Jasmin Shaw - Travel Counsellor

16/11/2024

Breakfast with a view for my lucky clients waking up in Chiang Mai this morning 🇹🇭☕️ 🥭

13/11/2024

Proudly saving you from the review rabbit hole 🐰🕳️

We've all been there, right? After aeons searching, you finally find a hotel that looks spot on. The setting is amazing, the pool looks divine, the restaurants are to die for.

Then you get sucked in to TripAdvisor and Booking, and suddenly that hotel that looks so great seems to have a few iffy reviews... On closer inspection of the photos, actually yes it DOES look like some of the pool tiles are broken, and that is almost certainly a toenail in someone's fettucine.

So, it's back to the drawing board, relentlessly cycling through hotel after hotel wasting hours of lovely time that could be spent doing something much more fruitful.

I spoke to one of my clients today (she's just booked a fantastic Bali trip), and she summed it up in such a great way. You know the reviews will be excellent and the hotel will be 10/10, because I've done all the legwork for you.

And that's the joy of keeping it small. One person who knows what floats your boat and that you can rely on to suggest the whys and wherefores of what is the best option for you, your budget and what you want to achieve.

A bit like generative AI, but infinitely less evil and with better chat 💁‍♀️

10/11/2024

Arrive by seaplane into one of the most incredible private island resorts in the Maldives this February half-term ✈️🏝️🐠

Promising the largest floating waterpark in the Indian Ocean, a 24-hour premium all-inclusive ticking off 6 restaurants & 7 bars and a private pool just footsteps from your sunset beach villa, Siyam World offers something for all ages.

Most people assume that the Maldives is all tearing yourself out of a hammock for a dip in the crystal clear waters. And it can be that. But, at Siyam World, it can also be snorkelling safaris, paddle-boarding, windsurfing, kids clubs, sunset meditation and beach parties on the island's super-soft sands...

Perfect weather-wise during our winter, this half-term tropical treat departs 20 February 2025 and includes direct overnight flights from London Heathrow, complimentary return seaplane transfers and seven nights in a gorgeous villa complete with outdoor shower, direct beach access, a private pool, included minibar, super king bed and fabulous views of the sun sinking below the horizon every night.

Oh, and right now it also includes 25% off too 😄

Price starts from just £11,467 per family of four (two adults and two kids).

Parents, you're welcome 💪

[email protected]
01925 950047

08/11/2024

An off-the-wall booking today! 👀

After ticking off Singapore, my clients were keen to do another Grand Prix in 2025.

Lonely Planet describes this city as 'the architectural lovechild of Paris and Dubai' with a romantic UNESCO-listed old city and jaw-dropping modern masterpieces.

Who can guess where they're off to?

06/11/2024

Just had a catch-up with my family clients back from New York & New England for half-term 🍂 🍁 🎃

They did: New York (staying at The Plaza off Home Alone 2!) > train to Boston > Salem > Portland > Vermont > Boston

Apparently New York was 26 degrees, and Vermont was -1. That requires some skillful packing!

They absolutely loved it saying the balance between the craziness of NYC and the road trip through gorgeous natural New England was perfect.

Already planning again for next year 😄

05/11/2024

Tying up a last minute dash to my very favourite island for new clients this evening... ☀️

Who can guess where they've booked?

Clue: it's four hours away, pretty as a picture and generally basks in the mid 20s in December 👙

31/10/2024

16 years ago, I left university and fell headlong into a love affair with travel ❤️

I started as a rep in Menorca (2008 crew 👊) working on the transfers back and to across the island. You know that person who used to be on the coaches giving you the spiel? That was me. 'Did you know that Menorca has more beaches than Majorca and Ibiza combined?' 😂

Fast-forward ten years and with roles at TUI, Journeys of Distinction, Shearings and Scenic and Emerald Cruises under my belt (as well as a new baby!), I decided to take the plunge into doing my own thang with Travel Counsellors.

The photo is what I had on my whiteboard on the first day next to my desk at home. It was just me, an affirmation and the Crumpet of Courage.

I'm so pleased to say they worked 😂

Today, I've hit half a million pounds in sales for 2024 so far. I can't even tell you how buzzing I am about that.

I'm by no means the biggest Travel Counsellor out there, but that was never my intention. I just wanted to bring all my passion for travel to lovely people who totally got the appeal of someone friendly, professional and hellbent on doing the right thing by you.

Along the way, I've picked up a huge amount of really valued friendships and relationships with the most diverse and wonderful crew. Travel Counsellors is all about the personal service but it genuinely goes above that. I absolutely love my clients and have the most fun being involved in the decision for where to go when to bring to life exactly what's in their mind.

Infinitely more important to me than sales is service. I have a 100% lifetime NPS score (that's 100% of people who have booked to travel with me rating me as excellent), as well as a repeat custom rate at 67%.

I honestly can't say a big enough thank you to everyone who chooses to book with me (again and again), recommend me and support me. I'm cringing to say it but you really have allowed me to follow my dream. So back slaps, because it's always nice to support a business built on that ❤️

Long may good old-fashioned human relationships and beautifully hand-picked holiday plans reign ✊️

30/10/2024

An amazing deal for Paddy's Day in NYC ☘️🇺🇸

Watch New York's iconic skyline emerge on the horizon next spring as you sail in to the city on Cunard's Queen Mary 2, the world's last ocean liner 🗽

Departing from Southampton on 8th March, your home for your first seven nights is Cunard's legendary flagship vessel where West End calibre shows, traditional afternoon tea served by white-gloved waiters and multi-course dining in decadent surrounds is all part of the package.

Rejuvenated and ready to explore after a week aboard (QM2 also features a great spa 😏), you'll disembark directly in the heart of Manhattan on 15 March for three nights at the 4* Arlo Midtown, perfectly located two blocks from Times Square in the beating heart of the Big Apple.

On the 16th March, I've included a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness a powerful and uplifting Harlem Gospel performance as part of a Sunday morning walking tour.

And, on the 17th, see NYC do Paddy's Day in style with the oldest and largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world and heaps of craic in the city's buzzing Irish pubs.

Includes return flights to London (or Manchester for an extra £50pp) on March 18th.

Price starts from an unbelievable £1,599pp in total including an inside cabin and full board dining on the cruise. Outside grades are fully booked but you can choose to upgrade to a balcony from just £300pp.

I visited NYC last year so I can also share all my tips with you. If you've not been before, it's just the most magical city. And if you have been before, then you already know this!

Contact me for more details and to secure your spot 🍎

28/10/2024

Manchester Airport's brand new private terminal opens next week ✈️

Offering a stress-free departure and arrival experience with packages including dedicated security, chauffeur-driven car to the gate, inclusive alcoholic and soft drinks and delicious dining courtesy of The French's Adam Reid, Experience Aether is the way to bypass the crowds and get your journey off to the smoothest of starts.

I'll be sneaking in for a behind-the-scenes tour and tasting this Wednesday evening.

Any questions? Let me know and I'll find out on the night 🍸

27/10/2024

I had the pleasure of being one of the first guests at the gorgeous new Domes Noruz Kassandra in Halkidiki earlier this summer 🇬🇷

Dreaming of an adults-only escape with fabulous food, stunning scenery and Insta-worthy interiors?

Find out why this one will be just perfect for you in my new blog... 👇

Complimentary food when you order wine is such a thing of the past now that it made the freshly baked bread, oils, olives and selection of unctious Greek dips even sweeter. Welcome to early season in Halkidiki where the restaurants are quiet and eager owners wait to lure you in with jugs of cut-pric...

27/10/2024

POV: Your wife's booked you a surprise sunrise hot air balloon ride over Tuscany for your 40th 🎈 🔥

Made up to help pull together this for my wonderful friends and clients Hannah & Rick this morning 😍

25/10/2024

Hello Italy's islands 🇮🇹👋🛥️

I've been working on some fab Italy twin-centres this week and have totally added this one to my wishlist.

Connected to the Tuscan coast by road (so ideal to mix with time in Rome or Florence), the little almost-island of Argentario has a handful of tiny colourful towns, gorgeous sandy beaches, fantastic restaurants and wine tasting galore. It's an amazing spot to hire a boat and go and explore the wider Archipelago Toscano, snorkel and swim in the Mediterranean or ride horseback through olive groves and lagoons.

It's also home to the lovely LA ROQQA, a 55-room slice of boutique loveliness carved into the hillside above pretty Porto Ercole. Brand new at the end of 2023, there's a beach club tucked in to a bay (the hotel will whizz you there by electric shuttle), a restaurant which grows their veg in their own organic garden and a wine list made up of only Tuscan and Italian labels.

Who's ready for a road trip? 🙋‍♀️

24/10/2024

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 new train journey from Railbookers 🤩

59 days | 12 countries | 7 luxury trains | 20+ iconic cities

Travel 'Around the World by Luxury Train' with journeys on the Rocky Mountaineer (Canada), Belmond Royal Scotsman (Scotland), La Dolce Vita Orient Express (Italy), Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (Paris to Istanbul), Maharajas' Express (India), Rovos Rail (South Africa) and Eastern & Oriental Express (Singapore & Malaysia).

I'd give my right arm to do any one of these, let alone all seven!

Which would be your highlight?

16/10/2024

Staving off a cold, rainy day with a booking to the gorgeous IKOS Odisia, a 5* Greek island idyll where everything is included... 🌴

My clients will be heading out in August 2025 for two weeks of Michelin menus (paired with over 300 premium wines), activities stretching from sunset yoga and paddle-boarding to taking a complimentary Tesla Model 3 for a day's exploring Corfu's verdant hillsides and crystal clear Ionian coastline.

I've had several guests at IKOS, all now regrettably unable to holiday elsewhere.

Sorry guys 😄

15/10/2024

Reflecting on an incredible time in Vietnam 🇻🇳

If you're ready for an adventure, I couldn't recommend somewhere more alive, colourful and generally life-affirming. I had a pinch-me moment at least once a day.

I can book this exact itinerary with Intrepid Travel (I couldn't rate them any more highly), and a 10-day North to South journey starts from just £1,430pp based on two sharing and excluding international flights.

I'd recommend adding a couple of nights either side in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh to maximise your time and ease you in a bit more gently to the time difference (six hours).

Vietnam has three weather systems, so it's also worth checking your travel dates to be there when the sun's shining in the area most important to you. Definitely worth bearing in mind for Hoi An with its gorgeous beaches and Halong Bay where good visibility and warm temperatures will really make the experience.

Inspired? I'll help you with all my tips so you can make the most of every moment 🙏

08/10/2024

Our last stay - and it's a memorable one 🐸 ⛈️🛶

06/10/2024

Cycling, cookery class, lanterns and a happy hour that accidentally lasted until 2:30am 🪷 🏮🍹

Hoi An is a brill combo of stunning Ancient Town, nightlife, beaches, shopping and amazing food. We've only had one and a half days here but I'd recommend extending it to make sure you get to do everything you want and have some downtime on the beach.

The Ancient Town is part of the Silk Road and has been UNESCO listed because of how well it has been preserved. It's so photogenic with colourful merchants' houses, lanterns strung through the streets and criss-crossed with canals and bridges.

Although we've been short on time, we've done an unbelievable amount. My highlights were a 12km bike ride around the islands in the river, meeting some of the locals with the most inspirational stories. Although many of the people we've met have very little, they are so positive, happy and generous. It's been a total eye-opener and one of the main things I've fallen in love with about this country.

We've also done a Vietnamese cookery class so I can now knock up a blinding spring roll, pho, prawn salad and mango sticky rice 🍜

The city is also full of tailors as part of its silk trading history. I've decided to push the boat out and treat myself to a beautiful blazer. Such a great experience to be measured and choose all the fabric and a style and have something completely made for me. And so much cheaper than to do it in the UK!

Also squeezed in night markets, floating colourful candle-lit lanterns down the river remembering people we've lost, a 'quick drink' that escalated to an early hours party in one of the many bars, a walking tour of the town and many, many noodles.

Tomorrow Ho Chi Minh. And hopefully a snooze on the flight 😄

05/10/2024

An experience beyond belief at Lan Ha Bay yesterday 🇻🇳

From Ha Noi, Lan Ha Bay is about a three-hour drive away. The area has recently been devastated by Typhoon Yagi, which makes the unbelievable kindness and happiness of the people here even more astonishing ❤️

Lan Ha is the quieter alternative to nearby Ha Long Bay and is a landscape of limestone mountains rising from emerald green waters. It's absolutely stunning. They call the time the sun sets 'the golden hour' and the area is bathed in yellow light as the sun dips behind the landscape.

We stayed on the beautiful Rosy Cruises ship. My cabin was so gorgeous including a bath set next to a huge picture window so you could have a soak in the most out-of-this-world setting. Ladies come out in rowing boats to your balcony trying to sell you snacks, wine and beer - what a place to haggle!

At night time, we fished for squid by moonlight off the back of the ship.

Yesterday morning, we woke to sunrise tai chi on the sun deck. I'm not sure there could be a nicer way to start the day.

Later, we could choose to kayak around the bay or be rowed around on a bamboo boat by a local. We chose the bamboo raft and had the most beautiful man who told us about his life growing up there and rowed us through eerie bat-filled caves opening to a huge jade-coloured lake surrounded by mountains. He showed us how their shouts and claps made echoes, which bounced off the mountains to signal from one village to the next.

And then he sang to us (you'll have to check my story as I can't upload videos and pics together). It was so emotional, and a huge yellow butterfly floated down around us as his voice reverberated off the landscape. Something I will never, ever forget.

I honestly can't rate this amazing country and it's people enough and count my lucky stars to do what I do 🦋