28 February 2021

There is no better way to reconnect with our nearest and dearest than with a change of scene, when we’re more relaxed, more present, and more ourselves. A holiday brings out the best version of us, and our ability to see the best in others. This is our pick of the finest places to spend time with the people who matter most to you.

28 February 2021

Many of the destinations we arrange holidays to are highly dependent on tourism and have experienced a devastating impact from the lack of international travel over the course of the pandemic to date. We’re keen to support these places when it is safe to do so. They’re some of the most magical countries in the world and we can help them get back on their feet while enjoying the warmest of welcomes.

28 February 2021

It’s no secret that getting away from it all, even for a few days, can do wonders for our mental health. Alongside holidays being a great antidote to stress, there are now myriad studies scientifically proving that they are actively good for us, strengthening our immune systems and even increasing our creativity. Reach your wellness goals at this collection of places that put your wellbeing at the fore.

28 February 2021

Travel opens our eyes to the world’s rich diversity of cultures and customs. It helps us to relate to one another and connects people and communities across the globe when we immerse ourselves in different cultures and new points of view.

Here is our collection of cultural hotspots where you can broaden your horizons outside of your usual environment.

23 November 2020

With 2021 just around the corner, our community of travel experts have come together (virtually of course) to come up with the 21 destinations that you should be considering for your travels next year. These are spots that have piqued our interest whether it be for consistently rating highly amongst our customers or by emerging as the hot new place to visit.

23 November 2020

More and more people are swapping the classic city break for a stay within the splendours of nature. Away from the crowded high streets and busy traffic lie cosy hamlets and miles of unhindered wilderness where you’ll feel detached from everyday life.

23 November 2020

Given that the last few months have largely consisted of staying at home, our thirst for new experiences has never been greater. Taking yourself to a destination with a strong cultural identity allows you to envelope yourself in a new way of life, enjoying all the flavours and customs that are offered up.

23 November 2020

There’s no feeling quite like stepping out onto a beach and breathing in the fresh sea air as the warm silky sand slips between your toes. 2021’s prime beach spots encapsulate desert island hideaways, award-winning European favourites and points where the line between city and shoreline gets blurred.

11 May 2020

It’s so important to feel safe and confident when it comes to making future travel plans. As a business that places customer care and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do, this is really important to us too. That’s why, when you book with your personal Travel Counsellor, you can rest assured that you will have the choice, flexibility and bespoke service that promises complete peace of mind when looking forward to your well-earned break or business trip.

Here are the reasons why when you book with Travel Counsellors, you can book with confidence:

28 February 2021

It's opening in April 2021, so you’ll be among the first to discover this Spanish outpost of the award-winning group famous for its super-stylish resorts in Greece – two of which won first and second place in the TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards in 2020 for the Top 25 All-Inclusive Resorts in the World. Despite the incredible all-inclusive offerings for which these resorts are so popular, they also positively encourage you to get out and about together discovering their gorgeous surrounding regions.

28 February 2021

This home-grown Indian Ocean brand is insistent on remaining close to its roots by offering authentic experiences, dining and design at the same time as providing a premium all-inclusive offering that represents great value for money. At the heart of the experience is genuine hospitality from the wonderful locally and internationally sourced teams and local activities that allow guests the opportunity to see the real Maldives that so many visitors to this region miss out on.

28 February 2021

On the golden sands of Halkidiki, this famous resort comprises five properties (Sani Beach, Sani Club, Sani Dunes, Porto Sani and Sani Asterias), all within walking distance of one another and close to the resort’s own vibrant marina and vast array of restaurants and bars.

28 February 2021

Tourism has long been the lifeblood of this compelling country with its vibrant mix of sun-kissed beaches, floating markets, UNESCO-protected ruins, rainforests and remote hill tribes. This is a place where the deeper you dig into local life and communities, the more you’ll get out of your holiday – both in terms of personal enjoyment and the satisfaction you’ll feel knowing that you are sustaining local initiatives and livelihoods. Getting under the skin of Thailand through its people, its activities, its culture and its food is one of the most rewarding holidays you’ll ever have.

28 February 2021

With hotels dotted around the Indian Ocean – in the Maldives, the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar – the luxurious Constance group has a firm commitment to caring for its guests, the islands it inhabits and the communities who live there. Now a Gold member of Green Globe for its sustainable practices and green initiatives, it also enhances the prosperity of these blissful destinations not only through employing locals but by promoting regional food, entertainment and culture, preserving the local heritage and offering island-produced, eco-friendly crafts to take home as a wonderful memory of your time in paradise.

28 February 2021

You can fly and flop if you want to – this stylish, breezy all-inclusive property on the island’s north-east coast even has its own private island to which guests are conveyed on motorised rafts for a true Robinson Crusoe feel. But – part of the ground-breaking Attitude group, which in 2019 pledged to lead the way in making Mauritius a sustainable island – it’s also a place where you can really feel you’re putting something back into your destination.

28 February 2021

Exploring Iceland gives you the double whammy of seeing this Nordic island’s quite literally jaw-dropping natural phenomena and knowing that the local communities you visit en route are thriving thanks to visitors from overseas. They will benefit no matter whether you sign up for a whale-watching excursion from a fishing village, take a Zodiac boat tour of a calving glacier, eat locally sourced produce in a restaurant or buy local knitwear and other crafts. If time is short, focus on the south with a seven-day tour. Otherwise, enjoy the full circle of Iceland; it can be done in anything from nine to 14 days. The classic Iceland road trip is the main Ring Road around the island, which allows you to explore the entire coast, dipping inland as and when you please. A self-drive tour of Iceland really gets you under the skin of this most compelling of destinations and the way of life of its welcoming people. This is just a flavour of some of the things you might do on your self-drive holiday.

28 February 2021

On a private beach on the outskirts of Paphos, this luxurious adult-only all-suite hotel – a rarity in Paphos – has exclusive pool suites and a blissful low-lit spa including a private open-air massage area where you can soak in sea views and Mediterranean breezes rustling through the palm trees while you’re being pampered.

28 February 2021

Made up of three properties – the boutiquey Residence & Spa, the Moorish-inspired Palace and the opulent Arabian Court – One&Only Royal Mirage occupies a plum position on Jumeirah Beach beside the Palm Jumeirah, just down the road from the Dubai Marina.

28 February 2021

California and especially Southern California – SoCal – is a mecca for healthy living. Outdoorsy types are in heaven exploring its spectacular landscapes, from soaring mountains and sweeping beaches to vast National Parks and nature reserves, while yoga retreats, wellness centres and clean-food eateries abound, in cities and beyond. We’ve hand-picked our favourite wellness-oriented resorts and healthy-eating restaurants around this sun-drenched state.

28 February 2021

The opening of a resort with its own ice-skating rink would be big news anywhere, but in the Maldives it’s positively mind-blowing. That said, where this sparkling new resort – launched in December 2020 – really stands out is with its jaw-dropping overwater spa offering guests the chance to rejuvenate through treatments using aromatic coconut oil produced on the island itself, and through ancient Ayurvedic healing techniques ideal for those who need a reset and an escape from the modern world.

28 February 2021

Named Best European Destination for Sustainable Tourism and having announced a new sustainability strategy approved by the national government in May 2020, Portugal should be high on your list if you want your travel to be eco-friendly and to make a difference to local communities.

28 February 2021

Launched in 2019 and truly in a league of its own, The World’s First Discovery Yacht™ is unique not only for its groundbreaking design and the six-star luxury that it brings to ocean cruising, but in the sensitive way it uses state-of-the-art technology and amenities to connect its guests with local nature and communities to an unprecedented degree. A sister mega-yacht, Scenic Eclipse II, began construction in May 2020 – watch this space.

28 February 2021

This very special eco-resort encourages its guests to fully tune out of modern life for the duration of their stay by living barefoot and mobile-phone free. Meanwhile, its bewitching setting between the Hajar Mountains and the sparkling waters of Zighy Bay allows it to offer an exceptional array of exciting eco-friendly activities and means of connecting with the surrounding landscape, including paragliding, kayaking, hiking, mountain-biking and scuba diving.

28 February 2021

A pioneer in sustainable, barefoot luxury for quarter of a century, Soneva describes its extraordinary resorts in the Maldives and Thailand as ‘guardians of places that have existed long before us’, and set up the Soneva Foundation to help develop projects with positive environmental, social and economic impacts. These include ocean stewardship, forest restoration and water-filtering not just for its own properties but for local households, guesthouses, cafés, schools and businesses.

28 February 2021

If you’re looking to maximise the positive impacts of your travels on the environment and local communities of the South-east Asian destinations you visit, you’ve come to the right place. Travel Counsellors works with hand-picked partners in South-east Asia to offer fully bespoke itineraries including the major sites, half- and full-day experiences and optional add-ons that take you off the beaten track, as well as the best accommodation for your budget and eco-friendly transport such as bike, boat and train.

28 February 2021

Family-run by a mother-and-daughters team and oozing genuine hospitality, this award-winning boutique property – a member of the ultra-prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World group – comprises airy suites and villas sleeping 2–6, making it perfect for couples, families, friends and multigenerational groups alike. All suites and villas have jaw-dropping Gulf of Mirabello views, many have private pools, and some even come complete with their very own spa facilities for a pampering experience second to none. All are individually designed; expect luxury features including marble, antiques and gorgeous trompe l’oeil ceilings.

28 February 2021

This island-state off the southern tip of the Malay peninsula is a dazzler, with a compelling ethnic mix, iconic architecture, intriguing green spaces and fabulous food. Often seen as a stop-over destination, it’s worth at least a few days’ exploring in its own right.

28 February 2021

Unquestionably luxurious with its five-star lodges and tents in the heart of the Eastern Cape province – famed for its abundant wildlife – Shamwari is far from just a pretty face. Voted World's Leading Private Game Reserve in the World Travel Awards every single year since 1998, this private reserve works in collaboration with the globally renowned Born Free Foundation animal welfare charity and is home to two unique sanctuaries where you can learn more about the plight of wild cats and rhinos in captive environments across the world. There’s also the more recent Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre with its passionate team happy to talk to you about their work caring for young, injured and abandoned animals before releasing them back into the wild.

28 February 2021

The world’s second-largest country by size but only its 39th by population is one vast outdoor playground of glaciers, mountains, tundra, forests, beaches, islands and National Parks (41 of them), punctuated by hip modern cities, characterful towns and fascinating indigenous and other historical sites. The array of cultural experiences on offer in such a vast and diverse country is, understandably, quite stunning. The following are just a few of our favourites; I can include these and many more on an itinerary made just for you.

28 February 2021

A vibrant culture, astounding wildlife and spectacular landscapes including mountains and jungles… our itinerary really shows you this spellbinding Indian Ocean destination in all its rich and compelling diversity and gets you under the skin of the island and its people.

28 February 2021

No one can be immune to the charms of Italy. From its rolling green hills, spectacular lake region, mountains and national parks to its fabulous beaches, from its world-renowned art and architecture to one of the greatest cuisines in the world, this is one of the planet’s most popular holiday destinations for very good reason.

23 November 2020

The pool suites of boutique hotels in Santorini are amongst the best – and most Instagrammed – spots in Greece with views over the caldera, whilst Mykonos’ bohemian allure hasn’t faded since the 1960s. The Chora a hugely popular spot for the　romantic sunset views　by the landmark Kato Mili windmills　and the former fishermen’s houses in　Little Venice.