit all budgets across value, moderate and deluxe its easy to become bamboozled by the choice. Plus certain Universal hotels included daily Fast Passes – these essential bonuses can be vital to avoid long queues and make the most of the parks. The choices don’t start there, but don’t worry – I’ll guide through you from start to finish – choosing the most affordable park tickets, adding on dining plans, booking fast passes, making dinner reservations and arranging fast passes. So, if you want help planning your next trip to Orlando, my own VIP experience means I possess all the knowledge and insider tips to ensure you get it right and aren’t left floundering unable to enjoy the parks to the max. Get in touch and lets get planning today!

15 December 2020

Whilst Covid-19 travel restriction were eased over the summer months I was lucky enough to enjoy my own family holiday to Crete. This year it was so called for and gave me a much-needed chance to rest, recharge and revitalise. Travel in a pandemic bought new experiences but not necessarily all bad. Luton airport was very quiet, especially for the time of year; it was definitely the most pleasant airport experience I’ve ever had! There are lots of signs to remind us of the precautions to take. Hand-sanitiser is plentiful and airport seating is labelled to facilitate social distancing. Wearing a face-mask in the airport and on board the plane is mandatory for anyone over the age of 6. We were greeted upon arrival at our hotel, the 5 star Creta Mars Resort & Spa, by staff wearing masks and gloves and it was evident that the Covid protocol has been well thought out. The hotel was operating at around 60% capacity to allow for social distancing, which also made for a really chilled holiday experience. Set right on a sandy beach, designed and laid out like a traditional Greek Village with different zones and multiple pools, I loved how spacious the Creta Maris resort is. Perfect for social distancing in a Covid world, but even at full capacity I imagine you’d never be short on space. Most importantly this luxury All Inclusive hotel offers a choice of restaurants. This is probably my most requested feature when planning All Inclusive holidays for clients who like the ease of All Inclusive but not the idea of dining in the same buffet restaurant three times a day. At the Creta Maris Resort you are not short on choice with 6 restaurants in total, plus poolside snack-points. My favourite spot was the seafront location of the Greek BBQ restaurant, Cohlias. Whilst Pithos is a unique à la carte serving Cretan Cuisine. It has been awarded by the Bio Hellas Institute with the ‘Bio-Kouzina Gold’ certification, for offering 90% of organic dishes on its menu. I love a waterpark so when I saw that the Create Maris Resort had it’s own waterpark I knew it was the hotel for me. The waterpark was a new addition in 2019, is exclusive for hotel guests and is included in the All Inclusive package at no additional charge. There is something for everyone with a toddler splash pool, Aqua Tower and slides for the little ones, plus slides for big kids (over 1.2m) and adults to enjoy too. Located in it’s own corner of the hotel, don’t worry – if waterparks aren’t your thing it can easily be avoided. One of my favourite things was about the hotel is its efforts in sustainable tourism. Powered by solar panels the hotel aims to be zero waste by 2021. There is no single use plastic in sight! Straws are compostable plus water is filtered and provided in reusable bottles. There are recycling stations, plus wooden cutlery and polycarbonate reusable cups are used instead of plastic at the poolside snack bars. Yes, travelling in a pandemic meant there was a few extra things to think about, but once we’d arrived and settled in the holiday was just as you’d expect any holiday to be – an opportunity to make wonderful new family memories!

20 November 2019

Cruising is one of the fastest growing sectors of the travel industry. With this in mind I took the time to speak to one of my clients about why he continues to choose cruising for his holidays? What first appealed to you about cruising? The main thing that appealed to me about taking a cruise was the fact that, on any one cruise, I could visit so many different destinations and I wouldn’t have to worry about the travel arrangements once I’d boarded the ship. It’s a wonderful experience to wake up in a new port with the anticipation of exploring somewhere new and exciting. How many cruises have you been on and which was your favourite? I’ve been on 6 cruises so far, and each one holds special memories. For example, the scenery on the cruise into and out of Stockholm was just stunning and the smaller islands we visited in the Caribbean were idyllic, but I guess my overall favourite has to be the trip we took to New Zealand and Australia. Everything about it took my breath away. The places we got to visit were incredible and all the people we met were so friendly. What is it about cruising that makes you keep on returning? The vast amount of options that are available. There are so many itineraries and options available that we will never get bored. What advice would you give to someone who’s never cruised before? Think clearly about what you want the cruise holiday to provide for you. Don’t just plump for a particular option just because it seems like good value for money, or for the most expensive because “it’s bound to be good at that price”. Where do you want to visit? What dining arrangements are you expecting? What facilities would you want in your cabin? What kind of entertainment would you like for you and the rest of your family? And anything else that’s important to you. As I said before, there are so many itineraries and options available, it’s all about finding the right one for you. I know you’ve got a couple of cruises on the horizon but after that where’s next on the wish list? Hmmm. Well, we haven’t taken a cruise to Alaska yet, so that could be an option, or I’ve always fancied cruising through the Panama Canal, or maybe Japan……… If you would like to talk more about planning your own cruise holiday then get in touch today on 0203 432 4720.

01 September 2019

I’m one of those people who fall squarely in to the category of being lured by far flung places. When I first packed up my backpack it was for Thailand. On my gap year I went to Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji. It is only since having my daughter that Europe has really piqued my interest. But this summer we opted to plan an English staycation renting a beautiful cottage in Corfe Castle, Dorset and set about exploring the Isle of Purbeck. We lucked out on being away during the hottest August Bank Holiday weekend the UK has ever seen. Spending the day at the beaches of Studland was perfect. These National Trust protected beaches have avoided the trappings of many UK seaside towns with just a simple ice-cream hut, café, toilet facilities and little else apart from perfect sand ideal for sandcastle building (and lots of other people – it was a sunny Bank Holiday weekend after all!) The village of Corfe Castle itself was as picturesque as it comes with thatched cottages, a village bakery and several great pubs serving the tastiest Purbeck cider. Here we were no more than 30 mins to drive to everywhere we wanted to visit. Medieval Corfe Castle set atop of a hill overlooking the village hosts plenty of events during school holidays alongside the Corfe Castle Quest challenge making for an ideal family day out. No trip to this area is complete without exploring a section of the Jurassic Coast. We started the day crabbing in the crystal-clear waters off the pebble beach of Lulworth Cove before heading along the coast to the natural limestone arch of Durdle Door. Offering coastal scenery as breathtakingly as I’ve seen anywhere in the world I began to appreciate why some people never make it beyond England. Self-catering is a different holiday proposition. For the past few holidays we’ve stayed in all-inclusive hotels and those trips definitely felt more restful. But for a break with friends this was ideal. The kids had space to play and once they were tucked up in bed we could relax over a glass of wine and a board game. After a packed week of exploring I feel we came away having barely scratched the surface and I could happily return to Dorset. I can wholeheartedly say that this area makes for the ideal staycation. From cottages, big and small to holiday parks and lodges, to family run B&B’s or luxury hotels I’ve got access to a large selection of holiday options in the UK. Next time you’re planning a UK staycation be sure to get in touch.

21 June 2019

Often once you have kids everything that you previously looked for from a holiday changes. My husband and I spent our early 20's seeking adventure. Climbing Mount Kinabalu, overlanding through Southern Africa and backpacking around Australia. Then as we got slightly older, we luxuriated in top end hotels like the Shangri-La, enjoyed fine dining at Michelin star restaurants and sought unique experiences such as pizza making in Naples. These days as busy parents of a 4-year-old, holidays are less about what we want and more about creating memories for my daughter whilst allowing us to enjoy time together as a family. I'm sure as she grows so what we seek from a holiday will evolve too. For now, seeing her dance at the mini disco and splash in the pool is all we need alongside a change of pace and a welcome break from our daily routine. I'm all too aware that we only have a finite time to enjoy this kind of family holiday. Give it 10 years and she won't want to be seen with us. A few more after that and she'll have (hopefully!) flown the nest for her own adventures at which point what we as a couple seek from a holiday will no doubt change again too. During our recent holiday staying at the all-inclusive Olympic Lagoon Resort in Paphos, we found something to satisfy all three of us from the hotels extensive 5-star facilities. The pools are cleverly zoned in a way that ensures everyone has their own space. There's a swim up bar and a kid’s splash pool plus water slides. The outside seating area of the main buffet restaurant is beautiful plus it was great to also have a selection of alternative restaurants to choose from as part of the all-inclusive package. The Asian Seven Orchids restaurant is superb as was the traditional Cypriot Captains Deck, which is set by the ocean front. If excellent kid’s club facilities are important to your family than I can confidently say that those at the Olympic Lagoon Resort are amongst the best I've seen in any hotel. The complimentary crèche accepts babies from 6 months old and there is a daily, changing activity programme that ensures kids will be kept busy. There is also a brilliant, separate teens facility for older kids who are too cool for kids’ clubs. Teens can come and go from as they please from the supervised facility making use of the video game booths, an internet surf station and the ‘Chillax’ club with TV screens and soda drinks. Everything is secure, well organised with well thought out, pre-planned activities and the staff are excellent. At the end of the holiday my husband and I reflected on our favourite bit of the trip before concluding that it was seeing our daughter happy and enjoying herself. And that is the magic of family holidays.

29 December 2018

A growing wish list of travel destination comes with the territory of my industry. Each new enquiry pulls me in to hours of research that ignites my own passion to explore. With that in mind, here’s what’s on my 2019 travel wish list…. 1. Cyprus After the success of our family beach holiday in Lanzarote last year I’ve set the bar quite high. Daughter Cleo now expects waterslides, mini discos and ice-cream on tap from her holidays! Including Cyprus on my wish list is a bit of a cheat as I have in fact already booked to go this summer. I chose Cyprus as it will bring guaranteed sun – reaching highs of 27°c in June and the 5-star Olympic Lagoon Resort in Paphos, Cyprus offers a host of family facilities, a kid’s club from age 3+ and a swim up pool bar! This is our last chance to travel outside of school holidays and I wanted to make it one to remember. 2. Riga, Latvia My husband’s father was born in Riga, the capital city of Latvia and largest of the three Baltic capitals. In fact, my name – Berzins – is the most common Latvian surname and surname of the current Latvian president. Yet neither my husband nor I have ever been to this compact city rich in architectural delights and awash with art and music. In fact, it’s been a while since we took a proper city break and Riga has been on my radar for many years. It would be our first foray into city breaks with kids, but I’m assured that the Old Town is compact enough to explore on foot and, like most European cities, there is an abundance of parks and playgrounds as well as the Riga Zoo to keep littles ones entertained. 3. Lapland After sending several families to Lapland this year I’ve certainly got the bug. I’ve always loved Christmas but having a child does put a certain magic back in to it. With Cleo turning 4 this year and now fully embracing Santa, presents and all that Christmas entails I would love to take this once in a life-time pilgrimage to meet the big man in his home whilst she’s young enough to soak it all up. Most families this year chose a 3-day package which, amongst other things, include a private meeting with Santa, husky sledding and reindeer sleigh ride. I heard nothing but positive comments from everyone who went. The week leading up to December is the best time to go for good snow levels and a chance to remind Santa what’s on the list before he heads out on Christmas Eve. 4. New Forest, England I think the whole of the UK is keeping everything crossed that 2019 brings another fantastic UK summer. With that in mind I’ll be looking closer to home for a staycation during the summer break. Around 2hrs from me in North London the New Forest is easily reached and offers outstanding natural beauty as well as plenty of places to explore and things to do. I’m imagining family bike rides and leisurely pub lunches with a few kid friendly activities thrown in like New Forest Wildlife Park or Peppa Pig World. Come on weather, don’t let us down, please give us another scorcher! 5. Australia Australia is my original destination specialism. Starting out working for an Australia specialist agency in Islington in 2006 I went back and forth numerous times covering every state and coast up until having my daughter. But it’s been several years now since I’ve been and I’m starting to miss the laid-back lifestyle, unique wildlife, culinary delights and once in a life-time experiences. I’ve flown over the Great Barrier Reef in a helicopter, climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and watched the sun rise over Uluru. Yet it is a place I will never get bored of and could visit again and again. No. 1 on my Australia wish list is to travel by 4WD campervan between Darwin and Broome. Could 2019 be the year I tick this off my bucket list?

26 September 2018

It’s been nearly two years since we took a family beach holiday but, with my daughter starting pre-school this year, I knew that I had to squeeze in another trip before we get bound to school holiday timetables. I’d heard many good things about Lanzarote but have never been despite it being one of my top selling destinations so that sent it high up on my wish list. I picked the Iberostar Lanzarote Park as it is newly renovated, good for families and with an all-inclusive option. Landing in Lanzarote I was surprised how picturesque the landscape is with pretty low-rise buildings contrasted against the black volcanic earth only occasionally interrupted with bursts of bright fuchsia bougainvillea. We were greeted upon arrival with sparkling wine and a seated check-in before being taken to our Family Room with Side-Sea View. As a family we couldn’t ask for more with a bedroom and separate living space plus a terrace with sun-loungers that - being on the ground floor - opens directly on to the children’s Aqua Fun splash pool. And what a children’s pool it is! With six different slides it is a kid’s paradise and my three-year-old daughter delighted in going down the slides again and again. The all-inclusive food is excellent. Whilst you are restricted to the one restaurant, the evening menu changes nightly with an array of fresh sea-food and steaks cooked to order in front of you, always a variety of paella and local meats and cheeses alongside themed evenings with Mexican and Asian. Playa Flamingo beach is just a 2-3 minutes scenic walk along the promenade from the hotel. This sandy beach with sea breaks makes it ideal for young children to paddle and build sandcastles. One morning we took the 15-20 min walk to Playa Blanca, which has an arrange of shops and restaurants for those not staying on an all-inclusive basis however the all-inclusive offers such good value and choice, so I would definitely recommend it. We were travelling as a family however the layout of the hotel - with three distinct zones - means that you will find a family pool, general pool and adults only area ensuring the hotel really does cater for all. I would definitely recommend this property and Playa Blanca for anyone looking for a laid-back holiday in the sun.

25 June 2018

For several reasons my husband, 3-year-old daughter Cleo and I decided to holiday in the UK this year. Some good friends have recently moved to Newtonmore in the Cairngorms National Park, so we built our holiday around visiting them. However, me being me the plan quickly escalated in to a full-on road trip around Scotland. In our pre-child life, my husband and I have great memories of traveling in a campervan throughout Australia and New Zealand as well as in a full size super RV around California, so this seemed like the best way to do it. I love motorhoming – it is a great way to travel giving freedom to explore but with the convenience of your own home from home, plus we knew Cleo would enjoy the adventure too. EDINBURGH We opted to fly up to Edinburgh from London as I didn’t fancy the 7-hr drive with a 3-year-old in tow. Here we based ourselves in the simple yet comfortable Hotel Cairn, a 15-minute walk to Central Edinburgh. Our spacious family room accommodated us all in a king and single bed (not the double plus sofa bed found in most hotels) and there was a great daily breakfast included alongside a thoughtful basket of goodies in the room upon arrival. A jam-packed two days saw us climb Calton Hill, visit the National Museum of Scotland, take an open-top bus around the city and meet the UK’s only pandas at Edinburgh Zoo. Edinburgh is a family friendly city, and this was the perfect itinerary to keep the whole family happy but for anyone contemplating a city stay with a pre-schooler I’d say two days is enough – it was exhausting for us all! THE ROAD TRIP BEGINS After our three nights in Edinburgh we picked up Nobel our family-motorhome and home for the next eight nights. Equipped with a double bedroom, bunk beds, kitchen with oven and fridge plus toilet and shower it is the perfect home on wheels. (Visit my Facebook page @RebeccaBerzinsTC for a video tour inside the van). From Edinburgh, we headed to our friends driving though the rugged scenery of the Cairngorms National Park. The next day, whilst the boys headed off to tour a local whisky distillery my friend and I took the kids to the Highland Wildlife Park, where the UK’s first polar bear cub for 25 years has just been born. With snow leopards, wildcats and Japanese macaque alongside many other animals the park is well worth a visit for wildlife lovers and it was a great day out. LOCH NESS TO FORT WILLIAM Leaving our friends behind next we went Nessie hunting! I was pleasantly surprised by Loch Ness, which I expected to be overrun with tacky tourist exhibits. Whilst there is no shortage of Nessie themed souvenirs the area where Urquhart Castle sits on the shores of Loch Ness is a beautiful site to explore, plus Cleo had a great time looking out for Nessie and deciding whether she’s real or pretend. Driving south down the west coast of Loch Ness the next day we arrived in Fort William just in time to catch the train to Mallaig. This part of the West Coast Railway it is widely considered one of the most scenic train journeys in the world travelling over the Glenfinnan Viaduct (made famous by Harry Potter). You can choose to travel by the traditional Jacobite steam train or the regular Scotrail train. We chose the latter as the views are the same although the steam-train did look like an experience in itself. Sat at the foot of Ben Nevis, Fort William is an ideal base for many scenic hikes suitable for all abilities. Wanting to enjoy the scenery but without the physical excursion we took the Nevis Range Scenic Mountain Gondola cable car up to Aonach Mor before taking the scenic yet relatively accessible walk from the top Gondola station to Sgurr Finnisg-aig (approx 45min return walk) to enjoy some fresh mountain air and admire the views. OBAN TO LOCH LOMOND After this the jaw-dropping scenery continued at a fast pace as we drove from Fort William down to Oban taking a detour via the Glencoe Valley – surely one of the can’t miss drives in Scotland. The coastal town of Oban is a popular tourist centre and gateway for ferries to several of the islands including Mull & Iona. Here we feasted on the freshest seafood at the infamous Oban Seafood hut – a no-frills green hut located at the end of the pier and the next morning, we took a boat trip through the Sound of Kerrera. The sun made an appearance and we enjoyed calm seas and views to the Hebridean Isle of Kerrera giving us just a taste of why the West Coast of Scotland is so popular. I am already itching to return to explore more of the islands. Moving on from Oban we travelled down the west coast of Loch Lomond staying in the beautiful waterside campsite of Loch Lomond Holiday Park. My favourite thing about travelling in a campervan is when you find little gems like this allowing you to park up amongst such stunning scenery. I could have lingered for hours at the An Ceann Mor lookout at Inveruglas just up from where we were staying - the view from this architecturally designed structure was postcard worthy. Our next stop, the town of Balloch of the south side of the Loch was not much to write home about compared to the other places we visited on the trip however the SEA LIFE Loch Lomond Aquarium proved to be the perfect treat for Cleo after a busy few days of driving and made for an ideal final stop before heading home.

03 April 2017

BUY THEM A SEAT Even though technically infants can sit on your lap and don't need to pay for their own seat until they turn two, if you can afford it then once your baby turns in to a quite large, fully mobile toddler I would highly recommend buying them their own seat. On our flight, last year to Khalkidhiki we were fortunate enough to have a spare seat next to us on the way out and it made the journey so much easier than on the way back when I had to try to contain my wriggling 18 month old daughter to my lap for the duration of the 3hr flight. PLAN YOUR HAND LUGGAGE Learn from my mistakes and apply some logical thought when packing your hand luggage. We bought our daughter a fun suitcase and duly filled it with all her stuff. The trouble is, this has to go in the overhead luggage stow when actually you need easy access to all your child's things throughout the flight. So, pack the bits you're less likely to need in to your larger hand luggage that will inevitably be confined to the overhead locker and store the things you will need easier access to in a smaller bag that you'll keep under your seats. If you’re feeling really organised separate items in to clear plastic bags to ensure whatever you need can be found without too much rummaging. Finally, when it comes to packing food – think about what your toddler eats and double it – flying it seems is hungry work! BUY SOME NEW TOYS New toys always seem so much more exciting that old toys. Buy a few small new toys for the plane then wrap them up before you travel to add a minute or two or extra fun and entertainment from the unwrapping of them once on board. Successful ones for us were sticker books and little mini-library boxes of books. I also bought a buckle toy that repeatedly came up in my frantic late night searches for the ‘best plane toys to entertain toddlers’ but my little one took one look at it and threw it to the side. Nothing beats a game of peekaboo so pack a scarf for hours (OK, a few minutes) of fun and giggles, or why not play hide and seek with a favourite teddy. DON’T STRESS ABOUT SCREEN TIME … but don’t rely on it either. We spent a lot of time trying to find alternate ways to entertain our toddler apart from sticking her in front of the iPad. But once you've exhausted walking up and down the aisles, eaten all the food and got bored of all the new toys, I don't think there's anything wrong with a bit of television. However, despite the allure of screens with all the other distractions going on it might still not hold the attention of younger toddlers for the entire flight so do make sure you have back-ups. A few apps with age appropriate games allow for a bit more interactive play and most kids also seem to love looking at photos or videos of themselves, their pets and their family. SPEAK TO YOUR NEIGHBOURS Your neighbours will be so much more forgiving, and you will feel less awkward giving an apologetic smile when your toddler starts playing up, if you crack and joke and make some polite conversation before take off. Good luck with your first flight. I promise it's not as bad as you think it'll be and in the end, it's totally worth it for all the wonderful holiday memories. For more tips and advice on travelling with toddlers, get in touch!

23 January 2017

GETTING THERE There's no hiding from it, Australia is a really long way away. If you've never travelled that far before this can feel quite daunting. Sadly, there is nothing I can do to help shorten the journey, but I will help ensure the trip is as stress-free as possible. All flights from the UK will touchdown at some point en-route to Australia but you will often have the chance to stopover and stay a few nights on the way. Typical stops include Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. Most airlines offer this stopover at no extra charge making it a fabulous opportunity to visit a new city for ‘free’. Do bear in mind though that if your allocated holiday time is short, a couple of nights’ stopover each way can eat into your time in Australia quite significantly. IT'S A LONG WAY TO GO JUST FOR A FEW WEEKS ISN'T IT? Something I hear a lot of is that Australia is just too far to fit into an annual holiday. Don’t let this common misconception see you miss out on a trip of a lifetime! The average stay is actually less than 3 weeks and it’s amazing how much you can see in this time. I’d suggest picking just two or three locations as a base and then planning an itinerary that ticks off your top three must see’s without rushing things. Australia is a big place, you could spend two years there and still never see it all, so you would be foolish to try to do so. YOUR TOP THREE MUST SEES Before you get planning and to avoid getting overwhelmed by all the possibilities, it's important that you think of the three things that have inspired you to go to Australia in the first place – it might be the icons – Sydney Harbour, Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef. Or it could be that you really want to see as much Australian wildlife as possible, enjoy some stunning costal drives and feast on the best food and wine. Identifying these in advance will ensure that your itinerary can be personalised to include all of your highlights and avoid disappointment. HOW TO GET AROUND Some domestic travel is inevitable. Think about how you would prefer to get around. Do you mind driving? Or would you prefer to fly from point to point? Identifying your preference is a great starting point for planning your holiday as this will ultimately shape the trip. Driving is a great way to get out of the major cities and if you love the freedom this brings why not think about hiring a Campervan? It can be a great way to travel at your own pace without the need for constant packing and unpacking. If you’d rather spend more time getting to know a place than getting from A to B there are plenty of domestic flights to help you do just that – hopping on a flight can see you transported from a coastal city into the outback or rainforest within a few hours. For a truly experiential journey like no other consider a trip on one of Australia's iconic railways; The Ghan or the Indian Pacific. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST? When it comes to the cost this question is a bit of an open-ended one. It largely depends on the standard of travel that you're used to and when you’re travelling. Flight prices have noticeably fallen over the past few years – you'll often find special offers starting from £550. Realistically to travel at the time of year you want, at times you want and with an airline of your choice you should expect to pay around £800; more if you're travelling during a peak season like Christmas or school holidays. As for accommodation 3 star hotels in the major cities start from £120 per night moving upwards to anything in excess of £500 a night for a popular 5 star. For a 2 ½ week trip to Australia with economy flights, 3 star accommodation and some of the most do experiences pre-planned I'd budget anywhere from £2,250 per person upwards. Whatever your budget, time frame and travel preferences I can help you create your ideal Australia holiday. LETS GET PLANNING! I am an Australia Specialist with over 10 years experience creating tailor-made holidays to Australia. I have explored every Australian state across eight separate and very different trips ranging from 5 star luxury to camping adventures. I even spent a year living, working and travelling around in a campervan. I still haven’t seen it all but nothing excites me more than planning Australia holidays and I would love to help you plan yours.

31 December 2016

As someone who is travel-obsessed, I've got a confession to make; the last few years have been a bit quiet on the travel front. Making a small person means the sum of my foreign travels in 2015 and 2016 consisted of a one-week holiday to Greece in September. As amazing as my new life adventures have been, I'm hoping 2017 will see us dig out the passports a bit more. Here's what's on my travel wish list for 2017... JAPAN I know, I know. Japan is not the first place you think of when travelling with a toddler. But, my husband’s best friend has been living in Kyoto for a few years and we've been promising him a visit. On top of that, one of my NCT group is moving to Tokyo. Japan has been on my travel wish list for a long time but knowing people who live there is invaluable and it seems too good an opportunity to miss to not go now. Combining both Tokyo and Kyoto makes an ideal first-timer’s Japan itinerary, travelling by the infamous bullet train between the two. I'd love to time my trip to catch the short cherry blossom season - usually between the last week of March the first week of April. GHENT I have a good friend who lives on the outskirts of this beautiful city. We usually see each other at least once a year but it's now been nearly 18 months. Even without my friend living there, Ghent is a city I could visit again and again - its effortless class, quintessential Flemish architecture, amazing food and accessibility via train make it perfect for a weekend break. Ghent has an annual festival for 10 days, which starts on the Friday before 21st July. With music, street performers, fairgrounds and more, it is one of the largest cultural festivals in Europe and I'd love to time our trip to coincide with it. CANADA Another friend moved out to Vancouver in May. I know, a theme is arising, but what can I say, I like to visit places where I can be shown around by a local and feel less like a tourist! Plus, there's only so many stunning photos I can look at on my friends’ Instagram feeds before I start getting itchy feet. Canada has just been voted the top country to visit in 2017 in Lonely Planet’s revered ‘Best in Travel’ list so tourism is bound to be booming and Vancouver is an incredibly family friendly city with its accessible open plan layout with nearby beaches and mountains to explore. ALGARVE When I was researching our first family holiday to Sani Club in Halkidiki, Greece, earlier this year, the Algarve was our second choice. Having done the research, I know how much the destination has to offer young families, including a short flying time from the UK, sandy beaches, and a moderate climate. I particularly can't stop daydreaming about the super family friendly Martinhal Sagres Beach Resort, with its modern beach front apartments and apparent ethos of "If the kids are happy, the parents are happy too". Nothing has been overlooked in catering for families at this 5-star property and if we opt for a beach break in 2017 I hope it will be to here. DISNEYLAND PARIS My girl turns two in April and last year for her birthday we took her to Broadstairs in Kent to give her a first taste of the seaside. I would like to make a family holiday a part of every birthday celebration. And what's more of a treat for a two-year-old than spending your birthday with Mickey Mouse and friends? Disneyland Paris, whilst smaller than its American counterpart, is obviously more accessible from the UK. It could give us a flavour of the Disney experience now whilst she's young and sow the seeds for a bigger trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida when she's older - something that I think is on most parents’ wish list. In all honesty, I'll be lucky if I manage to tick one or two of these off the wish list, but as I sit here creating so many wonderful holidays for my clients I can't help but dream!

31 December 2016

Back in September we went on our first foreign holiday with our then 17-month-old daughter to Halkidiki in Greece spending a week at the 5-star Sani Resort, a 50-minute private transfer from Thessaloniki airport. FAMILY HOLIDAY REQUIREMENTS I've planned a lot of holidays in my time, both for myself and my clients, but choosing where to go for this trip (our first holiday as a family) was a slightly different experience. I'm usually more of a do-er on my holidays preferring sightseeing, culture and experiences to laying on a beach. But nearly a year and a half of parenting a child who doesn't sleep much meant that suddenly the idea of not doing very much seemed very appealing! TRAVELLING WITH A TODDLER A lot of families choose to go self-catering when they have kids - this can be great for both practical and cost reasons - but I knew that in order for it to feel like a proper break I wanted someone else taking care of all the cooking and cleaning. Also, as this was due to be our first flight as a family I knew I wanted to keep the flight time short – two to three hours max. With both of these points in mind I set about researching family friendly European hotels and the Sani Resort came up repeatedly - it has even been named in the top five family resorts in the world by Trip Advisor. SANI RESORT The resort currently comprises four different hotels set around Sani Marina - the Sani Beach, Porto Sani, Sani Asterias and our hotel, the Sani Club (an adults only hotel, Sani Dunes is opening in June 2017). I chose Sani Club for its bungalow style accommodation and the option to upgrade to a sea view room, which is always important to me on a beach holiday. FAMILY FRIENDLY RESORT Staying at Sani Resort you do have access to the facilities of all four hotels, although we spent most of our time enjoying what Sani Club had to offer and it definitely fulfilled the promise of being family friendly. Most people there had young children so we felt totally relaxed and comfortable entertaining our toddler by the beach and pool and enjoying time as a family. Sani Club is suited to families with younger children who are happy to amuse themselves in the pool and on the beach. The hotel does have a crèche, mini club and teenagers club catering for children from four months to 17 years. We didn't use it but it is operated by UK specialists Worldwide Kids Company according to Ofsted standards so you can be sure your kids are in safe hands. EATING OUT We took advantage of the Dine Around half board programme giving us the choice to eat in around 20 different restaurants situated throughout the resort and the marina. As someone who has never taken a half board package at a hotel before I was nervous about being tied to a one hotel restaurant for an entire week so the Dine Around programme was the ideal compromise ensuring that we still had plenty of choice and flexibility. It represented great value too. The food in all of the restaurants we ate at was outstanding. There are a handful of restaurants that are kept as adults only but the rest have a very family friendly vibe with plenty of high chairs and where no one batted an eye lid at a grumpy toddler picking at plain pasta. Some of the restaurants require advanced reservations and one evening we paid a small supplement to join the special weekly Greek night at Ouzerie. With tables set out on the lawn, a Greek band and a BBQ feast to enjoy, it was one of the highlights of our trip. CLIMATE Temperatures in September were ideal, hovering between 24-26C, so whilst the evenings were chilly it was the perfect climate for travelling with a young child. HAPPY MEMORIES We had the most fantastic first family holiday, packed full of happy memories. Without a doubt I would recommend Sani Resort to anyone travelling with young children and if we were looking for a relaxed family beach holiday I would definitely return to Sani Club.