Based in Coleford

Claire Jackson

Available for new enquiries

It's Nice To Meet You

As someone who is passionate about travelling, and making the most of every opportunity, in 2020 during the first lockdown and during a global pandemic, I decided to join Travel Counsellors to help others have their own adventures and see the world. I knew that it probably wasn’t the best time to start a travel business but I saw the potential - people always want to travel, and when our lives resume again people are going to have a different outlook on life. I know I certainly will.

I thrive on putting itineraries together, seeing finished products, and making clients happy. Whether it be a long weekend in the Lake District or a week in Greece, a trek across the Himalayas or 2 weeks sailing around the Caribbean, I can cater for your needs. Families, friends, couples or singles, no request too big or too small, I will tailor the packages to suit your requests.

With uncertain times ahead it can be unnerving to try and plan a future holiday, but rest assured I can provide a flexible, safe and trustworthy personal service, tailored to your needs, 100% financially (ATOL) protected that gives you complete peace of mind when booking.
I am here to take away the stress and time of organising everything yourself.

Having travelled the world twice over I have experienced the Middle East, Far East, South East Asia, Australasia, and many parts of Europe. And with access to over 1900 travel professionals worldwide, I am able to offer advice on places that are still on my bucket list and I have yet to visit. So, if you’re thinking of booking a holiday, why not drop me a line or give me a call, you never know it may be cheaper than you think. Please check out the reviews in my 'customer stories' at the top of this page to see how I have helped other people.

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer”

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Contact Me

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

Find me on social

My Videos

Trusted Travel

8/26/2022

As part of the Travel Counsellor service I will add those personal little touches, and ensure you have a holiday to remember.

Huskie sleigh ride in Lapland Dec 22

8/26/2022

Have you ever wondered what it was like to ride on a sleigh pulled by huskies in search for Santa Clause in Lapland.........we had a fab time as you can see!

5 Reasons

12/27/2021

5 reasons you should trust me with your travel plans.

Best of Iceland

12/10/2020

See what you can experience on a trip to Iceland

Twenty One for 21

12/10/2020

With 2021 just around the corner we have come up with the 21 destinations that you should be considering for your travels next year.

Lapland

12/10/2020

Who wants to go to Lapland - this video gives you an insight into what you will see.

Best of Namibia

12/10/2020

Doesn't this look amazing??

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.

Run Barbados

13 January 2023

During a cold Nov in 2022, I received a call from the Barbados Tourism Board asking if I would be interested in going to Barbados to see what the country had to offer + to take part in a running festival called ‘Run Barbados’. After several questions to find out costs, logistics + dates, the checking of the diary + a mental check on how fit I was to run any distance having been on a bit of a break training wise, I thought, life is too short, I’ve never been to Barbados, I don’t know when I will get the chance to go again, let's do it. So, 3 weeks later a party of travel agents arrived at Heathrow excited to see what this trip was all about. An 8hr flight to Barbados + wow some actual warm air as we got off the plane, even at night. Just what I needed having been living through a cold snap with subzero temperatures back in the UK. Throughout the whole of the trip, everyone was very friendly + accommodating - you are guaranteed a Bajan welcome wherever you go! All the islands in the Caribbean are very different in terms of their own characteristics, landscapes + traditions + Barbados is renowned for its stunning beaches, turquoise waters + rum punch! Most of the luxury hotels + resorts are based on the West Coast which is nicknamed the ‘Platinum Coast’. Being the more sheltered side of the island, it’s good for swimming/snorkeling whilst the South offers a different experience + a great spot for family holidays or with groups of friends, due to the restaurants, bars + nightclubs of St Lawrence Gap + Oistins, with its famous Fish Friday (every Friday, hundreds of tourists + locals gather in the small fishing village of Oistins for a knees up +to enjoy a feast of freshly caught fish n chips). The ‘Barbados Run’ festival used to be held on the West coast but they have now moved it to the East Coast where it’s cooler with the Atlantic breeze coming in + less populated, to make it easier for the event organisers. If you are an experienced surfer, the East Coast is definitely a place to bring your surfboard whilst the North of the island has many secluded coves + a rugged coastline to explore. It takes approx. 1hr to travel one length of the island by car (it’s 21 miles long + 14 miles wild). As with most places, taxis are the easiest way to get around + cabbies are a great way to the see the island as they are packed with lots of knowledge of the island + its history. The beaches in Barbados are the many reasons why people flock back year after year + they are constantly voted the best in the Caribbean. Every beach in Barbados has public access so you never feel intimidated to enter a beach. There are plenty of water sports + activities available on the South + West Coast + if you are looking to conquer the Atlantic surf then Surfer’s point in Christchurch is the ideal place to start. There are also plenty of championship golf courses to practice your swing on. Or why not try a catamaran tour for a bit of sun, sea, wildlife + adventure which we did, to relax after the runs + what a blast it was. Just what we needed to take away any aches and pains. ‘Barbados Run’ is an event that has been going for almost 40 years with a variety of distances to choose from – starting at 3km through to a marathon. You don’t need to be an experienced runner + you don’t have to ‘race’ as such. There’s even a 3km walk you can enter. Yes, there are prizes for the winners of each race + age category (I won my age group in the 5km race + came in the top 10 in the half marathon), but it’s about bringing together friends + families, + having fun in a safe environment, experiencing the friendly local culture, with the sounds of steel pan, whilst enjoying a cool ocean breeze + the natural beauty of the East coast. And the medals that each competitor gets for taking part are awesome too! Barbados is a great destination for year-round sunshine + warm weather with temperatures between 23-30’C. Across the Caribbean there is a wet + dry season, with Dec to Mar/Apr being a good time to visit with the least chance of seeing rain and lots of sun (high season). May to Oct is when the rainy season hits the Caribbean with heightened humidity too. There is very low risk of hurricanes due to the easterly position of the island. And rather than non-stop rain, the wet season tends to involve short downpours or storms followed by hot and sunny weather which dries everything out quickly. Some people rate Mar to May as a great time to visit as it’s a shoulder season, crowds are lower, but it’s still lovely + warm. There are races at the ‘Barbados Run’ event across both days with the 3km + 5km on the Saturday afternoon + a 10km, half marathon + marathon on the Sunday. The races on the Saturday were in the late afternoon to allow the temperatures to fall + it’s an early start on the Sunday to get you out running before the heat sets in for the day. Barbados + rum go hand in hand + is on tap virtually everywhere. To get a better understanding of the drink, why not go on a rum tour. Or drink like the islanders in one of the many ‘rum shacks’ that are dotted around. Wherever there is a church there is a ‘rum shack’ nearby! After the races on the Saturday at the Run event, depending upon who is designated driver, there are plenty of opportunities to hang around for a rum punch or two + enjoy the sounds of the steel bands + properly experience a Caribbean night. We were all very sad when our trip came to an end + it was time to go home. Lots of friendships + connections had been made, another destination explored + 5 days of sunshine, topping up our tans ready to make our friends back in the UK very jealous. Everyone needs a bit of vitamin D during the winter months + we all struggle a bit with this, not getting out enough + generally not getting enough sun. So having a winter break away in warmer climates is the way to go + one I would highly recommend. Fly back home with a bit of a tan all ready for the Christmas party season! If you would like to know more about this running event and/or a holiday to Barbados, please get in touch + I can give you further details. Why not plan a family holiday, set yourself a goal + enter one of the races, or just come along as a supporter + soak up the atmosphere whilst enjoying the sun + the rum punches! Or get your local running club or a group of friends involved. Start planning now before it becomes another thing on your bucket list that you have yet to tick off!

Re-discover River - CLIA river cruise conference

01 April 2022

In March 2022 I attended the CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) River Cruise Conference in Budapest. It is an event for travel agents to get an insight into River Cruising, learn what it’s all about, and spend some time aboard some stunning ships. I was very lucky, along with a few of my colleagues to get a place aboard a ship after the conference, which set sail down the River Danube from Budapest to Vienna over a few days. This was a great way to experience river cruising first hand and to see some amazing cities along the way. In terms of the ships/cruiselines that were on show at the event:- • AmaWaterways • CroisiEurope • Avalon Waterways • Uniworld Boutique River Cruises • APT Travelmarvel • Amadeus River Cruises • A-ROSA • TUI River Cruises • Scenic • Emerald Cruises And out of these ships I spent the night aboard Crosi/Europe Vivaldi, Uniworld’s S.S. Beatrice & Scenic – Amber, and had lunches on Ama Verde and TUI Skylark. This meant that I was able to get a real feel for the different types of ships, their facilities and what sort of people they would suit. So what is river cruising, and what is so great about it? A River Cruise is a voyage along inland waterways, often stopping off at multiple ports along the way. River Cruising allows passengers to experience multiple, and memorable destinations in a short amount of time all whilst travelling along the world’s most famous, and historic rivers. 1. You get to stop off at a new city/port almost everyday. 2. Most ships these days are all inclusive (Food and beverages) and sometimes excursions and tours are often included as well so this means once you’ve paid for the trip you won’t need to worry about the pennies whilst you are away. 3. Because the ships are a lot smaller than the ocean cruise liners it means that you get access to some places that you might not have been able to experience previously. You go to bed sailing down the river and wake up docked up next to the gateway to a city, and no immigration queues to worry about. Just hop off and explore. 4. You won’t get sea sick, there are certainly no open waters and waves to worry about. The vesssels are designed with flat-bottoms which ensures a pleasant journey along the rivers. 5. River Cruising offers an exclusive, luxurious option for travellers with different styles of trips and itineraries to suit all. Because the ships are smaller it means you get a more intimate setting with staff focusing on the guests more. They are less crowed than ocean cruise liners with most accommodating 150-200 passengers. 6. And because there are fewer guests on board the service feels more personal. You will become familiar with the staff on board and they will tend to learn your names. 7. The majority of river cruise companies cater for the solo travellers and don’t have single supplement surcharges. There are so many itineraries to choose from in Europe and further field – the River Danube, the Douro, the Elbe River, and the Rhine. Themed cruises including Tulips and Windmills, Wine Tasting or Castles. Or how about sailing down the Nile or the Mekong and seeing the sights of Egypt and the Far East. So now I’ve told you a bit about river cruising, what do you think? If you want to find out more, please get in touch.

Escaping to Mallorca for some warm weather training

24 November 2020

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a bit of a fitness freak and I compete in triathlons. Every year I tend to go away with my friends on a training camp or a cycling holiday, somewhere warm, escaping the cold and damp English weather. Last year was no different, faced with another bleak winter I needed something to look forward to, so Mallorca was booked. We have been to Mallorca a number of times before to train so know the areas quite well, certainly the areas along the North East coast which is where we generally tend to stay. Alcudia is one of the largest tourist hot spots on that coast which we tend to avoid and favour instead the northern town of Puerto Pollenca to use as our base. From there we can cycle up into the mountains to the North, and if we are feeling brave we might head over to Sa Colobra (a category 1 climb, 9.4km in length, with a stunning set of beaches at the bottom tucked in amongst steep rocky cliffs that makes the climb back up, all the bit more worthwhile). We also regularly cycle from Puerto Pollenca down the coast and across to the stunning town of Porto Cristo where you can sit on the beach and dream of winning the lottery one day and owning one the yachts that are moored up! Pollenca is a lovely small town with an oyster-shaped bay, with the Serra de Tramuntana mountains rising behind it. It's got two pretty beaches both reaching 1-2km in length, one ending up by the marina – a popular hotspot for eateries. There’s a large square in Pollenca called the Plaza Miguel Capllonch and this is lined on three sides with various restaurants and bars so you are never stuck for somewhere to eat or drink. For this particular trip we stayed in a hotel a few streets back from the beach so we weren’t right amongst the hustle but still close enough to get in an early morning swim, or grab some dinner and drinks and not have too far to walk back to the hotel. The hotel we stayed at on this trip was called the Puerto Azul Suite Hotel. A lovely 4-star hotel booked on a half board basis. This meant we fuelled up with a large breakfast which kept us going for the first part of the day, then had a late lunch when our energy was sapping, before heading back to Pollenca for dinner. During these training camps we don’t tend to do any organised activities as we’re training a lot of the time, and when not training we’re topping up our tans by the pool and recharging the bodies ready for the next session. But we do have our favourite spots that we like to ride to because they serve the best coffee in the area or they make great cakes, and when you’ve cycled there you’ve burned off lots of calories so can have more cake!!. One of our ‘must visit’ places is Cap De Formentor, a rugged peninsula with huge cliffs that dip sharply into the sea giving some of Mallorca’s most dramatic views. Apparently it’s also home to the Formentor Hotel, a 5-star hotel with its own private beach – and this is where Agatha Christie wrote ‘Problem at Pollensa Bay’. We’ve never made it to the hotel but I’m sure it’s worth a visit. Another favourite spot of ours is a place called the ‘Coves de Campanet’ in English meaning ‘Caves of Campanet’ but we call it ‘Cats in the Caves’ as there is a small colony of cats who live there. We have never actually been into the caves, we generally just stop for a drink and enjoy the views on the terrace and have a play and a cuddle with the cats! So in a nutshell, although this post is mainly about cycling I hope it also gives you an insight into the island itself, well certainly the North Eastern side which has miles of beaches to choose from, and plenty of places to explore. The weather is generally pretty warm from the end of March onwards with only the odd shower that quickly passes. It’s a relatively cheap destination for a holiday and it’s pretty easy to get around. When can I book my next trip back to the island???

My customer stories

Sent by Ellcie Conway

Friendly, informative and proactive support to book a competitively priced holiday package. Claire and Dawn (her Disney expert) were so informative and supportive when we were looking to book a family trip to Disney (Florida) their guidance and knowledge was incredible, far more than I'd expected... really proactive and helpful. The quotes came in quickly, were easy to follow and competitively priced! Our Holiday plans are on hold at the moment but when we are ready to pick it up again I will be back in touch with Claire without hesitation.

Sent by Trula Brunsdon

Holiday perfection If you want a bespoke trip, or just don't want the hassle of organising a holiday yourself, Claire Jackson does it all for you - and you'll probably end up with a better holiday than if your booked it yourself! She listened to what we wanted, came up with options which we then tailored to our exact requirements and the result was a perfect holiday. Claire has set herself a very high bar for the next holiday she organises for us but I've no doubt she'll exceed our expectations once again.

Sent by Matthew Lewis

Simply Brilliant Took the hassle out of planning a trip away for myself and my Grandmother! Claire @ Travel Counsellors was simply perfect. I can't recommend her highly enough. Next time I go away, I'll be contacting Claire. She was readily available at every stage of the trip with updates and any necessary changes that I needed to make.

Sent by Michelle Louise

"My partner and I have just been on an amazing trip to Tuscany organised by Claire. We had amazing service from beginning to end. We phoned with our ideas and within a couple of days Claire suggested an itinerary and even when we asked for small tweaks this was organised efficiently. The hotels chosen were perfect for each location and the transfers seamless. We would highly recommend Claire and look forward to using her for our future trips"

Sent by Kelly Rose

Excellent service,everything we wanted and less stress of organising for me! Thank you Claire

Sent by Freddie Faux

Incredibly accomodating and pleasant. Catered to my needs extremely well, and was able to fit in everything I needed. Would use again for sure.

Sent by Lorna Fisher

Very helpful and prompt service!

Sent by Ian Clooney

Claire could not have made the whole issue simpler, from the initial discussions to the selection of options, nothing was too difficult for her.

Sent by Nina Kitajewski-West

There is a lot going on across the world right now and trying to book a honeymoon when my husband and I both have such hetic schedules was proving tricky. Claire Jackson was highly recommended to me by a friend who Claire had also booked a honeymoon for. It was a complete weight off our shoulders. The very short time frame did not deter Claire at all, she listened to our holiday likes and dislikes and really got us! She presented a couple of fantastic options then just made it all happen seamlessly!! Without a doubt Claire definitely helped make our honeymoon to Mauritius unforgettable, thanks so much!!!! xxx

Sent by Andrea Morell

Very prompt replies to communications and comprehensive easy to understand feedback.

Sent by Rajesh Nagjee

Superb experience. Prompt, responsive, expert guidance. Took the stress out of the planning process.

Sent by Lincon Treloar

Claire has been an absolute superstar dealing with my travel arrangements. I will definitely be using Claire again.

Sent by Nina Kitajewski-West

Amazing research and support!! Wasn't fazed by the short turnaround. Really appreciated all the help and guidance.

Sent by Charlotte Ball

Great help, attention to detail and brilliant research. With your help Claire, we have pt1 of our honeymoon booked with pt2 to come!

Sent by Wendy Faux

Claire has made it all so easy. Suddenly the planning becomes part of the real excitement as the hassle to find the best deals is taken away. Just giving our perfect holiday details to Claire & then having the package returned in just that - a perfect holiday package! Thank you!

Sent by Holly Graham

Thank you, Claire, for providing such a personal service. I really appreciate the time you took to understand my family's specific needs and the efficiency with which you responded to them. No request seemed too much trouble and your communication was always prompt, informative and very professional. I will certainly be using your services again and recommending you to all of my friends!

Sent by Michelle Horton

We approached Claire to help us book a tricky family driving tour around Scotland and the itinerary options she produced were amazing! She managed to interpret our loose ideas and come up with wonderful accommodation options in the most stunning locations. She’s super organised and creative with her problem solving. Using a travel counsellor takes the stress out of booking a holiday and I whole heartedly recommend Claire!

Sent by Azhar Khan

Just wanted to shout how great Claire has been to find my fiancée and I a holiday during these uncertain times!! I developed a good relationship with Claire from the beginning and at all times she remained clear, articulate and captured the conversation down to the letter. Before, during and after the pandemic, Claire has been very patient to my circumstances due to the rapidly changing holiday travel landscape and has been very accessible, responsive and spent a concerted time to our requirements even when they changed frequently. Thanks so much for doing a great job. I’ll be in touch for the next holiday, either for that honeymoon we planned abroad or that solo volcano trekking. Thanks again, Az

Sent by Peter Jackson

From the beginning Claire was keen to sort out my request. Initially she took time to discuss with me and understand what I wanted. She was prompt in coming back to me with suggestions and recommendations. She also made sure that the information that she was providing was what I needed. Nothing seemed too much trouble for her. All in all a good experience.

Sent by Simon Thornley

Claire wass extremely helpful and efficient at helping me find the perfect accommodation for our UK family holiday 2021.

Sent by Sam Head

Claire was amazing - totally took the stress out of finding a holiday. She listened to our numerous request and feedback and provided plenty of great holiday options, when our requirements slightly changed she was happy to accommodate further searches. The information provided was in a in super, easy to read format with plenty of detail. Great service, wouldn’t hesitate to recommend or use Claire again for future holidays.