Sent by Charlotte Marshall-Clarke
Derbyshire 07/07/2019
Mandy always listens to my needs and finds the perfect holiday
Based In Alfreton
Mandy Oldknow
Available for new enquiries
It's Nice To Meet You
My journey in travel began in 1988 as a YTS trainee at just 17. In September 2000, I became a Travel Counsellor, and I’ve been dedicated to this amazing role for 24 years – which coincides with Travel Counsellors' 30th anniversary. Time flies when you’re doing what you love!
Community is at the heart of what I do, which is why I joined the Rotary Club of Alfreton in 2014. I was honoured to become President in 2018 and have proudly taken on the role two more times since.
Family is a big part of my life, too. My son Connor, now 23, has grown up alongside my career. In 2022, he moved from volunteering to working, so now funds his own trips – a real win-win!
We’ve been fortunate to explore incredible destinations together. From Alaska to the Caribbean, we’ve seen some jaw-dropping places. Greece stole our hearts in 2023, with visits to Chania, Crete, and Athens – it’s a new favourite!
In 2024, we cruised the breathtaking Norwegian Fjords on P&O’s Iona in May and sailed on Disney Cruise Line’s Dream in September. We also kept up our tradition of UK breaks, with zoo visits, our annual Blackpool getaway, and a first-time trip to the Lake District – it didn’t disappoint!
On top of this, I attended the CLIA River Cruise Conference in Amsterdam and the Ocean Cruise Conference in Southampton. These events keep me up to date with the latest in the cruise world, ensuring I offer the best advice to my customers.
Planning holidays for my customers is my passion. I take great care with every booking, ensuring it exceeds expectations. As a Travel Counsellor, I get to know my customers personally, tailoring each trip to your preferences. From restaurant recommendations to financial protection, I’ve got you covered for complete peace of mind.
My support doesn’t stop when your trip begins – I’m here every step of the way. With flexible hours, I’m just a message away, 7 days a week.
With my recent travel experiences, up-to-date industry knowledge, and access to thousands of suppliers, hotels, flights, tours, and more, I’m ready to create a personalised, extraordinary holiday just for you.
No enquiry is too big or small, so don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’d love to help plan your next adventure!
My customer stories
Sent by Steve Nutt
Derbyshire 21/05/2019
Hi Mandy , just want to say we had an amazing time in Krakow and thank you for organising all our excursions before we went and your continued support whilst out in Krakow. We received our ‘travel counsellors’ folder with everything labelled and organised hotel transfers, flight tickets , excursion tickets etc this took a lot of stress out of our holiday , even our luggage labels were filled out . Everything ran to clock work from start to finish . Mandy you even supported us whilst out in Krakow on booking a further trip , so professional and helpful at all times . Thank you again for your patience in organising this surprise trip , you went the extra mile to ensure everything ran smoothly . A truly professional and knowledgeable lady who offers a first class personal service tailored to individual needs . Will definitely use your services again Mandy
Sent by Carolyn Gledhill
Derbyshire 21/05/2019
Very impressed with prompt service. Good choice of options available. Very helpful and knowledgable. Would thoroughly reccommend Mandy.
Sent by Trevor Dent
Buckinghamshire 02/09/2018
I always recommend Mandy. She is amazing
Sent by Angy Jackman
Buckinghamshire 02/09/2018
Thank you Mandy for all your help
Sent by George Brydon
Ripley 09/07/2018
Mandy was informative and helpful, willing to meet with our group in one of our houses. Her response has been prompt and we are very happy with the service provided.
10/10
Sent by William Purcell
Lanarkshire 09/07/2018
She never lets you down.
10/10
Sent by Roy Walker
Hampshire 09/07/2018
Very good, efficient and personal service. Would highly recommend.
10/10
Sent by Anne Black
Lanarkshire 09/07/2018
Mandy is always very helpful and makes me feel like she cares about what she arranges for me.
10/10
Sent by Mike Stephens
Uttoxeter 16/04/2018
We would never have come up with such a super trip even if we had spent weeks surfing the net
Sent by Lynn Purcell
Lanarkshire 27/02/2018
Mandy helped us decide on the right shape of holiday and full of suggestions for things to do and see
Sent by Michael Bratley
Peterborough 27/02/2018
Mandy was as helpful as ever.
Sent by Rachel Jones
Derbyshire 27/02/2018
Mandy provided travel options and a range of hotels to choose from. Advice on flying options particularly welcomed and organising transfers gave a huge peace of mind. Cannot believe I've waited so long to use this service, should have done so years ago - such a personal touch and a totally different experience from using the usual high street travel agents. Would absolutely recommend to family and friends and will definitely use them again for future holidays.
Sent by John Kitchin
Wigan 27/02/2018
Mandy is always there for any help you may need and a chat.
Sent by Claire Middleton
Alfreton 02/02/2018
Extremely helpful and speedy responses, thank you.
Sent by Gordon Morris
Northumberland 30/01/2018
Mandy dealt quickly with our rather confused brief and changes of mind about flights and destination, to provide an ideal solution.
Sent by Roger Holroyd
Belper 24/01/2018
Excellent service. Thank you.
Sent by Linda Dent
Buckinghamshire 24/01/2018
I always recommend Mandy to everybody. She is always so helpful.
Sent by Liam Carrington-Morris
Alfreton, Derbyshire 03/01/2018
Mandy is fantastic, she always goes above and beyond and she has been instrumental in creating some wonderful memories for us and I look forward to all our future adventures via Mandy!
Sent by Paul Wilson
Alfreton 26/07/2017
We're vey happy with the support we have received from Mandy. I'm sure she does more than what is expected of her. I couldn't have booked this holiday without her, too stressful! She's put up with my moaning, changing dates and places, etc. I would definitely recommend Mandy to family, friends and colleagues
Sent by Gary Croft
Huddersfield 31/05/2017
We have used Mandy on many occasions and have always been satisfied. Thank you.
Sent by Rachel Stevens
Chesterfield 13/03/2017
Brilliant service and love the personal touch.
Sent by Warner Cohn
Brighton 13/03/2017
Great work. Great support. Great service!
Sent by Helen Curran
Alfreton 26/01/2017
Mandy is great - known her for years , very helpful and the 2nd time she has organised a holiday for us, would highly recommend!.
Sent by Sharon Basco
Ilford 21/01/2017
Mandy is the most helpful travel person, and she came recommended , top marks and when I asked a lot of questions about the cruise ships she was very knowledgeable
Sent by Emily Carrington-Morris
Alfreton 13/12/2016
As a person who likes to hunt down great deals by booking their own holidays via the internet, I was curious to try Mandy as a comparison, to see how far out she was in terms of pricing and quality! I have never been so happy to say how wrong and misguided I was!
Price is key when booking your hard earned holidays, absolutely but Mandy the Travel Counsellor has so much more to offer. I didn't realise but I gave her a really rubbish brief and turned my nose up at every hotel she came up with. She persevered and managed to extract some more information from me that I didn't even know was important to me. I wanted a hotel that is fairly central but not in the centre, about 2 tube stops to be exact. I always wanted a trendy/quirky hotel but not expensive, along with many other contradictory demands!
Mandy came back with the most perfect hotel that we couldn't find on the usual internet search engines, which ticked all boxes and more. She booked the flights, transfers (which were so impeccable from the timing, to the vehicle, to the driver) and even contacted me to say that she had heard about a Vienna Pass that may be of interest to us....it was one of the best purchases for the holiday! I didn't have to do any online check-ins - done, no printing of docs as they all came in a specific travel wallet - done, luggage tags both ways - done....she did everything except pack my bags, which I might work on for next time!
Whatever holiday you are booking, Mandy should be your first point of contact. She shouldn't be a hidden gem and I for one am enjoying telling everyone how I have enjoyed the most hassle free, luxurious holiday booking experience of all time!
Thanks again Mandy
.
Sent by Ann Shergold
Ringwood 16/08/2016
Always helpful, very knowledgeable , always friendly.
Sent by Elise Wilson
Alfreton 16/08/2016
Always happy with the service and is very helpful in answering any questions.
Sent by Phil Hubbard
Chesterfield 03/05/2016
Mandy, was very knowledgeable about the cruise itinerary and sorted us out quickly and efficiently, Just can't wait to go now!
Sent by Alison Rayner
Selston 28/04/2016
Hi Mandy just to say thank you very much for organising our holiday - we had a lovely time and yes we did find the bar at EMA!!!
Thank you for the welcome home card - a nice touch!
It was great to have all the arrangements sorted out for us so that we didn't have to worry about anything.
The transfers were great and on time and helpful.
The hotel was nice too with great breakfasts!
We'll be getting in touch with you when we next go abroad
Sent by Alan Ward
Lytham St. Annes 28/04/2016
When asked if I would recommend my Travel Counsellor this is absolutely the easiest question I've had to answer for a long time. Mandy is excellent whenever we use her services and it is reassuring to know that she is on call if anything goes wrong on our frequent trips.
Sent by Jason Dalton
Ilford 20/04/2016
Mandy is outstanding I have used her for over 10yrs and always been extremely happy. She is helpful patient informative amd a great person to know
Sent by Chris Gore
Cambridgeshire 20/04/2016
Very informative and just what we needed
Sent by Peter Cleland
Scotland 20/04/2016
Its never too early or too late to get an answer from MANDY. Nothing is too much trouble.
Sent by Peter Hussey
Derbyshire 01/12/2015
A super lady to deal with.
Sent by Sharon Ingram
Derbyshire 14/08/2015
Mandy is always extremely efficient. The after sales service is second to none. Who else would check you in online, print boarding cards and even write your luggage labels for you! We even arrived home to a lovely 'welcome home' card. We will definitely recommend Mandy to all our friends. Fantastic service with a smile! :)
Sent by Marylyn Grasar
Ripley 11/08/2015
Mandy has booked several holidays for us and we will continue to ask her to do so. We have recommended Mandy to others.
Sent by Shamin Clare
Alfreton 11/08/2015
Excellent service and attention to detail. I'm a difficult customer, changing my mind time and time again, adding things to my requests and questions popping in to my head at all times of the day. For my Travel Counsellor, nothing was too much trouble, I think I received about 10 different quotes all in all and emails were answered in no time (even on a Sunday evening!) Great advice given too about where was best to stay, things to do while i'm away and little tips on things that will make my holiday that much easier. You get a personal touch with Travel Counsellors, with them even doing my online visa for me which was ace! Will definitely use again for my next holidays. Thanks Mandy!
Sent by Anne Black
Lanarkshire 11/08/2015
Mandy goes the extra mile to help you find your ideal holiday at the ideal price.
Sent by Bill Purcell
Motherwell 11/08/2015
Mandy is available when you need her. She goes out of her way to make sure that you get the best deal.
Sent by Anne Brailsford
Wakefield 11/08/2015
A big thank you to Mandy who I find to be very efficient and helpful plus has lots of patience.
Sent by Trevor Dent
Buckinghamshire 11/08/2015
I always tell people about Mandy and how helpful she is.
Sent by Anne Dardis
Buckinghamshire 03/06/2015
Mandy was very attentive and patient with our very large booking. I hope the holiday will be as good as the service!
Sent by Cathryn Wagstaff
Derby 03/06/2015
We've just booked a Caribbean Cruise with Mandy. After lots of hard work on her part Mandy has found us the perfect package to suit our every need. We've booked all our holidays through Mandy Oldknow since 2007. Mandy is very helpful and ensures everything is in order, we can sit back and relax knowing Mandy will take care of us. Mandy always aims to please and gives us great customer service, hence why we keep coming back each year to re- book more holidays.
Sent by Michael Bratley
Peterborough 03/06/2015
As usual, Mandy was most helpful and provided a first class service.
Sent by Peter Cleland
Motherwell, Lanarkshire 28/10/2014
Always first class service from Mandy. Usually book a cruise around midnight and after a few exchanges of emails the job is done. I always book my cruises with Mandy because of this excellent service.
Sent by Laura Davis
Ilford 28/10/2014
Mandy Oldknow always give exceptional service.
Sent by Rachel Stevens
Chesterfield 28/10/2014
This is the second holiday we have booked through Mandy. And I can recommend her 100%. I usually worry about details but I know Mandy has everything covered :-)
Sent by Wayne Martin
Chesterfield 28/10/2014
First class, nothing too much trouble.
Sent by Julie Degg
Alfreton 25/03/2014
Many thanks for all of this, you have been wonderful and we will be highly recommending your service to our friends and family.
Sent by Barry & Mary Giles
Bradford on Avon 27/01/2014
We have used Mandy quite often, she is fantastic.
Sent by Aileen Chapman
Somercotes 23/12/2013
Booking was quick and easy.
Sent by Rachel Stevens
Chesterfield 23/12/2013
Thank you for booking our honeymoon Mandy. I gave you very little information to work with, but you managed to come up with the right holiday for us.
Sent by Mick Bratley
Peterborough 18/09/2013
I was very impressed that Mandy was able to 'open a door' that I couldn't.
Sent by Laila Debs
London 18/09/2013
The service I received from Mandy Oldknow was most commendable. She was highly professional, prompt, extremely helpful, made my booking hassle free. I will certainly be recommending her services to all my family, friends and acquaintances.
Sent by Robert Aiken
Bristol 18/09/2013
Mandy is always cheerful and helpful she is a pleasure to deal with.
Sent by Peter & Tracy Gill
Leeds 20/05/2013
I have already recommended Mandy Oldknow to friends (who have then booked holidays with Mandy's assistance) and others whom I hope will go on to become customers.
Sent by Kris Plumley
Ripley 13/05/2013
We have used the services of Mandy over a number of years and found that we can confidently start enjoying the holiday from the moment we tell her what we would like to do. From that moment on she makes all the special things happen. She clearly has taken the time to understand what we want from a holiday.
Sent by Richard Butler
Peterborough 01/05/2013
I find Mandy extremely helpful and very accommodating with requests. She is a credit to your company.
Sent by Trevor Dent
Buckinghamshire 30/04/2013
Mandy is always extremely helpful and treats silly little enquiries the same we as she deals with the big ones.
Sent by Sandra Jales
London 30/04/2013
As always, Travel Counsellors gave me the perfect service. Would I go anywhere else for my travel bookings...NEVER!!
Sent by Adrian Ingram
South Normanton 30/04/2013
Mandy provided excellent service and a great deal. Nothing is ever too much trouble, and she found exactly what we were looking for.
Sent by Stacey Moss
Alfreton 30/04/2013
We have found Mandy absolutely amazing. She has spent so much time finding our dream honeymoon and we shall never be booking a holiday without help from Mandy again.
Sent by Alan Ward
Lytham St. Annes 30/04/2013
Mandy is always excellent, no problem is too big when she is seeking out the best and most suitable deals and travel arrangements. We always recommend her to friends without exception.
Sent by David Abrahams
Southsea 30/04/2013
Mandy is the best. Over very many years she has become a great friend and she is a huge asset to Travel Counsellors. We cannot recommend / rate her highly enough.
Sent by Alan Ward
Lytham 07/02/2013
Mandy has been our Travel Counsellor for the best part of ten years. She has organised many of our cruises and other trips in an exemplary manner, always finding the best and most suitable deals to meet all our particular needs.
Only last week she completed a land tour and cruise package to Alaska for us with add ons. It wasn't straightforward but she overcame all difficulties creating a package that we are very pleased with. This is what we have come to expect from the service that Mandy provides. We have always recommended her to family and friends without reservation. Many thanks Mandy.....as always!
Sent by Debbie Bale
Northwich 25/11/2011
Mandy pulled out all the stops when I needed help with a 'difficult to sort out' itinerary at short notice flying in and out of different airports with rail travel between cities. Our 8 day trip to Madrid and Valencia was perfect. Can highly recommend using Mandy's knowledge and expertise to make organising any trip stress-free.
Sent by H Jackson
Belper 12/11/2010
Mandy has booked several holidays for us, and they have all gone swimmingly and been great. We have had great rooms in great locations and good journeys. Mandy is helpful, informative, knowledgeable and friendly and I would have no hesitation in recommending her services.
Sent by ann shergold
ringwood hants 09/11/2010
Mandy is knowledgable about all the liners and will advise you on any area of a holiday you are interested in. You can take all the time you need and she never hurry you into a descision. It has been a pleasure to talk to her over many years. We have recommender her to many of our friends.
Sent by Bradley Martin
Cannock 21/09/2010
I found Mandy Oldknow extremely pleasant to deal with. She was very polite and she tailor made our honeymoon for us to fine detail and for a great price.
Everything was booked and confirmed swiftly. Night or day Mandy always seemed to be in a position to respond.
An absolute pleasure to deal with and I will certainly be booking my next getaway with Mandy.
Keep up the good work!
Sent by William Purcell
Motherwel 29/03/2009
Mandy was recomended to me by my son who has used her for years. I now have also used her Mandy for a number of years and found her very efficient and helpful. A big advantage over normal travel agents is that she can be contacted for help out of normal office hours. I have no hesitation in recomending Mandy to handle all your arrangements.
Sent by PETER CLELAND
Motherwell 26/03/2009
A first class all round service is provided by Mandy. No task is too large or too small. You always get a very keen price whether is a hotel room, a holiday around the the world or a cruise. You can contact Mandy by landline, by mobile or as I do by email. I have booked a number of cruises and always get great attention even at 11pm. I would recommend Mandy for all holiday requirements.
Sent by Darren Wagstaff
Heanor 13/03/2009
I've been dealing with Mandy for about 8 years now. Why waste hours in the travel agents? Mandy does all the leg work and she remembers all of my details which makes her service very efficient and friendly.
I have been on some awesome holidays all arranged flawlessly. All in all Mandy goes the extra mile and delivers exceptional service whilst maintaining competitive pricing.
Sent by CHRISTINE KITCHIN
MILTON KEYNES 09/03/2009
She is always ready to help even with the awkward questions we ask. Also very pleasant and nice to talk to. She is very helpful in booking and arranging all our holidays.
Sent by Ernest Buxton
Alfreton 06/03/2009
I would like to thank Mandy for arranging our cruise. She always finds us a great deal on the right ship. She has been on so many ships, so I know she will give us the right advice.
I wouldn't consider booking with anyone else.
Thanks again Mandy, we are looking forward to the cruises we have booked for 2009.
Based in
My Videos
There's a lot of world out there.
01/01/2024
Let me put together your perfect trip
South America- Colombia
10/09/2022
Take a look at some of the sights in Columbia. Is it on your 'to do' list?
My BBC TV debut
05/08/2021
Thank you to BBC East Midlands Today for my 22 seconds on fame.
I'll be there for you
07/04/2021
I hope you enjoy reliving your travel memories with us as you watch our film, and when you’re ready to travel again I’ll be here for you,
A World of Good
27/12/2020
Let me take you somewhere good, somewhere you can enjoy while helping the local people who depend on travellers.
5 reasons to trust me with your travel plans.
24/12/2020
Now more than ever, when booking travel, you need to make sure you have a trusted travel professional.
Beyond the Horizon
08/10/2020
It's time to start dreaming of holidays for next year and the years to come.
Trusted Travel
07/10/2020
Trust me to be with you every step of the way from the first step in planning until you are back home from your amazing holiday. I have you covered.
20 years as a Travel Counsellor
21/09/2020
It's hard to believe, but today is my 20th Travel Counsellor anniversary.
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.
Douro Valley & Salamanca River Cruise – My First-Hand Experience
01 September 2025
On 22nd July, I set off on a fam trip to discover one of the most scenic and culturally rich cruise itineraries out there – the Douro Valley & Salamanca river cruise. It wasn’t a holiday (although it often felt like one), but a chance to experience the trip first-hand so I can share it confidently with you. Getting There – Easy Start to Porto I caught the train from Alfreton to Manchester Airpor
Fridtjof Nansen
29 May 2025
As promised, here’s a little bit about the incredible man behind the name Fridtjof Nansen – the inspiration for the beautiful HX expedition ship I visited recently. Nansen was a true pioneer. He was the first person to cross Greenland on skis, led daring Arctic expeditions, and even tried to reach the North Pole back in the 1890s. But he wasn’t just an explorer—he was also a scientist, a diplomat
A Two Day Adventure in Hamburg: Exploring the Fridtjof Nansen with HX Hurtigruten Expeditions
29 May 2025
Recently, I had the opportunity to spend two exciting days in Hamburg for a very special reason—an exclusive visit to the HX expedition ship Fridtjof Nansen. From start to finish, it was a fantastic trip filled with culture, camaraderie, and a deep dive into one of the most innovative expedition cruise experiences on the water today. Day 1: Arrival and Exploring Hamburg. Our journey began at He
A Surprising Day Onboard Ambassador Ambition in Liverpool
25 April 2025
I’ll be honest – when I first heard about Ambassador Cruise Line, I wasn’t entirely convinced. A newer name on the UK cruise scene, offering traditional cruising at what seemed like too-good-to-be-true prices... I wondered if it would live up to the standard I’ve come to expect from other cruise lines. But after stepping onboard Ambition in Liverpool, I’m holding my hands up – I was wrong. Very
A Day in Ghent – Shore Excursion from Zeebrugge with NCL
22 April 2025
While sailing on the beautiful Norwegian Aqua, we docked in Zeebrugge and opted for a shore excursion to the charming Belgian city of Ghent. Having all visited Bruges several times (I was only there last September on a Disney cruise!), we decided to try something different—and I’m so glad we did! We booked the organised tour through NCL at $61.00 per person. It was a five-hour trip in total, with
Solo Travel: Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Explore Alone
01 March 2025
Travelling alone can seem daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. The idea of navigating unfamiliar places without a companion might feel overwhelming, but solo travel can be one of the most rewarding and liberating experiences of your life. With the right approach, you can enjoy all the benefits of travel without the worries. One concern many solo travellers face is the cost. It oft
Less than 24 hours in Amsterdam
08 April 2024
I started the trip on a morning flight out of Leeds Bradford with KLM. The flight only took only 50 minutes and was so efficient, by the time the crew had served the free drink and snack, it was time for your tray tables to be stowed away again for landing. The direct train from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam Centraal takes around 16 minutes and is 5.90 Euros. The best thing about it is you can bu
We saw the pandas on our first visit.
18 June 2018
If you follow me on Facebook it’s likely you will know that Connor wants to be a zoo keeper. It’s great that he knows what he wants to do, and it also means we get to visit lots of places, so he can gain as much experience as possible. This week we were in Edinburgh in the sunshine. We have East Midlands on our doorstep and as we can fly to Edinburgh in only 55 minutes it was the obvious way to
My visit to Reubens Retreat
18 June 2018
Today I made the journey from Alfreton along the beautiful Derbyshire roads to Glossop to visit Reubens Retreat. Reubens Retreat is not just a building, it’s an amazing charity that came out of tragedy and is close to the hearts of myself and all my fellow Travel Counsellors. I have been wanting to visit for a long time, but you know how it is, life sometimes gets in the way. This time nothing
Remastered Queen Mary 2
29 January 2018
Queen Mary 2, Cunard’s flagship is a fabulous cruise liner, like nothing else at sea, she isn’t just a cruise ship. I was lucky enough to sail transatlantic from Southampton to New York when QM2 was a very new ship. I was so excited, and I have to say the trip was everything I hoped it would be. Room service hot chocolate every morning on my balcony before eggs benedict for breakfast in the res
It's all about the coffee
29 January 2018
For Christmas my brother bought me a coffee machine, one of those with the pods you pop in. A lovely present you say, well yes, it is, but until then I didn’t drink coffee. I have now got a collection of different coffees that I have been trying out and after buzzing and a few late nights due to caffeine overload, I have worked out my favourite is the ‘skinny latte macchiato’ So, why am I tell
We walked the Walk
14 September 2017
After 5 nights chilling at the JA Palm Tree Court it was time to move on and see more of Dubai. JA Ocean View is modern sleek 4 star hotel on the The Walk at JBR minutes from the beach, shops and many restaurants. I did look at the hotel on the website before we travelled and I honestly can’t believe it looks exactly like the pictures in real life. The bright white reception is just immacula
Yes it's hot, but we would do it all again
25 August 2017
Who in their right mind goes to Dubai in July? I heard that a lot leading up to our trip. I was even saying it myself as we sat on the plane at Birmingham before take-off. I soon forgot about it as we sat in our row of two seats on the Emirates flight watching movies and chilling out. The flight was great and the staff attentive, and we were in Dubai in no time or so it seemed. We were met a
Princess Family Visit
25 August 2017
Well it’s only 12 months since the last time I visited Caribbean Princess in Liverpool and I’m back here again, but this time it’s different for two reasons. 1. Caribbean Princess has had a refit 2. I’ve brought Connor with me. This is Princess Cruises first Family ship visit, so how could we not come along? The format of a normal agent visit it to see the cabins to show us the differenc
Scarborough, Whitby and the Seagulls
07 August 2017
It’s no secret that I’m not into self-catering, I’m not a fan of cooking at home, so why would I do it on my holidays. This summer though we have been on not one cottage break, but two. The first one was a prize via a Cunard Cruise Line competition. It said win a luxury family break, so the last thing I was expecting was a cottage, well would you? I was asked when and where in the UK I wante
The new look Oriana
01 May 2017
The first time I saw Oriana she was brand new, that was back in 1994, so it was great to visit after her latest refit. I make no secret that I love a traditional cruise ship, so although I can’t travel on Oriana on my holidays asConnor isn’t old enough yet, I really do think she is a beautiful ship. It’s good to see that tradition hasn’t been lost in the refit, she has just been enhanced for
Kotor, Montenegro
01 May 2017
Kotor is a place I have seen on many cruise itineraries I have booked for clients, but that is really all I knew about, so I was eager to explore on my recent visit. We set our alarm, ordered room service for breakfast and made sure we were on the first tender of the day. The tender was actually local boats rather then lifeboats, so it meant that everyone had a great view of the ship. I must ha
Majestic Princess lives up to her name
01 May 2017
When I was asked if I would like to be one of the first passengers to sail onboard Princess Cruises' brand new flag ship Majestic Princess, I didn’t hesitate - I was already mentally picking out my evening dress and shoes. On Friday 31st March Captain Dino Sagani took the helm of his brand new ship and we sailed out of his home town of Trieste with what looked like the whole of the town coming
MS Amsterdam in Singapore
18 March 2017
When I usually go to visit a ship it’s somewhere in the UK, so I was very happy to get the chance to visit Holland America Lines flagship MS Amsterdam in Singapore while she was visiting as part of her 2017 World cruise. MS Amsterdam is a mid-sized ship carrying 1380 passengers, but while we were on-board most of them were enjoying the sights of Singapore. We had a tour of the ship, visiting
I'm not a golfer, but are you?
02 March 2017
Whether for business or for pleasure a round of golf brings a smile to the faces of many people young or old. It’s a game I’ve never tried, but always thought I should. The weather in the UK doesn’t make me want to rush out onto the fairway, but maybe somewhere with a little bit more sunshine could tempt me. The Algarve, Portugal has long been a golfer's favourite destination, especially the
Theatre snob
06 December 2016
Yes, as the title suggests I am a terrible theatre snob, not about the show itself as I'm open to seeing anything and everything, but for me it's all about the seat I'm sitting in. Our local theatre is Nottingham Theatre Royal and I have my favourite seats. I'm not going to tell you the exact numbers as they are mine, but they are front or second row, centre dress circle. It's not just my l
Oceania Nautica with a side order of Versace
30 November 2016
I have waited a long time to see an Oceania ship, I’m glad to say it was worth the wait. When I got my joining instructions I did smile to myself, this is what it said. The day will consist of a tour of Oceania Nautica, followed by a six-course gourmet lunch comprising of dishes from our various dining venues. What’s not to love? Now, you have to note at this point that Oceania Cruises are n
CLIA Cruise Conference
16 November 2016
I have just spent a great few days at the 10th annual Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) conference in Southampton. CLIA is an independent organisation that bring together cruise lines, travel agents and associated travel partners and are dedicated to the expansion of ocean and river cruise holidays. My first cruise was on board a school cruise trip around Greece and Egypt when I
Jersey Boys and an open top bus
19 October 2016
It’s 24th August at 7:45am and we have just boarded the train from Alfreton to London. I’m looking forward to these three days because it’s not just me and Connor, we are bringing along my mum and my niece Danielle. This will be Danielle’s first visit, so Connor is eager to show her all his favourite places. It’s a non-stop first day. We went straight to our hotel. Thistle Royal Trafalgar is
Aladdin the musical & chasing Pokemon
23 August 2016
It’s hard not to love everything Disney, so when I heard on the radio they were bringing Aladdin the Musical from Broadway to the West End, I knew we had to see it. I got our tickets booked within an hour of them going on sale and was very excited to get a forward facing box in the dress circle. Connor has always wanted to sit in a box. We set off early from our hotel in Elstree on a mission to
Seabourn Quest in Dover
23 August 2016
After a very long drive and an overnight stay in Dover, I opened my curtains this morning and saw what I have waited years to see. Today was the day I was visiting a Seabourn ship. I have to admit to being a little excited. Seabourn Quest was built in 2011, but she could be a brand new ship, as soon as you step on board you feel the stresses of everyday life just melt away. The beauty of this
Cruise & Maritimes Magellan in Tilbury
21 August 2016
Another day another cruise terminal, this time Tilbury or to give its full title ‘The London International Cruise Terminal’. A beautiful building somewhere in Essex. I was here to visit Cruise and Maritimes latest addition to the fleet, Magellan. This was my first time on board a C&M ship and I came with an open mind. I had no idea what to expect as the cruise fares are sometimes so cheap, it
MS Koningsdam at the Port of Tyne
21 August 2016
My first visit to the Port of Tyne was, I’m happy to say, in glorious sunshine. To make sure I made it on time I decided on an overnight stay at the Premier Inn, which was so close to the port I could almost walk to the ship, but I didn’t. Holland America’s newest ship MS Koningsdam was the reason to my trip up north. I have seen other HAL ships old and new, but was especially looking forward t
Caribbean Princess in Liverpool
21 August 2016
Liverpool Cruise Terminal is maybe not what I expected, but the welcome was superb. The terminal is really just a big tent and it’s within walking distance to everything the city has to offer. No expensive excursions for those lucky passengers arriving on board Caribbean Princess today. Over the years I have seen and sailed on many Princess ships, but it has been a while, so I thought it would
Blackpool in the sunshine
18 August 2016
Who would have thought a week in Blackpool wouldn't be long enough? Whatever the weather it’s a great place to be, with so many things to see and do for all the family. The whole point of the trip was for Connor to spend the day at Blackpool Zoo being a sea lion trainer (yes, really) but we wanted to see the sights. I decided to go the whole hog and get the big ticket giving us access to
In complete Harmony
23 May 2016
Harmony of the Seas is the largest and most expensive cruise liner in the world and I was lucky enough to be invited on-board for the weekend by Royal Caribbean, WOW. I hope you enjoy reading my notes and seeing my photos. It has been described as the ‘ultimate ship’ and at 227,000 gross tones carrying up to 5,497 guests with 2,300 international crew members it has 18 decks and 24 elevators, 20 r
What destinations are on your holiday bucket list?
04 September 2015
Have you ever written down or even told anyone else what is on your holiday bucket list? I haven’t, but since Connors leg surgery I have had lots of sleepless nights, so I decided to write my top 5 down and share them. 1. New York. I’ve been a couple of times before, I’ve sailed in on-board Queen Mary 2, which was amazing, I’ve stood on top of the twin towers and I’ve done the helicopte
Holidays as a single working mum
03 September 2013
Planning a holiday with a child can seem a little daunting when you’re a single parent. I understand this as I am a single working mum to Connor who’s 12. I plan and book all our escapes but also offer lots of insights and advice to other parents in a similar position to me. It’s a case of getting creative and after many years in the travel industry I have loads of ideas and little tips which c
West End Calling
22 August 2013
Well it’s August again and time for our now annual trip to London for a West End show. It’s the third year that my son Connor and I have headed to the capital for a few days of fun. I know it’s not a relaxing trip and it makes your feet ache, but there is nothing better than taking in the sights and sounds of London. We stayed at our favourite hotel, The Cumberland at Marble Arch. You just can’t b
Legoland Windsor
14 September 2011
Well what can I say about Legoland? My son Connor thinks it's the best place on Earth and that’s why this was our eighth visit. This year it was different as we went on the Star Wars weekend. These are his two favourite things in the world and for them to be happening together meant he was a very happy child and he wasn't the only one. Legoland is a great family theme park for the young chil
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