May Swan-Easton

My expertise

Australia
New Zealand
Indian Ocean
Japan
Sri Lanka
North America
Vietnam

I'm based in

Hornchurch

Available for new enquiries

It's Nice To Meet You

Welcome, I’m May: your dedicated personal Travel Counsellor and single point of contact for every aspect of your journey. I am here to remove the stress, worry and guesswork from planning your travels, so you can simply relax and enjoy the experience.

I specialise in bespoke, tailormade itineraries, honeymoons, weddings abroad, group travel and luxury holidays, as well as discreet, efficient arrangements for corporate travellers in small to medium-sized businesses. Every trip I design is created around you, your tastes and your priorities.

With over 40 years’ experience in the travel industry and extensive first-hand knowledge of the resorts and destinations I recommend, I believe the best advice comes from personal experience. If you are looking for inspiration on where to spend your next special occasion or once-in-a-lifetime trip, explore My Travel Diaries for insider tips and guides, all based on places I have personally visited.

When you book with me through Travel Counsellors, you enjoy complete peace of mind. Alongside ATOL protection, our unique independent Financial Trust protects every element of your booking, from flights and accommodation to car hire. Even in the unlikely event of an operator failure, your money is fully protected.

Whether you are planning a chic city escape, an indulgent long-haul retreat or another memorable tick off your bucket list, I take the time to understand what truly matters to you, then craft a travel experience that exceeds your expectations.

Click on Testimonials above to hear how I’ve helped many other delighted customers on their journey.

I would say that selling dreams must be the best job in the world!

signature

Explore my guides and blogs

Wellness & Wildlife in Sri Lanka

Wellness & Wildlife in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, the teardrop-shaped island nestled in the Indian Ocean, offers travellers an unforgettable blend of rich culture, lush landscapes, and serene coastlines. From tranquil rural villages to historic colonial towns and misty highlands, Sri Lanka is a mosaic of vibrant experiences waiting to be explored. My visit in March 2025 focused on exploring Sri Lanka’s Wellness Retreats and Wildlife e

06 Jun 2025 5   min read

Destination Podcasts - Travels with May

Destination Podcasts - Travels with May

I’m launching a travel show, available to download as a podcast, and I’d like you to be the first to hear it! Follow the link in the comments below, choose your podcast platform and MAKE SURE YOU CLICK ‘FOLLOW’ because one follower will win a very cool prize on launch day. I’ll have more details soon but get following right now! In comments: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1750890

02 Jun 2021 5   min read

High Five with a Donkey!

High Five with a Donkey!

You can fly, drive or take the train to Disneyland Paris. We decided to take the train (as our 2yr old grandson loves buses & trains) so arrived directly in the park & took advantage of the baggage transfer so on arrival we could hit the ground running and enjoy the parks straight away. Our luggage was taken from the train to the hotel directly & we just collected on arrival when we checked in lat

02 Apr 2021 5   min read

Walking Amongst Giants

Walking Amongst Giants

Who knew we had the Garden of Eden right here in our own backyard just 90 minutes by train from London? In the very heart of Southern England, you’ll find an ancient forest, an oasis cradled in the middle of Hampshire which measures approx. 566 sq. metres. From Lush green meadows to deep open woods and heathland – the New Forest has been shaped by man & animal since the end of the ice age 11,00

31 Mar 2021 5   min read

Top 10 Reasons to Get Married Abroad

Top 10 Reasons to Get Married Abroad

Bridebook.co.uk 2019 wedding report revealed that the average spend on UK wedding is £14,674.00, so it's no wonder that savvy couples are looking to get married abroad in order to have that 'wedding of their dreams'. Consider the reasoning behind this idea:- 1. The Destination The pull of exotic backdrops is too enticing for Brits to resist, making this the number one reason for sunshine wedding

02 Jul 2019 5   min read

The spice of life...

The spice of life...

An intimate, unspoiled paradise just 21 miles long and 12 miles wide, Grenada is one of the most alluring destinations in the world. Known as the ‘Spice Island’, this Caribbean gem is truly exotic, with fragrant crops of nutmeg, cacao, cinnamon and ginger plantations, a lush landscape, soft volcanic sand beaches, well preserved reefs and vibrant island culture. For those seeking a destination tha

02 Jul 2019 5   min read

OMG what an amazing destination!

OMG what an amazing destination!

Cemented as the most popular Central American country for Brits, it’s easy to see the appeal of eco-haven Costa Rica. This tiny nation is devoted to ‘Pura Vida’ (best translated as ‘full of life’ – you can even get the T-shirt). English is widely spoken, US dollars are commonly accepted, and the country feels safe and welcoming – in 1948 Costa Rica disbanded its army and put the money into educati

25 Sept 2018 5   min read

And the kids came too.....

And the kids came too.....

Whilst in Jamaica visiting the Sandals resorts I also visited the Beaches Resorts in Negril & Ocho Rios. Beaches Resorts offer most of the same luxuries as Sandals Resorts but are family-friendly with many extras for the kids and family accommodation that sleeps up to 12. The have an exclusive partnership with Sesame Street so you can arrange character breakfasts and bedtime stories with one of

25 Sept 2018 5   min read

For Adults-Only

For Adults-Only

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the charming Caribbean island of Jamaica with Sandals & Beaches Resorts. I was able to explore the resorts, as well as several sumptuous rooms and suites, sample diverse cuisine in gourmet restaurants and even manage to have one (or two) of their exotic cocktails! You have a choice of two airports to fly into, Kingston or Montego Bay from the UK and with

25 Sept 2018 5   min read

ENDLESS MIAMI HEN WEEKEND

ENDLESS MIAMI HEN WEEKEND

When my niece Lisa announced, she was getting married in July and wanted her hen party to be in Miami in June and asked her best friend and I to organise it all for her – I nearly fainted with excitement! There were 4 of us in the party (she had an afternoon tea as well for everyone else at a swanky London hotel later in June); My niece Lisa, her best friend and I all travelled from UK and my

12 Apr 2017 5   min read

THE MANY FACES OF CAMBODIA

THE MANY FACES OF CAMBODIA

If you’ve been to Thailand and think you’ve ‘done’ Asia – think again, because until you’ve visited Cambodia you really haven’t experienced Asia at all! Over the decades, the Cambodians have experienced poverty and political instability through the genocide of Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge but modern Cambodia is a delightful country with plenty to offer tourists. This is due in no small part to th

10 Apr 2017 5   min read

Our ‘Familymoon’ Med Cruise

Our ‘Familymoon’ Med Cruise

We joined my niece, her new husband and their children on a ‘Familymoon’ aboard the brand new Carnival Vista. Which measures 1055 ft. in length and has the capacity to carry 3,956 passengers. After flying with Easyjet from Gatwick to Barcelona, we spent the night before the cruise at the 5* Eurostars Marina Hotel in Barcelona in order to meet up with the rest of the party. Carnival Vista

19 Feb 2017 5   min read

Whoa we're going to Barbados...

Whoa we're going to Barbados...

We wanted somewhere hot & tropical to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary & chose the lovely island of Barbados for an 8 night trip. We flew Business class return on a nonstop flight with British Airways which took approximately 9hrs flying time. Barbados is an eastern Caribbean island and an independent British Commonwealth nation. It’s a relatively small island at only 166 sq. miles.

30 Jan 2017 5   min read

Malta's little sister - Gozo

Malta's little sister - Gozo

The ferry between Malta & Gozo takes just 30 minutes and runs at regular intervals throughout the day. Costing just €5 per person it’s really easy to do a twin centre. The name Gozo means “Joy” and the charm is apparent from the moment you arrive. It’s greener, more rural and smaller than Malta and prettier too. Life on Gozo moves at a leisurely pace. The rhythms dictated by the seasons, fi

29 Jan 2017 5   min read

Malta - Surprise of the Mediterranean

Malta - Surprise of the Mediterranean

I travelled to Malta with 9 other TC colleagues after being invited to visit Malta & Gozo courtesy of Malta Tourism UK. We flew from Gatwick directly to Malta with Easyjet with a flying time of 3hrs 15mins. There are also regional departures of other UK airports such as Luton, Heathrow, Manchester, Bristol & Birmingham. Malta's climate is typical of the Mediterranean and is strongly influenced

29 Jan 2017 5   min read

Salzburg 70th Birthday Celebration by Private Jet

Salzburg 70th Birthday Celebration by Private Jet

I flew by private jet from Farnborough to Salzburg with 29 of the group which took 2hrs 30mins. The Executive terminal was opened in 2006 but still looks space age and brand new. There are 3 private lounges plus a VIP lounge upstairs where we were hosted. I organised head rests, napkins & baggage tags for the journey to highlight the theme of the trip. On board there was an open bar & a light cold

29 Jan 2017 5   min read

SAWADEE KA SAMUI

SAWADEE KA SAMUI

We flew directly from Bangkok to Koh Samui with Bangkok airlines in just over an hour. Koh Samui is Thailand’s second most popular island destination and located in the Gulf of Thailand roughly 700 km. south of Bangkok. Samui is the third largest island in Thailand and the largest in an archipelago of more than 80 islands that includes the Ang Thong National Marine Park, which is a day trip f

23 Jan 2014 5   min read

Bustling Bangkok

Bustling Bangkok

We flew from Heathrow to Bangkok via Kuala Lumpur on Christmas day aboard the new A380 with Malaysian Airlines but there are non-stop services also available. There’s 2 airports in Bangkok; Suvarnabhumi for international flights and Don Muang for domestic flights, 40-50mins away by taxi. The weather in Thailand is generally marked by three seasons, rainy season (Jul-Oct), hot season (Mar-Jun),

22 Jan 2014 5   min read

Fabulous Fiji

Fabulous Fiji

We flew from Heathrow via Los Angeles with Air New Zealand and Air Pacific who in June will be re-branding to ‘Fiji Airways’. You can also get there via Hong Kong/South Korea and it’s only 3-4 hours from New Zealand and Australia, so a perfect stop over point. Fiji enjoys a mild tropical climate averaging 31c (88F) during the summer months of November to April and 29c (84f) during the winter mo

03 Jun 2013 5   min read

Memories made in Mauritius

Memories made in Mauritius

Journey: Non-stop British Airways from Gatwick with a 12 hour flying time. Other airlines also offer the route on a non-stop & indirect basis. Weather: Mauritius has 2 seasons; Summer from Oct-April (their cyclone season is in during the month of February) with & Winter May-Sep. Mauritius enjoys an average year round temperature of 32 degrees. My accommodation: 5* Long Beach Hotel on

08 Jul 2012 5   min read

Mysterious Marrakech

Mysterious Marrakech

Destination: Marrakech, Morocco – May 2011 Journey: Flying time approx. 3hrs 25 minutes flight, based on a non-stop service from UK. Transfer time from airport to city centre approximately 20mins Weather: Temperatures can reach high 30s in the summer months & much cooler in the winter months of Dec-Feb with approx temps of around 19c. May and September are the best times to visit. Althoug

08 Jul 2012 5   min read

Weekend in Dubrovnik

Weekend in Dubrovnik

Journey: Dubrovnik is an up and coming destination becoming rapidly popular for weekend breaks as it’s reachable in only 2hrs 40 minutes, based on a non-stop service. A number of cruise companies also include a scheduled stop in their itineraries. Weather: Temperatures can reach mid 30s in the summer months & slightly cooler April to June and September to November, which I think are best for s

23 Mar 2011 5   min read

New York - New York

New York - New York

This was a 21st birthday celebration for my stepson Chris and his girlfriend Rachel, along with my husband for 4 nights, staying at the 4* Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Manhattan. An all-suite hotel with separate bedroom and living room area and offers complimentary daily breakfast and nightly Managers cocktail reception. We flew into JFK airport with a taxi transfer time of 50 minutes Ch

17 Aug 2009 5   min read

Bruges - The Medieval Capital of Europe

Bruges - The Medieval Capital of Europe

My birthday weekend treat started the minute I stepped aboard the Eurostar train at St Pancras station. I was very impressed with the ease and speed of check-in which can be done up to 30 minutes before departure. Before I knew it, I was sitting in my very comfortable seat being offered a choice of hot or cold breakfast with tea / coffee. There are 3 classes to choose from: Standard, Leisure Selec

14 Aug 2009 5   min read

Amazing Cuba

Amazing Cuba

This trip was a 60th birthday present for our friend Bob. We flew from Gatwick on the non stop service with Virgin Atlantic to Havana, with a flying time of 9hrs 40mins. This is one of my favourite destinations in the Caribbean as it’s still relatively unspoilt. Step back in time as you disembark the plane at Havana and walk through the arrivals Hall, the smell of aromatic cigar smoke assaults

14 Aug 2009 5   min read

Memphis, Las Vegas, Miami & Caribbean Cruise

Memphis, Las Vegas, Miami & Caribbean Cruise

This was a surprise 50th birthday holiday for my husband Mick. We flew with British Airways from the new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport to Memphis via Dallas and spent 2 nights at the historical 5* Peabody Hotel. After breakfast I took a taxi to Gracelands for the ‘Graceland Elvis Entourage VIP Tour’, an audio-guided tour of Graceland Mansion and grounds, Elvis' two custom airplanes, Automo

13 Aug 2009 5   min read

What my customers say

May is efficient, organised and 'on the case' which is just what you want when planning a holiday. She has arranged 3 trips to Australia for me and each one was impeccably organised.

Andrew Sindall

Kent

May is efficient, organised and 'on the case' which is just what you want when planning a holiday. She has arranged 3 trips to Australia for me and each one was impeccably organised.

Andrew Sindall

Kent

For me, May takes away all the time and trauma associated with having to find and book something yourself, particularly when her experience and extensive knowledge enables her to come up with a whole host of ideas and opportunities you had never thought about. The choices presented demonstrates her understanding of clients needs and clients appreciate her attention to detail. May understands and respects her clients budgets and provides plenty of excellent options. I recommend her services to all our friends.

Paul Streat

Kent

May has been extremely helpful, responds very quickly with any issue or queries you have with her. From the time I've booked my holidays I've had no issue what so ever.

Pravina Dodia

Essex

Always fast responding to emails and calls. Always finds us fab holidays.

Sidoney Graley

Bedfordshire

May was the most delightful, helpful, knowledgeable, Travel Counsellor ever. She couldn't have tried any harder to give the best advice and help in booking my first Far Eastern Experience. I will definitely be using May again for future adventures and have already passed on her details to friends and family. Thank You May.

Kim Bohmer

Southampton

May is extremely pleasant, helpful, efficient and very professional. She gave me a number of options with both flights and accommodation in New York. The whole saga of booking the right holiday was taken away from me. I will definitely be booking again with May.

Gareth Davies

London

Very helpful and knowledgeable and appreciate the time taken to make sure everything is booked to your needs.

Adam Victory

Laindon Hills

A+++ search and found perfect trip at perfect price. Attention to detail and listened to our every need.

Paul Hancox

Ramsbottom

We have been so impressed with the service provided by May. She has been ultra efficient whilst remaining friendly and approachable. I felt that that nothing was too much trouble for her. I will definitely recommend May and Travel Counsellors.

Suzanne Murphy

Wales

May is always really helpful and offers advice based on what she knows I like to do. Always happy to recommend her as I know she looks after everyone.

Jane Streat

Kent

I don't think she could do any more. Spot on. Second to none.

John & Sue Allen

Hornchurch

May was recommended to us by my stepson as I wanted to book a celebration for my wife’s 70th birthday to remember. We chose Las Vegas and May guided me through hotel selection and we opted for the 5 Star Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas. She also instructed me on the application for the required USA Homeland ESTA above and beyond the call of duty. She also made arrangements for assistance at both airports as I am disabled. May had spoken to her personal contact at the Wynn and we were upgraded to a suite on the top floor of the hotel reserved for high roller guests with a staggering view over Las Vegas. And, better still $200 to spend in the hotel plus a free 5 star breakfast of our choice the following morning. Thank you so much for providing Gillian with a birthday to remember for the rest of her life and for making me the number one husband and looking so good. Brownie points stacked the size of Everest. We are now planning our next holiday and without doubt will be making the arrangements through Travel Counsellors. Very many thanks for all the arrangements you made for me.

Ronald Patterson

Essex

May's knowledge and experience guided us through our grey areas, her response and attention to detail were superb.

Susan Hughes

Essex

May was absolutely fabulous in arranging our holiday to Gran Canaria. She fully understood our requirements and put us completely at ease. The result was a really nice hotel with sea view which we are really looking forward to enjoying in October. I would definitely use travel counsellors again. Thanks May!

Cynthia Duodo

Reigate

Really informative and suggested some fantastic ideas for holidays and excursions. May has made the whole experience feel very personal. Highly recommended!

Jon Hayton

Watford

May is a fantastic Travel Counsellor, who we have been using for years. She has excellent knowledge of the best places to visit, best time of the year and always has good tips of places of interest to visit whilst enjoying our holidays.

Tracey O'Brien

Essex

Would definitely recommend May Swan-Easton to others, She always been very helpful providing alternatives to fit with your plans

Tracy Peermamode

Emerson Park, Essex

May has been so helpful. Taken the stress out of booking a holiday. My brother hasn't taken a trip for many years and so he, in particular has been so impressed and relieved that May has taken all the worries out of booking our holiday. She has checked out additional sites and theatre events for our tour of Japan, sent information about currency and insurance and been at the end of a phone or email at all times when I have needed to ask questions. If our trip is as good as May's help it will be amazing. Would recommend her without any reservations.

Frances Jordan

Gidea Park, Essex

May is great, always very helpful and accommodating. I always prefer to ask her opinion on places as I'm pretty sure she's been everywhere which is soooooo helpful.

Michaela Walters

Goudhurst, Kent

The service I received could not be faulted. Although I see myself as a person that can do absolutely everything that life throws at me, I really benefitted from the expertise and ease in which I was afforded a range of holiday options. I was able to make a decision with sound advice and guidance. I am confident May will be my first choice for future holiday bookings and advice. Thank you.

Les Bowman

London

Take one shattered executive too tired to even book a holiday- Find a fairy godmother called May... Enjoy fab time on a beach all taken care of by May. It was a no brainer to me!

Rachel Lindner

London

I would like to confirm how wonderful my recent honeymoon arrangements were which were totally down to May at Travel Counsellors. We took advantage of the excellent honeymoon package offered by Travel Counsellors and it was just so easy. The travel arrangements were all completely perfect and everything went so smoothly. It was completely wonderful!

Kris Sharman

Doddinghurst

My husband and I both work long hours full-time, so we love having May Swan-Easton as our personal travel counsellor. She takes all the stress out organising our holidays. The peace of mind knowing that May is available should we need her whilst on holiday, is priceless. Our holidays flow like clockwork because of May. We wouldn't be without her now!

Kim Rix

London

"I set May the challenge of booking our group holiday for 10 adults and 2 children, we have various requests as catering for such a large and varied group! So with tennis courts, pool tables and of course swimming pool and sun loungers in mind May set to work. We soon booked our villa in Spain and waited for our holiday to arrive. A week before we realised we had 3 birthdays that week and we asked May to organise a special meal to be delivered to the Villa, low and behold an email in Spanish was sent From May to the owner and we have a special Paella on the way! The Villa was great and more than catered for our needs a great time was had by all. I wouldn't hesitate to ask May to take care of our holiday again, she got it just right. Thanks May"

Samantha Mawdsley

Danbury, Essex

I've known May for a couple of years and finally got around to using her services recently. Her research and proposals based upon our minimum brief was outstanding, the location and range of hotels were superb. She did everything for us, even writing our names on the individual luggage tags and delivering the tickets personally. I am sure she'd drive us to the airport and fly the plane too if she could! Her service is outstanding, and I would have no hesitation recommending her, the Weston familly will definitely be using her services again!"

Paul Weston

Chelmsford

Firstly we'd like to thank May for organising our honeymoon trip as it was fantastic. She was professional and very thorough to make sure the holiday we got was the one we wanted. Even when we altered/ changed things it didn't phase her or cause her any problems. If she said she was going to do something she did it, no empty promises, whilst being courteous and approachable to our every need. She took all the stress and strain out of a job that would have proved a challenge for us to do ourselves. So once again thank you May.

Chris Harman

Chislehurst

Right from the start when we met May at a wedding fayre we really liked the idea of the honeymoon registry. May and anyone we ever spoke to were really helpful and provided a personalised and special honeymoon service. We were really happy with our honeymoon and the whole experience, I would strongly recommend May and travel cousellors. The whole experience gave us nothing to worry about and was really special. Thank you May!

Jonathan & Emily Hunt

Romford

The best thing about the whole experience of booking with May is that we realised that we never again have to invest the time and wasted effort in researching for hotels and availability for the dates we need, or flight prices that vary from day to day. The experience didn't cost me any more than if I had booked it myself and saved me literally days of internet searches and frustration. May was reassuring and efficient throughout the whole process of booking our holiday to Jordan.

Daxesh & Trupti Patel

London

I have just returned from a wonderful holiday in Memphis and Las Vegas. I had been recommended to May by my brother who has used her for booking several holidays. From the very first phone call to May I knew I was dealing with somebody who was an expert in her field. She has a vast knowledge of travel destinations and was able to give me great advice as she had done this trip herself. I found May to be reliable and always courteous. In fact we have never met but I feel as though we have known each other for years. I will never book another holiday without consulting May first; she did all the hard work so all I had to do was pack and enjoy. Thank you May, you really were fantastic.

Jacquie James

Cardiff

This was the first time that we had used Travel Counsellors and we were not let down in any way. We would certainly recommend them and will be using their services again. May worked closely with us from the beginning, giving us helpful advice in all of the planning stages including timetable/locations/budget.The whole of our holiday experience has been truly memorable and without any hitches.

Carol & Dennis Wallis

Broxbourne - Herts

I am so glad that we used May to book our flights, accommodation and car hire (excellent prices all round) for our holiday this year in Florida. Being one of the families stuck due to the volcano disruption, May saved us so much stress and time. As soon as our flights cancelled she booked us straight back on. Her care and service are second to none! Would write more but not enough space to say anymore!

Angie Phillips

Woodford Green

Once again we used May and she came up trumps, we wanted to tour around California from San Francisco to San Diego, from the moment we picked up our hire car to the pre booked accommodation all went well and smoothly. For a tailor made holiday you can’t beat May, with her wealth of experience and suggestions you will have a worry free holiday……….Book Now.

Glen & Michele Badham

Basildon

Discover the world with me

What we're all about

What we're all about

Abridged version film featuring a 2m 37s poem specially commissioned, written and performed by incredible poet, Tony Walsh.

06 Apr 2021

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.

01708 875470

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.