Why book your holiday with an independent travel professional like me?

Booking travel online has made everything look easy, especially now you can use tools like ChatGPT to map out an itinerary in minutes. But what that doesn’t always show is the hours that go into making a trip actually work for you: reading reviews, checking locations properly, comparing options, working out what’s worth paying extra for (and what isn’t), and trying to make sure all the moving parts line up. And let's not talk about when things don’t quite go according to the best laid plans ( Storm Goretti, I’m pointing my finger at you right now).

SO WHY WOULD YOU BOOK WITH ME, A TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL?

First up: does booking with me cost more?

There’s a weird myth that pops up all the time: “If you book through a travel professional, you pay more, because you’re paying for the service.”   This isn't correct. In most cases, my income comes from the suppliers.  Travel suppliers (hotels, cruise lines, tour companies and operators) build commission into their pricing. If you book direct, the supplier often keeps that built-in commission. If you book through a travel professional like me, that commission helps pay for the work I do in researching, arranging and managing your trip.

When booking with me, you’re not just supporting a small business; you’re also getting full service and support. My income comes from the suppliers. If a service fee is needed for a particular booking, I’ll always be upfront about it before you confirm anything.

If I get commission, will I favour a travel provider?

Put simply: no. It’s a fair question, after all, we’re all used to being pushed options by algorithms. But my business is built on referrals, reviews and repeat clients, and that only happens when people come home from their trip thinking: “That was exactly what we wanted.”   My priority is recommending what’s right for you - your budget, your style, your pace, your must-haves,  not what suits a supplier.

I work independently, but I do have the advantage of being part of Travel Counsellors as a buying group, which means I can access exclusive deals and negotiated rates with trusted travel partners.

One of the best bits: you can often secure the trip with a deposit

This is something a lot of people don’t realise: in most cases, you only need a deposit to confirm your booking. That means you can lock in your flights, accommodation and availability without paying the full amount upfront — making it much easier to plan and budget, and often allowing you to take advantage of sale prices while they’re still available.

Before confirming anything, I’ll always talk you through the payment terms,  including the final balance date (which is usually around 8 weeks before travel). A lot of my clients either pay it off monthly in a way that suits their budget, or simply pay the remaining balance when it’s due. So instead of one big hit, it becomes a plan,  and suddenly that dream trip feels much more doable.

What you get (for free) when you book with an independent travel professional  like me

1) A holiday that’s personal (not copy + paste)

Anyone can book a flight and a hotel. That’s the easy part. What takes experience is pulling the whole trip together in a way that fits:

• how you like to travel
• your pace (busy? relaxed? a bit of both?)
• what matters most to you
• what you don’t want (just as important!)
• those little “this feels like us” moments you’ll talk about for years

To me, travel isn’t just logistics. It’s the why behind the trip, the experiences, the people you meet, and the stories you come home with.

2) Proper financial protection

This one is important, and it’s often overlooked when people book direct. I chose to join Travel Counsellors  because it means my clients benefit from strong protections, including:

• ATOL protection , and
• Travel Counsellors Trust which protects my clients' money from the point of the deposit being paid through to when your trip is complete)

Basically: you can book with confidence knowing there’s a safety net built into the process. For more details – READ

3) I'm  in your corner when travel goes a bit…topsy turvey

Even the most beautifully planned holidays can be disrupted by things like weather events, airline schedule changes,  strikes, delays, cancellations or hotel issues – unfortunately, it happens!  If you’ve ever tried resolving something with an airline or a supplier yourself, you know how quickly it turns into hours on hold or endless live chats. When you book with me, you’re not doing that alone. You can feel confident that I’m here to support you before, during, and after your trip, helping fix problems, reroute plans, or deal with the boring admin so you can focus on enjoying your holiday.

So, why book with me?

When you book with a travel professional like me, you do receive a service - but not a pushy, salesy one that costs you extra.

You get:

• one point of contact with someone who cares
• honest advice based on experience
• careful planning and attention to detail
• support if anything changes
• and a holiday designed around you

How you can help me (and I’ll be so grateful)

This part is easy 😊. I’m a small business owner (backed by Travel Counsellors), and genuinely passionate about travel. Your support means everything (and never goes unnoticed).

✔️ If you’re planning a holiday, get in touch and let’s have a chat
✔️ If you know someone planning a trip, please send them my way. I’ll take great care of them
✔️ Follow me on Facebook and  Instagram
✔️ Like, comment and share my social media posts (it helps more than you’d think!)
✔️ Read and share my travel blogs from my website