06 June 2019

You don’t want to stop travelling overseas just because you now have children and what’s more, you still want quality accommodation, great facilities and a little time for yourselves to relax. Great kids’ entertainment and occasional supervision for your children can be important. Plus, top tips on how to avoid the having a stressful journey with the kids. 1. Pace yourself. Go with the flow and don’t pack in too much. Build in rest days and be realistic about what you might see and do. 2. Travel is great for broadening the mind, even if you’re a five-year-old. Start getting your little ones prepared for their holiday by treating it like a project. Read a guide book to them or watch a DVD or perhaps even try some of the local traditional dishes you may expect at your destination. Encourage them to keep a holiday journal, collect photos, ticket stubs and draw pictures of what they have seen and record new words they may have learned along the way, and give things a try. 3. Research and prepare a “things to do and places to go if the weather isn’t great” list. This is particularly good if travelling out of season in the February or October half terms. 4. If possible check in online as knowing you are sat together will give you piece of mind and you can often turn up a little later to airport if you have checked in, leaving less time to entertain your child before boarding. 5. Choose a hotel that caters for children. Kids clubs can give parents a welcome break but make sure you check what ages they take, what hours they operate and that they are running at the time of year you are visiting (many only run for the high season). 6. Taking a buggy or pram, even if your child is now walking, can be handy as they can double up as places to rest from the heat or if up a little later than usual to rest in a restaurant, for example. 7. Check the hand luggage restrictions before travelling, including the latest rules on carrying liquids, gels and creams, which will more than likely include milk and nappy cream for example. Chances are you will be able to carry them, but they may have to be stored in a specific way and not carried over a certain quantity, as the rules change so often it’s always worth checking close to travel. 8. Requesting a ground floor room if available is often a good idea many rooms lead onto gardens giving extra play areas 9. When flying it’s helpful to have something such as a boiled sweet to suck on to drink during take-off and landing. Make sure you have plenty of ways to entertain your little one such as crayons, books and their favourite toy. 10. Enjoy. If you book with Travel Counsellors we can do many of these things for you. Why not give me a call 01872 885860

06 June 2019

If somebody came along and gave you 30 hours of spare time, what would you do with it? Spend more time with the kids? Make a dent in that redecorating job you’ve been putting off for weeks? A bit of ‘you’ time in the garden, with a good book and a glass of wine? Some research? Ok, maybe not the last one – but recent findings suggest that the average UK holidaymaker is spending a staggering 30 hours researching their holiday. From reading reviews to sorting out passports, it adds up to a lot of time. And it’s time you could spend elsewhere just by giving me a call. I’ll ask you about your likes and dislikes when it comes to travel – and that’s your bit done. I’ll construct your perfect holiday, packed with all the things you love and none of the things you hate. You’ll wonder how you ever booked travel before us. Holidays without the hassle, and 30 more hours to enjoy? If you think I can be of any help, then please feel free to give me a call. 01872 885860

06 June 2019

I take great pride in what I am booking for my customers. I am not on a salary so all the time I spend on people’s enquiries is my own time. I work on commission from suppliers when customers book, so you are assured that I will want to find you the best holiday to suit your requirements. Chances are I am the same price as most operators and I often package the holiday myself to get the best deal. It just means I take care of it for you and you get the service I offer with it. This is my own business and I pride myself on the service I offer my customers and always being here for them. I love arranging my customers holidays and helping those who truly value the service I offer and understand the time and care I put in to finding them the right holiday. I may sometimes be more than online, but this is not a like for like holiday, it's a transaction and nothing more and I think I am worth that little more for that peace of mind, my knowledge, my care, my time and my contacts. Sometimes we all need to bet on ourselves and not undervalue our worth. Every booking I make, that customer is supporting me, my family and my dream rather than supporting an online big supplier who will never show gratitude that your booking means something to them. If you would like me to help arrange your next holiday, please contact me on 01872 885860 or kate.hayes@travelcunsellors.com

19 September 2018

Our family holiday this year was to the paradise island of Bali. Our main decision to travel to the island was for the surf that the island has to offer. Bali is renowned for having some of the best surf breaks in the world. My son is a very keen surfer and was so excited about the prospect of surfing the main breaks of the island. This was easy to do as we made contact, via our hotel, with a local guide who was happy to take our son to the best places for the days conditions, making sure that he got the most out of his visit. We stayed at the outstanding Anantara hotel in Uluwatu south of the capital Denpasar. This part of the island has the most wonderful sunsets with most of the hotels being located high on cliff tops. Our hotel was amazing in every way, the staff are extremely attentive with one goal in mind to make sure that you have the best time while staying at their hotel. We had interconnecting rooms which does not appear to be a problem at this property. All the rooms offer ocean views and are extremely spacious. There are also luxury villas available with their own private pools. Most of our days were spent lazing around the pool where we were treated every day to fresh fruit, a fruit smoothie and in the afternoons a small savoury snack to go with your cocktail. With three restaurants to choose from we had a lovely variety of food to enjoy from local to western cuisine. The teppanyaki restaurant was well worth a visit, highly recommended. We were also able to enjoy the local restaurants serving the most amazing local dishes and all offering fantastic value for money. The Anantara helped us with a trip to Ubud which is an area not to be missed, in fact I think if were to return I would have a couple of days in this location so that I could explore the area further as there is so much to see and do. Our day trip included a trip to one of the temples, a visit to one of the many rice plantations, a tea plantation and the famous Monkey Forest. We did not have time to explore the markets which is on my list for when we go back! I must also mention the Spa at the Anantara. This spa offers all the treatments you would expect from a spa, but the traditional Balinese massage is a must have. The prices compared with the UK make it a very inexpensive treat. Bali is a truly wonderful, magical island, the people are beautiful and kind. This is one of the most relaxed places that I have visited and hope to return one day soon.

19 September 2018

Hong Kong is an amazing place for a stopover en route to many destinations. Our stopover was on the way to Bali. We decided to have three nights in Hong Kong, recovering from our long flight from Heathrow. We spoilt ourselves and flew Business class with British Airways which was a real luxury and one that I hope we can repeat again one day. We left Heathrow in the evening and having been served a very prompt evening meal we were all sound asleep in our flat beds. Our hotel for our stopover was the wonderful Mandarin Oriental. Having booked this a year in advance we secured a fabulous deal for this hotel. We were also able to take up their special offer at the time of booking which was a complimentary upgrade from a city view room to a harbour view room. Our room was large enough for our family with one large double bed and a very comfortable sofa bed for our teenage son, with a picture window floor to ceiling of Hong Kong harbour. The bathroom can only be described as oversized with a separate shower and large bath. Breakfast was buffet style and catered for every style of food from oriental to western. The breakfast served was enough to set us up for the day. I would recommend that any stay in Hong Kong starts with a Big Red Bus Tour, one that is valid for 48 hours is a good purchase. This bus tour allows you to get on and off anywhere you want to give you time to fully explore this exciting city. You can also purchase a night time tour taking in all the sights experiencing the amazing night show of neon lights that is Hong Kong – highly recommended. If your time is short in Hong Kong, then please consider a tour that only takes a couple of hours, but this tour should include a ride to ‘The Peak’. This is an iconic landmark with a viewing terrace overlooking the whole of Hong Kong. The peak can be accessed by tram which is an unforgettable experience. It is the world’s oldest and most famous funicular railway and rises to 396 metres. We experienced markets with the most amazing street food, markets selling fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers, there is a market for almost everything in Hong Kong. If designer labels are your thing then Hong Kong is the place for you but take plenty of spending money! The Star Ferry travels between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, this journey offers spectacular views of the towering skyscrapers and the jungle clad hills of Hong Kong Island. Make sure that you have your cameras ready. This journey can also be enjoyed at night. A visit to Stanley on the southern coat of the island is part of the Big Red Bus tour. It is a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is famous for its market, offering reasonably priced clothes as well as tourist tat. It looks a little ramshackle but don’t let that put you off. We did not have enough time but hope to return one day to explore the things that we missed.

17 June 2018

Have you ever wondered what happens to the ski lodges in the Canadian Rockies once the snow has all gone? Well wonder no more. During the summer time you can enjoy the luxury of these lodges. How do you get there? That’s easy - you fly up by helicopter. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity a couple of years ago to experience the wonderful adventure of Heli Hiking in the Canadian Rockies. We arrived in Calgary, stayed overnight in the city so that we were refreshed and ready to start our adventure the following day. We drove to the Helipad located just outside of Banff and waited for our transport to arrive. The first thing you hear is the sound of the powerful blades spinning through the air and then it comes into view, our transport for the next couple of days. Our luggage had already been taken from us and would be transferred by road to our accommodation. It was so exciting boarding the helicopter, buckling up and then being transported way up into the mountains. We travelled at the start of the season so there was still a lot of snow on the side of the mountains. We stayed at the Bugaboo Lodge, this lodge was very luxurious, the beds were incredibly comfortable (very important after all the mountain air) the standard of food was just amazing. At the beginning of your stay you can decide what sort of hiking, exploring you want to do depending on your level of fitness and personal ability. If you want to go off and hike all day from peak to peak you can do this or if you just want to go and appreciate the stunning scenery, wildlife and flowers at a slower pace this is fine as well. Whatever you decide to do you will be away from the crowd and the dreaded ring of the mobile phone. You are completely off grid a real get away from everything experience. Your day starts with a very hearty breakfast and then you are off. You board your helicopter which will take you to your starting point with your own qualified guide. You then have all morning to explore the area. The helicopter will then return at lunch time to bring you back to the lodge for lunch or you can decide to stay on the mountain and have a packed lunch. If you choose to return to lodge you can then relax be that in the gardens or maybe in the sauna or hot tub for the rest of the afternoon or perhaps you fancy a massage. On our last day at lunchtime we were transported to a central place right at the top of the mountain ridges where we met everyone else. Lunch which was a barbeque that had been brought to us (they also transported a portaloo!) Simply amazing. That afternoon I have an outstanding memory of bum sliding down part of the mountain such fun on our final day. I mentioned that the food was amazing, the food served at the lodge is as good as any 5* hotel if not better. If you want to get away from it all and experience a holiday that is so close to nature but with luxury accommodation this is the holiday for you. This experience can be enjoyed as part of your Canadian Rockies holiday especially if you are travelling from Calgary to Vancouver. This experience can be experienced by everyone. I’m happy to help answer any questions that you may have about this experience.

14 June 2018

I have attended many company conferences where I have become aware of what a truly caring company Travel Counsellors are. This leaves you with a warm heart, but it is not until you experience this first hand that you realise how unique this really is. In August last year I had a family traveling on a holiday of a lifetime to Australia. This holiday had taken months of planning, ensuring that every detail had been taken care off. My clients, (let’s call them Tony and Sue - not their real names) arrived with their two children into Brisbane after a very long flight with a change of planes in Hong Kong. On arrival into Brisbane, Tony and Sue felt that something was not quite right with their 16-year-old son, Callum had literally slept all the way from London to Brisbane and had been very difficult to wake for their transfer in Hong Kong. However, some of this was put down to him being a teenager and having just finished his exams. They continued onto their accommodation on one of the many islands in the area. After their first night in their resort Callum was showing signs that he really was not well. He was still very difficult to wake and when he was awake he did not know where he was, and his personality had completely changed. A decision was made to get him to hospital. This involved a ferry back to the mainland as well as finding the hospital. Callum was taken straight to intensive care. As any parent can imagine this was a horrific experience topped with the fact that they were thousands of miles from home. It was at this stage that Tony emailed me pouring out his heart as to how worried they were about their son and not sure what to do or who to talk to. This is where the worldwide family that is Travel Counsellors stepped in. I immediately called Tony and talked to him to try and establish what was happening. His son by this stage was having all sorts of tests and was still in intensive care. Both his parents were told that he would not be able to leave the hospital for at least a week. After reassuring Tony that we would look after him I told him to sit tight and someone would be in contact with him. I then contacted our 24-hour Duty Office to make them aware of the situation while at the same time I was putting out a message for help to our Australian Travel Counsellors. Within a couple of hours, I had one of my fellow Travel Counsellors contacting me to say that she lived by the hospital and was more than happy to go and visit them in person. What other travel company can offer this sort of service? By that evening Tony and Sue had been visited by Hayley, my angel in Australia, and been reassured that we would take care of their onward travel, cancelling hotels, re-booking flights etc. She also took their daughter to meet her daughter who was the same age so that she wasn’t sat in the hospital all day. This act of kindness is something so special and will always be appreciated by Tony and his family as well as by myself. Callum spent 10 days in hospital and was then told that they could continue with their holiday but that they would have to stay within a good distance of any hospital. During this time Hayley was a constant source of support to the family in so many ways. Sadly, they could not go to the Great Barrier Reef, but they did continue with their holiday as best they could be visiting Sydney and then on up to Cairns. This was all re-arranged by Hayley on my behalf. The holiday was not what the family had hoped it would be by any stretch of the imagination, but it could have been so different if they had not had anyone to fall back on. Callum was diagnosed by a very rare condition called Kleine-Levin Syndrome KLS). This is a rare and complex neurological disorder characterized by recurring periods of excessive amounts of sleep, altered behaviour, and a reduced understanding of the world. The disorder strikes adolescents primarily but can occur in younger children and adults. At the onset of an episode the patient becomes progressively drowsy and sleeps for most of the day and night (hypersomnolence), sometimes waking only to eat or go to the bathroom. Each episode lasts days, weeks or months during which time all normal daily activities stop. Individuals are not able to care for themselves or attend school and work. In between episodes, those with KLS appear to be in perfect health with no evidence of behavioural or physical dysfunction. KLS episodes may continue for 10 years or more. KLS is sometimes referred to in the media as “Sleeping Beauty” syndrome. He continues to have episodes but is now under the care of St Thomas in London. This experience has made me appreciate what a truly special company we are. This is just one of many special stories that Travel Counsellors have been involved with but this one was personal to me.

13 June 2018

I was lucky enough to visit South Africa with my family and to have the opportunity to experience the wonder that is Shamwari. Shamwari Private Game Reserve is located 75km outside Port Elizabeth on the Eastern Cape making it easily accessible for anyone visiting the Southern/Eastern Cape of Africa. Be it via the Garden Route or by an internal flight into Port Elizabeth. The Game Reserve has been voted the World’s Leading Safari and Game Reserve and Conservation Company for many years. It’s also Malaria free which is a great bonus especially when travelling with young children. Having spent four days at the Reserve it is easy to see why they keep winning this award. Our amazing family experience started the minute we drove into the Riverdene Family Lodge. We checked into our family room which was as good as any 5* hotel that I have stayed in. My 9-year-old son was given his own on safari ruck sack containing a few surprises, a guide book and scrap book ready for his adventure into the bush. The Riverdene Lodge was well equipped with its own swimming pool, children’s supervised play room and jungle gym, bar and lounge, indoor and outdoor dining and of course a good Wi-Fi connection. With excitement we joined our first game drive armed with Sam’s scrap book ready to tick off all the various animals that we hoped we would see. But more exciting than this we also had a list of Dung that we had to collect! We were introduced to our Game Ranger Vincent, who was just amazing. His knowledge and enthusiasm for his country was infectious. We were joined on our game drive by another small family making the experience very personal. In no time at all and we had seen our first giraffe, such gracious creatures just passing the day eating the leaves from the tops of the trees. However, get two males together and that’s a different story. From a safe distance we witnessed a battle between the two until one admitted defeat and moved on. The game drives are limited to the number of vehicles allowed in any one place at any one time, so we never felt that we were just on a conveyor belt. Vincent would receive messages over the radio informing him of where animals had been seen, one message was to say that a pride of lions with their cubs had been sighted in a certain area so off we went to view again from a safe distance. Unfortunately, we did not see a male lion, just the mums with their cubs. The wonderful thing about the open Land Rovers is that the animals do not see them as a threat so if you are very quiet and keep still you are almost guaranteed to see all the big five. Vincent taught us so much in a fun way, my son still refers to the warthogs that have such a small brain they start to run away from a lion only to forget why they are running stop and then get served up as supper for the lions. The Springbuck is known as fast food as it has what looks like the Golden Arches (McDonald’s) printed on its behind which stands out as they are running away. We were privileged to a whole journey of elephants including a couple of baby elephants (do you know that it takes an elephant 15-20 mins to give birth having been pregnant for 22 months) These animals are truly breath-taking up close such magnificent creatures. We were at Shamwari for four days with two game drives a day (early morning and late afternoon) which gave us so much time to really explore the reserve and experience the wonders of the bush. We sighted both the black and white rhinos, zebra, hippos and two cheetahs enjoying the remains of a recent kill. Each morning safari has a stop for coffee before returning for a hearty breakfast and the afternoon/early evening game drives always end with a sundowner. Your game ranger will find a spot perhaps overlooking a watering hole where you can stop enjoy a G&T and just watch the animals in all their glory. The evening ends with a first-class dinner served in the lodge dining room. All your food and drinks are included along with two game drives per day making it very good value for money. What should you pack for your safari: • Cameras, lenses and binoculars • Light clothing for summer safaris • Bathing suits for the pool areas • Walking shoes • Sunscreen and hats • Warmer clothing for winter stays On a more serious note Shamwari also works hard at conservation as well as having the Born Free Foundation located on the reserve. These centres based at various points on the reserve are very informative. We were given an insight into the horrific trade in ivory from the rhinos and elephants and how they are trying to work to combat this awful situation with illegal poachers. A truly moving experience. So, what happened with the dung, with Vincent’s help we were able to collect samples from the white rhino, black rhino (the white rhino eats grass while the black rhino eats leaves and twigs) along with elephant and giraffe dung. We tracked animals by identifying their tracks and collected specimens of plants and learnt of their medical uses. Educational and fun, Sam’s scrap book is a wonderful souvenir from a truly memorable family holiday the best we have ever had. On a final note, we visited Shamwari as a family which was magical. However, Shamwari has accommodation to suit all, from the Sarilli Lodge which offers fantastic accommodation for a large family or groups of friends who what to travel together, to Long Lee Manor offering luxury hotel type accommodation. Maybe you would like to stay a little closer to nature without compromising on standard then the Bayethe Lodge is for you offering luxury tented accommodation. Shamwari has something to offer everyone. A most amazing experience.