Maria Foxwell
My expertise
I'm based in
Somerset
Looking for help with your business travel? Find out how I can help here
Offering a truly personal service so you can simply enjoy looking forward to your holiday
Hello, I’m Maria, I was born and bred in Somerset and still live and work here today, very much part of the local community. I started in travel at 16 and have never left the industry, beginning in tour operations creating tailor‑made rugby tours, then moving into high street travel agencies and, for the last 20 years, proudly running my own travel business.
When I am not planning holidays, you will usually find me travelling the world myself visiting new and exciting places, at home watching rugby following the Formula 1 , enjoying home and family life, or doing my voluntary work with Bath Street Kitchen and Water Survival Box and I am a proud Rotarian.
When you book with me, you are never “just” booking a holiday, you are gaining a trusted travel partner who is there for you before, during and after your trip. From our very first conversation, I take time to understand what really matters to you, your must‑haves, your worries, your budget, and the kind of memories you want to create. I then design a trip that is completely tailored to you, handling all the research, planning, and organising so you do not have to. You have one dedicated point of contact: me. No call centres, no being passed from person to person, just a familiar voice who knows you and your booking inside out.
The support I offer –
Travel is exciting, but the unexpected can happen, flight delays, strikes, weather disruption, illness or changes in local conditions. This is where the service I offer really comes into its own. If there is a disruption or crisis, you are not left to navigate it alone at an airport desk or on hold for hours. I step in to help, working behind the scenes to look at alternative flights, adjust your itinerary, rearrange transfers or amend accommodation where needed. I keep you updated, explain your options and help you make calm, informed decisions at a stressful time. You have the reassurance of knowing that I am monitoring your journey, and if something changes while you are away, I am just a call or message away to support you and act quickly on your behalf.
As part of Travel Counsellors, my personal service is backed up by 24/7 duty office support in case of emergencies, so if something urgent happens out of UK office hours there is always someone available to help. You are supported both by me and by a specialist team with access to your booking details and the tools needed to assist, which means you are never left on your own to figure things out, wherever you are in the world. It is a true hand‑held service with real people who genuinely care, looking out for you at every stage of your journey.
There are many ways to book a holiday, but what makes booking with me different is the personal relationship, the tailor‑made planning and the support wrapped around it. I get to know you, your family and your travel style and stay with you for the long term, often arranging honeymoons, first family holidays and then big multi‑generational trips as life moves on. I carefully match destinations, hotels, excursions and experiences to you, so you do not have to scroll through endless options, and I save you time and stress by doing the comparing, checking, organising and double‑checking in the background. If things change or go wrong, I am there to help put them right, not leave you to sort it out alone, and your money is fully protected through Travel Counsellors’ financial trust and ATOL protection where applicable.
For me, it is not just about where you go, but how you feel throughout the whole experience, cared for, reassured and truly looked after.
If you would like that level of care and support for your next holiday, I would be delighted to help you plan it.
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
Goodbye 2025 Hello 2026
Celebrating 20 years of being a business owner!! What an incredible 20 years it’s been.
27 Apr 2026 5 min read
Winter Sun in Gran Canaria
The Weather -Much Better Than the Apps Said Gran Canaria is a brilliant choice for winter sun. While the weather apps stubbornly showed 17 degrees, the reality was very different. Most days we enjoyed temperatures in the mid-twenties, warm enough to stretch out on a sunbed, feel that lovely heat in your bones and really unwind. Our days fell into a very happy rhythm of lying on a sunbed, soakin
27 Apr 2026 5 min read
Athens Weekend Getaway
We have just enjoyed a fantastic three-night escape to Athens and it reminded me exactly why this city is such a brilliant choice for a short break. It combines everything, ancient history, warm Greek hospitality, rooftop cocktails, and even a day by the water, all within easy reach of the UK.
27 Apr 2026 5 min read
The Magic of Brazil
Exploring the Magic of Brazil: My Journey as a Travel Counsellor and Encounter Latin America
18 Dec 2025 5 min read
WestJet
We travelled from London Heathrow to Calgary with WestJet on the 787 Dreamliner. We travelled in economy class, and I have to say I'm really impressed with their seating and the aircraft itself. It was a new aircraft with smart and comfortable seating with headrests that offered an extra head cushion that bent towards your head so if you are sleeping it offered extra head support. They also offere
15 Dec 2023 5 min read
My Canadian Adventures - Part 1
As most of you know I recently visited Canada and spent 2 1/2 weeks staying in Banff and then a road trip beyond including Lake Louise ,Jasper and drove all the way over to Vancouver for the last few nights. The main reason for the visit was for our cousin’s daughter’s wedding, which our two girls MJ and Ruby were bridesmaids along with their other cousin Abi. This trip was meant to happen in 2020
13 Dec 2023 5 min read
My Travel Blog to Croatia
My Travel Blog to Croatia July 2022 Departing from Birmingham on an early morning flight we decided to have a airport hotel for the night making things easier in the morning. With Jet2 they offer a twilight check in, so we checked our luggage in the night before with no queues, leaving us with hand luggage and a small overnight bag. In the morning this was perfect as we got to the airport and li
20 Jul 2022 5 min read
New York
New York What a fabulous trip we had spending the New Year of 2020 in the city that doesn’t sleep! New Year’s Eve in New York was incredible and everything I wanted it to be it was. Its busy, its bustling, and yes there is security and police and crowds but everyone is in high spirits including the police and we had a fantastic evening just on the streets full of people taking in the countdown
19 Oct 2020 5 min read
Surfs Up In Southern California
I was lucky enough to earn a place on an Educational trip to Southern California April 2018. This was a self-drive trip with 4 fellow Travel Counsellors and we were to experience the delights taking in various places such as Huntington Beach, LA, San Diego and Palm Springs. In each place we experienced the local excursions, local food and hospitality from the local tourist office and hotels that h
17 Jul 2018 5 min read
Why..Why...Why Not.........
What can I say. Do you remember a time when looking at pictures in travel brochures or on the internet of beaches that have turquoise sea and white powder sand and think - I wonder if there is a place that really exists? Well, I can confirm there is - Turks and Caicos, the most beautiful beach and sea I have ever seen and as you know I have done some travelling. Each morning I would have to pinch
17 Jul 2018 5 min read
Dubai for the Weekend
After winning a three night trip to Dubai with Qantas and One and Only Royal Mirage we jetted off to have a luxury weekend away to enjoy the hot sunshine and fantastic service and food that Dubai has to offer. We had travelled here before en-route to Australia three years ago with the girls but this time it was a trip just for the two of us, so experienced a very relaxing break. The hotel is st
08 Jun 2015 5 min read
Lapland for the Day
For a surprise for the family and as my eldest daughter was leaving primary school this year it would be my last chance to enjoy the magic that Christmas brings so I decided to look out for a good deal to Lapland. It didn't take long before I had booked the four of us on a day trip departing Exeter departing middle of December 2014. A very long day but the best surprise ever, Waking the girls u
08 Jun 2015 5 min read
Baska Voda, Croatia
My family and I decided on Croatia for our family holiday and what a great choice it was. After booking a wedding there last year and doing a lot of research on the country it was the obvious choice for us. With beautiful scenery, fantastic coastline and very reasonable living costs it was a place I really wanted to visit so I could share this amazing country with my clients. I had flights fro
08 Jun 2015 5 min read
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Why use a Travel Counsellor
Let's plan your dream trip together
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.
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.
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.
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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