Martin Lake
I'm based in
Hove
It's Nice To Meet You
Hi, I’m Martin. I live in Hove on the south coast with my young family.
My passion for travel began in the mid ‘90s with a round-the-world trip and working holiday in Australia. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to have travelled extensively worldwide, visiting over 50 countries along the way. My travels have taken me to places such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Borneo, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brazil, the USA, New Zealand, Fiji, Kenya and a number of European countries too. More recently, I’ve been discovering destinations a little closer to home, such as the Canary Islands, that work very well for family holidays.
Over the years, I’ve had some wonderful experiences that include watching cheetahs as the sun sets over the Masai Mara, sky-diving at the Whitsundays in Australia, taking a helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon and travelling on the tea country train through the tea plantations in Sri Lanka.
Through work trips, I have first-hand experience of staying in some of the world’s finest hotels (and some more run-of-the-mill ones too!) and can pass on some great tips to ensure you get the most from your hotel choices. I have extensive flight cabin knowledge. Business or Premium Economy Class isn’t always as expensive as you may think and makes long haul travel far more enjoyable.
Before becoming a Travel Counsellor, my career evolved from working in London for a ‘flights specialist’ and managing a team of 20+, to helping build a small travel ‘start-up’ into a successful travel business and more recently working for an award-winning luxury tailor-made tour operator creating privately guided tours throughout Asia. All these roles have required exceptional service levels and a very keen eye for detail.
With over 25 years’ experience as a dedicated travel professional, I can offer impartial, tailored advice for your trip and great prices too! Your leisure time is very precious and I realise just how important holidays are. I take pride in providing inspirational ideas for your trip, something which will save you hours of online research. Planning a bespoke holiday itinerary can be a daunting and sometimes time-consuming experience. Leave the detail to me and I’ll ensure a stress-free, smooth running trip, and you’ll return home with amazing memories that will last a lifetime.
For a no obligation quote (or just an initial chat about your holiday plans), please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I’ll be very happy to help…
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Planning a trip to the Maldives?
When planning a trip to the Maldives, there’s quite a lot to consider… With 1,192 coral islands (only 200 of which are inhabited) and over 140 resorts to choose from, where do you start? The Maldives is the lowest and flattest nation in the world. Its beaches are pristine and the shimmering azure blue ocean is a haven for marine life. If you’re planning a trip, you’ll probably already know the
28 Aug 2019 5 min read
Impressions of Sri Lanka
One of my first impressions of Sri Lanka was how warm the welcome is. 'Ayu Bowan' ('may you live longer') is both the greeting and farewell, and is always accompanied with a genuine smile. The second thing I noticed was how different the country is to India. Its close proximity means that of course there are similarities, but - having spent time in India - I was pleasantly surprised by how easy-go
01 Jul 2019 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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