Marina Schumacher
My expertise
I'm based in
Reading
It's Nice To Meet You
Travel is my destiny – I knew that when I was 4 years old and tried selling a holiday to my 1-year-old sister… with little success. This didn’t faze me though, on the contrary. We were fortunate to be able to travel to many places in Europe when we were growing up and before long, I was the one arranging our high-school end-of-term trip to the South of France.
To properly kickstart my career in the industry, I studied Travel and Tourism Management in my home country, Switzerland, and as a reward to myself for graduating, I packed my backpack (or two and the kitchen sink – it was in 2006 after all, long before smart phones and a lot of the bulk was from guide books and maps) and flew on my own to São Paulo to start my South and North America backpacking trip. Over the course of 10 months, I travelled mainly overland through Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Louisiana, the US East Coast, Ontario, Alaska, British Columbia and all along the Pacific Coast to LA. It was absolutely amazing and an unforgettable experience – especially the 52 hours on the bus from Salta (Argentina) to Lima (Peru).
A little fun fact: In the last 20 years I have lived in 6 different countries including a summer holiday in Iceland, working in the local hostel and a season working in a hotel on Gran Canaria.
By far my favourite places were Vancouver as a city and New Zealand as a country though and the places I went back to several times; I even got married in a small coastal town outside Christchurch/NZ to my Kiwi husband. Our first major trip as a new family was last year, when we finally introduced our pre-schooler to our NZ family as well as friends in Vancouver - only three years later than originally planned, thanks to Covid.
Another outcome of the pandemic was me losing my job with the Switzerland Travel Centre, a specialist tour operator for Switzerland. During my time there I worked closely with Travel Counsellors and remembering my chats with a number of my favourite TCs was the catalyst for me to start my own journey as an independent travel advisor and franchise owner.
Now I cannot wait to explore the world with Travel Counsellors, my family and of course you! I love sharing my experiences and knowledge – as a travel agent as well as fellow traveller and am looking forward to convert your dreams into stories and memories.
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
Responsible Travel Pledge
Inspired by the remarkable Palau Pledge (written for visitors by the children of Palau) and as part of my engagement to become a TTG Sustainable Travel Ambassador, I've created my own responsible travel pledge, which I hope all my clients will informally sign up to and embed within their trips. Recognising the impacts we can have on a destination (both good and bad), plays a crucial role in respo
05 Mar 2025 5 min read
10 Tips for a more Responsible Travel Experience
There are many ways to make your holidays a more meaningful experience. Check out a list of suggestions on how to go about this: + Research and Respect Local Cultures: Learn about the customs, traditions, and social norms of your destination. Show respect by dressing appropriately, learning basic phrases in the local language, and following local etiquette. + Think about when and where you trave
11 Jun 2024 5 min read
Why it's important for me to support animal welfare when I book holidays
Part of a holiday for many is to see animals in their natural habitat. In today’s day and age, when many wild animals are on the brink of extinction, it is very understandable that we want to get as close as possible to them, but that’s not usually in the animals’ best interest. Many tourism operators are still promoting unethical practices that involve captive animals: Elephant rides, tiger self
18 Nov 2023 5 min read
6 Fun Things to do with your Family between Christchurch and Queenstown
New Zealand's South Island is so much more than Christchurch and Queenstown, but especially if you're thinking of travelling between these two towns, this list of suggestions may come in handy. All places can be reached from Christchurch within a day's drive - even with stops along the way! 1. Jetboating and visiting the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools We did both in the pouring rain, as we figured
14 Jul 2023 5 min read
5 Fun Things to do with your Family in and around Christchurch
New Zealand is in general a great place to travel to and around with children. Our latest experience was very South Island oriented (much to our dismay as we had a weekend in Wellington booked, but Storm Gabrielle and the earthquake near Wellington and the resulting backlog of cancelled and barely running ferries and overbooked flights nixed that plan), which is why this list of excursion suggesti
13 Jul 2023 5 min read
Packing and Travel Tips for your first trip with your new baby or young child
No matter if you’re flying to the Algarve or road-tripping through Cornwall, how exciting is it to be off on your first trip with your new baby?! Yet with all this excitement, I’m sure there is also a bit of trepidation mixed in about what to pack, how much of everything, what to better leave behind… This is why I thought it would be helpful to provide you with a few tips and tricks of how to m
22 Jun 2023 5 min read
A rainy day or two in Vancouver - with a pre-schooler!
I fell in love with Vancouver nearly 20 years ago, when I first visited in early 2004. The snow-capped mountain views, the proximity to the sea and beaches, the sparkling city lights, the many lovely shops, cafes and galleries (well, I was 21, so let's be honest, souvenir shops, bars and clubs) and last but by no means least: I've met a friend I'm still in touch with and coincidentally, we both ha
01 Apr 2023 5 min read
Reviews
What my customers say
Additional offers
More destinations to enjoy
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.
Get in touch