Natalie Poat
My expertise
I'm based in
Minehead
Welcome! Thank you for visiting my website. I hope you find plenty of inspiration and useful information here.
You might be wondering: why book your holidays and business travel with me? With 40 years in the travel industry — and 23 of those as a dedicated Travel Counsellor — I bring a wealth of experience, a world of connections, and the support of destination specialists at my fingertips. In 2019 I was honoured to be named the number one Travel Counsellor globally for customer satisfaction, out of more than 2,000 colleagues worldwide.
Why choose me as your Travel Counsellor?
Instead of spending precious time scrolling the internet, let me curate your perfect trip, tailor-made for you. When you book with me, every aspect of your holiday is fully protected through the unique Travel Counsellors Trust and comprehensive airline failure insurance. Your money is 100% safe, and ATOL protection covers air holiday packages and charter flights. No ifs, no buts – every single element of your booking, from flights (including low-cost and scheduled) to accommodation, car hire, and beyond, is financially protected for your peace of mind.
What sets me apart is personal service. Unlike anonymous websites, I’m your dedicated point of contact — always at the end of the phone, both before you travel and while you’re away. I take huge pride in the level of care I provide, and the many referrals and glowing testimonials from clients reflect that commitment.
My global adventures
I’ve travelled extensively and use these experiences to craft memorable journeys for my clients. A few highlights include:
Australia & New Zealand — Four months touring as a family: swimming with dolphins, climbing glaciers, scaling the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, wine tasting, and learning to dive on the Great Barrier Reef.
The Americas: From exploring the USA and Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru (including Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca), to cruising the coastline of Belize and Honduras. In 2019 I boarded the legendary Rocky Mountaineer, and in 2013 I rode pillion along Route 66!
Skiing: On the slopes since 1977, including a honeymoon ski trip and a New Year's spent in a Swiss igloo.
Cruising: From a cargo ship adventure in French Polynesia, to the opulent Royal Clipper (the world’s largest fully-rigged sailing ship), Norwegian coastal voyages, river cruises with Scenic and Riviera, and visits aboard some of the world’s most luxurious ships.
The Far East: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and China — including the Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors.
The Caribbean: Favourite islands include Bonaire, Turks and Caicos, St Lucia, Antigua, St Kitts & Nevis, Jamaica, Canouan, Bequia and Barbados.
Middle East: Oman, Dubai, Qatar, Ras Al Khaimah, and Abu Dhabi.
The UK: From Land’s End to John O’Groats, the Channel Islands to the Isles of Scilly — exploring by hotel, cottage, or narrowboat.
Europe: A month-long tour of Italy (beautiful lakes, Verona, Venice, Puglia, Le Marche, Cilento, Amalfi Coast, Rome, Pompeii, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, and Portofino) plus many Greek islands, including a summer working as a resort rep in Rhodes. And my list is still growing...
Let’s make your dream trip a reality
Whatever you’re dreaming of — whether it’s adventure, relaxation, discovery, or precious family time — I’m here to create a seamless, personalised experience just for you.
Give me a call or email today, and let’s start planning your next unforgettable journey together.
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
Croatia & The Balkans
If you are dreaming of somewhere with turquoise seas, historic old towns and spectacular national parks, Croatia and its Balkan neighbours are a superb choice. I have just completed a multi‑centre trip through Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro, and wanted to share some highlights, insights and practical tips.
13 Jul 2026 9 min read
Messing about on the River...
I guess I should have entitled this blog messing about on the canal, but it does not have the same ring to it. I have been on two narrowboat holidays in my life, and I can't work out why I have not taken more of this type of holiday as on both occasions I have had a fabulous time. Some of my memories of the first time are a little hazy as it was over 25 years ago but I will always remember my mo
04 May 2021 3 min read
A December break - Mousehole or Mogan (Gran Canaria)
Most people seem to think that December is all about getting ready for Christmas and it is often overlooked as a month to travel but it can result in a great value trip when resorts are often a little quieter than they are in the summer months. A short break before the festivities start can be just the tonic. I originally wrote this blog for my Facebook page contrasting the two breaks that I took
06 Jan 2021 3 min read
The Rocky Mountaineer - Vancouver to Banff
My journey started with an Air Canada flight from Heathrow to Vancouver where we were hosted jointly by the Vancouver Tourist Board and Rocky Mountaineer for a fun 48 hours in this wonderful city. I had last visited in 1992 but apart from some newer buildings and a few extra activities, very little had changed and it was great to go back to Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge park which now
09 May 2019 5 min read
Club Med Val Thorens Sensations
When I won a place on this Club Med educational ski trip to Val Thorens I was delighted as it meant I got to ski for a weekend and to find out more about the great product that Club Med offer. We flew to Geneva and it was 2hr 30-minute transfer to the resort. The welcome was warm and well organised with our room keys and lift passes waiting for us. We were escorted to our rooms which were warm
17 Dec 2018 3 min read
Picos de Europa - a motorbikers dream trip!
My husband Tim is a keen motorcyclist and has visited the Picos de Europa in northern Spain with his biking buddies on numerous occasions and I decided it was time I found out what all the fuss was about. We took the 25-hour Brittany Ferries crossing from Portsmouth to Santander on the Pont Aven. It is a long sailing but there are plenty of facilities on board including a pool, cinema, lounge,
25 Jul 2018 3 min read
St. Kitts & Nevis - living the Caribbean dream!
My holidays for the last few years have taken on a bit of a Caribbean theme and 2018 was no exception with a last minute trip to Saint Kitts & Nevis. These lovely islands just 10 minutes apart by water taxi could not be more different. St. Kitts with its deep water harbour and Georgian fort and scenic railway long popular with cruise ships seems a world away from sleepy Nevis with its converted
26 May 2018 4 min read
4 nights, 2 islands!
The Maldives have been on my list of must-see destinations for a long time so when I got the chance of a short visit I jumped at the chance. First stop was Atmosphere by Kanifushi an island in the Lhaviyani Atoll just a 30 minute seaplane transfer from Male Airport and what a great way to arrive. The scenic flight afforded great views of the resort as we came into land. The welcome was like not
26 May 2018 3 min read
Ras Al Khaimah - the new kid on the block!
When I suggest the resort of Ras Al Khaimah to clients I am often met with the word "where"? Well I can tell you that it is one of the seven Emirates and depending on traffic some 45 minutes from Dubai but in many respects a world away. Ras Al Khaimah is much more laid back than its high rise neighbours focusing more on the beaches and adventure based activities which it is promoting. It still
26 May 2018 3 min read
Dazzling Dubai
I have been lucky enough to visit Dubai on many occasions. My first visit was in 2004 when I went on an educational visit that also included Abu Dhabi and Qatar and at the time it was like nowhere else I had ever been before and much has changed between then and my latest visit in 2018. We saw a lot of hotels some of which no longer exist but we still managed to get a real feel for the place. We e
26 May 2018 4 min read
Peru Adventure with Exodus
We flew non-stop to Lima with British Airways landing in the early evening. Our first hotel the Antigua Miraflores is a traditional hotel hidden among the high rise buildings, a real gem of a hotel. Day 2 We drove an hour south to Pachacamac for a visit to the museum, pyramids and temples of Inca and pre-Inca civilisations before heading down the coast to Paracas. The San Agustín Paracas ho
19 Oct 2017 6 min read
Jamaica
When it was announced last November that one of the choices of destination for our Gold Conference was Jamaica, I jumped at the chance to go. This Caribbean island has long been a favourite with tourists across all sections; from the budget traveller to the great and the good of the music industry and even royalty. We flew in to Montego Bay, just a short transfer from our accommodation at Ha
22 Jun 2017 4 min read
Antigua
If you are not familiar with it Antigua (and its sister island Barbuda) are islands in the Caribbean just an 8 hour flight from the UK making it popular with winter sun seekers. With 365 beaches to choose from and steady winds it is a favourite of beach lovers and sailors alike. Families and couples looking for relaxation and a little luxury are well catered for with many beautiful hotels and v
03 May 2017 3 min read
Harmony of The Seas!
I am extremely lucky to do the job that I do and the trade launch of the new Royal Caribbean Cruise ship Harmony of the Seas is an great example of this. The best way to give you a flavour of the fantastic things you can do on board the biggest cruise ship in the world is to tell you how I spent my day.... 8am - 10am start the day with a session in the gym or in my case the spa with a Seawee
28 May 2016 2 min read
Carnival Dream and Louisiana
Having never been on a large cruise ship for more than a night I jumped at joining this great educational on the Carnival Dream. The fact that we had two nights in Louisiana before the cruise was a fantastic start. After flights with Delta through Atlanta (there is no direct flight to New Orleans yet) our first night was in Lafayette at the Homewood Suites which had very large suite style rooms
18 Apr 2016 5 min read
Sublime Seychelles
I have been lucky to visit the beautiful islands of the Seychelles twice and on both occasions the trips have exceeded expectations. The visit was arranged by the Seychelles Tourist Board in conjunction with our local agents and was a great mix of hotel inspections and time getting to know the islands. My first trip was in 1992 and my husband and I did a couple of the excursions that were in
19 Oct 2015 3 min read
Cancun, Mexico
When my husband Tim heard that the 2015 Gold Conference was to be held in Mexico he decided he would like to join me but refused to go just for the official 4 days so we added on a few extra days in which to explore the are under our own steam. We stayed at the 5 star Secrets the Vine which offers the AM Resorts all inclusive "unlimited luxury" concept. It is a beach front hotel with 4 pools, 6
31 May 2015 4 min read
Courchevel, Les Trois Vallees!
I have been lucky enough to have been to Courchevel a number of times as my husband's cousin has an apartment on the outskirts of Courchevel 1650 where we can virtually ski in/ ski out which is great but at Christmas we decided to opt for a chalet hotel where we would be in the company of others. The chalet hotel is a great concept with all the advantages of a chalet - a hearty breakfast, aftern
31 May 2015 3 min read
Surprising Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka had been high on my wish list after I had an educational visit cancelled in 2005 so I was really looking forward to my visit. It was great to arrive and depart in style with Business Class flights courtesy of British Airways. The flights to Colombo make a quick touchdown on Male in the Maldives in both directions which makes for interesting viewing during landing and take-off. On a
18 Oct 2014 6 min read
Universal Orlando
Ok, so I have to put my hands up and say that this was a trip that I was dreading as I am not someone who is great when it comes to crowds and have never been a great fan of rides and theme parks. But I have to be honest and say that I actually enjoyed myself. I guess part of this came from staying in the delightful Loews Portofino Bay Hotel which is one of the onsite hotels at Universal. The prop
07 Jun 2014 4 min read
Sensational St Lucia
When we visited St Lucia in early March 2014 the island had been on my "to do" list for a while as it seemed to have so much to offer. We were not disappointed. We flew from Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic and took a short helicopter transfer to Castries which afforded a great view of the island. Our hotel, the 5* Capella Marigot Bay (formerly Discovery), was a short drive from the airport on the
12 Apr 2014 3 min read
Riviera Travel - River Cruise - The Danube from Budapest to Vienna
Having been on a number of different styles of cruises I jumped at the chance to take a river cruise. Riviera are market leaders in the river cruise market with a range of 4 and 5* ships sailing on the Rhine, Moselle, Main, Elbe, Rhone and Seine as well as the Danube. I sailed on the 5* Lord Byron and she was delightful - if a ship can be described this way! At 110 metres long she carries a max
23 Nov 2013 4 min read
Talking Turkey
I have been very lucky and visited Turkey twice in the last two years. In June 2012 I did a week long gulet cruise with a group of friends and family. The cruise took us from the pretty marina of Gocek as far as Olu Deniz and Fethiye calling at deserted islands and beaches along the way often in the company of dolphins. The cabins were very comfortable and the crew very friendly and efficient -
23 Oct 2013 2 min read
Mystical Morocco
In need of a break after a busy couple of months, Tim and I decided to jet off to Morocco for a few nights of winter sun and we were not disappointed. Instead of the regular city break to Marrakech or a beach stay in Marrakech we opted to split our four night stay equally between Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains as neither of us are really what I would call "city people" and this was a great c
15 Jul 2013 4 min read
San Diego to Chicago including Route 66
We started with a couple of days in San Diego sampling the delights of this great city with an Old Town Trolley Bus Tour, Seal and Dolphin Tour and a lovely walk along Mission Beach to stretch our legs. We then took the Pacific Surfliner (Amtrak) to Port Huneme just north of Los Angeles to collect our bike. On day 1 we were joined by Tim's cousin Stuart and his wife Julia and headed down th
15 Jul 2013 3 min read
Abu Dhabi
I have been lucky enough to visit Abu Dhabi twice in the last nine years - firstly back in 2004 on an educational trip where I really only saw the hotels we were checking out and more recently on the Gold Travel Counsellors Conference where I got to experience a lot more. Abu Dhabi is a great destination in its own right or as a stopover when flying with the award winning national airline Etiha
28 May 2013 3 min read
Tromso to Trondheim - in search of the Northern Lights!
Our first stop on arrival in Tromso was the Rica Grand Hotel overlooking the waterfront so we could drop our bags off before a quick ship visit to the Midnatsol, the sister ship to the Trollfjord which we were to join later. The ships are identical apart from the colour scheme with Midnatsol using yellows and reds and the Trollfjord more muted in greens and blues. The ships have a selection of cab
27 May 2013 4 min read
Paphos and the Troodos Mountains
In April 2013 I was able to visit the wonderful island of Cyprus for the second time (my first was with my family in 1990). The trip was hosted by Aegean Airlines, The Cyprus Tourism Organisation and Constantinou Bros Hotels and I would like to say a big thank you to all concerned for their wonderful generosity and hospitality to myself and 18 colleagues. We flew from Gatwick and the Aegean fli
27 Apr 2013 4 min read
South African Sojourn
Our trip began at the One & Only Hotel in Cape Town where our room overlooked both the Marina and Table Mountain. The hotel is a short walk to the V&A Waterfront, a great place for shopping, eating or watching the world go by. The city sightseeing bus set off from just outside our hotel and took in all the major sights, while offering interesting commentary. We took in Table Mountain, taking a rid
05 Jun 2012 3 min read
Fiscardo, Kefalonia
I don't know anyone who has ever had a bad word to say about Kefalonia so when we were deciding on a destination for a last minute holiday before Alistair disappeared off to university it seemed like the ideal choice. We certainly were not disappointed. Fiscardo, our chosen resort, was picture perfect being one of the few areas largely unaffected by the earthquake that hit the island in the 19
19 Sept 2011 3 min read
Naturally New Zealand
I was lucky enough to spend two whole months touring New Zealand with my family (husband Tim and son Alistair) during November and December 2006. We covered most of the major sights on both the North and South Islands during this time and have some amazing memories. We started our adventure in Auckland staying in the very centre of the city and spent a few days exploring the city including the
13 Jun 2011 4 min read
Awesome Australia
I have been lucky enough to visit Australia twice in my life so far. The trips were very different as the first one back in 1987 was on my own and I spent time with friends and family mixed in with some time on my own exploring. I started my trip with a stay in Perth with old friends of the family and they showed me around Perth and accompanied me on days out to Rottnest Island, Freemantle, Ma
13 Jun 2011 4 min read
Tantalizing Tasmania
I was lucky enough to spend just over a week in Tasmania with my family (husband Tim and son Alistair) as part of our round the world trip in January 2007 and to be honest the eight days we had there was just not long enough to do the island justice. We landed in Hobart where we picked up our hire car and headed straight out towards Port Arthur which is famous for its convict settlement. This i
13 Jun 2011 4 min read
Lech
Despite having been a skier for over 20 years my husband had never been to Austria so I decided that it was time to rectify this and Lech was chosen. Lech has been described to me a as the resort the Courchevel aspires to be but never will be, and as Tim has been to the Three Valleys on numerous occasions it seemed a sensible choice. The only draw back was that as we wanted to stay in a Chalet H
03 Jan 2011 4 min read
Bountiful Bonaire
I think it would be safe to say the biggest reaction I had from people when I told them I was going to Bonaire on holiday was "Where?" Well it is in the Dutch Caribbean (formerly the Netherlands Antilles) around 70 miles off the coast of Venezuela. With its sister islands Aruba and Curacao it makes up the ABC Islands and from January 2011 will be solely using the US Dollar. We flew from Bristol vi
04 Dec 2010 4 min read
Las Vegas & beyond!
In June 2010 I was privileged to attend the Gold Travel Counsellors Conference in Las Vegas staying at the Encore at the Wynn. I must confess that not being much of a gambler or a city person I was not as excited as you might expect but I was very pleasantly surprised. Las Vegas was not as tacky as I had expected and in fact the hotels and shopping were something that needs to be seen to be believ
21 Jul 2010 4 min read
Muscat, Oman
I have been lucky enough to visit Oman twice this year, once on the Gold Travel Counsellors Conference in June and again with my family over the October half term holiday, and had a marvellous time on both occasions. In June we stayed at the Al Bastan Palace Intercontinental just out side Muscat at Al Bustan. It is a very impressive hotel located on a lovely beach and I would have considered re
24 Nov 2009 3 min read
Chinese Cracker!
Having visited many areas of the Far East, China has always been high on my list of countries to visit and I was delighted when I was awarded a place on an educational trip to the country. We had four days in Beijing which allowed us to visit many of the sights including the Temple of Heaven - I loved the grounds the best, as groups of local people gather to sing songs together and play unusua
14 Jul 2009 4 min read
Reviews
What my customers say
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Discover the world with me
40 years in travel!
Today I celebrate 40 years in the travel industry!
27 May 2026
My room at the Grecotel Corfu Imperial
My fabulous room at the Grecotel Corfu Imperial. This is a Panoramic Guest Room. A truly lovely hotel.
22 Apr 2026
38 years in travel!
From new entrant working for a high street travel agency, via resort representative to business owner the last 38 years have been a blast!
30 May 2024
Ice Cream fun in Istanbul!
Buying an ice cream in Istanbul is a real experience!
16 May 2024
It's a numbers thing...
Celebrating 20 years as a Travel Counsellor
26 Jul 2023
Inspiration for your next holiday
If you are still planning your next holiday whether it be for 2021 or 2022 this video is a great source of inspiration
05 Aug 2021
TC New Hotels
The world may have been on hold but we have been busy adding some stunning new hotels to our portfolio.
17 Jul 2021
Postcards
Relive some travel memories with this great video - my husband said it made the hairs on the back of his arms stand up! Enjoy!
30 Apr 2021
5 Reasons to book your travel with me!
Trusted Travel - our reviews on TrustPilot speak for themselves but this short video highlights 5 good reasons to book your travel with me...
30 Apr 2021
We create!
This is what holidaying is all about....
30 Apr 2021
Sandy Lane Hotel, Barbados
Luxury hotel Sandy Lane celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. For more details of their never before seen offers give me a call on 01643 888220
30 Apr 2021
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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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