Based in West Chiltington

Marguerite Caris

Available for new enquiries

It's Nice To Meet You

From Marcel Proust – ‘The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking landscapes, but in having new eyes’(let me be your planning eyes!)

I live in a village in West Sussex called West Chiltington located approximately 30minutes from Gatwick and the coast of Brighton. I have lived here in the village for over 30years and just love country life.

I originally hail from New Zealand which is where I had the best travel education facilities afforded to me. I started from the ground (in 1979 – just a baby) as just an office assistant in a VFR travel agency dealing mainly with the Dutch and Belgian expats. I learnt most of my formative trade there and quickly moved up the ranks to consultant and tour guide. I became a member of the New Zealand Institute of Travel which enabled me to expand my knowledge.

I started travelling at the age of 16 with my sisters and we were lucky to be able to travel to Europe and some of the Pacific Islands. From there my itchy feet started. In 1986 I moved to Holland (where my Dad is from). In November 1986 I joined British Airways and worked for them in reservations and sales at Heathrow and Gatwick for 17years. I was fortunate to travel a great deal to all four continents (more than once) and forged some lasting life long friendships and experiences. I did all the required exams in sales, marketing, ticketing and operations. I won most sales prizes every month for highest productivity and an Award For Excellence.

I left BA to work in a Travel Agency specialising in Cuba and the Caribbean where I was a Manager. I gained invaluable experience and made very useful contacts (who still book with me to this day). I did a two year stint with Qatar Airways at their Heathrow ticket desk and I then set up on my own, and so here we are. I love everything Caribbean and Latino and have extensive and personal knowledge of this region , especially Cuba, Jamaica and Grenada, but I am not limited to these areas and can sell any type of dream. Everything I sell is 100% financially protected and completely impartial, and tailormade to you.

I am contactable 24 hours a day and you only deal with me.

Contact me and let me unlock your dreams – ‘One’s destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things’(Henry Miller)

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Contact Me

Whatever your holiday needs I'm here to help you, so simply give me a call or send me an email with your contact details on and I can get things started for you:

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My customer stories

Sent by Linda Cooke

Rated 5 out of 5 stars 2 days ago Great service Once again I contacted Marguerite to help me book my travel to Nz. It makes my job so much easier because she is so good at her job. Nothing is too much or too ‘strange’ and the trip itself was a breeze. A definite must use recommendation

Sent by Ignacio Abella Gainza

Rated 5 out of 5 stars A day ago Fantastic holiday trip, thank you Marguerite! Another great trip, meticulously organised by Marguerite Caris. From the planning stages, Marguerite provided options, and ideas. This was a trip which involved flights with multiple airlines and hotels and people flying in from different countries. Marguerite was available to advise on the best possible timing and route, and followed up every step of the way, even clarifying certain concerns about the destination. During the trip, it was reassuring to know that, if something went sideways, Marguerite will be on hand to smooth it out.

Sent by Daniel Gutierrez Sierra

Hi Margarita Thank you so much for your help .. you are star , the flight was very good and the stewards amazing ,thank you so much to be in contact with me all the time in this difficult moment Thank you Daniel

Sent by Rebecca Del Sol Gonzalez

I would strongly recommend Marguerite's services as a travel counsellor. She is the best. When our daughter needed to travel alone, Marguerite went above and beyond to handle all the intricate details of the unaccompanied children service. She not only found the best service provider but also guided us through the complexities of the process. Given our busy work schedules, her assistance was invaluable. We are truly grateful for her help in ensuring a smooth and worry-free trip.

Sent by Ignacio Abella Gainza

Marguerite is efficient, responsive and a quick thinker when it comes with alternative travel arrangements. Marguerite has planned complex itineraries, for business and holiday trips, involving flights and hotels across several countries with members coming from different countries and different entry requirements. And putting me at ease about the whole plan. I will 110% recommend Marguerite to everyone

Sent by Cheryl Success

This outfit should be in charge of BA's Booking and Customer Svs; they are professional and always provide the personal touch when needed, especially Marguerite. Thank you for making my trip abroad such an easy flow from start to finish

Sent by Jasim Sadler

Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10 hours ago Fantastic experience! The experience I had with the company was exceptional, especially thanks to the help and assistance of Marguerite. From getting a great price, to assisting with bookings, check-ins and general information. Marguerite was brilliant, even when I was being held up abroad, Marguerite swiftly handled the situation with British Airways and got me on the plane in no time. This international trip was genuinely the smoothest travel process I've ever had! I can't recommend the company and Marguerite enough. I will definitely be using them for my next trip abroad. Brilliant!

Sent by Raelene Harvey Jones

5 Star Service ! Marguerite booked my flights for New Zealand next year. After 6 years of not flying I was confused by which airline/route to choose. She took all the stress away and came up with the perfect flights for me. Highly recommend her service. Many thanks.

Sent by Henry Yap

Marguerite Caris helped to book air tickets from USA to Malaysia and London. She is extrememely helpful and provided exceptional service. She even helped with online checkin and monitoring flight status, and I truly appreciate that. Thank you for your excellent service and keep up the great work.

Sent by Raelene Harvey Jones

I'd like to thank Marguerite Caris for arranging my first flight home since 2018. First time using an agent and can highly recommend her service. Took all the stress away and I now have a wonderful trip to look forward to next March. Thank you again Marguerite Caris , you're awesome!

Sent by Laura Pemberton

Realised I didn’t say thank you for all your help getting the docs/confirmation we needed to get insurance in our Kenya flights. Everything went through perfectly and insurance company pulled through which is fantastic, so a big thank you for help and quick responses. Well be in touch in the next couple of weeks about booking our next batch of international flights to New Zealand

Sent by Ailex Socarras Diaz

Always helpful, answers my questions thoroughly providing all the information when I travel back home to Cuba

Sent by Amr El Sawaf

Marguerite - complex travel Guru I had a complicated itinerary, with multiple stops covering NZ, New York and Australia! Marguerite was fantastic and up to the latest play to tweak/update my never ending changes. A fantastic experience to help my travel plans!

Sent by Chabane Mahrane

I must say as soon as I was informed of your company, by a very good friend better says a great sister, I jumped on the idea and contacted you. Very good at listening and providing me with all that I asked for. Great service can not ask for better. I got my pack with all that I need to know prior to traveling. Also, the interaction and the human service were the best I ever had thanks to you, Marguerite. Definitely, I will let know my friends about your company.

Sent by Adam Doughty

10, I have already reccommended this service to a few friends and family. Great service and very helpful and hassle free way to organise travel.

Sent by sophie newell

Marguerite Caris was so helpful in helping my friend and me with finding the perfect flights for our trip. She replied so quickly and has a really friendly manner, I would definitely recommend anyone to contact her for help with travel

Sent by Ignacio Abella Gainza

Marguerite Caris did an amazing job! I ask Marguerite to put together an itinerary for a business trip which involved Miami and Cartagena. She did a great job at making sure each leg of the trip was timed to my work plans, needs and budget. Marguerite also provided detailed information regarding the entry requirements for each country and also advised on hotels and other services. After this trip was planned, I had to organise a separate holiday trip to Barbados which had to happen before the business trip. Marguerite was superb at making sure this holiday plan did not clash with my business trip. This was upon my request, Marguerite had suggested a combination of both trips with several alternative itineraries and it was perfectly timed. However, due to personal reasons, I needed to keep the trips apart, with some days back home in between. For Barbados, Marguerite organised additional flights for a friend from a separate and more challenging jurisdiction to travel from. Again, Marguerite was key to ensuring our flights to Barbados and back were well-timed and that all participants in the trip were aware of the entry requirements and paperwork needed. Marguerite also advised on hotels and things to do in Barbados. I will keep going back to Marguerite for my travel needs (both business and personal) and will recommend her services to everyone.

Sent by Laura Pemberton

We have used Marguerite Caris for our last two long haul international trips and would highly recommend. She is knowledgeable, responsive and always does her best to find the most suitable deals for our family. She also considers things outside the box, such as best times to fly with our young daughter, which is much appreciated when juggling family trips. She adds great personal touches to her services, such as posting physical tickets and reminder emails for visas/check in times, which is greatly appreciated and shows she cares about our travel experience.

Sent by Ignacio Abella Gainza

I have booked trips with Marguerite over a number of years and have recommended her to friends, family and work colleagues because of her efficiency and flexibility, Marguerite is highly knowledgeable of several travel markets, even some of the more challenging ones, and knows the ins and outs of those so she can put together the perfect itinerary for the traveller. Even after the sale is finished, Marguerite follows up so the traveller has all the required documentation and is kept informed about any potential changes, which is very much a must these days.

Sent by john salt

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you Marguerite. Thanks for all your help and assistance over the past many years, and your knowledge and advice is second to none. Take care, John and Ailex

Sent by Glen Oaten

Amazing service, Marguerite seems to work 24/7, no long waits on the ph or being transferred between different people. She really does care about her clients and managed to get us flights back to NZ on short notice plus kept us informed of all the latest travel requirements. Can definitely recommend.

Sent by Elise Batelaan

Travel counsellors… Marguerite certainly was my counsellor as she worked hard to find flights to see my ill Father in New Zealand. She took care of so much that I wasn’t expecting, from sending hand written reminders to checking us into our flight. I so appreciated this level of service during a time I wasn’t up to doing much admin. I can’t reccommend Marguerite enough.

Sent by Jose Carlos Sarria Moscoso

Marguerite is always fantastic. Very efficient and fast. Definitely, I will be recommending her

Sent by Henriëtte & Giel Caelers

We had a trip to New Zealand and Sydney, the trip was organized by our Travel Counsellar Marguerite Caris. The trip started in Auckland (North Island) and we travelled from North to South. We visited a lot of highlights. All the accommodations were perfect. The best holiday we ever had. Ending in Sydney to recover from our beautyful trip. Sydney is a beautyful city to stay for a few days. Also the flights were organised by Marguerite. We can only be thankful for the effort Marguerite made!! Thank you!!!!!

Sent by Ignacio Abella Gainza

In terms of service and availability, on a scale from 1 to 10, Marguerite is 11! Always keeping the client informed and providing multiple options to the requested itinerary, So I will always recommend Marguerite

Sent by Linda Cooke

Quick, responsive, knowledgeable and the best of all - it was so simple. A winner

Sent by Susan Hansen

I'm so pleased that I used Marguerite to book my long distance travel. The last two years have had such a negative impact on travel and created so much uncertainty but finding the best travel options and prices seemed so effortless for Marguerite. Not only has she spent her whole career in the travel industry and has a wealth of knowledge to share but nothing was too much trouble for her, no matter how many questions I had, and her communication was second to none. The icing on the cake is her friendly, and caring personality. I felt totally at ease with Marguerite . Not only did I had full confidence in her, but I have already recommended her to friends that need a knowledgeable and considerate travel professional. Thank you Marguerite. You are amazing!

Sent by Earl Pinnock

Superb travel assistance A truly first class travel service that makes you feel as if your interests and queries are given first priority. Marguerite has customer service at the heart of her approach. For travel assistance and advice to the Caribbean Marguerite is my first and last stop!!

Sent by David Passmore

I've never had such care and attention before I met you Marguerite. Many many thanks for everything you are so kind

Sent by Wilfredo Rodríguez Toirac

Great job kind regards wilfredoX

Sent by Jessica Mainley

More than just a travel agent. We were desperate to get a family friend into the U.K. from Cuba. We thought it couldn’t be done but with the support of Marguerite our dreams became a reality. Marguerite advised on the best way to get her here in the midst of the pandemic. We were struck by red lists and transit visas but Marguerite was always on hand day and night to offer us advise and help. With all the setback with covid restrictions it took us a few months to sort but marguerite didn’t give up. She went above and beyond to help us and I couldn’t recommend her enough. Thank you Marguerite you are outstanding!

Sent by Osvaldo Gutierrez Burgos

10 out of 10 Hello Margaret I would like to say to you, many thanks for all your help giving me, in this time of the period I have been abroad. I never had a travel agent helpful, I will recommend to all my friends everything you have done for me in more than a year, and I always will be ready to book any trip with you, thanks again nd I will contact you soon for the next holidays. The best attention I have been receiving, I am very grateful and happy with this agency 100% I recommend to anyone. My kind regards Osvaldo Bruno Gutierrez burgos.

Sent by Ingrid Durant

Rated 5 out of 5 stars Marguerite is special Marguerite has always managed my travel arrangements even though I worked for a reputable British airline for over 21 years. all those tricky flights in between islands she has been instrumental in making sure my itinerary was perfect. Today as we are all getting over the trauma of the pandemic she has done it once again. Organizing all the travel arrangements for my mother's relative, whom she has not seen in over 40 years. He will be coming to LHR from YYZ. she has walked me thru every aspect of his travel arrangements due to Covid. My mother and her brother are the last living siblings out of 10 children. they are 88 and 84 years old. Marguerite has been instrumental in making this happen. she gives that personal service which should be rewarded every time. I feel so safe with her and will only ever use her services @ Travel counsellors. it is a 10/10 service with a terrific person running the whole show. I will be recommending her to everyone I know forever.

Sent by Deya Gonzalez

It is always a pleasure to book my trips with Marguerite, she is so knowledgeable that I feel I am in safe hands. She does goes the extra mile especially during this difficult times. Strongly recommend her services as travel counsellor.

Sent by Tanja Buwalda

Tanja Buwalda 5 stars: Excellent 7 Apr 2021 Cuba flight specialist If you want to find quick, responsive service and guaranteed problem-solving experience, I can't recommend Marguerite from Travel Counsellors enough. She really knows the ins and outs of Cuban flights and is always to find the right options for our regular trips to Cuba.

Sent by Andrew Dodds

5 stars: Excellent Brilliant service Brilliant service, Margarite is our go to for all our travel requirements, we’ve been dealing with her for 20 years and highly recommend the service.

Sent by Michel Urangas Brinas

I highly recommend Marguerite Caris, I was very happy with the service she provided. She went above & beyond to assist me. It was a stressful time trying to travel from Cuba to England & she made everything run so much smoother. She is amazing, I will use her services in the future & will recommend her to friends & family! Michel and Rachael

Sent by Ignacio Abella Gainza

Our Trustpilot hero of the week Congratulations to this week's TC Hero, Marguerite Caris. This week, one of Marguerite's customers left her a lovely review I have nothing if great praise for Travel Counsellors, particularly to the agent who has provided me with great service, Marguerite Caris. Marguerite put a great trip to Vietnam together for me and my partner for January 2020. The itinerary was well thought out and all information about hotels and tours were well explained. Also, there was great flexibility regarding some changes to the plan. All in all it was great. Also, I have worked with Marguerite for a business trip, which involved flights and hotels in four countries. Prices and accommodation were great. This trip was scheduled for March 2020 as the pandemics hit and airlines starting cancelling flights. This was a particularly stressful time and Marguerite kept me updated regarding the impact of the cancellations and kept me informed of everything. This was a truly five star service and I am delighted to recommend Marguerite to friends and colleagues. ”

Sent by Aracelis Rodriguez Gómez

A quién pueda interesar. Mi nombre es Aracelis Rodriguez Gómez original de Cuba ,nacionalidad Británica. Como cliente de la Señora: Marguerite Caris Manzano quisiera agradecerle por su trato y gran profesionalidad en su trabajo como agente de viaje. Desde el principio estuvo pendiente de que todo estuviera bien con mi viaje y que todo saliera bien. Siempre mostró buena disposición para revisar cualquier imprevisto. Debo decir que en todo tiempo pude sentir su preocupación y amabilidad en todo el proceso de mi viaje e incluso cada detalle como la presentación del pasaje y hasta recibí postales de feliz viaje y de bienvenida. Estuvo en cada momento llamándome incluso estando en el aeropuerto y en el país de destino para saber si todo iva bien conmigo. Como clienta de su agencia debo decir que puedo recomendarla ampliamente, que mi próximo viaje sin dudas lo volvería hacer atravéz de ella. Estoy plenamente agradecida, feliz y satisfecha con su trabajo eficiente y seguro, totalmente responsable, buena comunicación, respetuosa. Muchas gracias por todo.

Sent by AMAURY Lopez

I needed to travel to Cuba even though there are restrictions in place thanks to Margarite i could make it possible to go and have a safe return, also i must say that is quite rewarding having been in touch through the holidays so i was always aware of any changes. I highly recommend her services and also hope to book my next holidays with her. Many thanks

Sent by Deya Gonzalez

I can highly recommend Marguerite as a dedicated and trusted travel counsellor. I have had the pleasure of using her services for many years now and she always comes through when it seems like it is impossible! I love her personal service, friendly nature, attention to detail and that nothing is too much trouble. She is always willing to accommodate requests to modify bookings, providing our family with competitive prices as well! Marguerite has been fantastic during this Covid times, rescheduling our flights several times and keeping us informed of all new requirements. I can trust her to get the job done!

Sent by Leandro Antonio Lobaina Figueras

Thank God this year 2020 is ending and for many it will leave a lot of pain and sadness when having to leave or lose their loved ones and for others like me who are far from our families we always have that fear of not seeing them again and in Times like these of great uncertainty without being sure of what will happen or when we can see our own or with whom, how can we connect flights to Cuba from where we are and that is where this message is addressed to Marguerita Caris, one of those people who who with his experience, dedication, honesty gives you the security of helping you unconditionally to connect that word that is so little but that means a lot in moments of distance, sadness and anguish ... flights ... For many it means vacations and memories for others like me and thousands more means family, love and happiness. Through this opportunity I want to personally thank you personally for all the times that you have helped me and that in one way or another I have bothered you with fear, insecurity that will happen with my flight and you have always had the correct answer based on experience and knowledge of your work .. Thank you very much for everything .. Leandro

Sent by John Salt

I've written to thank you for everything you've done to enable Ailex to get home safely. I would like to sincerely thank you for all your hard work arranging flights for my wife Ailex Socarras Diaz travelling from Havana and then to London Heathrow via Madrid. Her mother's home is 500 miles from Havana and transport to there was difficult due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Nonetheless you never failed to keep me informed, promising that you would get me flights for my wife, hook or by crook, which you did and Ailex arrived safely in the U.K. on 4th December 2020. Marguerite was always calm and pleasant to speak to, never promising anything that she couldn't deliver. Indeed her knowledge of the travel industry gave me the confidence that flights would be found, for which I will be forever grateful. This is not the first time that Marguerite has helped me in a tricky situation. She arranged flights for me to travel to Santiago de Cuba in November 2019, to enable me to deliver medicines. I was due to return home and fly from there to Havana to catch a flight to Birmingham via Paris with Air France. There had been various problems with internal flights due to the Trump embargo, and the flight was cancelled at the last minute. Cubana Airways sent a bus at 09.00 (3 hours after the scheduled take-off) which I managed to get on. It was pretty obvious that I wasn't going to make the 8 o'clock flight from Havana to Paris, so I had to make various phone calls with Marguerite during the 17 hour bus journey (bearing in mind I kept losing phone reception in the countryside). Due to Marguerite's hard work, she got me a flight for the next day, and arranged a hotel for me in Havana. When I woke up I received a message from Marguerite confirming that the flights had been arranged for later that day!

Sent by Earl Pinnock

Marguerite, many thanks for arranging the tickets- hard copies arrived safely today - with face mask Your ace service is thoroughly appreciated and i will certainly be recommending you to others. Angela has already recommended you to one of our london based cousins. Many thanks. Earl, Angela and Winsome

Sent by James Cornish

I recently was asked to help out a very dear friend of mine who was stranded in Cuba due to the coronavirus. He had limited Internet connections, and no real idea how to get back to the UK. I contacted the UK Embassy, the airline, and even raised the issue with his local MP. Fortunately for us, I also found Marguerite's contact details on a Cuban related facebook site. As soon as I contacted her she supplied some very useful free advice and tips, and has kept in touch with us through the whole saga, eventually sorting him out a very reasonable return flight. My friend was so grateful to Marguerite for removing much of the stress from the situation. Her input was far more valuable than anything we received from all the other official parties we contacted. Thank you once again Marguerite!

Sent by Helen Noakes

Marguerite was such a positive and perfect agent to help me find a good ticket to Greece in these crazy time. She superbly researched all aspects and technicalities I needed to know and she gave sound and realistic advice. I will definitely be booking my future travel with Marguerite and recommend my yoga groups and retreat attendees to her. Thank you ????

Sent by John Salt

Marguerite, I'll gladly pass on your details; you offer and perform a great service in such a friendly and efficient manner

Sent by Jonathan Dyer

Marguerite has assisted me with international travel advice for over thirty years. Her travel knowledge and experiences are vast; she responds promptly and pays attention to every detail, as well as offering appropriate alternatives. Marguerite is a genius at “thinking outside the box” – better than any online search program! Now that she has joined Travel Counsellors, I’ve gained the double benefit of Marguerite’s personalised service, along with their established reputation. As a frequent traveller, I feel assured that all options have been considered, and if things change (as they often do) Marguerite and her team can sort it out, so that I can continue my journey with peace-of-mind. Jonathan Dyer

Sent by Phoebe Haines

“Marguerite and Travel Counsellors are a fantastic travel service for both professionals and holiday makers. For our company they are not only brilliant with securing us the best price flights, but also on a recent trip to Cuba gave us invaluable destination insight. Marguerite facilitated our arrival, departure and many other bits in between.” Phoebe Haines, Production Assistant, Red Earth Studio

Sent by Imilla Santana

Our travel to London was unforgettable, thanks Marguerite for be there for us, guide and suggest the best places we could visit. we will contact you for our next travel in November.

Sent by Peter Goulding

For a number of years Marguerite has been my number 1 go to tour agent. There is a very good reason for this, she is reliable, ultra efficient and completely understands my travel needs based on her extensive knowledge and expertise.

Sent by johnny considine

I could not believe the speed and service but also the pricing. marguerite blew everyone else prices out of the water and was back to me in hours. it was seamless and I am never booking a flight online again . Sadly I had to cancel and again it was all done with no fuss and very charming. She is so knowledgebale and has reinstated my faith in travel agents. I recommend her without question

Sent by Vanessa Ashley-Caris

Marguerite worked out the best options for me to travel from Auckland to London to attend a family reunion. I have not travelled long haul for many years and she wisely suggested that I try Premium Economy to make the whole experience less draining and stressful and so I would arrive reasonably fresh at the other end! She looked at lots of different options and flight schedules and came up with airlines I would never have looked at (and I did keep changing my mind!). Her experience in travel, both in personal travel and working for various airlines really pays dividends as you can be certain that she is finding the best for your individual needs. The best part about it from our side is that she is working while we are sleeping and we can discuss the itinerary and options when we are fresh in the morning. I have no hesitation in recommending Marguerite because she is thorough and professional and the easy to understand smart documentation and turnaround on quotes is super efficient. Thank you so much for helping me get to this family reunion stress free! It was really appreciated.

Sent by Carolos Sarria Moscoso

Hi Marguerite, Just to let you know that my trip to Cuba this May was fantastic and my wife was delighted with the hotel. You always have been a great help and I really appreciate that you still there doing a fantastic job! Best regards. Carlos.

Sent by Paul Foster

Prompt knowledgeable service, background and wealth of experience is reflected in professionalism and value for money. Ticketing options provided greatly increased personal choices and travel flexibility.