Sally de Jong

My expertise

Australia
New Zealand
South Africa
Antigua
Mauritius
Italy
Seychelles
South America

I'm based in

Long Melford

Available for new enquiries

It's Nice To Meet You

From Antigua to Zanzibar, the world is your oyster – and with my help, you can find your pearl.

Hi, I’m Sally, an independent travel consultant based in Suffolk with over 30 years of experience in travel, and a Travel Counsellor since March 2002.

My main areas of expertise include luxury holidays in South Africa, South America, Australia & New Zealand, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and Italy, as well as cruises, city breaks & honeymoons. I also love getting stuck into complex multi-centre itineraries. I have first-hand experience of getting married overseas: I tied the knot in the Seychelles (albeit a million years ago in 1987!), a destination which holds a very special place in my heart and one I’ve visited six times. My other main happy places are Antigua (10 visits), and Italy, and I have a good understanding of Italian.

You may wonder why you should choose to book with me rather than online. Well, that’s a no-brainer!:

• I check holidays every day and, once I understand your preferences, I can quickly identify the best options for you. Whilst online deals may seem tempting, computers can only respond to your own input; they cannot offer the personalised recommendations, guidance, care & service that I provide - I bring a human touch to your booking experience, something increasingly rare in today’s automated world.

• I do all the hard graft, handling all the research, planning & arrangements for every element of your trip, thus saving you time & effort and avoiding the hassle & anxiety that often come with a DIY approach or dealing with a “production line” shop or call centre environment. From your initial enquiry to your return home I manage every detail with care & attention, no matter how simple or complex your itinerary or query.

• I am well-travelled, having visited over 50 countries, and offer patient, professional & impartial advice, often drawn from my own experiences and always sprinkled with a friendly dose of sense of humour. Working from home, I am supported by nearly 2,000 colleagues worldwide via internal channels, which means I can tap into extra advice, tips & recommendations when needed.

• As an independent Travel Counsellor, I’m not tied or biased towards specific tour operators, inhouse brands or incentives like some high-street or online agencies. I search widely to find or tailor-make holidays to suit your needs and budget, prioritising what’s right for you rather than what’s easiest or most profitable for me. I can also add special touches to make your trip truly unique, and my focus is always on delivering the best overall value for your investment, not just the lowest price - remember that you cannot expect the cheapest to be best.

• You always deal directly with me, or when I’m away myself a trusted, like-minded colleague will look after you. You can expect prompt, personal responses without lengthy waits on hold to a call centre reintroducing yourself each time or waiting days for an email reply.

• All bookings made with me are fully financially protected and come with full service and care throughout. If the unexpected happens (war, pandemics, airline strikes, cancellations, natural disasters etc etc) help is just a call away. Our 24-hour emergency Duty Office is also available while you are away, so you are never left to sort things out alone. You can therefore relax knowing that you are in safe hands and all you need worry about is enjoying your holiday and making those special memories.

• My business & reputation are built on delivering the highest possible level of service. I look after clients throughout the UK, Europe & beyond, so wherever you are based, and whether you fancy a short UK break, a world cruise, or anything in between, don’t drown in information and starve yourself of wisdom. Let me help you discover your perfect travel experience and give you the guidance and support you need to relax and enjoy your journey.

I will go the extra mile, so that you can too.

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Explore my guides and blogs

First time in Helsinki and Bruce Springsteen AGAIN

First time in Helsinki and Bruce Springsteen AGAIN

Another city, another concert. First time to Finland so I was very much looking forward to ticking another country off the list, but more so I was very much looking forward to seeing Bruce Springsteen in concert again! My husband, TC Ted and I flew Finnair from Heathrow on Wednesday 10th July and landed just as England were about to kick off against the Netherlands in the Euros semi final. We go

18 Jul 2024 5   min read

ROME AND “THE ITALIAN BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN” - LUCIANO LIGABUE

ROME AND “THE ITALIAN BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN” - LUCIANO LIGABUE

During the pandemic my husband and I spent a lot of time listening to music. We discovered that there’s a whole world of pleasure outside of UK and US musicians and Italian music became a regular and favourite feature. When we were in Rome last October (sorry never got round to writing the blog for that trip, but it was fabulous albeit very crowded – everyone seemed to be in Rome enjoying a pos

11 Nov 2023 5   min read

Bruce Springsteen (The Boss) in Amsterdam

Bruce Springsteen (The Boss) in Amsterdam

With the recent arrival of a new great nephew in Holland, we found ourselves having to travel to Amsterdam to pay a visit. Now, many of you know that me and kids don’t mix too well (!) so we had to find something else to make the trip worthwhile. What could we do? Oh, Bruce Springsteen is playing in Amsterdam at the end of May – Sorted! So off we went. We stayed at the Sheraton at Schipol A

11 Nov 2023 5   min read

Antigu-again!

Antigu-again!

Just had to go back to one of our favourite happy places! After the snow in Oslo in March, some warm sun was very much needed, and boy it was hot! Temperatures in Antigua are usually pretty similar throughout the year, hovering constantly around 30 degrees in the day and 24 degrees at night, but we arrived in the middle of a “heatwave” – a good 3 or 4 degrees higher than normal, and all the lo

11 Nov 2023 5   min read

Post-Covid Antiguaaaaah

Post-Covid Antiguaaaaah

A belated report on our trip to Antigua in May 2022… Following our first post-covid trip in January to the Seychelles, we treated ourselves again and revisited another of our favourite places, Antigua, in May. This time there were no forms to fill out, no covid tests, and travelling was almost normal! Not much to report other than it was as fabulous as ever! We split our stay this time – I h

21 Apr 2023 5   min read

The one and only Andrea Bocelli in Oslo

The one and only Andrea Bocelli in Oslo

A bit of a bucket list trip for me at the end of March. I’ve been to Oslo twice before and loved it but when we saw that Andrea Bocelli was playing in Oslo, it was a no brainer to return. My taste in music is quite varied and I love rock music, country rock and reggae mostly (Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Tom Petty, the Eagles, Bob Marley etc etc), but opera is one of my guilty pleasures and over

15 Apr 2023 5   min read

Post-Covid Paradise!

Post-Covid Paradise!

Of course we just HAD to go back to the Seychelles for our first holiday in over two years due to covid! Our first visit to Hilton Northolme and this is now our favourite hotel on Mahe Island. Initial impressions were not great, but we’d arrived at 8am, we’d had a 6 hour connection in Dubai and our room was understandably not ready yet, so we were tired and frazzled. We used the day room and went

23 Apr 2022 5   min read

Chicago and the Legend that is Bob Seger!

Chicago and the Legend that is Bob Seger!

We arrived home from the Seychelles on 3rd October and just 2 weeks later we headed off to Chicago for our first ever visit there. Normally I wouldn’t arrange two trips so close together, but I was determined to see Bob Seger in concert one last time on his final tour, having loved his music pretty much all my life, so Chicago on 19th October it had to be! I was trying to keep my excitement to a m

25 Oct 2019 5   min read

MORE Sun, Sand & Sea Shells in the Seychelles

MORE Sun, Sand & Sea Shells in the Seychelles

We had a great trip to the Seychelles last year (see my previous blog from Oct 2018) and decided to treat ourselves by repeating the experience in September 2019 – with a few little differences! This year we flew on the British Airways direct service from Heathrow and spent 3 nights at the Banyan Tree followed by 8 nights at the H Resort, both on the main island of Mahe. We had never visited the

12 Oct 2019 5   min read

Happy Birthday in Oslo

Happy Birthday in Oslo

My second short trip of the year, this time back to Oslo. I loved it in the dark and snow when we tagged on 2 nights at the end of our Norwegian coastal voyage in February 2017 and wanted to see it in the Summer! We stayed at the same hotel as before, the Hotel Continental, which I 100% recommend – its location, service, staff and cleanliness are all simply the best. I even managed to get us the

26 Jul 2019 5   min read

Charming Cinque Terre

Charming Cinque Terre

I’ve just got back from a short break to the beautiful Liguria region of Italy, the main reason for our visit being to see the Cinque Terre (or “5 villages” of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corneglia, Vernazza & Monterosso) which cling, seemingly precariously, to the rocky coastline - and hopefully do some walking. We based ourselves in the picturesque small town of Portovenere to the south, which was de

10 May 2019 5   min read

Sun, Sand & Sea Shells in the Seychelles

Sun, Sand & Sea Shells in the Seychelles

I consider myself very lucky – very lucky indeed. I first visited the Seychelles in 1987 to get married, returned for our fifth wedding anniversary in 1992, and we decided it was the ideal place to celebrate the Millennium. And, now, nearly 19 years later we felt a fourth visit was long overdue. So off we set again to paradise - from Heathrow on 26th September, flying Etihad Airways via Abu Dha

09 Oct 2018 5   min read

My Ireland in the Sun!

My Ireland in the Sun!

We thought we would have a short break with a difference (not Italy or France) in July so we headed off to Ireland for four nights, the main intention being to join an afternoon Father Ted tour, having enjoyed the (sometimes controversial but hilarious) 20-year-old comedy series when it was originally aired and all the recent reruns on TV. The series is not in fact set on Craggy Island (which is f

13 Jul 2018 5   min read

Good Food and Football!

Good Food and Football!

Another short trip to Italy, this time Turin. Somewhere I have never really thought of visiting, but as a football fan I couldn’t pass on the chance to go to the last game of the 2017-2018 Serie A season Juventus versus Hellas Verona. Juventus had already won the championship (for the 7th year in a row) and Verona had already been relegated, so there was nothing riding on the game, but it was the

05 Jun 2018 5   min read

Positano

Positano

Having really enjoyed our trip to Ravello in early July, we thought we’d grab a bit of late summer sunshine and do a twin centre three months apart – so in early October we headed back to Italy, for a 5 night break to Positano, just a few miles from Ravello on the beautiful Amalfi coast. We had visited Positano for an afternoon a few years ago on a cruise, and it was stunning. Being November, thou

31 Oct 2017 5   min read

Relaxation in Ravello

Relaxation in Ravello

5 nights in beautiful Ravello in early July with the temperatures soaring into the mid-high 30s – my idea of heaven. We left a sunny and warm Stansted (always nicer to have that smug feeling when it’s raining and cold when you leave the UK though don’t you think?!) and flew with easyJet to Naples. Our driver quickly got us through the crazy Neapolitan traffic onto the motorway and on our way so

15 Jul 2017 5   min read

Captivating Carcassonne

Captivating Carcassonne

On my husband’s 60th birthday in January I bought him a short break to Carcassonne in early May – rather than spending his actual birthday in Carcassonne this would give a bit of space after our Norway trip (see my previous blog) and ensure that the weather would be more reasonable – and being a very generous wife I booked the trip for both of us! Freddie is very interested in the history of the C

12 May 2017 5   min read

The Magical Northern Lights!

The Magical Northern Lights!

For someone who enjoys warm climates, going to Norway in January was a bit of a strange decision to say the least, but it was a bucket list trip for my husband’s 60th birthday, and it ended up as one of the best holidays I’ve ever been on! We flew to Bergen, weighed down with 2 suitcases each (we needed to be fully prepared for the cold!) and stayed for 2 nights at the Clarion Collection Havnek

16 Feb 2017 5   min read

Toulouse - Le Trek

Toulouse - Le Trek

Just a short trip to Toulouse to meet up with our Aussie friends Chris and Aileen who were over in Europe to spend time at their sister’s house in France. Destination Monesties in the beautiful Tarn departement of France. A short flight to Toulouse, then we picked up a hire car to drive to Monesties in the stunning rustic French countryside. We didn’t do an awful lot apart from swim, eat,

14 Jul 2016 5   min read

Sun, Fun, and Formula One

Sun, Fun, and Formula One

This holiday was almost over before it started – leaving home at 08.30am for a flight departure at 1.30pm for a journey that normally takes two hours is fine wouldn’t you say? We normally book a hotel at the airport the night before for earlier flights, but thought we would be ok this time, but the motorway was very bad! We arrived at the bag drop five minutes before it closed, managed to get take

08 Jun 2016 5   min read

Like Florence? - Try Bologna!

Like Florence? - Try Bologna!

A little Spring break early April to Bologna and a dilemma about what clothes to take, would the weather be kind? It’s always difficult to pack when the temperature is in single figures over here. We needn’t have worried - Bologna was beautifully sunny and hovering in the low to mid 20s centigrade – Tick! We had booked a very grand hotel, the Grand Hotel Majestic Gia Baglioni – would we fe

20 Apr 2016 5   min read

La Bella Sicilia

La Bella Sicilia

As part of my goal to visit Italy every year, and as a huge fan of the Inspector Montalbano TV series (if you’ve not seen it look out for it!) which is set in Sicily, I was really looking forward to this holiday and it certainly didn’t disappoint. We started off flying to Catania and hiring a car, driving down to Modica in the south east of Sicily for our first 4 nights. In Modica we had a pr

19 Nov 2015 5   min read

Kangaroos and Wine

Kangaroos and Wine

I went to Australia for the fourth time in February. Some might say it’s a long way to go for just two weeks, but it really didn’t feel like it. We were lucky enough to fly Emirates business class – my first time on the Airbus A380. I was a little concerned that this huge plane would mean long queues for boarding, but it was actually a great experience – we boarded the plane’s upper deck strai

20 May 2015 5   min read

A Week in Provence

A Week in Provence

Having visited Nice, Cannes and the general Provence area a few times in the past we decided to return to coincide with another Star Clippers mini cruise in September. We started off with 2 nights at La Bastide Saint Antoine just outside Grasse, a beautiful small hotel that I last visited for dinner on my 40th birthday. Not much had changed, still as beautiful as ever, and this time we enjoyed se

25 Nov 2014 5   min read

Romeo, Romeo

Romeo, Romeo

Never having been a huge fan of Shakespeare (at school I could never understand how literature crammed with what appear to be grammatical and spelling errors could be of use to a 16 year olds English studies), I must admit I had a few mixed feelings before our latest trip to Italy, to the city that has become almost synonymous with the Bard – Verona. However, I needn’t have worried! Arriving at

15 Aug 2014 5   min read

Venice and the Royal Clipper

Venice and the Royal Clipper

This was my first trip to Venice, and loving all things Italian I was very much looking forward to it. After arriving in Venice at 8.30pm a speedy water taxi took us to the beautiful Londra Palace Hotel where we stayed for 2 nights. It is a short walking distance to St Mark’s Square, so very convenient, but the (only) downside is that the area is very touristy with souvenir stalls and hawkers o

11 Sept 2013 5   min read

Antigu-aaaaaaaah

Antigu-aaaaaaaah

I have just returned from my fifth visit to Galley Bay Antigua, my all-time favourite beach hotel. If you don’t know Galley Bay and fancy a relaxing upmarket but casual all-inclusive holiday I would highly recommend you take a look. It's the staff, the beach, the unique pool and restaurants, and the relaxing ambience that makes this hotel really special. The rooms have everything you need, incl

19 Jun 2013 5   min read

Italy - Fantastico

Italy - Fantastico

I have just returned from a fabulous “fam” (= familiarisation = work!) trip to Italy. Here’s my diary: Day 1: On arrival in Rome we transferred to Hotel d’Inghilterra, a lovely characterful 88 room hotel in superb central location. We took a short walk to Villa Spalletti Trivelli for a site inspection and lunch - a beautiful old residence, which is now a 12 room hotel; a home from home and a

12 May 2012 5   min read

Silver Experience with Silversea Cruises

Silver Experience with Silversea Cruises

Having travelled with Silversea last year where we had such an amazing time, I had high expectations with this trip. We got off to a brilliant start, with 5 nights at the very impressive One and Only hotel in Cape Town where we did little more than laze by the stunning pool and eat and drink at the V&A Waterfront area (oh and a lengthy tour and wine tasting at de Grendel Winery which produces ver

23 Apr 2012 5   min read

Jersey - so near yet so far

Jersey - so near yet so far

Jersey – one of the Channel Islands and a little gem right on your doorstep. Just a short hop by plane, you feel that you have gone much further afield when you arrive and are greeted by palm trees. Some people may not consider the idea of holidaying so close to home, but if you are one of those do have a rethink. We went to Jersey for four nights early October 2011. It was not the warmest time

05 Dec 2011 5   min read

Pure gold experience with Silversea Cruises

Pure gold experience with Silversea Cruises

After a lovely week in the suburbs of Sydney staying with some friends who have emigrated down under, we joined the Silversea Silver Shadow for a magnificent and memorable cruise. Starting off in Sydney and ending up in Singapore, we called in along the way at Brisbane, Hamilton Island, Cairns, Thursday Island, Kupang, Komodo Island, and Bali, which made for a very interesting and varied it

24 Apr 2011 5   min read

Northern Cyprus - a beautiful secret revealed

Northern Cyprus - a beautiful secret revealed

Like many people, I had never really considered visiting Northern Cyprus, but when I was invited to take part in an educational trip there I jumped at the chance to learn more, and I am now eager to return. We stayed at the 5 star Mercure Hotel & Wellness in Kyrenia on the northern coast for 4 nights – it has one of the best swimming pools I’ve come across and it was such a shame we didn’t have

11 Nov 2010 5   min read

Alaska

Alaska

To celebrate my 50th birthday I went to Alaska in July 2010 with my husband and two friends - 2 nights LA, 2 nights Vancouver, 2 nights Anchorage, then a 7 night cruise back to Vancouver on board the wonderful Regent Seven Seas Navigator. We started off in LA, staying in Beverly Hills at the very nice Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire hoping to spot some celebrities (we had two definite sightings!)

04 Oct 2010 5   min read

What my customers say

Really efficient & speedy service!

Peter D

Maidenhead

Sally has been brilliant. Nothing is too much trouble. Highly recommended

Malcolm H

Northampton

Sally routinely acts in our interest and very promptly too

Jim M

Malvern

I've known Sally for several years now. Every time I've booked a holiday through her it has been a wonderful experience from start to finish. Her knowledge of the business is incredible and her attention to detail is second to none, I can't recommend her highly enough.

Chris J

Hockley

Sally's support through the whole process was top rate. Nothing was too much trouble, my holiday itinerary was quite long and complex. Everything ran smoothly exactly as her itinerary paperwork stated. Sally gave support with checking in on flights when I wasn't sure I'd have email access to do it myself. I know Sally had a few challenges with last minute changes that came quite late and out of the blue from one provider, she dealt with everything professionally and with good humour making sure I had the holiday I had planned. I very much valued and appreciated her personal service and attention to detail. I departed feeling 100% confident in everything we had put together. I will enjoy planning and booking my next long trip abroad with Sally.

Christine F

Bury St Edmunds

Sally has been extremely helpful and patient pulling together our trip to Argentina. She worked with us over a number of weeks developing the itinerary and her suggestions were invaluable

Andy & Paula P

King's Lynn

My husband and I planned our recent Italian Adventure with Sally to celebrate my 65th Birthday . Once again Sally rose to the occasion to ensure that our trip was exactly what we wanted, from understanding the type of boutique hotels we like , the location of being near to many restaurants and bars, (with an Irish bar within walking distance so Tom can enjoy his beloved Guinness!) to the kettle in the room for an afternoon cup of tea. Each of the hotels were unique and suited the location we were visiting in both style and location. The trip was wonderful - lots of great memories were made. All the arrangements (flights, hotels, private car transfers and train journeys) went as planned. Sally made the process smooth, seamless, and stress free! Once we chose our triple stop destination of Florence, Rome and Sorrento, Sally handled everything from flights, to transport from the airport, accommodations and even activities and excursions, such as the visits to the Uffizi, the Basilica and the Vatican Museum, the highlight being the Andrea Bocelli concert at the Teatro del Silenzio, on his estate in Tuscany. Everything was on one itinerary that we were able to print out and take with us, and included detailed descriptions and instructions. I would not hesitate in recommending Sally to organise and deliver an exclusive holiday experience for you.

Sharon Ferguson-Cuffe

Bury St Edmunds

Sally took an interest in my personal needs and found options that suited me well. Her advice and attention to detail made me feel reassured that I had all the information to book a holiday that suited me and my budget. I have already recommended Sally to friends.

Christine F

Suffolk

Sally De Jong has once again worked her magic! My head was spinning thinking about how we could do a completely unexpected trip to Australia – my son had just announced he and his fiancée were getting married there! I knew we would need to break the journey … but with time differences and a tight window of just 2 weeks for the complete trip I needed Sally’s expert advice and guidance. Within an afternoon she had sent me details for flights and accommodation staying in Singapore on the way out and Hong Kong on the way back. I had to smile when I read that Sally had booked us in for 3 nights in Hong Kong because we wouldn’t be leaving for the flight until late evening … as if that would have even crossed my mind!! Sally’s attention to detail and her complete understanding of our needs is exceptional. Everything is so thoroughly documented and presented. She covers absolutely everything and I have complete confidence in her and wouldn’t consider going anywhere without Sally’s expertise.

Mary Gentilhomme

Suffolk

My wife and I have had the pleasure of working with Sally for many years. In that time we have always found that the service Sally has provided to be of the highest professional standards with a friendly personal manner - able to understand our requirements and make suitable recommendations. My experience has also shown me that when things are going wrong with the holiday that Sally can be relied upon to listen and resolve the situation, without delay and to our entire satisfaction. Accordingly I have no hesitation in awarding Sally 10 out of 10 and happily recommend Sally to friends and family.

Andrew R

Bedford

Sally is always super helpful and very quick to respond, and very knowledgeable and experienced in all things travel, so I am 100% confident that I'm getting the best advice/information, and if any problems arise, she will guide me. I always recommend her to family and friends when I have the opportunity.

L Drake

Hitchin

Simply the best, better than all the rest.......

Steve & Julie T

Suffolk

Super excited about our holiday that Sal has found for us. Every holiday she’s chosen for us has been brilliant and some where we never would’ve thought of ourselves

Donna Wisdom

Bury St Edmunds

Fabulous service as always

Karen & James .

Leighton Buzzard

Always an excellent service

Anna & Mick A

Ipswich

Sally is always very friendly, patient and very efficient with both enquiries and through the booking process . She keeps us informed on a regular basis of any likely changes

Alan & Margaret W

Ipswich

Always professional, polite and a pleasure to do business with. No problem goes unsolved. I have no hesitation in recommending Sally to family and friends.

Andy & Judith R

Bedfordshire

Super helpful, takes all the stress away and so much knowledge, thank you

Sarah & Niall D

Southampton

Very professional, easy to deal with - information Sally provides is always clear. Definitely recommend

Diane & Iain P

Cardiff

Sally always deals with our queries promptly and efficiently, she has been booking our holidays for over ten years now, we wouldn’t consider going to any one else.

J Edwards

Berkshire

Fantastic service from Sally. She is fast, efficient and always has great advice. Lovely to deal with, our family has used Sally many times to book holidays and we can’t recommend her highly enough!

Louise R

Twickenham

Sally’s service has been exceptional, we’ve used her for holidays in 2023 & 2024. We have in fact recommend her services to many of our friends, and they now feel the same.

Barbara C

Lincolnshire

Sally was very helpful in helping us plan a trip for my 50th birthday to Canada. She was able to help us develop an itinerary we would not have thought of.

Maureen N

Surrey

Nothing was too much travel for Sally and she researched our queries promptly and every succeeding question we posted. Wouldn't go anywhere else.

Pat and Eric

Aberdeen

Sally is very knowledgeable and nothing is too much trouble. Wouldn't go anywhere else!

Fred P

Leicestershire

Sally could not have been more helpful. Excellent service.

D Clark

West Sussex

Taken the hassle and worry out of booking a major holiday

Linda M

Lavenham

There is no-one I would trust more with our travel arrangements - even if I know my enquiries sometimes blow Sally's brains!!

K C

Sudbury

Very happy, great service and the trip we wanted was sorted with no hassle whatsoever. Will be highly recommending to friends and family.

J Griffiths

Sudbury

I have been a customer of Sally's for the past 8 years, during that time she has provide me with a first class experience on each of my holidays. Nothing is too much trouble, she goes that extra mile to ask and answer questions to ensure she delivers exactly what you require for your chosen break. During my time with Sally she has built up an excellent knowledge of the type of people my husband and I are and the type of destinations, hotels and restaurants that we would enjoy. I am always happy to follow Sally's recommendations, her breadth and dept of expertise of the Travel industry , countries , hotels, airports ,visas and anything else you may need is second to none. I cannot recommend her highly enough. If you want the personal touch when booking your holidays then Sally is the Travel Counsellor to go to .

Sharon C

Suffolk

Sally is perfect, she knows what we like and what we would be interested in. Perfect personal service from thinking about a holiday to booking and total peace of mind while we’re away.

Donna W

Bury St Edmunds

Sally always works with her clients to achieve their best holiday. Have always found her to be very professional

Margaret R

Norwich

Sally is extremely efficient, professional and keeps us informed at every stage with our holiday bookings. We have used her several times now and feel secure in the knowledge that if anything goes wrong at any stage of our holiday she is there to sort it out for us ( which she’s had to do a couple of times) and this makes us feel much more relaxed especially when we are in countries that we have not visited before and have a complex holiday itinerary.

Melanie R

Oxfordshire

Wonderful to leave it to TC to organise everything, with the knowledge that they know all the ins and outs. Its gives me peace of mind, knowing it's organised to perfection without the stress of trying to do it myself.

Sarah D

Southampton

First, I wanted to thank you for replying so quickly and at such an antisocial hour. You work long hours! Second, and probably most important, thank you very much for your continued support which has given me the confidence to make this trip. It’s wonderful to have you as a travel “buddy” ??

Ellen S

Wokingham

Sally gives an excellent service and sorted any queries that we had and is still there to help should we have any problems. We have used her before and would not hesitate to contact her again.

Sandra & Graham D

Suffolk

Thank you Sally. Once again you have found a travel solution for me at short notice. Your continued friendly and fast support is greatly appreciated.

E Smith

Berkshire

Always very helpful and nothing is too much trouble. Can always be relied upon to solve any issues without delay. Would have no hesitation in recommending Sally.

and Judith

Bedford

Such a swift service, accommodated to all initial thoughts and also threw in some different options which opened our mind. We weren’t sure what we were after but Sally’s advice has been fab and reassuring

Charlotte M

Berkshire

Very impressed with Sally’s speed and efficiency as soon as we’d mentioned what we were planning, Very helpful and accommodating when we suggested a few changes and we feel confident from the start that we will have support and information for the duration of our trip and before we go. She has also Suggested places and activities we would not have thought of ourselves.

Mel & Nick R

Banbury

Swift, friendly, knowledgeable and professional service every time no matter how far or closer by. Thank you .

C B

Suffolk

We have already put on Facebook how happy we are finding our holiday via Sally de Jong at Travel Counsellors. We recommend her whenever we can. Brilliant service.

Pamela and Edward

Middlesex

Sally is wonderfully helpful and very personable over the phone.

Michael C

Maidenhead

Sally is Wonderful, Happy and Very Supportive to us. We would like to thank her for her time, patience and guidance. Although her support is still required I am confident she will be there for us. Thank you

Caroline S

Leicestershire

Very helpful in selecting holiday it. always seems that nothing is to much trouble even when I have changed my mind and not booked anything!!!!

Michael P

Suffolk

Sally always comes up trumps So knowledgeable and helpful

Karen S

Bedfordshire

A personal and professional service. One of the reasons we use Travel Counsellors is that we know through previous experience that when something is not correct or goes wrong Sally sorts it out without delay.

Andrew R

Bedford

It was such a pleasure working with Sally to arrange our cruise trip next year. I found the cruise industry quite overwhelming and Sally took all the stress away! She collated a small collection of trips and we got exactly what we wanted. She absolutely understood our requirements and made some excellent suggestions and was a delight to work with. I can’t recommend Sally highly enough!

L R

Berkshire

Sally De Jong has looked after us for many years and has excelled herself in helping to roll forward our current booking (several times) and also in researching the resort - all this in what must have been a very difficult time for her and all in the travel industry.

Paul Bigland

Hertfordshire

All I's dotted and T's crossed , great communication , feedback and advice

Stephen C

Wellingborough

Sally was incisive with her questions, efficient with her options, knowledgeable with her advice and fast to act on instructions. From our decision to go, to being booked was just hours. Great customer service.

Steve T

Sudbury

Great friendly efficient service. was recommended to you by a friend and would certainly do likewise. I often quite like to arrange our own itinerary and hotels, excursions, transportation etc. However working with you meant we could provide an outline of what we wanted and allow you to join the dots for us and do all the detailed planning. Really very pleased indeed with the service.

Peter Joyce

Hampshire

Sally is a pleasure to deal with. She is very knowledgeable, helpful, thorough and quick to respond to queries. We will definitely recommend her services to friends and family. A great experience.

Jurek Gawlak

Alberta, Canada

I would have no hesitation in recommending Sally to my friends and family. Her attention to detail and desire to pinpoint exactly what we want from our travel requirements are second to none. Her experience and passion for travel make her utterly superb at her job! Thank you Sally - AGAIN!

Kim .

Sudbury

Thank you so much for all your help and support to make our trip so hassle free, to Norway. We had a great time and I will be coming back to you again for all my travel plans in the future. Thank you also for your welcome home card. The mark of a true professional. Please do not change jobs in the foreseeable future!!!

Malcolm .

West Sussex

A fantastic service. The knowledge of the travel options was incredible. Looking forward to the holiday.

A W

Ipswich

This was not my first booking with Travel Counsellors and will definitely not be my last. The main reason for returning was Sally de Jong; she is simply exceptional. I admit to be fussy when it comes to choosing holidays but Sally always seems to gauge it right and deliver the perfect holiday within budget. Perhaps what is most impressive is Sally´s proactive approach, making helpful suggestions and covering off all bases. This is important to me as I am always super busy and therefore it´s great to leave holiday plans in Sally´s hands with the knowledge that the results are always great. I have no hesitation in recommending Sally. Thank you Sally, you are a credit to Travel Counsellors.

Shaun C

Long Melford

Sally has been very helpful arranging our holiday and it is great to have someone to find the best things for our holiday. Would not hesitate to use her her knowledge and skills again.

Sandra .

Suffolk

Sally guided us through all aspects of our forthcoming trip, made it stress free and all the more relaxing for us. Her knowledge, and that of her colleagues, is second to none. Cannot recommend her enough. Karen and James

Karen and James .

Chesham

Sally was able to help with all aspects of our trip and her exceptional knowledge gained from her own travel experiences is a bonus.

Pat .

Scotland

Always excellent help and service from Sally over many years.

J B

Wokingham

Highly personalised, very professional service and a really good value holiday! It’s like planning your own individual holiday but with somebody else doing all the hard work!

Colin B

Southwold

Always an excellent service. Sally fully understood our needs and gave us good advice.

M&P H

Spain

Sally has been so helpful guiding me through the process, she is such a friendly person which is what you want when you're not sure of what you're doing when booking on internet. I will be passing her name on.

Joy H

Royston

Booking a holiday has never been easier - Sally sorted everything quickly and efficiently, and my confirmation and itinerary were emailed straight away. She was very helpful with the smaller details too eg airport hotels/baggage allowance and dimensions. Also super friendly!

L D

Hertfordshire

Sally was so helpful, very efficient and great attention to detail - within one day my holiday had been arranged. Complete peace of mind and all the hassle taken away from me. Have already recommended Sally.

Mary Gentilhomme

Suffolk

Already have told people how good Sally is, even with an idiot like me!

A H

Berkshire

It is always a pleasure to get in touch with Sally with our travel plans. Her personal service is outstanding,, super efficient and she always comes up with best offers and helpful advice and even prints off quotes and documents and posts them to us which is very appreciated. Long may her service last

Elfie & Peter B

Berkshire

I've already recommended Sally to friends. Couldn't recommend Sally enough. Absolutely amazing service. Just hope our trip is as good as Sally has been so far.

Emma Ward

Bury St Edmunds

We have been using Sally to book our holidays for years, including our honeymoon. She takes all the legwork out of finding the right holiday destination, and every detail is taken care of.

Lucy H

East Sussex

Over the years we've come to completely trust Sally with our travel arrangements. We tend to travel 'off piste' and her experience and ability to 'tweak' to our requirements, makes for a wonderful adventure. She is so quick to respond, the momentum never leaves us. We wouldn't go anywhere else!

Mandy and Paul Higginson

Riogordo, Spain

Sally has been brilliant, her responses to questions have been quick and really helpful. We found Sally through a recommendation from someone else and this is the 2nd time we have used her for a major trip. Great service

Malcolm Hearn

Surrey

This is the second time Sally has sorted a Maldives trip for me. The first was amazing and I'm sure this one will be as good. After the first holiday I recommended her to a friend and would certainly do that again

L B

Bury St Edmunds

We wanted to write and say a massive THANK YOU for arranging the most wonderful holiday we have ever had. Visiting Japan was something we had always wanted to do. Where to go however was not easy. We had a look at pre-set packages and although each had part of what we wanted, none of them had the entirety or flexibility that we were looking for. When we contacted yourself to ask if you could possibly help in putting a package that met some of our preferred destinations and activities we never in a million years expected you to be able to meet every single requirement…and some! The way that you tailored the holiday to be so perfect and unique was fantastic and at such a very good price too. Everywhere we visited made a great impression on us and the highlights were too many to mention but the cherry blossom in Kanazawa was breathtaking. The special added attractions such as the guided cycle tour of Kyoto and the visit to the Suma Stable were brilliant and the guides extremely knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. All of the hotel accommodation was first class, from the first hotel with a room opening directly onto the ski slopes to the wonderful authentic ryokan with our own personal onsen in Hakone and the amazing Park Hotel in way up in the Tokyo sky which was the biggest hotel room I have ever stayed in with a panoramic view of Tokyo to die for. We were even treated to a view of Mount Fuji from our hotel on one fine day. The travel arrangements were superb, the rail tickets proved to be superb value and the Shinkansen bullet trains made us never want to travel on British Rail again! The provision of the underground prepaid cards was another great touch and made things so much simpler for us. Likewise the information guides provided were invaluable giving both detailed info to peruse overnight or whilst travelling and the summary guide being really helpful in locating hotels, train stations etc. We were made to feel that we were travelling independently but with a travel guide in our back pocket and available whenever we needed it! There is nothing we would have changed at all, (except staying for longer!!) We can’t thank you enough for all your hard work in planning and arranging things for us, we will certainly be coming back to you!

C B

Southwold

I’d like to take this opportunity to recommend the service we have received from Travel Counsellors over the years – in particular from Sally de Jong. Sally has taken the “stress” out of our long haul trips so that we really can begin to relax and enjoy our holiday from the moment we leave our front door. She is always on-hand to answer queries and has made some great recommendations regarding itineraries and venues. Thank you.

E S

Wokingham

Sally was recommended to us and we have recommended her to family and friends. She is very accommodating and has planned many varied holidays for us. She is very patient and makes sure our itinerary is exactly what we would want and expect from her.

C C

Maidenhead

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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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