Annabel Wilshaw
My expertise
I'm based in
Chartham Downs
Looking for help with your business travel? Find out how I can help here
Thanks for visiting my webpage!
Hello, I'm Annabel, a Travel Counsellor based near Canterbury, Kent, thanks for visiting my webpage!
I have worked in the travel industry for over 30 years and am passionate about helping my clients see the world. I specialise in creating tailor-made holidays and trips for both leisure and business travellers, taking the time to understand what really matters to you.
Whether you are dreaming of a long-haul adventure, a multi centre itinerary, a flight only trip, a chic city break, a ski holiday or a relaxing cruise, I can design and book your travel arrangements using award-winning technology, an extensive range of trusted suppliers and my own first hand travel experience.
I have travelled solo, with friends, as a couple and also as a family so I truly understand the different considerations for each style of travel. From travelling with babies and toddlers to keeping teens engaged, I can help you navigate the practicalities and the finer details that make a real difference.
By working with me, you can remove the stress time and uncertainty of planning your own trip online. Instead of endless scrolling and 'analysis paralysis' , you have a dedicated travel professional who will listen, advise and take care of everything, Many of my clients kindly recommend me to their friends and family, and I am proud that my business had grown largely through personal referrals.
All trips are booked with full financial protection and ATOL-protected arrangements where applicable, giving you valuable peace of mind alongside a personalised, one-to-one service.
If you are thinking about your next break or would simply like to found out more about how I can help, I would love to hear from you!
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
Sri Lanka - A Journey Full of Colour, Chaos, and Kindness
From the moment we arrived, Sri Lanka was a feast for the senses, I felt like I needed widescreen vision just to take in all the incredible sights and sounds that surrounded us. We spent our time exploring Sri Lanka’s Southern Province, soaking up the beauty of the south and west coast beaches, wandering the café and boutique-lined streets of historic Galle Fort, and experiencing the vibrant ener
02 Sept 2025 5 min read
Staycation in South East Kent
South East Kent, also known as the Garden of England is nestled perfectly between the bustle of London and the English channel leading to the continent. But as well as providing access to both of these, it has much to offer visitors looking for a staycation break in the UK with often favourable weather conditions compared to the rest of the country. Canterbury is the main city and being fairly c
23 Jun 2020 5 min read
Colourful Miami
Miami has been on my wish list for ages and we were all very excited to travel as a family to visit this iconic city recently. Top Tips – take sun lotion and use lots of it, the sun is very strong, we saw lots of very pink people and nobody wants their holiday ruined by sunburn – ouch! Hat and sunglasses are also a good idea Early morning is fresher and a great time to fit with a run along the
04 Jun 2019 5 min read
Cultural Spain
We recently spent a week in the Murcia region of Spain and took advantage of the warm, sunny days to do some exploring around the area, as in the summer heat only the pool or beach beckons! The new Murcia airport is situated at Corvera, south east of the city of Murcia and only 35 mins from the coast where you will find several Spanish resorts and fishing towns along the coast and golf resorts i
24 Apr 2019 5 min read
Extra Easter Break
For a family or group of friends, accommodation on a holiday park can offer really good value for money. The Isle of Wight has several holiday parks and as an extra break over Easter, it was perfect for our family of 4. There is a range of accommodation on each park, often from lead-in standard category up to the newest modern designer styled unit which makes it hard to imagine you are in stat
05 Feb 2019 5 min read
Family Fun in Abu Dhabi
This short trip to Abu Dhabi was all about family fun in the sun! With temperatures in March around 28C, this is a great time to visit and enjoy all that there is to do and see. First of all, we had the pleasure of staying at the amazing Emirates Palace hotel. This 7* luxury hotel was built as a 'Palace for the People' and reflects the heritage and style of the Emirati. With a breath-taking ce
05 Feb 2019 5 min read
Eager for Riga
If you want a city break and to visit somewhere new, Riga has a lot to offer visitors and represents great value despite being in the Eurozone. Cheap flights and a short transfer into the centre makes it an ideal weekend destination! We spent 36 hours in Riga over Independence Weekend in November. The city centre is fairly compact and easy to explore with mostly cobbled streets (comfy shoes req
05 Feb 2018 5 min read
Skiing inside the Arctic Circle
SSkiing in Finland is a different experience to our previous trips to the French Alps and we loved it! There is not a range of mountains in Lapland, just individual fells with a range of pistes. We stayed in Levi which is the largest of the Finnish ski resorts and where the World Cup slalom kicks off the season every November. The town has a few different equipment hire shops and places to
09 Jan 2018 5 min read
A Warm Welcome from Cool Finnair
We recently travelled with Finnair from Heathrow to Helsinki on their morning service which is operated by their largest and newest aircraft, the Airbus A330. After Helsinki, this aircraft was going onwards to Tokyo. Having checked in online, we collected our boarding passes from one of the kiosks at T3, similar to using a cashpoint. Many airlines use this method and it was easy as we only had
08 Jan 2018 5 min read
Anthem of the Seas
This is the latest super ship from Royal Caribbean and sailing out of Southampton for Summer 2015, this is everything you would expect….and more! With dodgems, rock climbing, Flowrider, indoor skydiving and the North Star viewing platform, this ship really does offer some great facilities. And this is just the start. The ship has 18 food outlets including the favourites such as Chops Grill and
10 Jun 2015 5 min read
Rule Britannia!
P&Os newest ship to their fleet is Britannia which was launched by the Queen in March 2015. Along with other Travel Counsellors, I was fortunate to visit as part of the launch celebrations. The ship is instantly recognisable with the union jack paint work on the exterior and inside, the décor is also beautiful. In classic tones of cream, taupe and navy, the colour theme is carried out through m
10 Jun 2015 5 min read
For a Family of All Ages!
Royal Caribbean is a familiar brand to many with a variety of ships located worldwide visiting many ports of call. The Independence of the Seas is currently located out of Southampton which is really convenient for a no-fly family holiday. With so much going on, the ship does tend to attract many families especially during the school holidays which is when we travelled. So this is a considerati
10 Jun 2015 5 min read
Arabic Charms - Abu Dhabi & Etihad
We visited Abu Dhabi in the Easter holidays and found this was a great time to take advantage of some sunshine and heat when it was still cool at home and only a 7 hour flight. Etihad’s new A380 was a great experience, the inflight entertainment was extensive with many current films and music as well as some classic TV and favourite movies. There is also a whole listing for children too includ
10 Jun 2015 5 min read
Lesser Known Ski Resorts
Our trip to the two lesser known ski resorts of Valloire and La Toussuire began at St Pancras as we travelled to the Alps by train, first by the Eurostar to Paris and then the TGV service to St Jean Maurienne. The journey whilst long, was very smooth and felt relaxing as the train sped through the French countryside. Quite a contrast to the usual hustle and bustle of an airport. As a group of adul
31 Mar 2014 5 min read
A White Christmas
There are many ways of visiting Lapland, we decided to spend our family White Christmas in a log cabin in the woods, complete with open fire and a Christmas tree! Our chosen resort of Levi was very festive and offers plenty of facilities and activities, both outdoor and indoor, important as it can be very cold at times inside the Arctic Circle. In fact, we were lucky with the weather, it was mild
24 Jan 2014 5 min read
Family Ski
Antares Meribel is located in the extensive ski area of 3 Valleys which includes Meribel, Courcheval, Val Thorens and some smaller villages at lower altitude. It has a great position at 1700ft altitude and therefore generally has great ski conditions through to the end of the season. It is also located close to the Rond Point and near to a gondola station. It is comfortable and has a welcomin
30 May 2012 5 min read
Walt Disney World Florida & The Bahamas
Having planned a fortnight in November to visit Walt Disney World Florida, we decided to include a 4 night mini cruise around the Bahamas in order to have a break from the theme parks. First of all, we agreed we could have stayed longer, we loved Disney so much, adults and children alike! However, the short cruise was wonderful and a great way to visit this part of the Caribbean which can be pr
26 May 2011 5 min read
Dubai
Dubai was a place I had wanted to visit for several years and so I was very excited to travel there in February 2010. The flight with Emirates was excellent and with it only being 6 hours, it is an easy distance with youngsters in tow. Dubai airport was amazing, clean and well signposted and we received our first taste of the exceptionally high customer service levels visitors receive in Dubai
26 May 2011 5 min read
St Lucia
St Lucia Hewanorra Airport is located in the south of the island so to reach the many resorts along the north west coast, the transfer by road isf between approx. 1 hour 15 – 1 hour 45 mins. The road has been vastly improved over recent years and now has tarmac the whole way and it offers stunning views of the lush rainforest, banana plantations and numerous towns and villages. We opted to ta
20 Apr 2011 5 min read
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Why use a Travel Counsellor
Let's plan your dream trip together
Tailor-made for you
Your holiday isn’t just a trip away. It’s a longed-for escape, time to reconnect with loved ones, or a dream adventure you never thought possible. That’s why I take the time to truly get to know you and understand your hopes and expectations, then use my experience, connections and passion for the destination to create a trip that makes those dreams a reality.
Personalised service. Always
When you plan a holiday with me, you’ll be given my personal mobile number from the very first call. I’ll listen to your thoughts and ideas like I would a friend and arrange accommodation, activities, and flights that are all personalised to you. And I’ll share my personal tips and recommendations, so you can experience the true beauty of each destination.
Stress-free travel, and more time for what matters most
I believe your time away should be stress-free, easy, and seamless from start to finish. So, I take care of all the details for you - from ATOL protection, insurance, and flexible payments to access to the myTC app, which keeps everything in one place.
Support when it matters most
If the unexpected happens, you can rest easy, knowing that I’ll handle any last-minute changes, flight cancellations, or disruptions before you even pick up the phone. So you always feel happy, carefree, and ready to make the most of every moment.
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