Neil Copeland
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I'm based in
Hanley Swan
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Making Special Memories
Everyone has a story about a fondly remembered holiday – very often more than one. These might be from childhood, a first trip to an exotic destination, or perhaps a trip to celebrate a special occasion. Whichever it is, one thing is for certain, holidays hold a special place in our hearts and minds and give us memories that we treasure.
But putting together something as simple as a city break, let alone your dream trip, can be stressful. With the world to choose from – where is the perfect destination for us? What is the best way of booking it – direct or through an agent of some sort? Will my trip be financially protected? What if something goes wrong – how do I get help when I am away?
These are all legitimate questions, and I help my clients by providing the answers.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Neil.
For the past 10 years it’s been my pleasure to help make every client’s holiday not just special, but hopefully one that they will talk about years later. I take pride in the service I deliver to achieve this, and really do care about making every trip you take as perfect as it can be.
Why place your trust in me?
Four decades of working in the travel industry, including managing a large tour operator and travelling the world to inspect hotels for over 20 years, has helped give me a unique insight into what makes the difference between a good holiday, and a truly memorable one.
I build strong relationships with clients, and am fortunate that, through years of repeat bookings, many have become friends. As a Travel Counsellor, I set out to deliver on your detailed personal requirements, not just the generic travel arrangements. This means I take time to listen and understand what’s really important to you. I want to make sure your trip is everything you want it to be - it’s important to me both professionally and personally.
I make sure I am available to discuss your requirements at any time, including in the evening and over the weekend. You can contact me by phone, email, or via social media sites. I would also be delighted to meet you at my office or in the comfort of your home.
After your booking has been made, I will provide all the vital information you need for your trip to go smoothly. Once your holiday starts, I can monitor your itinerary, and remind you about important deadlines, ensuring everything is booked as it should be, leaving you to enjoy a stress free time away.
So where will you go next?
From a trip to the Cotswolds to a round-the-world tour, I can organise your memorable trip for you. It might take you across the world to the land of down under, or to the tropical delights of South-East Asia. You might have always wanted to see the Big Apple or the Grand Canyon. Maybe a cultural tour of Europe’s great capitals is your thing. Or is something more laid back your style – strolling along a white sand beach in the Caribbean perhaps?
Whatever type of holiday you want, however large or small, I can certainly guide you. I deliver expert advice and take care of all your travel arrangements and needs; from the moment you leave home to the moment you get back.
I hope to hear from you and start to help you create your next special memories.
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
India is so much more than the Taj Mahal
I had waited over 40 years to see the Taj Mahal. Forty years of selling this amazing country to customers. Forty years of postcards, documentaries and daydreams distilled into one long awaited morning in Agra. And then: fog.
27 Jan 2026 7 min read
Sri Lanka revisited - A report on my trip to Sri Lanka
28 March 2023 On arrival the Columbus Tours rep was very visible and easy to locate. We discovered that the bureau de change only accept cash so this should be stressed in the confirmation documents. Having our own driver guide meant that stopping at a cashpoint is easy so we could get cash whenever we needed. Negombo is 30-45 minutes from the airport and is therefore a good place to stay overn
26 Jun 2024 5 min read
Well I finally made it to Malta
Well I finally made it to Malta. Our holiday had been cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid travel restrictions. In 2022 I wanted a holiday but had to keep the cost down as the financial impact of the Covid years meant zero income for more than 2 years. The important thing was that travel was back and I was desperate to take the family away now places were opening up again. I had never been
26 Jun 2024 3 min read
P&O or Princess Cruises?
This was not my first cruise, but it was my first cruise with P&O. It was interesting to compare the cruise service to the ones I had done with Princess Cruises previously. Both P&O and Princess Cruises are owned by Carnival Cruises. You may not know it, but Carnival also own Cunard, Holland America, Costa Cruises and Seabourn as well! The P&O ships are very similar to the Princess ships, but t
07 Aug 2019 2 min read
The Norwegian Fjords
Last week I went on my first cruise with P&O. We boarded in Southampton for a one-week cruise to the Norwegian Fjords. I did question the wisdom of heading north when I love being somewhere hot, but I figured the scenery would make up for the lack of heat. As it was, the weather was ok. The nice thing about a cruise to the Fjords is that the ships can moor right in the centre of the town. This
07 Aug 2019 3 min read
Hong Kong Revisited
I last visited Hong Kong about 15 years ago. Last week, I went back thanks to the generosity of Cathay Pacific and Langham Hotels. I flew Cathay Pacific and was lucky enough to be upgraded to business class. The seat is a compartment style seat that goes completely flat when you want to sleep. The service and the food were amazing and I arrived in Hong Kong refreshed after a great night’s sleep.
29 May 2019 4 min read
The Ourika Valley - where the Moroccans go on holiday!
During a recent visit to Marrakech I went on a day excursion to the Atlas Mountains to see how the Berber people live. Part of the tour took me to the Ourika Valley. This is where the local people go for their own holidays. Why do the locals choose to go to the Ourika Valley? It is only an hour from Marrakech and the river has countless small restaurants and cafes with tables placed in the rive
14 Sept 2018 2 min read
The medina, the Souks and the madness that is Marrakech
We first visited the market place in Jemaa el Fna square in the Medina in the middle of the afternoon. It was busy with street traders and a few snake charmers, women wanting to apply henna patterns to visitors’ hands and men wanting to take us on horse-drawn carriage rides around the city. But that didn’t prepare us for the electric atmosphere of the square at night. As we approached the squar
14 Sept 2018 3 min read
Marrakech revisited
In 2016 I visited Marrakech with the Morocco Tourist Board and wrote a blog about where you can stay. I advised that the best way to experience Marrakech is to stay in a traditional Riad - a traditional house with guest rooms. They are tucked away in the historic alleyways of the medina and have character and style. I would recommend them as you get a sense of the real Morocco when you stay in the
14 Sept 2018 2 min read
Kuala Lumpur and Borneo
I was lucky enough to win a place on a trip to Kuala Lumpur and Borneo and recently travelled there with 8 other Travel Counsellors. Flights were with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. The advantage of using Turkish is that you can fly from a local airport to Istanbul before flying on to your destination. Some of our group flew from Manchester and the others flew from Gatwick. Birmingham and Hea
26 Oct 2017 5 min read
Princess Cruises - The destinations we visited....Civitavecchia (Rome)
I have recently returned from a 14-day cruise from Southampton around the Mediterranean. I sailed with my family with Princess Cruises on the Crown Princess. The itinerary involved sailing for 3 days to get to the Mediterranean, and also 3 days to sail back on the return journey. We then spent 8 days touring and visited Barcelona, Corsica, Rome, Pisa, Genoa, Marseilles and Gibraltar. I have alr
31 Aug 2017 3 min read
Princess Cruises - The destinations we visited...Barcelona
I have recently returned from a 14-day cruise from Southampton around the Mediterranean. I sailed with my family with Princess Cruises on the Crown Princess. The itinerary involved sailing for 3 days to get to the Mediterranean, and also 3 days to sail back on the return journey. We then spent 8 days touring and visited Barcelona, Corsica, Rome, Pisa, Genoa, Marseilles and Gibraltar. I have al
29 Aug 2017 3 min read
Princess Cruises - Life on Board....
I have recently returned from a 14-day cruise from Southampton around the Mediterranean. I sailed with my family with Princess Cruises on the Crown Princess. The itinerary involved sailing for 3 days to get to the Mediterranean, and also 3 days to sail back on the return journey. We then spent 8 days touring and visited Barcelona, Corsica, Rome, Pisa, Genoa, Marseilles and Gibraltar. I will pos
29 Aug 2017 5 min read
Princess Cruises - The destinations we visited...Corsica
I have recently returned from a 14-day cruise from Southampton around the Mediterranean. I sailed with my family with Princess Cruises on the Crown Princess. The itinerary involved sailing for 3 days to get to the Mediterranean, and also 3 days to sail back on the return journey. We then spent 8 days touring and visited Barcelona, Corsica, Rome, Pisa, Genoa, Marseilles and Gibraltar. I have alr
29 Aug 2017 2 min read
Isn't Reykjavik expensive?
I am sure many people have heard the Reykjavik is expensive. Well, having just visited I can tell you that it is. But I can also tell you that it is a really fascinating place to visit. I went to Reykjavik with my family to celebrate my son's 21st birthday. He wanted to go because I usually opt for hotter destinations and he was curious about what a colder destination would be like. This was an
18 Apr 2017 3 min read
A weekend in Budapest
I recently booked a group of 12 people from my local Rotary Club to visit Budapest. As a member of the club I travelled as part of the group. We flew with KLM from Birmingham to Budapest via Amsterdam instead of with Wizzair as the flight times were better with KLM and the price was about the same cost. The short stopover in Amsterdam allowed us to have an enjoyable lunch before we continued t
13 Apr 2017 3 min read
Where to stay in Marrakech
There are a large variety of places to stay in Marrakech including luxurious and historic hotels, sumptuous resorts, family resort style hotels and many charming Riad guest houses hidden in the alleyways of the medina. With over 300 properties in our database I have the right accommodation for you. During a recent visit to Marrakech I was able to see some of the hotels. I stayed in the 5* Eden
14 Dec 2016 4 min read
Marrakech offers more than you would think
Do you fancy going to a country where you can stay in a buzzing and exotic city, go to the beach, go on eco trips to the mountains, ride a camel in the desert, do soft adventure excursions or even where skiing is possible? Do you want to experience all of this without having to fly half way around the world? Do you fancy visiting another continent that is just over three hours away from the UK? Th
01 Dec 2016 3 min read
Miami Beach & the Florida Keys
The attraction of a two centre holiday to Miami Beach and the Florida Keys is the complete contrast between them. Miami Beach is a cosmopolitan lively city whilst the Florida Keys offers a laid back almost sleepy escape. And linking these two wonderful destinations is one of the iconic road trip drives in the USA following US Highway 1 – The Overseas Highway. A highlight of this dramatic dri
22 Oct 2015 3 min read
Orlando with older children
I was lucky enough to work as a hotel negotiator for a travel company. I used to visit destinations to check out the hotels and then to negotiate the lowest possible price that would be paid for a room. I have travelled the world doing a job that many have said they would love to do. My area of expertise is the Caribbean and Florida and I have visited these regions many times through my work. I
20 Oct 2015 3 min read
Mediterranean Taster
I had never considered booking a cruise. Having been sat on a fantastic beach enjoying everything a pretty destination has to offer, I have always felt that the extremely brief visit by cruise ship passengers meant they would not really experience it fully. But one year I decided that I wanted a holiday which involved visiting many different places rather than basing myself in one place. I
29 Sept 2015 3 min read
Villa in Tuscany
For our summer holiday this year we decided to book a villa in Tuscany. The reason was that some of my family enjoy relaxing by the pool but others enjoy visiting places to take in the history and culture. The advantage of staying in Tuscany is that you can visit some interesting and beautiful places in the region. We flew Easyjet from Bristol to Pisa, picked up a hire car and then drove for 2
22 Sept 2015 3 min read
Paxos in Greece
Greece is experiencing some troubling times and many tourists are nervous about booking a holiday there at the moment due to the difficult financial situation. Given the uncertainty it is worth remembering why Greece is such a special holiday destination. I was lucky enough to be taken on holidays abroad from an early age and my parents’ destination of choice was the Greek Islands. I remember
08 Jul 2015 3 min read
Venice Short Break
When you think of Venice I am sure your first thought is of canals. But a highlight of my recent visit was exploring the streets and passageways of this enchanting city. We spent a few days there in April – a good time to visit before the high summer temperatures bring in the crowds. When you arrive in Venice you can get a boat from the airport direct to many of the hotels. But since this is an
18 May 2015 3 min read
Reviews
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Discover the world with me
Tony Walsh tribute to Travel Counsellors
Wow! A lovely poem from the amazing Tony Walsh on Travel Counsellors
13 Sept 2021
Book with Neil Copeland Travel Counsellor
All of the reasons to book with Neil Copeland Travel Counsellor
13 Sept 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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