Melissa Coleman
My expertise
I'm based in
Keswick
Looking for help with your business travel? Find out how I can help here
It's Nice To Meet You
Just imagine the horror on my Mum’s face when, at the innocent age of 7, I announced to all and sundry that “I want to be a new age traveller”. Shortly followed by the proclamation that actually, “I don’t care as long as I can just travel anywhere I like!”
Who would have known that over 30 years later I would have travelled around the world twice, visited over 80 countries, spent three summer’s teaching sailing and water sports abroad and forged a career in marketing and accountancy. After volunteering in a South African township for six months, I made the biggest decision of my life so far - to transform my life of travel into a productive future of inspiring, planning and creating holidays and breaks away for other people.
Having lived in the Stratford upon Avon area and Evesham for most of my life, I have incredible support from friends, family and clients throughout Warwickshire and the neighbouring counties as well as worldwide. Since July 2020, I now have idyllic Keswick to call home and have created a beautiful network of friends up here who share similar passions and interests and definitely keep me fit and active!
I love being ‘the one to call’ for advice, top tips and inspiration for all travel requirements – no matter what type of trip it is! I am a member of local sports clubs and have built foundations as a trusted advisor and partner for my peers not only for their personal holidays but their business travel as well.
Whether you are considering a leisure break; a long weekend in London, honeymoon to Mauritius, family safari to Africa – or just know that you want to plan a getaway; I will support you all the way to make sure every last detail of your holiday is perfect. In fact, I will likely end up knowing more about your preferences than you do yourself!
If you're looking for advice and an agency partner for your business travel, my services are second to none, and your hassles and stresses from this will vanish immediately. I will source hotels, flights and conference centres as required at highly competitive prices, all management information can be discussed and sent as regularly as required.
My passion is travel and I would love to share my knowledge and expertise with you – so please follow me on my social media channels and give me a call / send an email so we can begin planning your next journey.
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
Epic Freedom: A Three‑Week Retirement Road Trip Through New Zealand
Three weeks, two newly retired adventurers and one extraordinary country at the edge of the world: this New Zealand road trip was an absolute joy to design. With a continuous hire car from Auckland to Greymouth (even hitching a ride with us on the ferry between islands), the route stitches together cool little cities, steaming geothermal valleys, Art Deco seaside towns, wine country, wildlife-pack
12 Aug 2026 3 min read
Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula: (Day) Trips & (Fun) Dips
Sunrise swims in jade-green cenotes, ancient Maya cities rising from the jungle, long lazy cycles along wild Caribbean coastline: Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is every bit as magical as you imagine, and then some. After years of dreaming about Mexico while planning trips for my own customers, I finally decided it was time to turn the tables and create an adventure for myself: ten nights based in Pla
12 Aug 2026 5 min read
Whales, Wilderness & Wine: Two Weeks on the Ultimate California Road Trip
Fourteen nights, one open road and a state that feels like five holidays in one. From sunshiney San Diego and the glitter of Los Angeles, to whale‑spotting in Monterey, towering sequoia forests, Yosemite’s granite peaks, Gold Rush charm in Sacramento and sourdough by San Francisco Bay, this California road trip stitched together some of my favourite coastal and mountain moments into one unforgetta
29 May 2026 4 min read
A week in the Maldives: four islands and endless blues
I have just returned from a week in the Maldives and, despite never having visited before, it more than lived up to everything I had imagined. As someone who is very well travelled and has explored many beautiful islands around the world, I was still genuinely struck by how special this part of the world feels. Over seven days I stayed at four different resorts: Adaaran Select Meedhupparu, Heritan
20 May 2026 4 min read
Easter Island – is it worth the detour?
We’ve all seen the pictures of Easter Island – the moai staring out to sea from a tiny speck of land in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It’s a site that recently made the short list for the New 7 Wonders of the World, narrowly missing out on the final 7 by finishing, if reports are to be believed, 8th. This puts them high up the list on many people’s bucket lists. However, they are very isolated
08 Jan 2024 3 min read
What a grand tour of Italy!
When my friend suggested we took an organised group tour to head around Italy, I wondered what had become of my independent travel days – surely they’re just for old people?! After putting together some suggestions as to how I would ‘normally’ visit a European destination, I quickly realised that I was being swayed towards some of the trips (which I had also seen my Travel Counsellor, Melissa, po
28 Jun 2023 5 min read
How about Christmas in Antarctica?
AN UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURE Just You Tour Manager Caroline Godfrey spent Christmas on an Antarctica cruise – here’s what she had to say about it. "Our group of 18 people flew out to Santiago. On arrival in Santiago we had a tour of the city and a Welcome Dinner in the evening when we started to get to know each other. The following day we took a flight to Punta Arenas where we toured the city and
30 Apr 2020 4 min read
Our 26 night cruise to the Black Sea
It wasn't our first time experiencing a cruise and would no doubt not be the last, however it was the first time we had departed from Southampton to sail so close to the Needles at the western tip of the Isle of Wight. We were on our for a few days at sea to reach the Spanish port of Almeria and boy was it nice to set foot on land again! A week had already passed since being in UK waters and what
30 Apr 2020 6 min read
Classic Cuba with sumptuous sands to relax at the end
Having recently returned from Cuba, we can say there is a lot more that the country can offer other than the glorious sandy beaches and antique cars. The streets of the cities are vibrant and colourful with unique architecture. Venturing out of the cities, we experienced some amazing scenery – in Trinidad we walked in a tropical rainforest with waterfalls and lakes to swim in; we did a horse-ridin
27 Apr 2020 4 min read
Australia - Where the Wild Things Are
Egg-laying mammals, marsupials with a kick and birds in abundance: here’s why in Australasia, the wildlife truly is in a league of its own. A natural selection Australia’s rich array of (often weird and wonderful) wildlife makes it one of the most fascinating places you can ever hope to visit if you have a soft spot for nature. Is it any wonder that exploring these unique landscapes was a cataly
14 Apr 2020 5 min read
Around the world via your tastebuds
Now that staying home is the new going out, we’re looking for more ways to broaden our horizons, create memories and spend quality time together. We’re finding it’s a great opportunity to relive our past adventures (and whet our appetite for new ones) by cooking our favourite foods from around the world. Here’s a selection of our recommended foodie destinations, and cookbooks to match, until we ca
14 Apr 2020 6 min read
A long weekend in Russia
A long weekend in Russia? Really, I hear you say. Yes, really! If you want beautiful cities, exquisite palaces and stunning art, then Russia really is the place to go. Yes, the visa is long winded and tedious, but once there, you’ll be glad you went through the hassle. Given said hassle, you need to think about how long you want to go for. I opted for a 5 day trip, mainly in St Petersburg but also
08 Apr 2020 6 min read
An Irish road trip
A couple of years ago, I took a road trip around the Emerald Isle. Along with my friend Jeanie, we hired a car from Dublin airport and spent a week touring the country. Luckily for us, we had amazing weather, mostly sunny with only a small amount of rain. We arrived late one evening and picked up our car, Mickey the Micra, and headed to our hostel in Dublin. The next morning, we jumped on a hop on
08 Apr 2020 6 min read
5 reasons to visit Portugal
5 Reasons I Love Portugal! I just can't get enough of Portugal after having visited a handful of times in the last couple of years - and here are my highlights which are sure to tempt you to visit! 1. It’s at the helm of seafaring history During the Age of Discovery, from the 15th to the 17th centuries, Portuguese sailors were the first to discover and map the coasts of Africa, Canada, Asia and
06 Apr 2020 3 min read
Experiencing Naadam Festival in Khatgal
Thank you to my wonderful friend and customer Lesley, who has written an amusing a true account of such wonderful times in Mongolia, where he explored the central, southern and northern regions and were lucky enough to visit the local Naadam Festival in the village of Khatgal. And so we arrive at Lake Khosvgol, this incredible huge fresh water lake. Apparently it contains up to 2% of the worlds
03 Apr 2020 5 min read
Explorations along the Silk Road
Hannah is a very good friend of mine and we have shared many an exhilarating adventure! This write up is of her exciting explorations with James along the Silk Road through Uzbekistan and then later on to Tajikistan. The Silk Road was a network of trade routes connecting the East and the West for 3000 years until the 18th century. It allowed goods to be bought and sold, especially the lucrative s
30 Oct 2019 6 min read
Albergue life along the Camino Frances - part two
It’s pitch black outside, making the effort to actually extricate one’s body from the sleeping bag one of the biggest challenges of the day. Very much still half asleep, it genuinely feels an impossible thought to place one foot in front of the other, continuously, until the next valid resting destination. With just 6km until the next village and a potential ‘cafe con leche‘ (coffee with milk) sto
21 Oct 2019 4 min read
Albergue life along the Camino Frances - part one
Finally by 4pm and after 32km of undulating track, sun bleached fields and a multitude of weather conditions, we reach the much longed for village where we hope to find beds available for the night. Oh what a welcome you can (generally) expect - a glass of water, a lucky dip in the sweeties, Camino credentials stamped, a nice warm smile and (dorm) room key produced. Exhausted, weary, aching and pa
21 Oct 2019 3 min read
Lanzarote. A Volcanic Gem with Something for Everyone
Our Heartfelt Thanks to Melissa What a fantastic holiday! And we would never have found it without Melissa. All we knew was we wanted to go to the Canary Islands in August. We didn’t even know which of the islands to go to. Initially, we just asked Melissa to help us find a villa suitable for two adults in need of a break, plus three water-mad teenagers and their three friends. Not only did she
15 Nov 2018 6 min read
Creature comforts – exploring the UK
YYou don’t always have to take a flight to get the break you need. Did you know there were so many spots in the UK to have an incredible family experience? Not just the beautiful beaches of our stunning coastlines, how about a short trip to visit some fascinating animals incorporating a few days away too? Whether they chirp, road or splash, discover whereabouts in the UK your favourite creature
06 Sept 2018 4 min read
My ultimate bucket list
When Sarah got back from her latest round the world adventure that I'd had the pleasure of putting together, I asked her if there were still many places left on her 'bucket list' or if she'd pretty much exhausted them. Despite responding that perhaps I was just as bad, she put together a little list of things that she still hadn't managed to complete but were on the horizon for the next few years,
04 Sept 2018 2 min read
Ship wrecks to dive for across the planet
Shipwrecks are important discoveries. Over countless centuries, there have been many ships that have fallen prey to accidents – natural as well as caused by human interference. I have had the pleasure of putting together some incredible itineraries for an avid traveller, who has been wanting to incorporate these into her plans when she explores the world, to find some of the precious maritime trea
28 Jun 2018 3 min read
A honeymoon Orient Express route through Europe
When I was asked to put together my good friend’s honeymoon, I was ecstatic - what an honour - and all the way from Australia as well! When they asked for me to use the Orient Express route as inspiration, I loved it even more - what a great challenge - and I always like piecing a travel-jigsaw together! It didn't all go according to plan; one of the trains was delayed which created a knock-on
28 Jun 2018 3 min read
Puffin watch
Have you ever considered visiting Shetland Isles, Scotland? I have just had some avid explorers return from this tree-less region, having had an incredible holiday tracking the beautiful puffin and visiting historical sites throughout the islands. Britain's most northerly point provides a haven for thousands of seabirds, overlooking the North Sea. Although native to the Atlantic Ocean, these un
28 Jun 2018 2 min read
Italy - Amore Mio!
Did you know Italy is made up of 20 regions and 6 islands? It's also home to an impressive 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is the fourth most visited country on the planet and the average Italian drinks more than 26 gallons of wine each year. What more inspiration do you need to visit this incredible country? Paris is synonymous with love and romance, but of course, it's not everyone's cup of t
28 Jun 2018 1 min read
A multi-generational Californian Road Trip
California has more national parks than any other state in USA, is the only state that has hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics and did you know that in 2015, it surpassed France to become sixth-largest economy in the world? This fascinating state has so much to offer - from a romantic trip for two, an adventure based expedition or even a multi-generational summer holiday; it really has got
28 Sept 2017 6 min read
Animals, adventure and absolute bliss in Borneo
Borneo, the third largest island in the world after Greenland and New Guinea, is made up of three countries – Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. It had been a long time coming – dreams of orangutans and tropical rainforests had consumed my mind as a teenager so when my friend suggested we ‘just get on with it’, I literally leapt at the chance! How to decide where on earth to explore when you have
21 Sept 2017 4 min read
Back to basics - Canadian honeymoon
Four weeks is an incredible amount of time to have for a honeymoon! So, Laura and James decided to really make the most of it and combine driving, camping, sightseeing and exploring taking in the wonders of Vancouver, Whistler, Vancouver Island, Inside Passage, the fabulous train Journey from Prince Rupert to Jasper and the ice-fields parkway from Jasper to Banff. Here's a bit from them: - Woul
26 Jul 2017 3 min read
Exploring Barcelona in March
Despite the two-hour flight delay due to air strikes, we managed to arrive at Barcelona El-Prat airport in perfect time to take our transfer to the wonderfully located Hotel Balmes and wander off down Las Ramblas for a spot of vino y tapas in one of Plaça Reial’s delightful restaurants which settled us in a treat. We continued planning our few days away. Early March and the weather isn’t suppo
26 Jul 2017 5 min read
Top 5 ski resorts for guaranteed snow!
It’s not too late to get booking your ski break for 2017 – the season is in full swing. Here’s my top five locations and resorts which won’t disappoint. 1. Val d’Isère-Tignes, France With slopes up to 3,456m and the largest artificial snow-making plant in Europe these two contrasting yet linked resorts boast a giant ski area with 300km of pistes. Val d’Isère is dominated by chalets and 4-5*
26 Jul 2017 3 min read
A three night city break in Tallinn, Estonia
It was early April when we arrived in Tallinn, Estonia's picture perfect capital city. We'd disembarked from our flight with Ryanair at Tallinn's lovely little airport. Situated only 4km from the centre, it was remarkable to think that this cute airport was the largest in Europe when it was built in 1936. Our good impression of Estonia only got better as we arrived at the splendid Palace Hotel,
26 Jul 2017 3 min read
5 Best Easy Hikes with Great Rewards
There are few things better than a long, tough hike - except maybe a short, easy hike that puts you in the thick of the wild in a hurry. Short hikes are ideal for those people who say they don’t like to hike - your grandmother, your new significant other, maybe even you. And who knows, once those non-hikers get out on the trail, they may want more. With a love of easy hikes to gorgeous landscapes
26 Jul 2017 6 min read
A Baltic State ... in a Baltic Winter!
Before parenthood, Becky and Rob visited a lot of countries throughout the world and having their two beautiful sons hasn't deterred them in the slightest! Their eldest son Archie (3), has been on many an adventure, not least to explore some of Europe's finest cities. This latest journey was with Archie and his little brother Harris (18m) to experience - what better place for a February break than
26 Jul 2017 3 min read
Notes from the Isles of Scilly
A wonderful account by my latest travellers to spend 11 special days on the Isles of Scilly in June: We drove to Exeter and boarded the Skybus (with 12 other passengers and a black Labrador) to St. Mary's. We were collected and taken to the Star Castle Hotel where we sat on the sunny ramparts for a light lunch and bottle of delicious Champagne, courtesy of our very special travel consultant.
26 Jul 2017 3 min read
A honeymoon in Iceland
I was delighted to be asked to put together an exciting and exploratory honeymoon to beautiful Iceland for my good friends Jen and Ric. Five days of romantic times, driving in snow and seeing the Northern Lights – here’s what they thought: - Where did you go on your honeymoon and have you been there before? We’ve just been to incredible Iceland – never been before but it’s been on the ‘bucke
26 Jul 2017 2 min read
Top 5 travel wish list holidays for families in 2017
Sometimes it’s just not enough to stay at home for the holidays. Perhaps you’ve been saving or even just waiting for that list of inspirational ideas to appear in front of you before taking the plunge and taking your family abroad. Have a read of my top 5 favourite ideas for you and let’s whet your appetite: 1. The ultimate city break - Rome, Italy Where to go: Rome for its history, culi
26 Jul 2017 4 min read
My weekend in Kraków
With easy flights, a complex history and modern feel, Krakow is not just about stag weekends – it makes a simple yet sophisticated city break option. For far too long Krakow has had something of a reputation for attracting crowds of soon-to-be-married gentlemen on stag weekends, but it really does deserve better. Poland’s second city and former capital is upstanding and architecturally fine: th
26 Jul 2017 4 min read
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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.
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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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