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This is my travel channel and now I've just launched my own travel company!! Follow me on my global t

24/10/2021

Another lovely day in paradise in Phuket 😍

23/10/2021

Loving the colours in Phuket tonight. I’m enjoying being right on the beach while doing a 10 day detox programme at Atmanjai. So pretty and peaceful.

03/09/2021

Are you looking for a new staycation idea? I am pleased to be able to offer an exclusive deal at the wonderful 5 star St Regis Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi. A truly luxurous resort located on a beautiful beach front. Bed and breakfast rate for only 985AED for 2 adults and 1 child. Book now for stays up until 24th December. Get in touch now to book the break away you deserve. [email protected].

31/03/2021

I've already booked 3 different clients this amazing deal for May. Please get in touch if you would like to make the most of this great offer!

30/03/2021

I can't believe the great deal the Grand Hyatt has offered my clients for the EID break! This certainly won't last long so if you are interested get in touch ASAP. The offer is for 2 adults and up to 2 children in a Club Room with breakfast and dinner and unlimited beverages with dinner between 6.30pm - 8.30pm for not just one but TWO NIGHTS for a total of 1000AED 🤩🤩🤩🤩

28/03/2021

This is one good reason to book your travel with a Travel Counsellor. If you are looking to book a staycation or a well deserved overseas holiday I’d love to help you plan and book something great 👍 Take all the worry out of travel and book with peace of mind. 🤩 Book with Travel Counsellors UAE

22/03/2021

I just booked a great deal for a family of four at the JA Palm Tree Court Hotel for the upcoming school holidays. They got a fabulous Deluxe All-inclusive rate. Please contact me if you are looking for a few nights staycation.

08/03/2021

Are you thinking about treating yourself to a magical Maldives holiday? The Sun Siyam Iru Veli is offering a great all-inclusive deal for a 4 nights stay for 2 adults and 1 child in a beach villa with private pool for just 16,984 including return speed boat transfers 🤩🤩🤩. Does this look like paradise to you?

06/03/2021

How exciting 😍😍😍The gorgeous Seychelles is opening to all tourists on 25th March - vaccinated or non-vaccinated 🤸‍♀️🤸‍♂️🤸‍♀️🤸‍♂️. I've been to the Seychelles several times and would love to plan and book a fabulous well-deserved holiday for you. Start dusting off those suitcases. Let me know in the comments below if you are ready to start travelling again!

06/03/2021

If you are looking for a great staycation deal for Spring break I currently have a fabulous offer for the Fujairah Rotana Hotel for 2 adults and 1 child with an all-inclusive package starting at 925AED per night. Get in touch if you'd like to know more 😍😍

03/03/2021

I have some clients checking into the Anatara The Palm today in a deluxe lagoon access room for a couple of nights. I am sure they are going to love their staycation.

06/02/2021

Just imagine....you, this bath, this view...and a glass of bubbles. Bliss 😍😍😍. Can you see yourself here? I know I can 😁😁😁

05/02/2021

Are you hoping to travel again this year? I'd love to partner with you to understand your travel needs and help book a holiday experience you will always remember. Because with Travel Counsellors, it's personal :) Get in touch and we can start planning your next travels now.

04/02/2021

One of the best things about working from home is being able to check out new cafes for breakfast every day. I found a great new spot I plan on working from at least one day a week. The food was great, the views lovely and it's so close to home. I highly recommend checking out the new Amara Lounge at Jumeirah Living Marina Gate. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the prices are very reasonable. Loving the . Let me know in the comments below if you have a favourite breakfast place I should check out sometime soon.

03/02/2021

It's been a challenging time for families over the past 12 months trying to manage lockdowns and home schooling. Perhaps you could all do with a well-deserved break and enjoy a staycation for half-term? 🤩🤩🤩 I have some great value resorts with space available. If this sounds like you, contact me to find out more and create that relaxing time for you and your family! 👍

02/02/2021

We swam with the turtles! 🤩🤩When my husband and I visited The Residence in the Maldives in early December we decided to do a boat excursion to swim with turtles. I've swum with dolphins🐬 before and I'd seen turtles while scuba diving but I'd never done a snorkelling trip to see turtles. A small group of us headed out in the boat and were excited to pass through a huge rain storm 🌧on the way. The change in weather was so dramatic. But it passed as quickly as it came, and we were soon in the water on the lookout for turtles. We were lucky enough to find about 8 different turtles during our swim and it was an amazing feeling to be able to swim alongside them. We took our time and enjoyed the experience before climbing back into the boat⛵️ to witness the most beautiful pink and orange sunset 🌞 as we came back close to the resort. It's a Maldives excursion I'd highly recommend. Have you ever swum with turtles? Let me know in the comments below

01/02/2021

Are you thinking of traveling to the Maldives but not sure what how to make it happen with all these restrictions? 🤷‍♀️ Well its much easier than you might think! I travelled to The Residence in the Maldives early in December so I can let you know exactly how to get yourself there, what's required in terms of COVID-19, and help you take that magical well needed break away you have been waiting for, for so long! 😍
Get in touch to find out all you need to know and let me help you find the perfect resort for your stay. 👌

01/02/2021

The first day of a new month seems as good as any to launch something new 😊. I've just opened my own Travel Counsellors business!! I'm so excited to be able to do something I am so passionate about as well as enjoy the freedom of working for myself, from home 🏠. I love to travel ✈️and now I get to plan and book travel for others. If you are thinking about a staycation or travelling further afield, get in touch, I'd love to help make memories for you. 💖

26/01/2021

Happy Australia Day! I thought I'd share a photo I took while on a great Australian road trip. This was the start of the Nullarbor Plain, a 650km straight road that stretches across the southern edge of Australia from Western Australia to South Australia. My husband and I drove across the Nullarbor as part of a 14 day motorhome journey from Perth to Adelaide. The beauty of Australia is something neither of us will ever forget.

03/12/2020

My first drone flight.... in the Maldives. Lots of room for improvement but loving this resort. It’s gorgeous 🤩🤩🤩

11/08/2020

[Can you believe I won this stay?]

#10 of 10 ‘Top Hotels I have stayed’

Al Maha Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa, Dubai

Have you ever been lucky enough to win a hotel stay? I have. And it wasn’t just a hotel stay. It was 4 nights in the two bedroom Emirates Suite at the iconic 7 star Al Maha Luxury Collection Desert Resort 🤩🤩. It was quite a few years ago now, but it will be forever etched in my memory. What an experience!

This is an adults’ only luxury resort, nestled in lush palm groves in a desert conservation area, about 45 minutes’ drive from Dubai. I have been lucky enough to return a couple more times since my first stay, and it remains one of my top hotels in the world.

The Emirates Suite is over 4000 sqft with 2 private bedrooms that are situated at either end of the spacious dining and living room areas, which open out to a large private swimming pool, perched on the edge of the desert with nothing but rolling red sand dunes as far as the eye can see. The suite also comes residential quarters for private staff off the outdoor courtyard, in case I felt a need to bring my own chef, butler or security staff with me. I had none of those, but I did have 3 very happy girlfriends, who were delighted to share this amazing prize with me. This room is currently priced at $6,000USD per night so you can imagine how happy my girlfriends were!

All meals and activities are included. You can choose to dine al fresco on the veranda of the signature Al Diwaan restaurant, or enjoy an intimate 5 course dinner on your own private suite terrace, with each course delivered one by one, by your butler, who arrives in a golf buggy.

My favourite activities are the early morning 4WD dune bashing adventure, horse riding and the champagne sunset camel ride. It’s not to be missed. All suites in this resort come with private temperature controlled large plunge pools where you can relax your days away, surrounded by the gorgeous desert views and occasional visit by a desert Oryx or two.

If you ever get the chance to visit Dubai, I recommend a stay at Al Maha will be one you will never forget.

P.S. You might want to know how I won this fabulous stay? I bought myself a gorgeous dress and was lucky enough to win ‘Fashions in the Field’ at the Dubai World Cup. This was many years ago, when the competition wasn’t quite so tough 😂

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07/08/2020

[The view from the jaccuzi…simply stunning]

#9 of 10 ‘Top hotels I have stayed’

Mudbrick Luxury Cottages, Waiheke Island, New Zealand

My husband and I were lucky enough to have a couple of days in Auckland and one of our favourite places to visit when there is Waiheke Island. We had only done day trips previously so were excited to finally be able to stay the night. In researching our options, I discovered the Mudbrick Luxury Cottages which are part of the well-known Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant complex.

There are only two luxury cottages which are tucked away from the rest of the complex over a small hill, allowing for complete privacy. The two cottages are aptly named ‘Olive’ and ‘Merlot’ and also offer complete privacy from each other.

The first thing to provide the wow factor is the view as you make your way along a short path to the cottage. The cottages face back over the ocean to Auckland. Also, it’s easy to see the cottages have been given a lot of love in the design phase. Mudbrick decided to create a fantasy, fairytale cottage, full of character and old world charm along with rustic touches and romance. They certainly achieved this. Everything about the cottage was just gorgeous.

We spent the afternoon in the whirlpool bath enjoying a complimentary bottle of bubbles while watching the sunset over Auckland and the ocean. We then wandered next door to enjoy a fabulous dinner at the Mudbrick restaurant. Following dinner, we stoked up the fire and soaked up our cozy surroundings. The following morning, we took a late breakfast in the more casual The Archive Bistro before enjoying some more whirlpool bath time and superb views on offer.

If you are looking for a romantic, idyllic fantasy escape where relaxation is on your agenda, I highly recommend the Mudbrick Cottages are just what you are looking for.

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04/08/2020

[Is this the most photogenic hotel ever?]

The Alila Uluwatu, Bali

#8 of 10 ‘Best hotels I have stayed’

This is definitely an Insta-worthy stay. Putting your camera down is one of the hardest things you will have to do when staying in this amazing hotel. This was the first Alila Hotel we had stayed at and it certainly set the bar high for the Alila brand. We loved everything about it.

The Alila Uluwatu has been built on an elevated plateau along the southern coastline on Bali where limestone cliffs sweep down to the ocean with endless views out to the Pacific Ocean. The gorgeous pool is perched on the cliff edge and is stunning.

We stayed in a One Bedroom Pool Villa which was enormous at 290 sq metres. It was truly divine. The bed was super comfortable, the bathroom had a lovely big bath and an indoor and outdoor shower. I loved being able to pull the shutter windows all the way back and open the villa to our private swimming pool. We were happy to spend all day just relaxing and enjoying this beautiful villa. We even got to enjoy the personal butler service.

We were lucky enough to enjoy a massage in the spa and ate in both restaurants for dinner with the Indonesian restaurant The Warung being our favourite. We enjoyed our stay so much we didn’t leave the resort once during our stay!

Have you ever loved a hotel so much you didn’t leave?

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02/08/2020

[We took our honeymoon before we were married]

Dusit Thani, Maldives

#7 of 10 ‘Top hotels I have stayed’

It was our first time to the Maldives. We wanted to stay for a good few days, after all, this was the Maldives, and we knew it would be spectacular. The Maldives is not cheap, so we decided to stay 5 nights at an average priced resort which was lovely, but then we decided to go all out. After a lot of research into what industry deals we could get, we decided to stay the last 3 nights at the Dusit Thani, which was just newly opened at the time. And if we were going to go upmarket, it had to be in an overwater bungalow with swimming pool. After all, it was the Maldives.

Oh my God. We LOVED everything about the Dusit Thani. It was just spectacular. From the seaplane arrival at the jetty, the stunning overwater bungalow, our large deck with gorgeous swimming pool, the amazing stand-alone bath tub, and our personal butler service, what was there not to love? We couldn’t have hoped for more. It was more than just our villa though that made our stay. The stunning hotel swimming pool, the best breakfast buffet we ever had, and the two amazing restaurants, both in terms of food and setting, were luxury at its best, as well as the very welcoming staff.

The island is small enough to walk or bike around and snorkelling in the untouched reef was exquisite. If you ever get the chance to stay in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives you should take it. But it is not cheap, which is why we agreed that we could never spend that much money again on a hotel stay, even for our honeymoon. Was it worth it? Hell yes!
ranger

12/07/2020

[How do you choose just one hotel?]

LUX, Le Morne, Mauritius

#6 of 10 ‘Top hotels I’ve stayed’

There are so many amazing hotels in Mauritius it’s hard to choose just one. This was my third visit to Mauritius but certainly the best hotel choice I had made on this beautiful island. I chose LUX Le Morne due to its’ location. It is in the South West of the island, and sheltered at the foot of rugged, majestic Mount Le Morne, on a gorgeous blue lagoon that sees some great sunsets.

When choosing a hotel in Mauritius you need to take into account which direction the winds are blowing during the different seasons, if you want to ensure you experience smooth ocean water.

Even though there are plenty of activities to experience at this end of the island such as climbing the mountain, exploring national parks and bike riding, we loved the resort so much we didn’t leave, except for a fabulous boat ride to swim with dolphins. Just a little further south from the resort is a very popular spot for kite surfing named ‘One Eye’ where you can walk to and spend time watching the surfers turn all sorts of tricks on their boards.

We booked an Ocean Junior Suite on an all-inclusive basis. We loved the location of the suite as we could walk out onto the beautiful green grass and in a few steps were on the gorgeous long white sand beach. There are many palm trees where you will find plenty of extra-large blue beanbags in their shade, to relax in throughout the day. There are 5 pools to choose from and the restaurants served a great choice of high quality meals. We enjoyed a private pranic breathing session at the lovely spa and also did one of the complimentary yoga classes which was held on the grass by the beach as the sunset. It was wonderful!

Everything about our stay was 5 star, including the staff, which would explain why this hotel has a score of 5.0 on Tripadvisor. It would be hard not to choose LUX Le Morne on our next trip to Mauritius as our stay was just perfect.

Have you ever had a perfect hotel stay? Let me know in the comments below.

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11/07/2020

[ We extended our trip and drove 4 hours just to stay here ]

#5 of 10 ‘Top hotels I’ve stayed’

Sunyata Hotel, Meili Mountain Range, Yunan Province, China.

When I stumbled across this hotel on designhotels.com, and saw the photo of a large bathtub with views out to some majestic snow-capped mountains, I knew I just had to go there. It would require a 4 hour drive each way and an additional 2 nights onto our already busy ‘Road to Tibet’ itinerary, but it looked too good not to make the effort, and this is not a part of the world that’s easy to get to.

I had never heard of the Meili Mountains before. I am not sure why, as they are spectacular. They are located in the North-West Yunnan province of China and considered sacred by the Tibetan Buddhists. The Sunyata is a new hotel and has introduced a standard of luxury not found in this region until now. The reality lived up to the expectations of the photos I had seen, in fact the reality far surpassed my expectations.

The hotel is nestled just above Wunongding village, a cluster of only 22 households, untouched for centuries. The hotel is a restored Tibetan house, guided by Tibetan principles of architecture where natural materials, salvaged wood and earthy colours demonstrate the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi.

We were impressed that several staff spoke good English and we were able to ask any questions or order room service via WeChat. Always a first time for everything!

I booked a deluxe Double room with bath and was delighted to discover we had been allocated the best room in the hotel. The views out of every window were gorgeous. People travel here especially to see the sunrise on Meili Mountains. On a clear day, the sun will turn the white snow-capped mountains to a bright orange. It is a sight worth witnessing.

An amazing hotel, beautifully designed and furnished with all meals included. I truly loved out stay here and would highly recommend it 🤩🤩🤩👍.

05/07/2020

[I took 2 flights that cost $568 USD just to stay at this hotel]

#4 of 10 ‘Top hotels I’ve stayed’

I love the Alila hotel brand. After an amazing experience at Alila Uluwatu in Bali, I knew I wanted more. So, when I planned a trip to Tibet last year, I actually extended my stay and said goodbye to hubby as he flew home from Lhasa. I wanted to check out the Alila Yangshou so much, I took 2 flights from Lhasa, with Air China via Chengdu, just to spend 2 nights here.

I had visited Yangshou 24 years earlier, when backpacking through China. I thought it was a magical place with karst mountains surrounding the Li River. So, the combination of returning to such a beautiful place, and staying at a fabulous new hotel, just couldn’t be resisted.

What a hotel! Just outside of the city, the Alila Hotel has been crafted from an old sugar mill. It is set in a scenic landscape of misty hills with a stunning Instagram worthy swimming pool overlooking the beautiful Li River. I arrived late at night which was a sight to behold, as the lighting on the sugar mill buildings was simply stunning. I booked a Sugar House Deluxe King Retreat room with breakfast. The room was comfortable with a contemporary design on a higher floor and my balcony overlooked a grassy rock face and the main hotel building. I loved the bathroom which was complemented with high end amenities and a large bath tub. Great for taking a long soak!

The pool was without doubt the highlight. In fact, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a more scenic pool setting anywhere else. I spent hours lying beside the pool gazing out at the boats navigating their way up and down the Li River. I ate at the restaurant for breakfast and dinner. I was very impressed with the quality of the cuisine, especially my dinner experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and found it a wonderful hotel to relax after a busy 2-week itinerary. My only regret is I wasn’t able to stay longer.

04/07/2020

[A Venice hotel with a perfect score]

#3 of 10 ‘Top Hotels I’ve stayed in’

Venice is one of my favourite cities in the world. It is picture perfect everywhere you look and it’s such a romantic city. I have been lucky enough to visit Venice five times now. My very first time was when I was on a Contiki Tour through Europe where we stayed at a campsite just outside of the city. On my other visits, I have also stayed in hostels and cheap hotel rooms as Venice is quite an expensive city. On my last visit though, I travelled to Venice for the weekend to celebrate my birthday with my husband. When you work for an airline, it is a privilege that a weekend in Venice is an affordable option for a getaway. I was excited to be able to finally be able to stay in a more upmarket hotel, right in the heart of the city, and within walking distance to everything.

After much research on Tripadvisor looking for the perfect hotel I chose Hotel Ai Cavalieri. It had only been open for a year, but had managed to reach #1 among thousands of amazing Venetian hotels, so I thought it must have something special. I was not disappointed.

The location is perfect. It’s sits right on a small canal which makes arriving by private water taxi a great option. It’s not on one of the main thoroughfares so noise is not an issue. It’s a 6 minute walk to the Rialto Bridge and 8 minutes to Piazza San Marco.

We booked the Junior Suite with terrace and were excited to find we were allocated the suite with the biggest terrace the hotel had to offer. It was just fabulous. We enjoyed sitting out on the sun loungers in our bathrobes and soaking in the atmosphere. We were able to look over into the streets below and watch the world go by. The room was large and very comfortable and I loved the classic stand-alone bathtub with windows out to the terrace. It was a wonderful place for a long soak! A very generous and delicious breakfast was included. The staff here were wonderful from the moment we stepped from our water taxi. They were warm and welcoming and generous with their recommendations of places to eat and must dos. I’m not surprised to see that Hotel Ai Cavalieri still retains a perfect score of 5.0 on Tripadvisor several years on. If you get a chance to visit Venice I highly recommend this wonderful hotel. You won’t be disappointed.

03/07/2020

[Worth the splurge at least once in your life]
#2 of 10 in my series of ‘Top hotels I’ve stayed in’
I loved being able to take my Spanish husband to stay at The One and Only Wolgan Valley Resort a few years ago when we travelled back to Sydney for family Christmas. It was a great way for him to experience our great Australian bush as the resort is nestled in the World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains.

This is an outstanding hotel. Once we arrived, we felt we were miles from anywhere.

The standard of every single thing about this resort is extremely high which would explain the price. We stayed in a one bedroom Heritage villa built with sandstone walls, polished floors and floor to ceiling windows so we could soak in the surrounding views. The villa was a great size being 83 sqm and had a separate living room and bedroom. Our favourite feature of the villa was the 7-metre private temperature controlled swimming pool. We were able to completely pull back the unfolding windows to open the pool up completely, but still maintain complete privacy from the other villas. The four-poster bed was amazing, it was so soft we just sunk into it. The fireplace was so inviting, even though it was December and the middle of summer, we just had to turn it on in the evening to enjoy. We had to add a little a/c to the mix to balance the temperature.

This is an all-inclusive resort and every meal was on par with some of the best restaurants we have ever eaten at. In fact, we would return here, even if it was just for the cuisine experience, but luckily, it has so much more to offer. There are many activities to do such as horse riding, mountain biking and bush walking. It’s easy to see why this resort has made the Conde Nast Traveller 2020 Gold List.
We loved out stay here and hope to return again someday. I highly recommend this hotel, it’s worth splurging for a special occasion at least once in your life! 🤩🤩
📷 Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley

Address

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 19:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 19:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 19:00
Thursday	09:00 - 19:00
Saturday	09:00 - 19:00
Sunday	09:00 - 19:00

Telephone

+971507552198

Website

http://www.travelCounsellors.ae/kathryn.ferguson

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