Based in Edinburgh

Andy Gilhooly

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Many thanks for taking the time to visit my webpage.

My name is Andy Gilhooly and I am an Independent Travel Counsellor based in Portobello, Edinburgh.

Sydney, Johanesburg, Marrakech, Essaouira, Mauritius, Auckland, Bangkok, Dubai, Haiti, Kuala Lumpur, Jamaica, Mexico, Los Angeles, Barcelona, Budapest, Lanzarote, Majorca, Porto, Charleroi, Tenerife, Tel Aviv, Valetta, Dusseldorf, Amsterdam, Zeist, Chicago, New York, Cape Town,Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Nassau, St.Thomas, St. Maartin, Prague, Stockholm, Oslo, Turku, Copenhagen, Mumbai, Delhi, Pretoria, Orlando, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Key West, Bratislava, Rijeka, Dublin, Belfast, Cairo, Venice, Memphis, Sofia, Dominican Republic, Koh Samui and Varna.

I am absolutely passionate about travel and as you can see I have visited many destinations worldwide. I have also been organising travel for small and large groups for over 30 years.

Whatever your enquiry please be assured that you will receive 100% commitment and assistance at any time of the day.

I have arranged worldwide travel for many people and specialise in Florida, USA. I promise you the highest level of personal service and would be delighted to assist with your travel plans. Accessible Travel is also a speciality so please get in touch as you will receive everything required.

Travel Counsellors are the only Travel Agency to be awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise and have been voted "Best Travel Agency" by readers of The Guardian and The Observer newspapers, 4 out of the last 5 years.

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Your enquiry will be treated as if it is my own holiday. As I say "Miles to Travel, Many or Few, I'll go that extra one just 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.

Scenic Eclipse Central America Discovery Cruise

11 May 2023

Scenic Tour On the 3rd April (Day 1) we flew down with Copa Airlines from Miami to Panama City and had a pre Cruise night at the amazing Panama Hilton. Private transfer all included by Scenic from the airport to the Hotel. What a superb Hotel and what a fascinating City it was. Staff from Scenic were waiting at the Hotel and we were fully updated on everything. On Day 2 Scenic put on lovely coaches for the short journey to the Port in Panama City where after a quick registration we were into our amazing suites and a briefing by our lovely butler Tyla. Of course all our cases were within the suite waiting on us. Brilliant service. I want to say cabin but it’s a suite and it was amazing. Large walk in bathroom with walk in shower, walk in wardrobe, large bedroom area, large lounge and yes large Balcony. It had everything. Tyla asked what drinks we preferred and even what spirit as she was filling the 2 decanters with our spirit of choice. Vodka and Lagavulin 16 year old. Wow. Our first night was in Elements and a superb Dinner followed by drinks and entertainment in the main lounge. This was also where the Whisky Bar was. If you are a lover of Whisky particularly Scotch Whisky as I am, then this is the Cruise Ship for you. A mesmerising selection. Jura 30 year old, Lagavulin 16 year old, 12 year old Dalmore and Macallan, 18 year old Bowmore and a massive selection of other Scottish Malts, Irish Whiskey, Japanese Whiskey, American Bourbons and more. All included and this is just Whisky. The selection of other spirits was also staggering. These are nips you would pay £20 and more for back home but all included every day all day. There was never any Blood in the alcohol stream. Day 3 involved a stop on Isla Cebaco in Panama. Stunning Island in the Gulf of Montijo. Short ride on the Zodiacs onto the beach and a day on the beach complete with Lava Sand (Couldnt walk in bare feet it was so hot) and of course a full Bar. Day 4 was a stop in Costa Rica in Golfito the most southern port in Costa Rica. Very complicated history and forced to recover when the United Fruit company moved south to Ecuador taking the massive banana trade with them. Off we went on a trip into the most intense of rainforests in search of wildlife at Casa Orquideas and unique vegetation. Great trip and lovely walk through the rainforest. Day 5 was a stop at The Curu National Park, Isla Tortugas on the Nicoya Peninsula. Incredible eco-tourism experience on our penultimate stop in Costa Rica. Great walk around the Curu Wildlife Refuge and our lovely guide pointed out some amazing wildlife. Couldn’t believe the number of Scarlet Macaw,s and the Monkeys, White faced, Spider and Howler Monkeys. What a noise they make. Loads of Iguanas and lizards. On our return and after lunch it was off to the back of the ship where the Marina had been set up, yes you’ve guessed it with a full bar and you could paddle board, snorkel or just swim in the warm seas. Totally amazing and it turned into a great party as you can imagine. Day 6 was an amended stop in Bahia Culebra, Playa Panama in Costa Rica. We were originally meant to stop in Corinto, Nicaragua but red tape prevented this but it allowed an excursion into the Palo Verde National Park and a boat ride down the Tempisque River. Incredible how close we got to all the wildlife especially the Crocs. Day 7 was a stop in Acajutla, El Salvador. Never thought I would visit El Salvador but we did and off we went on a coach tour of some local towns to see where some of the world,s best coffee is grown. We visited Nahuizalco and the colourful and busy market in Ataco. Complete with armed police escort. Day 8 was a stop Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. I chose to visit the amazing Colonial Antigua and what a trip this was. Amazing scenery through the volcanic mountains to the most amazing and colourful of towns. There were markets everywhere selling the most incredible goods on the cobbled streets of this famous and historic town. It used to be the most important seat of the old Spanish Government between Mexico City and Lima in Peru. Rich history which is evident throughout. This is a must if you ever visit Guatemala. Bought a few souvenirs before the most amazing lunches I have ever had at the 5 star Hotel Casa Santo Domingo. Day 9 was a stop in Huatulco, Mexico. One of Mexico,s best kept secrets. Beautiful port with a lovely and very busy beach. Took the tour to see how Tequila but mainly Mezcal is made. They are both made from the Agave plant so we had a great afternoon visiting a large Agave plantation and saw the manual process of making Mezcal which the locals prefer to Tequila and of course had a few samples. From my limited knowledge Mezcal is made manually in a similar process to Tequila but Tequila is big business now but is only made from the Blue Weber Agave whereas Mezcal is made from different variety,s of Agave so popular at lots of independent plantations. Day 10 We were At Sea so a leisurely day, had breakfast in the Suite all served by our Butler Tyla, then had a great afternoon on Deck 10 soaking up the sun, in and out the hot tub and many cocktails. Day 11 At Sea so déjà vu from Day 10 with a night time Disco on Deck 10. Day 12 was meant to be a stop on Islas Marias off the Nayarit Coast but again red tape prevented it so off we went to Puerto Vallarta instead. Absolutely delighted as this is a really popular destination so it was great to see and explore. We had a tour of the City but were left for 2 hours to explore the massive markets and boutique shops/cafes and restaurants. Picked up some lovely hand made cigars and had a few Dos Equis and Margaritas as well. When in Rome and all that. Day 13 was a stop at Isla Cerralvo or better known as Jacques Cousteau Island as he lead many expeditions to this amazing Island and it is only really accessible by boat. The snorkelling was superb and yes you’ve guessed it they put up a full bar on the Island. It was also perfect for the Submarine and Helicopter to do tours as well. This was the penultimate day onboard and so we had to pack and have our cases outside the suite by 11pm. Very well organised. We had a final meal all together at the amazing Azure Café paired with that amazing Argentinian Lager. Day 14 we arrived into Loreto and flew up to LA for an overnight in the lovely Bevery Hills SLS Hotel. Day 15 Scenic put on transfers to the airport for our flights home. Awesome trip and many thanks Scenic.

Kalkan

21 June 2018

I recently had a short break to the amazing town of Kalkan in Turkey. I flew with Easy Jet out of Edinburgh. It’s a 4-hour, 20-minute flight then a 90 minute transfer but well worth the wait. I stayed at the 5-star Likya Residence and Spa. It’s about a 10-minute walk into town but a stunning hotel set on the hill overlooking Kalkan. The rooms, food and people were amazing. We sunbathed each morning then it was into town to explore their never-ending streets of shops and restaurants. The food everywhere was amazing and if you like a bargain or two then they have those as well. There are loads of bargains to be had at the Thursday market. Each evening it was a stop for drink then a taxi to take us up the hill (£1) back to the hotel. This amazing place is really worth a visit and is a hidden gem. Probably more for adults than children.

Maldives

14 June 2018

It was then off to the Maldives for a short 4-night fam trip. Great and short flight with Emirates out of Dubai - just under 4 hours which was great. On arrival it was onto the seaplane for our trip to Atmosphere by Kanifushi. A great 40-minute journey to this lovely Island. We had an amazing welcome from the staff and were then shown to our rooms. We had some time to relax and then had a great tour of this amazing resort. It was then all change for our hosted Dinner at the Teppenyaki restaurant. All the usual but the food was outstanding. It was then back to Liquid for some night time entertainment and then bed. Nice relaxing day with lunch in the stunning Just Veg restaurant. I am not vegetarian, but it was the best food of the trip. At night we had an amazing private BBQ followed by Karaoke. The next morning it was back on the Seaplane and back to Male to catch our luxury speedboat to Ozen. Beautiful boat and on arrival at Ozen again met by all the staff who had even baked a cake for our arrival. In fact, they baked a cake for us everywhere we went. Again, we checked into our rooms and off for a tour of this luxury island. At night it was dinner in the Indian restaurant. The food was stunning and plentiful so early nights all round. After breakfast it was off for some snorkelling and to say I was disappointed was an understatement. So much plastic in the ocean which hampered the view. At night we were treated to dinner in the underwater Restaurant M6M. Seafood cuisine which was unbelievable. The next day it was home and Emirates flights back to Glasgow.

Gold Conference

13 June 2018

Great flight with Emirates over to Dubai then met up with other TC’s for our 45 minute transfer to Ras al Khaimah and to the Waldorf Astoria. Checked into this amazing hotel and then it was off to the pool to cool down. The rooms are huge and stunning. At night it was the welcome dinner at The Doubletree Marjan Island. We were really well looked after. It was then back to the hotel and more festivities in Bar 27. The next morning after breakfast was the conference with amazing updates from our key sponsors supporting the event. Then more cooling down before we went into the desert and our cultural trip at the Bedouin Camp. Great night of falconry, dance, food and festivities. A must do in this part of the world. Back to the bar for more drinks. In the morning it was off to the longest zip line in the world, again a must do. Back to the hotel and a round of golf at the amazing Al Hamra Golf Club. Very hot. We could not play at night, but most do as its floodlit and cooler. At night it was the Gala Dinner at the Ritz Carlton Al Hamra. Really well looked after and a great night. It was then off to Club Inferno until the small hours.

Washington State USA

12 June 2018

Great flight with BA from Heathrow to Seattle and the views coming into the city are stunning. It was then off to the Crowne Plaza to offload our cases. It was then down to Pike Place Market for lunch and a look round. Amazing place to visit and the fish were flying around. It was then the Ride the Ducks Tour which is a great way of seeing Seattle by land and water. Then it was up the Space Needle which has amazing views across the State. At the entrance to the Needle is the Chihuly Garden and Glass experience which was amazing. Back to the hotel for a quick change then out to Dinner at Oddfellows Café and Bar. Then back to the hotel for a well needed sleep. Up in the morning and over on the Ferry to Bainbridge on the Olympic Peninsula. Easy ride over and a lovely cheap breakfast on board. It was then off to Port Townsend and a whale watching boat trip but sadly few sightings. The it was a drive to Sequim and check in to the Holiday Inn Express. Then a VIP dinner at the B&B Lavender Farm. Great night and well looked after by everyone at the farm. Great place to visit. Then home for more sleep. Next day it was over to the Dungeness Spit. It’s one of the longest in North America. Then it was off to Forks and if you love Twilight, this is where its filmed. We checked out a few places in Forks and had a lovely lunch before heading to Hoh Rain Forest in the Olympic National Park, then Ruby Beach before arriving at the lovely Kalaloch Lodge. Great place to stay and visit. In the morning it was a drive to Cape Disappointment State Park before leaving Washington and into Oregon. Stay tuned for the next blog from Oregon.

Nashville

12 June 2018

Arrived in Nashville after a fairly lengthy flight from Portland via Chicago. Picked up and taken to the lovely Cambria Hotelk which is close to Broadway and a really modern hotel. Quickly checked in and then off to the welcome reception. It was then time to explore Broadway where every bar had live music - playing what a fun street. The next day it was off to RCA Studio B for a great tour of this famous Studio where Elvis and others recorded many tracks. After a great concert and tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame it was off to Martins Barbeque Joint for lunch. Then it was the Ryman Auditorium and then The Johnny Cash Museum. What a day. Loads to see and do. It was then back to change before the finale Party in Ole Red. Great night with some amazing musicians. It was then Broadway and more music into the early hours. The next day it was off to the stunning Gaylord Opryland Hotel. Its massive. Had a tour then a great lunch and all the groups presented what they done over the last week. After the presentations it was a look around the Opry Mall before heading off to the airport to catch the inaugural BA flight back to Heathrow. Amazing week.

Oregon State USA

12 June 2018

After our time in Washington it was then over the border and into Oregon. First up was the Fort Clatsop National Historical Park. Lots of history as the explorers in 1805 used this as a base to search the region. We then checked into the amazing Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria. Stunning hotel with amazing views. We had a ride on the Old 300 Trolley before Dinner at the Bridgewater Bistro. After a bit more exploring of this unique town it was bed. After breakfast it was up the Astoria Column and checked out some amazing views across the state and the Columbia River. In fact, the Columbia River Maritime Museum is a must visit place in town. It was then lunch at the Fort George Brewery before heading off to explore The Ecola State Park and Cannon Beach. Dinner was at The Barlow Room in Dayton before checking into the Vintages Trailer Park. Not quite my scene but an interesting night. After an amazing breakfast at the Community Plate in McMinnville it was off to Portland. We checked into the Hotel Modera and then it was off to the Japanese Gardens and then a walking tour of the city. I also managed a tour of the Portland Timbers Soccer Stadium before dinner at the stunning Departure Restaurant.

Mirragio, Greece

27 September 2017

I left Edinburgh on the 19th of September for a week in the 5- star Miraggio Thermal Resort and Spa. I went with Jet2 out of Edinburgh to Thessaloniki. It’s a 3.5-hour flight and the service was pretty good. We arrived at the airport and our complimentary transfer was waiting for us. The only problem was we had to wait an hour on another two people coming in from Stansted. It was then another 90-minute transfer. Eventually we arrived at the stunning resort and they did put some cold sandwiches etc in the room. The rooms were superb. We had a Junior Suite with Garden View but very modern with a separate lounge area and large balcony. The next day it was down to breakfast and the buffet is superb. There’s a great choice. It was then down to the beach. It’s a nice area but a bit stony which did not help getting into the sea. We decided to try the large pool area instead. Dinner was again amazing with a very large choice. There are a la carte restaurants to use for a supplement but the buffet was very good. Alcohol was not the cheapest with a small beer at around £7. They had good entertainment on each night as well but it was all very quiet by around 11pm. The next day we used their free shuttle bus into the local town Pefkochori. This is a really busy little town with lots of shops and tavernas. The beers were now down to £2 for a large bottle and food was even cheaper. I stocked up and went back to the resort. The rest of the week was the same with time at the beach, Pefkochori and also the amazing spa. It was a great experience in the Thalasso pools and a lovely way of chilling after a hard day. All the pools in the resort and spa are sea water. A great week with lovely, friendly people and amazing food. The only downside is the isolation and long transfers.

Thailand Trip

25 September 2017

We started off by flying with Etihad to Bangkok via Abu Dhabi. Great service. We arrived in Bangkok and firstly were off to the amazing Royal Orchid Sheraton. Destination Asia were looking after us on the ground. A quick rest before a boat trip up The Chaoprahya for lunch at The Babble and Rum Restaurant at The Riva Surya Hotel. The food was great. It was then a boat trip on The Klong Tour and a visit to The Wat Arun. Back to the hotel for a quick change and a hosted dinner in The Thara Thong restaurant and site inspection of the hotel. Great facilities and amazing food. Breakfast in the morning and then back to the airport for our Bangkok Airways flight to Koh Samui. What a great airline. Everyone has access to their lounge where you can have a coffee and cake and the service on board the very short flight was incredible. We then checked in at Vana Belle, a stunning property just outside Chaweng. We got into our rooms which were amazing: large and modern with your own pool. Awesome. It was then a discovery event where we had lots of great experiences of Thai culture including food, massage and drink. We had a hosted dinner at night in the lovely Panali restaurant on the beachfront. Next day it was off to the Ang Thong National Marine Park. It was a full day of boat trips, snorkelling, Kayaking, Thai Culture, Amazing Food and Amazing people. Well worth visiting. At night, it was an amazing hosted dinner on the beach at The Ozo Chaweng Beach, a lovely modern hotel very close to the centre of Chaweng. In the morning, we had a Tak Bat tradition of offering food to the Buddhist Monk. A great experience and blessing from the Monk. It was then a sweaty class of Thai Boxing and massage before a cooking class and lunch. We were really well looked after by all the staff at the amazing 5-star Vana Belle. We took a speedboat transfer to the Santhiya Koh Panghan Resort, a 30-minute transfer from Koh Samui. What a stunning setting. We checked into our amazing rooms then it was a lovely dinner at the hotel. Next day it was an inspection of the Panviman and Anantara which are also located on the same bay as the Santhiya. At night, it was off to the Thong Sala Food Market which was incredible to see. There were people coming from all over. Next day it was all over and the long journey home. Speedboat transfer, flights up to Bangkok then home to Edinburgh via Abu Dhabi. Amazing trip, amazing country and amazing people. Land of smiles.

Morocco

07 April 2017

I'm just back from an awesome trip to Morocco with the Morocco Tourist Board. We stayed at the superb Movenpick in Marrakech for 3 nights, a great large hotel close to the airport and Medinah. We visited the Medinah and souks and picked up a few bargains. My advice is that it's best to go in a group or with a guide when you explore. We soaked up the atmosphere in the square and then had dinner at the amazing Salama Restaurant. The next day we visited the Royal Palm Hotel, about 20 minutes outside the Medinah. Beautiful hotel with an amazing golf course. Green fees are around 45 Euros. After this it was a visit to the Royal Mansour and we had lunch there. It's a great hotel at the entrance to the Medinah and the food was superb. It was then off to Cookery School at the amazing La Maison Arabe. This is a must-do in Marrakech. Then, back to the Movenpick to get ready for dinner at the premier Club Restaurant Le Palace. This was the best food of the trip and another must do. Great atmosphere and fun night. The following day, it was off to the Atlas Mountains and a tour of the luxury L'Amandier. What a hotel! The views were amazing. We had a great tour and were well looked after by the owner Anwar. Then, it was back to the hotel to get ready for the Jad Mahal, a really popular destination for a show and dinner. All in all, a great night. We were then off to the coast and Essaouira. We checked into our hotel, The Atlas, before touring the Sofitel just outside the city. Great hotel with another amazing golf course. After lunch it was off to the Medinah. Smaller scale than Marrakech and less of a hustle and bustle atmosphere but there were fewer goods to buy. Afterwards, we went back toThe Atlas for a tour and they surprised us with an amazing cocktail party on the beach before dinner at L'Heure Bleue! Then it was back to Marrakech and home. If you'd like to know more about visiting Morocco, please get in touch!

Four-day break in Venice

28 January 2017

I’ve just returned from an amazing four days in Venice, where I stayed in the Hotel Principe on the island. The flights with EasyJet were perfect (only 2 hours 20 minutes) and we went straight to the boat ferry, which, for 15 Euros, took us to our station Guglie; our hotel was just round the corner. After checking in, we went out for our first taste of pizza and pasta at a local trattoria. There seem to be hundreds of them within 5 minutes of Hotel Principe! We spent each day just walking around the island of Venice, stopping for coffee and wine of course! It is often said that Venice isn’t the cheapest place for a holiday but you will be amazed at the value if you step off the main streets. We also used the public boats, which were 7 Euros a time, and there are different deals for a day ticket, and so on. Shopping in Venice is also interesting. There are lots of market stalls selling everything from fridge magnets to lovely papier mâché masks! For us, just the casual walking around Venice’s streets and stopping for something to eat made the trip. The seafood is particularly good and it seems as though everyone drinks wine from morning till night! (We found that wine here is very cheap) It was cold but not too busy so I would say January is a decent time to go to Venice. The days were bright and sunny so it was great for photographs. Most of the shops, bars, and restaurants were open, though some didn't open until 3.30pm. Our hotel was good and though the rooms were not large, our room had a side canal view; we found the breakfast reasonable, too. Overall, we had a superb four-day short break.

Africa November/December 2016

27 December 2016

The first part of this amazing journey was from Edinburgh to Doha with Qatar Airways. We had a long stopover in Doha but they had a great (and free!) city tour, which included a 3-hour transit visa. We went on the tour and returned to the airport for our flight to Johannesburg. After arriving in Johannesburg, we had a look around the city and ended up in Nelson Mandela Square. It’s next to Sandton City so there are lots of shops, restaurants and bars to wander around. The next day, we took the Gautrain to Pretoria. We visited the United Buildings and also the law courts where Nelson Mandela and Oscar Prestorius were sentenced. It was then back to Nelson Mandela Square for more food and drink, which is amazing value. We then flew from Johannesburg to Kasane in Botswana with Airlink, who provided a great service. We were met by our transfer company, Wild Horizon, who escorted us through the border and into Zimbabwe. We paid $55 for the visa and then went off to Victoria Falls and the Rainbow Hotel. After getting up early for breakfast, we were then met again by Wild Horizon who took us on a tour of Victoria Falls. Although not in its true glory it was still an amazing site to see and we enjoyed a great tour around this wonder of the world. It was then back to the hotel for a short period before our Wild Horizon sunset cruise down the Zambezi river. Whilst at the hotel, I checked out an opportunity to do the Devil’s Pool and luckily enough a space had become available on the early slot. The sunset cruise was great value as it included alcoholic drinks and snacks. We saw lots of hippos and elephants, and superb scenery. Overall, it was a great cruise with great company. We were picked up at the hotel and taken to the Zimbabwe border to complete our exit from the country (the transit visa was $50) We were then taken the short drive to the Royal Livingston Hotel for our briefing and the start of the journey to the Devil’s Pool. We took a speed boat over to Livingston Island and had a walk through the island with some amazing photo opportunities. We then stripped off and swam the 50 metres across the Zambesi to the entry point of Devil’s Pool. It was 0730hrs and the sun was up. I was first in and what an amazing experience - you literally hang over the edge of the pool with the water crashing down the Falls at the side of you. (The guides take lots of photos with your cameras so you have a record of this incredible experience) Sadly, my 5 minutes were up and out I came to allow the next person in. As a group, we then did the swim back to the island where we were met with towels. After a short walk to the camp on the island, we had a superb fresh breakfast. It was a great end to the most amazing experience. We then transferred to Livingstone airport and our flight to Nelspruit Airport in South Africa. After arriving in South Africa, we took a 2-hour transfer to Tangala Safari Camp in Thornybush Game Reserve. The Tangala Safari Camp is a lovely camp with a watering hole right in front of the swimming pool and where you eat. We had a great time at Tangala – we saw the big 5 and had an amazing experience with the leopards, their cubs and their dinner. It was really quite incredible. The staff were lovely, the food was superb and the chalet was delightful. It was then down to Cape Town. Our transfer driver Joe was waiting for us and we decided to book him again for the full fourth day of our trip. The next day, we went on the Open Top Bus Tour and tried to do Table Mountain but it was closed because of the wind. We then completed the bus tour and ended up at the V&A Waterfront and tried to get over to Robben Island. This is a busy attraction and we only managed to get booked for the Sunday, our last full day, so it was just as well we went! The V&A Waterfront is sensational, with lots of hotels, bars, restaurants, and shops. The following day, we hopped back on the Open Top Bus tour. The 2-day pass is great value and includes a Harbour Tour and other extras. This time we were lucky and managed to get up Table Mountain. It costs around 280 Rand for the return trip but the views are stunning. You could easily spend most of the day on the summit as the park area is huge. After Table Mountain, we were off to the 12 Apostles Hotel for lunch; this is a stunning hotel just outside of Camps Bay. We then headed over to Houts Bay and their famous night market. It is an amazing place full of craft stalls, food outlets, and bars. It’s really cheap and has a great atmosphere, with a live band. We then went back into Cape Town and headed for the roof top bar at Grand Daddy Hotel on Long Street. All in all, a superb day! The next day was again an early start with another lovely breakfast. We were met by Joe our driver who we had for the full day. Joe took us on a great drive down to Cape Point, stopping at lots of lovely towns on the way including Simons Town, Fish Hoek, Boulders Bay (where we saw the penguins at Boulders Beach) and then into the National Park and Cape Point and The Cape of Good Hope. We then drove to Franschhoek for their Magic of Bubbles Festival. What a festival, the champagne was flowing! We were then up early for breakfast and our trip to Robben Island. It’s certainly advisable to get your trip here booked either before you arrive or on your first day. On arrival, we boarded buses and had a tour of the island before ending up at the prison. Inmates from the jail are now the guides and it was a great experience. We saw Nelson Mandela’s cell and living area and heard some great tales from the past. The whole trip lasted about 4 hours and was great value. After Robben Island, we took another look around the superb V&A Waterfront area and then went to meet some friends at Stellenberg Wine Estate for Dinner, a very affordable 30-minute journey by taxi. And then it was time to head home. We flew via Doha with Qatar Airways; the flights were superb, the service was great and Doha is a nice modern airport. It can be expensive so I’d advise that you buy lounge passes if you have a lengthy connection.

Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah

26 October 2016

30th September 2016 I drove over to Glasgow Airport with my colleague Kate Milton, checked in and then we were well looked after in the Emirates Lounge, they even had the Ryder Cup on. Great start to the trip. We flew over to Dubai with Emirates and the economy cabin was very good. Great service. I watched the Ryder Cup on their live TV channel, amazing what you can get at 38,000 feet. You even have free internet on Emirates which is getting faster and faster. 1st October 2016 We ended up being a bit late into Dubai but our fabulous hosts Desert Adventures were waiting to transfer us to the Ritz Carlton which would be our home for the first three nights. I got a few hours’ sleep then met up with everyone else at breakfast and we were treated to a lovely massage by the hotel. Perfect after a long flight. After a bit relaxation it was a site visit at our hotel with the lovely Sarah. This is a superb property. We were then treated to a fantastic Asian meal in the stunning Blue Jade Restaurant. 2nd October 2016 It was an early start so after breakfast we headed out with Desert Adventures and our host Javek for our Dubai Tour. Javek knew everything about Dubai and he was a superb guide. He took us all over Dubai including a boat trip over the Dubai Creek to the spice and gold Souks. No spices or gold purchased but I did get a decent pair of Ray Bans up an alley at the spice Souk. I tried to buy a pair of their traditional Arabian shoes but they did not have my size. As it was Islamic New Year, no alcohol could be sold so Sarah sorted a private suite for us before dinner. We then had a quick stop for some photos outside The Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Burj Al Arab. It was then off to the JA Oceanview hotel for a site visit and lunch. This is a lovely hotel, well located at the Marina and with the new Dubai Eye about to open this hotel will be more popular than it is now. We had a great buffet lunch and tour hosted by Ivan (he was not Terrible). Stunning views from the rooms. Now it got interesting. Handbag shopping is a big sport in Dubai so I thought I would participate and increase my skill in this very private and costly pastime. My colleagues were extremely knowledgeable. Unfortunately it was back to the hotel bagless due to the cost but more experienced and knowledgeable about this fascinating hobby. Do you know that a genuine Chloe handbag has the word Chloe embroidered in the inside of the inside pocket on the left side of the bag. You cannot teach that, you only learn these nuggets when you experience first-hand this pastime. After a quick change it was off to the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel on the Palm. What can I say, a stunning property and a great tour by the lovely Sayyora who also treated us to dinner. 3rd October 2016 We had to check out of the Ritz Carlton after breakfast but only to go the short distance to the amazing Atlantis The Palm. What a place. We all got checked in and then did a site inspection of the hotel. We all had amazing rooms with stunning views. It was then off to Aquaventure Waterpark which is part of the resort. After doing the not so Lazy River (its great by the way) it was then off to The Leap of Faith. There were only three of us who completed the Leap. At night our host Adam gave us a further insight into this incredible resort including Room 2-464 The Poseidon Underwater Suite. An incredible place that has the massive aquarium in your own bedroom and bathroom. If you want to sleep with thousands of sea creatures, this is your place. Adam then hosted Drinks at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and Bar and then dinner at the amazing Ronda Locatelli. I think he ordered everything this award winning restaurant served. We were also joined by some of our Dubai based colleagues. It was then Nobu for after dinner drinks and further tales of the Leap of Faith. 4th October 2016. We said goodbye to the Atlantis and to Dubai and took the 90 minute transfer to Ras Al Khaimah. There are seven Emirates in the UAE and RAK is the most northerly, bordering Oman. It is home to some stunning hotels and beaches and is an oasis of nature and tranquillity. When we arrived at our final destination, the stunning Waldorf Astoria, we immediately understood why this area is becoming very popular. After a quick check in to our massive and incredible rooms it’s off to the Hilton Al Hamra next door for a visit. The lovely Vanessa gave us a great tour of this property and treated us to an amazing lunch in the fabulous Mai-Tai Lounge at Trader Vic’s. This was the best meal of the trip in my opinion. Great food and service. It was then cocktail making or a round of golf. Being the only golfer, off I went to the impressive Al Hamra Golf Course and played 12 holes in the searing heat. The highlight was a birdie at hole 3, the Par 5, 576 yard monster over water. I managed to walk the short distance back to the Waldorf and into the sanctuary of air conditioning. At night we were shown around this incredible property, which was once a Grand Palace, by our host Chris. We then had dinner at The Marjan Restaurant in the hotel which specialises in Lebanese food. This is the favourite restaurant of the ruler of RAK, Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi and we could see and taste why. As the heat is very intense you can play golf at night on the Al Hamra course, it’s all floodlit. 5th October 2016 We had a reasonably late start today at 1030hrs when after breakfast we were picked up and taken to the Doubletree Marjan which is opposite the Marjan Bay from the Waldorf. Our host Tom gave us a tour of this superb and very popular family resort. Check out the photo and you can see the Waldorf in the background. At night it was off into the desert for a Bedouin Camp Experience and Dinner. Great night had by all. 6th October 2016 After breakfast it was all over. We said our goodbyes and had the reasonably short 60 minute transfer to Dubai airport and our flights home. Big thanks to Emirates Airlines, Desert Adventures, all our hotels, events team at head office and the lovely Charlotte Gallop from head office who looked after us and ensured we were in bed early with limited alcoholic beverage consumed. Hatta Almarrat Alqadima (Until the next time)

South Africa and Mauritius

15 June 2015

On arrival in Joburg we split our luggage up as we could only take 20kg in total onto our small light aircraft for our short flight up to Madikwe Game Reserve. Brilliant flight up to the Game Reserve and even had a lovely light lunch. We were me by the staff from our first night at the Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge. Did not have much time to relax as we then had the afternoon game drive. The highlight of this drive was meeting the two local lions who are brothers. They were asleep but we were about 10 metres away. We watched them for about 30 minutes in which time they were up checking on the noises etc. Really special moment. We also had time for a small picnic in the bush with a few beers. After taking in more elephants, giraffe and other animals it was back to the lodge for dinner. The drive lasted about 3-4 hours so we were ready for dinner. There is no such thing as getting all cleaned and glammed up for dinner, it was right into the Dining Room. This night it was outside overlooking the pond area. After a stunning dinner and a few drinks most of the crowd went to bed. I stayed up for a night cap and was glad I did as a huge buffalo came drinking to the pond. Three of the Big 5 on Day 1. That concluded Day 1, amazing. Even the weather was superb and very hot. Day 2 started with an early rise at 5:30am. After coffee in the lounge we were off for the early morning Game Drive. It was a little cold but no worries there were blankets etc to keep you warm. We were in search of rhino today and we did not have to wait long. They are not great for standing still and letting you take photos but we did manage to get some. We were taken to a meeting point where we were met by our next hosts, the Tuningi Safari Lodge. After an hour's drive we arrived at our next home at Tuningi and once again were met by the very friendly staff with cold towels and a welcome drink. Rooms were allocated and once again I had my very own luxury lodge with a superb viewing balcony and already the elephants were walking past about 15 yards from the balcony. Then it was down for a tremendous lunch which included a walk down to their amazing viewing area where again the elephants entertained us over a cold beer. Then it was off on the afternoon game drive. The weather was really hot so no need for the blankets this time. On our way back to camp we stumbled over a large white rhino with her small calf so it all worked out great. Back to camp and right in for dinner. Another great meal and superb entertainment by the staff. Had a few more drinks after the entertainment and off to bed for the early start the next day. Day 3 started with an early rise again. It was raining quite heavy so the drive was delayed until 0700hrs. Off we went and because of the rain it was not as dusty so pretty pleasant. Very quickly we were made aware of a kill by a pack of five wild dogs. Apparently there are only the five on the reserve so this was a rare experience so off Cornelius went in pursuit. We were not disappointed as we found the dogs devouring a poor impala. We got about 10 metres away from them but they did not care and we got some amazing photos. What an experience. We watched them for ages. After a tour of the camp we said our goodbyes as our next hosts had arrived for us from the Thukadu River Camp. Patience was our new guide and she knew that the leopard was top of our list. It took about two hours to get to the camp but we were stopping at loads of great sightings. Once again we were met by the very friendly staff with cold towels and drinks. We were allocated our rooms and it was a sharing experience as it was large substantial tents that were were in. Then it was all aboard as there was a possible sighting of the leopard. Well we did not imagine our luck. It was pitch black and we found a leopard up a tree with its kill. We managed to get some light on the tree and witnessed this amazing creature devouring its dinner. Once again we were about 10 metres away. After about 15 minutes when it had finished eating it came down. It was about five metres away, had a look at us and then walked away for some rest. That was it, big celebrations we nailed the Big 5. But we were not finished. We stumbled apon a white rhino and her calf and then a large hippo. Incredible experience and on our way back to camp we had another puncture but Patience sorted it and we arrived back for a great dinner in the Boma which is an outside BBQ. Had a great night but everyone was exhausted so it was off to bed early. Day 4 started early at 0530am with coffee in the lodge. This was our last game drive and had to be short as we were getting picked up for our drive to Johannesburg. It was freezing, the temperatures had really dropped. They supplied hot water bottles and blankets and off we went. Very uneventful so we returned to the camp for breakfast before saying goodbye to the lovely staff and monkeys. We drove about four hours to the Dehoek Country House in Magaliesberg for a site visit and lunch. Beautiful Hotel on the outskirts of Johannesburg. We then drove to our home for the next two days The Fire and Ice Hotel at Marble Arch. Day 5 started with breakfast at 0730hrs and then it was off to the Apartheid Museum. Very emotional walking around and witnessing this amazing museum. Then it was off to Soweto for a cycle tour around the township stopping at Mandela's home and other amazing places. Then it was off to the Four Seasons Hotel for a site visit and lunch. Day 6 started early as we had our flight to catch to Mauritius. Short drive to the airport and caught the morning Air Mauritius flight. On arrival we were met by our ground handlers Ina and Jimmy from Mautourco and taken the short trip to The Shandrani Resort. We all had our own rooms in Mauritius which was very kind of our hosts. We got checked in and then had a lovely lunch followed by some free time in the afternoon. At night we had a hosted dinner with senior management at the resort and a lovely evening. Over the next 6 days we visited the Denarobin, Paradis, Le Victoria, Le Mauricia, Le Cannoiner, Trou Aux Biches and the 6 star Royal Palm and had similar visits and hosted meals. Amazing experience!

Kuala Lumpur

20 March 2015

Started the journey in the amazing Emirates Lounge at Glasgow airport. Superb lounge with great hot food. The next leg was a 7 hour flight to Dubai. Very relaxing on board with their superb service. After a short connection in Dubai it was the second and final 7 hour leg from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur. We arrived in Kuala Lumpur about 10pm and after a quick luggage pick up and immigration check we pre paid our Taxi into KL. Its well worth pre paying as it only cost 100 ringgits (£19). The motorway networks are pretty good and although its a fair distance from the airport to KL we got to the Hotel in about 50 minutes. We arrived at The Renaissance which is well located next to the Petronas Towers. See the photo. We got a great room on the 16th floor overlooking the Towers. Half the rooms overlook the pool and a quarter overlook the Towers. Got a great sleep and up for breakfast. What a breakfast. They had everything from the omelette station to Curry to Dim Sum and everything else in between. The staff are so friendly and helpful. Visited the Towers which cost 80 ringgits. That included a stop at the bridge between the 2 towers which you cross. Amazing views. We then visited the Sky Bar on top of The Traders Hotel. Wednesday night is Ladies night and they get free cocktails. Alcohol is not the cheapest in KL but if you look out for happy hours especially on Changkat Bukit Bintang you will pay about £3 pint and £3 a glass of wine. This street is full of bars and restaurants and at the bottom end is full of street restaurants serving amazing food. Went to the Batu Caves and the Elephant Sanctuary at Kuala Gandah. These are 2 must see places. The tours can be expensive to book but the concierge at the Hotel sorted both for 180 ringgits per person. It was a 8 hour tour and included lunch. Great value for money. Vans were air conditioned and modern. We done the hop on hop off bus tour but found the buses unreliable time wise but it was a good way of seeing the City and a great way to go to the KL Tower which is another place to check out. If you buy your ticket from the hop on bus its only 43 ringgits. Shopping is amazing in KL. They have everything from your high end malls to your markets selling fakes etc etc. The best market by far is the markets in Chinatown. They are on during the day and at night. Some amazing bargains. Played golf when I was there but found it very expensive and the courses were OK. Overall it's a must see place. Superb stop off for Asia or Australasia.

Discovering Thailand...

30 September 2014

Just back from an amazing trip to Thailand. Went Jet Airways from Heathrow to Mumbai and then on to Bangkok. Brilliant airline with a great on board service. The food was amazing. Arrived in Bangkok and stayed a night in the Nuovo Hotel in the City Centre. Great location and the staff were very friendly. Large rooms with very big walk in showers. Visited the Grand Palace and various other Temples which were unbelievable. Then went on a long boat trip on the Chao Phray River, very interesting. The food and drink is so cheap and the food delicious but can be spicy. The next day we travelled up to the River Kwai stopping at a few Temples on the way. Eventually arrived at the Felix River Kwai Resort. Stunning Hotel set right on the River. Had a great night with good food and entertainment. The next day we visited the cemetery and museum at Kanchanaburi. Very emotional seeing all the graves and reading about what went on all those years ago. We then took the train over the River Kwai and over the Bridge over the River Kwai and all the way up to Thamkra Sae where the most difficult and scenic part of the Death Railway is. Quite incredible scenery and you are able to walk back down the rail line. It was then up to the Erawan Waterfall where you can swim with the hard skin eating fish. Only problem is that they are pretty big. Very different experience. Another good night at the Felix Resort then it was an early rise to walk across the Bridge over the River Kwai. Great photos. We then drove for about 5 hours to Hua Hin which is south of Bangkok on the coast and stayed in the stunning Marrakesh Resort. Had a great couple of days in Hua HIn and visited the National Park where we took a boar trip around the Islands. Great shopping in the markets at Hua HIn. It was then back to Bangkok for the trip home with Jet Airways but not before a few bargains were had at the MBK shopping Mall. This is the place to shop if you come to Bangkok. Forget all the markets. This is where all the fake gear etc. is sold.

Dubai

20 June 2014

I had a wonderful few days at The Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai. It’s only a 25 minute cab ride from the airport and the cabs are really cheap and plentiful in Dubai. The Jumeirah Beach is in front of the Burj Al Arab the 7 star wonder Hotel. I had a look round but not much to see apart from the amazing entrance. During my stay I visited a few markets and malls. The Dubai Mall is massive but worth a visit as there are some great bargains to be had. Also within the Dubai Mall is the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. We booked online to visit and it only cost 125 Dirhams. If you just turn up and try and book it will cost you 400 Dirhams. Amazing place. I had a great day doing the Desert Safari. It’s quite a long excursion with a pick up at 1545hrs and drop off at 2200hrs. You do the 4x4 drive over the dunes which is quite exhilarating. Be careful though as it can get a bit sickly. Then it’s a BBQ in the desert with entertainment etc. The food was actually pretty good. Unlimited soft drinks but alcohol is on sale at reasonable prices. The Jumeirah Hotel is superb. The rooms are big with magnificent views over the Ocean and onto the Burj Al Arab. The breakfast has to be seen to be believed. Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Indian etc. monumental! Alcohol is on the expensive side but there are plenty of bars in the hotel and poolside. The staff were very friendly and eager to help. The temperatures in June made it a bit too hot and it gets hotter in July and August so these months are best avoided if possible.

Auckland

19 June 2014

What a stunning city. I stayed in the Grand Chancellor in Auckland City Centre. There is another one out at the airport but what a cracking location the city centre one has. It is just down from Sky City and just up from the marina where all the ferries to Davenport and Waiheke (to name a few) leave from. The room was a reasonable size, clean and modern. There was a small kitchen area and a small balcony. There are harbour view apartments that you can book as well. The staff were very friendly and eager to help. I went up to Sky City and up the tower. It had brilliant views of the city and it was only 28 dollars. They have a bar and restaurant up at the top and you can also jump off if you feel inclined. Sky City is a must do. There are also lots of bars and restaurants around the hotel from Mexican to Indian. The food is superb. I took the ferry over to Waiheke. It’s about 40 minutes away but a great ferry ride and Waiheke is a stunning place. We ate at The Oyster Inn which is worth a visit. This is a place I will return to. It has lots to offer and everything is reasonable priced. Watch out for taxi’s who may rip you off from the airport to the city centre. We got stung for 100 dollars and the return was only 35 dollars. Agree the price first. It should be about 40 dollars.

Sydney

17 June 2014

I had an amazing time in Sydney. The city is vast and so many different cultures call this home. The vivid light show on the Opera House was superb and is now an annual event in mid-June. The weather was in the low 60’s in June and was pleasant enough. I stayed in the Haymarket area in the Mercure Hotel which was clean and modern. The rooms have either two double beds or a king. They have some with balconies. The rooms were not massive but a decent size. The bar and restaurant were great and the staff very friendly and helpful. The swimming pool and gym on the top floor were also excellent. There is an indoor pool. The hotel is close to the central train station so you could take the train from the airport which is 16.60 dollars per person but a taxi was only 40 dollars. I visited Manly and Bondi beach and the ferry and bus transport are great and cheap. The ferries run from Darling Harbour and Circular Quay. Circular Quay is where the Opera House is but I preferred Darling Harbour, where there are loads of restaurants and lots going on. There are lots of hotels down here but they were quite a bit more than the Mercure. I took the whale watching tour from Darling and it was amazing. The season is May to December and we saw about 100 breaches as they call it of whales leaping out the water. It was unbelievable. Sydney is quite expensive for eating out and drinking but there are plenty happy hours and plenty of Chinese and Thai cafes and restaurants that offer great value for money. Young ones should check out Scary Canary’s night club. Very lively and close to Darling Harbour.

Malta Trip

09 May 2013

I’ve just returned from an educational trip to Malta with my fellow Travel Counsellors. I have visited Malta several times but that was over 20 years ago. Malta is famous for the sport of water polo and that is what took me there all those years ago. How things have changed. The development is unbelievable. Malta is a very small island but it has lots to offer. The history of the island is incredible. You must take in the Malta experience with a visit to The Sacra Infirmeria, the famous infirmary where hundreds were treated during the many wars. It is now a fabulous conference centre. Our host hotel was the Fortina Spa Resort in Sliema. Famous for its wellness and superb spa facilities and frequented by the rich and famous including Angelina Jolie! The staff were superb, very friendly and even the owner joined us for a few drinks. The Fortina Spa Resort is in a magnificent location in Sliema overlooking the harbour and Valletta. There are varied rooms including spa rooms with pools/spas. Pools are heated in winter. The spa has many unusual treatments and they specialise in many treatments including sports injury and have many VIP’s as clients. There is also a 20m pool. There are restaurants including Italian, Indian, Chinese and Thai. Staff are very friendly and it is a great location for visiting Valletta or St. Julians. The main outdoor pool area is superb. The Phoenicia in Valletta is located at the entrance to Valletta. It is a magnificent old hotel. Standard rooms are small but modern. There are balcony rooms but the balconies are small but have great views across the city. There are eight suites that have double balconies. It’s a great location for a wedding with an impressive ball room. There is a large pool with spa and bar café and excellent views from the pool area. The Westin Dragonara in St. Julian’s is a stunning hotel on a peninsula in front of St. Julian’s. There are varied rooms with great views across the Mediterranean and harbour. Executive rooms have access to the executive club on 8th floor. Standard rooms have two queen beds. This is a true 5 star hotel and won the top 10 hotels of Malta this year. The Hilton in St. Julian’s is a beautiful hotel in a great location with amazing views of the sea. It is close to the Portomasso yacht harbour and the many restaurants around Spinola Bay, many of them very good with great views of the bay. There is an excellent spa offering many treatments and a lovely indoor pool area. The outdoor area is vast with amazing views across the sea and harbour from its four outdoor pools. There is a large dining area offering buffet style meals and outdoor areas offering alfresco dining. The Corinthia Palace in St. Julian’s offers an excellent range of facilities including the Athenaeum Spa with over 50 health and beauty treatments, a fitness centre and an outdoor and indoor pool. There is a choice of many restaurants offering Oriental and Italian. Rooms are spacious and well decorated. This is a superb hotel with many facilities including indoor pool, spa and gym. The Dolmen in Buggibba is currently undergoing a new development on the sea front which will be finished by summer 2013 and will be a great addition. The superior rooms and suites have panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and St. Paul’s Islands. All bedrooms are fully air-conditioned, centrally heated and have their own private bathroom. The majority of the hotel rooms have a balcony or terrace. There are four outdoor pools and a great spa and small gym. The hotel also has a Casino. The InterContinental in St. Julian’s is very modern. The spa, indoor pool and gym facility are huge and offer many varied treatments and services. This is a great location for conferences due to its size and many features. The facilities are excellent. There are eight restaurants and five bars with the usual Maltese variety in cuisines. This hotel is situated in a prime spot next to all that St. Julian’s and St Georges Bay offers. All in all there is something for everyone, whether you’re into history, food, spa treatments or just a bit of relaxation in the sun. On top of all this you can fly to Malta from 18 different UK airports and it only takes about 3 to 3.5 hours in flying time.

Amsterdam and the Amstel Botel

21 March 2013

I recently enjoyed a short break in Amsterdam and stayed in the Amstel Botel. It was a quick jaunt over from Edinburgh with Easy Jet and no complaints about the flight; well organised and all on time. I got to Schipol and straight on the train to Central Station. It’s 3.90 euros and by far the best and quickest way into the centre. The train station is right in the middle of the town. I had a quick look round and then got on the free ferry at the back of the station that takes you on the ten minute ride to the Botel. The ferries run every 15 minutes at peak time and every 30 minutes thereafter. The Botel one runs from 07.00-00.30 but you can also get the other one which runs all night and the free shuttle from the hotel picks you up. I got to the Hotel and the room was small as you would expect from a boat but very clean. Friendly staff and we got a free drink for liking their Facebook page! A pint was 3.90 on the boat which was good compared to the centre of the town. I did all the touristy things. A canal boat trip was nine euros for the hour trip and was very interesting. I also visited all the museums and the red light district which must be seen to be believed. There are some decent restaurants which were reasonably priced but alcohol is expensive but surprisingly wine was not. Pints ranged from six to nine euros and spirit and a mixer was a bit more. This was in the Dam Square/red light area although even in other central areas it was the same. Back on the boat I enjoyed a good night’s sleep and a great hot buffet breakfast. The boats run on the hour and half hour but I’d recommend having a coffee and cake in the lovely cafe at the ferry terminal next to the boat. In summary, Amsterdam is a great short city break with lots to see. The Botel is also worth a try. It’s a great price and it was fun getting the short ferry ride over and its totally free. If you fancy giving it a visit, get in touch and I will tell you more.

Orlando

11 March 2013

I’ve recently been over to Orlando and visited all the Disney Parks. Here is a quick update on my trip. When you arrive at the transportation centre at the Magic Kingdom, take either the boat or monorail. When it is busy the boat can be the better and quicker option. The new aspect to the park is the development of New Fantasyland for the youngsters. Lots of work is going on so it’s going to be great. Part of it is complete like the Little Mermaid Ride. It’s very busy as it’s full of building sites and lots of people. When the afternoon parade is finished it quietens down slightly. The main rides are Splash Mountain (you will get wet), Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain. They are all busy rides so try and use a fast pass to avoid lengthy queues. Hollywood Studios is pretty easy to get into from the car park. When you enter go to your right just down the main street. This will take you to the main two attractions; Rockin’ Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror. There will be queues so try and get a fast pass for one and queue for the other. There are lots of great shows in this parks so grab a timetable and plan your day accordingly. The shows get busy so try and get there about 20 minutes before they start to get a seat. There isn’t really anything new here. There is nothing new at the Animal Kingdom apart from the Finding Nemo show. It’s busy so once again check out the timetable and get there early. In addition get the fast pass for the Kilimanjaro Safari. It’s my favourite part. You can be lucky and see lots of animals up close. Expedition Everest and Dinosaur are also pretty decent. This is the most expensive theme park ever built so enjoy the beauty and scale of it. Once again, not a lot has changed at Epcot. The one part that has is Test Track. It’s all been modernised and is sponsored by Chevrolet. It was well worth the wait. However when you come in get a fast pass for either this or Soarin. They are the top two attractions. Mission Space is also good. The other must see is the fireworks at the end of the night. They are stunning. All the fireworks are done by the huge lake, well worth waiting or coming back for. Remember that parking is $14 dollars for the big parks. It’s free for the two water parks and Downtown Disney. Tickets are also expensive. Get in touch and I will advise on tickets. When you consider that a daily admission with park hopping ability is nearly $140 it makes sense to plan and get the right tickets. I can get you the 14 day Disney Ultimate ticket with park hopping for around £250. If you need anything on Orlando please get in touch.

Las Vegas

07 December 2012

I’ve been to Las Vegas a few times and stayed in The Stratosphere, Caesars Palace and MGM Grand. This time however we stayed in the Rio. It’s just off the strip but there are free shuttles to the strip every 20 minutes. The rooms are clean, tidy and large with either a view over the pool or the strip. We had a view of the strip and it was superb. There are a lot of good restaurants including the famous World Buffet. It’s got everything and it gets pretty busy. They also have the Voodoo restaurant and club. It’s right on the top of the building so, as you can imagine, the views are brilliant. The food is high end but worth it for a special occasion. Then you can go up a floor to the outside night club. It’s definitely a place worth visiting. The pool areas of the Rio are good and very lively. They have a separate pool for the ladies if they want a better tan (!) but be aware that men can get access if they pay $20. It’s a lively pool area with lots of music. The whole hotel caters more for adults with their shows and overall theme, so if you have kids choose somewhere like Circus Circus or New York New York. If you like thrill rides, get along to the Stratosphere and do their three rides on top of their tower. You will not be disappointed. There is so much to do here including a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. I have loads more information on Las Vegas so please get in touch if you fancy visiting.

Key West

04 December 2012

Key West is superb. There are lots going on. It’s not the easiest place to get to but when you’re there its brilliant. I have driven the beautiful 100 miles from Miami and it is well worth it, certainly once. I have also flown in and my favourite is the Key West Express from Fort Myers Beach. You can also get it from Marco Island. It’s a large fast vessel with a bar. It takes about three and a half hours from Fort Myers Beach and it’s around $120 return. We have stayed at the Casa Marina Resort three times and it’s really lovely. Set on its own beach, it really is magical. It’s just close enough to the lively Duval Street but far enough away for peace and tranquillity. If you ever want to treat anyone to a special meal then Latitudes on Sunset Key is the place. You can get the complimentary shuttle boat from Mallory Square. It takes five minutes and you are on Sunset Key and Latitudes. Make sure you have your camera not only for the lovely restaurant but, as the name suggests, to get the stunning sunset. You will not be disappointed. Duval Street is the main place here. It is probably less than a mile long but there are over 300 bars and restaurants in this street, all of which are different. All cultures and diversities are catered for in Key West but it’s all done in a chilled and friendly way. Parking is pretty difficult so hire a bicycle or an electric buggy to get around. Key West is the most southerly place in the US. I recommend you take a trip, you will definitely go back.

Florida

04 December 2012

I have a villa in Clermont, just at the back of Animal Kingdom, and come over here about four times a year. It is heaven. If theme parks are your thing then it is a perfect location as we are just behind animal kingdom. Only a five to ten minute drive away is Disney World. We are about 30 minutes from Universal and 20 minutes from Sea World. The weather is great all year. It’s quite hot and humid in July and August but a very pleasant 75 and over in January. I love golf and you have no problems playing all year round. There are so many courses nearby that it is difficult to play them all. Eating out is a passion in Florida and there are countless places to go, all offering excellent value for money. Our favourites are Carabbas and Chillis. There are also Sante Fe, Texas Roadhouse and Red Lobster to name a few. You will not go hungry or in fact thirsty. Cold beer is cheap and can be bought everywhere. If shopping is your thing then you’re in the right place. The outlets offer superb value for money. The premium outlets near Sea World are our favourite and the bargains are sensational. Don’t fill your suitcase on the way over because you will do plenty of shopping. There is so much to say about Orlando and Florida. If you need anything further please get in touch. I can assist with all aspects of your holiday here including cruises, car hire and other excursions.

Cancun

04 December 2012

I recently travelled on the ‘Oasis of the Seas’ and took the excursion to Cancun. It was only a 45 minute ferry ride from Cozumel to the mainland and then an hour on a coach. The coach ride was very informative and stopped at a beautiful beach just before Cancun. Cancun has some stunning hotels. They line the beautiful white beach all the way up the coastline, which is right on the border between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The centre is very lively with lots of bars and restaurants. Although I was not there at night, there are plenty of nightclubs ready to attract everyone in with many drinks and other specials. I found the people very friendly and helpful. They love a laugh and are always willing to help. The food is superb. If you love Mexican food then there are plenty restaurants for you but there are the usual food outlets as well. There are lots of markets offering things for tourists. I found the vendors quite pushy so watch your belongings and be strong and of course negotiable if you do fancy something. They all take US dollars but I found that their own currency, pesos, is better value for money. Be aware that if you pay in dollars you will get change in pesos. There are legitimate currency exchanges but they take a fee for changing so have a clear idea what currency you need and how you are going to use it. The beach in Cancun is the best I have seen. It’s so white and clean and the sea is so clear. In summary I would go back. I really enjoyed the day and would love to see more.

My customer stories

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Absolutely delighted with the service we got from Andy. Would definitely recommend my friends and family to book their holidays with Andy,we certainly will. Thanks again Andy x

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Andy was very knowledgeable and was able to help us plan our holiday to America to celebrate my special birthday. Have recommended him to several of my friends and will definitely book more holidays with him.

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As far as I am concerned Andy has provided the best travel service I have had the pleasure of using. As someone who has travelled all over the world using many different agencies that is the highest compliment I can give. I will continue to use Andy and recommend him to friends and family.

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Amazing service. Would highly recommend. Andy was on hand to help with any problem or issue that came up. His world knowledge and recommendations made the holiday. Will definitely be using the service again.

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Always goes that extra mile to get what client wants. Regardless of how many times I ask for changes. Nothing seems to much trouble for Andy.

Sent by Annetta Phillip

Wouldn’t travel anywhere without travel counsellor Andy Gilhooly. Have peace of mind if anything goes wrong he will sort it

Sent by Sarah Mauritzen

Andy as always is professional, efficient, very good to communicate with and goes over and above the call of duty to help book your trip. Fantastic!

Sent by Stephen Neilson

Andy was very understanding regarding us confirming leave dates. He provided great information in relation to park tickets etc. Reassured us when we had concerns around flight seats. A new way for us to book a holiday. We realise Andy has the experience & expertise to provide this amazing holiday.

Sent by Derek Thomson

I was pretty vague as to what I wanted in respect of a holiday but Andy managed to get me options and costs. I asked for some slight amendments and nothing seemed to be an issue. Andy was very easy to deal with and we're now looking forward to the holiday.

Sent by Barbara Hulme

Recommended by my daughter & after booking my holidays with travelcounsellors would have no hesitation in recommending them to all family and friends also. Absolutely delighted with the help in organising our holidays.

Sent by Lynn Bertram

Andy is so patient and extremely helpful and accommodating. Have recommended to various friends.

Sent by Mark Tiffin

Andy accommodated a not so conventional request with ease. Booking a very specific travel itinerary. - Andy's communication is great, he is very responsive. - I am a first time customer of Andy's and will be using him for all my travel arrangements in the future.

Sent by Fraser Bertram

Andy makes the experience of organising a holiday so easy and pain-free. He provides great support before, during and after holidays. Great job Andy!

Sent by Paul Robinson

Would definitely use this service again, booking this holiday was effortless Andy took all the stress away and advised when needed , most importantly a very affordable payment plan that made things easier.

Sent by Alan Thorburn

Ask for a price and information with regards to a future trip. Came back straight away with options and answered any queries I had. Got the right holiday for a the right price and booked it. Nice and simple!!

Sent by Andrea Mosedale

Excellent service and support from Andy who has packaged us the perfect Thailand multi stop holiday. He was super helpful and patient with our many amendments. Thankyou Andy, you are a star!!

Sent by Morag Brown

I would definitely recommend Andy. Despite me changing my mind on arrangements, accommodation etc on several occasions, Andy was brilliant. He made suggestions and found out information for us really quickly. Completely stress free experience. Thank you Andy.

Sent by Alison Glover

Once again Andy found the perfect holiday for us. He as been as always, friendly, prompt with responses and patient while we deliberated over our decisions. Many thanks for your help.

Sent by Rajinder Singh

Andy and the team where spot on in sorting out all our requirements for the trip

Sent by Christine Wilson

Andy is incredibly speedy in answering emails, his research to provide alternatives and suggestions is excellent, and his commitment to providing an outstanding holiday experience is second to none. I recommend him to everyone I can!

Sent by Georgina Cardno

I would be very happy to recommend Travel Counsellor Andy Gilhooly to family and friends, great service, we are delighted with holiday package. We will definitely contact Andy to arrange future flights and holidays.

Sent by Lynne Henderson

I have been using Andy for over 3 years now and I cannot recommend him enough. Very professional and friendly. He knows his stuff!

Sent by Fraser Jervis

Anytime I have booked a holiday through Andy Gilhooly the service has been outstanding. His attention to detail in terms of me and my wife’s wishes have been first class. I wouldn’t use anyone else.

Sent by Annetta Phillip

Best travel agent I have ever used. He’s a keeper!

Sent by Lorraine Farmer

Andy is always so helpful when I ask to book anything and he is so patient with all my daft questions. Would highly recommend

Sent by Jason Smith

Andy is fantastically accommodating and flexible. I would have no hesitation in recommending his services and those of Travel Counsellors

Sent by Martin Graves

We use Travel Counsellors for our corporate travel and accommodation requirements. As a small company they allow us to focus on the important matters when they take care of the searching and booking of everything, We have now used them for about 4 years and they have managed to deal with some last minute changes and obstacles in some cases. Excellent service with a quick time turn around.

Sent by Renee Turner

Andy is always incredibly helpful. Nothing is too much for him. He’s helped me a lot and it’s great to know you’ve got someone to reach out to if anything goes wrong. I find Andy super friendly, efficient and really good at his job

Sent by Iain Fairbairn

Excellent quick and efficient service and came up with a great travel plan that we hadn’t considered.

Sent by Iain Fairbairn

Excellent quick and efficient service and came up with a great travel plan that we hadn’t considered.

Sent by Gillian McNaughton

You made it very easy for us to book our holiday drawing on your expertise. We have never travelled to this area and didn’t know where to start. We trusted your judgement and you listened to what we wanted giving us choices. Would definitely use your services again

Sent by Pauline Robertson

Great friendly service. Responds very quickly with great deals

Sent by Fiona OKeeffe

Its not the 1st time that I've booked a holiday with Andy, excellent service takes away all the hassle of me booking ! Big thanks

Sent by Carol McDonald

I found Andy very helpful and he found us a fantastic holiday at a great price

Sent by Emma Grant

Andy is awesome. So prompt and always accommodates all my requests and questions!

Sent by Janet Fenton

Always prompt and efficient. Wouldn’t go anywhere else

Sent by Kevin Kneeshaw

Great service with an eye for detail and what you want from your Holiday. Have used Andy for holidays and flights only and have never been disappointed. He makes you feel as if you are the only one he is dealing with.

Sent by Keith Mackay

Excellent service yet again from Andy.

Sent by Kevin Kneeshaw

Great service with an eye for detail and what you want from your Holiday. Have used Andy for holidays and flights only and have never been disappointed. He makes you feel as if you are the only one he is dealing with.

Sent by Saroj Tiwari

Very helpful, friendly & knowledgeable. Highly recommend

Sent by Nicola Bonham

I will certainly be recommending Andy’s services as a travel counsellor. Very quick to come back you, listens to what you want and even helps suggests things you didn’t think about.

Sent by Lorraine Mackenzie

Amazing knowledge with fast and efficient booking service every single time.

Sent by Norma Ritchie

Very helpful, efficient and great response times.

Sent by Colin Dalrymple

So easy and reliable suggestions for great holidays. Well done Andy!

Sent by Mark Patterson

Great speedy service from Andy and very professional at getting everything organised for us, will definitely recommend.

Sent by Alistair Buckley

Andy is superb, always on hand to answer any request or query, very knowledgeable about the places we would like to visit. Once underway his communications are second to none, as we feel its important to make sure our holiday is right, and thats Andys promise too. Keep it up. Many thanks Alistair

Sent by Craig Sandbach

Great help, knowledgeable and best price and package available! Highly recommend

Sent by Sandra Gaff

Excellent service. Andy responded to my request very quickly and secured a fabulous hotel with my requirements. Will definitely recommend and use Travel Counsellors again. Thank you

Sent by Garry Douglas

Andy is a wizard and always has the personal touch. He takes the stress away from holidays

Sent by Saffron Lowrie

We keep coming back to you because we love the service, eye to detail and nothing is too much . I would recommend you to all our friends.

Sent by Lisa Robin

My parents and my wider family have all had a glowing recommendation from me, so I hope that the next time they book anything they will come to you! Thanks so much Andy.

Sent by Nicholas Dempsey

Andy was excellent throughout the whole process, we will definitely use him again and will be recommending him to friends and family

Sent by Sara McBean

We have been so impressed by the responsiveness and care offered by Travel Counsellors, not only for ourselves where response has been immediate, but also to our extended family over the years. We cannot recommend them highly enough.

Sent by Peter McGrath

Andy has completely understood the brief and was able to come back to me with a range of options and in good time. He has shown great customer service by keeping in touch, remaining patient and offering good advice around the plans. I feel we are in good hands. Thanks Andy. Greatly appreciated.

Sent by Ian Mitchinson

Andy has been very (as always) polite helpful and friendly. He has managed to deal with issues from Crystal to get us a great deal and ensure all of the groups needs are met.. He is very prompt replying to messages and dealing, professionally and efficiently with all of our enquiries.

Sent by Devin Scobie

Outstanding personal service which always delivers what we need and on budget. Delighted repeat client over many years.

Sent by Rita Muirhead

I have books many holidays through Andy Gilhooly and he has always looked after us well. I’ve already recommended Andy to friends and family who have also booked holidays with him.

Sent by Fraser Jervis

Anytime Andy organises a holiday for me, my wife and friends, the service we receive is first class.

Sent by Conner Wilson

When booking with Andy there was no confusion or stress. He kept me informed on every step of the booking. He also kept me updated on how and when the best times are/were to get insurance and Visas. Again, thank you Andy!!!

Sent by Stuart Paterson

The service was over and above any other travel service I have used. Very personal and friendly.

Sent by Sharon Buckley

Andy is very knowledgeable about the travel industry and world wide destinations so his recommendations are always spot on. Andy always provides first class service and deals with any queries or problems promptly. I always uses Andy when booking my holidays and have no reservations about recommending him to friends and family

Sent by Amanda Grigg

Great service from Andy. He was very knowledgable about our destination and came back to me when he said he would. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Andy

Sent by Christine Wilson

Andy is just so great at enabling us to book and have the best holiday experience. He responds to emails really quickly, offers so much advice and enables choice in making decisions that make holidays just amazing. Would never book a holiday any other way!

Sent by Allen Whitehead

Very friendly service with quick replies to any queries.

Sent by Alessandra Gori

Andy is very helpful, reliable and is always knowledgeable and with a good sense of humour besides!

Sent by Caroline Roberts

Always a great service and price. Highly recommend

Sent by Abby Clarke

Andy made booking our holiday stressless and was really helpful with adding everything we needed on to the app. 10/10 Will definitely be using his service again.

Sent by Isla Sutherland

Andy was very helpful with all our requests and was able to change our itinerary to suit what we wanted out of our holiday.

Sent by Shaun Kelley

Andy offers a first class service and is always very quick to respond to any queries you may have.

Sent by Brian MacAulay

Andy was brilliant, Gave him a call , Told him our requirements and budget , He said will get onto it and call you back, The same day he got back to us , with everything in place that we wanted, So we booked there and then.

Sent by Emma Grant

Andy is always awesome. So prompt and so efficient. Saves me both time and money. Cannot recommend enough.

Sent by Matthew Armstrong

Andy offers a fabulous service, good on price, fast to reply, personally tailored, with real travel insight. Simply Wonderful!

Sent by Sitara Keppie

Andy is beyond obliging. Friendly, professional and totally takes the pain out of organising travel.

Sent by Laura Comerford

Fast and efficient service Andy kept in touch and was quick to respond to any questions we had. I have used travel counsellors before and would definitely use them again

Sent by Darren Kidd

Great service from the moment I make holiday request to the moment I arrived back home thanks Andy you were brilliant

Sent by Catriona Brydon

Andy has always been extremely helpful and nothing seems to be too much trouble for him.

Sent by Jason Burden

Andy made sure the whole process was seamless from start to finish. Went above and beyond to make sure we got the holiday that we wanted. I would definitely use Andy again for our next holiday.

Sent by Zoe McKenna

Andy is always really quick to respond, understands exactly what we are looking for and finds us the best options available, we always receive amazing service.

Sent by Khima Gautam

Absolute pleasure to work with and made the process so much simpler for me.

Sent by Janet Flockhart

Very good service , and keep me up to date as what to do next

Sent by Barbara Fairbairn

Just so good to speak to the same person . Also they take all your requests into consideration when arranging your holiday.

Sent by Andrew May

Thoroughly accommodating. New variables came into play during the booking; not an issue, not a panic, they were factored in and dealt with easily. Tremendous!

Sent by Steven Ramsay

First class service from initial contact to providing policy.

Sent by Gordon Courtney

Top class service, Andy was a pleasure to deal with Wouldn’t use anyone else

Sent by Susan Cullen

Great service, as always. Wouldn't book through anyone else now

Sent by Lorraine Farmer

Andy has been very patient with me and my stress levels booking America. Wouldn't use anyone else .thank you Andy x

Sent by Martin Rowe

Excellent service. Reliable and most helpful.

Sent by Fraser Bertram

Brilliant, easy, simple experience! Shall be using Andy again for definite

Sent by Norma Hastie

Fantastic service, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable

Sent by Jodie Smith

Andy Gilhooly is fantastic and always books a great holiday

Sent by Laura Thinn

I have used Andy before and would use again - quick responses and looks after customers needs

Sent by David Sinclair

An awesome service and no pressure sales like I experienced elsewhere. We even got a thank you card hand written from Andy thanking us for our business. it’s these little things that make the difference.

Sent by Paul Graham

Very quick and efficient service, nothing was a problem even with constant changes we were having to make due to the current climate. A pleasure to deal with

Sent by Alessandra Gori

Andy is always able to handle any query and solve any problem, politely and efficiently. I think of him as a travel guardian angel!

Sent by Brian MacAulay

Andy was great, I spoke with him on the Sunday gave him our requirements, He called me back the next morning with all the details of what he had found for us , He then made it an easy process to take our booking to fruition

Sent by Greg Plummer

One quick call and a few mins later Andy had everything booked taking away all the hassle and stresses with the added security of payment protection.

Sent by Holly Denholm

Quickest most organised hen do ever booked thanks to Andy

Sent by Ali McLean

Always quick to reply to any queries and he has been very helpful with regards re-organising itinerary’s due to COVID.

Sent by Elizabeth Macnaughton

Andy has been great! We have had to re-book a few times due to the Covid pandemic, and he has been very accommodating, offering good advice and getting us a great deal. We have used him before and everything ran so smoothly with great communication and advice along the way, that is why we came back and would recommend to anyone wanting a hassle free travel package experience at a great price.

Sent by Arlene Davie

Andy has been amazing. Nothing is too much trouble and always gets back to us super quick and has kept us updated every step of the way. We always booked our holidays ourselves but not now or in the future.

Sent by Christine Wilson

Andy always offers a huge amount of support when booking a trip - from options across price ranges, to recommendations around locations. Nothing is ever too much trouble from him, and throughout the Covid period he has been so incredibly flexible and supportive. He makes booking holidays a joy!

Sent by Christopher Dann

Great service as always from Andy, needed urgent help and he managed to book all flights for the family within 1hr.

Sent by Hilary Morgan

Andy is wonderful to deal with and I would highly recommend him.

Sent by Zoe McKenna

Andy is very efficient and helpful. We always get exactly what we need when booking with him for the best prices and good recommendations.

Sent by Sharon Buckley

Fantastic service Andy always goes above and beyond to ensure every detail of your holiday is just right. Would only ever book a holiday through Andy and travel counsellors

Sent by Carol Travers

I found Andy to be more than helpful in a very stressful time just now and he communicated and reassured and helped every step of the way

Sent by Fredrick Bargh

Compared with previous unprofessional experiences with well known travel agents, Andy has made booking a cruise holiday a pleasure with all aspects dealt with. Hopefully more holidays to follow.

Sent by Lisa Bray

Andy is so patient & helpful he’s the ultimate professional & is an absolute credit to your brand, no silly question goes unanswered & such quick responses Can’t thank him enough for all he does to make our experience hassle free

Sent by Philip Robertson

Great experience from start to finish very good service

Sent by Susan Cullen

Always quick to come back with quotes. Very helpful even when you're away in holiday

Sent by Alison Barkley

Andy was very swift to respond to my queries and offered various options when planning our trip. All the prices quoted couldn’t be matched/beaten. We would definitely recommend and will use his services again in the future!

Sent by David McDonald

Always very helpful and extremely knowledgeable about the best deals available. Would have no hesitation in recommending this service to friends.

Sent by Mark Henderson

Andy always gets us a good deal and every holiday that we've booked with him we've enjoyed. It's always well organised and I'd not hesitate to recommend him to others.

Sent by Mandy Boyd

Its so easy booking a holiday, great service and very friendly. I will always book my holidays through Andy & Rachel

Sent by Etienne La

Extremely helpful in finding the best deals, and fast response time. Would happily use your services again and recommend to others.

Sent by Gert Prandstatter

Andy makes it really easy.

Sent by Alan Woolaston

An excellent service taking out all the stresses of having to sort things out myself. A bespoke service

Sent by Colin Hewitt

Its the little things that I appreciate the most - luggage tags completed, a drinks or food package on the flight or being checked in. TC is not always the cheapest, but is always competitive and Andy is always available as a central point of contact, rather than a call centre with information stored on computer, to which they all refer.

Sent by Catriona Brydon

The service is excellent. This is the second time I have used andy and he always replies promptly and follows the brief he is given

Sent by Margaret McPherson

Nothing too much bother. All questions answered very swiftly. Really looking forward to my holiday!

Sent by Lynne Ramsay

Fantastic service. Very friendly, professional, caring and compassionate. Great to know Andy is there to help even when I am on Holiday. Thank you for your help and support.

Sent by David Thomson

Excellent service and fast quote at a price lower than expected.

Sent by Keith Fairbairn

Brilliant service, answered questions in detail and very promptly. Very reassuring. Will definitely use again and would recommend.

Sent by Scott Youngson

Can't thank Andy enough, nothing is too much trouble, even at 5am in Florida! Fast efficient service....highly recommended. Thanks Andy

Sent by Annette Williams

Andy has been friendly and efficient whilst booking our holiday to Cuba. Many thanks Annette

Sent by Elizabeth Struthers

Andy, Is very efficient and replys to your email instantly and keeps you up to date with all information sourced re holiday.

Sent by Ian Brown

First class friendly service and an excellent deal on a holiday.

Sent by Dawn Paterson

Trustworthy and reliable. Recommend to everyone I know.

Sent by Allan Binks

Fantastic service and unbeatable organisation and knowledge. Andy has organised us some fantastic trips where we've ended up in places we would never gave found on our own. Can't recommend his services highly enough.

Sent by Robert Burton

The care and attention to detail we get from Andy is always great!

Sent by Jane Hope

After the Thomas Cook collapse, Andy managed to rearrange our holiday to Orlando for 9 people within about an hour of me contacting him. He got us the same accommodation and good flight times at a reasonable price when no-one else was able to do that. If I hadn't been given Andy's details from a friend, I am sure we would not be going to Orlando as we had less than 3 weeks to rearrange the holiday and the flights we were being quoted by other agents had ridiculous prices and timings. In fact Travel Republic - who we originally booked with more or less - said it couldn't be done and they just wanted to get me off the phone and give me a refund. Andy has arranged absolutely everything for us, he always replies to e-mails quickly and and it is reassuring to know that if we have any problems on holiday we will be able to get it touch with him for advice.

Sent by Alison Rhind

Great friendly personal service. Couldn’t have been easier.

Sent by Brian Sutherland

Andy Gilhooly provided a first class service. Not only meeting all of our holiday requirements, but exceeding the expected level of advice and guidance provided prior to booking confirmation.

Sent by Gayle Allsop

First class service. Such a personal touch and nothing was too much to ask! Would highly recommend ! Thank you so much!

Sent by Roy Sinclair

A personal style and level of service that is fantastic. Always contactable and reliable.

Sent by Moira Anderson

Extremely helpful.

Sent by Lisa Bray

Andy was so patient with all our demands & changes was super helpful & supportive really made everything easy, thank you

Sent by David Swift

A reliable & professional service, that offers reassurance, builds trust & confidence and will deliver.

Sent by Matthew Armstrong

I can’t rate Andy Gilhooly high enough and recommend him to friends, family and strangers! Totally fabulous for trips big or small.

Sent by Charlene Jack

Andy was great, made booking a holiday very easy

Sent by Lynn Harris

Amazing service as always

Sent by Kevin Kneeshaw

Have used Andy for some years now and have full trust that he will provide me with the perfect holiday I am looking for. His customer service from start of the process until you touch down on your return is first class. He has built up a team that follows his philosophy ensuring that the service remains top class. I have recommended him to friends and family and have never received negative feedback.

Sent by Alessandra Gori

I was very pleased with the personalise service, the real attention to detail . When I called from abroad I received a call back within a few minutes and I received good, friendly advice which solved the issue. The cost was far less than what I had found on the internet when looking. Totally hassle free! I'll certainly use the service again!

Sent by Jessica Brown

Very easy to book and very helpful.

Sent by Annette Hogg

Quick and easy to book exactly what I wanted, a very efficient and personal service

Sent by April Harper

Been using Andy when booking my cruise for last few years. Knowledgeable and friendly and once booked he arranges to print everything for you. Excellent service.

Sent by Christine Wilson

Andy is so helpful, patient and prompt in finding you the best deals.

Sent by Alexander Cleland

Excellent and efficient service.

Sent by Sylvia Kuzminski

I recommend Andy to anyone looking for a holiday and feedback is always positive

Sent by Robert Spence

Excellent communications and easy to use company would recommend to others.

Sent by Robert Moore

Brilliant, efficient and friendly

Sent by Valerie King

I have used Andrew Gilhooly from the very beginning, when he first started, for all my holidays and has not let me down, his enthusiasm is as fresh now as it was away back then ..

Sent by David Gillan

Welcoming agent.. will definitely use again

Sent by Robert Bell

I’ve never used a travel agent before, but my experience with Andy Gilhooly and Travel Counsellors means I will never book direct again. Absolutely fantastic from initial enquiry through to departure.

Sent by Gary Dickson

Helpful, friendly service with that personal touch

Sent by Caroline Roberts

Extremely helpful. Nothing is a problem. Very good price on holiday also. Will definitely be using again.

Sent by Helena Johnson

If I had to score Andy marks out of 10 for service, I'd give him an 11! He provides an incredibly knowledgeable and fast service, nothing is too much trouble, and he has saved us so much time, money and stress over the years we have been using his services. Just brilliant. Thank you Andy!

Sent by John Webster

I have been making recommendations re Andy's service for a number of years now

Sent by Linda Dickson

Andy understands your wishes very quickly. He aims for momentum and perfection when taking requirements for travelling. We travel with a disability, and he makes sure everything is accommodate and catered for without repeating requirements. Everything is always in place from departure to arrival.

Sent by Linda Dickson

Andy understands your wishes very quickly. He aims for momentum and perfection when taking requirements for travelling. We travel with a disability, and he makes sure everything is accommodate and catered for without repeating requirements. Everything is always in place from departure to arrival.

Sent by Louise Adams

Great help as I’m not very good with Emails Andy has been a great help. Thank u. Looking forward to my holiday. Now I don’t need to worry he’s sorted it all for me 10/10’

Sent by Kerry Adams

I would have no hesitation in recommending Andy Gilhooly to anyone I know. This is my second time coming back to Andy with holiday queries and I will definitely return. Andy is very patient with my queries, gets back in touch when he says he will and I always get the feeling he loves what he does and loves helping people decide what they would like to do.

Sent by Fiona Schulte

Andy was brilliant from start to finish, he answered all my emails before I made any decisions and was so patient when I couldn't decide which holiday to pick. Excellent service highly recommend

Sent by Lynne Ramsay

Friendly, Professional, caring. Approachable, supportive, knowledgeable, encouraging

Sent by Brenda McKie

Andy is very reliable and as I travel alone sometimes to South Africa ( I am 77 years old) it is reassuring to know that he takes care of all travel arrangements on both journeys and all I have to do is turn up at the airport with my passport!

Sent by Catriona Brydon

Excellent service, very quick to respond.

Sent by Morag Robertson

The best customer service, cannot fault and I have highly recommended Andy to my friends and family!

Sent by Terrance Noble

Great service and very helpful Andy responds quickly when you have questions would highly recommend

Sent by Sarah Beattie

Fantastic service from Andy Gilhooly Travel Counsellors.

Sent by Dorothy Robertson

I have already recommended Andy Gilhooly to a freind, who has booked a trip with Andy also,

Sent by Brian McRae

Very helpful and always receive prompt replies.

Sent by Jennifer Peat

I have already recommened Andy to a number of friends as his service was spot on.

Sent by Jillian Gordon

As usual brilliant and timely support - very professional service and have already recommended Andy to friends through previous trips and they have been equally as happy

Sent by Fiona Schulte

Andy is brilliant! I chose my holiday on his knowledge and attention to detail. Nothing was any bother and he answered every email straight away. I would not book a holiday now without speaking to Andy first. I have recommended him to 3 friends already and will continue to do so.

Sent by Lorraine Farmer

Having been recommended Andy from my brother in law I have nothing but praise for him. Any questions are answers promptly and efficiently so I have no worries about my upcoming holiday and would use him again.

Sent by Susan Cullen

Always helpful and nothing is ever too much trouble

Sent by Corinne Neill

Goes that wee bit extra distance for you and if he can do it he will. Have booked numerous holidays and always more than happy and will definitely be booking more and already have another one booked. Andy and Rachel are a great team and would definitely recommend them.

Sent by Brian Wailes

The personal service is paramount to a relaxing booking

Sent by Margo Darling

Prompt communication, friendly advice

Sent by John Mackay

The experience as always has been excellent with first class personalised service. I would definitely recommend Andy to family and friends and use him as our Travel Counsellor again without hesitation!

Sent by Nick Brookfield

Booked through Andy Gilhooly and can’t fault a thing. Great communication & Customer focus, sorted and amended our wishes gave us multiple options & a superb service. Will definitely recommend on and use again. ??

Sent by Linda Dickson

Andy Gilhooly makes booking a holiday a daudle. Love how he knows what we want by a few questions, and books accommodation to meet our requirements and needs. He understands the little extras we need to have in place without a nudge. And even when away he makes contact effortless. Keep on, keeping on.

Sent by Zara McDowell

Great service- quick and efficient

Sent by Steve McKenzie

My wife tried online and tried a travel shop, both were disappointing. I finally persuaded her to use Andy and now we will never go anywhere else again. Looked after all our needs right from the off.

Sent by Garry McVeigh

Big thank you to Andy for all your help

Sent by Robert Gaines

I have used Andy now for over 3 years, always prompt to reply and offer options on my proposed flight and accommodation needs. Extremely happy with his knowledge of whatever is asked of him. Have recommended to others on many occasions.

Sent by Lori Hancock

Extremely helpful and catered to all changes that were made in booking the holiday without any problems. Andy made booking a 3 US city trip very easy and also for a great price.

Sent by Annetta Phillip

Best guy in the business!

Sent by Jack Wilson

Andy has been brilliant! Already recommended him to our friends.

Sent by Guy Sinclair

Great service and have already mentioned you to family and friends

Sent by Stephen Crosbie

Brilliant service once again. Referred all our friends and family.

Sent by Allan Binks

Outstanding customer service as always

Sent by Shane Morgan

A very personal and professional approach at finding the right place for a get away.

Sent by Martin Laidlaw

Everything went so smoothly

Sent by Emma Grant

Andy was AWESOME. Over responsive, found us a great deal - and what was normally a really painful and arduous process for us - was done over a matter of days. Plus we had a timezone to deal with (myself in Australia, Andy in the UK). Couldn't recommend Andy highly enough.

Sent by Neil Valentine

Andy provides an excellent friendly service, I’ve previously recommended friends and will continue to do so.

Sent by Janey Dighton

I have already recommended Andy to my friends!

Sent by Thomas Denholm

Great service, takes all the pressure out of booking a holiday. Great prices. I recommend Andy to everyone.

Sent by William Thompson

Always feel well looked after

Sent by Ian Mackay

Excellent service from Andy. Prompt replies to our emails and queries which resulted in the holiday being as we wanted.

Sent by Lynne Ramsay

Rachel and Andy have been excellent. Very patient and understanding. They made the booking process very easy and stress free. Fantastic service. I will certainly use them again.

Sent by Carolyn Dunion

Excellent service. I am looking forward to my holiday all the more because I didn't have to do all the hard work of organising it!

Sent by Rita Muirhead

Andy responded promptly with my enquiry and was able to get the flights at the times and price I was hoping for. Paperwork with all the details were sent to me a week after booking my flights.

Sent by Janet Fenton

Very easy to talk to and always willing to find out your needs .

Sent by Mary McClymont

As always professional, friendly service. I have no hesitation in recommending Andy and his services. Fantastic as always

Sent by Christopher Patterson

Great service got everything I asked for from Andy gilhooly at a great price would highly recommend this company thanks again Andy

Sent by Lisa MacKinnon

Andy in my opinion is my go to for all travel outside of UK. He is extremely responsive and will always advise on best options for both timings and your budget.

Sent by Holly Buckley

Andy always does such an amazing job at organising my trips from flights to all inclusive! Would definitely reccomend!

Sent by Stuart McKie

Friendly, prompt and knowledgable Just what I need in a travel advisor.

Sent by Pauline Robertson

Great service, very quick on responding and only took a short time to find the ideal holiday for me.

Sent by Lisa Bray

Andy always answers promptly and has consistently got us a great deal.

Sent by Gil Wallace

Excellent, competent, mannerly personality, when dealing with customers.

Sent by Gary Harrison

Excellent service which is why I returned and booked with Andy again.

Sent by Mandy Boyd

Amazing service every time! I would highly recommend and I will continue to use you guys in the future.

Sent by Barbara Fairbairn

Andy was extremely helpful , courteous and friendly. He also got back very quickly to answer any of my questions.

Sent by Robert Bell

Absolutely fantastic experience booking with Andy. We wanted a tailored holiday and Andy made sure that every aspect of our requirements was part of the final proposal. I cannot recommend Andy and Travel Counsellors highly enough.

Sent by Hazel Kirkland

Great advice and very efficient service

Sent by Joanne Taylor

Great service. Andy listens to the criteria and responds so quickly with great options.

Sent by Mark Lowrie

Very supportive, and dealt with issues when needed. We have booked with Andy for next year already.

Sent by Deborah Robertson

Andy was very helpful and informative and will definitely use his services again.

Sent by Nicholas Groome-Vine

Andy’s service was exemplary. Personal and professional. No request was a problem and all questions were replied to so quickly. I would not hesitate to recommend Andy and the Travel Counsellors service to friends and family.

Sent by Lynn Boag

This will be the third time that I have booked through Andy Gilhooly and it will not be my last, he has so much attention to detail

Sent by Stephen McIntyre

Andy is both attentive and responsive. He offered a choice of options within budget and removed all the hassle of booking for a group of 10 plus people. We will definitely use Andy and Rachel again, Thank you.

Sent by Joanne Norman

Great service, quick and the price was better than elsewhere so would recommend .

Sent by Shona Leslie

Quick and easy booking through Andy. He found us the best deal and rooms for the best price! Thanks for all your help.

Sent by Devin Scobie

Year in, year out, Andy remains my travel provider of choice. He NEVER fails to respond and always delivers what is needed.

Sent by Lorraine MacKenzie

Fabulous service as always! Thank you

Sent by David McCurdy

Already have and passed details onto a neighbour planning her 40th girlie break away

Sent by Alexander Morrison

Nothing seems to be too much trouble and Andy is very quick at getting back in touch and is extremely helpful with advice, and thus ensuring we have the best holiday suited/tailored to our needs. Would highly reccomend Andy to anyone.

Sent by Henry Arnot

Delighted with our experience - and not only met our expectations but well surpassed them. Great effort.

Sent by Craig Robertson

Fast and efficient and took care of all personal aspect of trip

Sent by Wendy Ball

I was very impressed with how quick Andy responded to my requests.

Sent by Stephen Crosbie

Brilliant service from Andy finding and arranging a terrific family holiday

Sent by Andrew Bourke

We use Andy Gilhooly of Travel Counsellors for any and all of our travel needs both personal and as a business. Whether it is from a simple car hire and a hotel, to flights, both domestic and international. Andy and his team go the extra mile, so we don't have to. Nothing is a bother and we are pleased to use them, and would highly recommend them to friends and family.

Sent by Coral MacRury

I have recommended the service many times. Always excellent and we have got what we wished for.

Sent by Allison Smith

Fantastic service.

Sent by Susan Cullen

Andy, as always, was very patient with all my different requests and came up with flights and hotels that suited my needs.

Sent by Jennifer McIntosh

Andy has been really helpful, his knowledge has really helped us plan our trip. I’ve already recommended him to friends and colleagues!

Sent by Valerie King

I’ve worked with Andy in the past and found him to very knowledgeable and helpful and now I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

Sent by Stephen Ponton

The service was excellent from the first call. I found it hard to decide what package I wanted for my holiday but changing options and dates wasn't an issue and Andy/Rachel were very patient and responded quickly and professionally to all of my requests. We finally got a great holiday at a price that was acceptable.

Sent by Valerie Stoutman

Unbelievable service. So professional and helpful. I will not be going anywhere else for my travel plans.

Sent by Keith Robertson

Absolutely excellent advice and service. There was some doubt that my wife’s health would allow her to play all our intended rounds of golf. We took Andy’s advice to book the full amount but if we needed to reduce he would get us a refund - and that’s exactly what happened. Sincerely doubt we would have managed that without Andy and Travel Counsellors!

Sent by Elzbieta Zakrzewska

Absolutely amazing service! Nice, swift and accommodating. Could not recommend highly enough :)

Sent by Teresa Martin

I would happily recommend Andy - his service is friendly, speedy, efficient and reliable, especially good for working out more complicated travel Plans.

Sent by Jeanette Hamill

Quite simply, Andy has made my year! We have been keen to go to Thailand for ages and thought that we were going to have to wait another year. However, chatting to Andy at an event he told me that he could get us there within our budget. He listened to our requirements and had an itinerary over to us within a couple of hours. Andy is always a delight to deal with and I couldn't recommend him or Travel Counsellors as a whole more highly.

Sent by Daniel Stuart

I could never have organised this complicated trip on my own. Afer a conversation with Andy he got back to me the next day with a plan and after a wee bit of tweaking we were sorted. His advice and knowledge were so needed. Still to go on holiday but very pleased with everything so far. Thank you Andy for looking after us all.

Sent by Lorna Dillon

Really takes time to understand your requests and deliver the best options for the best value

Sent by Lesley Whyte

Andy was so responsive, listened fully to my requests and delivered me the perfect holiday quickly and within budget.

Sent by Lynda Sneddon

It's nice to deal with someone who knows what they are talking about, puts your mind at rest knowing that you're able to contact him 24/7

Sent by David Scotland

Quick and easy and would recommend to all family and friends.

Sent by Rhona Dick

Andy gave us the confidence to book the holiday we were looking at and matched the price. It's good to know we have help and back up if we need it as we have not booked a holiday in this way before.

Sent by John Gaffney

First class service

Sent by Mary McClymont

Absolutely no hesitation in recommending

Sent by Louise Cook

Excellent service. So helpful and made booking a holiday stress free!

Sent by Kristen Malloy

Andy is always so helpful at finding the perfect holiday for our family.

Sent by Iain Sinclair

Andy was not only prompt, informative and efficient but was courteous and considerate with his management of our expectations. Already looking forward to working with Andy again.

Sent by Susan Purves

Very friendly, fast answer to any question, Will certainly be recommending Andy to my fellow travellers and will definitely use again.

Sent by Alan McDonald

Great help, puts me at ease about my holiday.

Sent by Gilbert Wallace

Andy is always polite and mannerly. He is attentive with giving advice, particularly to someone being their first time in acquiring information about positive variation of holidays and travel. I would gladly recommend him to any of my friends without question.

Sent by Mark Peebles

What great service. Superb personal intervention. A nice touch.

Sent by Liam Davidson

Andy Gilhooly is a first class Travel Counsellor and I would recommend him to all my friends and family.

Sent by Zara McDowell

Quick and friendly service. So excited for our holiday

Sent by Louise Munro

Super service as always from Andy and we have already passed on his contact details to family.

Sent by Annetta Phillip

Best Travel Counsellor. I feel confident when I go on holiday as he reassures me if I need anything to just get in touch.

Sent by Lisa Forrest

Have already recommended Andy and his services to colleagues and friends. Superb service, great deals and overall a fabulous experience.

Sent by Christine Allison

Andy has helped us several times and we've always had excellent service and fab holidays, I would use again and highly recommend.

Sent by Ray Dillon

Quick responses and very easy to deal with.

Sent by Linda Dickson

Andy offers an amazing service. Always there to offer advice and assistance. No matter how obvious the answer is. From planned holidays to late minute bookings, Andy will always grasp the nettle and deal with the coos tail or the scented rose. On stressful circumstances Andy will sort out any issues and make sure the holiday goes with a breeze.

Sent by Richard Walter

Andy is absolutely amazing and has sorted many holidays for us. Totally reliable and honest

Sent by Michael Clague

First Class Service.

Sent by Keith Robertson

Andy has organised our golf holiday for quite a few years now. He knows what we want, from seat preferences on the plane to type of rooms and even tee off times. We tell him where we want to go and back comes a tailored package just for us. Excellent service.

Sent by Linda Gillie

Absolutely fantastic service and help with every question asked.

Sent by Giles Gilhooly

Fantastic personal support from Andy. I think he would go to the Moon and Back to make sure everything was perfect for our holiday. Would recommend using Andy to anyone.

Sent by April Harper

Very professional and listens to what your ideal package is. Would definitely recommend.

Sent by Adrian ODonnell

Andy was able to organise a holiday tailor made for me and at the budget I had set.

Sent by Jacqueline Lobban

Great service - thanks again.

Sent by Deborah Robertson

Great service. Andy was very patient with my queries and done everything to help us find a suitable deal

Sent by Gioia Ezzi

Andy very kindly got in touch right away when I emailed him regarding a trip to Las Vegas and has kept in touch and also phoned. I received a written thank you card from him - it's that personal touch which makes the difference.

Sent by Joanne Connachan

We have just booked our honeymoon through Rachel and Andy and it was the easiest process. They were so helpful and on hand at all times to provide professional advice on hotels and resorts.

Sent by William Thompson

Always find a welcome and a sense of being fully considered.

Sent by Kevin Kneeshaw

Attention to detail, Andy listened to what we wanted in a holiday. Then came back with options that fitted. Our requirement. Always on hand to handle questions or changes to our needs.

Sent by Adelle Jess

Highly recommend, nothing was a problem to Rachel and Andy, we even booked our city passes and tickets for trips through them which were brilliant value for money! Hope to book with them again in the future!

Sent by Aneece Hady

Very helpful and ensured we had an amazing trip.

Sent by George Brownlie

Fantastic service. Would highly recommend to all my family and friends

Sent by John Gaffney

First class service cannot find a fault.

Sent by Vicki Shorter

I have recommended Andy to people and they have also used him. He is amazing.

Sent by Allan Binks

I've recommended Andy to a number of people and all have been as delighted with the level of service and expertise as we have. Why would you use anyone else?

Sent by Kevin Greig

Excellent service and support.

Sent by Graham Weeden

A multi-stop tour to Australia beyond my confidence to book set up to meet all our requests and maximise our experience.

Sent by Carolyn Jones

Very quick and helpful service

Sent by Graham Rae

Prompt and flexible help and information

Sent by Joan Turner

Andy has been very friendly and efficient. Nothing has been to much trouble to him, when we had verify and alter a few things. He always returns calls and emails from us very quickly and comes up with the right solutions to any questions we have.

Sent by Ian Mitchinson

I have recommended Andys service to my friends.

Sent by Alexander Caldwell

Andy has been very supportive and helpful in finding us a holiday. Listens to his customers and uses his experiences and knowledge to meet their expectations.

Sent by Matthew Armstrong

My second time using Andy, he was the natural choice after making such a great impression on my first adventure to San Francisco with my young sons, this is a different style of holiday for two - but I have such confidence in Andy on quality and price. I can relax before I go. Brilliant!!!

Sent by Kirsty Allan

Amazing service from start to finish where nothing was too much trouble.

Sent by Rhian Lewis

I was very impressed by Andy's speed of response and availability to meet, answer questions and give much appreciated advice not only during the day, but also in the evening and at weekends.

Sent by Janet Fenton

Have already been telling people how much I appreciated Andys help.

Sent by Robert Gaines

All requirements to date dealt with in a professional and timely manner.

Sent by Stephanie Mitchell

Excellent service

Sent by Graham Goulden

Fantastic support throughout.

Sent by Nicola Henderson

We've used Andy quite a few times now and he's always given consistently good service. I've recommended him to others and they have been happy too. I wouldn't hesitate on using Andy to sort out another holiday for me, he's great!

Sent by Muriel Vevers

Excellent service nothing has been a problem definetly be returning and also highly recommend to friends and family

Sent by Alison Glover

Andy always responds to my emails very quickly both with recommendations for holiday and to answer any queries I might have, He is always very patient and has never let me down.

Sent by Dawn Paterson

Every holiday has been a complete success.

Sent by Stephen Comerford

Great service as usual

Sent by Valerie King

Andy takes the stress out of booking a holiday. Andy is quick and efficient saving me a lot of time. Will not book anywhere else.

Sent by William McLaren

Great service. Great advice. Excellent all round.

Sent by Marlene Clarke

Fast and first class service. Nothing's a bother to Andy!

Sent by Stacey Heggie

I've already recommended Andy to a colleague!

Sent by Rachael Coatham

Andy was so helpful and efficient. He answered every question I had and was really accommodating to us changing our minds quite a few times. I would absolutely recommend Andy.

Sent by Stewart Holmes

Excellent service from Andy, and we are really looking forward to our holiday.

Sent by Richard Walter

Very professional, honest and trustworthy person. Would not book anywhere else.

Sent by Jennifer Corkan

Simple and easy I said what I wanted and Andy found it. We were Informed every step of the way. The communication was excellent every question answered and advised of any offers in order to tailor our holiday. Also got a lovely card and a goodie bag which I thought was a nice touch to show our custom was appreciated. Will definitely be back in fact we have already been in touch to book a girls weekend for next year

Sent by Gilbert Wallace

He is competent , mannerly and friendly .

Sent by Shevaun Erskine

Brilliant service and advice.

Sent by Alexander Cleland

Excellent and efficient personal service.

Sent by Jenny Corkan

Hi Andy we are absolutely delighted with our holiday that you have tailored to our needs. Jamaica Sandals Ochi beach resort is going to be a holiday of a lifetime for us, and a spectacular way to celebrate my 50th. From our premium class seats to our very own private butler service - what's not to like? We are super excited and cannot thank you enough for the service you both provided we would highly recommend you to all our family and friends. And will definitely be using your expertise for any future holidays. Thanks again Jen and Dave Corkan

Sent by Lisa Bray

So helpful, swift responses and gave us a right bargain. A1 service, thanks !

Sent by Hazel Prandstatter

I always recommend Andy to everyone on holiday who asks. He is a great fellow, honest, reliable and a thoroughly good guy.

Sent by Lorna Bairden

Andy Gilhooly, easy to deal with, very helpful, found just what we wanted. Thank you very much :)

Sent by Andrew Ormston

Always prompt, nothing too much trouble. Highly recommended.

Sent by Campbell Whyman

Quick efficient service. I have booked many group trips away in the past but Andy was able to add something extra.

Sent by Claire Attwood

Fabulous prompt/ friendly service. Very efficient.

Sent by Frances Moir

Great holiday can't wait till the next one have passed your name to my friends who look forward to booking a holiday with your company

Sent by David Melon

He helped me out of a difficult situation and I was able to go on my dream trip to Cuba.

Sent by Susan Cullen

Fast, friendly and very helpful.

Sent by Lorraine Brown

Fabulous service, exactly what I was looking for!!

Sent by Alistair Buckley

Superb service, very quick response to request and hence immediate booking on my behalf.

Sent by David Swift

Andy provides a professional service. We are returning customers because we have the trust and confidence in Andy's skills to find a tailor-made, bespoke holiday for us. Andy will deliver! Highly recommended. Dave & Karen Malvern, Worcestershire.

Sent by Craig Arnot

Found us the perfect holiday and for a good price! Responds very fast and met every request for us!

Sent by Liam Mulgrew

Andy was very helpful and got everything sorted really quickly.

Sent by Martin Gordon

Brilliant service.

Sent by Keith Fairbairn

Hi Andy, Just a wee email to say thanks again for organising Vegas for us. The Aria was magic. The whole trip was fantastic! Best regards, Keith

Sent by Lynne Ramsay

Andy has been very kind and helpful. He has been very understanding knowing I am going through a difficult time at the moment. I feel confident about contacting him and asking for help and advice regarding my booking.

Sent by Keith McGowan

Since first using Andy at Travel Counsellors two years ago I have recommended him to anyone I know who is planning a holiday. I will continue to book with Andy, great service!

Sent by Claire Hollingsworth

Hi Andy, Just a quick thank you for organising our Barcelona trip for us. We had a great time, great result too (& Messi scored!) Everything worked out well, we were sitting close to each other and all together in the second half. The apartment was only 5 minutes walk from the ground which was great. Next time I need a trip planning I will be in touch! Thanks again Claire

Sent by Vikki Shorter

10+ brilliant guy and always goes the extra mile if needed !!

Sent by Peter Keenan

Excellent service.

Sent by Susan Frampton

As always Andy went out of his way to ensure our holiday was tailor made and organised everything, always cheerful and always a pleasure to deal with.

Sent by Fran Moir

One to one service and brilliant.

Sent by Deborah Kennedy

Always goes above and beyond to assist.

Sent by Frances Moir

Got the very best holiday deals. Great service will defo use again.

Sent by Rory Boyd

I have found using Andy Gilhooly so easy and there prices very competitive. They make the whole experience very personal and look forward to using them in the future.

Sent by Sandra Bendall

First class service which offers an holistic approach to planning your holiday. A one stop for all travel plans, excellent service and a personal touch. I can highly recommend this service and Andy in particular who is excellent.

Sent by Matthew Armstrong

Andy was very swift to understand my needs, and very quick to answer questions and develop a travel plan that really fitted the bill. We benefitted from his in-depth insight and he was very easy to get on with.

Sent by Stephen Wright

Everything made simple and easy to understand. Explained clearly and concisely and nothing seemed to be off bother. All the best to you and long may it continue. Many thanks

Sent by David Drury

Have already told friends of the great service we received and recommended that they use Andy if they are thinking about doing something similar .

Sent by Beate Buxton

Quick and approachable and done without any fuss!! Lovely card in the post too for thanking me for booking with Andy!

Sent by Kenny Allison

Great personal service.

Sent by Pauline Hanratty

Andy listened to my brief and came up with exactly what we were looking for . Professional service

Sent by Balraj Sohal

Great service and person.

Sent by Dorothy McManus

I felt at ease instantly, friendly service and had all my questions answered and I feel I can phone anytime.

Sent by Jen Hardy

I constantly recommend Andy to friends, family and colleagues because he provides a very personal and bespoke service, remaining professional and friendly throughout. Andy is a true asset to Travel Counsellors.

Sent by Kevin Murray

Very courteous and professional approach. Andy Giilhooly was very knowledgeable on travel schedules and holiday locations discussed. An all round quality service.

Sent by Kenneth Buchanan

Known Andy for a long time, he was great to deal with, very knowledgeable and presented various options. Very much appreciated.

Sent by Andrew Bourke

Brilliant just amazing and so much help. Very quick to respond as well.

Sent by Keith Robertson

Even though we kept changing our minds this time it was no problem and in the end we got just what we wanted. Great service as usual.

Sent by Steven Clarke

Excellent service provided by Andy. I'd looked for a suitable place for 10 people and a dog at a fair price with no luck. Andy looked into it for me and within a couple hours he'd booked the perfect break. Definitely recommend his services to everyone.

Sent by Garry Olver

Nothing is ever too much trouble for you - fantastic service, gets you exactly what you want.

Sent by Marta Petrikova

Very satisfied.

Sent by Agnesia Agrella

Dear Andy, Thank you so much for your “Can Do” attitude. Finding flights and accommodation at the right price when more than one person travels is not easy and your patience and ability to stay calm when there is constant changes is appreciated. It is a pleasure working with you and I trust that you will always find a solution for my travel needs at very good prices. I have no hesitation in recommending you to my network.

Sent by Linda Dickson

Fabulous communication and support.

Sent by Ross Stisi

Amazing service as always.

Sent by Martin Laidlaw

Everything was dealt with efficiently and quickly - great stuff

Sent by Thomas Hardie

Extremely helpful and knowledgeable about all the places we are going to. Gave us good choices regarding accommodation that suited our needs

Sent by Emma Coenen

Thank you so much to our Travel Counsellor Andy Gilhooly for organising our dream 2 week all inclusive family holiday in Rhodes. Very reasonable price and first class service as always! Can't wait until May! Thank you very much x

Sent by Brian Patterson

It is a friendly service and makes looking for a holiday a relaxing time and Andy is an amazing person to do business with. I would recommend Andy to all my friends and business buddy's.

Sent by Catriona Waugh

Andy makes booking a holiday the easiest thing in the world!

Sent by Allan Binks

I have used Andy a number of times and have never ever been disappointed, as have all the people I have recommended him to. You need a scale that goes higher than 10!

Sent by Dawn Paterson

Efficient, friendly and trustworthy.

Sent by Andy Ormston

Andy always comes up with the answers and does exactly what we ask. Highly recommended.

Sent by Colin Bargh

Andy has been extremely helpful and attentive. Many thanks!

Sent by Lynda Sneddon

Excellent service, I have already recommended a friend who's looking to travel to New Zealand.

Sent by Kevin Kneeshaw

Andy has always tried to deliver my requirments even when they constantly change. His service is quick and provides options with my preferences in mind. When I am thinking of holidays Andy is always my first call.

Sent by Darren Beazley

Fantastic services, great guy, thank you very much for your help - will definitely recommend to all my friends.

Sent by William Thompson

I have found Andy willing to accommodate any particular needs and to be as helpful as he possibly can. I would have no hesitation in recommending his business to others.

Sent by Nicola McQuire

Excellent service, quick responses with every question asked. Would definitely recommend to friends and family.

Sent by Sylvia Kuzminski

Ive already recommended Andy Gilhooly to a friend and they were impressed by the professionalism and efficacy shown towards them.

Sent by Devin Scobie

Expectations exceeded.

Sent by Teresa Martin

I have found Andy Gilhooly to be efficient, helpful, reliable and quick to respond to travel queries. I have no hesitation in recommending to friends and colleagues.

Sent by Paul Wilson

Andy was extremely helpful in planning our honeymoon, he has a wealth of knowledge and a clear passion for what he does. He strived to ensure he could match our expectations within our budget. I feel confident taking advice from Andy based on his experience and can't wait to set off on our honeymoon.

Sent by JulieAnne Tallon

Andy is amazing. Always so helpful, nothing is too much trouble.

Sent by Christine Wilson

Great service that never seems to be too much trouble no matter how many questions I ask!

Sent by Dennis Kennedy

Very helpful and a reliable source of information

Sent by Neil Valentine

Nothing is too much trouble and Andy is always cheerful even when I keep changing my mind.

Sent by Morag McCarthy

Fantastic service really helpful and stress free

Sent by April Harper

Andy is very helpful even although I kept changing my mind as I was very indecisive. Excellent service.

Sent by David Burns

Nothing seems to be too much trouble for Andy. I have booked a couple of trips with him and he always has the answers to any questions I may have.

Sent by Caroline Travers

I have always found Andy to be very informative and excellent at getting back to me with the information I have asked for and gives me choices and excellent accommodation. Nothing is too much bother for him and I know, as I have changed bookings and emailed him on numerous occasions. I would and have recommended Andy to my friends and work colleagues.

Sent by Louise Davies

Incredibly quick response and great range of options given.

Sent by Paul Rodgers

Andy was excellent, polite and responsive.

Sent by David Elliot

We booked our family holiday through Andy Gilhooly at Travel Counsellors. We are yet to take the holiday, but so far so good! Andy has been very helpful and very easy to contact. If the villa is as good as the service so far, I will be delighted. Thank you.

Sent by Coral MacRury

Andy is always extremely helpful, gets our arrangements made very quickly, and saves me the time it would take me to coordinate our trips.

Sent by Maurice Wilson MBE

Andy has recently arranged a holiday to Santa Eulalia in Ibiza and if it is anything like our trip round parts of America which he arranged last year it will be wonderful. all the hotels and flights were first class and we had no problems with any of the arrangements.

Sent by Valerie King

Andrew was friendly and positively reassuring. I would have no hesitation in recommending him to friends and family.

Sent by Stephen Crosbie

Andy provided a fantastic personal service.

Sent by Caroline Patterson

Andy was an absolute star - I had to reconfirm a return transfer and my phone would not work in Spain. I emailed him on a bank holiday Monday and within 30 mins he had it all sorted and had saved me from stressing.

Sent by Helen Rafferty

Service was fantastic...I would have no problem in recommending Andy

Sent by Sally Wieland

Andy arranged the holiday of a lifetime for us. I requested a number of alterations and had a few queries which Andy dealt with quickly and in a friendly manner. Just what you need when you're flapping and a little over excited!

Sent by Ruth Condie

Andy is the best, I have recommended him to friends and they have all had a great experience too.

Sent by Marcin Sewera

Brilliant service.

Sent by Lynn Boag

This is the first time that I have booked a holiday this way, and think this has a special touch and would recommend it to people.

Sent by Hazel Prandstatter

Andy, as always, does a splendid job on our behalf. We would or I would not be comfortable arranging our holiday on my own. I have on many occasion recommended Andy and Travel Counsellors of the great work you all do. In short he never lets me down.Thank you.,

Sent by Colin Hewitt

Same holiday.....but £1400 cheaper than other travel agents.

Sent by Elizabeth Struthers

This is my first experience of using a travel counsellor and will definitely be using Andy again for any future holidays as we have received excellent service .

Sent by Donald MacKinnon

It was a pleasure dealing with Andy, changes which were made during initial contact and in later discussion were dealt with enthusiasm and a high level of professionalism

Sent by LaurieAnne Kennedy

We have started to use Andy for pretty much all out bookings. We have already recommended him to friends .

Sent by Christopher Minto

Andy took all the stress away and was extremely helpful from start to finish. I am not normally one to recommend, however, I will definitely be recommending Andy to all my friends and colleagues. Thanks Andy.

Sent by Colin Melville

Very responsive, good recommendations, great service.

Sent by Dorothy Dick

Fantastic, friendly, knowledgable and patient. Sourced exactly what we wanted and within our budget. Great job done . Thanks

Sent by Jennifer Hardy

Great service, speedy response to email queries, always professional. Flights to suit at great prices. Highly recommend.

Sent by Patricia Henderson

Andy always provides a great service - great recommendations and advice on where to go.

Sent by James McCurdy

When I made my initial enquiry Andy came over as very friendly and efficient. He was able to offer me alternatives that I would most likely not have considered. I found the whole experience to be excellent and would recommend Andy to friends and family.

Sent by Lynn Harris

Andy, you are amaze balls! at booking my holidays i could not do it without you, i love the way that i don't need to hassle myself with all of the booking in problems that can happen, thanks again and here's to the next one

Sent by Andrew Barrett

Great service and nice guy..Will definitely use again

Sent by Kenneth Bisset

An absolute star and Andy always goes that extra bit to make our annual holiday special with his recommendations

Sent by Barbara Gilhooly

Andy is fantastic at guiding you through the process, making recommendations of hotels to suit your party and even suggestions of things to do once there. He is the full package! Thanks again for your help Andy.

Sent by Susan Frampton

Amazing, supportive and professional travel service. I will definitely be asking Andy to help me again.

Sent by Alison Glover

Andy always answers requests very promptly and addresses any queries within hours. He has never let me down.

Sent by Mariel Roy

Andy was very helpful & patient while we decided on all the aspects of our holiday.

Sent by David Runciman

As usual, Andy was extemely helpfull & professional. I enquired about a holiday destination & within 2-3 hours, it was all booked!!!!

Sent by Neil Ogilvie

Friendly, approachable attitude where nothing is too much hassle, came back with the perfect package, so a big thank you, look forward to using Andy again.

Sent by Ronald Hardy

A simple phone call to Andy and we had a holiday booked in Madeira. Totally seemless. Look forward to an equally painless experience getting us down to Funchal

Sent by Kevin Jamieson

Booked a trip to Gernany for 13! No issues, quick, efficient and good price. Would recommend!

Sent by Edward Thomson

We were delighted with our prompt and efficient service from Andy. This is the first time we have used a Travel Counsellor but it won't be the last.

Sent by Christine Wilson

Friendly and personal service, with nothing being too much trouble. Great advice on how to get the best deal too.

Sent by Robert Gaines

From initial contact all has gone to plan with group booking process all being put in place. Happy with the service.

Sent by Jane Quinn

I already have recommended Andy. Everything went smoothly and here's the biggest benefit to me as I was travelling alone, I knew I could contact Andy at any time if I needed to.

Sent by Luis Letelier-Lobos

Andy was more than hepful and you have full trust in him. Great Travel Counsellor.

Sent by William Laing

Excellent service from start to finish.

Sent by Louisa Seymour

Andy was recommended to me by a friend and I am so glad he was! Andy has been extremely efficient and helpful in creating our perfect trip for the best price. Andy understood our budget and made recommendations on how to achieve this, without compromising on the quality of the accommodation or changing the location that we had our hearts set on. I would like to thanks Andy for all his hard work and I would certainly recommend him to friends and family.

Sent by Alan Crowdy

Andy Gilhooly took the stress out of arranging my 10 year wedding anniversary and his diligent and thoroughly helpful attitude to providing an anniversary trip that we will never forget really was excellent. His exacting standards are a real asset to your organisation. I will definitely use his services again.

Sent by Chloe Leavesley

Andy has helped us a lot with booking big trips away. Really appreciate his time and effort, I could never do it on my own! Thank you

Sent by Angela Wyllie

100% service time after time

Sent by Gilbert Wallace

Your handling of my booking for return flights etc.. to Los Angeles was excellent. The service from start to finish was done in 40 minutes, allowing me to contact my host in LA within the hour, to inform them of my flights time arrival.

Sent by Frank Smith

Andy has been excellent dealing with my holiday requirements and has responsed quickly to all my questions.

Sent by Gary McLean

Andy was able to cater for our requirements with no trouble at all, even when our plans changed, he was still very accommodating and got us a great price for our trip. 10/10 and have already recommended him to friends.

Sent by Allan Binks

Top class service as always

Sent by Scott McIntyre

Andy was very prompt and efficient with booking my dream holiday to Australia. I am really pleased with the full service and fast responses to any questions that I had.

Sent by Jaspal Sanghera

Your customer care has been fantastic whenever I've used your services, and would not hesitate to use you again - or recommend you to others.

Sent by Liz Hyslop

I have been so very impressed by the responsive service and high level of customer service. I have already recommended Andy to other friends.

Sent by April Harper

Excellent service and would definitely recommend and use again.

Sent by Timothy Keppie

Andy was brilliant.

Sent by Susan Boyle

Brilliant service.

Sent by Ronald Gilmour

Andy provided excellent advice and assistance to us when we were booking our last to holidays. We shall certainly take advantage of his services again.

Sent by Ian Mitchinson

Andy has been helpful and courteous. He has managed to meet every requirement that I specified. I am very happy with the service he has provided and will happily recommend him to friends.

Sent by Kevin Kneeshaw

I have had a few holidays arranged by Andy and every time his attention to detail has been spot on. He listens to what you want in a holiday and provides you with options for consideration. When your choice is made he still ensures you are happy and that there is nothing else he can help you with. On our recent holiday our hotel was unfortunately struck by lightning and set on fire, the Avanti Orlando. He phoned to ensure we were all okay and that we had accommodation. I would and have recommended Andy and Travel Counsellors to friends and colleagues.

Sent by Sitara Keppie

Andy took exceptional care of us through a very difficult travel situation - I will definitely be booking through Andy again.

Sent by Lynne Darling

Andy has been great and so helpful. Really knowledgeable and friendly service. First class - would definitely recommend.

Sent by Barrie Wood

He is an expert in our chosen destination and it's the little personalised things that make a difference.

Sent by Andrew Addison

Andy has always been absolutely fantastic and professional helping in any way he can. Great experience, delivered by a great guy. Thanks.

Sent by Teresa Martin

I've used Andy to plan several work trips to US and Pakistan. He is helpful, reliable, very quick to respond to queries and helpful with suggestions /solutions to travel plans. I would highly recommend him.

Sent by Isabella Hampson

First class service.

Sent by Sandra Bendall

Andy Gillhooly is our go to guy for all out travel needs. We are frequent flyers between the UK and the Middle East and Andy helps us with all our travel arrangements. I am frequently travelling alone with a young child and I always feel confident in Andy's ability to provide bespoke travel plans that suit my needs with minimum stress. I have recommended him many times to friends and family and most recently to my elderly parents who have just booked a holiday through him. They were totally impressed by his attention to detail. This is the first time they have changed their travel agent for over 30 years and as they travel abroad two or three times yearly, they will not hesitate to use him again. An excellent service, friendly approachable and reassuring manner with that extra attention to detail I look for.

Sent by Mary Mearns

Andy is extremely helpful, and always goes the extra mile to make sure your experience is all you hoped for!!!

Sent by Darren Flynn

Andy was really helpful, nothing too much trouble. Couldn't ask for any more in terms of service and attention.

Sent by Jane Quinn

Thank you Andy for being so patient. Despite changing our minds, location on several different occasions, you continually came back with options for us and I am delighted to say we are now booked, delighted and looking forward to our holiday.

Sent by Stewart Houston

Prompt attention with a friendly and helpful manner

Sent by Kate Robertson

Andy has provided an excellent service and has been really efficient and knowledgeable.

Sent by Geraldine Richardson

Have already recommended Andy Gilhooly.

Sent by Hazel Prandstatter

Where would I be without Andy? He takes all the strain and hassle out of my hands which in turn makes my life stress-free when booking a holiday. He knows our likes and dislikes and is always so courteous. I would say he goes the extra mile for us and it is so much appreciated. We always recommend him and Travel Counsellors wherever we go. Thank you Andy for another job done very well.

Sent by Hannah Lock

Very friendly and quick in dealing with all our questions and requests. Excellent service! Very happy!

Sent by JulieAnne Tallon

Have already recommended Andy and will be contacting him soon about our next trip.

Sent by John Gilhooly

Andrew gave us excellent service booking our holiday and nothing was a problem. He was very helpful and could not do enough for us We will certainly be using his services in the future and has already arranged our next holiday to the USA in May.

Sent by Colin Ransom

Andy was very helpful and gave excellent customer service, especially as we had to keep changing dates and length of stay for various reasons!

Sent by David Runciman

I have booked a holiday through Andy prior to my forthcoming holiday & would not go anywhere else. I have been telling people about the professional & friendly service he offers & have been spreading his name & phone number around. Thanks Andy.

Sent by Mary McClymont

Excellent service, a pleasant change to have a prompt response. Unlike high street travel agents who couldn't care less about customer service. I would have no hesitation in recommending Andy and I will certainly be using his services again in the future.

Sent by Caroline Travers

I have found the service and communication I have had from Andy first class. He has guided me step by step in booking our dream holiday. I have never been to America and wouldnt have known where to start with the locations we wanted to go to. Andy has made this a seamless task.

Sent by Andrew Ormston

Always helpful and takes the stress out of booking. I would have no hesitation in recommending Andy.

Sent by Laurie Jack

Excellent advice and service when booking our once in a lifetime holiday.

Sent by Alison Glover

Andy responded very quickly to my request for information, he has also answered all of our questions clearly and promptly - and all documentation was received within 48hrs. We are delighted, and very much looking forward to our holiday, and have already recommended Andy to a friend, who has booked a holiday with Andy too!!

Sent by Brian Malloy

Andy listened to exactly what we wanted gave us a number of options. Really knowledgeable and approachable and not at all pushy. Have already recommended him to a few people.

Sent by Joseph Ferguson

Andy was very professional whilst sorting out my flights, he was more than efficient and dealt with things quickly and without any trouble. Great service, keep up the good work!

Sent by Sheila Addison

First class personal service from Andy Gilhooly.

Sent by Stephen Crosbie

Andy has been extremely attentive, tailoring a holiday for our family ensuring we will all have a fantastic time. We cannot wait to go.

Sent by Gavin Kneeshaw

Used Andy Gilhooly for several years and the service received is always first class. This is not just due to the price but also the security you feel being part of a big organisation with a local feel.

Sent by Dawn Paterson

Andy is extremely trustworthy and knowledgable.

Sent by Peter Collyer

I already have recommended Andy Gilhooly to several people. Andy's services were recommended to me by a work colleague. When I contacted Andy, I gave him the start and finish dates and a brief outline of the locations that were definites. Andy gave me advice and options around these locations and suggested a mini cruise at one of them, something I'd never even thought about. This has added an extra dimension to our holiday. Andy has handled all the booking arrangements and kept us updated. All we have to do is turn up and enjoy our holiday.

Sent by Emma Downie

Have not used a travel agent for a number of years but have been really pleased with the service. Not only secured us a great deal but has been there to guide us through every step of the process. Has answered every question promptly even when they are trivial! Would highly recommend.

Sent by Riccardo Valvona

It is essential that whoever your travel agent is, they must be prepared for any changes to the original itinerary, even if they have to be changed several times. Because when one is thinking of booking a holiday, friends and your agent who have had experience on that particular itinerary usually offer advice on different aspects of it. That's why I like booking through Andy at Travel Counsellors. Too many times in the past in the local high street agents I found that they make you one offer of a flight or hotel and expect you to accept it. They never have the time to offer you several options,and don't like it when you leave to think about the option they have given you.

Sent by John Mackay

Our Travel Counsellor (Andy Gilhooly) was excellent, he had a clear in depth knowledge of the resort I was looking to book. He was exceptionally helpful and efficient and quickly arranged our holiday seamlessly. We are now looking forward to our holiday next summer and were very pleased with the experience and have already recommended Andy and Travel Counsellors to family and friends.

Sent by Janice Murphy

Andy once again has proven to be highly competent and reliable when booking our latest holiday. He goes all out to get the best deal for us and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending him to my friends.

Sent by Andrea Rolph

Great, friendly and efficient way to book your holiday, all stress free. Would definitely use again. Many Thanks Andy.

Sent by Ronald Cunliffe

Andy had sorted my last 10 holidays and I will give him 10/10 for service and for taking the hassle from bookings!! Holidays are for relaxing and so should booking them!!

Sent by Susan Richardson

Large family group from 3 to 65 many different requirements and Andy managed to find something to keep everyone happy.

Sent by Scott Youngson

We have used Andy twice this year, once to the US and now to Marbella, 1st class service from a very professional bloke. Have already recomended Andy to many friends and family.

Sent by Colin Crichton

Andy's service has been fantastic, and we have already recommended him to family and friends who have been equally impressed!

Sent by Andrea Wood

Excellent service.

Sent by Christine Wilson

Andy was fantastic in being able to find travel solutions quickly and cheaply for my journey to the US. I couldn't have asked for a more professional and personal advisor.

Sent by Louise Sinclair

I have already recommended Andy to a couple of people and I will certainly book through Andy in future - it takes all the hassle out of finding a holiday. Very, very impressed with the service and price.

Sent by Elizabeth Macnaughton

Thank you Andy, you took the stress out of trying to find all these great flights and deals. With your knowledge, I am confident that the best deal was provided. Would definitely recommend.

Sent by Victoria Mountfield

Andy provides an excellent service - he is extremely prompt at turning round queries and specific requests as well as giving advice on various options to enable us to make an informed choice. We also love the personal touches and regular email prompts so that we are fully prepared for our trip.

Sent by Paul Annegarn

Andy was great. Hit exactly the right notes and provided a family holiday I was unable to find the time to book which met all our requirements. And he did it lightning fast.

Sent by David Runciman

We called into a Thomas Cook travel agents and all they tried to sell us was a holiday in Turkey, when neither of us wanted to go there. After that my girlfriend, Margaret called Andy and expressed to him we were looking for a holiday in Portugal and the very next day he emailed us two options. Margaret and I then viewed them on the internet, then I phoned Andy back and before I knew it, he had it booked and turned up at my house with the tickets/boarding passes!!! What a professional and personal service. I can honestly say I will recommend Andy to anyone who is looking to book a holiday and we will definitely be back getting Andy to book our next holiday. Thanks Andy.

Sent by Sandra Bendall

Andy is brilliant. I have used him many times over the last couple of years and he does everything for us taking the stress and worry out of travel for me and my family. I have recommended him before and I will do so again. First class service from a great guy who goes the extra mile for you.

Sent by Alex Morrison

Very friendly and efficient with nothing being too much trouble. On the back of our main holiday being organised by Andy I have booked two more trips via him and have no problems in recommending him to friends and colleagues.

Sent by Emma Mann

Andy has been very helpful and informative. He made me feel like I was his only client.

Sent by Stephen Lindsay

Andy is a very helpful friendly guy who does genuinely try to ensure your holiday needs are met. I will definitely recommend him and personally use him again.

Sent by Ronald Gilmour

It was a pleasure to have met and been dealt with by Andy Gilhooly. He was able to deal with our requests punctually and effortlessly and we shall definitely use his services again in the future.

Sent by Susan Cook

Andy was responsive to our needs, very helpful and knowledgeable about the area we were travelling too.

Sent by Neil Valentine

Andy took care of everything even though he was in Australia at the time, nothing seemed too much trouble for him, would definitely recommend and use him again.

Sent by Martin Quinn

Very helpful, I was pretty clueless about how it was going to work but Andy did a great job of telling me exactly what I needed to do and what I was getting for my money. Top marks, made booking my holiday easy.

Sent by Giles Etherington

Andy did a great job finding exactly what I was after. My changes to itinerary based on budgets and times were absolutely no problem and each new suggestion fitted perfectly.

Sent by Devin Scobie

Andy completed what I thought was a complex long-haul, multi-class flight booking faster than any agent I have ever used before - and certainly quicker than I could have done myself. Quite apart from securing a great value fare, his knowledge and friendly service was a pleasure to work with. I have already recommended him to friends who have booked a trip with him - and I am now planning a special anniversary holiday next year!

Sent by Teresa Martin

I would like to highly commend Andy's service when sorting recent flight bookings to Pakistan for my organisation. He checked the various route options and costings very efficiently and promptly. He offered suggestions and advice and made the whole process very smooth and straightforward. I would highly recommend him to friends and family.

Sent by Suzanne Anderson

Quick results. Andy even contacted me to check details on passport were correct. They weren't. Thank goodness he noticed. Great price too. Will use again.

Sent by Tracey Jefferies

Very helpful and informative service from Andy Gilhooly. He attended our parent meeting and answered questions as well as getting us the best deal from a cost and logistical perspective.

Sent by Lisa Hyslop

We received outstanding service from Andy, he made everything seamless!

Sent by Mark Eddie

Excellent service, excellent communication, great prices!

Sent by Caroline Travers

I have had a very good experience dealing with Andy and have already recommended him to my friends and colleagues.

Sent by Kevin Kneeshaw

I have used Andy Gilhooly for three holidays now and the level of service and knowledge has been exceptional. His attention to detail when asking you what you want from your holiday ensures that he gives you options that are on the mark. I have also booked flights for my son while attending college in America from Edinburgh to Ashfield North Carolina he has taken the time to ensure value for money but also the right route with good connection times. I have arranged group trips from Edinburgh to New York and his personal touch for all travellers has ensured they also have no hesitation in returning to Andy for his services.

Sent by Laura Comerford

Fantastic service. Gave our requirements and within the hour Andy got back to us with a wonderful holiday. Looking forward to September. Great when you can rely on someone to organise the whole trip. Flying from local airport, all inclusive, 5 star, transfers included, butler service…paradise. What more could we ask for!

Sent by Shaun Deegan

One I would recommend and happily use again.

Sent by Lynsey Jack

Fantastic prompt service and lots of help whenever needed. Would highly recommend.

Sent by Dougie Bendall

No enquiry is mundane for Andy, every interaction is treated as special. Put simply, his service is extraordinary.

Sent by Michael Mearns

Andy is extremely helpful and willing to go the extra mile!

Sent by Jay Cooper

Andy has provided me with excellent customer service, he was very efficient and quick to respond to all my queries. His service for my partner and I was been superb and I would most definitely recommend him to all friends and family.

Sent by Michael Flynn

I didn't realise booking a multi flight holiday could be so easy. Excellent service

Sent by Jamie Neal

Very professional in his approach, a 'can do' attitude and a joy to do business with.

Sent by Kenneth Boyter

Excellent service

Sent by Craig Hutton

Andy was very professional and provided an excellent service and always responded quickly to any queries. I have already recommended Andy onto family.

Sent by Lesley MacNiven

A fantastic service and a lovely chap, I have passed his card and info to 6 + friends thus far and will have no hesitation in continuing to.

Sent by Patricia Henderson

Andy provided an excellent service. Very professional, efficient and he made sure we got what we were looking for. A great personal service. Would definitely recommend Andy to family and friends.

Sent by Stuart Aitchison

What a fantastic way to book our holiday. I asked Andy to check out prices for the Caribbean where he took full control and returned with a lovely hotel and destination at a reasonable cost. I would definitely be recommending Andy and Travel Counsellors in the future to all my friends and family...I'm actually speaking to my brother in laws mother on the phone about Andy as we speak. She is going to contact him for her holiday.

Sent by Nicola Harper

Andy was very helpful and answered all of my questions. He met the criteria I was looking for and I would definitely recommend him to anyone I know wishing to book a holiday.

Sent by Giles Gilhooly

Sensational service from Andy Gilhooly. Truly amazing and a breath of fresh air compared to Thomsons or Thomas Cook. I will always book with Andy Gilhooly. He takes the pressure of holiday booking and allows you to look forward to drinks, sun and a nice cool holiday booking!

Sent by Karen Hoey

An excellent travel rep. Very helpful and professional.

Sent by David Rose

Andy worked to the brief and gave us various options to consider. He responded quickly and completed the booking during the evening, showing how attentive and available he is, giving us great confidence that we've made the right choice.

Sent by Valerie King

I've asked Andrew to book holidays/flights before and have had great service so I wouldn't ask or go anywhere else for advice or recommendations. I have recommended Andrew to all that I know, with confidence.

Sent by Ross Stisi

Andy is very approachable and great to deal with. I have already passed an enquiry to him and will be happy to continue to do so.

Sent by Ross Mason

I would have no hesitation recommending Andy, he was very patient and sent lots of holiday packages for us to look at and was always available for advice. And a jolly nice chap too!!

Sent by Scott Wallace

Andy was extremely helpful and made booking the holiday simple. Would definitely recommend Andy to my friends and family in the future.

Sent by Brian McRae

Helpful, prompt and provided a first class service.

Sent by Davina Patrizio

Andy has planned a holiday for my friend and myself exactly as we have asked him to and we are looking forward to it so much - September can't come soon enough.

Sent by Andrew Ormston

Excellent efficient service - will be booking again. Thanks.

Sent by Fiona Waddell

Super fast, super-efficient service. Well done Andy.

Sent by Hazel Prandstatter

We always recommend Andy wherever we go and to our friends and relatives. He is honest, reliable, takes all the worry out of doing the paperwork. He comes to our home with all the documents and goes through them with a "fine tooth comb" He has never failed us. Well done Andy.

Sent by James Forsyth

Not had our holiday yet but very impressed with the service and enjoyed the opportunity of sitting back and giving Andy the reins and we are very pleased with the holiday arrangements. Thank you.

Sent by Karen Dalrymple-Montgomery

Excellent service, no messing or waiting around for answers, saved me money on transfers, Andy knows what he's talking about! Took the hassle out of the booking procedure, by doing it for me! Will definitely recommend to others and use Andy again!

Sent by Jim Leithead

Many thanks again Andy for arranging our Winter break to Lanzarote. Everything went like clockwork as usual, with no problems whatsoever. I will be recommending you to friends and family. Will be arranging my next break very soon.

Sent by Garry Olver

First class service, would recommend Andy to everyone.

Sent by George Murray

Andy works diligently to get me quick answers and responds with appropriate prices.

Sent by Brenda McKie

Speedy response and a better deal than I could get for myself.

Sent by Richard Price

Very prompt service. Smashing!

Sent by Kathleen Paterson

Great personal service, very efficient and very likely to use in the future - thank you.

Sent by Julie Gilchrist

Andy was very helpful and efficient as always.

Sent by Scott McMillan

Bent over backwards to help.

Sent by Linda Lockerbie

First class, prompt, exceedingly helpful - no hesitation in recommending him to anyone.

Sent by Julie Inglis

Andy has been very responsive and extremely thorough in all aspects of my requirements, delighted with the levels of service I have already recommended Andy and will definitely be using him as my first port of call for all future travel requirements. Thanks.

Sent by Lyndon Davies

From start to finish of the holiday process Andy was fantastic, his advice and attention to detail ensured our holiday went exactly as planned. Thanks for your help and congratulations on your recent award. We will of course be using your services again in future and will recommend you to our friends and family. Best Regards, Lyndon

Sent by Robert Else

I would highly recommend Andy Gilhooly for either business or leisure travel and visa services. He is extremely informative about the services he can provide, helpful beyond all expectations and a real professional.

Sent by Susan Richardson

Couldn't ask for better attention - available any time.

Sent by Janice Murphy

Andy does exactly what it says on the tin. He is polite, friendly and responds to your requests very quickly. An asset to your company.

Sent by Allan Binks

Excellent service and advice

Sent by Denise Pinto

First Class service. We got the deal we wanted in a very efficient approach. Highly recommend you to my friends and family.

Sent by Valerie King

On behalf of Lesley and myself I just want to say many thanks for all your efforts sorting our recent holiday to Venice. You did absolutely everything for us which took all the stress and strain away. We can’t thank you enough. You even completed our luggage labels. What a lovely touch. The flights were superb and the hotel was perfect. What a great location - very close to St. Marks Square. Amazing value for money. Thanks again and rest assured we will be recommending you to all our family and friends.

Sent by Anne Mouat

Just a note to say we have had a fabulous holiday and seen and done so much. All your arrangements were just perfect, everything was in order and thanks to you we had absolutely no problems. The trip you booked to Niagara was the highlight and couldn’t have been better. The whole day was magical including lunch in the Falls View Restaurant on the 22nd floor of the Sheraton Hotel!! Amazing. We won’t hesitate to contact you in future for further travel arrangement. Thank you so much.

Sent by Katy Doonan

Very helpful, all the questions I asked were answered and he never took long to reply. Very efficient and I will be recommending Andy to my friends. I will definitely book my next holiday with him.

Sent by Alan Thomson

I have recently returned from a trip to Las Vegas, Boston, and Toronto, which were arranged by Andy Gilhooly. The holiday was great and all the arrangements were spot on, from the flights transfers and hotels. Andy did a great job, even taking a call from me in Toronto to check a flight time, great service. Many thanks.

Sent by Sitara Keppie

Arranging travel is easy when Andy takes care of it. My trip was fraught with complications and I was really struggling with the weight of how to sort it all out. Andy makes it all so easy! He is understanding of both the travel details and the emotional state (the reason for travel can be highly emotional). I would highly recommend him, and I fully intend to get Andy to deal with all my travel from now on! He is just brilliant!

Sent by Ross McNichol

Andy was a real help to me and I will recommend him to all friends and family. A great service.

Sent by Alexander Morrison

Andy has kept me well updated on every aspect of my trip along with possible costs etc., so very pleased with that. Due to his service I have also handed out his business cards to other family/friends.

Sent by Susan MacFarlane

Andy has been great at keeping us informed and helped to take a lot of work away from our doorstep. Thank you.

Sent by Catriona Waugh

Andy was brilliant, extremely efficient and quick. I couldn't ask for more.

Sent by Paul Steed

Andy is very cordial, and knowledgeable about golf events and packaging, which is what I'm after.

Sent by Alan Thomson

Great service from Andy.

Sent by Ruth Condie

Superb service and we are already recommending Andy

Sent by Guy Collingwood

Great service, well looked after, thank you Andy!

Sent by Craig Miller

Andy, I would like to thank you for the great effort in helping me when my holiday in July did not materialise. Your slogan says "you go that extra mile" and I can confirm that you certainly do. Secondly I would like to thank you for my new holiday booking for October. My wife and children feel much more at ease knowing that you have done our booking. I would gladly recommend you to all my family and friends. With grateful thanks.

Sent by Jim Leithead

Many thanks for arranging our recent holiday to Lanzarote. Everything went like clockwork, and we arrived home to receive a welcome home card (Cheers for that). Only one complaint. Why do you arrange the quickest 2 weeks of the year. I will (and already have) be recommending your services. Thanks again.

Sent by Stuart Aitchison

From start to finish Andy was very helpful when he looked at a few options for my Mum and Dad before locating the perfect holiday for them. In fact the whole process was very slick. My Mum and Dad would definitely book another holiday through you at Travel Counsellors. I will definitely recommend your services as your personal touch is what’s missing in today’s online world.

Sent by Laura Comerford

Booking was friendly, fast and confirmed verbally and by email. Would definitely book again through Andy and highly recommend to family and friends.

Sent by Fiona Young

A note to thank you for all that you have done towards our holiday in Crete this year. We had a lovely holiday and the hotel was perfect. There was something for each of us and it was a very relaxing week away. The hotel staff were excellent and we had a fabulous view from our room. Thank you for your note which greeted us when we arrived home, a lovely touch!

Sent by Charles Bootland

Great service given with aplomb.

Sent by David Swift

Andy was professional, enthusiastic, reliable and reassuring in dealing with our enquiry. We were 100% happy with the services provided and gave Andy our business. We trust in Andy's personal knowledge about the tour we have booked for January / February 2014 and know we can rely on Andy to deal with any issues that may arise......10/10...

Sent by Lynne Veitch

Andy provides a quick and excellent service. He found me the exact type of holiday I was after! Thanks!

Sent by Stephen Crosbie

The attention to detail and level of personal service received from Andy was impeccable. The holiday I had been researching for months was arranged by him within 24 hours finding us a better overall package at a more affordable price. A great service I have already recommended to family and friends.

Sent by Lorraine Mackenzie

Andy is very helpful and professional. Communication was good throughout the booking process.

Sent by Douglas Munro

Andy was brilliant in arranging the booking of our flights and hotel. I would (and have) recommend him to friends and family to assist them with their future holidays.

Sent by James Lamond

Andy has provided an excellent service from day 1. We look forward to completing our holiday plans with him over the coming weeks.

Sent by William Aitchison

From start to finish Andy was very helpful when he looked at a few options for my wife and I before locating the perfect holiday. In fact, the whole process was very slick! We would definitely book another holiday through Andy Gilhooly and Travel Counsellors. We will definitely recommend your services, as your personal touch is what’s missing in today’s online world.

Sent by Susan Gray

I would highly recommend Andy Gilhooly to friends, family and colleagues. He has been extremely helpful in organising all aspects of our trip and I would definitely use the services of Andy at Travel Counsellors again.

Sent by Gavin Kneeshaw

I had to book my flight late as I was waiting for college clearance and Visa. I was also flying to a destination that international flights don’t go to so Andy had his work cut out. All was booked with the minimum of fuss and with options on routes given with advice on timings and transfer. Andy offers the complete package with care.

Sent by Glenn Milne

Very good service, from start to finish. Well explained, well researched and the info sheets on the destinations were most helpful

Sent by Sitara Keppie

Andy is absolutely brilliant! He is attentive to your needs and helpful in every way. He really makes it a pleasure to organise difficult travel arrangements.

Sent by Dionne Read

Andy Gilhooly is a very helpful, friendly and extremely efficient person. I wouldn't hesitate to contact him for any travel related issues. I would also happily refer him onto my friends, family and business colleagues.

Sent by Antony Murphy

Very fast, efficient and friendly.

Sent by Victoria Mountfield

Andy Gilhooly was extremely prompt in his replies and we received our documentation the following day as well as card from Andy. Nice touch. Roll on the holiday!

Sent by Valerie Short

The travel arrangements for this particular trip were quite complicated, as my daughter and I needed flights to Columbia, then from Columbia to Orlando to meet up with the rest of my family for our holiday. Andy took all the worry out of this for me and put a package together so that we all in Orlando at roughly the same time. I had to contact Andy on several occasions and found him to be extremely patient and helpful in catering for me and my family’s needs. I would highly recommended his services to everyone I know.

Sent by Barbara Gilhooly

Andy gave us lots of recommendations and had great knowledge of the resort/area. He was happy to spend a considerable amount of time searching for the perfect resort for our family. I would have no problem in recommending Andy to friends, family & colleagues.

Sent by Alison Coutts

Andy Gilhooly couldn't do enough for us.

Sent by Nicholas Burrows

Very good prompt personal service.

Sent by Malcolm MacKenzie

Andy was easy to deal with, and replied to all e-mail queries very quickly. He came up with an outstanding price for the car hire - we would definitely use his services again.

Sent by Mev Welsh

I was very satisfied with the service from Andy. I have used him twice now and got nothing but the best personal service. Thank You.

Sent by Valerie King

I love Andrew, my very own travel organiser, he does just what I like and what I expect for a holiday and travel arrangements. I would recommend him to the queen if I could, but will make do with recommending Andrew to family and friends. Many thanks!

Sent by Douglas Bendall

Andy is an outstanding travel counsellor. His warm manner and clear approach gave us confidence that he was getting us a great deal. His aftercare is second to none. We have already recommended him to people we know. He took the stress and hard work out of holiday planning. He is a credit to your firm.

Sent by Audrey Quinn

I just wanted to say thank you very much for the excellent service my Uncle received from you. As you know he was travelling alone to New Zealand to see his daughter and family for 10 weeks and at 85 years old we were all concerned about him doing the long journey on his own but you arranged assisted care for him throughout the journey which put everyone’s mind at rest. My family and I would not hesitate to recommend your services in the future. Thanks again for all your efforts.

Sent by Julie Smith

"Miles to travel, many or few. I’ll go that extra one just for you" If anyone has heard you using this slogan, but hasn’t experienced your help in organising their travel then I can categorically confirm that you do indeed go the extra mile. Had we not booked with you, I am quite sure we would never have left Scotland as I don’t think we would have got the same level of service anywhere else.

Sent by Scott Wallace

Andy gave exceptionally good service when we were trying to hire a car in London. He made the booking quick and easy. I will definitely use this service again for future bookings and highly recommend to family and friends.

Sent by Audret Reid

In this day and age - it’s very hard to find a business which does not complicate the service you are asking for. I called to enquire about a car hire - it was a matter of urgency as my car broke down. I own a Cocktail Bar and Bistro so a car to allow me to get out and about for stock is the most important thing to me. I called and the paperwork was arranged for me straightaway so I picked up the car at a suitable place for me! There was no hassle, no stress, just a great customer experience. I certainly would recommend the company. Thank you.

Sent by Sarah Urquhart

I would like to thank Andy recently arranging our hotel for a city break in Berlin. I do not normally use travel agents, preferring to search the web myself for the best deal. However, I was short on time and I wanted to give Andy the opportunity to quote. I was really impressed with how he took time to source suitable options for us, even though it was only a small booking. I was also pleasantly surprised by the very reasonable price he quoted. However, this is nothing compared to how impressed I was with the hotel itself when we finally arrived. Anyone who has travelled knows that star ratings alone can’t always guarantee the atmosphere and service of a hotel, but the Steigenberger Berlin exceeded all our expectations. It was luxurious and high quality, but also friendly with excellent service and helpful staff. It is clear to me that Andy is very careful about the hotels he select for his clients. I will definitely be asking Andy to organise our family summer holiday and I will have no hesitation recommending his services to family and friends.

Sent by Eileen Thomson

Service was excellent and would recommend to friends.

Sent by Lynne Hamilton

Andy Gilhooly has provided me with first class service and more importantly, managed to get me the exact holiday that I was looking for, at a reasonable price. What is important to me, is someone taking care of everything and not having to do it all myself, so having a specialist that takes care of every detail is what I need. I have no hesitation in recommending Andy to friends and colleagues and would certainly use him again in the future.

Sent by Stuart Aitchison

If you are thinking of booking a holiday and want someone to take care of all your plans, from leaving the house to arriving safely at your destination - contact Andy Gilhooly, he treats your holiday like he's going with you!

Sent by Amy Ballinghall

I wanted to take this opportunity to say a big thank you for the research and work Andy put into finding me and Dean a 1st Wedding Anniversary holiday. From our first conversation to discuss possible destinations and options for flights etc. he was so detailed and helpful with his approach, really listening to what we were looking for. Andy then kept in close contact with us throughout the process, which was much appreciated. It shows that he takes absolute care and pride in what he does. Andy offered a very professional service and without a doubt we would not hesitate to recommend him to any of our other family members, friends, colleagues and clients.

Sent by Gregory Plummer

Following an annus horribilis 2012 we were desperate for a holiday asap and a cruise was top of our list. Not only did Andy Gilhooley find something he found an amazing offer with P&O on Ventura - a balcony cabin for 13 nights for the grand price of £879 plus flights to the port and accommodation. Even check-in is being dealt with. A fantastic service. It wouldn't surprise me if Andy turns up at the door to run us to the airport!

Sent by John Taylor

Very prompt, professional and helpful. Very knowledgeable about the area we are planning on travelling to. Will definitely recommend Andy to friends and family.

Sent by Deborah King

Andy was very helpful and prompt in getting back to me with prices of flights and accommodation.

Sent by Louise Rankine

Andy was very polite, friendly and helpful when I phoned up to book my holiday. I would definitely recommend this travel agent to friends and family.

Sent by Julie Gilchrist

I am writing to say a big thank you for helping us organise our family holiday at Easter. You ensured that you fully understood our brief and then came up with a number of options that would suit. When we started to narrow down our choice, you made sure that all our (many) questions were answered in full and that we were entirely happy with our final decision. I would have no hesitation in recommending your service to others and indeed have already started to do so.

Sent by Derek Walkingshaw

First class service from the beginning to end.

Sent by Colin Smith

Many thanks to Andy in helping us find a wonderful family holiday. He took a full brief from us and came up with a number of suitable options. Once we had selected a destination, Andy was able to find out further details about it for us and answer all the questions we had. We would have no hesitation in recommending Andy to others (and in fact already have!)

Sent by Paul Patrizio

Andy is superb. He basically does everything for you apart from come on the holiday.

Sent by John Mills

Andy got me the best price and deal for a fantastic holiday, he also got me flights to and from Edinburgh whilst other agents told me I had to leave from Heathrow. He kept me up to speed with the booking process and explained everything in detail. I am already recommending him to friends and colleagues alike. I cannot wait to go!

Sent by Kenny Boyter

Andy has organised many holidays for us over the last few years, mainly to Florida. He is well organised and his communication is excellent. Going to Florida, contact Andy. In fact going anywhere, contact Andy. Nothing is too much trouble and he is easy to work with.

Sent by Alexander Lee

Andy really cared about researching and booking the right trip for us. Such truly personal service is rare nowadays and wonderful to experience.

Sent by Kevin Kneeshaw

Service so far has been exceptional with individual requirements and detail being the key words. The communication has been excellent without being intrusive.

Sent by Neil England

Having never booked a break away before I was given accurate and relevant advice allowing me to make decisions on choices given to me. Throughout the booking process Andy was very helpful and knowledgeable. As a result of his help and experience it made it an enjoyable process. Every detail was catered for and nothing was left to chance. I await with excitement my first ever trip to Paris. Thanks again for your excellent service.

Sent by Maureen Evans

Thanks you very much for the hard work you put in when booking my recent holiday. I gave you a really vague brief (somewhere warmer than Scotland where we can do some walking) and you did your research and found us a location, hotel and timing that we would never have thought of ourselves, but is absolutely perfect. Nothing is ever too much bother for you and you really care about getting the right travel to suit the person. I will be highly recommending you to friends and family.

Sent by Hazel Prandstatter

Fast and very efficient service from a very personable and trustworthy person.

Sent by Janie Carmichael

Andy has been doing our group travel for nearly 30 years. Nothing is ever an issue and he makes sure everything is sorted. He is Mr Organised. Even though I have moved to Berlin he will still sort all my travel.