Claire Spicer

Claire has done a wonderful job to organise my latest trip at very short notice - very comprehensive approach to establish what I wanted and gave me a great schedule. Fantastic!

Excellent experience from start to finish. Claire Spicer of Travel Counsellors was recommended by a friend and, as I was looking for some inspiration beyond the usual sites, I got in touch. The initial consultation was great and Claire was very easy to talk to. She came up with a number of options and we worked together to refine the holiday plan. As the holiday date approached, Claire was very helpful in terms of sharing information and ensuring everything was up to date. The myTC app is excellent too, both pre and during the trip. Our holiday to Athens and the Athenian Riviera was fantastic. After a hiccup early on, all was resolved speedily and we had a brilliant stay. Claire organised a food walking tour which we would recommend and the transfers between locations were seamless. We loved the location and the hotel, The Athenian Riviera Hotel and Suites, was spot on - very friendly and different from the big chains. I was delighted that Claire had interpreted our brief so perfectly. The biggest benefit for our family was working with Claire to find the best fit for our ideal trip. We would never have considered those locations and were delighted to discover a new area in Vougliameni. Claire's knowledge of different locations and options allowed us to have the holiday that we wanted. Many thanks to Claire for all the help to create some very special memories.

I had the most wonderful experience working with our travel consultant Claire. From the very first conversation, she made everything feel effortless, enjoyable, and completely tailored to us. Her knowledge, attention to detail, and genuine care transformed the entire planning process into something exciting rather than stressful. Every recommendation she made was thoughtful and spot on, and she took the time to understand exactly what we wanted, even the things we didn’t know we wanted yet. She is professional, kind, incredibly organised, and truly exceptional at what she does. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a seamless, personalised, and memorable travel experience.

I recently booked my first ever girls holiday to Albufeira for a group of eight of us, and it honestly couldn’t have gone better. Albufeira was such a good choice for a first trip: the location was perfect, really close to the strip so it was super easy to go out clubbing and get back safely, but still not noisy when we actually wanted to sleep. The hotel was ideal for our age group too: clean, comfortable and social, with everything we needed without being over the top. We felt really relaxed there and it was a great base for getting to the beach in the day and bars at night. The whole thing felt really well organised, from the airport transfers to the hotel choice and recommendations on where to go out. For a first holiday without parents, it made such a difference knowing everything had been properly planned and we could just enjoy it. I’d definitely book through Claire again for our next trip.

Claire has a way of understanding exactly what you want from a holiday with only a few prompts. This was the sixth trip I have booked through Claire and it was possibly the best yet. Everything from the hotels booked to suggestions were spot on. Initially we were only going to New York for a week, when Claire suggested adding on Washington DC, something we wouldn't have considered on our own. Claire has a lot of knowledge and was able to offer recommendations and suggestions throughout. The whole process was smooth, even the train to DC from New York. I knew if I had an issue Claire would be there to help. Even when our flight was cancelled Claire was on the ball sorting out accomodation etc for us. It made the whole process stress free and didn't spoil our trip. I will continue to book with Claire as we always get outstanding customer service and a marvellous trip.

Just a note to say thank you once again for arranging such a brilliant family holiday experience and for giving us the confidence, through your extensive experience, to ‘travel’ a little this time. Our trip to Rome and Sorrento, visiting the Colosseum, the Vatican, Pompeii and Vesuvius (with plenty of time for rest and relaxation in between!) was just perfect. Travelling across Italy was so easy (as you promised!) it felt like a stress free adventure with our 10 year old, making lasting memories. The gladiator tour of the Colosseum was a particular highlight, seeing all the kids so enthralled by the stories of the gladiators told by our brilliant guide, and of course the incredible spectacle of the Colosseum itself. Finally your hotel choices for us were fabulous. Perfectly located in Rome for the train station with the most amazing quiet rooftop garden/ bar, exactly what was needed after the heat and crowds. And in Sorrento the hotel could not have been more ‘Italian’ with the beautiful smell of Jasmine and the pool surrounded by citrus trees. The family room was beautiful, the staff were great and so kind to our son. It was quite possibly my favourite hotel ever! Thank you again, we can’t wait to book our next Italian adventure with you!

Never realised it would be so easy opting to go with an independent travel counsellor! Claire is amazing and made it so simple. It has definitely taken the stress away of booking everything myself and worrying about getting details wrong

This will be the 6th trip I have booked with Claire, she is excellent and I wouldn't book trips any other way 😊 I always recommend Claire too.

Claire Spicer from Travel Counsellors helped us put our trip itinerary together and made the whole process so easy. When we arrived in Australia and New Zealand we received a booklet detailing all of our accommodation and booked trips which made everything so clear and straight forward All travel plans were seamless and everywhere we went we were expected and there were no issues at all Great experience and would thoroughly recommend

Claire Spicer makes booking a holiday an absolute joy - she is a "happy holiday personified!" She knows what she's doing, she's warm and friendly, understands your brief and budget and family needs. We've booked with Claire several times and recommend her to others, I wouldn't hesitate to book with her. I know I'm in safe hands when I book with Claire

We’ve used Claire a few times for a variety of types of holiday - family group city breaks, couples city break, safari holidays, relaxing beach holidays. There is often a phone call to discuss requirements and find out what you are looking for in the holiday. Claire has a wealth of experience and can talk to you about her personal experience on the holiday she is recommending. The only trouble is that she can recommend so many places, it’s hard to pick your next destination! Our next 3 holidays have been booked through Claire and are all very different, it’s comforting to know she will attend to the admin/arranging side of everything and we can just pack and jump on the plane!

We recently booked a ‘Dads and sons’ ski trip to France. Claire took care of all the arrangements from hotel transfers, ski passes and hiring of kit. Everything went smoothly and everyone enjoyed the trip.

Just returned from a trip to Dubai to the Wardorf Astoria on the Palm. We have booked several trips with Claire previously and they have all been brilliant. Claire took care of everything from booking the airport lounges, fast passes to the hotel and transfers at the other end. Every detail is taken care of, works like clockwork and Claire checks in beforehand if you need anything else. Claire is knowledgeable, responsive, friendly and reliable. Such attentive and personal service is the reason Claire is our go to travel agent.

You made booking a holiday for 6 a very smooth process. You kept in touch from booking until we came home with advice and reminders which is always useful. Would highly recommend you to any friends and family and have already mentioned you when taking about holidays.

A huge thank you for arranging our next holiday. I heard about your company from a friend who has had wonderful trips booked by you and, as I was looking for a special holiday this year, decided to get in touch. It was fantastic to be able to talk through our requirements with you. The options you provided were really interesting and helped us to narrow our focus to find the perfect trip. We would never have considered the destination you selected and are grateful to you for sharing your knowledge and opening our eyes to what is possible. I was delighted to find that you had included some suggested trips and transfers which will make the whole experience extremely smooth and enjoyable. The app makes everything really easy too. I have already shared your details with several friends. Thanks again and I can’t wait to discover Athens and the Athenian Riviera (in 161 days - quite excited!)

We booked a holiday in Japan for two through Claire Spicer. It was our first time using a travel counsellor and was the absolute best idea and will absolutely be using Claire again in the future. The process from start to finish was amazing. We had a trip travelling around to 4 different locations with travel, accommodation and some tours pre-booked by Claire but space and time for us to plan our own things. Could we have booked some of the hotels and flights for the same price - maybe - BUT it would have taken so much more work and would have lost so many of the bits that made such a difference. Where the travel counsellor difference really came in was: • The tours- each one Claire arranged had really knowledgeable guides who were so passionate and fun with a really personal service. She even emailed us some time after our booking letting us know of a deal to get a free tour (that was worth £60). • The bullet trains! Reservations only open 1 month in advance but Claire just sorted everything. We collected the tickets with detailed instructions on how to collect. We met other travellers who hadn't pre-booked and for each journey they had to spend an hour or two finding and booking trains and often had to compromise on the timings as the trains they wanted were fully booked. We floated past with time to get a little bento box.. • 48 hours before I was due to travel there was a strike in Amsterdam . The airline just cancelled the full journey with an alternative to loose a whole day of travel. Claire was OUTSTANDING. One quick call with me to check availability. Then she sorted it. Reinstated the flight to Japan and found another flight to Amsterdam plus a hotel near the airport to avoid the strikes. No drama for me, no lost days of holiday perfect. In addition Claire was able to share loads of different tips on travelling in Japan things we might want to visit. It was the best trip ever.

My wife, Cathy, and I travelled with two wonderful friends, John and Helen, to India for three weeks in October 2025. Our trip was organised and managed by Claire Spicer of Travel Counsellors. Highlights included the breathtaking Golden Temple in Amritsar, the quirky flag lowering ceremony at the India-Pakistan border, Ned Chang’s rock garden in Chandigarh, a wonderful street tour in Delhi led by a man who grew up on the streets as a child, the awesome Red Fort in Dehli, Taj Mahal in Agra, Amber Fort in Jaipur and City Palace in Udaipur. And we were lucky to have an up close experience with a tiger in Ranthambore! But the organisation was superb. At every step of the way we were met by professional, polite, friendly and knowledgeable TC reps. and drivers (who navigated the roads in India confidently and safely) who picked us up, moved our luggage, transported us in airconditioned mini coaches, took us to catch trains and internal flights, dropped us off at hotels, and took us to amazing places at each location we visited - fully armed to be able to explain the history, culture and significance of each site. Without the flawless organisation we would have been exhausted by our itinerary. With it we were able to enjoy every aspect of our journey. And there were a great many personal touches that added to our enjoyment. Such as our local TC contact who we were able to call anytime when we had an enquiry, arranging afternoon tea at Chapslee House in Shimla to celebrate John and Helen’s anniversary; flowers and wine to celebrate Helen’s birthday; meeting our train to Shimla half-way on the journey to pass in lunch to us, adding new experiences to our itinerary when we had spare time and wanted to push on, … We all came home from our trip proclaiming it as one of the best holidays we had done. We have so many great memories. It was made possible by careful and considerate planning and execution by Claire and TC. Thank you to them, we will most definitely use them again!

I really want to highlight what a life event this was for all 4 of us. From the minute that we set off, everything was an adventure that was effortless, unbelievably well developed and the most amazing experience. I was nervous about the potential of travelling in India as I had been told it was quite overwhelming. However, from our first day in Amritsar, the plan that Claire had developed for us was clearly perfectly tailored to match our needs and wishes. The guides were brilliant, and we had a new person who was local to the areas wherever we went. Their stories were fascinating about the Mughal Empire and they also added their own experience, and expertise. We went to restaurants they recommended as we were mostly B&B, ventured out of our beautiful hotels to find our way using local transport. The well-known highlights such as the Taj and Red fort in Delhi did not disappoint , but we also saw palaces, forts, shrines to the executioner elephant in Fatehpur Sikri and the street tour of Old Delhi with a young man who had been a street child, was so powerful. The local team in India, made sure we were informed when we would be picked up, plans for each stage and offered advice if we needed it. We were escorted on to trains, planes and nothing was too much trouble. Being just 4 of us, we were able to be flexible in seeing what we wanted, and we also were able to strike up conversation with people we met as we travelled. The people we met were as interested in us as we were in them. We went to a school fete, were asked to hold babies for photos and there was such a sense of shared curiosity. I have travelled in larger groups before and did not have the chance to really talk to the people you meet as you travel through their country. Claire listened to us when we started planning, and we discussed options , then she created a trip that was life enhancing, challenging, exciting and much more than we hoped for. We will be back to plan our next trip to South India.

Our much anticipated ‘bucket-list’ trip to Hong Kong was literally epic from start to finish! A fantastic fusion of Asian and British culture, we loved embracing the pace, the colours, the history - and the food! It was a jam packed ten days and we absolutely loved it! All travel arrangements were put in place by the fantastic Claire Spicer at Travel Counsellors. We’ve used Claire several times now and, as before, she listened to our requirements (which for us included some pretty inflexible dates owing to school holidays) and generated options and recommendations that worked perfectly. Particular highlights included the seamless airport transfers (loved the contact from the drivers ahead of time - including photos of how to find the pick up area in Hong Kong which was much appreciated after a long flight!) and the amazing hotel - central to all the action and very close to the MTR transit and the Star Ferry. October is a brilliant time to visit as it’s warm but the humidity isn’t crazy. We had such a great time that we’d love to go back - possibly next time en route to/from somewhere else - and we won’t hesitate to use Claire again for all logistics and arrangements!

This was a real adventure - to Madagascar - not for anyone seeking luxurious hotels and sunny beaches. We travelled by boat, coach and 4x4s through areas not on the regular tourist trail. The itinerary was varied including a combination of wildlife, culture and sight-seeing. Highlights included coming face to face with various species of lemur, a rope bridge over a chasm in The Big Tsingy and being the unintended source of entertainment for the children in a village by the river. The Avenue of Baobabs at sunset was another highlight, although getting there required a mad dash in 4x4s along bumpy dirt tracks. It all added to the adventure. The size of Madagascar and the limited infrastructure meant a fair amount of time travelling, but that was part of the trip. Three days cruising down on the Tsiribihina River was very relaxing and brought us some great sights and experiences including camping on the river bank, hoping the crocodiles were not too near. This was a real experience, not like any other holiday. Huge thanks to Claire Spicer and the team from Intrepid without whom the trip would not have been possible.

Claire put together an intinerary which effectively created three trips in one: • The Rockies by Car - 5 days based around Banff and Jasper taking in as much of the local sights as possible. The rockies are beautiful. Around every corner there is a gorgeous blue lake reflecting a snow capped peak and the chance of seeing amazing wildlife. • The Rocky Mountaineer - luxurious train travel through more amazing scenery. Going Gold Leaf meant having a seat on the top deck of a glass roofed carriage where the views were magnificent. The food is superb and they cater brilliantly for any dietary requirements. The big danger was to our waistlines! • Cruise from Vancouver up the Alaskan coast. More relaxation, more food and more spectacular scenery and wildlife. Whale watching and seeing a glacier calving were definite highlights Wildlife was a big theme of the trip; plenty of whales; a close encounter with a grizzly; elk; a wolf; salmon; chipmunks and incredibly cute sea otters. Even without these encounters the scenery was spectacular Thank you to Claire for putting this trip together. It was fantastic trip - we have many unforgettable memories.

Claire was amazing in helping us book a truly memorable holiday in Canada. From a starting point of ‘we like the sound of west Coast Canada but don’t know a lot about it’ she helped us to navigate through many options by listening to what was important to us and making great recommendations. On the ground all of the recommendations were perfect for us and all went so smoothly. Having someone with such clear knowledge of the area, what works and what doesn’t and who understood what was most important to us made a huge contribution to a really special holiday. Thanks so much Claire!

Claire has helped us to plan a long awaited holiday for a special occasion. She has understood our needs well and has been hard working and efficient, helping us to find our best options. We are very much looking forward to our trip!

After years of talking about it, we finally did it. A big family trip to the USA to celebrate my daughter finishing her GCSEs. But we wouldn’t have done it, certainly not this smoothly or confidently, without Claire Spicer. From the very first chat, Claire was an absolute joy to work with. Friendly, full of ideas and totally unfazed by the prospect of organising a multi-stop adventure for a family of three with a lot of opinions! She took the stress out of every step, turning our vague wishlist into a properly brilliant itinerary. Her suggestions for places to go and things to see were inspired. We saw and did things we never have thought we would - like visiting Yosemite and driving along the Big Sur, alongside must-sees in New York, San Francisca and LA that totally lived up to the hype. Claire picked some amazing hotels. The perfect mix of comfort, wow factor and location that you can only really get when someone truly knows what they’re doing. Even the tiniest hiccup, a muddled hotel bill, was dealt with so swiftly and quietly by Claire that we barely noticed it. We were nervous about going, if I’m honest. America suddenly felt different to the place we thought we'd be going a few years ago. But Claire gave us the confidence to go for it, and now I honestly can’t imagine if we hadn’t. We laughed more than we have in ages. We made memories we’ll never forget. And our 16-year-old daughter? She’s now determined to move to New York. (Thanks, Claire!) If you’re planning a big family trip and want it to feel seamless, exciting, and completely doable, speak to Claire. She didn’t just organise a holiday. She gave us one of the best experiences of our lives.

When I started thinking about how to get my parents to Lourdes for their special 50th wedding anniversary trip, there wasn’t anyone else other than Claire who I wanted to work with. Claire’s passion, energy and customer first approach always shines through and at times I was a little indecisive but she always showed patience and support. My parents had the best trip and have memories for years to come. Thank you so much Claire for being the best at what you do and I look forward to booking the next trip with you!

Many thanks once again to Claire Spicer, our dedicated Travel Counsellor for a superior service when choosing and delivering the type of holiday that would suit all our needs and current situation (activities, cultural, beach and pool, age, health, mobility etc). Our previous trip last year to New York was successful on so many fronts and now a completely different holiday in Sicily has again ticked all the boxes. From being present the whole way through the process, with ideas on where to go, choosing the right location and accommodation, to the booking and documents required, checking up before, during and after our holiday that all went so smoothly.

“Claire, we’ll never leave home without you again! I’ve sought support from Claire in the past to help book a number of holidays and have always hugely valued her attention to detail, organisation skills, support, and fantastic knowledge about how to make the most of any break I’ve wanted to organise…..but…..I now have a newly found respect and gratitude for Claire’s after-sales customer care skills following the flight home from our recent holiday being cancelled. With a party of 8, with ages ranging from 11 to 80 years old, and a flight that was cancelled from the tarmac of Orlando airport, the absence of any information from Virgin about when and how we would be returning to the UK was unsettling, inconvenient and felt entirely unacceptable to us all. However, despite the time difference not working in Claire’s favour ??, she was there for us during every moment of our unexpectedly extended stay! Claire exceeded our expectations in every single way possible. She acted as our liaison with Virgin, answered a million questions for us, and kept us calm with clear communication for the 72 hours of our delay. And even when we finally returned to the UK, Claire continued to support us for the next 6 weeks during which time we fought for compensation, expenses and replacement luggage for those damaged in transit. You never think you’ll need ‘after-care’ services from a Travel Counsellor - but you only realise the value of them when you need them most. Some people think there’s a cheaper way to book and arrange holidays - and maybe there is - but when and if the proverbial **** hits the fan when you’re abroad, you’re alone with no-one to support you. Our experience of having Claire in our corner on this holiday has cemented our belief that we’ll never leave home without her again! She is an incredible ambassador for Travel Counsellors and we couldn’t be more grateful for her support, highly recommending her to anyone wishing to travel with real peace of mind"

I recommend Claire Spicer as anyone’s Travel Counsellor. She organised a wonderful 7-week holiday for my husband and myself so that we could celebrate our Golden Wedding Anniversary in style and make wonderful memories. We spent a few days in Singapore and then flew to New Zealand. There we spent a few days before cruising from Auckland to Sydney, Australia, via Tasmania. After a night in Sydney, we boarded another ship to cruise to Singapore via Indonesia. Claire organised all the air travel, hotels, ships and a few tours whilst on land. We booked the cruise excursions. If we had any questions, she answered them – either by phone or email. For anyone wanting to have someone else to organise such a holiday, then Claire is your person!!

We were extremely satisfied with Claire’s help and guidance when booking our trip to Morocco. We had never been before and were unsure about where to stay and what to do but she made the whole process so straightforward. Every arrangement from airport transfers to excursions worked out perfectly and just as planned. We had never used a Travel Counsellor before but will definitely do so again. I would thoroughly recommend Claire as she is so easy to deal with, listens to what we want and comes back with ideas and suggestions really quickly. Great service.

Holiday of a lifetime....As expected from previous experience all the arrangements worked superbly. This was a holiday to celebrate a golden wedding anniversary with party ages from 6 to 76. The recommendation of the hotel, villa and resort was outstanding and loved across the whole age range of our party of 10 with something for everybody both activity wise and culinary wise. Shame we didn't have longer!