PJ van Zetten - Travel Counsellors, Beaconsfield, UK

30/10/2024

Is your time valuable to you? Do you hate spending hours online trying to find the right holiday? 🤯

Why not let me save you time and effort and use my expertise. I offer a bespoke service for discerning travellers who are time poor and internet wary. Tailor-made travel without the Savile Row price. Let's talk ... T: 01494 854160 M: 07717416145

25/10/2024

Today is Dog Appreciation Day! I certainly appreciate my handsome Morgan - almost 2 years old! The time has flown by young man 🐾
I’d love to see pictures of your dogs in the comments

22/10/2024

Good news for the UK Travel Industry.

According to ABTA’s latest Holiday Habits report out this week, more people are turning to travel professionals to arrange their holidays.

The report shows a year-on-year increase in Brits booking with a travel agent or tour operator from 34% in 2023 to 38% in 2024.

19/10/2024

CAWC Christmas Bazaar 🎄
Sunday 10 November 9am-4pm

This event is wonderful and for a good cause - please do have a read and share if you can!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cawc-christmas-charity-bazaar-premier-hour-tickets-tickets-909990505097?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios

Experience our amazing, annual Charity Christmas Bazaar, now in its 37th year, an hour before doors officially open (and then for as long as you would like until closing at 16:00) with a Premier hour ticket!

Join us from 9am-10am to enjoy the following before the crowds arrive:
🎄 The best chance at securing on-site parking at the Crowne Plaza
🎄 A welcome drink
🎄 An opportunity to purchase the beautiful gift baskets before doors open
🎄 Shopping with more than 60 specialty vendors
🎄 The ability to indulge your sweet tooth at our Bake Sale before anyone else

The Bazaar is renowned in the Chilterns and surrounding areas. Not only do we have an amazing array of wonderful vendors, selling beautiful and original items, but we also have a huge selection of magnificent gift baskets, each beautifully designed and hand wrapped by our members, which make perfect Christmas gifts.

Take a break from shopping and relax in our 'Texas Cafe' which offers delicious homemade chilli, and other yummy treats or head to our American Bake Sale and discover pumpkin pies, peanut butter blossoms, brownies, and sugar cookies galore! The Bazaar also features a Tombola with amazing prizes as well as a Grand Raffle and Silent Auction.

This year, CAWC is absolutely thrilled to be supporting Carers Bucks. We will be raising money for young people aged 5-25 throughout the Buckinghamshire area who give unpaid support and care to their loved ones. Anyone providing care to another individual can be affected in a variety of different ways but for young people it can be particularly challenging. Carers Bucks have set up support mechanisms to help these young carers cope with the challenges of looking after loved ones. They also provide targeted support work to increase knowledge around their caring role and provide detailed coping strategies that deal with looking after a parent or sibling.

14/10/2024

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends! 🇨🇦

Thanksgiving Day in Canada has been a holiday on the second Monday of October since 1957. It is a chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and other fortunes in the past year.

09/10/2024

I do love a travel challenge! A lovely client recently tasked me with finding a special trip to celebrate her husband’s 60th birthday. The brief was for a select, small, up market hotel…..location was flexible!

I sourced an amazing boutique hotel in Croatia, just 12 rooms, an infinity pool and a fabulous location. The hotel team promised to pull out all of the stops to make the trip special with some personal touches from me as well!

My client’s reaction to my find was simply…..”WOW”

If you want a unique break with the wow factor - let me help you!

01/10/2024

Did you know?
Starting in the first half of 2025 passengers travelling from a number of counties including the UK will need an ETIAS travel authorisation to enter 30 EU countries.

Rest assure I will be with you every step of the way ensuring whatever changes may happen all the details are taken care of.

Not having to worry about changing rules, regulations and legislation is another benefit of booking your travel with me, your personal Travel Counsellor! For every mile you travel, I go one further!!

26/09/2024

Today is national pancake day!!

The first recorded mention of pancakes dates back to ancient Greece and comes from a poet who described warm pancakes in one of his writings.

Almost always included in hotel breakfast buffets…..what’s your favourite pancake topping?

19/09/2024

Recently I have enjoyed finalising a trip of a lifetime to Madagascar for a lovely client whose wish was to see a Lemur native to the island! What a way to mark a special birthday!

16/09/2024

16/09/2024

Some great tips on maximising your annual leave for travel in 2025!

12/09/2024

Who doesn’t love a good statistic!!
New findings revealed by the HM Passport Office show that January, February and March are the busiest months for UK passport renewals - the peak day last year was March 17th!

Something to consider for 2025 travel if your passport is nearing its renewal date!

Are you affected by the 10-year-rule?

✅Check if your passport was issued before September 2018
✅Has it passed its 10-year anniversary? Even if it has several months left to run, it is invalid for travel to all EU countries with the exception of Ireland as well as Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Switzerland
✅If you are going to these countries you must have a passport issued less than 10 years before your departure date

04/09/2024

If you're looking for a destination that will leave you in awe of its beauty and culture, Singapore is the perfect place to visit. Click the link to read more on Travel Counsellors website and please do get in touch if you would like me to explore a personalised travel package for you.

https://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/inspiration/destinations/singapore/

28/08/2024

For clients who need extra support on their journeys, I am on hand to research what is available from airport assistance, extra leg room and suitable transfers.

Making your trip as stress free as possible is my aim!

21/08/2024

Last time I shared my thoughts on all-inclusive holidays. Now, if you’re off on a city break you don’t want to be tied to your hotel for dining as you’ll be exploring the city. However, my tip here is to find a hotel with a generous buffet breakfast offering. You’ll be able to ‘load up’ as you ‘break your fast’ and have enough fuel until your evening meal (except for the obligatory coffee and ice cream stops of course!)…

14/08/2024

What type of board should you choose? Well, there are many factors to consider and my next few posts will look at options.

Let’s start with all-inclusive holidays. Very popular, especially with families, they can be an excellent option for some holiday makers. A good way to keep additional costs when on holiday low and with the right research facilities can be superb. I always ask my customers exactly what they are looking for as all-inclusive offerings vary.

For example, some hotels have only 1 buffet style restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Might that get repetitive? Others have numerous restaurants but are some subject to extra supplements? What sports are included or extra.

I ensure ‘all-inclusive’ research to get you the holiday of your dreams and often suggest ‘half board’ so you can enjoy breakfast and one other meal in resort but then venture out to local restaurants too!

02/08/2024

Newly released data from ABTA points to a growing appetite for solo travel, with 16% of travellers saying they went on holiday by themselves in the 12 months to August 2023, compared to 11% of travellers during the previous 12 month period.

Don’t hesitate to contact me to find out how can I help you as a solo traveller.

24/07/2024

I have booked a variety of lovely holidays for my clients in recent weeks including Malta for a gentleman who wanted to stay in the beautiful city of Valetta. We discussed his exact requirements from flight times to hotel facilities and trips whilst he is there – what a wonderful time he will have on this gorgeous island.

Some more clients came back from a Baltic Cruise and enjoyed holidaying at sea so much that they have already booked another Cruise for later this year, this time Mediterranean plus two more in 2025 and one in 2026! I found some fantastic pricing for this lovely couple – all inclusive, balcony cabins – what wonderful adventures they have ahead!