From Antigua to Zanzibar the world is your oyster - with my help you can find your pearl! You will never be left to sort things out alone.
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As your Personal Travel Counsellor I will create your perfect holiday which is unique to you, and transform your dreams into memories, by offering a friendly, personal, one to one travel service. Hi, my name is Sally and I am an independent travel agent in Suffolk, with 27 years' experience in travel (and I've been a Travel Counsellor since March 2002). My main specialities are luxury holidays, in
particular but not limited to North America, South Africa, Australia & New Zealand, Indian Ocean, Caribbean, Italy, cruises, city breaks and honeymoons. I have first-hand experience of getting married abroad in the Seychelles - a destination that holds a very special place in my heart and which I have now visited 5 times. Italy is another favourite place of mine, and I have a good understanding of Italian having started to learn the language back in 2013. You may wonder why you should book with me and not through the internet? Well that's easy to answer:
* I check holidays every day and, once I know a bit more about you and your preferences I can quickly find the most suitable options for you. Internet "deals" are not always what they seem, and computers are just machines - they cannot make personal recommendations, discuss queries and nuances with you, nor do they provide good customer service.
* I will do all the hard work and save you the time and hassle that comes with trying to DIY or deal with the “production line” in a shop or call centre, and I will give that rate personal human touch to your booking.
* Travel Counsellors is independent so, unlike some high street and online agents we are not tied to a limited number of tour operators or biased by incentives or in-house brands. I therefore always explore multiple options to find or tailor-make the right holiday at the right price, and always sell what is right for you rather than what is right for me. I can also tailor-make your holiday to make it totally “yours” by adding unique and special touches personal to you.
* You will only ever need to deal with one person – me! (or a trusted colleague if I’m away myself), I will personally look after your holiday with the same care and attention to detail that I would for my own, and am easily contactable at a time to suit you, even outside normal working hours no matter how simple or complex you feel your query is – from the initial enquiry right until after you return home.
* Everything you book with me is fully financially protected, and should there be any unexpected issues while you’re away, your airline goes bust, or another Ash cloud (or virus!) looms, you only need to call me or our 24 hour emergency Duty Office and things will be sorted for you – in fact I’m more likely to contact YOU before you need to contact me. You can therefore relax knowing that all you need to worry about is enjoying your holiday and making those special memories.
* I’m well-travelled, patient, and have a good sense of humour. Whether you fancy a short break in England, a world cruise, or anything in between, I am here to help with professional impartial advice and guidance, often from first-hand experience, and although I work from home I have the support of over 1,500 colleagues worldwide to give extra advice, tips and recommendations.
* My business (and reputation) is built on providing the highest possible levels of service and independent advice (and occasional friendly banter about football!), and I have customers all over the UK and Europe, so wherever you are based I can help you. I cannot always match or beat internet prices because the internet just doesn’t provide the same expertise, care and service that we do at Travel Counsellors so there is no comparison to match – however, I will always strive to provide best VALUE. “Cheap deals” are not always your wisest option. So, if this sounds like the holiday booking experience you are looking for, don’t drown yourself in information and starve yourself of wisdom! I will be delighted to assist you, and I will go that extra mile so that you can too.
23/09/2022
I have been very quiet on here recently, so I just wanted to write a little message to assure you all that I am still here and well and truly open for business!
It has been an incredibly difficult 30 months or so in the travel industry as we all know, but travel started opening up again last year, and throughout 2022 we have seen restrictions easing up rapidly. My business is now thankfully very much back on track and I am so grateful to every one of you who has supported me throughout these challenging times.
Last year I was still doing fairly regular posts on this page, but as time went on I took the decision not to post any more. As I got busier and busier, I found it way too time consuming for the tiny amount of interaction and response I receive on here.
Now I’m at the stage where, although things are mostly back to normal, this page will remain dormant to allow me to focus fully on my existing customers and their referrals - even though restrictions are easing by the day, there is still so much more to check and double check on every quote and every booking, and maintaining a page just eats too much into the time that I should be spending on servicing my current business. For the time being at least - I will see how things go in the future!
If you do come across this post, however, and would like to benefit from booking your holiday with an experienced, professional, and customer-service oriented Travel Counsellor, please do still get in touch with me – or make a note of my contact details for future reference. I will be more than happy to help you. Thank you!
01787 388110, [email protected]
31/12/2021
Let's blow those cobwebs away and make 2022 a great year with lots of holidays! Book with Travel Counsellors for best guidance, advice and peace of mind.
Happy new year everyone.
31/08/2021
Hello everyone, I just wanted to reassure you all that I’m still here, still in business, just taking a bit of a stress-relieving breather whilst travel regulations remain uncertain and confusing. I’m currently servicing existing bookings and keeping up to date with all things travel as much as I can, however I will be passing any new 2021 enquiries/bookings onto colleagues. Do get in touch if you need anything and either I or one of my colleagues will be happy to help. Right now you need a professional travel agent more than ever, and more than ever travel agents need YOU.
I hope it will be business as usual sooner rather than later!
23/07/2021
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Well hello July! We have now completed 6 months of 2021. Where has it gone? – 177 days until Christmas 😱
I’ve been a bit quiet on Facebook recently as I’ve been so busy trying to get my head round the ever-changing and often illogical regulations for travel, trying to make sense of the double standards which are being slapped in our faces, and writing endless emails to my MP about the support that the travel industry requires (all interspersed with numerous glasses of wine!). He has been quite evasive and unresponsive and cancelled a face-to-face meeting we had arranged, but he has at now at last written to Grant Shapps to support the fully vaccinated being able to travel without need for isolation, and on Monday he actually spoke in the House of Commons emphasising that an equivalent to the domestic roadmap is required to restart international travel. No support from him yet about financial help that the industry needs, but I do believe that the government is finally starting to get the message. There has been a lot of activity within the industry since the Day of Action on 23rd June and many travel professionals have had (or have arranged) meetings with their MPs, and I also got a mention in a lengthy article in the Suffolk Free Press today (not me in the photo as I couldn't attend the photo shoot, but two of my lovely industry colleagues).
Everyone in travel believes that public health is absolutely the priority and travel shouldn’t open up until it’s safe to do so, but equally we need clarity rather than the stop-start situation we are going through at the moment (as well as financial support until it really is green for go!).
I think we have a few more bumpy weeks ahead and then surely, surely things will start to happen? Until things become clearer and easier though, I am holding off making any bookings unless the customer 100% understands all the risks and insists on going ahead, which may seem negative but I do have a responsibility to my customers to ensure they are safe, to make them aware of all the pitfalls as well as thoroughly go through all the regulations and avoid unnecessary stress for the customer as well as myself – when the regulations become pitfalls themselves because of constant changes it really does become difficult!
The light at the end of the tunnel is still there and is getting brighter however, so chin up everyone we won’t be defeated having come so far!
24/06/2021
So yesterday I decided to do my bit and attend the very peaceful protest "Travel Day of Action" in London. Several hundred travel industry professionals took part, as well as a handful of MPs who gave interviews and signed up to pledge their full support to Save Travel. There was quite a bit of coverage in the media and I would like to think that the message is finally starting to trickle through.
I have been in almost daily contact with my local MP (who was NOT in London yesterday 😠) over the last few weeks and he has committed to help support us, however so far only with the plans to allow fully vaccinated people to travel without the need for isolation on return to the UK. There is a much bigger picture that we need support for, though, but he appears unwilling to help ☹️. Allowing fully vaccinated people to travel without isolating is a mere drop in the ocean – the industry needs further financial support after having worked for over 16 months with no income. Even if travel does start to open up in the coming weeks, travel agents are unlikely to get back to anything like pre-COVID income levels until at least next Spring, two full years since the start of the pandemic. And how can anyone be confident that there will be no U-turn, there is the farcical testing system that needs sorting, and we need a clear and guaranteed plan to open up travel. If we cannot get travel opened up then that we are “fine” with that, AS LONG AS we have financial support and clear guidelines. Instead, we are being teased, given uncertainty, confusion, constantly changing policies, and being forced to continue to work for free. We need to know where we stand to restore everybody’s confidence and sanity.
We are absolutely not asking the Government to open up travel if it is not safe, but we are being actively encouraged to holiday in the UK, the country with the highest infection rate in Europe, without the requirement for tests or isolation, and in the same breath being actively DIScouraged to holiday in countries with far lower risk. If the government goes by data and science, as it says it does, then the UK itself should be on the red list! And a decision was made within 3 days to allow thousands of football VIPs and fans into the country, exempt from the rules that “normal” people have to follow, yet decisions related to holiday travel (which impact millions of peoples’ lives and livelihoods) drag on for weeks and months, and have been going one step forward three steps back for the past year. Go figure - there is no logic.
We were the first industry to be affected by the pandemic and will be the last one to fully come out of it. The decision to delay placing India on the red list played a major role in the UK’s rising infection rates, but it is us who are all being penalised for this because we are regarded as unimportant. It is hypocritical and smacks of class apartheid.
Travel Counsellors will survive this, thanks to sound financial & operational planning and determined colleagues, but many jobs in the travel industry have been lost and many more will follow if the Government does not act NOW.
21/06/2021
Like everything, Summer has been delayed - don't know about you but I need the heating on! 🤣 But let's hang in there, better days are coming!
16/06/2021
Feeling sad! We should have been finishing our holiday in the Seychelles right now. So many people have been disappointed for the past 16 months and the latest delay in "opening up" has been another bitter blow. Let's hope this is now coming to an end and we can all start travelling freely again soon. In the meantime some photos of the Seychelles from previous years!
15/06/2021
I didn’t do well with my prediction yesterday did I. France v Germany tonight – let’s try a 2-2 draw for this one! ⚽
We’ve surely all been to France haven’t we? There is Paris and Disneyland of course, but if like me you prefer the south of France you will love the charming hill villages in Provence, and the lavender and sunflower fields. France is renowned as a gourmet destination and if you don’t fancy frogs legs and snails there is plenty to stop you going hungry – including those wonderful French cheeses and wines (especially Provence Rose!) Like Spain, there is lots of choice on offer with it’s coastlines, cities and pretty rural villages – or hop over to the French island of Corsica or neighbouring Monaco and mingle with the glitterati!
Germany is not such a traditional holiday destination, but there is plenty to keep everyone busy and entertained. It’s a great destination for history buffs, and ideal for city breaks and river cruises, not to mention the numerous beer festivals! I lived in Germany for a short while in the 80s and my favourite places are Bad Kreuznach (where I lived) and Heidelberg.
14/06/2021
Spain v Sweden tonight 8pm ⚽ (I predict a 3-1 win to Spain!).
Spain has got to be the Brits’ number 1 holiday destination and will have been many people’s first trip overseas. Home to a beautiful climate, siestas and tapas style of eating, there is a diverse range of stays, styles, landscapes and activities on offer in Spain’s lively cities, rural countryside, Balearic and Canary Islands, and in the south where African culture meets European.
Sweden on the other hand is visited less by British tourists, and when you think of Sweden ABBA, IKEA and Volvo probably first spring to mind, but think beyond this and discover the wide open spaces, stroll in the elegant cities and relax by the tranquil lakes in the mild summer, or enjoy the snowy scapes and Santa visits above the Arctic Circle in winter. A breath of fresh air – literally.
13/06/2021
England v Croatia this afternoon at 2pm. ⚽
We all know about England as a destination (or should do – and if you don’t I can book stays in the UK too!), but did you know that Croatia has over 6,000km of coastline and over 1,200 islands, islets, rocks and reefs - making it a prime sailing and island-hopping destination. Dubrovnik is a very popular city-break destination, but if you venture beyond you will discover hiking & cycling trails, water sports and land activities, as well as a rich cultural heritage spanning beyond churches and museums - there is something to interest everyone here. Croatia also played a starring role in the marmite TV series Game of Thrones, so GOT groupies will be able to spend many happy hours following in the actors’ footsteps visiting the filming locations.
11/06/2021
The delayed 2020 Euro football Championships start tonight and the first match is Italy v Turkey, kicking off at 8pm. ⚽️ Who do you want to win – and who do you want to go on to win the final? Needless to say I will rooting for my beloved Italy tonight, though I have been allocated Belgium in a sweepstake so I might want Belgium to win overall!
Italy and Turkey, both fantastic holiday destinations – when they become accessible to us. Both countries have so many qualities, but to keep it brief I will mention Italy for the beautiful romantic cities, stunning coastlines and incredible food & wine, and Turkey for the mix of European-Asian culture & history, beautiful beaches and fantastic value for money.
08/06/2021
Today is WORLD OCEANS DAY
The oceans are the lungs of our planet, and are a major source of food and medicine, meaning that the Ocean = Life and livelihood - not to mention giving pleasure and wellbeing to millions of people.
Celebrate and protect our oceans which connect us all.
04/06/2021
Here we go again! What happened to the couple of weeks’ notice when switching countries between green, amber and red?? And what happened to the green “watch list”? Ah yes – government “promises”!
On 7th May the new traffic light system was announced with travel “opening up” on 17th May and 12 countries were on the green list that we could “travel to”. However none of these countries were allowing visitors from the UK at that point! Portugal opened up to UK visitors on 14th May just in time for 17th May (and – call me cynical - the football!), but will become amber from the early hours of Tuesday 8th June. So here we are back to the quickly-implemented changes, limitations and uncertainty of last summer.
I’m not going to get deeply into politics on here but clearly we are in for another rocky Summer. Travel agents and everyone in the travel industry have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic cancelling, amending and rebooking holidays, most receiving very little or no income or proper government support since last March. We are facing constant moving of the goalposts and the government sweeping us aside, and even slips of the tongue, such as Grant Shapps referring to us as estate agents(!) are not funny any more.
Obviously health is extremely important, and if it really is unsafe to travel then so be it, but in my opinion it would have been far better for them to announce no non-essential travel until for example September (or at least no travel until we open up fully, eg 21st June if that happens) and put a proper travel industry support structure in place until the end of the year. And forget the amber category, we should have just green for go and red for no go. At least we would know then where we stand.
As always, I am here to guide you through the confusion!
02/06/2021
Want to maximise your annual leave in 2022?
Next year the Spring Bank Holiday will fall on Thursday 2nd June, and there will be an extra Bank Holiday for the Platinum Jubilee the next day, Friday 3rd June. So, if for example, you work Monday to Friday and you travel on Saturday 28th May for 8 nights, you will only need to take 3 days off work.
Now doesn’t that sound like a plan??!
29/05/2021
Do you suffer from
❓ Lack of time?
❓ Uncertainty?
❓ Confusion about the current travel rules?
When you are booking your holiday, none of this should deter you. Regain your confidence by using professional travel agent (that’s me!) - I will do all the time-consuming bits, advise & guide you through everything, and be there for you from the moment you make your enquiry until you return home from your well-deserved holiday.
27/05/2021
In preparation for the soon-expected travel traffic light update, here is your next language lesson 🤣
25/05/2021
It's another one of those "International ### Days" today folks - International Towel Day apparently! (something to do with Douglas Adams and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!!). This is where I'd like to put MY towel today 😂
21/05/2021
Confused by the Traffic Lights for travel? Martin Lewis’ recent tweet sums it up quite well.
As always contact me for full guidance, and information about testing requirements & documents required for your own destination.
20/05/2021
This time last year most of us were sunbathing in our gardens - fast forward a year and it's like Winter. We all need some sunshine!!
18/05/2021
If you are travelling overseas, not only is it fun to try and communicate in the local language, the locals will really appreciate it too. Now that Portugal has opened up for British tourists, here's a little taster of a few Portuguese words – now get down to your nearest bookshop for a phrasebook and start learning. Enjoy!
17/05/2021
Nearly there folks!
14/05/2021
Great news! 🎉
Tourists from England and Scotland will be allowed to visit Portugal from Monday, the country’s minister of state for foreign affairs has today confirmed – and the Foreign Office has just updated their advice accordingly, so it’s OFFICIAL!! The green list of countries was published last week, with Portugal realistically being the only option for traditional summer holidays, but up until today Portugal was not allowing entry to tourists.
It’s a great and very welcome start, and hopefully more countries will soon allow entry and be placed on the green list at the next traffic light announcement in early June.
Please contact me for the all important guidance on COVID testing requirements.
13/05/2021
Wading your way through the regulations for COVID testing for travel purposes can be very confusing. It will get easier, but I am here to guide you through the process. The cost and availability of testing is also constantly improving, and Travel Counsellors has reviewed a range of private providers - there are a few that I can connect you with who will give you preferential savings.
08/05/2021
The announcement of the green list countries in the “traffic light” system last night was a bit of an anti-climax wasn’t it! - out of the 12 countries/territories there are just a couple that are traditional summer holiday destinations ☹
It’s a tentative start but a step in the right direction. It’s an encouraging sign that we WILL be able to see more of the world in the coming weeks and months, though we are not back to normal just yet!
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BEAR IN MIND, HOWEVER:
❗️ No international leisure travel is permitted to any overseas destination until 17th May.
❗️This traffic light system centres around ARRIVALS INTO ENGLAND and not necessarily both ways – Australia and New Zealand for example are closed to tourists and are unlikely to open their borders until next year, so if a country is now designated green it doesn’t automatically mean we are actually able to travel there.
❗️Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will have their own and possibly different rules.
❗️Where destinations are allowing entry for English travellers there may be multiple negative PCR test requirements, both before leaving England and on return, and some destinations may still have certain COVID-related restrictions in place. Vaccination certificates may also be required.
❗️When travel initially starts up again I would expect there to be longer queues at airports to accommodate all the additional checks and documentation.
❗️As was the case last year, the situation is subject to change.
We expect the next update in 3 weeks’ time and must hope that places like Greece, Spain, France, Italy and more (sensible!) longhaul destinations will start populating the green list.
In the meantime I remain on hand to offer guidance on the traffic lights, FCDO advice, and potential refund or cancellation policies & reassurance for those of you who do wish to book, as well as to offer business as usual to those who prefer to book ahead for next year and beyond.
The green list countries from 17th May 2021:
• Portugal
• Israel
• Singapore
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Brunei
• Iceland
• Gibraltar
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• St Helena, Tristan de Cunha, Ascension Island
07/05/2021
On this day 2 years ago I was enjoying a blissful last day in the beautiful Cinque Terre region. Who would have thought then that it would be more than 2 years before I would be able to return to my beloved Italy! Australia was cancelled last year and Seychelles this year, but am HOPING to book a trip to Italy in September and rebook the Seychelles for November – let’s see how the traffic light system pans out! In the meantime let’s look back to my memories of Cinque Terre…
04/05/2021
The weather here in Suffolk has been stormy, windy and rainy over the bank holiday weekend and it’s still far from Spring-like. I think Mother Nature is having a laugh with us – now that we can go out to pubs and eat outside none of us want to, and what’s the betting that as soon as we are allowed to travel we will have a heatwave here in the UK?!
But remember, the World is waiting for us and hopefully soon we will be able to board that plane and head off to places we have missed so much…
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Videos
Tony Walsh TC Video
The events of the past year have taught us many things, including the fact that being able to spend quality time with family and friends has never felt so important. We have all missed exploring the world and creating memories haven’t we, and as soon as the world is ready I look forward to helping you create new memories from holidays which will be even more precious - from a night’s break in the UK to a round the world cruise, and everything in between.
Don’t scroll by without sparing a couple of minutes to watch this emotional video with a great poem narrated by the talented Tony Walsh – in the unlikely event you are not already hungry for travel this will most certainly whet your appetite!
The world awaits...
If this doesn't make you want to book a holiday I don't know what will!
01787 388110
[email protected]
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ABOUT SALLY DE JONG - TRAVEL COUNSELLOR
From Antigua to Zanzibar the world is your oyster - with my help you can find your pearl!
Hi, my name is Sally, and I am an independent travel agent in Suffolk, with over 25 years' experience in travel (& I’ve been a Travel Counsellor since March 2002).
My main specialities are luxury holidays, in particular but not limited to North America, South Africa, Australia & New Zealand, Indian Ocean, Caribbean, Italy, cruises & honeymoons. I have first-hand experience of getting married abroad in the Seychelles - a destination that holds a very special place in my heart and which I have now visited 4 times (with a fifth visit coming up in September 2019). Italy is another favourite place of mine, and I have a good understanding of Italian.
You may wonder why you should book with me and not through the internet? Well that's easy to answer:
• I check holidays every day and, once I know a bit more about you and your preferences, I can quickly find the most suitable options for you. Internet "deals" are not always what they seem, and computers are just machines - they cannot make personal recommendations, discuss queries and nuances with you, or provide good customer service.
• I will do all the hard work and save you the time and hassle that comes with trying to DIY or deal with the “production line” in a shop or call centre, and I will give that rare personal human touch to your booking.
• Travel Counsellors is independent so, unlike some high street and online agents, we are not tied to a limited number of tour operators or biased by incentives or in-house brands. I therefore always explore multiple options to find or tailor-make the right holiday at the right price, and always sell what is right for you rather than what is right for me. I can also tailor-make your holiday to make it totally “yours” by adding unique and special touches.
• You will only ever need to deal with one person – me! (or a trusted colleague if I’m away on holiday myself), I will personally look after your holiday with the same care and attention to detail that I would for my own, and am easily contactable at a time to suit you, even outside normal working hours no matter how simple or complex you feel your query is – from the initial enquiry right until after you return home.
• Everything you book through me is fully financially protected, and should there be any unexpected issues while you’re away, your airline goes bust, or another Ash cloud looms, you only need to call me or our 24 hour emergency Duty Office and things will be sorted for you - you will never be left to sort things out alone. You can therefore relax knowing that all you need to worry about is enjoying your holiday and making those special memories.
• I’m well-travelled (to date I have visited over 50 countries), patient, and have a good sense of humour. Whether you fancy a short break in England, a world cruise – or anything in between, I am here to help with professional, impartial advice, often from first-hand experience, and although I work from home I have the support of over 1,500 colleagues worldwide to give extra advice, tips and recommendations where required.
• My business (and reputation) is built on providing the highest possible levels of service and independent advice (and occasional friendly banter about football!), and I have customers all over the UK and Europe, so wherever you are based I can help you.
I cannot always match or beat internet prices because the internet just doesn’t provide the same expertise, care and service that we do – however, I always strive to provide best VALUE. “Cheap deals” are not always your best option.
So, if this sounds like the holiday booking experience you are looking for, don’t drown yourself in information & starve yourself of wisdom! I will be delighted to assist you, and I will go that extra mile, so that you can too.
