Based in Bicester

Collette Howse

Available for new enquiries

It's Nice To Meet You

Hello and welcome. My name is Collette, and as your Travel Counsellor, I can help with any travel plans you have. I am available to discuss your travel requirements whenever is convenient to you, including weekends and evenings.

I live in Bicester, Oxfordshire, with my husband and have one adult daughter. I have a passion for, and love to chat about, all things travel. I have been in the industry for over 43 years years. I started out in a tour operator in London, then 18 years with a high street agency before I took the plunge and became self employed over 7 years ago. I have had the pleasure of helping so many clients find their dream holiday and love to hear all about it on their return.

I have been lucky enough to travel to some wonderful destinations including India’s Golden Triangle, California taking in the beautiful coastline and Yosemite, Las Vegas, Boston, New York, Washington and all over Florida including the Keys and Gulf Coast. I have visited Antigua, St Kitts & Nevis, The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean and travelled extensively through Europe, including a visit to Santa in Lapland. I have also been able to take a ocean cruises in the Mediterranean, and in the Caribbean and also cruised from Iceland to Denmark. Canada is high on my bucket list now having visited Vancouver a few years ago I plan to visit more of this beautiful country in the future. River cruising is something that I have experienced a few times now as well and really enjoyed.

These experiences combined with being an independent Travel Counsellor, where I have access to hundreds of different suppliers and DMCs help me to source the best options to suit your individual requirements and budget. Of course, for your peace of mind everything is financially protected by the Travel Counsellors’ Financial Trust and ATOL.

I love my job and I pride myself on my customer service and attention to detail, taking care of all my clients’ travel needs from start to finish. So whether you are looking to take a cruise, want a last-minute city break, ski trip, a round the world bespoke itinerary, safari, beach holiday or a house in the UK - please get in touch either by phone or email and let me take the stress out of organising your dream holiday.

I really look forward to hearing from you.

Best Wishes

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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:

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My Videos

Iceland

8/10/2023

Whale watching off the coast of Iceland.....

Explora 1 Cruise

8/8/2023

Beautiful new ship the Explora 1. I sailed on part of its maiden voyage from Iceland to Denmark. The journey was wonderful, serene and peaceful.

Who are we?

7/6/2023

We’re a community of people from all walks of life who put ourselves in your shoes, curating your perfect trip, making it personal for you

Universal Orlando

4/26/2023

I still get a buzz when I go there, even after all these years! Get in touch to plan your Orlando adventure.

Baglioni Resort Maldives

9/7/2022

Baglioni Resort Maldives won 3 recognitions at the 2021 World Luxury Hotel Awards.

Islands

8/5/2021

Islands waiting for us to visit...

New hotels

7/14/2021

Recently we've added some exciting new properties to our collection, from sought after destinations across Europe.

The iconic Sandy Lane, Barbados

4/22/2021

Celebrating 60 years this year - Happy Birthday!

Six Senses Laamu, Maldives

4/15/2021

Could this be your idyllic palm-fringed paradise? The only resort on the remote Laamu Atoll in the southern Maldives.

Moments that matter

4/8/2021

Moments that matter....

Postcards

4/8/2021

Incredible poem by Tony Walsh

Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas and Elounda Bay Palace

3/25/2021

Five star luxury and they are members of The Leading Hotels of the World, set on the most exclusive waterfront location on Crete.

Stella Island

3/12/2021

Stella Island Luxury Resort and Spa Adults only

World of good

3/12/2021

Looking forward to when we can travel and explore the world again

TC Experience - Ski

3/9/2021

Get in touch to plan your ski trip for season 2021/2022

Africa with Travel Counsellors

3/4/2021

Take a look at what is waiting for you in Rwanda! Get in touch to plan your bucket list adventure!

Royal Caribbean Cruises 2022

1/19/2021

I know we are all waiting for the world to open again and we need something to look forward to! collette.howse@travelcounsellors.com

Reassurance

1/7/2021

When the time is right and you wish to travel again, when you are looking to book please do get in touch. collette.howse@travelcounsellors.com 01869 868450

Beyond the Horizon

10/12/2020

Let's start making plans to get excited about!

Duty Office

10/12/2020

Trust me to be with you every step of the way until you are back from that amazing holiday! I have you covered.

St Lucia

10/12/2020

The beautiful island of St Lucia is waiting for you....

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.

Sailing the Christmas Markets

26 March 2024

One of the best ways to visit Christmas Markets is on a River cruise. We sailed along the Rhine in December for 5 nights visiting ports of call all with different Christmas markets to wander around. We embarked in Cologne with its beautiful cathedral towering above various traditional Christmas markets. They go all out in Cologne with stalls selling lots of different things to buy, taste and drink. With bars set up in log cabins and ice rings for skating and playing games on. Once on board we checked into our cabin, we went for a French balcony cabin which gives you an opening full floor to ceiling window. If budget allows always go for a balcony on a cruise (ocean or river). River cruise ships are much smaller than ocean liners as they sail on the rivers right in to the centre of cities so that you just step off and are usually just a few steps from the town. They are much smaller than ocean liners as well making it a much more intimate trip. Very low key entertainment on board in the evenings so use it watch the world float by! We sailed from Cologne down the Rhine towards Rudesheim, what a pretty town to wake up in so into Christmas, with stalls, music and such a great atmosphere. We also visited Koblenz, Mainz and Speyer. Due to high water levels we could not get into Strasbourg so visited Frankfurt instead as sometimes last minute changes are needed! Sailing the Rhine past castles, pretty villages and towns was so relaxing. I really recommend you give river cruising a try

Not just Brussels

28 September 2023

Just got back from a lovely stay at the Stanhope hotel in Brussels. A traditional, service driven elegant hotel. Lovely buffet breakfast and a great little bar for a nightcap all within a 20 min stroll of many sites like the Grand Place, Museum of European History and central station for day trips to other cities Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp and a little gem of a town we visited, Leuven, definitely would recommend a stay at this hotel. There is lots to see in Brussels but visiting other cities is so easy from there and quick. We travelled by train to Bruges for the day and also Leuven, we have previously visited Ghent and Antwerp all an easy train ride away.

Skagen or Copenhagen....why not both!

04 October 2023

After a wonderful sailing from Iceland, over the North Sea our first stop in Denmark was Skagen - what a gem of a place this is. I can see why the Danish often head here for their summer break. We spent a lovely day mooching around visiting the local brewery, shops, cafes, Swedish seaman church and the museum showing what life was like many moons ago! After Skagen our next and final stop was Copenhagen. We have been lucky enough to have visited here during the winter months, but I must say going back in August really had such a different feel about it, I liked it very much. Beautiful buildings, lovely cafes with a buzz about it. I recommend you add to your bucket list.

Find you Ocean State of Mind with Explora Journeys

04 October 2023

We joined the most wonderful ship, the Explora 1 in Reykjavik for a journey around Iceland and over to Denmark. We spent 7 days on a journey around Iceland then over to Skagen, Denmark finally ending in Copenhagen. The scenery was just beautiful. The ship is amazing, elegant, beautiful, peaceful and spacious. With only 461 suites and residences and a ratio of 1.25 members of staff to every passenger the service is second to none. The food was outstanding and of the highest standard. The journey was like a boutique 5 star hotel! Let's talk food options on Explora 1 With four al a carte restaurants inlcuded, room service and the Emporium all included you are spoilt for choice! Each restaurant has its own kitchen (including room service) and all are overseen by head of culinary, chef Franck Garanger. The food is outstanding all cooked to order. SAKURA An immersive, authentic dining experience offering the finest Pan-Asian cuisine MARBLE & CO. GRILL A redefined European steakhouse experience MED YACHT CLUB A relaxed celebration of the flavours, ambience and la dolce vita of the Mediterranean FIL ROUGE A global tasting tour of French-inspired international cuisine. Emporium Marketplace Effortless all-day dining, inspired by cuisines and flavours from across the globe. The emporium is similar to a food court but only in the sense there are plenty of different options and cooking stations, that's where the similarity stops. It is table service with waiters on hand for your every whim! We tried all options from breakfast in our suite, lunch in the sunshine on the emporium desk to al a carte dining in the evening at each of the stunning restaurants and were very spoilt! Entertainment is low key. there are plenty of bars/lounges to while away the hours each evening with something happening, including a pianist, jazz and there is the main lounge at night that has the resident band offering something different each evening, something for everyone. As your drinks are included you can sit back, relax whilst enjoying just watching for whales or listening to the quiet!! Really was a most wonderful journey….I definitely found my Ocean State of Mind and you can too!

Reykjavik in the summer

23 August 2023

Earlier on in the month we visited Reykjavik, Iceland for a pre cruise stay. It is an interesting city, with very friendly people. We stayed at the Centrum hotel where I usually book my clients, as it is in the older part of the town and within easy walking of everywhere. It is a great base for visiting the Blue Lagoon and doing the coach trips around Iceland like the Golden Circle. The hotel itself has a lovely little breakfast room where it serves a buffet breakfast and also a bar. The rooms are small but perfectly formed, as a lot of city hotel rooms are. The staff were very friendly. Be prepared for the cost of food and drink in Iceland as more than you think it will be....happy hours are worth looking out for and most places offer them. If you would like to visit Iceland get in touch for a personalised quote. collette.howse@travelcounsellors.com

Flying visit to Tenerife

24 May 2023

Just got back from a few days in the sun on the island of Tenerife ?? stayed at the lovely adults only Iberostar Selection Sabila with lovely views from our room of the sea and mountains, stocked mini bar, fabulous pool and the food was excellent. It is a buffet but cooking stations all around. So fresh and plenty of choice for all tastes from Vegan to meat eaters! Too much food & too much drink but rather nice! What I liked as well is their plastic free approach - none anywhere. Walkable to restaurants and bars...if you wish to go out and explore. You can walk along the promenade, go shopping or just stop and sip a wine whilst watching the views! Get in touch if you want to know more and prices Collette.howse@travelcounsellors.com

CHRISTMAS RIVER CRUISE

01 April 2023

Had the most lovely trip to the Christmas Markets on the Emily Bronte river cruise ship. We visited Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna over 6 nights. We flew into Budapest and after a transfer and a check in to our cabin we had the evening to explore Budapest. I opted for a cabin with a Juliette balcony which gave us wonderful views of the cities as we sailed along. Dinner was served in the main dining room from an al a carte menu and the food was very good. There was always a small buffet as well for salads and deserts. The next day we had an included guided excursion to the old part of town which was worth doing. We sailed late that night on to Bratislavia. After breakfast we had another guided tour included and then free time for the afternoon which we utilised visiting Christmas Markets, shops and some local pubs. then on to Vienna for the same. Finally sailing back to Budapest for another day visiting. Most evenings something was going on in the lounge be it a quiz or a concert or you could just sit and enjoy the sailing.... Each city had a guided tour included and the guides were very very good and enjoyable to listen to. The food was exceptional and consisted of a buffet with al a carte items as well, more than enough food to keep you going. We upgraded to an all in drinks package, which meant we had free flowing beer and wine included with our dinner and also were given some vouchers to use in the bar each night for one drink so we did not spend much more in an evening at all so worth doing. River cruising is not like ocean cruising, the boats are much smaller and you sail right through the centre of the cities. Fancy doing one? Give me a call

Beach time in Florida

28 September 2022

Florida has so much more to offer than just Walt Disney World. When I visit I try to add in a couple of beach days. This time we visited Clearwater again as the beach is considered one of the best. Only a couple of hours drive from Orlando or something completely different. Have dinner on the beach at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill for casual dining with a great sunsets and usually live music adding to the atmosphere. Whilst there if you are missing the theme park buzz take a day at Busch Gardens which has plenty of "big" rides and is around an hours drive from Clearwater, so easy to combine the two.

Florida accommodation choices when visiting Walt Disney World

27 April 2019

One place my family love to visit is Florida. Myself and my husband have been going since 1988 and introduced our daughter to Disney when she was 9 months old. She is 27 now and we have just again visited for the umpteenth time! We do not just do Disney, we have travelled all over the state visiting as far south as the Keys, we've stayed in Fort Lauderdale and Clearwater, had a villa on Anna Maria Island and loved exploring Sanibel and Captiva Islands. It is not all about Disney, however for this blog I will mostly be covering hints and tips for "doing" the happiest place on earth holiday at Disney. The first time we visited we stayed with family all those years ago, but soon opted for motels and hotels on subsequent stays. When we took our daughter we had a villa but the next time we stayed on site at Disney and have never looked back. The ease of staying on site more than enough justifies the extra cost however there are pros and cons with all types of accommodation, so you need to think what will work best for your family. Staying in a villa one of the popular options, as most have a private pool and are within easy drive of all the parks. What can be better than starting or finishing your day taking a dip in your own pool? They tend not to be heated pools as there is no need most of the year but in the colder winter months you could look at paying the extra to have them heated. The pros of a villa is you have to have a car as you are staying in residential areas. This, in itself, is not costly however you do need to pay for parking at all the theme parks around $20 a time so factor that in. Also if you are two families sharing with only one car you do have to spend all your time together - so you might want to have two smaller cars so that each family do not feel that they are joined to the hip of the other. Staying in an off site hotel is another option. If you choose a hotel with shuttles to the parks this can work well. If you stay near or on International Drive there are plenty of restaurants around that you can eat in if you wish not to eat in your hotel. Cons of staying off site are you are stuck with the hotel shuttle bus timetable which can be limited and maybe not run as late as you would like. Staying on site is always my choice now. We have been lucky enough to stay in the All Stars Sports, Yacht Club, Coronado Springs and Port Orleans Riverside. One of our favourites is the Port Orleans Riverside which is a moderate resort. It is situated close to Disney Springs (was called Downtown Disney) It is linked by boat and really is a pleasant journey down. You do not feel that Disney is taking over, it does have a relaxed feel about it all. All the theme and water parks are linked to the hotel by regular direct buses that Disney run throughout their resorts. Bear in mind that the Disney resort area is as big as Greater Manchester! All hotels have direct buses, boats or monorails. Each hotel room at all hotels are mostly two double beds and their decoration takes on the "theme" of the hotel you are staying in. All the hotels are large and have lots of rooms spread around. In Port Orleans they have little quiet pools dotted between room blocks as well as the main pool area so plenty of choice if you fancy some time away from the parks. As does the Coronado Springs where we have stayed most recently. This hotel has a convention centre making it more of a corporate feel hotel, so if you are an "adult family" this might be a nice option as not so many families with younger children stay here. All theme and water parks are reached by direct buses. The rooms are around a large Lagoon that they are currently building an over the water restaurant and another block of rooms. This should all be finished soon but was not a problem when we were last there. Again, pools dotted around as well as one main one. Coronado Springs is another favourite - has a more adult feel to it and now they have added two new restaurants and two new lounge bars. One of these is at the top of the new tower which gives you great views and in the evening you can see the fireworks from Hollywood Studios and Epcot. the Three Bridges restaurants is on the lagoon and connected by...yes you guessed it three bridges, really is a lovely setting to watch the sun go down. Of course you can splash out and go for one of the deluxe resort hotels. Our favourite is the Yacht Club which is walking distance to Epcot or a boat to the Hollywood Studios. It is across the lagoon from Boardwalk which is a great place to take time to visit and is near the Swan and Dolphin hotels. The Animal Kingdom is where they have their own mini Savannah with animals. Wherever you choose to stay you can visit any Disney hotel to have a look around or stop for a drink (more about that later!) Take the Monorail and do the grand loop of the Lagoon which stops at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian Resort and stops inside the Contemporary hotel, yes the Monorail actually goes inside this hotel, this is where you will find Chef Mickey's for character dining and the fantastic California Grill restaurant. This hotel is within walking distance of Magic Kingdom. Most of the Deluxe hotels offer character breakfast that you must pre-book before going all with different characters. However, I would say my favourite and we consider the best is in the Magic Kingdom Crystal restaurant with Winnie the Pooh and friends. I will cover dining in another blog, but for now I hope that this might help you decide where to stay. There are plenty of other on site properties but I just wanted to cover some of the most popular ones. Whichever Disney hotel you stay at you will not need a car to get around. The airport transfers are also included with the Disney Magical Express. I know that you will have a magical time wherever you stay be it in a villa, off site or on site. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you are planning to go I'm happy to help!

Getting around Walt Disney World, Florida

20 September 2022

Disney World Florida transportation - not just buses! They still have the buses that run between all hotels and the parks very frequent and reliable, but often there are other ways of getting about. If you wish to get away from Magic Kingdom for some peace and quiet take a boat over the lagoon to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The journey itself is very relaxing. There you'll find a tavern with rocking chairs that you can chill out in for a while.... choosing to travel by boat is such a relaxing way to see the resort. There are boats from Magic Kingdom to the other hotels around the lagoon Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Talking of boats you can take one from Hollywood Studios or Epcot with stops at Disney’s Board Walk Villas Disney's Beach Club Villas Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel Walt Disney World Swan Hotel Disney Springs has boats that go to Disney's Old Key West Resort Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside Disney's Port Orleans - French Quarter New is the Skyliner cable car that connects EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. Worth a ride just for the views or to visit another hotel for lunch. So before you jump on the bus remember to check if there is more scenic way to get around from your hotel...

Cruising the Med with Virgin Voyages.....

24 May 2023

Had the pleasure of cruising with Virgin Voyages on Valiant Lady on her second sailing in May 2022. We had spent the previous night re-visiting the city of Barcelona so we were not rushed in the morning with flights and transfers. Jumped in a taxi to the port and there she was looking all very grand and new. We embarked in Barcelona, a smooth and easy boarding process with a fun welcome and found our way to a fantastic balcony cabin with even a hammock on the balcony! Plenty of space for everything and one of the best bathrooms on a cruise ship I have seen! We visited Toulon, Marina di Carrara, Ajaccio, Sardinia and had an overnight in Ibiza Town so three countries in one go - great test for my French, Spanish and Italian! The food was outstanding all a la carte were included and could be pre-booked before boarding at no extra charge using the Virgin Voyage app. At breakfast we dined in the food court, which was also table service and offered plenty of choice. It also offered a great selection for lunches, with a salad bar, noodle bar, hot stations, sandwiches and plenty more. there was also well as late night pizza snack bar - great after a late return from Ibiza town. The deck bar, which was my favourite as had fabulous views, served great snacks you could have delivered to you, all included as well. Plenty of bars to choose from some with entertainment which included some excellent singers, jazz band, guitarist, pub quiz, bingo, shows and casino. Was so relaxing being adult only, but you could participate in plenty of activities if you wanted the party or not whatever took your fancy. Get in touch to find out more!

Ghent by train

18 February 2020

Looking for a different weekend break in Europe? What about Ghent in Belgium by Eurostar? We have been twice now and really enjoy our visits. Ghent is easy to get to. We travelled on the direct Eurostar to Brussels from St Pancras. I recommend, if budget allows, you upgrade to 1st class as you get more space a meal included. After a quick change of train in Brussels we headed to Ghent. We were booked into the Marriott hotel there which is situated a short tram ride away from the station in the Old town on the canal. It really is a very pretty situation, especially at night. We were there during the Christmas Market season, so there was plenty of stalls with lots of seasonal offerings to enjoy....not to mention the Belgium beer! Ghent is a safe city to wander around, take in the short boat trip on the canal. Enjoy a tasty meal, visit the pretty churches and enjoy the wonderful architecture of the city. I would suggest on your return journey back, take time to stop in Brussels and visit the Grand Place which is a wonderful square surrounded by beautiful buildings. Then catch your direct train back to London. Short but a sweet visit....

Short break to Dubrovnik

11 December 2019

We went to Dubrovnik for 4 nights in October. We were very lucky with the weather it was gloriously hot the whole time we were there. Even though it was the end of the summer season where we stayed, there were still plenty of bars and restaurants open. We stayed in Lapad in the hotel Kompas, which is a lovely 4 star hotel. Worth paying extra for the sea view room. The breakfast was served as a buffet and had everything, hot and cold, you could want to set you up for the day. We did not bother eating in the hotel for dinner as the evening buffet was very limited (e had booked only BB) and there are many choices outside the hotel within a 5 minute stroll. The hotel is on the promenade where you can take a walk along the coast, which is beautiful. Turn right our of the hotel and head to the Cave bar which is, as it sounds, built into the caves. Turn left and you are surrounded by bars and restaurants to choose from. Head up to the main road to catch the bus directly to Dubrovnik. It drops you at the main entrance to the Old Town and is only around £2.50 per person return. Just get the tickets from any TABAC as much more to pay the driver. Dubrovnik itself was very busy with cruise ships in and the Game of Thrones interest now. We wandered the side streets which were so nice and a lot quieter. We took a boat ride out around the bay, thoroughly enjoyed that, seeing Dubrovnik from the sea. Take a drink on the marina and watch the world go by! We visited the Maritime Museum and the 16th Century Sponza Palace which was very interesting and I would recommend. If you plan to visit lots of museums then consider getting a Dubrovnik pass as that gives you entrance at a reduced rate. I did find Dubrovnik expensive compared to other parts of Croatia I have visited but I would recommend it for a visit.

5 nights in Crete

15 August 2019

We went on a short 5-night break to Crete in July and really enjoyed our first visit there. We flew from Birmingham and had a short transfer of around 30mins to our hotel the Knossos Beach Bungalows and Suites. Perfect for a short trip and to visit Heraklion as the bus stop was right outside the hotel 2E and we were in there within 30mins! We visited the Palace Knossos itself and worth a visit at 15E per person entrance. We used the hop on hop off bus as it went all the way out there and we got to see and learn a bit more about the history of Crete and Heraklion. The hotel we stayed in is more adult focused - children are welcomed but as it is a smallish family run hotel - the owner "lives" there and is nearly 100 years old! Her family run it now. It does not have kids’ clubs or entertainment. We had a piano player and singer a couple of nights, but mostly it was sitting and enjoying the wine and watching the sunset! There is a buffet restaurant on site and two a la carte restaurants as well. Would I go back to Crete? Most definitely and would visit some more of the Island. But as a taster it was perfect for what we wanted!

Flying visit to Florence

27 April 2019

We headed to Gatwick for our late flights to Florence with Vueling airlines- think Easyjet but Spanish. I could not fault the aircraft or staff and the flight left on time - always a bonus! On arrival in Florence we opted for just grabbing a taxi to the hotel as they have a set €22 fee with an extra charge for luggage at €1 per bag so with tip it cost us €30. We stayed at the Pitti Palace hotel which is a traditional 4 four star hotel situated over the water on the entrance to the Ponte Vecchio bridge. After check in, we headed to our room and were pleasantly surprised to have been given a superior triple (room 215) which meant we had a double room with a single room attached and a bathroom between us - perfect for us three adults. It had a kettle and minibar (water 2 euros) so excellent value. It also had a small balcony, not much of a view (just to the street) but was nice to sit outside and take in the atmosphere. In the evening, we headed to a local restaurant that we had pre-booked as we were arriving late and walked past a few others that were busy for a Sunday night! After a lovely meal, in an unusual restaurant that doubled as a cookery school and shop, we went off to bed so we went ready for our first day. Up early for breakfast on the 6th floor - what a view from there! We decided to take breakfast out on the terrace which was covered but gave a great view of the city. Breakfast consisted of a good selection of cold meats, cheeses, veg, fruit, breads, cereals, yoghurts, pastries and cakes, as well as eggs and bacon. Coffee and tea machines with fruit juices. They also had a fresh large honeycomb with local honey ready for you to spread on your bread, which was very popular. Set up for the day we headed over the bridge to the city and took in the views. It was a 10min walk to the Duomo that was heaving with tourists. We wandered around took pictures of everything and explored the Piazza Della Signoria taking in the replica of the statue of David as well as a whole section of statues they did not know what to do with so put them there. The inside of the Palazzo Vecchio with some lovely drawings on the wall of other cities around the world - bit like the holiday snaps from years ago! We then took the hotel's suggested walking tours that they had given us at check in on a little map. There were a choice of five different routings which were great as they took us down streets which we probably would not have explored, so we saw lots of the lesser known buildings and churches as well. The artwork in them was outstanding. We ended up in the Mercato Centrals building which is an inside two storey market place with an abundance of stalls selling everything and anything you can eat for you to purchase. The second storey has restaurants cooking all this food, the choice was amazing, you would definitely find something there to eat for sure! That evening we had some drinks on the 6th floor terrace as the breakfast room converts into a popular dinner restaurant but we had booked a restaurant 10mins from our hotel with a view of the Arno river and spent a lovely evening listening to live Jazz whilst we ate food like it was going out of fashion. We finished our evening having a evening stroll around in the quiet taking in the views without anyone around. We made the right decision to stay this side of the city as there are less tourists more restaurants and bars where the locals hang out. The following day we had pre-reserved tickets for the Uffizi Gallery. The queues were long but moved quickly but I recommend you book your time slot before leaving the UK. We spent a couple of hours wandering around there in the afternoon. We headed up to the Piazzale Michelangelo, bit of a trudge up there but the views were worth it before heading off for dinner in a square we had found around 15mins from our hotel down some little streets that was full of locals out for the evening meeting their friends, walking their dogs etc so away from the tourist trap restaurants. The pizzas were great and we enjoyed just chilling - I love to people to watch so was very happy. Late gelatos were calling so the other two went off to find some before we headed to bed. Our return flight was booked for 14.00hrs the next day so there was just time after breakfast to have a quick couple of hours for a last wander around before our hotel organized us a taxi back to the airport for our flight home. It was a lovely break - I would recommend a 2-3 nights stay. If you would like to go, please get in touch!

Flying visit to Tallinn

27 January 2019

I travelled to Tallinn in November for three nights and so enjoyed my trip. I flew direct from Gatwick. On arrival I had arranged a transfer to meet us and take us to the hotel took approx. 25mins away. Our hotel Schlossle was right in the Old Town. The hotel is a lovely boutique hotel, just a few steps from Old Town Square. On arrival we were greeted with a lovely glass of fizz. The reception area doubles as the lounge area with a roaring real fire and soft comfortable sofas. There is no bar as such, but you can while away the hours on the sofa and order drinks from the staff as and when. The building itself dates back to Medieval times. The room was perfect for our needs with a large walk in shower. The room overlooked the internal courtyard where, in Summer months, they extend their restaurant to. Breakfast was served in the lower floor room and was cold buffet style and then you could order from the menu hot choices of eggs etc. We explored Tallinn on foot as this is the best way to do it. It is a small and safe city. You can pick up a free walking tour from the tourist office starting at 11am most days and it is worth doing. The town is split into upper and lower Tallinn. A real mixture of medieval streets and spires. It has an interesting history having had Danish, Swedish, Polish, German and Soviets invaders, all leaving a bit of their culture behind when they left. Now a thriving city in its own right - Skype was invented here! It is a city worth a visit for sure, enjoy sitting outside one of the cafés on town square and watch the world go by. Take in the atmosphere. If you would like to visit get in touch!

A few nights in Washington DC and New York

27 January 2019

We went to Washington DC for three nights in December. After a comfortable flight from Heathrow and a transfer of around one hour we arrived at our hotel in Georgetown, The Fairmont. A great setting walkable to Georgetown high street and buses easy to get from there around Washington or there was a taxi rank right outside if required. We had breakfast in the hotel, a fantastic buffet, but you can just as easily take a stroll and go out for breakfast. Try to visit some of the museums there. We fitted in the Natural History and Air and Space Museums. We did the hop on hop off bus and I would recommend it for sure. It takes you around the all the city sites and right out to Arlington as well. We walked miles so wear comfy shoes. If you are able, visit the Capitol building. You can go inside on a tour and actually see the inside of the dome as well as the rooms where history was made. The Lincoln Memorial is a site to behold, visit early in the morning before it gets crowded there and then walk towards the Capitol building via the WW2 memorial. It really was a lovely morning. Take the bus out to Arlington and stay a while in the cemetery. After three nights we took to train to New York. It’s really better to do than fly, you can go first class for extra comfort and not much more! Brace yourself when you arrive in Penn station as it really is a crazy city especially coming from Washington DC where it is a lot quieter! We stayed in the Novotel Times Square. Rooms are small but they all are in New York. Everything we needed was there though. The hotel has a restaurant that has an outside area with views over Times Sq. Again, take the hop on/hop off bus as it gets you around the city. It takes you out to Harlem as well as over to Brooklyn. We had a city cruise included which took in the Statue of Liberty. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge too. Visit the 9/11 memorial. Take in a show. There is so much to do there! If you would like to visit give me a call!

Flying visit to Rome

21 January 2019

We flew from Birmingham to Rome in July and I must say I loved it! Everywhere you looked there was something to see. Every corner seemed to have glimpse back into the past. We found the people very friendly, but service was slow everywhere so be prepared to enjoy lunch at a leisurely pace - the Italian way! We went in July and it was very very hot so drink plenty of water! Rome airport on arrival is chaos so be prepared. But just keep heading to the arrivals hall where eventually you will find your driver for you transfer. The accommodation I booked was just off the Via Nationale so very central and we walked miles – wear comfy shoes! The hotel was a little boutique 4 star called the Rome Times hotel. Great little breakfast room that doubled up as a bar and restaurant in the evening. The put our free little canapes from around 5pm as well to go with your glass of wine. Breakfast had everything you needed, enough to set you up for the day. Within 15 mins stroll of the hotel we found a little square surrounded by restaurants where the locals congregated in the evening to share a glass or two and all their news, it had such a lovely atmosphere that we ate there every night choosing a different restaurant each time. We booked the hop on hop off bus to use and I would recommend it to get around the city – sit on the top as you get a better view. We also had a guided tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum pre-booked that saved us lots of queuing time for tickets. The guide was very informative, maybe did go on a bit too long but you could leave the group early if you wished. We also pre-booked skip the line tickets for the Vatican and really jumped the queues! Leave yourself plenty of time to get to the airport on your way home as the traffic can be a nightmare and took us over an hour. If you fancy a visit to Rome? Get in touch.

The tale of three islands and Rum! Part one

13 June 2018

What fun I had visiting Antigua, St Kitts and Nevis. I flew with BA from their new terminal at Gatwick South and was impressed with the speed of check in and layout. After a 9-hour flight we landed in Antigua, but as we were visiting St Kitts first, we stayed on the plane whilst passengers got off, then took a short 20min flight onwards to St Kitts. What a beautiful island. We were met by hot weather and a lovely steel band welcoming us to the island! I felt very privileged! After a short 25min transfer we arrived at the lovely new hotel Park Hyatt. Set on the beach with a great selection of room types, the views are of Nevis straight opposite and could not have been better. We managed to stay awake (they are 5 hours behind the UK) for a very tasty dinner in the adult only restaurant the Stone Barn which has an open kitchen, and everything is cooked in a stone oven. Then we all hit our beds ready for the next day. After a very peaceful and comfortable sleep, we headed for breakfast in the Great House. The setting is glorious with sea and Nevis views. You can sit inside or out depending on your mood. It is a buffet breakfast which had everything you could want and more. We ate like we had never eaten before! After breakfast we were met by Sir Walter (yes that's his name) and taken on a tour in his jolly safari open vehicle which was great fun. We whizzed around the main town Basseterre before switching to our minibus to continue to Fairview Inn which is set up as a museum of times past. They host weddings and events there and you can do cookery classes and of course be forced to try their rum! At 10.30am (but of course 3.30pm in UK so why not!) Afterwards, I was glad I had had the rum as I was taken to zip line down a mountain, something I would never do as I have a great fear of heights. I’m surprised you didn't hear me screaming back here. We then had a brief stop at Romney Manor to see the ladies painting the Batik. We headed off for lunch afterwards to the beautiful Belle Mont Farm Boutique hotel. Complete with its own 18-hole golf course and 2-bedroom villas all with their own plunge pool and views of the sea as it is based up in the hills. What a view! Afterwards we headed back to our hotel to quickly get changed and straight out to an evening of meeting local hoteliers and ground agents with some great entertainment of traditional dancers and stilt walkers. A late dinner at a local restaurant Maxwell’s finished the evening off. Next morning, all packed ready to check out, we had breakfast and headed into Frigate bay to visit the Marriott, Royal St Kitts, Timothy Beach and Ocean Terrace Inn hotels. All are completely different to each other. Royal St Kitts is great for a self-catering option within walking distance of the "strip" where the beach bars are. Marriott is a large resort-style beach hotel. Timothy Beach is a budget and simple hotel on the beach and by the strip. Ocean Terrace Inn is a lovely little hotel with fab views of the bay. Back to our hotel for a 7min boat ride over to Nevis, I had no idea it was that close and so easy to get to! Either consider a twin centre or at least take a day trip over to visit as it is so different from St Kitts. We headed in and visited Oualie Beach hotel which is the first hotel on the beach when you get off the boat so imagine the views! This is basic and simple budget accommodation. We had lunch at the Hermitage which takes you back in time for sure. The oldest wooden house dates back to 1670.The rooms are comfortable and styled in an old way. Forget TVs etc! There is WiFi though. Next, we headed to Montpelier Plantation a relaxing and peaceful resort where Lady Diana stayed with William and Harry and I can understand why. Next the Nisbet which was Fanny Nisbet's home before she married Nelson so imagine the history. This is the only plantation house on the beach. We were treated to homemade scones, macaroons and rum punches - it's a hard life visiting hotels! We were running late now - it was the rum that did it – so we rushed to our host hotel Mount Nevis for a quick change and off to the Four Seasons for a look around and a dinner in a beautiful setting on the beach. They are currently going through renovations (you wouldn't know it) but their plans sound fabulous and I hope to visit when they are finished. Next morning after a very comfortable sleep I got a chance to take in my surroundings as we had arrived in the dark. The hotel is situated up on the hill with great views down to the sea. My room was large with two balconies and a kitchen area for your needs if you want to self-cater. After a breakfast meeting with hoteliers and the Tourism Office we were bundled into three jeep type cars for a "Funky Monkey" tour taking in some sights off the beaten track. Did you know donkeys are wild in Nevis and pop up everywhere! I managed to squeeze in an extra hotel visit at a gem of a place hidden in the hills called the Golden Rock Inn. It has an old sugar mill converted into a two bed two-bathroom villa, with rooms also in the main building. It was time to say goodbye to Nevis and we got the boat over to Reggae Beach for our transfer to the airport and our flight to Antigua. See part two as the journey continues.

The tale of three islands and rum - Part two

13 June 2018

We had a little surprise in store at the airport, the YU lounge had invited us to visit. If you want to be spoilt, this is a treat! You are taken by car to the plane steps with your own security to go through. A little bit of luxury! After our 20min flight to Antigua we were whisked to our first hotel St James Club. This is an all-inclusive family property with lots of facilities and different room types. I had a rather large room facing the bay and wedding pavilion which was a lovely setting to see all the twinkling lights at night. My room was in the Royal Suite area which is adults-only. It was a spacious room and very comfortable. The suites have their own concierge and pool area which is lovely and quiet. Exhaustion set in, so it was an early night for me. Next morning after a buffet breakfast we had a full site visit of the hotel seeing the spa and villas, water sports and bars (more rum)! There really is something for everyone. Next, we checked into the Verandah all-inclusive resort. This one felt different again. My room, which had a view of the Lagoon. You get around in golf buggies as the resort can be a bit hilly. They run them like buses (sometimes three did come along together!) Early afternoon we headed up to Shirley's Heights where on a Sunday the locals and tourists gather together to listen to a fantastic steel band and watch the sunset over English bay whilst eating BBQ and drinking rum punch (there seems to be a theme going on here!) We left around 7pm and then headed back for dinner at the Verandah. Next morning, we checked out and then into the adults-only Pineapple Beach Club which is right across the road. We were booked on to a Catamaran boat trip, so we headed to the beach. What fun! They moored about 25mins out so that those that wanted could snorkel and then we headed to a bird island and were the only ones there for a few hours. You could snorkel or just paddle but I opted for a short hike up the hill to see the views and birds. Of course, being me, I got attacked by the birds! Sandwiches and yet more rum punches were supplied and dancing to the music on the boat all the way back to the beach after 5 hours - our last night’s dinner at the hotel before sadly checking out of the hotel to head to the airport via a stop to purchase rum and hot sauce. We had one last hotel to visit, The Galley Bay, and this hotel was outstanding. The setting on the beach was wonderful with a bar to sit there and sip your drink watching the sunset. They have redone the walk out rooms which take you straight out onto the beach. The hotel is adults-only and has a very intimate feel about it. After a short transfer - everywhere seems a short transfer which is great - we were saying goodbye to Antigua! My feelings are I will be back. I never knew how close and easy it was to get between the three islands. Everyone we met was so friendly. They said on Nevis "you are only a stranger once" and I do believe that. With only 12,000 people there and only 48,000 on St Kitts, even Antigua with a population of around 100,000 is not massive. If you want to know more about any of the hotels I have visited, please do get in touch!

Adult stay in Lanzarote

11 October 2017

I had a comfortable fight out with Thomas Cook from Birmingham in September for one week. After a short 10-minute transfer by car, I arrived at the 5-star Gran Hotel Arrecife. Nice to be welcomed with a glass of fizz by reception too! The hotel is very traditional in that the staff are welcoming and they remember you. The rooms have everything that you could want. We had a panoramic sea view suite which gave us great views of the sea and beach. The room itself was extremely spacious with a living room separated from the bedroom by sliding doors and a marble bathroom with a good shower over the bath. Facilities include AC, in room safe, mini bar, tea and coffee, robes and slippers and all the little bathroom essentials like shampoo, combs, bath gel and so on. If you go for the standard rooms you do not have the separate living area but the rooms are still very spacious and you still get all the little extras. If you do not have the sea view you are then looking out over the city. No rooms at the hotel have balconies. There was entertainment on when we were there which was very good. One night there was a Jazz big band. The singer did all the hits but this is not every night. The hotel has a nice pool bar area. The pool is covered and small but was never crowded when we were there. They have an outside area with sunbeds and table and chairs as well. The bar area serves food and is popular. Prices are quite reasonable at 8.5Euros for a club sandwich. It’s 5Euros for a glass of wine and a beer is about 4Euros. There is also a sky bar on floor 17 with great views. On the same floor is the Altamar restaurant that you must pre- book as it’s a gourmet restaurant and popular with the locals. We were on bed and breakfast. The breakfast buffet had everything you could want from cereals to freshly cooked omelettes, even sparkling wine if you fancy a Bucks Fizz! Right outside the hotel to the left is the sandy beach which is cleaned every morning, has sunbeds and never got crowded once the whole week we were there. To the right of the hotel, a short stroll takes you to the town which is a proper working town with a high street that has shops, bars and restaurants spilling out on to the walkways. A stroll of 15 minutes will take you to the marina along the coast where there is an inlet lagoon surrounded by some lovely restaurants. We ate there quite a lot as the views are so nice with bobbing boats and twinkling lights at night. We took the local bus to Costa Teguise just to look. It cost 1.80Euros each way per person and was really clean. We also pre-booked an excursion that took us around the island taking in the Timanfaya national park and the craters. It was well worth the trip! We also visited Teguise which is in the centre of the island and holds a huge Sunday market. The taxi was 19Euros each way as you really cannot get there by bus. You can also book it as an excursion which might work out better value. The resort itself is not your typical seaside resort, this really has a Spanish feel about it. That being said, English is widely spoken. There is a pretty little church in the centre as well that is worth popping in to. Would I recommend it? Yes, if you are looking for an adult getaway just to relax, eat good food and drink some wine! If you are looking to party then it is not for you. Tip: if budget allows, get a sea view room. Also, about 3-5 minutes stroll from the hotel there is a great pizza restaurant. For 7.5Euros it was the best pizza I ever had! The tables were always full so you might have to wait. Next door there is a restaurant serving burgers and salads starting at 6Euros and they serve Belgian beer if you are that way inclined. Want to find out more? Please do get in touch!

The tale of two cities...and dancing!

31 August 2017

I was lucky enough to be chosen to go on a mini cruise with some colleagues this month on the Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) Columbus ship. It sails from Tilbury docks rather than Southampton so I was interested to see how easy it would be for me based in Bicester to get there without having to drive. My journey started on the Bicester – Marylebone train service fast and efficient and then I hopped in a taxi to Victoria bus station but you could just as easily get the tube. From there I picked up the CMV direct coach and off we went. Arrived at the ship for 4 pm and after security was on board. The ship itself has recently had a refit so all the public areas were looking very smart indeed. I was allocated an outside cabin so had a large picture window. My cabin was compact but perfectly fitted with everything I needed. Tea and coffee and a hairdryer were supplied even had a TV though I had no time to watch anything! Once I unpacked it was off to drinks for the “Sail Away Party” at 6 pm where we waved goodbye to England and headed out towards the North Sea. Dinner was seven courses with choices (including vegetarian). The dress code was smart informal and everyone was very smart. There are two dinner sittings in the Waterfront restaurant I was on the later one at 8.30pm which meant I had time to explore the ship a bit and have a pre dinner drink in one of the bars. I was pleasantly surprised at the drinks prices £5 for a large glass of wine, the same as I pay here in Bicester. After a rather lovely meal, I chose to head to bed, but some of my colleagues carried on partying on in the Dome nightclub until 2 am. After a very comfortable sleep, I awoke to us sailing gently through the Netherlands towards Amsterdam. The good thing about the Columbus ship is that it is smaller than some of other cruise ships (775 cabins) which means it can get into smaller ports. It felt like a cross between an ocean cruise and a river cruise best of both worlds! After a nice breakfast back in the Waterfront restaurant – there is the large buffet restaurant Plantation, if you prefer – we headed off on an optional guided coach trip around Amsterdam, followed by an hour long canal cruise which I would thoroughly recommend as it is so peaceful and relaxing to just float along looking at the sites. But of course, you can just as easily head off on your own to wander around Amsterdam, the largest city in the Netherlands. Often called the 'Venice of the North' as some 7000 historic buildings remain located along canals laid out in six crescents radiating from the harbor and encompassing the Amstel River. All connected by over 1000 bridges. With its mixture of gabled houses, churches, clock towers, canals, trams, and bicycles...watch out for them they have right of way! For shoppers there are plenty of familiar and not so familiar shops as well to spend your Euros in from designer boutiques to the little traditional shops …just remember to be back at the ship before it sails! I explored the ship a little more once back on board and looked in at the small casino and some other bars. Connexions had a modern airy feel to it. Taverner’s a more traditional pub feel, both have entertainment on in the evening as well. The library had plenty of books to choose from. The spa was stunning with plenty of treatments available to book. There is also a well equipped gym. We went to the Palladium show lounge which was a surprise as it had a waiter service for drinks which you do not get on other cruise ships normally. We all joined in with singing along to an 80s show that was on. After dinner in the specialty restaurant, Indian Fusion, I had to work off some of those calories, so went dancing in the Dome nightclub and kept going until gone 2 am. The music was a real mixture, so something to suit everyone’s taste. The next morning, we arrived early in the gem of a city Antwerp which is just lovely. I took breakfast in the buffet sat outside looking at the city in the sunshine. Antwerp is Belgium’s second largest city and a mixture of medieval and modern buildings. It has a beautiful cathedral which is the largest Gothic church in Belgium. The main square Grote Markt, framed on both sides by tall gilded Renaissance-style historical buildings. After a day wandering the little streets and taking in the sites as well as a beer tour…well when in Belgium. We headed back on board to get ready for the formal night, where some gents were in black tie but also some were in lounge suits and the ladies wore cocktail dresses. After another seven course meal and more dancing, I headed to bed ready for an early departure from the ship when we docked back in the UK. After breakfast in the buffet, I left the ship at 8.45 and was back home in Bicester by 11 am using their coach and the train as before, surprisingly quick! Would I do it again? Most definitely! It is an excellent way to see two cities in one weekend trip. It makes for a very relaxed way of traveling you only unpack once. If you would like to plan a visit to one of these cities or a cruise elsewhere do get in touch.

My customer stories

Sent by M MORAN

Thank you so much for arranging our holiday to Mauritius. We absolutely loved Paradise Cove. It’s just perfect. Would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone. Really happy with Air Mauritius too The whole holiday experience was fabulous Many many thanks

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We have traveled several time with you. Always fabulous and the service superb.

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Very helpful and always goes the extra mile for her customer

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A very big thank you from all of us for a most enjoyable trip to Iceland. Everything was great !!! The hotel was lovely and in a great location. The excursions were also wonderful and everything worked like clockwork. We had a great and most wonderful time and will certainly recommend you. You really looked after us and give you 10+ points. We will contact you for any future trips and thank you very much again.

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Collette is able to find the holidays we have suggested with excellent assistance in finding unusual parts of the world for us to visit. She’s very thorough and always up for a challenge. Thank you Collette.

Sent by K SIMPSON

Collette is brilliant - hugely patient even when we ask daft questions! Very quick to respond. Very knowledgeable. A pleasure to deal with.

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Collette is fabulous, she works really hard to find us the holiday we want . We wouldn’t use anyone else

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Collette always delivers great options and great holidays, thanks

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Amazing service. Responds quickly to queries and very knowledgeable.

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Collette has looked after our trips for many years, always a 10!!!!

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Excellent advice and in a very friendly manner.

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Thank you Collette for putting together a brilliant itinerary for our Florida holiday next year and for being quick to respond to my many questions but also giving me time to make decisions. We are very much looking forward to the trip next year.

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Collette is always so quick to respond and find you the best holiday to fit your requirements. Then she manages each stage until you return safe and sound.

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Collette`s attention to detail and customer care are unbeatable. Always managing to accommodate my last minute and sometimes complex travel arrangements involving multiple locations. Would not go anywhere else.

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Sent by L O'Sullivan

I have always had excellent service from Collette, from booking to departing. Always there to help and advise, nothing is too much trouble for her. I would definitely recommend her to my friends

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Always supportive and goes above and beyond

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Collette is always brilliant and has been very helpful with the budget we set!!!

Sent by H COSTAR

Collette is as efficient and helpful as always. We have recently booked two holidays and she always goes the extra mile. We can’t praise her highly enough.

Sent by K Humphrey

Collette is a great travel agent. Have booked several cruises with her and hope to in the future.

Sent by A Nash

Peru & Galapagos Adventure We cannot thank Collette Howse enough for putting together such a unique itinerary for us, which exceeded our wildest dreams and hopes. From the very beginning she meticulously planned everything. She understood exactly what we wanted from the trip and was able to make suggestions and give advice. We were so excited and then Covid hit. Collette reorganised the trip three times for us to ensure we could participate fully in every aspect given the restrictions of the pandemic and also the political disturbances in the countries we were to visit. At all times, she was there to reassure and to take the organisational worries away from us. We could not have done this trip without her professionalism, patience and attention to detail and would recommend every traveller to get in touch with her. Huge thanks to you, Collette, for giving us memories of a lifetime.

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Fantastic service, help and advice as always. Would never want to book with anyone else.

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Collette has made booking a holiday completely stress free, she made some great suggestions to fit all of the things we wanted from our holiday.

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Collette was excellent. She was efficient and friendly and delivered exactly what we were hoping for. We would have no hesitation in recommending her in the future.

Sent by C MITCHELL

Extremely responsive, helpful and reliable. A pleasure to do business with.

Sent by G JOHNSON

Collette provided excellent service at all times and nothing was too much trouble to find the right holiday for us. Our questions were always answered at all times as quickly as possible and help was never a problem. We felt very well valued and looked after. We have booked two trips with Collette and can recommend her excellent service more than highly.

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Collette always provides a very high level of service in all our interactions, and I have recommended her to several family and friends

Sent by T Bennett

Collette was very helpful and made me up a package which suits our family.

Sent by C Harker

If I could score a "20" then I would. Collette always finds the best deals at the best places and offers personal insight to make the trip even more memorable. Its refreshing to be able to sit back and relax knowing you are in safe hands!

Sent by S FINCHAM

Collette Howse is just brilliant. I can't think of anything worse than trying to find a holiday that suits either my husband or even a family holiday as we have so many different ideas of what we want to do! Collette has so many ideas, options of different places to go to, things to do. We have recently returned from a holiday in Mexico which Collette organised which was just perfect ,everything she booked/planned for us worked out well.. Previously Collette has booked us a family holiday in Portugal and has helped my sisters family out with their travel plans . I highly recommend using Collette to arrange your trips

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Collette is super efficient, she responds very quickly and pays attention to every detail. Always cheerful, friendly and extremely helpful..

Sent by T MITCHELL-FLOYD

Collette is extremely dedicated and committed to helping the customer find the holiday that fits their brief, and offers valuable advice so you can make the right decision for you....even if that does take some time! Thank you for your patience Collette !!

Sent by H COSTAR

As always Collette was very helpful, efficient and went the extra mile to sort our holiday.

Sent by J MILLS

We have used Travel counsellors for a few years and many trips. I feel confident that our trips come with advice and tips alongside a full booking service that we always feel has covered all eventualities. Good company with an experienced agent. We that we could recommend to anyone.

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Extremely efficient service!

Sent by N WANLESS

Collette goes above and beyond. So helpful.

Sent by L WANLESS

Nothing is to much trouble. Brilliant lady.

Sent by D BARTON

Collette was professional and relatable taking time to understand our needs. She was able to deal with 2 separate holiday ideas and narrowed it down to the perfect solution

Sent by L BIGNALL

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Sent by Ben Bridson

Collette arranged our Disneyland Paris trip very quickly and at very short notice. She has fantastic knowledge of the resort and gave us a wide variety of hotel options at a full range of price points. She knew each hotel very well and could even recommend her favourites. She was very helpful and could answer all of our questions. We’re very much looking forward to our holiday confident that we’ve booked with an expert from a very reputable company.

Sent by A WANLESS

Gives so much support. Love it

Sent by T TIMMS

Collette is always terrific, nothing is too much trouble, holidays we've booked before are always extremely well organised down to every minute detail. Wouldn't go anywhere else

Sent by Y HENDERSON

Professional and always willing to go the extra mile to meet your requests

Sent by C Barratt

We have dealt with Collette Howse for many years and she is very good at arriving at the holidays we discuss. Even our friends in the US wanted her to help them. Unfortunately, there are different rules and regulations for the US. Always recommend her.

Sent by D Stewart

Friendly, helpful and efficient in all our dealings to date

Sent by S Hall

A very personal and professional service; Collette went out of her way to accommodate my needs for this trip

Sent by T Cooper

I trust Collette completely. Her advice & customer service is outstanding

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Collette is always so quick at getting back to us and very professional. I cannot recommend her enough!

Sent by K Humphrey

Collette is an excellent, helpful and well informed travel agent. Would thoroughly recommend using her to arrange your travel plans.

Sent by A Pratt

Responsive. Professional. Friendly. Great recommendations for places to stay. Easy to work with. I was recommended by a friend and I will recommend to my friends. Excellent.

Sent by M WILLIAMS

Collette goes above & beyond when trying to find just the right trip for you.

Sent by C Palmer

I have dealt with Collette for 20 years and I would not use anyone else, You made the effort in the early years of finding out about me, my family, you know what we like, and what we don't like, its never been you trying to sell us a holiday, you have spent a great deal of time and effort to find us our next adventure

Sent by K Baxter

Collette just takes the stress out of booking a holiday abroad! We love using her and she has found us an absolute gem of a package for us to enjoy a relaxing break away in October... Would never hesitate to recommend her! Can't wait for October to come round!

Sent by J AYRIS

Thank you Collette. You always go the extra mile and give the best advice. I wouldn't like to make a booking of this nature without your help.

Sent by G WALKER

As always, very helpful and organised - Collette bends over backwardS to help her customers! Cannot thank her enough!

Sent by B PALMER

I couldn't have had more help, guidance and patience from any other Travel Agent... Collette, you have been outstanding. Thank you again for all you have done to make booking my holiday stress-free.

Sent by A Nash

Collette is just amazing! She listens carefully and then is able to pull our perfect holiday out of the bag. She is professional and quick to answer any questions. I would not hesitate to recommend her! 5 star *****

Sent by T Plummer

Collette is always very professional in her approach and we feel very safe knowing that she has everything covered from our first contact with her to the end of our holiday.

Sent by L Bignall

Brilliant service as always. Fast and clear. I book through Collette for all of our holidays

Sent by STUART PALMER

Outstanding service from Collette as always. Always available to answer your questions and is concise and efficient with offering solutions, ideas and alternatives. Highly recommend, we would not go anywhere else to book holidays.

Sent by E Boulter

Very easy booking , excellent customer service

Sent by J Crane

Collette is always very helpful and very patient.

Sent by S Kinane

Collette has been so helpful throughout this booking . Keeping us updated and also adding more people to the booking. I would without a doubt use Collette again rather than going into an agency. Keep up the good work.

Sent by K HAMPSHIRE

Collette - you are a superstar. Always helpful, always reliable, always a pleasure. Kim and Mike

Sent by K Simpson

Responsive knowledgeable and friendly service

Sent by S Broom

We never choose anyone else we can be sure the holidays that Collette find for us are particularly suited to us. She does a great job

Sent by E INNESS

Collette is always able to take the stress away from booking a holiday by sorting everything out not only the holiday but also the parking and lounges. Especially in these time of uncertainty I can be confident that I will be updated on anything I need to know about my bookings. She always goes above and beyond to find the best holiday to meet all of your requests.

Sent by A Wanless

The service is fantastic and the support during the pandemic takes away all of the stress and worry. Will never book another way again.

Sent by I Sippitt

Collette provides great advice in a friendly manner and has dealt with all Covid related problems with patience

Sent by P Barratt

Collette Howse is always professional and finds unusual details to enhance our holidays. We would recommend her to anyone who wants an unusual destination

Sent by M Castle

We would score 10+ for your patience why we messed about deciding what route and air fare and hotels.

Sent by V Frost

Cannot fault any part of my holiday being organised. Every detail was taken into account. Took all the stress away.

Sent by N Lamont

Very helpful, knowledgeable and extremely efficient. Awesome service.

Sent by M Williams

Collette goes above and beyond to help make our trips run smoothly...nothing is too much trouble.

Sent by H Costar

Collette as always provided us with great service, very efficient and friendly as well. Nothing is too much trouble.

Sent by S Narey

Collette always looks after us well and does everything she can to make our trips memorable.

Sent by D CORBETT

Collette takes the time to understand what you are like as people and matches holiday requirements to that knowledge

Sent by S Kerrison

Always so helpful nothing is to much trouble

Sent by C Mitchell

A consistently smooth and swift service. Pleasure to do business with.

Sent by Martin Castle

Collette is always helpful and provides an excellent personal service . She goes the extra mile

Sent by Stuart Palmer

Collette is fantastic in organising and recommending holidays and experiences and we cannot praise her highly enough. We had given her 3 challenges and she has surpassed herself once again but this is no surprise. She clearly has extensive knowledge and uses this to bespoke a holiday of a lifetime. Cannot recommend her enough. We will of course continue to recommend her to friends and family.

Sent by Stuart Palmer

Collette has been our 'go-to' travel agent for over 20 years. She is always professional and conscientious in taking time to ask what you require from a holiday. By taking the time in this process she has always come up with the best packages to maximize the holiday experience. In challenging times she worked hard last year to get refunds on a multi-centre holiday package. Regular communication was performed throughout until all funds were received. I cannot recommend Collette enough for her excellent customer service and willingness to always go the 'extra mile'. Thank you!

Sent by Paul Atkins

I have, and will continue to recommend Collette to others. Collette has arranged a number of foreign holidays and short breaks for my wife and I, and provides an efficient, personal service, based on her considerable knowledge of the travel industry, holiday options, destinations and availability. Collette has also helped us when problems arise prior to leaving and also whilst abroad - the Thomas Cook difficulties being a case in point.

Sent by Charlette Barratt

We have always found Collette to be helpful, communicative and goes out of her way to find information about our visits to various cities.

Sent by David Corbett

I am generally an independent traveller but for long haul destinations I like to have additional resources to assist. Having used a large company in the past and missing the personal touch I was recommended Collette by a friend. What a delightful find :-) Having successfully nailed our Australia and Singapore destinations by listening to the type of client I am and planning accordingly I am now in the early stages of planning a Peru trip (Covid permitting!) with Collette. Highly recommended in finding the hidden gems that suit your style

Sent by Kirsty Henderson

Collette has arranged my holidays for several years. Nothing is ever too much trouble. Her knowledge and recommendations are invaluable. I would highly recommend the stress and hassle free service.

Sent by Yvonne Henderson

Collette has arranged many different kinds of holidays for us and nothing is ever too much trouble especially when it comes to bespoke requirements. We have never been more glad that we have her support during this current difficult time, whether its arranging refunds or rebooking holidays. To know you have her support 24/7 365 is invaluable. We are so grateful to her and cannot recommend her enough.

Sent by John Biggs

Collette is one of those rare people who really does go out of her way to make sure her customers get exactly what they want with no hard selling. We have used Collette on many occasions and despite changing our minds quite frequently she continues to focus on our wishes and making sure we get the holiday we are looking for. We have no hesitation whatsoever to recommend Collette very highly. If you use Collette’s services you will not be disappointed. John and Tisha

Sent by Ann Collacott

I have booked my holidays with Collette for many years don’t matter what you want she always goes out of her way to accommodate you and get the best deals possible

Sent by Tracey Timms

Booking a trip with Collette from Travel councellors is stress free, what a fantastic service she offers, I have booked 10 trips through her, her recommendations and knowledge are invaluble. Nothing you ask is too much trouble for her. Having been stuck in Australia in March during early lockdown with cancelled flights, she proved just how brilliant she is arranging new flights home and took all the stress and hassle away from us by organizing everything, and made herself available for contact 24/7. Quite simply amazing. You can guarantee if you book a trip away with Collette you will receive 100% service.

Sent by Alison Nash

I can't recommend Collette enough! We have booked several holidays with her and she has always been most attentive, patient and helpful, even when we changed our minds for the umpteenth time! Our latest adventure was to Peru & Galapagos islands. Collette answered all of our questions quickly and pointed out considerations that we hadn't even thought about. The itinerary she put together showed how well she had listened to us and understood what we were looking for. Unfortunately with the Coronavirus situation, our holiday was unable to go ahead but Collette took the time to reschedule our adventure for 2021. We are so thankful to her for doing this and taking away what could have been a nightmare situation. Thank-you Collette for doing such a wonderful job!

Sent by Kirstina Potts

I can’t recommend Collette highly enough. She really takes the time to come up with holiday options she thinks would be suitable for us as a family. She always goes above and beyond to help and seems to think of everything. If it weren’t for the pandemic we would have used Collette 3/4 times this year! Next year we will just have to make up for lost time.

Sent by Jackie Blackler

I don’t really know how to thank Collette enough for her help in firstly sorting out our holiday, fantastic service and great knowledge (I am useless at organising anything!). She is always prepared to go the extra mile to put your mind at rest or answer any questions and is contactable via email or phone at all times. Secondly, after all her hard work finding and sorting our holiday and parking, Collette then had the very sad task of sorting out the cancellation and refund of our holiday and parking which again she did with expertise and great professionalism. An amazing lady who under great pressure of a pandemic was keeping us up to date every step of the way. I just want you to know how very grateful we are and we would not hesitate to use you again when we can and would definitely recommend Collette to help anyone with their holiday whatever your budget. She always has plenty of suggestions. Thank you and stay safe ??

Sent by K Hampshire

Collette has been amazing. Always efficient and on the ball.

Sent by V Kyberd

Collette is fantastic! From initial engagement to finalising our flights, ensuring our meals are booked correctly and advising the airport hotel of our very early departure requirements, she has been excellent at every step. I cannot recommend her services highly enough.

Sent by A Carr

Always there in double quick time even out of hours. The personal touch is truly personal with Collette. She makes me feel like I'm her only client :)

Sent by C Colclough

Collette was fantastic in booking our first family vacation to Disneyland. Her knowledge and expertise of the resort and the parks meant that we were able to make the most of our break. I felt she went above and beyond the level of service I was expecting, keeping in contact before and after the trip. Would highly recommend.

Sent by J Ayris

Collette always gives 100per cent. She is very knowledgeable and has sound advice. I like to use her services as she is super efficient and will always make sure we are getting exactly what we require, and then be looking after us until our return.

Sent by C Palmer

Collette has been looking after us for 15+ years always an amazing service

Sent by D Henderson

Collette was brilliant in helping us with our Australian honeymoon, would highly recommend Travel Counsellors in the future

Sent by J Tomlinson

Thank you Collette for arranging a fabulous trip to Australia to celebrate my 60th birthday. You arranged everything to perfection. We had some very particular requests for places we wanted to go. You arranged it all with out any problem and on top of that you made sure each new stay knew it was a special celebration so at each place we arrived to a celebratory bottle of wine. Such a lovely touch. We had the most amazing time. Thank you. You make the magic happen.

Sent by J Stevens

Any time, any place, anywhere. That is basically what Collette can organise for you and also more or less when you can contact her. Very friendly and fast service, in fact I only contacted Collette last night and by this afternoon not only had she found exactly what I was looking for, but we agreed for her to book it. Done . I highly recommend Collette to everyone. Why not give her a try for this years holiday. Just do it

Sent by Hugh Tulloch

Very knowledgeable, efficient & proactive with warm , appreciative & comforting guiding hand.

Sent by T Timms

The service Collette at TC provides is second to none, nothing is too much trouble, Her travel knowledge and help in putting together a holiday is fantastic. Always there at the end of a phone to answer any questions.

Sent by M Castle

Very helpful and helped us with good advice regarding cruising which we were unfamiliar with . My brother and his wife returned at the weekend from a month long trip Collette had arranged and they were full of her praises as were their travelling companions and all have said they would use her again . She goes the extra mile for her customers .

Sent by T Cooper

Collette always provides excellent customer service. Trust her completely

Sent by S Cameron

Collette is very personable and approachable I have plans to travel over next few months but feel overwhelmed at where to start - I feel confident that Collette will be able to assist and steer me as required.

Sent by H Speakman

Superb advice and support with booking our holiday, absolutely delighted with the service we received from Collette

Sent by M Speakman

Responsive and exceptionally resourceful in ensuring that the holiday you secure is the holiday you were looking for.

Sent by S Narey

Collette is always pleasant, efficient and always delivers

Sent by H Speakman

Wonderful service. Really personal and attentive. Collette listened carefully to our ideas and put together a superb itinerary. We are so excited. Thank you.

Sent by G Walker

Having booked my cruises many times with Collette, I find she is so helpful, always pleasant and nothing is too much trouble and knowing she is always on the other end of the phone when I am abroad is very reassuring.

Sent by S Kerrison

Collette was amazing she took the stress out of what I find a problem.

Sent by S Palmer

Collette is as helpful as ever. Very efficient, well organised and makes sure you have all you need. Gives you alternatives and and much info as possible so you can make the best informed decision. Would certainly use again.

Sent by P Holloway

Collette you are fab, as we gave you some information where we would like to go and an idea of dates and you came up with loads of options as it was for a group of girls. You have been very patient and yes we all agree the hotel we have chosen seems to fit all our criteria. Thank you for all your help

Sent by K Potts

Collette is phenomenal -totally gets the brief and delivers! Super happy and will be using her services for all our trips going forward!

Sent by J Mills

We have had several holidays that have being organised by Collette at Travel Counsellors. I cannot rate the service higher. We have traveled across the world and closer to home in other parts of Europe. Each holiday has been made extra special by the beautiful accommodations and their location that is near to other areas of interest. All with the most professional and friendly approach. Couldn’t praise higher. With Travel Counsellors you know it’s all sorted for you. Spend your time getting excited about your holiday rather than worrying if you have got all the details correct. TC just lift that off you shoulders. All brilliant.

Sent by W Bensley

Collette always finds us the perfect holiday and everything that goes with it - don’t know what we would do without her

Sent by M Hunter

Extremely professional helpful lady, who always has the answers and puts your mind at ease. Also a genuinely lovely lady

Sent by P Atkins

I have recommended Collette Howse to friends, and Collette only yesterday organised an extended weekend break away with those same friends. All carried out quickly and efficiently, as usual.

Sent by A Carr

Collette really, really cares about her clients and goes the extra mile at whatever time of day it is (despite any time zone difference) to make sure everything is ok. And when things don't quite go according to plan, you can rely on Collette to get it fixed quickly because she understands that getting on with enjoying the holiday is priority number one.

Sent by M Telford

So nice to deal with a travel agent who listens to your requirements to ensure that is what you really want before offering a package - and follow up with all the ticketing details on schedule

Sent by E Inness

Booking your holiday through Collette is so easy. She looks after you from beginning to end. Her knowledge and experience means you don’t need to worry at all!

Sent by C Harker

Once again Collette Howse at Travel Counsellors has surpassed expectations. Collette is was given a very short time to find a week in the sun with hardly any details from us. All we supplied was first choice of Airport to fly from, dates and a rough budget. Within this limited criteria Collette managed to find us some great flight times and a wonderful 5* hotel in Crete under budget. Even better it had an awesome gym to keep me quiet! Thanks once again Collette and we will looking for a week in September soon.

Sent by L Wanless

Nothing is too much trouble. Fantastic lady with a thirst for getting things right for her customers

Sent by K Hampshire

Everything organised went like clockwork! Very professional and a pleasure to deal with. Thank you Collette.

Sent by H Hocking

Collette has been amazing! Very helpful and friendly and I would definitely contact Collette again in the future and recommend her, :-)

Sent by T Plummer

Always willing to help us find the perfect holiday

Sent by S Kerby

You will not find a more friendly, helpful or knowledgeable travel consultant than Collette. I would recommend her without reservation (nice pun!).

Sent by E Tuck

Very prompt responses with great suggestions and variety. Just what I was looking for. Collette has really taken off the stress of trying to organise a holiday, I will definitely be recommending her

Sent by H Costar

We have used Collette to book our holidays since she started with Travel Counsellors and she is always extremely efficient, always rings us back when she has promised to, even out off hours or at weekends. We have no hesitation is recommending her to anyone.

Sent by N Roberts

We had a lovely holiday last month, my first trip to Lanzarote. We chose Los Jameos Playas, having read positive reviews and consulting with Collette who was very knowledgeable about the hotel. The booking process was stress free as Collette handled everything for us. She found great flight times for us, organised taxi transfers and meet and greet at Stansted. Our paperwork was posted through the door a couple of weeks before - even the luggage labels all filled in. The holiday experience was relaxing from start to finish. We were looking for a stress free journey (that's the part we usually don't look forward to!) and we were not disappointed. Everything went to plan and we were a very happy family from start to finish. Thank you Collette. 10/10

Sent by J Biggs

Collette has always given us great holiday advice & ideas. We trust her judgement because she knows our preferences so well and her approach to customer service is excellent

Sent by J Rocha

Quick and to the point. We got our holiday ready in 2 to 3 days

Sent by C Johnson

Fabulous service from Collette, was really informative and offered me lots of options to choose from. Nothing was too much trouble. Quick and efficient service, and the app is great, gives me a countdown to my holiday! Collette has since booked us excursions and the app shows a full itinerary. Great service, would highly recommend.

Sent by M Hutchinson

Collette found us exactly what we wanted within our budget. She could not have been more helpful if searching for the right accommodation and flights and gave various options along the way. After our initial enquiry she did a lot of work to give us a variety of options which we found invaluable and enabled us to decide which were more suitable for our family, rather than some travel advisors who just give you a couple of options.. We will be contacting Collette to add excursions to our New York trip soon!

Sent by A Collacott

Always have good service, Collette goes out of her way to get what the customer wants

Sent by A McCarthy

Very helpful young lady with endless patience and very good knowledge of the trade

Sent by J Crane

As usual Collette was very helpful and patient whilst booking our latest cruise holiday.

Sent by R Atkins

Great prompt service. Well done Collette! Already passed your details onto two other potential clients. Thanks Richard

Sent by K Crossley

We received an excellent service from Collette. We were totally overwhelmed by choice when booking our family touring holiday in California. With Collette's help we have a really exciting itinerary and some fabulous hotels to stay in. She saved us a huge amount of time and effort.

Sent by M Williams

Great service and attention to detail, always available to answer any questions, never any trouble

Sent by M Varney

Very helpful and makes booking a holiday a breeze! Thanks Collette

Sent by A Wanless

Collette is really helpful and attentive. She knows her clients likes and dislikes and can find holidays that suit

Sent by T Mitchell-Floyd

Collette looked into everything that we asked for and offers a personal service, with advice and suggestions too.

Sent by B Bischoff

Collette, thank you so much for looking, finding and organising our holiday for 2019. We loved you enthusiasm and you patience. Shame we only got you to help us this year. Will definitely be back for our future holiday bookings! Very impressed with the service you provided!!!! Thank you again! Bettina & boys

Sent by M Telford

Personal and professional assistance at all stages.

Sent by D Finlay

We love the personal service. And very professional.

Sent by V Holyoake

Collette has yet again been able to pull a rabbit out of a hat and arranged at very short notice flights to Austria and a great car rental company that perfectally suited our needs. Thank you very much it has been greatly appreciated.

Sent by T Cooper

Always recommend Collette, she's my personal travel agent. Lots of information & advice, always gets back to me. Thanks Collette

Sent by M Castle

Always a pleasure to work with a person who knows what they are doing

Sent by G Grueber

A very quick, friendly and stress free service.

Sent by L Wanless

Absolutely brilliant service. Could not ask for more!

Sent by R Mannall

Amazing, found something that even I didn't know I wanted. Lots of different holiday choices and kept going till it was perfect. Most definitely would recommend to everyone.

Sent by S Keen

Great service was given with great communication throughout our booking.

Sent by S Medland

As always an extremely good personalised service. Collette is always so responsive to all requests and queries. I have recommended her to several friends and family members.

Sent by P Mitchell

I would highly recommend you to everyone I know that is going to book a holiday. A big thank you Collette for all your help and support in booking our Florida holiday for next year. You truly wanted to make this holiday for us so perfect for our needs and budget.

Sent by K Baxter

After having such an awful time at a different travel agent. Collette was recommended to us by a friend and she has been wonderful, took into consideration all our specs, found us options (within budget) and even continued to look for more options while we were looking at the ones she sent. She was professional, efficient and empathetic to our situation we had been put in with our last travel agent. And I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her.

Sent by T Edge

Couldn't have been more helpful and very patient while we considered so many holiday options, Excellent service all round.

Sent by M Rawlings

Collette was brilliant! Super helpful, super patient and really informative. I’d have no hesitations recommending Collette

Sent by M Coates

Such a relief for someone else to take the strain as, along with many others, I have a very busy life and totally dislike using the internet.

Sent by J Reekes

Collette has been a phenomenal help, sorting flights we wanted with limited information in a very short space of time. She was always offering us different quotes and a range of options so we had plenty of choice. I would highly recommend using Collette!

Sent by C Alcock

The speed and efficiency of Collette is second to none

Sent by J Horton

Because of my partner being disabled and wanting to go with two more couples, on a cruise, Collette manage the booking and made six people very happy

Sent by J Horton

Nothing was too much trouble for Collette it was a pleasure to book through her

Sent by S Boreham

Keen, efficient service, dealt with our enquiries quickly and in a helpful manner. Picked up our draft itinerary and final one and set up the booking very efficiently.

Sent by C Barker

Have already recommended Collette to several people - excellent service!

Sent by C Braham

Collette is efficient, professional and very knowledgeable, she has booked my last three holidays for me and I wouldn't go anywhere else, I have recommended her to numerous friends and family, all of these are extremely happy with the service she provided.

Sent by J Blackler

Collette has been amazing in helping us choose and organise our holiday. Nothing has been too much trouble for her and always gets back to me in record time.

Sent by K Carr

Great personal service can't be bettered anywhere.

Sent by Ellie Ferguson

Collette was recommended by someone I know and I'm glad I asked Collette for help finding me a holiday; I was sent many options and found Collette friendly and helpful throughout. I'm sure I'll be going to Collette for help again next year!

Sent by Nathan Spilstead

Collette did a great job on our holiday with an intimate and focused service.

Sent by M Telford

We can't fault the service that we received from Collette Howse our Travel Counsellor and would not hesitate to use her services in the future and will recommend her to our friends.

Sent by A Cotton

Collette was most patient as we were unsure where to go at the outset. She guided us through various options until we arrived at the best choice to suit our constrained circumstances. Excellent. Previously sorted things myself so will definitely use this service through Collette again.

Sent by Jill Rennie

Collette is absolutely brilliant at her job, she goes that extra mile to give you as much information as possible which is very comforting when booking a holiday. I would certainly recommend her.

Sent by S Gauld

Collette has put together a wonderful itinerary for us and managed to get accommodation in all the hotels for a family of 5, which I know can be tricky. A very quick, efficient service and great communication. We can't wait to go on our trip.

Sent by M McCarthy

Fabulous quick efficient service throughout. Nothing was too much trouble. We have highly recommended Colette to several people since. We are now looking forward to our holiday.

Sent by S Evans

Collette is a knowledgeable and friendly counsellor who I have known for many years and would not hesitate in recommending her to friends.

Sent by L Speakman

Exceptional, mega helpful and will definitely come to her again for support regarding future travels.

Sent by J Crane

Collette is and always has been very patient to ensure we get the holiday we really want.

Sent by K Rowlinson

Very helpful and attentive to the details Collette worked hard to find a great hotel location for us.

Sent by Kathryn Reed

Collette has made the booking process for our holiday completely stress free! We've just booked a month travelling through her that it totally tailored to us. I couldn't be happier the process was so quick and easy I would definitely recommend her to a friend!

Sent by K Humphrey

Excellent service from Collette. I would recommend her, and will use her again in the future.

Sent by K Carr

Everything we asked Collette to do was done at once and with enthusiasm. She seemed to understand exactly what we wanted which was very nice, as she obviously listened and did not try to force her views on us. We will have no hesitation in recommending her services to all our friends..

Sent by Jennie Stevens

Collette was just amazing from start till finish. Very helpful and kind having to cope with my extensive list of "must haves" and "don't want". I'm sure we will have a brilliant holiday all down to Collette's expertise and general knowledge. I have already recommended Collette to several friends and family, one of which has already booked a holiday through her. Thanks again Collette.

Sent by Trudi Cooper

Always fantastic customer service Always find the right holiday for us with honest advice Always get the holiday just right Thank you

Sent by P Barratt

Collette has a good understanding of client preferences and knowledge of destinations.This enables her to offer tailor-made holiday experiences, that not only fit expectations but also a budget.

Sent by M Howden

It's very refreshing to meet someone who is genuinely interested in meeting every criteria of a special holiday, particularly after some dire experiences.

Sent by T Carter

Collette was very helpful and professional from the start of finding our perfect cruise, tailoring it to our needs and booking it. Look forward to using you again for future holidays Collette, thank you once again

Sent by T Timms

Collette was fantastic, very very helpful, patient and kept looking for me to get my trip exactly right for what I wanted. Very informative on every aspect of the trip. Wouldn't hesitate to get Collette to organise my next trip, mind you with all the hassle she had with me she might not want too!

Sent by M Timms

Collette has been extremely helpful in every aspect in us booking our holiday. She has come up with a variety of options each time so we could choose the one that suits us best. Any small detail we were not entirely happy with she came up with alternatives. Collette was very responsive even on weekends and late in the evenings to anything we asked. Will defiantly use her for booking future holidays.

Sent by S Mitchell

Collette was really helpful & very efficient.

Sent by S Medland

I would definitely recommend Collette to family and friends. She is so helpful and knowledgeable. In fact I have already passed her details to my sister in law.

Sent by Benjamin Bridson

We booked our honeymoon with our personal Travel Counselllor Collette Howse. She was always available to talk to, professional, very friendly, extremely experienced with lots of contacts and so was able to get us a great deal on a trip to Sandals Barbados with lots of honeymoon extra thrown in. Thanks Collette.

Sent by S Broom

Collette is fab, she knows just the type of holiday we are always looking for .

Sent by S Marcussen

Collette always gives 100 %. I have never found an agent who strives harder to get the best and most suitable deal available. I can rely on her to remember all the extras I sometimes forget that ultimately make the holiday more pleasurable.

Sent by Ashley Carr

I think Collette is fab - a real find - keeps us informed at every stage and really cares about the outcome. I wish all travel agents were made this way.