Mark Riordan - Travel Counsellors

10/12/2024

Experience luxury at Anantara The Palm

7 nights from £1,745 per person based on 2 sharing

Located on the exclusive crescent of Palm Jumeirah, Anantara The Palm is a luxury beachfront escape offering the perfect retreat for escaping the cold this winter.

Surrounded by crystal-clear waters and boasting world-class facilities, this extraordinary resort blends Thai-inspired elegance with the distinctively opulent vibe of Dubai.

• Enjoy sweeping views of the Arabian Gulf on the hotel’s private beach, take part in thrilling water sports and long-tail boat experiences, and dive into one of three temperature-controlled swimming lagoons.

• Delight in an array of dining venues, from feasting on fresh seafood by the ocean to amazing Asian cuisine at Mekong restaurant. After your meal, unwind with a sunset cocktail at The Beach House and soak in the views of the city.

• Treat yourself to a rejuvenating treatment at the luxurious Anantara Spa. Choose from traditional hammam rituals, hydrotherapy, and full body massages, or simply take time for yourself in one of the serene relaxation spaces.

• Discover the best of Dubai during your stay with trips to the dazzling Dubai Marina Mall and excursions into the desert for a thrilling safari. Thanks to the resort's prime location, all the top attractions are just a short distance away.

What’s included:

• 7 nights at Anantara The Palm, Dubai

• Standard Residence; half board basis

• Flights from London Heathrow on 06/02/2025; with transfers

Terms and Conditions:

Subject to availability. Please give me a call for further details. Price based on 2 adults sharing. Prices correct at time of posting. Offers are subject to change. I can advise on travel insurance at the time of booking.

7 nights from £1,745 per person based on 2 sharing

Price from

£1,745

Departure date: 06/02/2025

Just quote DUBANATWIN

08/12/2024

When you read a post about travel it’s part of my work to spread the news and pass on information to support my customers. Please support me in return by responding to my post so I can post the information that helps you. Thanks for all your support team😎

08/12/2024

Please be aware of the item below which has come in for UK passport holders. It’s possible this will spread to other European countries in the future. Please feel free as ask my question about this new system.

New Spain entry rules from Dec 2024 including 'payment details' -

Controversial new regulations have come into force meaning there are a host of new checks - full list

06/12/2024

A winter sun getaway to Cyprus

7 nights from £839 per person based on 2 sharing

Swap frosty mornings for sun-drenched days with a winter escape to the 4-star superior Constantinou Bros Athena Beach Hotel, located along the shimmering coastline of Paphos.

Surrounded by history and culture, this exceptional beachfront retreat promises a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure.

• Wake up to the soothing sound of the waves and step right onto the golden sand beach. With uninterrupted views of the Mediterranean Sea and lush, landscaped gardens, the hotel’s serene setting is perfect for unwinding under the winter sun.

• With an array of outdoor pools and a rejuvenating spa, Constantinou Bros Athena Beach Hotel is a haven of luxury. Enjoy tailored spa treatments, a heated indoor pool, and elegant lounges, where every detail is crafted for ultimate relaxation.

• For those seeking a more active escape, the hotel has tennis courts, mini golf, and a fully equipped gym. Alternatively, take a leisurely coastal walk along the nearby promenade, soaking in the Cypriot scenery.

• Explore the legendary Tombs of the Kings, marvel at intricate mosaics in the Paphos Archaeological Park, or wander the charming old town streets. The hotel’s location puts you close to the region's most iconic sites.

• Experience an exceptional variety of dining options with a selection of four restaurants, from buffet to à la carte, designed to delight every palate.

What’s included:

• 7 nights at Constantinou Bros Athena Beach Hotel, Cyprus

• Classic Land View; premium all-inclusive basis

• Flights from Stansted on 03/01/2025; with transfers

Terms and Conditions:

Subject to availability. Please give me a call for further details. Price based on 2 adults sharing. Prices correct at time of posting. Offers are subject to change. I can advise on travel insurance at the time of booking.

7 nights from £839 per person based on 2 sharing

04/12/2024

NH Collection Dubai The Palm - £1,848 per person
Based on 2 adults

Departing 6th March 2025

7 nights (including overnight flight)

1 bedroom Seaview apartment with balcony Half board

Flights from LHR with Virgin

Private transfers included

Added benefits:

2 hours of complimentary drinks

Spa voucher

03/12/2024

Travel agency Fora has released its "2025 Hot List" of travel trends. The company is seeing a lot of excitement around a new level of luxury in airport lounges and lifestyle cross-collaborations in the travel space (for instance, Aman Resorts recently named Novak Djokovic its first global wellness advisor). Far-flung destinations, solo travel and high-end cruising are also top of mind for travelers going into the new year. Created with intel from Fora’s leadership team, industry partners and thousands of advisors, this year’s Hot List features five trends to watch in 2025.

These include:

1 High-end cruising – This is a growing trend at Fora as new luxury ships make it so that even the most avowed “never-cruisers” are beginning to test the waters. Lines to watch in 2025 include Aqua Expeditions, Explora Journeys, Four Seasons Yachts, The Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection and more.

2 Solo travel – This can be an unmatched experience of discovery when you’re in the right place, and Fora picked several big cities in the U.S. and abroad that are perfect for solo travelers. Domestically, Santa Monica, New Orleans and Seattle top the list. Abroad, Fora has guides for solo adventures in London, Rome, Nice, Barcelona and Mexico City.

3 Far-flung destinations – With 2025 being the year of adventure, travelers will get off the beaten track and discover far-flung regions of the world such as Kenya, Bhutan and Chilean Patagonia.

4 Hotel-lifestyle collaborations – In 2025, hotels are partnering with luxury brands and notable names to curate one-of-a-kind experiences. Aman recently named Novak Djokovic its first global wellness advisor, Round Hill has partnered with Pebble Bar, the Mercer is working with Dr. Barbara Sturm on an exclusive facial, and Le Sirenuse is launching a loungewear collection with Comme Si. Barrière. Additionally, Fouquet’s and Loulou are opening the Loulou Courchevel at Hôtel Barrière Les Neiges.

5 Redefining the airport lounge – With more Americans traveling than ever before, airports have had to evolve, upping their game for savvy travelers. Several airlines and credit card brands have risen to the challenge, i.e. Delta One Lounge and Private Suite, which have taken travel glam to the next level.

Please comment with your thoughts so I can know what to pitch when looking a different types of holidays and what are your view's on holidays for the future? Feel free to share as well so your friends and family can see the future too

03/12/2024

Some discussion points at Abta’s annual Travel Trends conference in London was "Solo travel is not a trend".

G Adventures, Newmarket Holidays and Intrepid can all point to bookings increases. Intrepid’s general manager, Hazel McGuire made the point that although solo travel is often tagged as a trend, it’s become so much more than that.

It’s a fundamental shift in the way women are living their lives because of socio-demographic changes such as declining birth and marriage rates, the tendency towards later marriages, and the higher proportion of women in senior roles in the workforce.

“Women have more independence and less ties to home. This is a much longer trend than a year-in-year shift,” McGuire said, adding: “There’s also a misconception that solo means single, widowed, or divorced and it’s a sorry story but actually it’s a fantastic one – it’s about people seizing opportunities!”.

Whilst these leaders of the industry spoke of the excitement of this new style of travel they did not get in to the main argument most people have about having to pay a "Solo Supplements".

Please comment or like and leave your thoughts so I know what you think thanks.

01/12/2024

Planning ahead: savvy or silly?

Booking three years in advance? Sounds crazy, right? And not something travel journalist Simon Calder was willing to advise people to do, but Newmarket Holidays put 2027 on sale six weeks ago, and Kate Liberty, head of marketing and brand, said in the last few weeks, a fifth of the operator’s total bookings were for 2027. “We’re definitely seeing an early booking trend,” she said. Newmarket was not the only one – Carnival Cruise Line’s Luke Smith said most cruise lines had gone on sale with 2027, which meant they had a full 12 months of additional stock on sale than was usual in the past. “We have one of the least aggressive late markets that we’ve seen in a long time, and that’s due to better forward bookings,” he said. The consensus was that customers favoured early booking to guarantee pricing and spread the payment, amid the financial uncertainty.

As I've always said you can have any holiday you want you just need to plan and can pay it off.

At Travel Counsellors we are our own operators so we can write the holiday or trip to suit you just need to let us know. So if you want that BIG holiday you can pay it off in advance up until 3 months of the holiday so have a think and let me know how I can assist.

15/11/2024

🌟🌟WOW - Chicago From Only £𝟳𝟱𝟵𝗽𝗽 🌟🌟
☑️4th May 2025
☑️Flights Based From London
☑️4 nights - The Ambassador Hotel, Chicago
☑️2 Queen Beds - Room Only
☑️Based on 2 Adults & 2 Children (under 11)
🔴London 2 Adults - £𝟵𝟴𝟵𝗽𝗽
🔴Edinburgh Family Of Four £𝟴𝟰𝟵𝗽𝗽 / 2 Adults £𝟭𝟬𝟴𝟵𝗽𝗽
🔴Manchester Family Of Four £𝟴𝟱𝟵𝗽𝗽 / 2 Adults £𝟭𝟭𝟬𝟵𝗽𝗽
Fantastic offers just waiting to be grabbed so don't hang back and give me a call 🇺🇸🇬🇧

04/11/2024

New rules for entry in to Canada means less lines and a quicker process when you enter Canada. Please read on.

Travellers arriving in Canada at certain airports can save time at the border by submitting their customs and immigration declaration in advance using this app.

16/10/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/vzTimbZUxYC2W5yx/?mibextid=WC7FNe

16/10/2024

On Monday I had the pleasure to visit the Baron group here in Sharm El Sheikh looking at the Baron Palms and the Baron Resort.

I was met & hosted by Mr Sherif Noaman & Mr Walid Elkhayat and spent the day exploring both hotels and the hospitality of the restaurants.

Both locations offer a fantastic experience for their customers with one being adult only and the other being a family hotel.

The quality of everything was of the highest standards and the atmosphere of peace and calm sets the mood for your holiday.

They also have a lovely function hall which can cater for over 300 people seated be it a Wedding or a Conference.

I would like to thank all the staff for a lovely day and would highly recommend this hotel for its quality, value and attention to detail.

Also, thanks to Gary Boyer for his assistance arranging the visit.

04/10/2024

Have a look at this I can't wait 😎

The Grand Hotel is a five star hotel in the Ras Um El Sid area of Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. It is set in a stunning clifftop location with views across the Str...

04/10/2024

It's that time when I need a holiday and so I am taking some of my own advice and will be going to the The Grand in Sharm El Sheikh, to rest, enjoy the view, food and people.

I will be speaking to the General Manager and looking at the local hotels to see what is good so I am able to report back to you on offers and deals to be had.

I will keep you posted as I go along so keep an eye out for my adventures and stories of how it all goes.😎

04/10/2024

New P&O Cruises Winter 2026/27 collection coming soon!
New winter 2026/27 itineraries released from 8.30am on Monday 14 October 2024. Customers can register their interest until 11.59pm on Monday 21 October 2024.

Full winter 2026/27 collection exclusively on sale for Caribbean, Baltic and Ligurian tier members of the P&O Cruises Peninsular Club from 8.30am to 8.00pm on Tuesday 22 October 2024.

Winter 2026/27 holidays departing October – December 2026 on general sale from 8.30am on Wednesday 23 October 2024.

Winter 2026/27 holidays departing January – March 2027 on general sale from 8.30am on Thursday 24 October 2024.

04/10/2024

Princess Juliana International Airport, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication, has announced the upcoming launch of an automated border control system. As part of an ongoing reconstruction project that includes the fully renovated airport, this system will modernize the way passengers enter and exit St. Maarten, ensuring enhanced security, efficiency and a seamless travel experience.

The project involves the introduction of a digital entry form, besides biometric integration in the future. Starting October 8, travelers will be required to visit www.entry.sx and complete their document ahead of travel, as the form should be completed prior to checking in for a flight.

In future, this system will allow passengers to use their biometrics to clear through border control. Later phases of the project will introduce Advance Passenger Information Systems and Passenger Name Record Systems to improve traveler risk management performed by the Immigration and Border Protection Service. This solution will meet all General Data Protection Regulation standards and data privacy protection for travelers and will eventually be extended to general aviation visitors.

Minister of Justice Lyndon Lewis said, “This project aims to streamline the passenger registration process by introducing the necessary digital equipment, along with a user-friendly website where individuals entering the country can conveniently register their information beforehand and be processed by Immigration. By providing this digital platform, the Ministry of Justice will have the necessary tools to carry out their vital duties more efficiently, ensuring the safety and well-being of our nation.”

Scheduled for launch October 8, 2024, the website will serve as a critical resource for passengers entering St. Maarten. Additionally, the Arrival Hall is scheduled for opening on October 15, 2024.

03/10/2024

If you would like to visit any site across England or perhaps tour from abroad then look no future as this is your One Stop Shop.

I can arrange full travel around the world or across the pond, hotels with transfers or day trips around London and the UK to see the sites you've heard of or the home of your ancestors or just on your Bucket List.

From Changing the Guards at Buckingham Palace, Big Ben or shopping at Harrods, A walk among the stones at Stonehenge or watching a play at Stratford upon Avon in Shakespeare Country or just a cup of Tea in the Cotswolds it's all in a days visit.

I can arrange general visits or private Blue Badge tours for individuals or a coach group so let me know what you would like and left me do the hard work and make it happen.

❤️ 🇬🇧

03/10/2024

Grecotel Amirandes, Crete - £1,229 per person
Based on 2 adults

Departing 16th May 2025

7 nights

Superior Room

B&B

Return flights with Easyjet

Private transfers included

EBO - 15% Discount. Book By 28/02/2025.

EBO - 5% Additional Discount. Book By 01/11/2024.