Sent by Michael Smith
Newcastle 05/08/2025
The team are phenomenal, always deliver and on the rare occasion there’s a challenge, they immediately deal with it.
Based In Stockport
Joanne Grogan
Available for new enquiries
Looking for help with your business travel? Find out how I can help here
It's Nice To Meet You
Hello and thank you for visiting my webpage. I am an independent and impartial Travel Counsellor based in Stockport. I am a mother of two teenagers and a proud Mancunian with a passion for travel and customer service. I love talking to people about their travel and making their ideas come to life. I thrive on finding the perfect holiday for my customers, whatever that may be including beach, city break, Lapland, cruises or a UK break. I have nearly 30 years of experience working in the travel industry as well as a lifetime of travel experiences.
Before becoming a Travel Counsellor I spent 17 years working within the airline industry, learning all aspects of travel and how important customer service is. I believe in making the travel and holiday experience personal and I will remove all the hassle of organising so that you can focus on having your amazing holiday.
As a family we love travelling all over the world, and I have had a lot of experience of travelling with young children. We have enjoyed holidays to Thailand, Malaysia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Barbados, European city breaks and road trips through America. These first hand experiences will help me create some amazing bespoke holidays for my customers.
All bookings made with me are 100% financially protected by either the Travel Counsellors Financial Trust or ATOL. This means that you have financial peace of mind when booking with me. In this every changing travel environment I will ensure that you have the most upto date information regarding visas and vaccinations as well as Foreign Office advice
I am available to discuss your travel plans whenever is the best time for you, be it daytime, evening or weekend. I understand time is precious and can help you by freeing up your time spent trawling through the internet or having to travel to the High Street.
Please feel free to call or email me with your travel dreams, and lets make them a reality together.
My customer stories
Sent by Beth Sharp
Oldham 05/02/2025
I recently booked a trip through Joanne Grogan and it was one of the most amazing experiences!
Right from the start Joanne was super helpful, pulling together an itinerary that fit what I had in mind.
The holiday was over 3 different countries and involved a lot of planning and Joanne took care of everything, completely removing all the stress.
When on the trip everything ran smoothly and we had a fantastic time.
Would definitely recommend Joanne to anyone looking for a trip and I can’t wait to book something else!
Sent by Paul Roberts
Cheshire 06/11/2024
Fantastic and quick service Pleasure to deal with
Sent by Paula Pearson
Fowey 20/09/2024
Just back from a wonderful week in Corfu, all brilliantly arranged by Joanne Grogan - Travel Counsellor
We literally told her what we wanted and she arranged everything from suggesting the venue to flights to check in, pick ups and hotel and it was all seamless.
The Olivar Suites was perfect for us, a beautiful old Olive Mill brilliantly converted into suites with a pool and beachside bar. We had a suite with its own small pool which was great to relax in and the staff at the hotel are friendly and efficient and make it very easy to relax.
Mesaonghi itself is a lovely resort, small but with traditional tavernas in walking distance.
Joanne did an amazing job with lots of personal touches, thank you so much, it was exactly what we needed - now to plan the next one…
Sent by Susan Terry
Stockport 05/09/2024
Joanne is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Nothing is to much trouble and she listens to what you want, and always finds somewhere perfect. Wouldn't use anyone else.
Sent by Hannah Dykes
Manchester 28/08/2024
Jo was brilliant! Can’t wait to go on holiday now!
Sent by Bethany Sharp
Oldham 28/08/2024
Joanne has been fantastic throughout the whole booking experience. From start to finish there was nothing she could have done better. Joanne made the whole process smooth and has created the most amazing holiday, which I cannot wait to go on!
Sent by Adam Jones
Manchester 28/08/2024
Always a pleasure to book with.
Sent by Nicola Moore
Stockport 28/08/2024
From start to finish, Jo has worked with us to book a ‘dream holiday’ to Iceland. She made sure all the key ‘must sees’ were included in a way that was suitable not just for myself, but for my husband and daughter too. A very personalised level of service that has been greatly appreciated.
Sent by Kathryn Gummett
Stockport 28/08/2024
Always recommending you to others, you do such a fantastic job
Sent by Amanda Etchells
Hyde 28/08/2024
Excellent quick friendly service. Wouldn’t go anyway else. Thank Jo
Sent by Aimee Spilsbury
Warrington 28/08/2024
Suggestions given, great communication, no pressure. Takes the headache away
Sent by Deborah Tomlinson
Liverpool 28/08/2024
The most helpful and responsive service as ever from Joanne, even on a Sunday. We would recommend Joanne in a heartbeat, nothing is too much trouble and always manages to come up with a trip to suit our needs.
Sent by Rachel Ibbett
Hale 28/08/2024
If you have had a great score of either a 9 or 10 why not give the customer a quick call to say thank you.
Sent by Elizabeth Hilton
Bristol 28/08/2024
Really appreciate all the help in booking our trip to Prague in December for my husband’s 60th birthday. Jo was super helpful and professional and made the process really easy.
Sent by Michelle Kehoe
Manchester 28/08/2024
Joanne has been fantastic again. She listened to everything we wanted and delivered on budget. We request several changes to the trip which she arranges quickly. Highly recommend
Sent by Ann Johnson
Macclesfield 02/02/2024
Everything has been organised with efficiency and it has been a pleasure dealing with you
Sent by Guy Johnston
Nantwich 30/10/2023
We had a wonderful holiday and one that I certainly would not have found myself . After giving Joanne a few base ideas she came back with options and our continual mind changing and then tweaks were responded too quickly and in full each time. I will certainly be using Joanne and this travel agent again as well as recommending to family and friends.
Sent by Elliott Earnshaw
Wales 10/04/2023
Jo has been fantastic Very helpful and some great ideas.
Sent by Tessa Tingle
Stockport 02/04/2023
Came up with some lovely ideas that I wouldn’t have thought of! Very excited to travel in September
Sent by Olivia Thomas
Stockport 02/04/2023
Super friendly and helpful. Made the whole process really easy for us. Thank you!
Sent by Kate Gummett
Stockport 09/02/2023
I love how much time Jo takes to learn about what kind of holiday I really want, and she always come back with some brilliant options for us as a family. It takes all the work away from me and just lets me look forward to a wonderful time away.
Sent by Nicki Murns
Denton 28/11/2022
A few months ago, we asked Joanne Grogan- travel counsellor if she could organise us a holiday similar to one we’d found elsewhere and I have to say, she and her team certainly came through!!
We’ve had the most amazing experience and made so many memories, we’ve been looked after and spoiled and met some fabulous people too. We can’t thank her and wide eyed tours enough, it’s certainly set a benchmark for us for future adventures. Thank you so very much Jo, we’ll be coming to you again and I promise I’ll be less of a mither next time.
Needless to say, I highly recommend her services
Sent by Elliott Earnshaw
Cardiff 28/11/2022
I’d like to say a huge thank you to Joanne
The holiday you arranged for us was absolutely amazing! From pick up to drop off home we simply had an amazing experience, the hotels, tours , guides and staff who helped us make so many happy , funny moments will be one for us to cherish.
Thanks Jo and the team. We will definitely recommend you
Thank you really doesn’t cover the best experience I’ve had on a holiday.
Elliott x
Sent by David North
Nottingham 12/04/2022
Extremely efficient, gave lots of options, very professional, delight to work with, nailed the brief after exhaustive research
Sent by Lucy Banks
Manchester 12/04/2022
Brilliant service and a lovely person to deal with. Found a wonderful holiday, thank you x
Sent by Sophie Fenner
Cheshire 07/04/2022
Found exactly what we were looking for in a matter of days, was also incredibly helpful to answering any questions we had regarding the holiday.
Sent by Carrie Smith
Manchester 22/01/2022
Extremely helpful, personable and dealt with our request and booking promptly and efficiently. Joanne made the process so easy for us.
Sent by Anna Rogers
Stockport 10/11/2021
Many thanks to Joanne Grogan from Joanne Grogan - Travel Counsellor who saved me loads of time and worry organising a business trip.
I emailed Joanne with the dates and the venue of a conference in Newcastle. I explained I wanted the least stress possible as I was already anxious about going.
Joanne came back with 3 different hotels and a couple of options for the train explaining pros and cons. I picked the one I wanted and I wasn't disappointed. The hotel was lovely and within 10 minutes walking distance of where the conference was held.
Booking with Joanne was so simple. I was mega busy at work. I could have spent time searching for trains and hotels to find the best deals etc but it would have taken me ages. I trusted Joanne would do a good job and she did not disappoint.
My tickets were hand delivered, the hotel was paid for before I arrived. And she sent me a message to make sure everything was okay when I got here.
My final thought? Why on earth have I not done this before! Will definitely be using Joanne again. In fact I noticed Durham looked like quite a pretty place on the way up. I think I'll ask Joanne to sort me out somewhere to stay so I can work away from home and tie it in with some sightseeing!
Sent by Tom Kerrane
London 01/11/2021
We are sun worshippers and love our breaks. Unfortunately with Covid we had a few let downs. A lovely lady I went to school with introduced me to the lovely Joanne. Wow! What a superstar this lady is! Nothing was too much trouble and she was an absolute diamond from start to finish. She almost felt part of the family. I would say if anyone is looking to book a holiday away and wants someone to take the pressure off, there is no one like Joanne. You can speak to her all the time and can see she genuinely cares. I would have no hesitation booking through her again!
The only problem is she got us such a great holiday we are actually thinking of moving there.
I'm 51 years of age and have travelled the.world.
My only regret is not using Joanne before.
Sent by Jeanette Harrison
Manchester 30/10/2021
Just to say thanks so much for sorting out our recent holiday to Majorca. It was very reassuring, in the current climate, to have someone to check all little things with regarding the paperwork/restrictions etc. Everything went really smoothly and I’m looking forward to the next trip, wherever that may be!
Sent by Sally Barker
London 16/09/2021
So easy to book with Joanne. I trust her judgment 100% and she’s always got the latest info.
Sent by Deborah Tomlinson
Manchester 16/08/2021
Joanne always goes above and beyond when arranging our travel and understands what we need and what we like as a family. I wouldn’t use anyone else now to book our travel and would highly recommend Joanne to anyone looking to make travel plans.
Sent by Joanne Butterworth
Manchester 13/08/2021
We booked through Joanne a back a holiday to Cyprus. Joanne was amazing and sorted out every finer detail to make it a holiday to remember. Unfortunately this was cancelled. Joanne advised of this straight away. We discussed alternatives & Joanne searched for the best place. We are now making special memories in Greece. Travel documents, car parking, lounges, links to covid testing, step by step rules for Greece were all sorted & organised by Joanne, which was perfect & reassuring. All documents were printed & delivered by Joanne. We sailed through the airport. I’d one million percent recommend Joanne Grogan for all your holidays needs. No hassle, no worries just amazing times. I already have my list of destinations in mind for Joanne to help with on my return. Thank you Joanne you made our holiday stress free.
Sent by Amanda Etchells
Manchester 26/07/2021
Jo has been a godsend in this most difficult of years. It’s been a nightmare with having to keep changing dates but Jo has been an absolute delight in keeping us upbeat and nothing has been too much trouble. Here’s hoping third time looking and we get to go on our trip.
Sent by Andrea Skeer
Stockport 15/06/2021
Just got back from a lovely 4 day break at Ashlea pools. Booked last minute by Joanne due to our wedding being cancelled! It’s just what we needed! And thanks Joanne for the little touches you added to our break! Highly recommend x
Sent by Deborah Tomlinson
Oldham 21/09/2020
Joanne really does a great job of keeping us updated when travel plans are not going to plan. I won’t trust anyone else to book our trips now Joanne really goes the extra mile!
Sent by Louise Rawlinson
Stockport 21/09/2020
Joanne helped me and my friend book a 4day break. When our first one got cancelled Joanne was a massive help and re-arranged it to go else where. She had a lot of knowledge on the areas and hotels. She was absolutely fabulous. She even gave me a courtesy call when we got home. Such a lovely helpful lady and I will not book my holidays through anyone else. She was always on the phone or there to help with any questions I had. Thank you so much Joanne
Sent by Louise Hagen
Stockport 24/07/2020
Can not recommend Jo enough, she spent ages finding us a last minute UK holiday. She took all the stress out of holiday hunting and turned it into an enjoyable experience. Excellent, personal service.
Sent by Kellie Butterworth
Stockport 24/07/2020
I tasked Joanne with an almost impossible task of finding accomodation in an area that was almost fully booked for the dates i wanted to travel. She worked hard to find me what i wanted and also sent alternatives for consideration. Joanne is 5 star, she really cares about finding the right holiday for you and goes above and beyond. I honestly can't recommend her enough and would most definitely use her again. This is personal service at its finest.
Sent by Debbie Tomlinson
Manchester 27/02/2020
Joanne is a pleasure to deal with and comes up with a tailor made package taking all requirements into account. This is truly tailor made, first class service. Look forward to booking future trips with Joanne.
Sent by Joan Grogan
Manchester 19/02/2020
Joanne was very professional nothing was too much trouble.looking forward to our holiday and booking Our next one with Joanne. From two happy clients.
Sent by Catherine Gregory
Manchester 19/02/2020
Joanne is a true professional. Helpful, patient, knowledgeable and not at all pushy. We felt very well informed and used her advice to plan our overseas adventure.
Sent by Danielle Powell
Manchester 10/01/2020
Great service, really friendly and very helpful
Sent by Geoffrey North
Derbyshire 11/12/2019
It's a pleasure doing business with her. Let us hope for a happy and successful holiday!
Sent by Denise Maloney
Liverpool 11/12/2019
Told Joanne what we wanted and she done the rest
Sent by Donna Hinchcliffe
Portugal 15/10/2019
Jo listened to what we wanted right from the start and tailor made the holiday, arranging things we never would have thought of, she didn't bat an eyelid when we changed the goal posts and has already had me thinking about our next trip. Would not hesitate to recommend her.
Sent by Kate Gummett
Stockport 14/10/2019
Joanne did an amazing job finding us the perfect holiday, even when we had no idea what we were looking for! Far exceeded our expectations of what we’d be able to achieve. Thanks
Sent by Jean Dooley
Stockport 27/09/2019
Joanne is so helpful and kind. She did a brilliant job for us last year.We got everything we wanted for our holiday without any hassle. She has arranged yet another holiday for us this year. Thank you Joanne
Sent by Kylie Burgess
London 09/09/2019
Joanne was so quick to respond to my request and met with the long list of requirements!. So friendly and accommodating.
Sent by Sue Thaw
Cambridge 02/09/2019
Joanne organised our family holiday to South Africa. It was amazing. The safari was the most wonderful experience and the place that we stayed was stunning. We wouldn’t hesitate to return there. Everything was well organised and we would definitely book again through Joanne in the future.
Sent by Sue Thaw
Cambridge 29/08/2019
A big thank you to Joanne Grogan - Travel Counsellor this place is amazing.
Sent by Phil Farrow
Manchester 29/08/2019
Excellent service, nothing too much trouble. Would recommend without hesitation!
Sent by Karen Anthony
Stockport 29/08/2019
Just booked my second holiday in 2 weeks with Joanne.
Fantastic advice, fabulous service and very patient, I had a lot of questions!
I won’t be booking another holiday again - will be asking Jo every time!
Sent by Annmarie Lewis
Hyde 29/08/2019
Joanne was fantastic very helpful and knowledgeable. Made the whole experience of booking hassle and stress free. I will definitely use her service again and recommend her service to others. I am so looking forward to our mini break. Thank you so much joanne
Sent by Emma Pearce-Bolton
Stockport 18/06/2019
Joanne was really helpful in arranging our holiday. Very patient whilst we changed our minds a few times and sourced some great holiday options for us. We were delighted with the hotel in Madeira that we decided upon in the end.
Would definitely contact Joanne again for future holfisus and would happily recommend.
Sent by Shellie Cummings
Hyde 21/05/2019
Joanne is very knowledgeable & passionate about what she does & makes every best effort to create your ultimate holiday adventure. Can’t recommend her enough
Sent by Angela Broadhurst
Solihull 01/05/2019
Dear Joanne, thanks so much for booking my Florida trip. So glad l listened to your advice. The flights & hotel were perfect and it all went to plan. Thanks again & l will be in touch for my next trip soon. Xxx
Sent by Heather Barlow
Stockport 01/05/2019
A great break, everything Joanne sorted was perfect. Flights, hotel, car hire, transfer! Just enjoying the biscuits and tea now! Thanks x
Sent by Ann Brown
Marple 19/03/2019
Joanne provided clear thoughtful advice. Listened to what we wanted and provided a couple of options for us to choose from. I would be more than happy to recommend her to other travellers and holiday makers.
Sent by Kelly Watkiss
Chesterfield 08/02/2019
I had never used a travel consultant until Joanne helped us organise a trip of a life time to Lapland at Christmas. I never thought I needed one but Joanne has changed my mind. It was great for her to take the pressures off us trying to find the right location, hotel and trips. Joanne even helped us to visit Santa which was an amazing experience. Joanne has been amazing, polite, friendly. She even called to check everything went well. She was genuinely excited to hear about our trip.
Thank you for organising our amazing holiday. The memories will last forever!
Sent by Nicola Tierney
Manchester 13/11/2018
Lovely booking through Joanne - very helpful
Sent by Jean Dooley
Stockport 13/11/2018
Joanne was fantastic at finding us a great affordable trip to Lanzarote. She could not have been more helpful - brilliant!
Sent by Heather Barlow
Stockport 13/11/2018
Jo was great! Will definitely use again.
Sent by Anna Leyland
Manchester 08/08/2018
Thanks for arranging our accommodation in Paris Jo - really appreciate your patience and expertise (and the lovely card!)
Based in
My Blog
I absolutely live and breathe travel and I love to write about my experiences! Please take a look through my posts - you might find your own holiday inspiration.
Part 4 - the last part of the California Road Trip
02 August 2023
For as long as I can remember India has wanted to go to San Diego Zoo. It is one of the best kept and reputable zoo’s in the world that does a lot of work with rescued and endangered animals. Set in over 100 acres it is massive. We thought okay, maybe a couple of hours…..7 hours later we finish. Travelling around the zoo with 15000 steps and by cable car and bus! It is very impressive. The zoo is
California Road Trip Part 3
02 August 2023
The big drive…. Leaving Yosemite we looked on the phone for a route and they were all saying 5-6 hours back via Los Angeles,to get us to the next campsite in Lone Pines, so you can imagine our delight when the sat nav said about 3 hours, which is what we had expected when we planned the route. Weknewis would be a challenging drive with lots of curves and climbing but we were ready for the challeng
Road Trip Part 2
02 August 2023
The drive from Monterey to San Francisco had a stop that we just had to do. Having 2 avid Lost Boys fans with us meant we had to stop at the famous Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Be aware that parking can be expensive in an RV, but there is parking in the bus car park at the end of the pier. Santa Cruz Boardwalk is everything you imagine a US boardwalk to be, lots of rides, game stalls, shops and food. Th
A family RV adventure in California Part 1
02 August 2023
To holiday as a family of 4 adults does become very expensive. You are usually looking for 2 hotel rooms now which means your holiday price doubles. We decided that we would try something different this time and hired an RV to travel around in, so we all had some space and we could have an adventure together. First stop on the US adventure is a couple of nights in Anaheim. We have stayed in the H
Madeira – A Gem of an Island.
05 April 2023
Madeira – A Gem of an Island. Madeira is a destination that is going through a renaissance now. Post pandemic it was one of the first places to open up and it is good to see that tourism to the Island has gone from strength to strength. My knowledge of Madeira prior to travelling was Madeira Wine, hills, flowers and possibly an older clientele, What I was not aware of was the beauty and diversity
Magical Ubud
02 September 2019
24 years ago Paul and I went on our first holiday together and that adventure included Bali. We have such special memories of the Island and especially Ubud that it was with excitement we returned. The first big change is the traffic....be aware that the traffic in Bali is madness and so busy. We arrived into the domestic terminal, after transferring in Jakarta to be told by Kimmy, our driver th
3 Night stay.
02 September 2019
I last visited Singapore nearly 30 years ago, and I really did not like it as it felt too controlling and clean. This time I could appreciate how the city has changed beyond recognition whilst regaining its character. We stayed at Clarkes Quay, next to the river and on the doorstep of a great number of restaurants and bars. It was a lovely area to wander around at night and you felt safe. It is w
Milan
04 June 2019
Milan is not the most obvious destination for a weekend break, but it has always been a favourite of mine. There was a time a few years when my Mum and I would go over for a couple of days once a year. Milan is a city that comes with an image of industry and glamour, and it does live up to the reputation. A lot of the time it reminded me of Manchester. The large imposing Duomo is a sight to b
Hua Hin
04 June 2019
We discovered Hua Hin and Cha-am whilst touring round Thailand on our honeymoon. We were sat in Chiang Mia trying to decide where to go next for a beach and we discovered a hotel in Cha-am that looked great and the idea of just flying to Bangkok instead of a couple of flights was ideal. We flew to Bangkok the next day and got a car to meet us at the airport. To get to Hua Hin or Cha am it involve
Marrakech - A great getaway destination
22 May 2019
Marrakech is such a great place for a long weekend, just 3hrs 45 mins from Manchester and you find yourself into a completely different world. The smell and sights are to be experienced. We decided to have a weekend away to celebrate a birthday in December. We stayed in a Riad in the heart of the Medina. It was basically a heavy door that opened into an oasis. With a rooftop terrace that looked ov
Bangkok - A great city to explore
22 May 2019
In the late 90s and early 2000s, most of our holidays involved a brief stop in Bangkok. Usually as a stop-off place to somewhere else. Bangkok is unlike anywhere else and somewhere that has to be experienced. It never seems to stop, the horns are blaring, the river always has boats on it and the tuk-tuks dart in and out of the traffic. With the skytrain within reach of many hotels, it is an easy
American dream holiday
03 May 2019
Day 2 and lets go Stateside today. When kids come along we got told we would need to change the way we holiday, no more adventures and only hotels with kids club. We never liked to do the normal we decided that we would take the family holiday and turn it into the trips we had seen on films and went for the American family Holiday, This involved travelling with a 4 year old and a 6 year old to Vir
Manchester Libraries
02 May 2019
Manchester, my wonderful home town. It is a vibrant, historical and fun city to visit and live. There is lots to do linked with the music and football history, especially the Football Museum. What it also has is 3 important libraries that are all worth a visit in their own right. The Central Library dominates St Peters Square and is a large round building. It houses a small theatre in the base
Vancouver and Seattle
27 November 2018
Looking for somewhere different to go on holiday? Seattle is not the first place that springs to mind. But the flights were available and great times and an adventure was beckoning. Seattle is famous for music, coffee and Bill Gates, as well as being close to the Canadian border. It is here that we decided to start our journey, as we had a soccer game to go to. Travelling with two pre-teens, we
Teenage City Break
15 July 2018
As a family with a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old, most of the communication with them is via technology. To get them away from the Xbox or Snapchat is hard, which is something that I am sure most of you will understand. It can be frustrating especially when you know that when they are unplugged they are inquisitive and engaging people. We have always travelled with them and tried to teach th
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: