Based in Cottingham

Peridot Harrison

It's Nice To Meet You

My name is Peridot, I live in Cottingham, East Yorkshire with my husband and two children and I love to travel !!

I have been in the travel industry for 25 years and have travelled extensively all around the world including most of Europe, Australia and New Zealand, USA and most of it with two children in tow! I have worked for two of the major high street travel agents, managing one of the largest superstores in the country. I am passionate about travel and experiencing new cultures. Luckily, my family share this passion and are always excited as to where I have been researching next for our next trip ! We do have our favourites though Barbados being one and snowboarding and skiing in Austria being the other. So you will often see social media posts from me in these destinations.. So if you fancy a trip to either of these places get in touch. As most of my travels have been with the family I do make sure when I am researching family holidays I think of what is important to us as a family and take this into consideration when picking hotels for my clients.

I work alongside my business partner Claire Holmes, Claire is a cruise specialist and she literally knows all there is to know about cruising and has been lucky enough over the years to have cruised with most of the cruise lines and also onboard the River cruise ships. She is also very experienced when it comes to tailor making bespoke cruise and stay packages that often cannot be found in the brochures. So between us we can literally send you all over the world by land or sea!

Making memories, for me, is paramount - and I would love to help you to build your holidays around your personal needs and wants to ensure you too make lifetime memories. I am available to you when it suits you so feel free to contact me evenings and weekends if that is when you are available.

I look forward to hearing from you soon whether it be for a weekend break in the UK , family beach holiday, Skiing holiday, tailormade trip around the world or just for some inspiration for your next trip.

Happy travels...

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My Blog

I absolutely live and breathe travel and I love to write about my experiences! Please take a look through my posts - you might find your own holiday inspiration.

Hot springs & cold star gazing !

13 March 2019

Having a birthday mid-January is always a rubbish time for a birthday so to make it more exciting I booked a little trip to Iceland for my husband as a surprise! We flew out from Manchester to Keflavik early on the Tuesday morning with Easyjet, great flight in just under 3 hours. We landed onto a very snowy runway and headed over to pick our hire car up from the depot. I took this opportunity to take a selfie of my 'happy face' and send it to my colleagues back home. It really felt quite magical even at the airport. Car hire picked up and sorted out very quickly, we set off (winter tyres in full use) to the Blue Lagoon which is about half an hour’s drive from the airport so a great way to start your Iceland adventure without having to drive too far. How do I describe the feeling of stepping from the cold and snowy air to hot, steamy, milky water? Well, it was pure heaven! Everyone's reaction as they step into the water was the same... ahhhhh! I would recommend getting the bath robe included if you are planning on coming out of the water to go to the bar or restaurant but if you just plan on staying in the water as we did there is no need to pay the extra. The facilities were very modern and clean (very busy but that is to be expected!) You get a free drink from the swim up bar and a silica face mask included in the standard package too. After our relaxing time at the lagoon we set off on our 2-hour drive to our first hotel, just down the coast heading south to the Hotel Ranga. I was recommended this hotel by one of my colleagues’ clients. It did not disappoint. A log cabin style hotel, cosy bar, sofas dotted around, outside hot tubs and the nest bit was a night-time wakeup call should the Northern Lights become visible! The hotel offered star gazing also from their outdoor observatory. We wrapped up as by now the temperature had dropped to -15 brrrrr! I hasten to say I lasted about half an hour but well worth it as the night sky was just amazing and something you just don't see normally in our light polluted cities! The Northern lights made a very faint appearance during the night which we were woken up for. The next day we headed out around 9am (still pitch black!) to join our snowmobiling guide. After a quick demo we set off across the snowy wilderness! What he failed to mention was how easy it was to fall off these things, which funnily enough we managed to do several times before getting to grips with how to stay on the thing! Great fun though and the views were worth it. My husband is now slightly deaf though due to me screaming in his ear to slow down! The journey back across through the mountains to Reykjavik was exciting to say the least! Beautiful scenery but slightly scary due to the roads being very snowy. They are so geared up for it though and the cars all have winter tyres on them. We stayed in a lovely little hotel in Reykjavik called the 105 Townhouse. Very modern and boutique style, warm and cosy with a little kitchen in the rooms should you wish to make yourself breakfast. The walk into town took us about ten minutes along thick snow-covered pavements. So be sure to take your snow boots! I can honestly say that we had the best meal we have had in a long time in randomly a Lebanese restaurant (Sumac) on the main street. Although all the hotels along the street looked amazing too. The bars offer happy hours that last longer than the hour in most of them! Don't worry about completely breaking the bank. It is still expensive but worth every penny. All in all, Iceland has claimed a space in my heart and will be a place I will most definitely be returning to with the whole family as there is so much more to discover and experience. Tips : * Pre book the Blue Lagoon (they have limited space per hour) * Take snow boots and lots of layers - it’s cold! * Plan your trip so you don't waste time (obviously I will do this for you!) * Hire a car * Don't just stay in Reykjavik * If travelling with children take snacks (very expensive for that type of thing)

Jammin in Jamaica. Ya mon !

22 June 2018

It was the Caribbean that took our fancy for this May's half term holiday. As a family we love the Caribbean, the people, the culture and of course the beautiful sandy beaches! (Ok so the rum punch is an attraction too!) We flew from Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic, who were very good and played The Greatest Showman on their inflight entertainment which Sophie had on loop for the full 9 hours I think. When people ask how the children got on with the long flight- once they are plugged into the entertainment and have their snacks available they coped very well! Our arrival at Jamaica airport was smooth although there was a bit of a queue at the immigration desk. Make sure your forms are completed correctly on the flight which will save you time at the desk. We had private transfers booked so once we had found him eventually (very laid back these Jamaican's but this is our attraction to the people) we had about an hour transfer to our hotel, The Grand Palladium in Lucea. We were greeted with a glass of rum punch (you will get used to me mentioning the rum punch) and the children had their pick of M&M's or peanuts and juice! Check in was quick for us as we didn't arrive on a coach with 50 other people. First impressions of the hotel - wow it's huge! Not our normal choice of hotel to be honest and we were a little worried we would get bored in an all-inclusive all week. However, it didn't take long to settle in! After the long journey here all we wanted to do was chill out with a nice drink and some food. All the kids wanted to do was go in the pool and start using those water slides! Our room was beautiful and with the most amazing view of the ocean. The rooms are split into different villas, so the hotel didn't have that high rise feeling at all. If you were feeing lazy you could even hop on one of the golf buggies that will take you around the resort. The hotel has the largest pool in Jamaica which was just amazing. It also has a kid’s pool with water slides which proved very popular with our two! We did worry about getting bored of the food also - dreading the buffet each night. We didn't need to as there were six speciality restaurants, a Jerk Chicken hut and a 24hour sports bar to choose from, our favourite being the Indian restaurant. The salads in each restaurant were just amazing and plenty for the kids to choose from too. In fact, they had a children’s menu that was the same in all the restaurants, so we didn't have to do a trip to the buffet to satisfy our 6-year old’s fussy tastes! Drinks were all included of course too (here I go again!) The cocktails were good and the Red Stripe on tap! The hotel is right on the beach and it is very safe to swim with no rocks on the main beach. For children it is perfect. They do also have another beach which is private called Sunset Cove (our favourite part of the whole complex). They have water sports from this beach, Jerk Hut, beach bar and it is very relaxed. The entertainment was really good, and they did a show for the children early on and then a more adult one later on. Our children enjoyed both. With live music most nights, dance classes to learn a bit of reggae and volleyball etc. you would never get bored here! As you may have guessed by now we enjoy exploring and being stuck in one place all week took its toll by day four, so we decided to venture out and go to the YS waterfalls and the Black River. We booked this at the hotel and were picked up along with 10 other guests in an air-conditioned minibus. This is where the day took a little tricky turn - we had to go up through the mountains and forest (picturesque and very interesting) although after two hours of twisting and turning we had some green faces. Luckily it wasn't too much longer until we arrived at the waterfalls. This is the place they filmed the 80's classic Cocktail with Tom Cruise (ahem theme still running through!) I've added some photos to this story as words couldn't describe it! It was just amazing and an experience we won't forget. Who knew your small children could swing off a rope into a deep waterfall pool from 25 feet? Exhilarated to say the least! We then visited the Black River, took a boat along with a guide and spotted huge crocodiles (the least aggressive kind, apparently) mangroves, birds and a beautiful backdrop of the mountains. All in all, we loved Jamaica, the food, the hotels but most of all the culture of the island and its people. Where every request comes with a "no problem!'" or a "ya mon" it is definitely on my list to go back to. When people ask me if it was a long way to go for a week, my answer every time is "I would go anywhere for a week, to feel the sun on my back and the smell of the ocean and making lifelong memories with my family. It’s worth any long flight!" Relax, chillout and take it easy. Caribbean style!

Ice skating and nintendo shopping!

22 June 2018

A trip to New York is on most people’s wish list so when I told my two children, Luke (8) and Sophie (5) that we would be going to New York for a few days on our way to Barbados I had mixed reactions. Sophie - "I don't want to go to New York mummy, I don't like shopping!" Luke - "Will there be a Nintendo shop?!" I was beginning to think it may have been a mistake but as it was for their Grandma's 'special' birthday I decided to look more into what there was to do for the children too and not just dream about shopping in Macy's! We did shop in Macy’s but not for long. Instead of me telling you all about New York I am handing it over to my two to tell you all about their experience visiting the Big Apple. When mummy told us we were going to New York we were both sort of excited but just really wanted to go and play on the beach in Barbados. We have seen New York in films and it does look like fun but also, we've heard it's got lots of boring shops! Sophie - "I saw on Elf the film that you can ice skate there, so that was on my list!" We flew from London with Virgin Airlines who we loved as they really looked after us. We sat either side of daddy as he is a lot more fun on flights than mummy who just reads her Kindle (it’s the only time I get!) When we got to the airport we jumped in a minibus that took us to our hotel - it took ages! We couldn't believe it when we got there how tall our hotel was (Westin Times Square)! Our room looked out over Times Square and we could see the Empire State building from our window. Times Square is a very busy place and we made sure we kept hold of the adult’s hands, so we didn't lose them in the crowds. Mummy had booked us tickets to go on the hop on hop off buses which were great. It did rain though so we had to sit downstairs. We had so much fun! For breakfast one morning we went to a diner that had singers and actors performing on the tables which was amazing! (Ellen's Stardust Diner) After 3 days we were getting very tired so a week on a beach in Barbados was just what we needed - another flight though! We didn't mind as we love flying. So off to our favourite place, Coconut Court in Barbados.... and I think you know all about that from our previous trips!

Sneaky escape to the sunshine...

14 September 2017

Well after a slightly rainy camping trip in Norfolk early in the summer holidays I decided a quick week in the sunshine was needed to finish off the school holidays - luckily my husband and children agreed with me! I have always wanted to go to Menorca, the smallest of the Balearic Islands so found a great deal and booked it. Flew from Leeds Bradford and within 3 hours we were on the ground in Menorca to 30 degrees and bright sunshine! We always hire a car when we go on holiday so that we have the freedom to explore and do as we please so we went to collect our car - all very straight forward and set off to the other side of the island, Fornells. The island of Menorca is only very small so it only took us 25 minutes to find our resort and then our hotel. With there only being one major road around the island we couldn't really get lost! The hotel we stayed in was clean and had a lovely pool but its enviable location looking out across the bay made this hotel a good choice for us (thank goodness otherwise I would have been in trouble!) The resort we stayed in was called Platja De Fornells. A handful of hotels but mainly private villas which made for a very quiet resort with no crowds on the beaches and no rowdy bars and restaurants. Something that we love when we are with the children! Different of course when without them! On an evening a walk around the resort was lovely and if you venture a little further to the main harbour area there are sea food restaurants scattered along the front serving their fresh catches of the day. There is also an amazing ice cream parlour that we may have visited a couple of times ! Ha ha... The resort had a very family friendly feel but not overly British, there were a lot of Spanish families enjoying the restaurants and the numerous watersports that are on offer, including stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing, sailing and kayaking.. As a family we love the beach and swimming and snorkelling in the ocean so for us Menorca ticked all of those boxes. (Although my 5 year old did turn to me on this trip and said "Mummy I don't like sand..!"). After I had talked her round and with the promise of a new inflatable crocodile we headed off in search of a secluded beach. Or as they are known on the island 'Virgin Beaches'. After driving for just 20 minutes and with a good old fashioned map in hand we found a dirt track just along the North coast as we travelled down we came cross pigs, cows and horses and then eventually a car park and a sign telling us to get to the beach would be on foot and a 45 minute walk. Off we went, inflatable crock, packed lunch, parasol, snorkels and masks and two children in tow. Well it was definitely worth the trek - beautiful sandy cove, not too many people and plenty of space ! Perfect day... Be aware - Most of the beaches on Menorca are Naturist friendly. So don't be shocked if you happen to spot a naked body or two! We didn't partake I might add! A visit to the Capital, Mahon is well worth a trip too for a bit of light shopping and sightseeing. Also the ancient town of Ciutadella is also very beautiful. All in all we loved Menorca and its laid back, sleepy feel and with a flight time of just under 2 1/2 hours it's great for a family holiday!

Relaxing week with the family

25 April 2017

Well its been a lovely Easter break with the little darlings! We decided, last minute, to take them away in the Uk for a fresh air and family time break! My husband's one request was that the cottage had to have a hot tub. So after a lengthy search I came across Shellduck cottage in Holmfirth, Nr Huddersfield. (Peak District). Looking at the photos it certainly ticked all of the boxes, so once the children had all their worldly belongings packed up and in the car we set off. An hour and half later we had arrived, so yes just a short trip but at least we were away. From arriving in the village to being shown around the cottage our host Angela was to say the least informative and very thorough with our introduction to her beautiful, immaculate cottage. The attention to detail was something I have never experienced before anywhere ! I won't tell you exactly what she left us as if you decided to go its best you have the surprise. So what to do around the area? Well we decided to go and explore the countryside and do a 'walk' around one of the many reservoirs in the area. Pack lunch prepared and kids raring to go we set off. We saw sheep, deers, cows with their new calves and came across lots of little streams and hills for the children to play in. It was absolutely beautiful and no complaints from the kids! A quick drink in the local pub and then back to the cottage for a well earned dip in the hot tub. The village itself has many restaurants and tea rooms and was the setting for Last of The Summer Wine series so you can go and visit Compos café or Norah Batty's cottage if you wish! I can honestly say that the four days we spent in the cottage and exploring the Peak District were just perfect. No moaning from the children, husband happy and I got to relax and put my feet up whilst he cooked our dinner and breakfast every morning! So as I said we weren't far from home but just being away from the daily tasks around the house and the normality does you the world of good and also you actually get to spend some quality time with your family (5 days was just enough!)

Barbados revisited!

03 November 2016

II'm back from yet another amazing holiday to the beautiful island of Barbados. We decided to go back again this time of the year due to it being the children's half term holiday but also it is the end of the low season in Barbados so prices are at their best this time of the year! The weather was just perfect, we did have a few tropical storms but they didn't dampen our mood (excuse the pun) especially as being in the warm ocean when the rain falls is just heavenly. The temperatures never fell below 30 degrees and the evenings were just as warm. So it was rum punch on the beach until way after sunset. We stayed at the Coconut Court hotel again this year again due to us enjoying it so much last year. A 3* property that lives up to its star rating if not exceeding it! The staff make this hotel a firm favourite with repeat guests and locals alike. They ensured we had the same room as last year as requested as it was perfect for our family, a corner room that was huge and had a lovely balcony that we watched the sun rise from a few mornings. Mainly due to us adjusting to the time difference and also excited children! This holiday was especially special as we took both our mums with us ('The Grandmas' as they were affectionately known) so we wanted to show them the sights of the island and really get to know the people and the island more. So we hired a car and off we went for two fun filled action packed days. Well, as action packed as you can get on this laid-back island. We followed a self-drive tour route up to the top of the island, the most northerly point which was the Animal Flower cave. Make sure you get there by 5pm when it shuts as we found out at 5.05pm! You can view the dramatic cliffs and blow holes from the view point. Well worth the journey up there. Our route took us through Holetown, Speightstown and through some amazing countryside. We stopped a few times at some lovely little roadside bars and cafes. The island is only 20 miles long although the roads are hit and miss and there are very few road signs getting lost is inevitable but you soon find your way back on the right road. The drive along the Platinum coast was breathtaking, especially looking out for the exclusive addresses such as Number 1 Sandy Lane where Rhianna and Simon Cowell are said to have properties! We also headed over to the East Coast and to a place called Bathsheba. Which was featured in the James Bond movie The Man in the Iron Mask! Its rugged coastline and the fact that this is where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean Sea makes way for the surfers to surf the waves of the Soup Bowl. A really amazing place and so different to the West coast. They have a really great beach café called Dina's where we had lunch - the best rum punch we had and lovely Bajan food! Can you tell I am in love with Barbados yet? The highlight of our trip was swimming with the sea turtles from a catamaran called Imagine which is run by a company called Bolador tours. They are just brilliant and looked after us all really well. Well worth checking them out as they have a maximum of 14 on their boat so it feels like a private charter! Charlie our captain just made the trip so enjoyable and made us laugh all day! Geoff the skipper and all round marine expert safely made sure we all got the most out of the snorkelling we did. The turtles seem to know him and come and feed from his hand so getting up close and personal with them was guaranteed! My four year old was just as much at ease with the snorkelling as the rest of us so I'd definitely recommend taking your children on this trip. Where else do they get to do something as amazing as that? Price wise, with the US dollar rate dropping against the Pound it made prices a little more expensive this year so restaurant prices were around what you would pay here. It can get a bit pricey when you’re eating out every night. With drinks you can expect to pay around BDS$5 (£4) for a beer and BDS$10 (£8) for a cocktail. So you are best making the most of the happy hours which we did - wine is expensive unless you buy it from a local store (not supermarket). We chose a three star self-catering hotel but there are loads of hotels across the island to suit all budgets! To sum it up make sure if you chose Barbados as your next holiday destination to first of all contact me! But also to make sure when your there you get out and about and meet the people, listen to their stories and enjoy their island as much as they do! Don't stay in your hotel, get out and explore! Barbados - we will be back next year, keep the rum punch on ice!

Trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru

13 May 2016

Hola! To say I have been blown away by my trip to Peru, South America would be an understatement ! It truly was a trip of a lifetime and I will never ever forget it. The story starts on our amazing flight with LAN airlines from Manchester via Madrid all the way over to Lima. 11 hours later we arrived refreshed and raring to get exploring this huge South American city. Wonderful beaches and great surf meant that the ocean was teaming with local surfers.. We spent most of our time around the Miraflores area of the city, the tourist part which has the most amazing shopping centre built within the cliffs. Great food and a really good atmosphere. After exploring further into the city and of course visiting the old town, where shops are surrounded by cathedrals and beautiful architecture we started getting ourselves ready for our trek... A short flight took us up to Cuzco, a city in the Andes mountains which was once capital of the Inca empire. At 3400 metres above sea level it certainly took your breath away ! It has to be one of my most favourite places I have visited. It has such a calm felling about it and around the main square the Plaza de Armas there are shops selling almost everything you will need for your trek but also beautiful Alpaca wool goods. Silver is also a really good buy here. There are cafes serving traditional Peruvian food alongside American, Spanish and to be honest anything you would like ! Why not try the local dish of Guinea Pig... ? (got to be done but order something alongside it just incase it doesn't fulfill your appetite !) After acclimatising to the altitude we were met by our tour guide who gave us our itinerary for the next 4 days. This included a night in another Inca town in the Sacred Valley and then starting our epic trip to one of the seventh wonders of the world.. Machu Picchu! (something I have wanted to do since I was a young travel agent 20 years ago !!) After packing up our 'small' duffel bag for our porters (or friends as our guides preferred to call them) they certainly did become friends by the end of the trek ! We set off from the 82km mark in the Sacred valley.. we were actually doing it !! 26 miles over 4 days at altitude that would take us up to the highest point of 4200 metres above sea level ! I cannot explain the feeling you get when you look out over the Andes and see Inca settlements that stand proudly set in to the mountains.. or the cloud forest sprawling out ahead of you.. its just magical ! We were lucky as we had amazing weather and no rain but May is one of the best times to go so was sort of expected. The nights were cold though so a good sleeping bag and thermals are a must. The food that was prepared for us by our friends was truly delicious and healthy and how they prepare flambé bananas at 3000 metres amazed me ! The food didn't disappoint all week from coca tea in your tent first thing to hot chocolate before bed. Although you needed a good intake of food as the trek itself was very challenging and at times you did wonder if you would make it to the end !! Day 2 being especially tough, we were on the long trek up the summit of Dead Womans Peak (4200m). Then all the way back down the other side to our campsite. A lovely cup of tea/coffee or hot chocolate and freshly popped pop corn helped with the last few steps though ! We did make it though and day 4 found us waking at 3.30am to make the last trek to Machu Picchu.. There were tears of joy and relief when we eventually reached the Sungate to view the magnificent Inca Settlement. Truly jaw dropping and magical. I can honestly say this was one of the hardest most rewarding things I have ever done in my life. I urge you to visit this amazing country and see for yourself .. We travelled with Intrepid travel who were again the best ! Very well organised and made sure they looked after the locals. They follow responsible tourism and development and encourage their customers to do the same. I met some lovely people on my trip and will keep in touch with them. As we all shared such a special time together and most of all spurred each other on ! Question is now... where next ??

Austria

11 April 2016

Well we are back with no broken bones and all in tact ! Snowboarding in Austria with our two children learning to ski was the most perfect way to start the Easter holidays. We looked at Zell Am See, Austria as it seemed a good option for us as a family .. due to the shortness of the flight from Leeds Bradford (2 hours), the transfer time at the other end (1 hour 20 minutes) and the number of beginner slopes and ski schools. We weren't wrong! We decided to drive from Salzburg airport to the resort mainly for convenience but you can also catch a train or go by bus quite easily. The drive there was straight forward and absolutely stunning .. following the river all the way to the mountains was just breathtaking. I must have pointed out 50 waterfalls to the children. Plenty of places to stop and take photos or to pick up a snack on the way too. We stayed in an apartment which was part of the Hotel Neue Post. Across the road and above a shop.. It was absolutely immaculate, lovely and warm and cosy. Also only a few minutes walk to the gondola or the ski bus stop. Which is a god send when you've got two small children refusing to carry their skis ! Although there are lockers at the top but they were a bit pricey. The apartment was situated right in the centre of town on a pedestrianized street. There were plenty of restaurants close by and also reasonably priced supermarkets. The children especially enjoyed the pizzas at Giuseppes Pizzeria ! Zell Am See is situated on a huge lake so the views are just stunning.. we had a few evening walks across to the lake side. On to the important part.. the pistes ! We found the runs perfect for us, lots of wide blue runs for the beginners and challenging reds and blacks for the more experienced. Gondolas up to the top and really good chair lifts (with heated seats !). We took both children right up to the top via the gondola and if they didn't want to ski back down we just jumped back into the gondola to take us back down. It was just nice being up there to experience the views which were amazing. Our son went into the ski school every morning for 2 hours which he loved and he especially loved the slalom race at the end of the week in which he came first ! Lovely instructors and they all spoke English. The resort itself is beautiful and is suitable for non skiers too, its great for walking and also if you want a bit of retail therapy! We took a packed lunch up the mountain every day as the restaurants on the pistes are expensive. We love our snowy winter holidays as much as or even more than our sunny summer holidays, you get to spend quality family time together and benefit from the fresh mountain air and if your lucky the sun will be shining so you can get a tan too (well, on your face and arms anyway !). Plus your learning a new skill together and getting exercise which can only be a good thing :-) Cannot wait to book our next skiing trip.. Christmas maybe ??..

Barbados

06 November 2015

What weather to come back to! Just returned from a family holiday to Barbados.. oh what a holiday it was ! Our best holiday ever according to our two children! It truly was a great destination for families. We stayed in Hastings which is on the South West coast, the hotel was the lovely family run Coconut Court. Being a 3 star hotel it didn't have all the facilities you'd find in a 4 or 5 star hotel but what it lacked in those it made up for in service, location and the amazing staff. The hotel is located on a stretch of beautiful white sand that gently shelves into the protected lagoon.. Which is safe for snorkelling and children swimming. The beach is also home to nesting turtles which if your very lucky, as we were, you will see them hatching and making their journey to the ocean! The hotel itself has a restaurant where they serve breakfast, lunches and evening meals including weekly BBQ's. There is a beach bar called Sea grapes that is just brilliant! mainly due to the fact that it has the best bar tender on the island (well we thought so !) Antonio. He has two happy hours a day and will do everything he can to make your day run smoothly. He also serves the family recipe Rum Punch , which is delicious! The rooms in the hotel are freshly decorated and have recently been refurbished. We had a room in the older part of the hotel which was lovely. We had one huge queen size bed and two single beds for the children. A lovely corner balcony with amazing views over the ocean. (room 53) . It was cleaned daily and also had a fridge and microwave. It is worth noting that they don't have lifts but don't worry the porters will carry your luggage up to your room for you. The hotel offers airport transfers which were on time and efficient. We hired a car whilst we were there which was fun! The island itself is only 21 miles long and 14 miles wide and they drive on the same side of the road as us. The traffic gets busy round the capital Bridgetown but the rest of the island the roads are ok, if a little bumpy! It certainly is an adventure but well worth doing as you get to see the real Barbados. You will get lost but just stop and ask one of the locals and they will do their best to direct you to where you are heading ! The highlight of the holiday was our catamaran trip out to swim with the turtles.. it really is a must do in Barbados. We went on a boat for just 12 people as some of the others are bigger boats and they tend to cram a lot of people on to them. They served up a lovely lunch as we moored up just off the coast near to the famous Sandy Lane hotel. They provided snorkels and masks and served drinks all day. The children absolutely loved the experience and I would definitely recommend it. The weather was perfect, a constant 31 degrees with a breeze most of the day. We had one thunder storm one night but other than that the weather was settled. We cannot wait to get booked for next year !

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As it's possibly our last chance to travel any great distance, we wanted something very special. It was and remains important to us that we make the most of the opportunities we have. So our specifications were high even though it was a bit late in the season for our specific needs. Peridot found several compelling tailor-made options within the brief and our budget. She was more than happy to work with us to tweak it further into shape. Nothing was too much trouble.

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Peridot does a fantastic job ensuring that my family and friends get the right holiday at the right price.

Sent by Sally Hamer-Michaels

Brilliant personal service. Already recommended to friends from using previously. And will use again! Thank you

Sent by Marlene Prosser

Definitely recommend, quick efficient responses to e mails and queries. Feel confident booking with Peridot.

Sent by Marie Stewart

Peridot went above and beyond for me. I changed my mind several times & at no point did I feel I couldn’t ask. I’m travelling alone & nervous but she’s made it exciting. Great job & nothing was too much trouble

Sent by Peter Coates

Peridot couldn't have been more helpful even bringing the travel documents to our house. It wasn't straightforward what we were planning and she made it all fit into place.

Sent by Jon Stafford

Wonderful personal service from Peridot. She tailor made my whole trip. No problem was too much. From having to cancel and re-book the original dates when I broke my leg to last minute changes I wanted to make to my itinerary. Would definitely book with her again and recommend to friends and family.

Sent by Leahann Barnes

Excellent service - I always recommend peridot to friends, family & colleagues and have repeatedly booked holidays with her.

Sent by Alliah Hamid

Peridot offers an invaluable service. She took all our requirements into consideration and matched it to what we were looking for. She has a wealth of knowledge which adds to the service she provides. I would definitely use her again and also recommended her to others.

Sent by Lillia Hannis

Peridot has been amazing start to finish. She has literally saved me hours of trailing through websites and trying to book things together/separately. Made booking my honeymoon a dream even when we kept changing our minds. Perfect service, would recommend to anyone.

Sent by Kathryn Pelling

Peridot is very knowledgeable and very patient, considering our huge list of requirements. She is very friendly and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her!

Sent by Helen Perring-Dobbs

Peridot had the challenge of finding our family flights to America with only a few days notice. She also arranged the night prior to travel in a lovely hotel close to the airport along with car parking service and meet and greet on return. This is the first time we've used travel counsellors and we're very satisfied with the professionalism of the service. Thank you Peridot.

Sent by Jon Stafford

Peridot showed real dedication to create the holiday I wanted. Her friendly and enthusiastic manner over the phone made the whole experience a real pleasure. Would definitely recommend Peridot and use her again.

Sent by Debra Connolly

Peridot Harrison exceded my expectations, comunication and her understanding of my needs was also met with high expectations.

Sent by Diane Rice

Peridot has helped me find a couple of amazing holidays. I have recommended her to some friends and they have been just as pleased as I am. First class service.

Sent by Kelly Booth

This lady was extremely helpful, Not everyone is fantastic on a computer so she did all the booking, I felt in very good hands and would fully recommend her help. Will be dealing with her again. Very kind and helpful x

Sent by Amie Coates

Always very helpful & lovely to speak too.

Sent by Ellesha Holmes

I needed tickets for the waterpark in Tenerife however I was flying the following day. I called Peridot and I had the tickets in my inbox within 30 minutes. Thanks so much Peridot

Sent by Kerrie Preston

Peridot was super efficient and found us a fabulous family holiday. Extremely informative and friendly.

Sent by Richard Clark

Would refer if the opportunity rose with no hesitation.

Sent by Lorraine Linvingstone

Fabulous service. No messing. Nothing is too much trouble. Will be using again. Thank you

Sent by Nicola Sorrenson

Peridot is fantastic. Just ring her with location and availability and she will find the best holiday for you at the best price.

Sent by Janine Robinson

Recommended by a friend myself .... Who said tell her what you want - when and a rough price guide and let her work her magic .... And that's what we did :-)

Sent by Kathryn Coates

This was - without question - the most enjoyable and effective travel booking experience I've ever had. Peridot was extremely responsive and knew exactly what I was looking for! I will definitely contact her again and recommend her to others (I already have!!). Thanks!

Sent by Iain Bland

Score Received : 10 - I can not fault the service we received from Peridot - from start to finish nothing was too much trouble and within 24 hours we had everything we needed to make the decision..... Once we had decided the service didn't stop..... totally faultless and will definitely use again......

Sent by Michelle Stanley

Brilliant service from Peridot, nothing was a hassle I could ask anything I wanted! The speed that my quote was received and holiday booked was super fast, this just shows that Peridot listened to everything I wanted and delivered, thank you for your help we can't wait for Vegas & New York!

Sent by Jannette Brooke

Score Received : 10/10 Great service quick knowledgeable and efficient

Sent by Gary Murphy

She is really knowledgable and nothing is too much trouble for her. Will definitely recommend and use her for all my travel needs moving forward - thanks Peridot

Sent by Robert Jones

Fast, efficient and friendly with a competative price.

Sent by Emma Turgoose

Nothing too much trouble, prompt replies to messages, have already recommended to friends

Sent by Jacqueline Lovewell

Fast, friendly and efficient booking with Peridot - and on a Sunday !!! ????????

Sent by Mark Watson

Quick, efficient, friendly and listened to my needs! Will be recommending.

Sent by Lucy Hodges

Peridot was very patient and accommodating to us when planning and booking our honeymoon. We changed our mind several times but nothing was ever too much trouble for her and she created our perfect honeymoon by the end of it!

Sent by Julie Johnson

First time I've used Peridot and won't look back quick and easy service ,told her what I wanted and deal was done on both my holidays this yr thanks Hun

Sent by Fiona Young

Nothing is too much trouble for Peridot. Highly recommended!

Sent by Doreen Harrison

Peridot was very helpful. Nothing was too much trouble for her. I would recommend her to anyone.

Sent by Gemma Holbrook

Peridot made everything so easy and relaxed, booking my holiday and wedding and I would recommend her to all my friends and family.

Sent by Gina Dye

My husband Mark and I run our own business and so are always incredibly busy with little time to ourselves. With three kids to manage, our lives are just none stop, and in the past I have put myself under a lot of pressure to source and book the perfect holiday for us all - and in the process felt so stressed out it almost wasn't worth it. Peridot took that all off my shoulders. From my very woolly initial brief, she found us the perfect option to suit our budget. When everything was booked and I needed to change the booking and the flights, she sorted that out without a complaint and made it happen. All the checking in, the transfers were handled without me having to get involved once. All I had to do was hand over our passport details. Which means I can now go on the holiday and all I have to worry about is packing. Result! I cannot recommend her highly enough. -------------------------------------------------------- Gina Dye | PR & Comms Director

Sent by Carla Langham

Excellent service. Prompt reply. Very informative. Thank you peridot your a star.

Sent by Keri Evans

'Peridot was fantastic in sorting out our recent trip to Reykjavik. Nothing was too much trouble to find us the perfect apartment in the best location. Even the last minute changes to passports was not a problem. It's been a absolute pleasure dealing with Peridot and took out the hassle of organising this short break. I would definitely ask Peridot to sort out my next holiday.

Sent by Paul Barber

Score Received : 10 Additional Comments : Very pleased with how everything has gone. Peridot took all the information I gave to her and sorted me out with a great deal. Will be my first call on any other trips I make.

Sent by Maryanne Frank

Very lovely lady! Couldn't do enough for us as I changed my mind on destination and received further quotes almost immediatly. We are looking to book Disney 2018 and wouldn't use anyone else!!!

Sent by Lynn Milner

Peridot was so helpful and friendly. We couldn't have done it without her. Looking forward to our trip to Rome

Sent by Lynda Jackson

Peridot was extremely helpful and provided a very quick & comprehensive response to our request for a short sunshine break in the Canaries. She had a good insight into the various locations suitable to our needs and we were really happy that we were able to book and confirm our holiday without moving from the sofa! Thankyou Peridot, can't wait till Sunday :-)

Sent by Mandy Hardcastle

Thank you for a fabulous service from initial contact to home.. Also for your intervention in resolving a couple,of issues very promptly and effectively. Will definitely be in touch again. Mandy

Sent by Stuart Adamson

Peridot is very friendly and helpful and she goes out of her way to make sure she finds the holiday you want and at the best price. Would definitely recommend Travel Counsellors.

Sent by Nicola Sorrenson

Peridot was fantastic at finding us a family holiday at a very good price. Have already recommended her to my family and friends.

Sent by Stuart Mckinley

Very helpful and friendly service. Peridot listened to what I was looking for and would highly recommend her service.

Sent by Leahann Barnes

Huge thank you Peridot Harrison for arranging our girlie three day break to Reykjavik, we're very excited. Thank you for providing us with great quotes, advice and options - fastest turn around ever - if you want impeccable customer service that doesn't stop at 5.30 pm on a Friday then she's your lady.

Sent by Ruth Ciuffetelli

This is the first time I've booked a holiday without going to a travel agent in person and now I would never go back! This was so easy and hassle free, I was able to book from the comfort of my own home AND I received such a hands-on personal service the like of which I have never received when booking with a traditional travel agent. Peridot has such a wealth of knowledge about every aspect of the travel industry and was able to offer her expertise to advise me and make recommendations to suit my requirements - and nothing was too much trouble. I know this will not stop now my holiday is booked as Peridot has assured me that she will be on hand to answer any more questions I may have and to fulfil any further requirements up to and even during our holiday. I will most definitely be recommending Peridot to friends, family and colleagues and be using her services again myself.