Sent by Lucy Brindle
London 02/02/2026
As with every trip we have booked with Colette, her understanding of the brief is second to none. We're so excited for our trip to Thailand, Colette really is your expert for trips for all occasions. ✨️
Based In South East London
Colette Cooper
Available for new enquiries
It's Nice To Meet You
Hi, I’m Colette — your local Travel Counsellor in Dulwich.
I’ve lived and worked in this brilliant part of London for over 20 years, but my real qualifications were earned elsewhere — usually with a backpack, a questionable plan, and a very strong sense of curiosity.
I’ve been travelling for over 40 years, long before travel became filtered, airbrushed, and reduced to “top ten must-sees”. My career began in a Greek campsite, peeling potatoes to pay my way — which may not sound glamorous, but it was the moment I fell headfirst into a life of travel.
I’ve always travelled properly.
And occasionally… bravely.
Like in St Anton, where my enthusiastic-but-terrible learner skier self-misjudged a mountain and ended up hitching a ride down on the back of an Olympic skier. Not recommended. Unforgettable.
In the Caribbean, I’ve lived the rhythm — salsa dancing under the stars, street dancing during Jump Up in Castries, St Lucia, and learning to roll cigars on my (then younger, thinner, sun-kissed) thighs in Cuba. Research, obviously.
I’ve crossed the USA coast to coast on a Greyhound bus, watching the scenery shift from neon city lights to vast, wide-open plains — proof that sometimes the journey really is the point.
Asia is where it all really comes alive.
In Cambodia, I’ve explored ancient temples, rattled through villages in tuk-tuks, stayed in homestays, and hopped between restaurants and hidden bars on the back of a motorcycle — the best seat in the house.
In India, it’s been forts and palaces, ancient history and colourful mayhem — a sensory overload of incense, spices, chaos and beauty, all somehow working in perfect harmony.
I’ve surrendered to wellness retreats in Bali and Thailand, floated through the tranquil backwaters of Kerala, and perfected the art of doing absolutely nothing on the beaches of Malaysia, Goa and the Andaman Ocean.
This isn’t tick-box travel - this is lived, breathed, slightly chaotic, joy-filled experience.
So why travel with me?
Because I don’t sell holidays — I design them, using decades of real-world experience and a very good understanding of what makes a trip unforgettable for you.
What you get that the internet can’t:
• A real human who actually listens
• Honest advice (no algorithms, no upselling)
• Tailor-made trips — never off-the-shelf
• One calm, capable point of contact before, during and after you travel
Online booking won’t help you when flights change, seats disappear or plans wobble. I will. I’m available evenings, weekends — even holidays — because travel rarely behaves itself.
Whether it’s a simple hotel stay, a family escape, a solo adventure, or something wonderfully different — like a village homestay, a food-focused itinerary, or a wellness hideaway tucked into Bali’s foothills — I’ll craft it around your style, your pace and your budget.
Everything you book with me is 100% financially protected through the Travel Counsellors financial trust — so you can relax and enjoy the fun bits.
No bots.
No hold music.
No “please listen carefully”.
Just thoughtful, personal service — with experience, humour, and a healthy sense of adventure.
Let’s turn your travel dreams into plans.
I’m ready when you are.
My customer stories
Sent by Paula Tropeano
London 07/12/2025
Colette has booked several trips for me over the last few years. From the very beginning Colette’s approach is 5 Stars. She always provides plenty of options on location, accommodation & travel. I’ve had a full package & accommodation only I can never fault her service. Colette will always find the best for you no matter what your budget.
I booked a trip to Thailand with my husband. At the time we were still living apart overseas but Colette managed to book flights from London to Thailand and return to Australia. Even if that was a challenge she never said and the package put together was amazing.
My last trip booked with Colette was to Bruges in Belgium for Christmas Markets & our wedding anniversary. The trip was great, our hotel was boutique & lovely.
I’m so looking forward to booking my next trip with Colette.
As I said at the start 5 Stars !
Sent by Karen B
Melbourne 03/12/2025
Colette has gone above and beyond my expectations with booking our holiday to multiple countries. I had met her while she was on holidays and kept her business in mind for my next trip as I was feeling overwhelmed with doing it myself. We changed a number of things and each time it was of no trouble for her. Even though we both live in opposite sides of the world, I felt like she was always available at any moment with the mountain of queries that I had. She is very professional and has a very pleasant and helpful nature. I would highly recommend Colette and will be happy to book with her again.
Sent by Elizabeth Hannagan
Australia 22/11/2025
Colette has just been amazing organising my trip to Thailand from Australia. She has gone above and beyond, always on top of everything and looking for solutions when necessary. Prompt replies and requests, couldnt of asked for anyone better.
Sent by P Meade
London 03/10/2025
Huge thanks to Colette for all her help with our recent holiday to Greece! We had amazing weather, fun entertainment, and found the perfect spot to unwind with cocktails by the beach. Highly recommend – we’re already looking forward to booking our next trip with her. She’s a star!
Sent by J Pethig
East Sussex 30/07/2025
Colette is highly proactive and consistently communicates clearly and effectively. She always goes the extra mile to find the best deals for me and works hard to meet my needs. 5 stars ??
Sent by K Rice
Surrey 16/05/2025
Colette has been amazing. Her professionalism and efficiency in achieving everything we wanted as a group of eight travellers was perfect. I would certainly recommend her to family and colleagues and have already done so.
Sent by P Turner
London 17/04/2025
Colette did a fantastic job with my holiday search. I couldn't have asked for more.
Sent by C Weatherald
London 02/02/2024
Colette was extremely helpful and efficient. We will definitely be using her services again as a family and will happily recommend her to others.
Sent by P Hitchcock
London 21/11/2023
Colette is meticulous, and listen's to your every needs. She always provides a good choice of options, along with some wildcard's. Great communication throughout the booking process, and has managed to find our dream holiday once again.
Sent by M Harris
Kent 10/10/2023
We had such a wonderful, brilliant holiday in South Africa that has created memories that will stay with us forever. Thank you, Colette for all that you did to make it such a special occasion, we appreciate you so much.
Sent by G Stokes
London 11/05/2023
Colette’s been fabulous from the beginning in helping find and book our family summer holiday.
Sent by K Harris
Kent 13/03/2023
Colette has been amazing, helping us to plan, organise and book our holiday to South Africa. I would have no hesitation to recommend her Fantastic service.
Sent by P Hitchcock
South London 23/02/2023
Colette provides a 5 star service. Spot on with requests and includes everything on your wishlist, if not more than expected. Will definitely be using her service in the future!
Sent by A Morley
Scotland 22/09/2022
Colette, treated us like we were family. Answered all my queries immediately, no problem too little for Colette. Hope the holiday is as good.
Sent by L Brindle
Kent 07/08/2022
Colette is a wealth of knowledge, from the very beginning she asks all the right questions so the options you receive from her are perfect. So looking forward to our trip! x
Sent by D Smith
London 26/06/2022
Always amazing service from quoting through to booking right up until we arrive home... Colette is always there for us and we use her for EVERY trip we book. Thank you Colette!
Sent by H Harris
Kent 22/01/2022
We have always used Colette to book our holidays and she has always gone above and beyond our expectations in finding the 'perfect' holiday for us. We have told family and friends about her and they are now booking their holidays with her too. Always helpful, polite and listening to what we require and she always exceeds our expectations. Makes booking a holiday a truly stress-free experience. Highly recommend Colette.
Sent by E Clarke
London 05/11/2021
Best travel advice and arrangements. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Colette to everyone. Super service
Sent by D Brown
London 04/09/2021
Great service all round from Colette.
Sent by S Collins
London 22/08/2021
Excellent service from Colette . Always prompt, friendly and efficient and nailed our varied tour exactly inline with our brief.
Sent by B Ayton
London 01/11/2020
Colette provided a great service throughout, with several options in a couple of locations which met in line with our requirements. Her service was very attentive and thorough, so would not hesitate to recommend her to my family and friends.
Sent by J Brindle
London 08/09/2020
Brilliant service from Colette, who was able to source a magnificent period building, for our large group of family and friends.
Sent by B Banner-Eve
London 08/09/2020
What a fantastic booking experience with Colette who was always on hand to give advice, or to make any last minute changes with our holiday search.
Sent by R CLARKE
LONDON 30/03/2020
Colette went above and beyond to manage our trip to Vietnam and Thailand. Changing the itinerary on various occasions due to the Covid-19 situation. All transfers were seamless, and she also managed to find a last-minute flight home to ensure we were not stranded. Excellent service. Cannot praise her enough... thank you!
Sent by D Coleman
London 18/01/2020
Colette couldn’t have been more helpful and provided us with so many options as we had no idea what kind of holiday we wanted. When we had any questions, Colette was always extremely quick to reply and nothing was too much trouble when it came to changes or additions to our itinerary. We now have our wonderful trip booked and won't hesitate to recommend Colette to all my family and friends.
Sent by D Smith
London 20/09/2019
Colette is amazing!! She has looked after us so well over the years and can not recommend her services highly enough - her research and service is second to none.
Sent by C Gower
London 06/09/2019
Colette was amazing and could not have been more helpful. The options she presented were 100% what I was looking for and made it very easy to decide. I will be going to her for all my future travel requirements.
Sent by E Clarke
London 17/08/2019
Fabulous communication from Colette from start to booking. A very personal approach to our trip needs. Excellent service, makes me feel very special..
Sent by P Holmes
London 02/07/2019
Excellent advice and service. Colette listened to my needs/wants and found me the perfect holiday. She was always readily available during evenings and weekends to provide answers to any of my niggling questions, which is a rarity in the world of travel. I will certainly recommend her to all my family and friends.
Sent by U Theobald
London 26/10/2018
Really excellent and professional services! Colette is a lovely person who puts in lots of effort to help me to plan my trip with the budget I had. She replied very promptly to my emaiils and has a great personality! I would recommend her any time. Thank you Colette!
Sent by S Kermode
London 24/06/2018
Colette was a pleasure to deal with and kept us informed of progress throughout our search for the perfect holiday. She sourced a variety of options and we are now really looking forward to our trip.
Sent by G Giddings
London 24/05/2018
Colette understood both requests completely and was delightful to deal with.
Sent by Maria O'Looney
London 20/04/2018
In my whole life I have never before dealt with anyone that is so helpful and insightful regarding what I wanted. There were a lot of offers each containing exactly what I wanted. Colette also went above and beyond to advise me of everything surrounding the place where I’m going to stay. My son also got all that he asked for. There is no point to try and book it yourself as there is no better agent than Colette.
Sent by Anna J
East London 02/04/2018
Colette from Travel Counsellors was recommended to me from a friend. I was not disappointed. From the very start of the holiday booking, Colette was fantastic. Very kind, friendly and genuine. Colette went over and above to the lead up, informing of Weather conditions etc. Colette was always available and responded to any quieries/ questions in a Good timely mannor.
I really liked the payment system, really easy and flexible. I would reccomend Travel Counsellors and i will certainly use again!
Thank you!
Sent by C Djema
London 06/05/2017
Colette provided a very efficient and charming service throughout and wouldn't hesitate to recommend to my family and friends.
Sent by Joe Miller
Windham, NH USA 05/05/2017
Hello from the USA! I was looking for someone to act as a "trip consultant" for a family of 4 trip to the London and the Cotswolds. I randomly found Colette through an internet search. I wanted someone who lived in London and would give us an insider's view. After the initial shock of a random American calling her on the phone wore off, we worked together on what became an outstanding trip. Colette really took the time to get to know us; what we liked, were interested in, more importantly, what we weren't interested in, and worked very hard to put together an itinerary that was well thought-out, clear and easily digestible.
Colette put a lot of time into understanding our needs - and I truly feel she was invested in ensuring we had the most wonderful time during the trip. She provided excellent tips, her research was much better than the standard "TripAdvisor" fare, and frankly, that's why one works with these folks. I can access the internet. What I can't access is the institutional knowledge and the ability to cut through the BS.
Fast forward to the trip - documents waiting at the hotel and a gift from her for the kids. Just the nicest touch. Never an issue, never a problem. If you're looking to work with someone who truly cares about your needs, I wholeheartedly recommend Colette Cooper. Regards, Joe
Sent by L Jordan
Argyll and Bute 19/04/2017
I'd like to thank Colette for all of her help and guidance and would definitely recommend her services to friends and family.
Sent by Vicky Smith
London 06/02/2017
We have just returned from one of the best holidays we've ever had, thanks to Colette! She found us an amazing property in Barbados and really went out of her way to make sure all our needs were met. We were travelling with our two year old and Colette made sure that everything went as easily and smoothly as possible. Any questions I had prior to travelling were answered extremely promptly and efficiently. Thank you so much!
We have also used Colette to book weekends away in Europe and she never fails to find something which suits our tastes. She is also brilliant at finding quirky tours, restaurants and bars, which we wouldn't have found if it wasn't for her. I cannot recommend her highly enough. We will never book with anyone else again! x
Sent by Susannah Smith
London 26/01/2017
Just wanted to say a big thank you for arranging my amazing trip to Vietnam and Cambodia in February. From start to finish Colette found sourced and explained everything needed to make this trip so exciting. I gave her my brief and it was delivered above and beyond my expectation. Can't wait to experience all of it. Many thanks. I highly recommend Travel Counsellors and will definitely be using Colette again.
Sent by William Kirby
Kilkenny 23/01/2017
I have just returned from a 4 night trip to Montgenevre on the Italy/French border. I can honestly say that of all the ski trips I have been on and I have been on many, this was without a doubt the best trip I have been on. Collette nailed it, 1 hour 10 mins transfer from Turin, seamless transfer on to coaches, lovely rep, apartment was excellent, clean roomy. Good space for ski gear, pool, etc. Ski in Ski out (50 yards from door). The best variety of pistes ever! We were able to ski in Italy one minute and have France the next, no queues at all, great snow. "Apres ski" was great, good choice of food, Italian, International too, we had 6 kids with us and they had a ball and ate very well, swam in the complex outdoor pool. We found some nice bars too with great local atmosphere and lively music. Very affordable too. All in all I could not fault the whole experience. Collette is new to the ski trip game but she took to it like a duck to water, I cannot wait to go back and do the same again, AWESOME!
Sent by D Chauhan
London 24/11/2016
Great service and Colette was super helpful.
Sent by L Brindle
London 04/11/2016
So lovely dealing with Colette who gave me good advice throughout. I changed my mind quite a few times and she always came back quickly with alternative options. I'll most definitely use Colette for other trips and felt in good hands throughout.
Sent by J Kirby
Kilkenny 03/10/2016
Thanks a million Colette for arranging the perfect ski holiday for us. Your attention to detail and the research you undertook has given us a tailor made trip for our group. Your service is second to none!
Sent by B Brennan
London 29/09/2016
Thank you Colette for being our Travel Counsellor and arranging our fantastic honeymoon! I was so pleased that you listened to what we like and put together a fabulous package tailoured to our individual needs. You were patient when we were indecisive and on hand to give expert advice whenever we had any questions. You were so easy to get in contact with and made us feel truly special. I will recommend you to all my friends and family. Top score for a superstar! Thank you
.
Sent by Joan Tidmarsh
Kent 15/07/2016
Thank you Colette for listening to our choices and making sure the trip met our requirements. It didn't take you long to arrange the itinerary and the price was very competitive.
Sent by Portia Bishop
London 01/07/2016
Urban Pubs and Bars will definitely be booking next years conference with Colette again. Having given her the task of organising our annual General Managers Conference to the Canary Islands this year, all 17 of us agreed that the flights, hotel and personal service was spot on and all within our budget. Highly recommend!
Sent by Janine Pethig
Kent 14/04/2016
Colette went the extra mile to find us our perfect trip to Peru and managed to get in all the places we wanted to visit and within our time frame. This was a feat in itself AND the price was much lower than any other travel companies. I will be recommending her to all of my friends and I look forward to booking with her again.
Sent by Helen Harris
Kent 30/03/2016
The service I received from Colette was First Class and she went above and beyond to find me my perfect weekend. Nothing was too much trouble.
Based in
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.
Lisbon & Coastal Zen: Sun, Sangria & a Side of Bougie
05 October 2025
From pastel tiles to poolside cushioned sunbeds – a whirlwind of boutique bliss, birthday antics, and the kind of seafood that makes you weep (in a good way). I took off from Heathrow T2 with TAP Air Portugal — fully braced for a knee-crushing short-haul. Instead? Spacious cabin, actual legroom, and a screen in the seatback. For a 2h40 flight, that’s basically first class. Even with 23kg of lugga
Kamalaya Calm: The Cult Retreat That Rewrites the Meaning of Wellness
28 June 2025
It all started in the mystical highlands of Ubud, where I first dipped my toes into the world of wellness sanctuaries. Como Shambhala—the kind of place whispered about among the wellness elite—was my gateway drug to the art of switching off. I was hooked. Phone off, sarong on, worries slipping away like incense smoke into the jungle air. But there was another name that kept echoing through the sp
Walking, eating & drinking in Porto city
15 October 2023
She buzzes during the day with an army of pavement-pounding wanderers, clicking furiously with their phones at the gorgeous baroque architecture, intertwining cobbled streets, and stunning hillside views of the Douro River. Porto is a city that sits comfortably within its confines. There’s no need to shout from the rooftops; she knows her worth. This magnetic European bolthole makes the perfect b
Como Shambhala - Unique Holistic Healing In Bali
18 February 2023
A chance to return to Como Shambhala Estate has always remained high on my bucket list, after a life changing visit back in 2007. Since then, the wellness industry has boomed, so I was curious to discover if their offering is still up there with the big hitters of today, and oh boy, they certainly did not disappoint. As soon as we disembarked from the plane, our friendly VIP escort with the wide
Siem Reap, Cambodia – Mighty Angkor Wat, Hikes, Phare Circus & Vespa Street Tours (Part 2)
30 August 2017
Angkor Wat and Kbal Spean The following morning it was an early start to beat the crowds at the mighty Angor Wat, which for many, is one of the major highlights in Southeast Asia. The sheer magnitude and intricate workmanship put into the construction of this fascinating city, which in the early 12th century took over 37 years to build, undoubtedly blows everyone’s mind. Suryavarman II was t
Cambodia Village Homestay, Countryside Bike Rides & On the Road to Phnom Penh (Part 3)
30 August 2017
Bantaey Chhmar Village and Temple BBQ Once our touring of Siem Reap came to an end, I found myself still craving further adventure in this vibrant city awash with French colonial architecture, galleries, lakes, rivers and the friendliest of locals, but sadly it was time to hit the road to our next stop of Bantaey Chhmar village and temple complex. Our digs for the night would be in a local vill
Cambodia’s Captivating Countryside, Sleepy Riverside and Coastal Towns (Part 5)
30 August 2017
Otres Beach, Sihanoukville After reluctant goodbyes with staff and management of super Song Saa, we headed back to port and towards Otres Beach which swoops around a massive bay. It’s dotted with several small boutique hotels, with low key restaurant and bars, overlooking the beach and nearby neighbouring islands which are soon to see luxury retreats from the Six Senses and Alila hotel groups.
Cambodian Southern Coastline and Untouched Islands (Part 4)
22 August 2017
Cardamom Mountain Range & Sihanoukville Depending how much time you have, one can either fly within 2.5 hours from Phnom Penh to the main costal region of Sihanoukville or drive, as we did for approx. 4.5 – 5 hours where you’ll be rewarded with beautiful scenery and the mutterings of WOW at every given turn. Cambodia’s southern provinces offer dramatic contrasts to the flat central regions
Siem Reap, Cambodia – Boutique Retreats, Temples and Gondolas (Part 1)
22 August 2017
Cambodia, tightly sandwiched in-between the ever-popular Thailand and Vietnam, is a region sadly overlooked by many of today’s travellers. This wonderful country is full of the gentlest of people wearing the biggest of smiles, beautiful landscapes and undiscovered southern islands like those of Thailand 20 years ago, and certainly has more to shout about than just the spellbinding temples of Angko
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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: