Marina Schumacher

My expertise

Scandinavia
New Zealand
Switzerland
Sustainability
Train Travel
Couples
Families
Tailor-made travel

I'm based in

Reading

Available for new enquiries

Your journey starts here...

Hello and welcome - I'm Marina, your Reading-based Travel Counsellor with a penchant for all things rail travel.

Legend has it, I decided to become a travel agent at the grand old age of four. My first client? My one-year-old sister, whom I promptly tried to sell a holiday to. I'm not sure what the conversion rate was, but at least I had my target audience sorted early!

A few decades later, travel has taken me from my native Switzerland to life in Canada and New Zealand, and solo adventures across South and North America and parts of Asia. Having worked for both a Scandinavia and later on Switzerland specialist tour operator, I now combine my industry knowledge and first-hand experience to help others discover the world.

One of my particular passions is rail travel. There's something special about watching the landscape change outside your window, arriving in the heart of a city and finding that the journey itself becomes a highlight. From various Swiss highlights like the Bernina and Glacier Express to the Inca Rail towards Machu Picchu, New Zealand's TranzAlpine and Bullet Trains in Japan, I've experienced some memorable routes myself.
But I know planning a train-based family holiday can feel daunting. Which route makes sense? How much time should you allow between connections? What if a train is delayed, and how do you keep the children entertained? You don't need all the answers before you start. I'll help turn the complicated bits into a practical adventure your whole family can enjoy.

Why plan your next holiday with me?

> First-hand knowledge: I've travelled extensively across Europe, the Americas and parts of Asia, with in-depth experience of Canada and New Zealand. I combine this with industry knowledge and trusted travel partners to find the right trip for you.

>Your holiday, your way: I listen, ask questions and tailor my recommendations to your wishes, travel companions and budget. Unless you specifically want a ready-made package, I'll tailor-make your holiday around what we've discussed.

> The details are my department: From train connections to accommodation, transfers and excursions, I'll bring the pieces together. Need family rooms or somewhere close to the station? Just say the word.

> Someone in your corner: I'm here before you travel, while you're away and if plans change unexpectedly. And afterwards, I'd love to hear how it went!

> Travel with thought: I enjoy finding alternatives to the obvious destinations and helping you explore more thoughtfully, whether by train or ferry, supporting local businesses or choosing wildlife experiences that put animal welfare first.

A little about me:
I studied Travel and Tourism Management in Switzerland before heading off on a ten-month solo backpacking adventure across the Americas. Since then, I've worked and lived in 6 countries and travelled to many more. Nowadays, I'm based in Reading with my Kiwi husband and our son, my favourite Trainscapades partner (curious? Check out my Instagram!). When I'm not planning holidays, you'll often find me reading Nordic noir in a local coffee shop or dreaming up our next family adventure. I'm a firm believer that books are an excellent source of destination inspiration.

I also believe the best holidays aren't necessarily the most expensive or elaborate ones; they're the ones that bring you closer together, introduce you to something new and leave you with stories you'll tell for years.

So, where would you like to go? Even if you've only got a vague idea, let's start there and work out the rest together.

Oh, and one last thing… a fun fact!
During my ten months backpacking across South and North America back in 2006, I travelled mostly overland, the most memorable journey being a whopping 52-hour bus ride from Salta in Argentina to Lima in Peru! Travel like the locals - though these days, I might consider suggesting a stop or two along the way!

signature

Explore my guides and blogs

Flight‑Free Christmas Markets: 5 Magical Winter Escapes You Can Reach by Rail & Ferry

Scandinavia

Train Travel

Denmark

Finland

Lithuania

Norway

Sweden

Tailor-made travel

Flight‑Free Christmas Markets: 5 Magical Winter Escapes You Can Reach by Rail & Ferry

If you are dreaming of fairy lights, a mug full of steaming gløgg in your hands and the sweet smell of cinnamon buns and pepperkaker (ginger biscuits) drifting out of cosy cafés, but don't like flying or simply dreading the queues and often lengthy transfer to and from the airport, there's another way: In this blog I am sharing five hand‑picked Christmas markets across Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Fin

09 Oct 2026 7   min read

Escape the Heat: Family-Friendly Cooler Summer Destinations in Europe

Switzerland

Train Travel

Families

Denmark

Estonia

Netherlands

Sweden

Tailor-made travel

Escape the Heat: Family-Friendly Cooler Summer Destinations in Europe

Rethinking the classic Mediterranean summer? As temperatures rise across southern Europe, many UK families are discovering cooler, greener alternatives closer to home. From Denmark’s sandy beaches to Swiss alpine lakes and Estonia’s fairy-tale towns, these family-friendly destinations offer adventure, comfort and a more relaxed way to travel.

12 Jul 2026 7   min read

Responsible Travel Pledge

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 1   min read

10 Tips for a more Responsible Travel Experience

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 2   min read

Why it's important for me to support animal welfare when I book holidays

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

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 6   min read

5 Fun Things to do with your Family in and around Christchurch

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

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!

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 6   min read

What my customers say

We have used Marina Schumacher at TC for the past two years to book our summer holiday. Marina has always been fantastic. She is ultra efficient, very helpful and incredibly quick to respond to any query or concern. She's taken the stress out of finding and booking completely and has guided us every step of the way - before, during and after our holiday. We are very grateful to Marina for her outstanding service and would not hesitate to recommend her, and TC in general to anyone.

D Hitchcock

UK

My TC agent, Marina, took care of every little detail and made my trip across Canada seamless. Even when I had hurt myself and had to rearrange my flight back home, nothing was a problem. I could not have asked for more.

Robert G

London

Fabulous week in Portugal. 3 lovely days in Lisbon and 4 days amazing days in beautiful Sintra. Marina booked our flights transfers and accommodation. It was great to have someone take care of these arrangements and to know that there was someone around to help if anything went wrong. Her care and attention to us was second to none. Highly recommended and I will definitely arrange future travel with her and would highly recommend.

Karen D

Berkshire

I strongly recommend Marina! Marina was so helpful with finding exactly what we were after for our holiday. All the stress was taken out every step of the way! Everything was so easy too, all the information we needed on the app and super quick email and WhatsApp replies from Marina. Thank you Marina! x

Kate Clark

Reading

I have already started recommending Marina! She was extremely knowledgeable about our destinations, supporting us in planning an extended 7 week trip to Australia and New Zealand. Marina spent time listening to all of our concerns and wishes and helped us to build an exciting itinerary within our budget. She made considered recommendations, offered practical advice and provided multiple quote options to choose between, answering our many questions and remaining readily available to us throughout the process. Thank you Marina!

Sarah H

Yorkshire

Marina made our holiday possible. She guided me through the transport and accommodation options. She had a really deep knowledge of Disneyland Paris and this resulted in convenient transport and an aparthotel which met our needs. She even had the patience to spend an hour helping me understand the Disney app. Marina was also an amazing source of information on travelling with a baby. She advised on what liquids could be taken on Eurostar and on baby friendly accommodation. She was able to give me information on baby services, such as stroller hire within the park. Even the hotel room sink was perfect as a baby bath. Her professional and supportive service made travel with a baby straightforward. We will be booking with her again and absolutely recommend her.

Sophia Jones

Reading

Marina listened to our requirements and offered 2 different options. When our circumstances changed, Marina efficiently and professionally made the necessary adjustments.

Karen Dann

Bracknell

There are thousands of holiday options out there, but when you are overworked and in desperate need of a break, who has the time to research (spoiler: it was not me... I definitely did not have the time). Thankfully, I did have Marina Schumacher, Travel Counsellor who took "I just want a week in April where we can lie on a beach in the sun- here is my budget" and delivered three initial options for me to look at, which is a far more manageable decision. After a few little changes, there was the perfect holiday picked for me and tied up in a little purple bow. Actually it was delivered very efficiently in an organised folder, with all the paperwork we needed and flip flop luggage tags a few days before we were due to fly out. When our flight was looking to be delayed, I knew I could just get in touch with Marina to see what I needed to do about the transfer and without hesitation she liaised with the transfer company and I didn't need to do anything at all. The hotel was perfect and had lots of little extra touches- robes and slippers, extra long beach towels, and the all important breakfast omelette bar! I'm half convinced she also planned the weather, apparently it rained the day before we arrived but we were treated to a week of blazing sunshine with it clouding over as we were due to fly home again. Through the whole process, from initial enquiry to the post holiday check in card, it couldn't have been easier. Marina really does make it an extra special holiday experience!

Julie Breckon

The Wirral

Marina Schumacher is an exceptional professional, someone who goes the extra mile for her clients... then goes extra miles after that. Marina's expertise and industry knowledge not only will ensure we will recommend her to friends & family in future, but we also look forward to engaging with Marina and Travel Counsellors again ourselves for future trips. Thank you.

Alec Lom

London

Marina was just amazing and myself and my partner were incredibly pleased with her. She was very accommodating and friendly and made us feel at ease right from the get go which was important as this was our first time travelling alone. Marina helped us with all the small details of our trip and was quick to get to the bottom of any query. We had a wonderful holiday thanks to Marina and will definitely be in contact with her again for future travel!

Maddie Green

Buckley

Marina is very helpful and efficient. We love the personal touch she has given to helping us book our family holiday. Marina was able to answer any queries we had in a prompt and professional manner. We are really really pleased with the service and would recommend her to anyone.

Antonia Kimonos

Reading

Marina has been an absolute star throughout the whole process, from the very first idea I had, to booking our dream holiday of a lifetime. Her knowledge of the area was fabulous and her willingness to go the extra mile to make sure it was right for us was brilliant. We will definitely be recommending her to anyone that will listen :) We are so so lucky that we found her and feel completely confident with all the arrangements she has made. I wish I could book a holiday with her every month!

Gillian Sealey

Malvern

Marina has been fabulous at researching and answering all of our questions. She has really been supportive and has made sure we felt confident in our booking. Definitely reduced all the stress of trying to sort it out ourselves.

Nicola Lowson

Berwick

We came to Marina with a big ask- a family holiday in the UK for a group of 8 adults and children, during school holidays, at very short notice - and she delivered! She listened carefully to our requirements and found us an ideal location with everything we needed. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Marina's services to anyone looking for a knowledgable and friendly expert to save them hours of trawling the internet!

Anne Delauzun

Reading

Fantastic service and really friendly, honest advice. I've recommended to all my family and friends!

Kevin McManus

Earley, Reading

Discover the world with me

Trainscapade Summer 2024

Trainscapade Summer 2024

A highlights video about my son's and my summer holidays with lots of ferry and even more train rides, sea food and chill-out moments in gardens or by the sea.

01 Aug 2024

Additional offers

More destinations to enjoy

Let's plan your dream trip together

Icons 4

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.

Icons 2

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.

Icons 3

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.

Icons

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.

Find Tc Difference

Start planning with me

0/500 characters

Give me a call

Let’s talk through your ideas, no pressure.

0118 329 0059

Let’s connect

Villas 1 Awali Background Colour Banana Island 3 (2)

Finding your match...

Every unforgettable journey starts with the right person by your side.