Nikki Mortimer
My expertise
I'm based in
Cuckfield
It's Nice To Meet You
Hi, my name is Nikki and I am your local Travel Counsellor based in Cuckfield in West Sussex.
I have been a Travel Counsellors for over 8 years now, although I have worked within the travel industry for over 25 years (it’s so hard to comprehend how quickly time flies). I have been lucky enough to have worked for a number of different tour operators over the years and have travelled to some truly amazing places, both on business and on holiday.
As your personal Travel Counsellor, I am able to provide a unique travel service, using award winning technology to tailor-make holidays, with the support of a world leading, independent travel company. As I work from home, I can speak to you at a time that suits you, even if it is outside normal working hours. The way in which we are booking holidays has changed dramatically over the last 20 years, but the need to tap into expertise and the ability to contact your individual travel consultant with any questions (with no delays or waiting on the phone for hours) is something I have found customers really want - particularly for those with more complex and specialist holidays.
I specialise in long haul, tailor-made and luxury travel and am able to create magnificent holidays all over South East Asia, Africa, Australasia, the Americas and around the world. Whether it’s a Tanzanian safari you’re after, a fully escorted tour around Indochina or a leisurely self-drive around the beautiful islands of New Zealand, I can help to create a magical holiday for you by taking away all the pressure and providing valuable and impartial advice on the best places to stay and visit.
I have access to some of the best hotel, tour and airline rates in the industry and can also provide piece of mind when it comes to your money as all of the holidays I create are 100% financially protected by either ATOL or the Travel Counsellor Financial Trust. If you book a Travel Counsellors' package with me, you will also benefit from a unique flexibility and free amendments up to 8 weeks before travel. So there really is no need to be concerned about booking in advance.
After the blip in 2020-2021, travel has really bounced back, and I'm guessing your desire to travel the world is as great as it's ever going to be so why not give me a try – I pride myself on treating everyone’s holiday as if it was my own and will do my utmost to provide you with the dedicated service you deserve.
Nikki
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
Iceland in Winter (well March anyway…)
Iceland has always been a place that I had on my list to travel to – when should I go? When would be the best time to experience everything that I wanted to see?
17 Apr 2026 5 min read
India’s Glorious Golden Triangle (with Ranthambore National Park)
One of the most famous and frequently travelled to regions of India, the Golden Triangle comprises of the country’s vibrant capital New Delhi, the city of Agra famed for possibly the world’s most recognised building - the Taj Mahal - and the intriguing ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur
22 Feb 2026 5 min read
48 hours in Istanbul
My first thorough when I booked our trip to Istanbul was ‘will we have enough time there’. And then…is it a bit far for 48 hours (we had 2 nights and 2 full days). The answer is yes. Whilst you could easily spend longer in this amazing city, if you only have 48 hours to spare (as did we), you can easily squeeze a lot in.
24 Nov 2025 5 min read
Valletta, Malta
Malta really is a year round destination, we visited Valletta for New Year - and the weather was mild and very favourable. It can get rather warm in the summer months, but to be honest, a city break to Valletta really can be enjoyed at anytime. Read on for some useful information and tips on this amazing place... At one-square-kilometre and with its entirety recognised as a UNESCO World Heritag
22 Apr 2025 5 min read
San Sebastián in 48 hours
If you’re looking for somewhere slightly off the standard city-break beaten-track, somewhere a little different and special, then San Sebastián should be pretty high on the top of your list. It’s not necessarily the easiest of cities to get to; it is necessary to fly into the nearest international airport that is accessed from the UK, Bilbao, but to be honest, this is what makes it special, uniqu
30 Mar 2025 5 min read
A bit of winter sun in Cyprus
OK, so not quite the Canaries or the Caribbean, but to get away from the dreary weather in the UK in November, I would very much recommend this beautiful island. Most UK holiday makers tend to stick to the traditional summer months of May-September when it comes to travelling to Cyprus, and whilst I would probably say December-February may be a little out of season (a higher chance of rain), the
04 Dec 2023 5 min read
Lisbon - The perfect European city break
I guess Lisbon had always been on my list of places to visit, but as I didn’t know a huge amount about the city, it wasn’t at the top of my (rather enormous) list. I can honestly say, however, that having now visited the city, it is one of the best surprises I have experienced. We only had 2 nights to spare, but the activities we did really made the most of our time in this city and made us feel
30 Nov 2023 5 min read
Our Search for the Northern Lights
A snow-filled holiday, that doesn’t always include extreme sports (in my eyes, skiing and snowboarding ??), was always on my list. Seeing the Northern Lights was another. So, when I was given the opportunity to host a trip to Finland to search for the Northern Lights, how could I not resist? I had assumed COVID was going to affect the trip in some way, but thankfully apart from the forms to comp
30 Jan 2022 5 min read
Come with me and search for the Northern Lights
On 13th January 2022 I will be hosting a 3-night/4-day trip to Swedish and Finnish Lapland to see the magnificent Northern Lights. If this is something that has always been on your bucket list, this could be the ideal trip for you! I have joined together with Transun, an expert tour company that specialises in breaks to Lapland and of course searching for the Northern Lights. You will not only ben
01 Feb 2021 5 min read
Travel Insurance - a necessity
Travel Insurance - not necessarily the most 'sexy' part of booking a holiday, but something I would always advise you to get. I know everyone that works in insurance would probably say the same too, but they really do understand the importance of it. They've experienced its purpose and benefits. They have also experienced what happens if you don't have cover - not something you even want to thin
12 Aug 2020 5 min read
The Journey Home and the Arrival in the UK
Without going into too much duplicated detail, the airport at Nice was very well organised and yet again, apart from the obligatory face coverings required, was surprisingly normal! Plenty of people, yes a reduced service of flights of course, but still rather bustling – perhaps it was because it was later in the day, perhaps it was because France is a couple of weeks in front on us with regards t
22 Jul 2020 5 min read
Experiencing the French Riviera after Lockdown
As you may know, I specialise in long-haul tailor-made and bespoke holidays, ones where I can really add value and provide expert guidance. I am also able to offer holidays to Europe, in particular city breaks, river cruises and family holidays. The French Riviera has got to be one of the best places to visit in the summer and I am lucky enough to have family here so get to experience the very bes
22 Jul 2020 5 min read
On Arrival
Following our very swift and stable landing, we were advised to disembark row by row (from the front), staying in our seats until the row in front had left. Some people struggled a bit to understand this instruction, but most followed the rules, and the disembarkation was actually relatively swift and easy – why they didn’t do it like this before the pandemic, is beyond me? It took about the same
22 Jul 2020 5 min read
And we're off...
When getting onto the flight, I realised that social distancing isn’t really a possibility when flying – even easyJet that were quoted originally in the press as looking to ‘leave the middle seats free’ – the flights was almost full, so there was no chance of getting a bit of space. It is mandatory to wear face coverings throughout the flight, covering both your nose and mouth (although there w
21 Jul 2020 5 min read
What is Air Travel really like at the moment?
It’s all rather surreal… The drive to Gatwick, on a dreary Tuesday morning at 4am, was as expected, extremely quiet – until we reached the M23 we didn’t see another car, and then it was only 1 or 2. Whilst this whole pandemic and the situation we are faced with is extremely devastating in so many ways, the fact that the roads are quieter is one big winner! On arrival at Gatwick, it was still dar
21 Jul 2020 5 min read
Why book with me?
I’ve been a Travel Counsellor for just over a year now and during this past year I have learnt a huge amount. Starting your own business, regardless of what your product or service is, is hard. It’s very hard. But it is also very rewarding. One of the best things I have learnt is about how to truly value yourself and your experience. I come from a long-haul tailor-made travel background and th
10 Jun 2019 5 min read
Utah Road Trip - Part 2
The following day we headed for Bryce Canyon National Park, a random and beautiful canyon which appears very fragile as the rock formations look like they’re made of Type 1 rather than the stronger sandstone we had been used to in previous parks. We were quite high up here and there was quite a lot of snow of the ground. This meant a few of the trails were closed, namely the famous Navajo Trail wh
23 Apr 2019 5 min read
Utah Road Trip - Part 1
Utah is not necessarily the first US destination on everyone’s list when thinking about a trip to the States but having been tempted to travel there by the Utah Tourist Board, it quite quickly became one of mine. With mesmerising scenery, endless roads, varying climates and the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere, it was certainly somewhere we wanted to explore. We travelled as a group of e
23 Apr 2019 5 min read
Bag a bargain in the souks of Marrakech
When I arrived at Marrakech’s Menara Airport I felt not only a sense of excitement but also apprehension. I don’t know why, I like to think I’m fairly well travelled having negotiated the chaotic traffic in Delhi, the distinctive cuisine in Tibet and many an elephant ride in Thailand and Sri Lanka. However, whenever I travel to somewhere new I always get a bit nervous, of the unknown I guess.
11 Jun 2018 5 min read
From Melbourne to Adelaide along the Great Ocean Road
We’d been camping a little bit before, but our preferred choice of family holiday had always been a hotel-based beach holiday. So the decision to hire a motor home and drive the 1000km journey from Melbourne to Adelaide stopping at campsites along the way was quite a new experience for us. The drive south from Melbourne to Geelong (pronounced J’long, one of the many towns and cities that we man
06 Jun 2018 5 min read
Reviews
What my customers say
Additional offers
More destinations to enjoy
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.
Get in touch