Rachael Kneale

My expertise

Adventure Travel
Disney
Couples
Families
Beach
Safari
Tailor-made travel

I'm based in

York

Available for new enquiries

Where your travel dreams become beautifully planned realities

Hello, and thank you for visiting my webpage. My name is Rachael and I live in Riccall, near both York and Selby with my husband and our two young boys.

I have a vast amount of travel experience going to places such as Africa, China, the Maldives and Florida. I also have first hand experience of travelling as a family with children and we have experienced Lapland, Disneyland Paris, Spain, Crete and Sardina to name a few. I have been lucky enough to have had many adventures ranging from a safari in Kenya and Tanzania, luxury holiday in Las Vegas, temples in Cambodia to Scuba diving in Cuba and Antigua.

I have always been very passionate about travel and holidays and from school I went on to college and then university to study Tourism. Since joining Travel Counsellors I have become an accredited member of the Cruise line International Association, as well as continuing my learning and development as destinations are offering new and exciting holidays all the time and I love to pass my knowledge on to my customers.

Holidays are precious and enable us to treasure the memories of what we have seen, experienced and a time to relax or to go on an adventure.
My job is to plan, book and add that personal service to arranging your holiday, taking all that hard work out of it for you. I can tailor your holiday to suit your requirements whether it be a city break, a beach holiday, cruise or that adventure of a lifetime.

As a Travel Counsellor I am here to discuss, plan and book your dream holidays and perfect breaks. I am not only available during the day but also on an evening and weekend when it is more convenient for you.

'To Travel is to live' Hans Christian Anderson.

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Explore my guides and blogs

Iceland: A Short Break I’ll Never Forget

Iceland: A Short Break I’ll Never Forget

From steaming blue water and black lava fields to glaciers, geysers and dolphin‑filled seas, Iceland has a way of capturing your heart very quickly.

27 Apr 2026 6   min read

La Dolce Vita

La Dolce Vita

Have you ever been somewhere that you want to remember how you felt at that moment in time forever? If only we could bottle it and take it with us…. Well, this is just how Italy makes me feel. I was sat under a fragrant lemon tree as the evening sun warmed my face on the cobbled streets of Pisa in a pavement trattoria with a cold glass of local white wine and thought that I want to remember this

30 Jun 2023 4   min read

Cruising The Virgin Way

Cruising The Virgin Way

If great destinations, wonderful freshly prepared food, a modern cruise ship and an adult only holiday appeal to you then Virgin Voyages may be just what you are looking for. It was a mix of the fantastic itinerary and all the speciality restaurants included in the cruise that stood out for me. The cruise was The Valiant Lady’s maiden voyage out of Barcelona on The Irresistible Med cruise; and it

07 Nov 2022 4   min read

Jersey Summer Holiday

Jersey Summer Holiday

Sat with a coffee, digging my toes in the soft sand and watching my two children laughing, playing in the sea and build sandcastles is what Sunday mornings on holiday are all about for me. Less than an hour’s flight from Manchester, Jersey offers wonderful restaurants, fantastic castles and amazing beaches that stretch for miles. It is an ideal holiday destination for everyone. This time we went a

12 Jul 2022 4   min read

Kenya and Tanzania safari

Kenya and Tanzania safari

It now seems like a dream that we went on safari spanning over Kenya and Tanzania, but I can still remember it as though it was yesterday. The freshly baked pastries served by a sweeping vista of the Masai Mara under a sapphire sky, and when you spot a giraffe whilst sipping champagne it becomes even more magical. The hospitality and welcome we received was second to none from everyone we met, fr

03 Jul 2020 4   min read

Christmas in Lapland

Christmas in Lapland

I’ve been lucky enough to visit many destinations, but Lapland was completely different to anything and more magical than I could believe. Not only did we have an amazing time but we came away believing. From the moment you step off the plane you have arrived at a wonderful, magical Christmas Fairyland. We went to Saariselka in Finland which is located in the Artic Circle in Lapland and also Finl

19 Sept 2019 3   min read

Family holiday in Crete

Family holiday in Crete

Yesterday I overhead my eldest son (8 years old) advising his friends’ mum on how they should go on a holiday to Crete. (I think he will take over my business one day). He was telling her all the amazing things we saw and did on our week away in May. As a parent you always hope that the holiday you plan for your family will be a memory maker for your children, and so to hear him speak with such en

30 Jul 2019 4   min read

What my customers say

Rachael is brilliant , sorted our holidays in just 2 day's cannot recommend enough

Deanna Fieldsend

Selby

Best travel agent in the area, Racheal is very knowledgeable and efficient. She will leave no stone unturned to get your holiday of your dreams

Paul Smith

York

Rachael has been a star. We asked her to help assist with our trip to Florida in October. Rachael sorted us a few day trips and also a hotel stay. Amazing communication, knowledge and professionalism. Rachael is so friendly and approachable. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Rachael again and I would wholeheartedly recommend her to my friends and family. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

R Ball

Selby

Rachael has organised a few holidays for us now and we wouldn’t go anywhere else. She’s amazing!

Claire Naylor

ST. HELENS

Rachael is first class & makes it feel that she is our own personal travel provider, even when we are away eg notes at reception for us, a bottle of wine in our room & staying up late to ensure that our delayed flight (8 hrs) eventually took off. When we ask Rachael to arrange a personalised trip, eg our 5 week trip to Australia, we give her an idea of an itinerary & 'magically' she comes up with the perfect trip, time after time. Her professionalism & patience, when listening ro my ramblings & vague ideas, is second to none. No matter which type of holiday we choose nothing is too much trouble eg booking us in on flights & sorting transport. In a sentance Rachael is excellent at what she does.

Christopher Cook

YORK

Rachael was very helpful and listened to what I wanted and informed me well about the questions I had asked about the holiday as she had been before , which gave me confidence in booking which i didn’t with other places . Would definitely recommend and use her again for any holiday query’s :) thankyou

Libby Bird Tysall

YORK

Rachael is always a pleasure to work with. She will take the time to find out what is important to me and my family and provide help and advice from her own holidays. I trust what she tells me and have always been happy with our holidays.

Lynne Barker

York

Rachael has booked many holidays for us, near and far. We go away with confidence knowing that she is there for us should anything go wrong. She always manages to find us then perfect holiday. I wouldn't book a holiday any other way.

Valerie Fletcher

York

Excellent service from Rachael, helpful and responsive, would definitely recommend

Jennifer Robinson

York

We often recommend Rachael to our friends and family to book their holidays, she has always been brilliant in sorting all of our holidays.

Gail Blackburn-Barker

York

Rachael has been great, we asked her to put a package together with multiple stops across Australia and she delivered with ease along with a complete itinerary, flights, hotels, transfers and car hire, would highly recommend.

Shaun Robson

North Yorkshire

Just booked our 4th trip with Rachael. Confident in her quotes and knows her stuff.

Dan Crampton

York

Rachael has been professional and extremely efficient booking our holidays in the past and also the ones we have booked this coming year . 10/10

Bernadette Hind

North Yorkshire

Rachael is an absolute wonder. We make some suggestions and she will come up with an ideal holiday. We say we have no idea and she will come up with suggestions. Every holiday Rachael has planed and booked for us has been fabulous and if there has been an issue she has sorted it for us. She goes above and beyond to make sure it all goes smoothly, you just feel that she is there with you all the time from leaving the house to getting back. I would never book through anyone else, and will gladly recommend her to other people. I am so glad I found her.

Val Fletcher

YORK

Rachael has been extremely accommodating, detailed and always happy to help throughout this experience. She has sent all the necessary documentation in an easy to read and access format, answered any questions I had before and during my trip and overall made my trip to New York an easy and stress-free process. I could not recommend her enough and would definitely use her expertise again. Thank you Rachael!

Caitlin Hymes

North Yorkshire

Rachael really listened to what we wanted and came up with great suggestions and a quote we were happy with. She's very approachable and friendly, she just takes the stress out of sorting everything out and just leaves us time to focus on the fun bits.

Hazel Stevens

York

Rachael has helped book quite a few holidays now for my husband and myself. We’ve always found her very helpful, informative and efficient. We like the attention to detail especially the teabags and mints!

Amy Stone

York

Rachael has taken any worries I had & booked me the holiday I wanted. She has been helpful & timely in her replies to any question I may have had. I feel safe in her hands

Julie Handforth

North Yorkshire

Rachael has booked, amongst others, 3 'tailor made' hols for me. From the initial enquiry through to returning home, from the hol, Rachael is totally professional & keeps me informed of all things I need to know. All hotels are great & the numerous transfers all on time. It feels like Rachael is my own personal Travel Counsellor especially as there is always a little something waiting for us on our arrival at each hotel.

C Cook

York

Rachel was amazing and so informative and so patient with me whilst we looked through all our options and she found the best for us and what we needed.

Morwenna Roberts

Cheshire

Such an easy process absolutely fantastic service could not have been any easier. Will definitely use Rachael for future holidays going forward.

Emma Knight

North Yorkshire

Rachael is always really helpful and comes up with some great ideas for holidays. Nothing is ever too much trouble.

Siobhan Hymes

North Yorkshire

Nothing is ever too much trouble for Rachael, we wouldn't use anybody else!

Laura Willerton

York

Using Rachael has been a great experience. We will continue to use her services in the future. She is efficient, knowledgeable and supportive.

Julie Tree

West Yorkshire

Rachael has been an absolute gem Advising, helpful, nothing too much trouble.

Julie Handforth

North Yorkshire

Rachael made booking this holiday so easy! She gave great advice and had all the answers to my questions. She responded really quickly. Thank you Rachael

Jess Boyle

Nottingham

Rachael has been incredibly helpful, paying close attention to all of our very many requirements! Unlike other agents we’ve used before, she didn’t glaze over some of our requests but considered every single thing I mentioned that was important to us, and created a trip which ticked every single box and which was within our budget.

Holly Malone

York

We have recently returned from the holiday of a lifetime. 5 weeks visiting 4 countries (Singapore, Australia, The Cook Islands & New Zealand), 10 flights, 7 hotels/apts & numerous transfers. The whole trip was wonderful, from start to finish, but, could never have taken place without Rachael's expertise. Planning everything for us meant all we had to do was turn up & enjoy ourselves & that's exactly what we did. Everything went to plan. As soon & I contacted Rachael, with an outline of our itinerary, her enthusiasm, for the task ahead shone through, bearing in mind I can't believe she has had many bookings for the Cook Islands. Rachael's professionalism putting together all of the pieces, whilst keeping me informed, was second to none, but, what really separates her from the rest is her personal touch. A bottle of wine to greet us at 2 of our hotels along with a personal message at them all, plus, keeping in contact with us throughout our trip informing us what we needed to do at each airport. Will we be using Rachael again, too right we will & we can't wait to arrange our next adventure. I would also advise anyone, wishing to book a holiday, to contact Rachael.

Chris Cook

York

I have always found Rachael to be most helpful, from helping to choose a destination to go to, putting together an itinerary for our needs and wants and helping to fill out firms , even when I struggled at the airport a few hours before departure. I feel like she is in my hand luggage and can call on her whenever. I really don't know how I managed to go on holiday before Rachael came along. I have recommended her to quite a few friends and will continue to do so.

Valerie Fletcher

York

It's been a wonderful experience so far. I described a dream holiday, our needs as a family and Rachael produced 3 wonderful options that fit the brief and all within budget. It was such an easy quick process. Clearly knows her profession. It's like having a personal assistant. Never used a travel counsellor before now can't stop going on about it! Really impressed!

Paula Garrigan

North Yorkshire

Discover the world with me

On Board The Valiant Lady - Virgin Voyages Cruise

On Board The Valiant Lady - Virgin Voyages Cruise

If a great itinerary, wonderful food and a modern ship adult by design appeals to you then Virgin Voyages may be just what you are looking for.

27 May 2022

Postcards

Postcards

This is a beautiful explanation of what I do for my customers and why we travel.

21 Apr 2021

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Let's plan your dream trip together

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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