Jasmin Shaw
My expertise
I'm based in
Warrington
Travel Planning with Personality
Planning a holiday should be enjoyable, right?
If you’ve happened across my page, I’ve likely either been recommended to you (hi!), or you’re scouring the internet for holiday advice you can trust.
I’m Jasmin, the lovely real human specialising in tailor-made travel arrangements, wrapped up in a warm, professional and personal service.
Ever since I was a little girl on holiday in Corfu, watching the resort rep cycle round the village making sure all her guests were having a great time, I knew that travel was the one for me. After university, I achieved my dream and got a job for First Choice as a transfer rep in Menorca. I'd spend all day crossing back and forth across the island with a coach-full of people and a well-honed speech (did you know that Menorca has more beaches than Mallorca and Ibiza combined!?). From there, I worked as a travel agent for TUI for a couple of years, realising that a targeted sales environment was definitely not for me, before crossing into marketing and working for companies including Shearings and Scenic & Emerald River Cruises. Just over eight years ago, I took the plunge into putting all my passion and knowledge into my own little independent agency, and ta-dah: Jasmin Shaw - Travel Counsellor was born.
From the start, it's always been about working with people who 'get' what I'm trying to achieve: a small number of clients who value genuine one-to-one service from someone who truly cares about getting it right for you, from the moment you get in touch, to the moment you return home. No hard sell, no targets and an approach that's always based on honesty and good advice.
I don't advertise. My entire business is built on word of mouth and referrals, and I don't think there's any nicer way to find someone who you like and know you can work with. I’m beyond proud to have a constant, unbroken 100% ‘Excellent’ score from my clients, and a repeat rating of over 70%. That’s more than seven out of ten people coming back to book their trips with me time and time again. And hopefully a good steer to let you know that you are in the safest of hands.
Over the years, I've travelled extensively, ticking off lots of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Caribbean and the States. I've got a real love for ocean and river cruising too, and have sailed everywhere from the Red Sea to the blue Danube. I pour all my knowledge and experience into every enquiry I have, carefully considering the logistics, bringing to life ideas and suggestions you might not have thought of to create plans you love that turn into holidays you'll always remember.
I can book anything and everything, but my real passion and value is in tailor-made holidays. I enjoy nothing more than taking the logistics that’d make most people’s head spin, and fine-tuning them to design exactly what you want. I'm a fully-licensed tour operator, so you can expect complete ATOL and financial protection as standard, coupled with the lovely pleasure of picking and choosing your holiday, your way.
I'm also a fully independent travel agent, so depending on what you fancy, I can compare and contrast against a huge choice of tried and trusted tour op partners to whittle down what works.
For you, that means giving me your brief, and getting on with life while I do the hard work behind the scenes. Once I have everything prepped and ready, I'll let you know, and all you need to do is decide which option you love the most, and tweak and tailor until it's spot on for you.
My service extends well beyond the booking too. I'm on hand throughout, answering questions, arranging tickets and taking care of online check-ins, so all you need to think about is what to pack. And while you're away, I'm only ever a quick call or message away if you need anything at all.
Craving the more personal, more enjoyable and more relaxing way to organise your next holiday? I'll work flexibly around you to bring it all to life.
Get in touch with me now to start planning.
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
Three wonderful rail trips that’ll set your pulse racing
I seem to have found myself a niche rather in putting together rail itineraries. Or at least trips that have a train or two in them...
26 May 2026 3 min read
Spell-binding scenery & heart-melting people: why Vietnam needs be next on your to-do list
When people decide on heading East for the first time, Thailand tends to top the list. And, with elephants, idyllic islands and a feast of food and culture, it’s little wonder. But, delve a bit deeper, and Vietnam could well come up trumps for you. This long, skinny nation pays tribute to its sobering war history, but does so with the most beauty and peace you can imagine. Mix that with ancient t
04 Mar 2025 6 min read
Discovering Domes Noruz Kassandra
Complimentary food when you order wine is such a thing of the past now that it made the freshly baked bread, oils, olives and selection of unctious Greek dips even sweeter. Welcome to early season in Halkidiki where the restaurants are quiet and eager owners wait to lure you in with jugs of cut-price local sweet wine at a table Shirley Valentine would be thrilled with. Our jaunt to Greece was on
27 Oct 2024 3 min read
New York, New York!
It doesn’t take much to persuade me to book a holiday. Late last year I was scrolling through Facebook and read the sad story of a travel consultant who had lost her husband. It had been his dream to go to New York, but he had never made it. So, she’d booked a whirlwind trip for herself and her son, determined to make it happen in his honour. Fast-forward a couple of hours and I have also booked
05 Dec 2023 7 min read
Camembert, Calvados and Cider - the good C words
Following on from our river cruise on the Rhine last summer, we decided to throw caution to the wind and try the Seine this August. The Seine runs through northern France, and this cruise started in Paris before winding its way up towards the Normandy beaches and back towards the City of Light. As is usual with me, I like to push my luck when it comes to holidays and so with a smidgen under the a
21 Aug 2023 6 min read
River cruising with kids - are you sure that's a good idea?
Holiday planning for my own family can be a curious affair. My husband wants nothing to do with the logistics but will happily make my life a misery for a week if it’s not up to scratch. My kids are young and therefore fairly easy-going, but if there’s not enough to do, then woe betide you. For both parties, they don’t like very hot weather or lying around all day. For me, I like culture and histo
18 Sept 2022 6 min read
Discovering Montenegro – a little slice of Italy floated over the Adriatic
You’d be forgiven for asking twice where Montenegro is. Clinging to the coast just below Croatia, this tiny country flies under the radar, but packs an enormous punch in good looks, amazing food and a new line in luxe hotels. Yes, dear reader, you’ve just discovered a little-known gem… Our own trip to Montenegro was one of sheer pot luck. We were booked on a cruise, but the kids clubs got cancell
22 Jul 2022 4 min read
A long weekend in... Prague
That little pocket of opportunity between Christmas and New Year is always my favourite time to go away. Work is sleepy, civilisation is in a lull and most places are still all dressed up for Christmas. This year, we took ourselves off to Prague. Having previously visited (and adored) Vienna, I wanted more Austro-Hungarian oomph, hearty fare and good beer. It did not disappoint. Getting to Prague
20 Feb 2020 5 min read
A Self-Drive Through Tuscany
Tuscany. The very word conjures images of slender Cypress trees and rolling hills. Divine wines and pretty towns. We spent a week self-driving through this famously beautiful region picking up tips, must dos – and a few very decent bottles of plonk! The rare example of a favoured holiday destination where the countryside wins out over the coast, we based ourselves just outside of Florence, giving
20 Feb 2020 4 min read
Is one week enough in Florida?
I’m a pack-it-all-in kind of traveller. And I don’t just mean my cases (which are always ludicrous both in volume and weight). When I go somewhere, I love to squeeze in as much as I can. This November, without school holidays to worry about, and with a week to spare, we headed off to Florida to explore the Sunshine State. With year-round good weather, Florida is a sun-worshipper’s dream. Our sum
28 Nov 2019 6 min read
La Bella Vita in Bologna - the perfect long weekend for foodies
Bologna is the perfect city break come rain or shine. Luckily for us, as we had three days of the former. In parts crumbling and charming, and others polished and preened, Bologna isn’t the grandiose buildings of Rome, or the romance of Venice. It’s got a charm all of its own – and notably, the best food in the whole of Italy too. The compact centre revolves around Le Due Torri, the Two Towers. B
23 May 2019 3 min read
Adventures in the Land of Fire & Ice - Part Two
Ready for Round Two? Read on... When you do the Golden Circle, you’ll quickly see it’s very busy, with lots of coaches jostling for position. And while it’s down to personal preference and budget, I would 100% recommend doing it in style, by super jeep. On the day of our tour, we were picked up at our hotel by two behemoths. A 4x4, and a Mercedes Sprinter van jacked up on humongous tyres – we we
08 Apr 2019 4 min read
Adventures in the Land of Fire & Ice - Part One
In October last year, I received a phone call from Travel Counsellors’ Head of Sales. It went something along the lines of, ‘Jasmin, you’ve had an excellent month, and so I’d like to ask whether you’d prefer to win a bottle of Champagne… or a trip to Iceland?’ Unsurprisingly, in March this year, I was sat (gin in hand) on an Iceland Air flight as the craggy coastline of Iceland came into view bel
08 Apr 2019 4 min read
Madeira - like the Caribbean, without the jetlag!
It was just as we were starting to descend that my husband turned casually to me and said, “Do you know Madeira has one of the most dangerous runways in the world?” Its combination of a short runway before a steep drop-off into the Atlantic had apparently given the airport this unfortunate title. And so, braced for disaster, we landed into the capital, Funchal, (safely) beginning our time on this
03 Jan 2019 4 min read
How to eat your way around... Vienna
If there’s one kind of war I’m interested in, it’s a cake war. And so being served up competing wedges of rich, chocolatey Sacher Torte by impeccably dressed gents in the grandest of coffee houses is the perfect start to our 72-hour food tour of Austria’s capital, Vienna. Eagerly following in the footsteps of Rick Stein, who opened mine and my husband’s gluttonous eyes to the idea of short gast
20 Aug 2018 5 min read
Cruising with a baby - is it a good idea?
We are the kind of parents who swore nothing would change on having a baby. I can safely say, now I’ve not had a night out since July 2017, that that was a little naïve of me. Something I absolutely refuse to give up however, is cruising. When you ask people about cruising with a baby, the reaction is mixed. You’re not guaranteed to be close to a hospital, you’re in one small room, there’s no f
11 Jun 2018 4 min read
Jumping ship… Why choose a river cruise
Double-checking my itinerary; Nuremberg, Regensburg, Kelheim, Durnstein, Melk and Vienna (with the exception of Vienna) I have to say I wasn’t exactly inspired by the idea of my upcoming river cruise. Although the thought of twinkling Christmas markets was a lovely one – the idea of these little-known destinations at the back-end of November paled in comparison to my normal – and sunny - ocean-goi
04 Apr 2018 4 min read
A long weekend in... Seville
“Be careful with the car in the city, the streets are very narrow, and the drivers stop for no-one” was probably not the most confidence-inspiring welcome to Spain. Flying to Malaga Airport, me, my husband and our baby daughter were picking up a brand-new hire car to make the 220km(ish) journey to the capital of Andalusia, and the home of Flamenco, beautiful Seville for a long weekend of food, win
28 Feb 2018 3 min read
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Why use a Travel Counsellor
Let's plan your dream trip together
Tailor-made for you
Your holiday isn’t just a trip away. It’s a longed-for escape, time to reconnect with loved ones, or a dream adventure you never thought possible. That’s why I take the time to truly get to know you and understand your hopes and expectations, then use my experience, connections and passion for the destination to create a trip that makes those dreams a reality.
Personalised service. Always
When you plan a holiday with me, you’ll be given my personal mobile number from the very first call. I’ll listen to your thoughts and ideas like I would a friend and arrange accommodation, activities, and flights that are all personalised to you. And I’ll share my personal tips and recommendations, so you can experience the true beauty of each destination.
Stress-free travel, and more time for what matters most
I believe your time away should be stress-free, easy, and seamless from start to finish. So, I take care of all the details for you - from ATOL protection, insurance, and flexible payments to access to the myTC app, which keeps everything in one place.
Support when it matters most
If the unexpected happens, you can rest easy, knowing that I’ll handle any last-minute changes, flight cancellations, or disruptions before you even pick up the phone. So you always feel happy, carefree, and ready to make the most of every moment.
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