Paula Hardman
My expertise
I'm based in
Manchester
Looking for help with your business travel? Find out how I can help here
It's Your Favourite Travel Agent Here....
With nearly three decades in the travel industry, I specialise in taking your ideas, however big or small, and turning them into carefully crafted journeys. From UK getaways and stylish European city breaks to cruises and once-in-a-lifetime round-the-world adventures, I am here to design travel that feels effortless for you.
Based in Manchester, I live with my husband and our two children. My daughter, Madison, has recently graduated and is carving out her own path, while my son, Jaxon, is a talented musician who plays three instruments and competes in trampoline. Our family’s own adventures remind me every day how important it is to get the details right and create memories that last.
My travel career started “many moons ago” at Going Places and I was instantly hooked. Since then I have worked for both large tour operators and a corporate business travel house, gaining a deep understanding of leisure, luxury and business travel. I briefly stepped away to work in the family business, but my heart never left travel. When I was ready to return, choosing Travel Counsellors was easy. Their values, especially around service and care, mirror my own.
My personal travels have taken me across Europe, the Caribbean, the USA (with Las Vegas a particular favourite), Dubai, the Maldives, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and the French Polynesian islands, including iconic Bora Bora. I have even worked as a holiday programme presenter in French Polynesia for a major tour operator. I am also a keen cruiser and have achieved Captain status with Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara through comprehensive product training. One of my most magical experiences was taking my children and my mum to Lapland on Christmas Eve 2015 to look for the real Father Christmas.
If I had to choose a favourite type of holiday to arrange, it would be multi-centre itineraries. I love the challenge of fitting all the pieces together: creating a smooth flow between destinations, balancing sightseeing and downtime, and ensuring every stop adds something special. It is like working on a wonderful puzzle where the final picture is your perfect trip.
Exceptional customer care is non-negotiable for me. I am committed to going the extra mile, whether that is arranging those thoughtful touches, navigating complex arrangements or simply being there when you need support. If there is something I can do to make your holiday even more memorable, I will.
Using a personal travel advisor does not mean paying more, but it does mean gaining a dedicated expert who is on your side from the moment you enquire to the moment you return home. Having someone you know and trust at the end of the phone when plans change or the unexpected happens is invaluable.
Whatever you are dreaming of next, I would be delighted to help you plan it.
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
Vietnam and Singapore Fam Trip Part 1.
I was lucky to be chosen along with 1 other Travel Counsellor to go on a trip hosted by Singapore airlines. I went to Vietnam and then onto Singapore while the other TC did Thailand then met us in Singapore.
01 Dec 2025 4 min read
My Butler was called Suresh
A few weeks ago, I was super lucky to be chosen to go on a 3 day test cruise on board "Regent Seven Seas Voyager". This was the last of the regent ships to get back into the water after the pandemic. Would you believe this particular ship hadn't had passengers on for 760 days and in total the entire fleet had not cruised for a total of 9 years during the pandemic. Let that sink in a little as I wa
04 Apr 2022 6 min read
Disneyland at Easter
This Easter holiday we took a family trip to Disneyland Paris. This wasn't our first trip but the first my son Jaxon who is 7 will remember. We flew from Liverpool as we are in between Liverpool and Manchester airports. I quite like Liverpool as the parking is so close to the airport. On arrival in Paris we got a private transfer to our hotel which is the Sequoia which is a 3 star Disney hotel a
07 Jun 2019 3 min read
Honeymoon Road Trip Round Tennessee.
As you may know I got married last year and in October we took our honeymoon in the USA state of Tennessee. It was fabulous from start to finish so I thought I'd write a blog in case this sort of trip appeals to you. We started with business class flights with British Airways to Nashville which was an amazing way to travel and a first for my husband, although I have been lucky enough to travel bu
05 Jun 2019 3 min read
Easy Guide to Packing.
As a seasoned traveller I like to think I have the packing perfected but even I can make a mistake. Like this April on our family break to Disneyland Paris I actually forgot to pack our travel plug adapters. Very annoying as I have about 20 of these in a bag at home, even more annoying as it cost us 20 euros to buy 1 of them in Paris. So I thought I would create this handy packing guide for you a
04 Jun 2019 3 min read
Tips for Keeping Kids Amused on Flights.
This is a topic I get asked about quite often, from parents on the first flight with their children. Usually it comes with a sense of panic and what if. What if they cry all the time? What if they won’t sit still? What if they start shouting? What if they annoy the other passengers? All these things have gone through a parent’s head at some point before taking their precious offspring on a flight.
14 Jun 2018 3 min read
Weddings in the Sun.
Ever wanted to get married in the sun? Well I have arranged so many weddings abroad this year already and it's only June. A lot more Brides are choosing this option as a way of combining their honeymoon with the wedding itself. I have been hearing more and more from Brides and Grooms that they just want to "run away" and get married to save all the hassle and sometimes upset that comes with planni
20 Jun 2017 3 min read
Exciting Easter in the UK
As a mother of two children, I am always looking at way to entertain my little darlings, Madison who is 13 and Jaxon who is 5. Now they really don't like playing hide and seek anymore with me because I usually leave them hiding for longer than I possibly should while I grab a much needed cup of tea in peace! Ok so that's a teeny tiny bit mean on my part, so I started looking at some possible da
28 Mar 2017 3 min read
Beautiful Belmond Northern Belle
This was a trip I booked for my parents, it was my Mother's present to my Father for his birthday this year and they were lucky enough to get on board on Valentine's Day. My mum is wonderful with words so I asked her to take as many photos and give me a proper review of what it was like. I secretly think my Mum would love to be a Travel Counsellor too as she jumped at the chance to do this for
17 Feb 2017 2 min read
Magical Christmas Eve Searching for Santa.
On Christmas Eve 2015 at about 8am we took off from Manchester airport – myself, my mum and my two children, Madison who was 12 and Jaxon who was 4. It was an easy flight as we had plenty in a backpack to keep the kids amused. Around three hours later we landed at Enontekio airport in Finnish Lapland. The view was simply breathtaking and the kids were beside themselves with excitement, to tell you
11 Nov 2016 3 min read
Reviews
What my customers say
Videos
Discover the world with me
Weddings Abroad.
Have you ever wondered what a wedding abroad would look like? Take a look at some of the recent weddings I have organised for my clients.
21 Jun 2022
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.
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