Sorrel Ashton
My expertise
I'm based in
Spital
Looking for help with your business travel? Find out how I can help here
Luxury travel, designed entirely around you.
I create bespoke long haul holidays for busy professionals, families and couples who want every detail handled seamlessly.
I specialise in tailor made journeys across Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. From multi centre trips to once in a lifetime experiences, everything is carefully put together to save you time, remove the stress and ensure your trip flows effortlessly from start to finish.
Most of my clients come to me when they want more than just a holiday. They want the right advice, the right hotels and a plan that feels completely seamless, without spending hours researching or second guessing their decisions.
If you value your time, want everything taken care of and are looking for a more personal, expert led approach, you are in exactly the right place.
Every trip I create is completely tailored. I take the time to understand how you like to travel, what matters most to you and how you want your trip to feel. That might be a balance of adventure and relaxation, a smooth family holiday where everything is thought of, or a standout journey with those moments you will talk about for years.
From your first enquiry through to when you return home, everything is handled for you, including the details you did not know to think about.
Clients choose to work with me because I offer more than just booking a holiday. I am a Gold Travel Counsellor with a strong track record of client satisfaction, specialising in long haul and multi centre travel. I have access to trusted global partners, added value and upgrades, and I bring first hand experience across my key destinations. While you are away, you also have 24 hour support, so you always have someone there if you need it.
Planning a long haul or more complex trip can quickly become overwhelming. I simplify the entire process. You will not need to spend hours comparing options or worrying about whether everything will come together properly. I bring everything into one clear, seamless plan with guidance at every stage.
I work regularly with destinations across Thailand, Vietnam and wider South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and the USA, including multi stop trips and fly drives. I also arrange Indian Ocean escapes such as the Maldives, as well as high end European holidays and villas. Every itinerary is built around you, not just the destination.
Although I am based in the Wirral, I work with clients across Liverpool, Chester and throughout the UK. Whether you are planning a honeymoon, a family trip, a multi centre itinerary or a special celebration, everything is designed personally around you.
If you are thinking about your next trip and want it done properly, I would love to help you create something exceptional. Start with a quick conversation and I will take care of the rest.
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
Why Kruger National Park Should Be on Everyone's Bucket List — and What to Know Before You Go
There is a particular moment on safari — and if you've been, you'll know exactly the one I mean — where you're sitting completely still in an open vehicle, engine off, and a lion is sleeping in the shade perhaps fifteen metres away. Nothing between you. No glass, no fence, no narration. Just the sound of the bush and something ancient and extraordinary going about its morning. I've had that momen
27 Sept 2026 5 min read
The New Rules of Cruising: Five Holidays Built Around a Passion, Not a Port
I get asked a lot whether cruising still means shuffleboard and a formal night you didn't pack for. The honest answer is that the best lines have moved on from that a long time ago. Some of the most interesting itineraries I'm booking at the moment aren't built around a destination at all. They're built around a passion: a sport, an event, or in one case, six minutes of total darkness in the middl
16 Sept 2026 4 min read
This Is My Favourite Norway Itinerary
I've lost count of how many times I've booked this trip now, and I still get a little thrill every time a client comes back from it. If you asked me to design the perfect introduction to Norway, one that mixes cities, fjords, mountains and a proper sense of adventure without ever feeling rushed, this is what I'd build. It's a nine-day loop starting and finishing in Oslo, and it takes in some of th
03 Aug 2026 5 min read
A Wedding in Cape Town, and a Decision That Could Go Two Ways
A wedding invitation abroad is one of my favourite things to work with. It gives a client a fixed point in the calendar, a reason to be on the other side of the world, and from there the rest of the trip gets to be entirely their own. That's exactly the position one of my clients is in at the moment. He's heading to a wedding in Stellenbosch, and rather than book a week and come home, we've built
10 Jul 2026 5 min read
The Ultimate 3-Week South America Itinerary: From Buenos Aires to Machu Picchu
There are trips that tick a few boxes. And then there are trips like this one. Three weeks. Five iconic destinations. A journey that moves from vibrant, electric cities and world-class wine regions to thundering waterfalls, sun-soaked beaches, and finally one of the most awe-inspiring wonders on the planet. This is South America done properly — and as a luxury travel specialist based in Liverpool,
09 Jul 2026 9 min read
What to Expect on a Celebrity Edge Class Ship
If you’re sailing on a Celebrity Edge class ship for the first time, you’re in for a genuinely special experience. These ships sit in a different league — thoughtfully designed, beautifully finished and packed with details that make a real difference to how your holiday feels day to day. I put these notes together for my clients who are already booked, because a little insider knowledge goes a lo
22 Jun 2026 4 min read
Why the Philippines should be top of your travel list in 2026/27
There's a moment on most Philippines itineraries when my clients message me something along the lines of: "Why didn't we come here sooner?" It's usually when they're on a private boat, gliding through the emerald lagoons of El Nido, or watching the sun sink into the South China Sea from a traditional paraw sailboat in Boracay. And honestly? I feel the same way every time I plan one of these trip
15 Jun 2026 5 min read
Ikos Resorts: The Complete Insider Guide to Choosing the Right One for You
Earlier this year I visited both Ikos Odisia and Ikos Dassia in Corfu — and I came home with more notes, more opinions, and more enthusiasm for the Ikos collection than I expected. That visit is the reason I’m writing this guide. Because the questions I get asked most often about Ikos aren’t “should I go?” — it’s “which one?” And having stayed at both, explored both properly, and eaten my way thro
14 Jun 2026 10 min read
Your ultimate guide to Virgin Voyages
I've sailed with Virgin Voyages and compiled every tip, trick and insider secret into one place so you can make the absolute most of your voyage. Read this before you board — you'll thank us later.
22 May 2026 6 min read
Why a Sardinian Villa Might Be the Best Holiday You've Never Considered
There's a particular version of the Mediterranean holiday that I find myself describing a lot at the moment. Not a resort — though there's nothing wrong with resorts. Not a hotel, though great hotels have their place. But a villa, in Sardinia, where you have a pool and a terrace and a kitchen and absolutely no obligation to be anywhere at any particular time. It's the kind of holiday people tell
10 May 2026 3 min read
Beyond Banff: Canada's Less-Visited Gems That Will Blow Your Mind
Atlantic Canada, Prince Edward Island, and the Yukon — for travellers who want Canada at its most authentic.
06 May 2026 3 min read
The Honest Guide to the Canadian Rockies: What Nobody Tells You Before You Go
Let me be honest with you. When most people picture the Canadian Rockies, they picture a photo they've seen on Instagram: a still turquoise lake reflecting a perfect mountain, not a single other soul in sight. And while that image is real — I've stood in exactly that spot and felt my breath catch — what the photo doesn't show is the car park behind you, the queue for the shuttle bus, and the coupl
30 Apr 2026 3 min read
Lake Como vs Amalfi Coast: which Italian luxury holiday is right for you?
It's one of the most enjoyable dilemmas in luxury travel. On one side, the northern Italian lakes — serene, elegant, and cinematic, with grand Belle Époque hotels reflected in still water and snow-capped Alps on the horizon. On the other, the Amalfi Coast — theatrical, sun-drenched, and impossibly dramatic, with clifftop villages tumbling into an electric-blue sea. Both are extraordinary. Both are
29 Apr 2026 3 min read
Tuscany, Amalfi & Rome: the ultimate luxury Italy multi-centre itinerary
There is a particular kind of traveller who, when asked where they want to go in Italy, says: "All of it." They want the ochre hilltowns and vine-striped valleys of Tuscany. They want to stand in the shadow of the Colosseum and feel the weight of two thousand years of history pressing in. And then they want to sit on a terrace above the Amalfi Coast with a cold glass of Falanghina, watching the fi
21 Apr 2026 5 min read
Why use a luxury travel specialist? 7 reasons a bespoke agent beats booking online
You've been thinking about this trip for a while. Maybe it's Thailand. Maybe it's Australia and New Zealand. Maybe it's a week on the Amalfi Coast followed by a few days in Rome. Whatever it is, you know it's not a quick booking — it's the kind of holiday that deserves to be done properly. And at some point, probably late on a Tuesday evening surrounded by open browser tabs, you've asked yourself:
20 Apr 2026 6 min read
Thailand multi-centre holidays: the insider's guide to a bespoke luxury South East Asia trip
Picture this. You wake up on your first morning in Bangkok, throw open the curtains, and stare across a skyline of golden temple spires catching the early sun. Three days later you're tucking into a bowl of khao soi in a lantern-lit restaurant in Chiang Mai's old city, the mountains dark against the evening sky. A week after that, you're lying in a private pool villa in Phuket, listening to nothin
17 Apr 2026 6 min read
Australia & New Zealand: the ultimate luxury multi-centre itinerary
Close your eyes for a moment. You're standing on the deck of a luxury lodge in Queenstown, New Zealand, watching the sun sink behind the Remarkables mountain range. Earlier that week you were snorkelling above the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, and in two days you'll be taking a private cruise through Milford Sound. This isn't a package deal. This is a tailor-made Australia and New Zealand mult
16 Apr 2026 4 min read
Manta Rays in the Maldives
In the Maldives, manta season transforms an already beautiful destination into something truly extraordinary. From May onwards, plankton-rich waters attract graceful manta rays in remarkable numbers, creating unforgettable encounters beneath the surface. If you’re looking to turn a luxury escape into a once-in-a-lifetime experience, this is the time to go, and knowing where to stay makes all the
07 Apr 2026 3 min read
Bali and Singapore Twin Centre | Luxury Itinerary That Flows
A Bali and Singapore twin centre guide for luxury travellers. Learn how to balance city energy with island calm, choose the right areas to stay and plan smooth connections.
30 Mar 2026 4 min read
Luxury New Zealand Boutique Itinerary Guide
A luxury New Zealand itinerary guide with boutique lodges, scenic routes and curated experiences across both islands. Tailor made planning for travellers who want calm, comfort and quality.
29 Mar 2026 5 min read
Regent Seven Seas vs Silversea: Choosing the Right Luxury Cruise
Comparing Regent Seven Seas and Silversea luxury cruises. Discover which cruise line suits your travel style with expert guidance from a Wirral luxury travel planner.
27 Feb 2026 6 min read
California in twelve days. A relaxed luxury route for first timers
California has a way of surprising people. You get dramatic coastlines, iconic cities, vineyards, desert landscapes and some of the best road trip scenery in the world. The trick is choosing a route that lets you enjoy all of that without feeling like you are spending half the holiday in the car. Here is a twelve day luxury route I often suggest to first timers.
25 Feb 2026 2 min read
What a personal travel planner actually does for you
People often tell me they had no idea how much support a personal travel planner provides until they booked their first tailor made trip. Most imagine I simply find flights and hotels, but the reality is far more hands on.
17 Dec 2025 2 min read
How to plan a Vietnam north to south itinerary for a luxury holiday
Planning a trip through Vietnam feels exciting, but it can also feel like a maze. This is a country with ancient cities, mountains wrapped in mist, bays full of limestone karsts and beaches that stretch for miles. A north to south route is the best way to take it all in without rushing, especially if you want a premium experience with private guides, boutique hotels and a route that flows naturall
21 Nov 2025 3 min read
Celebrate New Year’s in Miami: My Top Picks for Unforgettable Family Moments
As a Travel Counsellor, some of my favourite itineraries to design are those that combine dazzling city energy with the promise of celebration. Recently, I had the pleasure of planning a Miami and Florida Keys adventure for a family with teenagers—an age group that craves action, style, and experiences that feel a world apart from every day. Miami during New Year’s is all that, and more.
19 Nov 2025 2 min read
Sri Lanka Diaries — Slow Living, Wild Safaris & Coastal Calm
I’ve just returned from an incredible trip exploring some of the island’s lesser-known gems, from coconut estates and national parks to mountain cities and quiet beaches. Here’s my route, what I loved most, and some insider tips if you’re thinking of visiting yourself.
24 Oct 2025 4 min read
New EU Border Checks: What Travellers Need to Know
Sorrel Ashton, your Cheshire-based travel advisor, gives the lowdown on the new Entry/Exit System (EES) and what it means for your next trip.
01 Oct 2025 2 min read
Living the Dutton Dream: My Favourite Ranches Across the US
There’s something about ranch life that captures the imagination — wide open landscapes, rugged beauty, generations of family heritage, and that irresistible cowboy spirit. Thanks to the TV series Yellowstone, more people than ever are fascinated by the allure of the American West. In Yellowstone, the Dutton family ranch isn’t just a backdrop, it’s a character in its own right. The sweeping views
01 Oct 2025 3 min read
Travel Counsellors Financial Protection
Booking a holiday and then counting down the days until you can set that ‘out of office’ on your work email account is one of the most exciting times of the year, isn’t it? We look forward to making those memories for so long. But how protected are you? And how much do you really know about it? Having the peace of mind that no matter what, your holiday is safe is priceless and it’s not something y
08 Apr 2024 6 min read
Exploring Vietnam's beach destinations
Vietnam is one of my absolute favourite places to visit. So much so that I even got married there in the beautiful Ha Long Bay and plan to return for our upcoming 10 year anniversary. I can’t get enough of the place, and find it an easy destination to sell to clients who like to explore and really get under the skin of a country. I often recommend a north to south or vice versa itinerary to really
07 Oct 2023 4 min read
My Guide to the Scilly Isles
Holidays in the UK are set to be more popular than ever this year. But you can never predict the weather, except in the UK's version of the Tropics... The Scilly Isles. This archipelago off the coast of Cornwall boasts the warmest weather in the UK. The islands have particularly good weather between May and September, however Easter and October half term have often been very pleasant and much q
16 Feb 2021 2 min read
My Destination Wedding Guide
My husband and I were married in Vietnam in April 2015. After signing legal papers in England a few months beforehand, my best friend performed the ceremony on a boat in Halong Bay and we had a reception with our friends and family on a private beach afterwards. I know from first hand experience with my own wedding, as well as planning weddings for clients since then, that planning a wedding can
15 Feb 2021 1 min read
The Worlds Best Roadtrips
I love a roadtrip. The perfect opportunity to explore an area, find things off the beaten track and go at your own pace. Also a great holiday for families as it gives the kids time to have a breather between activities and also keeps all the mess contained to one area! (or at least try to) So, follow your spirit of adventure and hit the open road for a truly amazing journey of a lifetime. Below
07 Jan 2021 3 min read
Amazing Destinations: when are the best times to go?
Planning your dream trip but not sure when is best to expereince the country. Here is a handy guide for some of the best destinations based on time of year: January: It's dry season in the Caribbean, but it is also incredibly popular so make sure you book early. Other top destinations at this time of year; Maldives, Mexico, Phillipines, Sri Lanka and Thailand February: Leave the winter blues b
04 Dec 2020 2 min read
Reviews
What my customers say
Videos
Discover the world with me
Canada in 2026
If you've been thinking about it, this is your sign. 🍁
30 Apr 2026
Fuel shortages and what it means for your holiday
Fuel shortages sound worrying… but the reality is far calmer. Airlines prepare ahead, and you’re very unlikely to be left stranded.
21 Apr 2026
Destination Weddings
Same ‘I do’, completely different backdrop. Here are my island inspired destination wedding ideas
27 Feb 2026
Japan inspiration
Your Japan Travel Inspiration is right here!
27 Feb 2026
Additional offers
More destinations to enjoy
Why use a Travel Counsellor
Let's plan your dream trip together
Tailor-made for you
Your holiday isn’t just a trip away. It’s a longed-for escape, time to reconnect with loved ones, or a dream adventure you never thought possible. That’s why I take the time to truly get to know you and understand your hopes and expectations, then use my experience, connections and passion for the destination to create a trip that makes those dreams a reality.
Personalised service. Always
When you plan a holiday with me, you’ll be given my personal mobile number from the very first call. I’ll listen to your thoughts and ideas like I would a friend and arrange accommodation, activities, and flights that are all personalised to you. And I’ll share my personal tips and recommendations, so you can experience the true beauty of each destination.
Stress-free travel, and more time for what matters most
I believe your time away should be stress-free, easy, and seamless from start to finish. So, I take care of all the details for you - from ATOL protection, insurance, and flexible payments to access to the myTC app, which keeps everything in one place.
Support when it matters most
If the unexpected happens, you can rest easy, knowing that I’ll handle any last-minute changes, flight cancellations, or disruptions before you even pick up the phone. So you always feel happy, carefree, and ready to make the most of every moment.
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