Matt Hills
My expertise
I'm based in
Kendal
First-hand experience and a love of travel, brought together to plan something just for you.
Welcome. The world is a big place. Let's narrow it down a bit.
Travel has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I've been lucky enough to visit around 80 countries across all seven continents, from travelling overland from Cape Town to Nairobi and backpacking around Asia, to exploring Antarctica, driving a campervan around New Zealand, skiing across Europe and North America, and finding plenty of excuses to return to the Indian Ocean whenever possible.
Some trips have involved luxury lodges and fine dining. Others have involved sleeping under African skies, washing up for 22 people, and wondering whether the truck was actually going to start in the morning. Each to their own, but I've enjoyed all of it.
Those experiences are a big part of why I love what I do.
No two holidays are ever the same. Some people want a week doing absolutely nothing on a beautiful beach. Others want wildlife, adventure, mountains, food, culture, road trips or a combination of all of them. My job is to listen, understand what makes a great holiday for you, and help create something that fits.
What I enjoy most is taking the stress out of the planning. Flights, hotels, transfers, itineraries, logistics and all the little details that people often don't realise matter until they're standing in the wrong airport terminal. I'll take care of those so you can focus on the exciting bit.
I'm home-based, so you'll deal directly with me from start to finish. Need to chat after work? No problem. Weekend call? That's fine too. Travel planning doesn't always fit neatly into office hours.
And for complete peace of mind, everything booked through Travel Counsellors is 100% financially protected.
Whether you're planning a special celebration, a luxury escape, a family adventure, a once-in-a-lifetime trip, or you're simply looking for some inspiration, I'd be happy to help.
And if you're not entirely sure where you want to go yet, that's often where the best conversations start.
Feel free to get in touch for a chat and we'll see where the conversation takes us.
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
New England Road Trip Guide
A practical guide to planning a New England road trip, from Boston, Cape Cod and the Maine Coast to the White Mountains, Vermont, Newport and autumn colours, including the best route, timings, costs and common mistakes to avoid.
10 Sept 2026 14 min read
What Happens on a Typical Safari Day? What to Expect on Safari
A practical guide to what a typical African safari day looks like, including morning game drives, lodge downtime, meals, afternoon safaris, sundowners, night drives and what to expect on your first safari.
03 Sept 2026 15 min read
Florida Fly Drive Guide: Orlando, Miami, Keys & Gulf Coast Itinerary
A practical guide to planning a Florida fly drive holiday, from Orlando, Kennedy Space Centre and Miami to the Everglades, Florida Keys and Gulf Coast beaches, including the best route, timings, costs and common mistakes to avoid.
03 Sept 2026 15 min read
The Best Places to See African Wildlife on Safari
A practical guide to where to see Africa’s most iconic wildlife on safari, including the Big Five, big cats, elephants, rhino, giraffe, wild dogs, hippos, crocodiles, gorillas, chimps and the Great Migration.
03 Sept 2026 17 min read
When Can You See the Great Migration? Month-by-Month Safari Guide
A practical guide to when and where to see the Great Migration, including the Serengeti, Maasai Mara, river crossings, calving season and how to plan the right safari from the UK.
01 Sept 2026 11 min read
Deep South Road Trip Guide
A practical guide to planning a Deep South road trip, from Nashville, Memphis and the Mississippi River to New Orleans, including the best route, timings, stops, costs, common mistakes and whether it’s the right USA fly drive for you.
24 Aug 2026 13 min read
The Big Five Safari Animals Explained: Where to See Them in Africa
A practical guide to the Big Five animals in Africa, including what the term really means, where to see them on safari and why you shouldn’t build your whole trip around ticking them off a list.
22 Aug 2026 14 min read
Best Honeymoon Safaris in Africa: Where to Go, When to Travel and How to Plan
A practical guide to planning the best honeymoon safaris in Africa, including where to go, when to travel, luxury lodges, safari-and-beach combinations, costs and how to choose the right safari honeymoon from the UK.
19 Aug 2026 14 min read
Route 66 Road Trip Guide
A practical guide to planning a Route 66 road trip, from Chicago to Santa Monica, including the best route, timings, stops, costs, common mistakes and whether it’s actually the right USA fly drive for you.
19 Aug 2026 15 min read
USA National Parks Road Trip Guide
A practical guide to planning a USA national parks road trip, from Las Vegas, Zion and the Grand Canyon to route planning, timings, costs, park passes and common mistakes to avoid.
11 Aug 2026 14 min read
Best Family Safaris in Africa: Where to Go, When to Travel and How to Plan
A practical guide to planning the best family safari holiday, including where to go, when to travel, child-friendly lodges, malaria-free options and how to choose the right safari for your family.
11 Aug 2026 15 min read
Luxury Safari Lodges Explained
Everything you need to know about luxury safari lodges, tented camps, private reserves and how to choose the right style of safari accommodation.
11 Aug 2026 14 min read
California Road Trip Guide
A practical guide to planning a classic California road trip, from San Francisco, Yosemite and the Pacific Coast Highway to Los Angeles, costs, timings, add-ons and common mistakes to avoid.
31 Jul 2026 12 min read
National Parks vs Private Game Reserves
A practical guide to the difference between national parks and private game reserves, including cost, wildlife, guiding, exclusivity and which option is right for your safari.
31 Jul 2026 12 min read
Best USA Road Trips for First-Timers
A practical guide to choosing the best USA road trip for your first time, from California and Florida to New England, Route 66, the Deep South and the national parks.
31 Jul 2026 12 min read
South Africa vs Kenya Safari: Which Destination Is Right for You?
A practical comparison of wildlife, lodges, costs, family safaris, honeymoons, the Great Migration and safari-and-beach combinations.
22 Jul 2026 12 min read
How Much Does a USA Road Trip Cost?
Wondering how much a USA road trip costs? This guide explains flights, car hire, hotels, fuel, parking, tipping, theme parks and typical USA fly drive budgets.
17 Jul 2026 14 min read
How To Plan A USA Fly Drive
How to properly plan a USA fly drive, from choosing the right route and hire car to booking hotels, working out timings and avoiding the classic road trip mistakes.
15 Jul 2026 14 min read
Namibia Safari Guide
A practical guide to planning a Namibia safari holiday, from Etosha National Park and Sossusvlei to self-drive routes, desert lodges, wildlife, costs and the best time to travel.
10 Jul 2026 8 min read
Kenya Safari Guide
If you’re looking for Kenya safari holidays from the UK, this guide will help you understand where to go, when to travel, what you might see and how to build the right luxury Kenya safari itinerary.
09 Jul 2026 9 min read
USA Fly Drive Guide
Discover the best USA fly drive routes, from California and Florida to Route 66, New England, the Deep South and the national parks, with practical advice on where to go and how long to spend.
09 Jul 2026 21 min read
Tanzania Safari Guide
Everything you need to know about planning a luxury Tanzania safari.
03 Jul 2026 10 min read
Botswana Safari Guide
Everything you need to know about planning a luxury Botswana safari.
03 Jul 2026 6 min read
The Best Safari I've Ever Been On: Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater
Why Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater tops my list as the best safari I've been on.
30 Jun 2026 8 min read
Safari Packing Guide - What Should You Pack for a Safari?
The Complete African Safari Packing Guide
30 Jun 2026 6 min read
South Africa Safari Guide
Everything you need to know about planning a safari in South Africa.
29 Jun 2026 8 min read
Best Time to Go on an African Safari
A month-by-month guide to planning the perfect African safari.
25 Jun 2026 7 min read
How Much Does an African Safari Cost?
What you can realistically expect to spend on your safari – and what you get for your money.
25 Jun 2026 6 min read
The Beginner's Guide to Your First African Safari
Everything you need to know before your first safari – from someone who's spent months exploring Africa and has returned many times since.
25 Jun 2026 6 min read
The Complete Guide to Luxury African Safari
Everything you need to know before booking your perfect safari – from someone who's spent months travelling across Southern Africa and experienced luxury African safari holidays firsthand.
25 Jun 2026 11 min read
Exploring Madagascar!
Have you seen the movie?? Well, it’s nothing like that… It’s pretty different from the rest of Africa too, it split off from the mainland around 160m years ago, and never looked back! I travelled in August, part of a small group tour with G Adventures – a leading light of the adventure touring market, with a real focus on responsible tourism and making a positive impact on local communities. Ther
28 Nov 2024 3 min read
A grand way to see Italy!
There’s more than one way to make a pizza, as an Italian chef once said (*probably). Likewise, there’s more than one way to discover a country… Many of you (as am I) will be big fans of the city break – a long weekend cramming in a few highlights, but heading home disappointingly soon. But suppose you want more – a longer trip giving you time to get under the skin of a country, more destinations,
02 Jul 2023 3 min read
Andermatt – a Swiss gem, small but perfectly formed
Andermatt is a relatively unknown Swiss resort, just a ninety-minute scenic drive from Zurich. Recently it’s received a fair bit of investment, in the accommodation as well as the ski infrastructure, and it’s turning into a fabulous destination for a long weekend, or even a relaxed week of skiing, chilling out, eating and pampering. So, that’s the big attraction? Firstly, ease of access. Regular
01 Apr 2019 4 min read
Around the World in 440 Days - Part 3 - South East Asia
In the summer of 2007, with thirteen years at Trailfinders under my belt, I decided it was time to move on and explore new opportunities. Rather than find another job immediately, I followed the slightly less sensible but vastly more appealing idea of going travelling. I hadn’t done the traditional ‘gap year’ thing, so while I’d had plenty of exotic holidays over the past 13 years, I hadn’t been a
24 Feb 2018 6 min read
Around the World in 440 Days Part 2 - India and Sri Lanka
In the summer of 2007, with thirteen years at Trailfinders under my belt, I decided it was time to move on and explore new opportunities. Rather than find another job immediately, I followed the slightly less sensible but vastly more appealing idea of going travelling. I hadn’t done the traditional ‘gap year’ thing, so while I’d had plenty of exotic holidays over the past 13 years, I hadn’t been a
22 Feb 2018 6 min read
Around the World in 440 Days Part 1 - Africa
In the summer of 2007, with thirteen years at Trailfinders under my belt, I decided it was time to move on and explore new opportunities. Rather than find another job immediately, I followed the slightly less sensible but vastly more appealing idea of going travelling. I hadn’t done the traditional ‘gap year’ thing, so while I’d had plenty of exotic holidays over the past 13 years, I hadn’t been a
21 Feb 2018 6 min read
F1 Weekend in Abu Dhabi
I’ve always kept an eye on Formula 1, without claiming to be a die-hard fan. A whole race? Maybe not. Highlights? Yes please. But I have a friend who lives in Abu Dhabi, home of the final F1 race of the season, which was developing into an epic battle between the Mercedes of Messrs Hamilton and Rosberg. So it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss – a bit of winter sun (the race is in Novembe
11 Jan 2017 4 min read
South Island, New Zealand - Unmissable!
I’ve been lucky enough to visit a huge number of places during my 16 years working in travel, but New Zealand holds a special place in my heart. If it were closer (say, where France is?!), I’d live there… So what’s the attraction? Firstly, the people. So friendly, so welcoming, and such a relaxed, laid-back attitude to life. Away from the major cities, the pace of life is pretty chilled, people
10 Jan 2017 4 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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