Cara Micallef
My expertise
I'm based in
Gillingham
It’s lovely to meet you
Hello and welcome.
I’m Cara, an independent travel professional based in Rainham, Kent, with over 30 years’ experience in the travel industry. I have been running my own Travel Counsellors business since 2008, creating bespoke holidays for clients who value personal service, attention to detail and complete peace of mind.
Over the years I have arranged almost every type of trip you can imagine: ocean and river cruises, traditional package holidays, UK short breaks, honeymoons, complex tailor‑made itineraries, adventure travel, business trips and much more. Whatever you are dreaming of, I will take the time to understand what matters most to you and design a trip that fits you perfectly.
Travel is not just my job, it is my passion. I have been fortunate enough to explore many wonderful destinations and I love using that first-hand knowledge to guide my clients. A few of my personal favourites include:
Canada for its spectacular scenery and wide‑open spaces
New York for its energy, shopping and iconic sights
Florida for the magic of Mickey Mouse, the thrills of Universal and the full theme park experience
Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Croatia and Greece for sunshine, beautiful coastlines and relaxed, ocean‑side living
Japan for its unique blend of tradition and elegant culture
Cruising for the joy of exploring multiple destinations while only unpacking once
…and much more.
Why book with me?
When you choose to book with me, you benefit from a truly personal, one‑to‑one service from our very first conversation until you return home. I take the time to get to know you and understand what really matters to you, then build your holiday around that.
Your holiday is tailored around you, your needs and your budget
I take care of the details, saving you hours of research and stress
You have one dedicated point of contact who genuinely cares about your trip
You will also benefit from the reassurance that comes with booking through Travel Counsellors. All holidays booked with me are ATOL protected and have 100% financial protection through our unique financial trust, giving you the security and peace of mind you deserve. In addition, we have a 24/7 duty office, so support is available around the clock while you are away.
As a company, we are committed to travelling responsibly and I will always aim to make your dream holiday as sustainable as possible, without compromising on quality or experience.
My aim is simple: to ensure that every trip, whether a short UK break or a once‑in‑a‑lifetime adventure, is memorable for all the right reasons. From the moment you get in touch to the moment you arrive home, I will be on hand with personal, professional support.
Thank you for visiting my page. I hope you have found it helpful and I would be delighted to help turn your next travel idea into reality.
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
Our Epic Canadian Adventure - Part 2
In my previous blog I shared the first part of our Canadian road trip: Vancouver, Victoria and our time on Vancouver Island and in Tofino. From there, our adventure continued into the mountains, through the Rockies and finally over to Toronto and Niagara Falls.
27 Aug 2026 7 min read
Our Epic Canadian Adventure - Part 1
In summer 2024 my husband, our two girls and I spent three weeks road tripping our way across Canada: think suspension bridges, skywalks, hot springs and bear watching, mountain hikes, baseball, theme parks and Niagara Falls. It was a big trip, but it worked brilliantly as a family adventure and is one of our favourite holidays to date. This first part of our journey took us from vibrant Vancouve
27 Aug 2026 4 min read
Lakes, Mountains & Coastal Magic In One Unforgettable Trip
We have just returned from the most wonderful family adventure in Slovenia, a country that manages to be serene, dramatic and endlessly fun all at once. With a flight time from the UK of under two hours, it feels incredibly accessible and would work just as well for a shorter break as it does for a longer holiday. With a hire car and a curious spirit, I stitched together three very different base
11 Aug 2026 5 min read
A Perfect 2 Night Short Break in Bruges by Car
I have just returned from a 2 night break in Bruges and it ticked every box: simple travel, a beautiful medieval city, great food and a relaxed pace that felt like a real reset. As I live in Kent, travelling with our own car on LeShuttle from Folkestone to Calais was an especially convenient way to get to France, and made the whole trip feel effortless right from the start.
03 Jun 2026 6 min read
California Dreamin'
In April 2018 I was extremely lucky to visit California on an educational with four of my colleagues. It was a short visit of five days, but we certainly packed a lot in whilst we were there and had an amazing time.
13 May 2026 4 min read
From First Idea to Welcome Home: How I Look After My Clients
On the surface, booking travel can seem simple: choose a destination, pick some dates, press “confirm”. In reality planning a trip that fits your lifestyle and runs smoothly behind the scenes is much more complicated and far more personal than that!
13 May 2026 3 min read
5 Dazzling Days in Las Vegas
There is nowhere quite like Las Vegas. I have just returned from a five‑day escape with two friends, staying at the iconic Caesars Palace, to celebrate joint 50th birthdays, the perfect excuse for a big celebration trip. Over the years I have booked Las Vegas for lots of clients, so I loved finally experiencing it first hand and seeing so many of the hotels and attractions I have talked about for
10 Apr 2026 4 min read
Our Summer Roadtrip to Ireland
This summer we decided to stay a little closer to home and try something a little different from our usual beach holiday and planned a family road trip to Ireland, and it didn’t disappoint. We decided to travel up to Wales the day before our ferry crossing to break up the long journey. We stayed overnight in Wrexham, which meant we could also explore some of Wales before heading over to Dublin on
17 Mar 2023 3 min read
Our Yorkshire Holiday in the North York Moors
With 2020 being such an unusual and strange year, we swapped our 3-week Florida holiday for a week in God's Own Country, Yorkshire. We have been to Yorkshire before, but have never explored this particular area. We decided to stay in a beautiful cottage which was in a tiny hamlet called Beck Hole near Goathland. You may be familiar with Goathland, as it is where the TV series, Heartbeat was filme
12 Oct 2020 4 min read
Queen Victoria Ship Visit
Last Sunday I had a very bright and early start with a visit down to Southampton to have a look around Cunard's Queen Victoria cruise ship. I have booked lots of clients over the years on Cunard ships, but this was a perfect opportunity to experience this magnificent ship and all her beauty for myself and she didn't disappoint! She has a very homely feel with her Edwardian dark wood and is very
05 Jul 2019 5 min read
My trip to Orlando had Universal appeal
Wow! I have had the most amazing 5 days staying at Universal Orlando Resort and experiencing all the excitement and fun of the rides, attractions and entertainment including the brand-new waterpark Volcano Bay. I travelled with 28 colleagues and we started our trip in style, flying with Virgin Atlantic in Premium Economy class. We stayed at Universal’s newest hotel, the Loews Sapphire Falls R
10 Jul 2017 5 min read
Tokyo
In December 2005 I was extremely lucky to get the opportunity to visit Tokyo on a work educational. I never imagined that I would ever go to Japan, as I had never given it a second thought before, but to this day I am so thankful to have had such a brilliant opportunity to visit this wonderful City. The trip really did start in style, as we travelled out business class with Japan Airlines from
05 Feb 2013 3 min read
Disneyland Paris
Having been to Disneyland Paris before without any children, we were really looking forward to visiting again this time with our 4 year old daughter Lilia. We broke the news to her a few weeks before we departed and she was so excited. We took the Eurostar from Ebbsfleet and travelled in standard premier class, which meant we had breakfast on the way out and an evening meal on the way back. We dep
28 May 2012 4 min read
Last Minute Winter Sun in Cyprus
My husband, four year old little girl and six month old baby and I all booked to stay in Coral Bay Cyprus for a week in October. This was very much a last minute decision as we were going to stay in the UK this year because our baby daughter was still so small, but our desire for some warm sunshine got the better of us and with just one weeks’ notice we were on our way. The journey all went s
13 Apr 2012 4 min read
Lanzarote
In May 2009, I was fortunate enough to visit Lanzarote where I spent a lovely two weeks with my family and friends in a villa . This was my fifth visit to Lanzarote and it will definitely not be the last. In previous years I have always stayed in the resort of Puerto Del Carmen, however this year it was time for a change. With slightly different requirements and a 1 and half year old daughter now
19 Jan 2010 3 min read
Family holiday to Portugal
We decided to go to Portugal this year after spending a fantastic two weeks there in 2006. We went with our baby daughter who had just turned one and some close friends. Apart from the fact that we absolutely loved Portugal last time we were there, one of the reasons we chose Portugal again was the advantage of short flying times from the UK – it takes under 3 hours to get there. This was great f
10 Oct 2008 3 min read
Reviews
What my customers say
Videos
Discover the world with me
'Postcards' - A special film from Travel Counsellors
Sit back relax and enjoy
08 Apr 2021
5 Reasons To Trust Me With Your Holiday Plans
For us, trusted travel has always been at the heart of everything we do, but now more so than ever it is so important to book with someone you can trust.
11 Mar 2021
Additional offers
More destinations to enjoy
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.
Get in touch
