22 August 2022

Will I get cheap holidays? That's often a question I hear. And the real answer is no! HOWEVER, you will receive far more value from me, and especially as I have a business within the Travel Counsellors family. Why? Well, let me tell you about my week on social media. I belong to probably over 150 groups for the trade. Groups from cruise companies, tour operators and the like. There are thousands of travel agents out there. But, the feeds are full of really stupid questions. Questions that would be funny if they weren't about real people with real issues; "my clients are stuck in Corfu, what should I do?" "My clients passport is out of date, can you help me get them to Spain?" And my favourite this week from an AGENT.....TO A TOUR OPERATOR.... "can you give me the telephone number of the hotel my clients are staying in?" (Google anyone? Accommodation voucher? Did they have one? My mind starts to reel.....) So why am I different? Firstly because I care, deeply. But then.......Because I have a head office. I am not an agent just accessing wholesale rates, nope, I have a proper HUGE head office. In Manchester our team of 200 plus people are all working with me to make sure your holiday is the best. 200 plus people who negotiate great rates, pay people on time to ensure that we get great service, 200 plus people that are there if it goes wrong (cancelled flights anyone?), 200 plus people who give me a great booking system that lets me know if your passport has an issue, keeps me updated on all the info that I need and generally keeps me organised and 200 plus people who combine with nearly 2000 travel counsellors who have HUGE buying power. We are big, but personal, we are professional, but friendly and we can kick a** when it counts. Its needed sometimes. So if you want to book a holiday, who would you rather was on your team? This picture arrived today from a very stressed family who made it to Rhodes. No dramas at the airport, no dramas on arrival and even a late night snack in the room for them on late arrival. Why? Because we are Travel Counsellors. We care, I phoned the hotel on Monday to make sure everything was in order, we make it personal with the hotel to ensure they make it personal with the guests. And that's not just me, that's just Travel Counsellors. Just saying.... and yes its a blatant sales pitch to decide who you want on your team for your holiday. #trustedtravelagent #passionfortravel #allthingstravel #luxurytravelwithkate #travelcounsellors

20 April 2022

I am prepping for a cruise. Well, 2 days around the Isle of Wight, but it’s feet off the UK's mainland for the first time since November 2020. Did I know when I boarded a flight from Portugal to relocate back to the UK that it would be 1 year and nearly 6 months before I left the country again? I hugged my friends goodbye in Portugal and told them I would be back by Easter to visit. Now it’s just lots of Zoom calls. It’s easy to settle. Easy to think that it’s all too much trouble. But as I start to get excited (yes, I know it’s only two days, but!!) start to plan my outfits, and decide I need at least one new one, I am also now adjusting to the new norm. The norm of 'Fit to Fly Tests'. How, when, where? It’s all quite a palaver isn't it? Even had to check that I only needed an antigen test and not a full PCR. I automatically assumed that Celebrity (yes bragging rights to me, I am off on the new Celebrity Beyond) would at least demand the full gold standard, double check, triple check and don't pass go. But no, a straightforward certified antigen. It seems too easy. So now I am second guessing myself. I think we all are. And as we head off this spring and summer, which for many of my clients will be the first time since 2019 in many cases, it all seems a little strange. We read the news, the queues are horrendous, traffic a nightmare and all the stress of will I pass my Covid test (if needed) continues to add to the stress and weirdness of the last two years. So this post isn’t my glamourous or exotic (far from it) one, but it is one that maybe will give you some thoughts on how to travel. So, what can we do? Well breathe is my first port of call. To the best of my knowledge there are no people stuck in airports/seaports wandering around like Tom Hanks in The Terminal. Everyone got home safely and the suitcases arrived. So I suppose patience is required. No more winging it under the last check in time. 3 hours at least is my new rule. I have been known to fly through airports like a whirling dervish! Grab breakfast/lunch/dinner to-go in the airport. I will be prepared. Queues can be tiresome, children fractious and older family members unwell. I will talk to my fellow passengers as human beings; it amazes me when people stand in long queues and don’t start a conversation. Why not? Who knows who you may start talking to? I am also always amazed how it can pass the time. If someone is feeling unwell, don’t panic, but raise the alarm to staff. Whilst thin on the ground, I need to remind myself that they are also human and between everyone the situation will be coped with. The same applies to ferry or channel crossings. It’s never going to be easy right now. But I am going to resign myself to chaos or delays at the start and at the end in the hope it will actually help me with the acceptance of something that at the moment seems to be a hiccup of getting the world back on its feet and me back to travelling. Like anything in life, if we can stop, breathe, prepare, plan a bit more, then maybe (I only said maybe) the faff of getting into and out of a country will move along quicker. On a positive note, I know a number of people who have sailed through check-ins, passport control and had no issues. So unfortunately the luck of the draw is where we are at. My advice, if you sail through buy a lottery ticket! Your luck is obviously good. A couple of key checks however. Passport rules have changed with Brexit. And it’s not the same all over the world. I advise all my clients on the exact rules for arriving in a country. You now need 6 months left on your passport from your ARRIVAL date. But places vary, so please double check. If you need to provide proof of Covid vaccination for boarding/travelling/hotels etc you will need to make sure your NHS pass matches your passport name. I am hearing of refused boarding for non-compliance. Don’t give anyone a reason to stop your holiday if you can help it. Keep focused on the prize. Wherever you are heading will be different from the sofa at home for the last 2 years, and if you are lucky enough to have travelled already, you have probably survived Covid PCR tests, masks and all kinds of different country rules to get your dose of *sun/snow/adventure (*delete accordingly!). It can’t get any worse again, can it? So to a spring, summer, autumn and winter of travels, adventures, high-days and holidays. I hope your adventures are wonderful and give you what you want in life. I know mine will give me three days of eating and drinking with some fabulous colleagues and a great crew. Just to sleep with the sound of the sea and to only have to think of where to eat or drink next will be sheer luxury. I might even make it to the gym. Hmm. Watch this space. Let’s see how I get on next week with my cruise boarding. If I am on the front pages of the Southampton newspapers on a murder charge, you will know I did not follow my own advice. Happy travelling everyone.

01 March 2022

My life thrives on the high pressure of delivering the highest quality of travel planning with a huge amount of experience with weddings. My passion is to excel. My goal is to exceed. Here are the words that made me cry after a very complicated wedding that I planned and looked after all the arrangements. The father of the bride was a CFO of an international company and his demand for excellence tested even my patience, but when this arrived, it made everything worthwhile! Kate Sitting at 38000 feet and heading for a week’s break after the excitement of the last few months - I realised I had only verbally thanked you for everything you did to make our daughter’s wedding day one of such special memories. I know I am a hard task master sometimes and a madman for detail - but you should know you and the day’s events superseded all my/our best expectations- perseverance and your own eye for detail meant we controlled all the local suppliers perfectly. They all excelled and I cannot say enough how I was just bowled over by the way it all went to plan. The feedback from guests has been universally outstanding- everyone saying it was better than the best!!! We set the bar very high I think for those attending other weddings this summer. I am sure there were a few moments that the swan sailed serenely over the water with feet paddling madly under the water- but nothing that mattered. You completely nailed it - well done and endless thanks to you. — A satisfied father of the bride! June 2019