Kate Matthews

I'm based in

Forest Hill

Available for new enquiries

It's Nice To Meet You

Hello and Welcome!

I’m Kate, your local Travel Counsellor here in Forest Hill, South East London. I’ve lived here for 16 years with my husband and our two daughters, so I know exactly how precious family time is and how important it is to get every holiday just right.

Travel has always been my thing. I’ve backpacked, island-hopped, road-tripped and luxury-ed my way around the world, living and working in Australia, exploring South East Asia, India, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the USA and so many corners of Europe. I’ve created everything from simple family beach breaks to complex, multi-stop itineraries that take you across continents, including first class flights and private jet travel for those extra-special trips.

Before becoming a Travel Counsellor, I worked in the West End for a major tour operator designing tailor-made trips all over the globe, then moved to a smaller independent Croatian specialist as Head of Sales. That role meant lots of time in Croatia, getting to know the coastline, islands and hidden gems that most people never see.

Travel that feels good and does good:
Responsible travel is something I care deeply about. Having seen so many beautiful landscapes, cultures and communities first-hand, I am very aware of how fragile our world is. I want my daughters, and future generations, to be able to experience it just as I have. I’ve completed Sustainable Travel Training in partnership with The Travel Foundation and I’m proud to support tourism that benefits local people and protects the environment. My goal is simple, to help you have incredible holidays while making sure our impact is a positive one.

How I work with you
What I love about being a Travel Counsellor is that I can act as your personal travel concierge. Whether you are;

-A local family planning your next school-holiday escape
-A couple looking for a luxury tailor-made adventure
-A group juggling different needs and wish lists
-Or someone who loves complex, multi-centre trips and off-the-beaten-track experiences
I will design a completely bespoke itinerary around you.

For my luxury clients, that might mean seamless first class or business class flights, private jet charters, VIP airport services and handpicked five-star stays. For busy local families, it might be stress-free, well-planned holidays where every transfer, room type and activity has been thought through.

I am not tied to office hours, so we can chat when it suits you, after the school run, in the evening with a glass of wine, or whenever your diary allows. I handle all the research, planning and little details, so you don't have to.

I pride myself on my exellent customer care and you will always have me looking after you from the first conversation until you are home again.

A few of my favourite places, there are so many I love, but a few that really have my heart;

Thailand: for its incredible beaches, warm people and wonderfully laid-back way of life
Croatia: for that stunning Adriatic coastline, turquoise waters and beautiful mix of architecture
The Greek Islands: for lazy days discovering hidden bays, taverna lunches and those impossibly blue seas
Lapland: for the magic of the Northern Lights, husky rides, snowmobiles and, of course, meeting Santa

So let’s start planning your next adventure!

An adventure-filled family holiday
A relaxing beach escape
A chic city break
A cruise or safari
A magical Lapland trip
A ski holiday
A wedding abroad or the perfect honeymoon
Or an ultra-luxury escape with first class flights or private jet travel

I would love to help. I will always look for the best value that fits your budget, without compromising on the experience and you will have the reassurance that your holiday is fully protected.

Thanks so much for stopping by and getting to know me a little. I would love to get to know you too and help you plan your next trip.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kate x

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Explore my guides and blogs

Sri Lanka through Caroline’s eyes. Sunshine, safaris and stress‑free travel

Sri Lanka through Caroline’s eyes. Sunshine, safaris and stress‑free travel

Every so often a trip comes along that reminds you exactly why you love travel. Caroline’s recent holiday to Sri Lanka was one of those, a great mix of golden beaches, lush tea country, wildlife encounters and warm local hospitality. She has just left me a wonderful review of her experience, so I thought I would turn her words into a blog to share what Sri Lanka is really like when everything is

30 Apr 2026 5   min read

My Iceland Adventure - Why This Incredible Destination Should Be on Your List

My Iceland Adventure - Why This Incredible Destination Should Be on Your List

I’m currently lucky enough to be spending 10 days in Iceland, house- and cat-sitting for one of my lovely Icelandic suppliers. They’re the same trusted partners I use to arrange all the amazing day trips and excursions for my clients—whether it’s a guided tour from Reykjavik, a self-drive adventure around the island, or a small-group trip to hidden gems. This is my second visit to Iceland—and it

08 Jul 2025 5   min read

Dream Honeymoon & Gift Registry Service

Dream Honeymoon & Gift Registry Service

Your honeymoon will be one of the most memorable holidays of your lifetime and I care just as much as you do when it comes to creating the most outstanding experience and memories. Weather you are seeking exploration, relaxation or a mixture of the two, I can perfectly tailor to fit your style as a couple or if you are honeymooning as a family. You may have your sights set on an island parad

23 Jan 2025 5   min read

Sri Lankan Highlights Adventure Tour

Sri Lankan Highlights Adventure Tour

Ayuboyan!! So lucky me recently returned from the most magical 9 night adventure tour of Sri Lanka , the Island of Serendipity, courtesy of Exodus Travel one of our small group adventure travel suppliers. Being a beach kinda girl I have never experienced a small group tour nor a culture one at that but now I can confidentaly say I am a total convert!!! Having a local expert guide always on ha

25 Sept 2024 5   min read

Malta City break

Malta City break

I’ve recently returned from a fun packed weekend in Malta. I used to visit every year with family as my grandparents had a house over there. It’s now been over 35 years since I last visited so I was very excited to return. I was only there for 4 days, a perfect amount of time for a city break. It's amazing how much you can see in such a short amount of time! Day One From the airport we heade

16 Mar 2019 5   min read

Back to Brac

Back to Brac

Croatia, where do I start? The 1,104 miles of rugged coastline, crystal clear waters perfect for snorkelling, island hopping adventures, national parks and waterfalls to swim in, fishing villages, medieval castles steeped in history, delicious local konobas to eat in, amazing wine. It sounds too good to be true - it’s not! There’s something here for everyone and its why I have returned time and ti

19 Sept 2018 5   min read

My top 5 Holiday Destinations for a Family Christmas in the Sun

My top 5 Holiday Destinations for a Family Christmas in the Sun

I was lucky enough to spend last Christmas on the sunny Caribbean shores of Barbados. I’ve been spoiled and would love to spend every Christmas Day in sunnier climates, BBQing fresh fish around the pool and swimming in warm blue waters! It certainly beats sitting around eating turkey and the cold dark mornings! So why not book a last-minute holiday and guarantee yourself some sun, sand and a Chris

26 Jun 2018 5   min read

Regent Seven Seas Explorer

Regent Seven Seas Explorer

I was lucky enough recently to visit one of the most luxurious cruise ships ever built. The Regent Seven Seas Explorer! The newest all-suite, all-balcony ship that boasts the largest private balconies at sea has one of the highest space to guest ratio and is the only ship to feature an in-suite spa! There are 377 balcony suites that hold 750 guests and a crew of 542! The Seven Seas Explorer i

20 Jun 2018 5   min read

I love Skiathos!

I love Skiathos!

Skiathos is absolute heaven! A small slice of paradise in the North West Aegean, only 12kms long and 6km wide. With only a short hop of 3.5hrs on the plane its ideal for a fly and flop holiday. We always stay in apartments in Koukounaries. It's the last stop on the bus route, right at the end of the south coast of the Island. It’s one of the most famous and popular beaches on the islands. The

06 Jun 2018 5   min read

All Aboard Columbus...Antwerp & Amsterdam here we come

All Aboard Columbus...Antwerp & Amsterdam here we come

I was very fortunate enough recently to win a weekend mini cruise onboard Columbus with Cruise & Maritime Voyages. I was very excited as this was to be my first cruising experience! We set sail from the London cruise terminal in Essex, so ideal if you are a Londoner like me, a nice stress free 35-minute drive from SE London and there I was at Tilbury Docks. On arrival I pulled up alongside the shi

06 Jun 2018 5   min read

Christmas in Barbados

Christmas in Barbados

This was my first visit to the Caribbean and our first hot Christmas with the family. My in-laws go every January for two months and now I understand why! We fell in love with it instantly. It’s the perfect time to go away and swap the cold and gloomy British winter months for some hot Caribbean weather. On arrival I had organised for a private minibus to transfer us to our villa which was to b

06 Jun 2018 5   min read

Family Fun in the Canarian Sun

Family Fun in the Canarian Sun

I've just returned from a fun packed 7 days in Gran Canaria with the family. It's been a while since I was last there, 5 years to be precise, but nothing much has changed except for a couple of new hotels have popped up. The weather was hot and sunny all week long, food was delicious, sea was inviting & refreshing, everything was as I had left it, it was good to be back! It's just a short hop a

08 Aug 2017 5   min read

A Magical Christmas in Levi, Lapland

A Magical Christmas in Levi, Lapland

What an amazing experience and one we will never forget! It was a long time coming, our trip to Lapland. I started planning a year in advance as I know how popular these holidays are on the run up to Christmas. Our girls were eight and five at the time so what better age for them to go in search of Santa and experience all the magic Lapland has to offer. We decided on a one week holiday over

19 Sept 2016 5   min read

What my customers say

Kate is a travel magician! As usual, we booked late and as usual she managed to pull off the holiday of a lifetime for us, to Sri Lanka. We had very specific requests about where we wanted to go, which were not easy to accommodate given the distances and timescales involved, but Kate incorporated all our wishes of both locations and venues into a spectacular itinerary. Even when some places were fully booked, she kept in touch with the local team, securing us a stay at our very much wished-for hotel quite late on. Similarly, she kept abreast of upgrades we could access, so the tour just got better and better. We have been so impressed every time we have used Kate's services, from the initial contact and planning, making recommendations that were useful, through to the final tour plan. She listens to everything you want and then magically creates an amazing trip. We are once again indebted to her and looking forward to our next one already! If you want a fabulous and hassle-free trip, Kate is your person, you just have to relax and and enjoy your holiday unfold, because she's done absolutely everything else for you. Thank you Kate!

Caroline Medhurst

Kent

We had a wonderful time, thank you and everything was great. The setup for the skiing was amazing and the ski lessons for the kids were brilliant. We were also very lucky with the weather! Thanks again for all your help , I will be in touch in the future.

Laura Griffith

London

Excellent support from my adviser Kate matthews who booked our School Art Trip to Paris for a group of 59 students and teachers. Kate was very patient and accommodating. We had a great coach and accommodation services. Great pack of info also digitally sent that supported us while travelling. A wonderful trip.

Miss Henderson

Sydenham

We had an absolutely brilliant holiday We had an absolutely brilliant holiday. Kate organised everything and the many flights and new venues arrived at were seamlessly managed, being met at the right place at the right time, every time! Kate provided a prompt and professional service, ensuring all our wishes were incorporated in to our trip, as well as checking in with us during the trip to make sure everything was going to plan. We felt completely secure in her uber-competent hands and cannot thank her enough. I would, without hesitation, recommend Kate to any travellers because the peace of mind she affords just means you can literally sit back and enjoy your holiday. Thank you!

Caroline Medhurst

Kent

She is one of the best travel agent that has helped me in my over 32 years of travel. She goes beyond the call of duty to help ensure that I am able to meet my travel objectives. She is prompt and extremely knowledgeable.

Arunma Oteh

Oxfordshire

Kate is not only super speedy at coming back with multiple options when you ask her to help you organise a trip, she's also incredibly tolerant if you constantly change your mind/are shockingly slow at getting back to her. I couldn't recommend her more highly

Claire Chapman

London

It is often said someone goes above and beyond but with Kate nothing was too much. She encouraged us to ask questions with choices tailored to what we had said. Amazing support

Anne Bennett

Bexleyheath

We always use Kate to book our holidays - she has such great knowledge and ideas. Kate provides an excellent service each and every time; she provides such a personal service and I always feel so supported by her.

Sara Osmond

Bristol

Thanks you so much for your wonderful organisation of our holiday. Everything went like clockwork, no stress, perfect. We had a lovely time in Ischia. A bit toasty but a very relaxing week. Once again, huge thanks.

Pam Pollington

Surrey

Kate was as helpful, responsive and flexible as usual! Will use again and continue to recommend.

Amelia snare

London

Always so accommodating and patient with me as I change the boundaries. Thank you x

Vikki Vellacott

Tonbridge

We would thoroughly recommend Kare Mathews to deal with any travel requirements.In a nut shell ,she could not have been more helpful.

Edward Sharrod

London

Kate provided a great service, looking forward to my 2 week holiday in Ibiza now.

Stuart Woolven

Kent

She listened to me and then gave me options with full details will definitely use her again

Patricia Matthews

Kent

I have already recommended Kate Matthews to others . She is friendly fast and helpful. Brilliant . We will always use her. .

Maria Steures

Surrey

Great to have a personalised service of very good quality, friendly and professional.

Thierry Lawson

London

Kate was a life saver. Navigated the whole process from start to finish. Couldn’t have done it without her.

Pamela Pollington

Surrey

Kate always answers my emails quick and gives great service x

Sarah Squires

Kent

Kate was professional, knowledgeable, and responsive from the initial consultation to the booking. She took the time to understand our preferences, managed our expectations, and was always available to answer my questions. The result has been a fantastic holiday package beyond what we imagined, and August could not come quickly enough for us to enjoy it.

Anne-Rose Obidi

Cambridge

Kate is always available to answer any queries or questions and if she hasn't an immediate answer responds promptly within a couple of days

Elaine Middleton

Southend

Kate is amazing, very efficient and helpful. Highly recommend her.

Caroline Codrington

London

We have had another wonderful holiday thanks to kate!! Kate never fails to make the process from beginning to end absolutely brilliant and so easy. We have never been disappointed and won't book with anyone else now. If you are looking for some holiday support please do contact Kate

Sara Kelly

Bristol

Kate listened carefully to our brief, for a party of x8 to Majorca, and she came back to us with x3 great proposals. When we amended said brief, she was helpful and patient. Kate went out of her way to get all travel aspects organised for us, right down to printing and delivery of documents. I would not hesitate to recommend her.

Elkie Brooks

Kent

I just wanted to thank you ever so much for all your hard work in arranging our holiday. It was completely amazing. Possibly the last time the three of us go away together so i wanted something really special.... and it really was . It will be 2 weeks that we remember forever. Thank you

Rob Harris

London

You absolutely nailed the brief and it was an excellent holiday. The journeys there and back were seamless and arriving at the hotel felt like arriving in paradise. A few days before we got there Helena had put her head in the water for the first time at her swimming lesson and she was keen to try this out again. She then spent the next 4 days swimming under the water like a little fish! Thank you so much for all your hard work with this.

Naomi Milton

London

Kate has assisted me many times with my travel and I thoroughly recommend her - she's friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and arranges everything so efficiently!

Zoe Cullum

London

Kate has been brilliant, we have x2 holidays booked with Kate so far and more planned, she has really gone the extra mile in helping us plan some amazing holidays, will definitely be recommending her to friends and family, thank you Kate looking forward to our planned holidays and future holidays.

Emma Howell

Northampton

We have just returned from the holiday of a lifetime to Thailand organised by Kate. From the first contact with Kate she was efficient and laid back and took all the stress out of the booking process and she even hand delivered all our booking documents and confirmations. Kate chose a hotel in Bangkok for us to recover after our flight which was perfect and in a great central location. The next stop was Peace Resort on Koh Samui which was like arriving in Paradise. We are so grateful to Kate for helping us have a dream holiday and we can’t wait to book the next trip”.

Naomi Milton

London

Kate was truly amazing. Very thorough and considerate. I would totally trust her to organise more packages for me and wouldnt hesitate recommending her to friends and family

Antonia Bello

London

Omg!!!! The best holiday ever!!!! Thank you Kate! We just had the most amazing week of our lives. We did not leave the villa. It was paradise. Nothing was wrong and we are very picky! Thank you for your diligence and staying with us to get the perfect villa. You are our go to and will recommend to everyone! Kxxx

Krista Rest

London

Super fast service, information and booking - with all details explained. Saved me hours of trawling through websites myself and great to hear personal recommendation review of the package we booked.

Elizabeth Ballantyne

London

Kate is absolutely amazing organising my holiday from start to finish....and she put up with my 3 million questions with no complaints! would recommend her all day long!

Oluchi Obieze

London

I thoroughly recommend Kate - it’s the first time I have handed over the baton of organising a holiday and I won’t be organising other! Kate is knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and oh so patient (we had a whole list of wishes for a 7 person trip) and everything has been organised to the finest detail - literally from when we leave to when we arrive. We will definitely be using Kate’s services again. Thanks so much Kate! X

Zoe Nield

Essex

We had such a lovely time thank you. The boys loved Atlantis. Everything you organised went smoothly and we had a lovely room

Michele Pritchard

Kent

This is definitely the way forward when planning a holiday. Kate made the whole process so easy and helped us to navigate our way through the options, at a competative rate, without having to be bombarded with so many options when searching online!

Charlotte Rampling

Bromley, Kent

Thank you so much for all your help! We are all very excited for our trip to the Maldives. You’ve taken away hours of searching that I usually undertake when researching our family holidays!

Michelle Chambers

London

Hello Kate I hope you are well. I have been meaning to email you for a while as I wanted to say thank you so much for arranging our family holiday in Skiathos earlier this year. I know we had quite a few different requirements but you found us the most perfect place. The villa was lovely, the location was great and the guy who ran the villas could not have been more helpful. We all had a really brilliant holiday and I am so grateful to you for putting it all together for us - thank you so much!

Helen Harper

London

The holiday was just perfect thanks to Kate. We love Skiathos. The Villa was wonderful there is not one thing that we would change about it. The location was perfect for us and the general up keep of the Villa was to a high standard. Our dealings were with the owners son, Evan, who was very personable and capable. He took very good care of us and definitely contributed towards making it such a great holiday for us. Thank you so much for finding this great villa and for organising this trip for us, you’ve been amazing.

Anna Harper

Kent

I've just booked a holiday to Seville with Kate and can't recommend her highly enough! She responded extremely quickly to my request and my holiday was booked without any stress or headache on my part. I look forward to dealing with you again in the future Kate - thank you very much.

Sue Sinton

Kent

Kate was extremely helpful and understanding from the very first phone call. Kate made a bewildering set of guidelines into a comprehensive holiday plan. I’m looking very much towards an incredible Christmas holiday. Thank you

Caroline Malbon

London

We have just come back from a week at the Elba in Lanzarote- it was just so lovely. The hotel, the staff, the facilities, the food the proximity to the beach/shops, all of it. Kate ensured that all elements were covered and it went so smoothly. I won’t go to any other agent. Kate makes sure your holiday goes as well as she would want her own to go. I’m hugely grateful for all your help and your patience.

Sara Osmond

Bristol

I love Kate, she’s the best. A perfectionist to the T, I always travel with her! She looks after you, even if you’re far away she’ll sort things out for you, she’s a diamond.

Angie Brown

London

Another superb trip away - thanks so much Kate! Your fantastic organising went expertly to plan and we had a ball. I’m busy thinking about our next escape and will be in touch when we decide a location.

Vikki Vellacott

Tunbridge Wells

Kate was amazing, she helped me to find a bespoke holiday for us, that matches our budget and wishes. Also was very caring and towards us and small details that made this holiday even more special. I can only be thankful and recommend her service

Cristina Scheeffer

SE London

I just wanted to recommend Kate Matthews - at Travel Counsellors who I discovered through my local FB group MGF. She's organised lots of trips and flights for me at great prices and goes over and above when needed, which is helpful when you're trying to find child-friendly travel options. We had a horrible experience last weekend where we had paid for 3 seats for a 3 hour 40 minute journey for my husband, toddler and I as we are both extremely tall and I'm 7 months pregnant. We were given 2 seats 12 rows apart and my toddler won't sit with my husband and then eventually just one seat for 3.5 of us! It was stressful to say the least! Kate sorted it all out and made sure our return journey was uneventful and pleasant and was at the other end of the phone no matter day or time. I've also just found a lovely bunch of flowers tucked behind the gas meter to apologise even though none of it was Kate's fault. I've given up booking flights online myself as it so much easier having someone else do the legwork and manage to find cheaper flights at that! I recommend Kate thoroughly

Phillipa Oxspring

Lee

Kate really went the extra mile to make sure we had the best deal for our next holidays. Very efficient indeed! Highly recommend her!

kirsten brooks

london

I love the personal attention I received from Kate Matthews. She really put my mind at ease and took the stress out of booking our holiday. It was great doing business with her!!!

Angie Brown

London

Second time we have booked with Kate. Both times last minute, hard to source exact requirements. Each time we received rapid service with exactly what was required. Also appears to be cheaper than booking ourselves online. Always friendly. No task, however small, a chore. Excellent service all round.

Jack Smith

West Sussex

Kate went out of way to assist us in our holiday. She worked tirelessly to answer our questions, and was prompt in rearranging the tour with our alternative choices. The service was exceptional and I cannot praise Kate highly enough. It has been a revelation.

Brian Mendes

London

Thank you Kate for helping to make Disney special for Kathryn and the family.... thank you for the note in my room too. It's all the little things that add up to put smiles on faces... You do a brilliant job ... well done that girl Xxx

Carole Osmond

Kent

Thanks for booking our wonderful holiday. We can't believe how effortless you made the whole experience and are truly grateful for the enormously personal care and advice you have given us. I would recommend your services to anyone. Thanks again.

Sarah & Nick Gregory

Forest Hill, London

You have certainly found us a gem of a hotel....it is totally brilliant....we love it and are having a great time. We even wonder why we have hired a car to leave it!! To top it all, when we arrived back from dinner last night there was a lovely bottle of bubbly awaiting us....with a note from you! What a lovely thought........much appreciated. You have booked a real winner here!! THANKS from us both!!

Gill Wade

Sevenoaks, Kent

Honestly, thanks so much for all you did, we had the most amazing time. Kate Matthews is now on speed dial on my phone and I would not think twice to recommend her to others! She recently organised a once in a lifetime, magical trip to Lapland for our family. Kate was so knowledgeable throughout, speedy and patient at replying to my ongoing questions, and made our trip so special including all our demands! No request was too big, and I am super grateful to her in making this trip so magical for us, we will not forget the experience in a hurry.

Vikki Vellacott

Tonbridge, Kent

Amazing job! Not only did you make my late impossible booking possible for my daughter and boyfriend, you went out of your way to check them in online before I even thought about it! Credit to you and of course your company. Oh, and you were cheaper than BA direct! Booking again soon. Thank you so much.

Jacqueline Bendall

West Sussex

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Finding your match...

Every unforgettable journey starts with the right person by your side.