Sam Nightingale

My expertise

Australia
Maldives
Indonesia
South East Asia
Thailand
Europe

I'm based in

Oakington

Available for new enquiries

Are you looking for expert help with your travel arrangements?

Hi there, and welcome to my webpage.

My name is Sam and I am a personal Travel Counsellor specialising in long‑haul, tailor‑made itineraries and villa holidays. I live in Oakington, Cambridge with my family and have two children aged 17 and 20, so I understand first‑hand how travel needs evolve as families grow up.

I have over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, including 15 years as a Branch Manager. This has given me a huge depth of knowledge which I love using to create holidays that feel genuinely personal, whether you are planning a once‑in‑a‑lifetime trip or a much‑needed escape.

Over the past few years I have developed a particular passion and expertise for long‑haul destinations such as the Far East, the Maldives and Australia. I have explored Australia with my family and I recently joined a dedicated familiarisation trip to the Maldives where I stayed on four different islands. This first‑hand experience means I can give honest, detailed advice on which islands and itineraries will best match your style and budget.

I also have a strong niche in designing backpacking and independent trips for clients’ older children, especially around South East Asia and Australia. These itineraries balance freedom and adventure with the reassurance of a carefully planned route, safe and suitable accommodation and sensible budgeting.

One of my key specialities is villa holidays. I have personally taken at least one villa holiday almost every year for the last 20 years, so I have a wealth of practical knowledge to share. Whether you are travelling as a family, a multi‑generational group or a group of friends, I can help you choose the right style of villa, location and set‑up to suit everyone.

I became a Travel Counsellor so that I can really look after my customers and provide a 5* experience from the moment you get in touch until you arrive back home. Working from home means I can be flexible around you, offering daytime or evening appointments by phone, email or even a personal visit to your home or office if that suits you better.

Whether you are looking for a luxury Indian Ocean escape, a Far East adventure, a tailor‑made Australian journey, a first big backpacking trip for your son or daughter, a villa holiday, ski trip, cruise or a simple UK or city break, I will listen carefully to what you want and design something around you. I will also save you the time and stress of trawling through the internet, and with Travel Counsellors you have the peace of mind of full financial protection on anything you book with me.

You can follow me on Facebook by searching “Sam Nightingale Travel Counsellor” to see special offers, inspiration and travel tips.

If you like the sound of the personal, flexible service I offer, please do get in touch. I would love to help turn your travel ideas into reality.

I look forward to speaking to you soon.

Sam

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Explore my guides and blogs

Radio Interview

Radio Interview

Have a listen to a recent radio interview I had with Cambridge 105 Radio sharing all my travel tips. Tim & Liz did a fantastic job and made me feel very relaxed. https://cambridge105.co.uk/tim-liz-05-03-2019/

31 May 2019 5   min read

Barbados

Barbados

What an amazing holiday I've just returned from. Barbados was fantastic and all the family thoroughly enjoyed it. This was a surprise trip for our two children, Callum and Izzie as they had no idea until the morning we travelled that they were even going away. I created a great little video on the iPad detailing the trip, which I could happily share with people to help with a surprise holiday.

20 Jun 2016 5   min read

Sicily August 2013

Sicily August 2013

I have recently returned from a lovely family holiday to Sicily, travelling with my partner and 2 children aged 4 and 7. We flew to Palermo airport on the Northern coast of Sicily where we had arranged to collect a car for our journey onto the Acacia Resort near Cefalu. I had done some research into transfers or car hire as driving is very different in Italy or Sicily to the UK. My advice would

12 Sept 2013 5   min read

Norfolk Broads Boating Break

Norfolk Broads Boating Break

As promised I am sharing my experience of my boating break on the Norfolk Broads. I can highly recommend this for a family holiday as it was a great experience for the children and they saw it as a real adventure. Your boat can be collected from various points across the Broads, ours was a place called Brundall which was perfect for a 3 night break. From here we managed to visit Norwich, Loddon,

03 Aug 2013 5   min read

What my customers say

Sam is extremely easy to talk to and has plenty of knowledge. She has helped me pick a wonderful break.

Surprise Booking

Cambridge

I could not recommend Sam enough! She has been amazing helping me book my big trip to Thailand , so professional and amazing at what she does.

Carla Wiltshire

Cambridge

Sam couldn’t be more helpful, she takes time to tailor a holiday most sorted to us and gave us plenty of options to pick from Would always and have recommend Sam to clients and friends

Leyla Senoz

Cambridge

Sam is simply brilliant! I throw her some rough guidelines and she comes up with so many great options. Highly recommended

Nicola Richards

Cambridge

Sam has been a superstar in booking our honeymoon. She has been so quick with communication and has really gone above and beyond to give us an idea on all the options that fit in our budget. We would use Sam again and will do in the future!

Emma Cichy

Cambridge

Really helpful. Sam was so patient with us and was able to find us a holiday at short notice. She offered great advice and was always available to help us. Would highly recommend.

Sarah-Jane Archibald

Cambridge

Sam couldn’t be more helpful, she takes time to tailor a holiday most sorted to us and gave us plenty of options to pick from Would always and have recommend Sam to clients and friends

Leyla Senoz

Cambridge

Sam was extremely efficient and provided exactly what was required, within the time given. 5* customer care. Our Company will book all our International flights with Sam Nightingale in the future and you will come highly recommended to all we know. Many thanks, Elayne

Elayne Cousins

Cambridge

Sam has been really helpful with both this booking and our previous trip to South Africa which got delayed twice due to the covid pandemic. She listens to your requirements and sends through holiday options that match those. We went through quite a few iterations this time around but Sam was always willing to listen and help as our plans changed. I would definitely recommend Sam!

Becky Cox

Cambridge

Sam has been brilliant from start to finish. From our initial enquiry through to an unfortunate cancellation due to covid preventing us from travelling. I have always booked holidays independently, but the personal advice and support that Sam provided was invaluable. She was always on hand to advise and responded to any questions or queries quickly . Will definitely be recommending her service to others .

Clare Mead

Cambridge

We have been so impressed with Sam’s help and patience whilst we arranged our holiday. We have already passed her details on to a friend who was struggling to book their summer holiday. She has such a can do attitude and made the whole process easier.

Clare Brady-Brook

Cambridge

Sam really listened to what we wanted from a family holiday and came back very quickly with a good choice of hotels, which we then narrowed down to one. She did all the hard work! I was impressed with how available she was throughout the process and answered my questions really quickly. I am so pleased we have now booked somewhere and won’t hesitate to use Sam again for other holidays. Thanks Sam

Sarah X

Cambridge

Sam has been an absolute star on so many occasions with our holiday bookings. From pre -COVID travel days when on several occasions she found us the best holiday for our needs as a family of 5 with kids from teens to a toddler. Her patience and tenacity in finding the absolute best deal for us has been proven time and time again. And then through COVID she was a source of reassurance and support through various bookings and postponements and cancellations of holidays - offering sage , friendly impartial but knowledgeable advice at every turn. I couldn't recommend her more highly!

Ali Southgate

Cambridge

Sam is incredible, have been booking all our holidays with Sam for years now. So friendly, professional, she looks after us in such an amazing way, the personal touches makes such a huge difference! Would not go anywhere else. She is simply the best there is.

Helen Booth

Hitchin

I come across Sam a while ago on social media and then a friend of mine talked about her a lot,. We had a special holiday to arrange and I thought I would ask Sam to help. Sam has been so friendly and helpful, even with my constant questions and requests to look at other hotels before decisions, and although we have now re-arranged our holiday for the third time due to COVID, she has always gone out of her way to help us. I know I can always expect a response for Sam in a good timescale. I would definitely recommend Sam and will be using her again for future travel arrangements.

Julie Langley

Cambridge

Sam Nightingale has arranged quite a few holidays for my wife and myself. Arrangements have always been first class with attention to detail to ensure things run smoothly. Sam goes the extra mile to provide good value for money and recommendations based on her wide ranging experience in the travel industry.

Anthony Palmer

Cambridge

Sam- you made booking a holiday so easy. You found a selection of great deals for us to choose from that I highly doubt we could have found for ourselves without taking hours of trawling through websites! Thank you!

Laura Hutson

Cambridge

Sam is the only way i book my holidays, she takes all the hassle and stress out of looking for a holiday. Sam always ticks all the boxes when it comes to a family holiday and is there 24/7 to deal with any queries or problems that may occur while your away. I would give Sam a mark of 100 if it was possible as 10 just isn't enough.

Jo Mowatt

Cambridge

Sam was brilliant. Quickly came up with an itinerary to fit our request and then made lots of tweaks and changes as we changed our mind on exactly what we wanted. Was very patient and understanding throughout the whole process. Would definitely recommend her services and will be using her again for future holidays. Thank you so much

Jenny Caughtry

Cambridge

Sam was so patient with us when we couldn’t decide exactly what we wanted. She helped us to research each possibility and helped us to arrive at the best itinery for our holiday. All within budget too. Thank you.

Katherine Lewis

Cambridge

Sam has always been great for my wife and I, whether holidays or business, in coming up with suggestions and recommendations within whatever price range we give her. Very resourceful and goes the extra distance for her customers.

Robert Jezek

Cambridge

An excellent and very professional service as always, All questions and queries answered and addressed immediately. 1st class work

Marcus Till

Cambridge

Excellent service from Sam for our up-coming trip, every detail taken care of. Would highly recommend others to take advantage of this personalised service. Thank you Sam.

Alison Butler

Worcestor

Sam's service is incredible - she works all hours to get the best holiday for you and comes up trumps every time! Sam takes the time to listen to your requirements (however many there are!) and I love the fact she even reminds you of key things like when your passport renewals are due and insurance etc. Sam gives it the personal touch and has the most amount of knowledge of so many destinations its unreal. A credit to the Travel Counsellor team.

Natalie Till

Oakington

Sam was very attentive to what I wanted from my family holiday. Being a person who hasn't travelled much or really booked a holiday she made the experience very enjoyable and reassured me I was taken care off. She explained to me all that I needed to do and also let me know that she would help me every step of the way. Really looking forward to my holiday and feel more confident knowing Sam is at the end of the phone if I need her.

Michelle Good

Cambridge

Sam has done another amazing job with finding everything we needed for our holiday to Thailand. Finding the best deal and the best way to do all that we want to do, she’s amazing! She does everything so efficiently and nothing is ever any trouble, even with the confirmation of the holiday. Everything has been sent in full detail of the flights to all the hotels, information of what there is to do in the hotels and the area we are staying in, and not forgetting the amazing job of finding us the best place to go to for a visit to an elephant sanctuary. Super excited to be going on an adventure to Thailand! I’ve also asked Sam to find a holiday for October for my hubby and I to just spend a week chilling on the beach in Cape Verde. I would totally recommend Sam to anybody looking for a holiday, she takes all the stresses out of you doing it yourself! Thank you Sam you superstar!

Emma Roberts

Cambridge

Sam was so helpful! We had a pretty open request and she managed to get us a holiday we hadn't been able to find ourselves because we just didn't have her knowhow. Very pleased! Roll on holiday!

Cara Hanman

Oakington, Cambridge

Sam has been amazing when organising our big trip, nothing has been too much trouble. I have in fact already recommended her to a friend who is hoping to do a similar trip next year. We will definitely use Sams services again.

Carole Skelton

Cambridge

Sam was a true professional. Great experience tailored to our family. Even sorted our seats with thought about long legs on a long flight. She offered a range of options and had great little vignettes of video so we could view our resort. Took all the hassle out of my booking. Can't recommend highly enough and have told everyone at work!

Heather Hancock

Duxford

We had tried to plan our trip together and just could not come up with a final plan. I asked Sam to see if she could put something together for us. She made the process extremely easy and did the whole thing for us! All we have to do is turn up. We are very excited for our holiday and I would recommend Sam to anyone looking to book a holiday

Kay Russell

Cambridge

Just returned from a Christmas break in Paris which Sam arranged for us having been recommended by a friend. I have to say from the off that we've received a five star service from communications and recommendations to coming in on budget and finally delivering a fantastic break. I had checked out possible deals on the usual sites (lastminute etc.) and Sam came in bang on budget with far superior hotels in better locations and saved me all the hassle of trawling the internet. All our travel documents arrived in plenty of time so we had no worries prior to going and to top it all, our hotel in Paris had a dual aspect view of Sacré-Cœur and the Eiffel Tower. The hotel was less than a 10 minute walk from Gare du Nord (Euro-star terminal) and over the road from Gare de l'est with it's Metro links all over Paris - Perfect location for us. Thanks for arranging a great trip

James King

Hertfordshire

I have booked through Travel Counsellors before and found them to be pretty efficient but Sam was able to go beyond our expectation. She found us properties we hadn't come across and was able to advise with first hand experience of the location. We were very impressed and are really looking forward to our holiday!

Stuart Bond

Warwickshire

Particularly impressed by the way Sam kept us informed of progress at all stages. She responded extremely quickly and effectively to our numerous questions.

Sharyn Bord

Cambridge

I would definitely recommend Sam to a friend who is looking to book a holiday. Sam has lots of experience and can suggest good places to go for a family holiday. I also like the payment portal which makes it easier to pay bits off your holiday and it's quick and easy to use! It's good to know your holiday is in safe hands.

Gemma Corcoran

Cambridge

Sam is great to talk to to discuss all options before she goes away to research your choices. Sam is quick to come back with any information and only too pleased to change any aspect to ensure the customer's needs are met. A very friendly and efficient service, thanks Sam

Chris Powdrill

South Glamorgan, Wales

Sam was amazing when booking our honeymoon, I had soooooo many questions to ask, Sam responded almost instantly and was so super efficient with everything. I would totally reccomend using Sam to find and book your perfect holiday, She takes away the stress and time you spend endlessly searching for a holiday that suits you. Thanks Sam we can't wait for our honeymoon in The Maldives!

Emma Roberts

Hardwick, Cambridge

Once again, Sam has helped book a wonderful break, just a mini one to London this time. Sam's service is always top notch with excellent communication, taking the stress out of finding and booking a break. If Calsberg booked holidays.........

Danielle Game

Cambridge

Sam is really good at her job, has huge knowledge and experience, always available any time of day, and most importantly ( in our case!) she has endless patience!

Rebecca Silk

Cambridge

I would highly recommend Sam ,I was struggling to find a place suitable for a family holiday to celebrate my 50th birthday after speaking to Sam she sent me some ideas which were ideal, then went ahead and booked it for me ,I would definitely use Sams expertise again

Lesley Morning

Little Sutton

It was such a simple process for me. No hunting through websites to find flights and hotels. Transport to and from the airport in Dubrovnik organised. A local rep met us at the hotel and filled us in on local attractions / things to do / places to go etc. Everything went very smoothly. Sam is so efficient and lovely to work with. I have already recommended her to my next door neighbours who were complaining that it was so much hassle trying to organise a holiday which is why they tended not to go.

Jane Horwood

Cambridge

Additional offers

More destinations to enjoy

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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01223 855190

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