Ian Gilmour - Travel Counsellor

12/09/2026

15/08/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗜𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁?

Celebrity Cruises has just announced its biggest-ever European programme, and one part particularly caught my eye.

Celebrity Beyond will be sailing from Southampton, with itineraries taking in destinations including Norway, Iceland and Scandinavia.

Beyond is one of Celebrity's newer Edge-series ships and feels much more like a contemporary resort than some people's idea of a traditional cruise ship. Great restaurants, lots of outdoor space and a much more relaxed atmosphere than you might expect.

But the bit I increasingly like about sailing from the UK is much simpler.

You arrive at the port, unpack once and the holiday starts.

No airport. No baggage carousel. No connecting flight.

Then you wake up somewhere new.

For anyone who would still love to explore Europe but is getting a little tired of the way we sometimes have to get there, that has quite a lot going for it.

Would you like more details? Get in touch at:

☎️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝟬𝟭𝟳𝟮𝟴 𝟴𝟱𝟬𝟬𝟭𝟰
📧 𝗶𝗮𝗻.𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿@𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺
✅Book with a Trusted Travel Expert
✅Full Financial Protection and Fully ATOL Bonded
✅24/7 support

15/08/2026

A great holiday shouldn't feel like a project to manage.

I spotted an interesting piece of travel research this week.

71% of UK travellers surveyed said they now place greater value on holidays where the planning, logistics and other stresses are taken care of for them.

I completely understand that.

There is something wonderful about exploring somewhere properly, eating in local restaurants, discovering places you might never have found yourself and having experiences that feel genuinely personal.

But that doesn't mean you need to spend weeks working out transfers, flight connections, hotels, guides and how everything fits together.

For me, the best journeys give you the freedom to enjoy the adventure while somebody else worries about how all the pieces join up.

14/08/2026

Who decided Europe had to be a summer holiday?

One of the more interesting travel trends I've been reading about this week is the growth in European river cruising during traditionally quieter months.

And it makes a lot of sense.

Travel in spring or autumn and you can often enjoy cooler temperatures, fewer crowds and a completely different atmosphere along Europe's rivers.

Imagine the vineyards along the Rhine or Moselle in autumn, or wandering through one of Europe's great cities without doing it in 35-degree heat.

If you're no longer tied to school holidays, choosing when you travel can be every bit as important as choosing where.

Sometimes the best version of a destination isn't the busiest one.

13/08/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝟮𝟰 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗸𝗼𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲?

Well, rather lovely as it turns out… 🇬🇷

Ikos Kissamos is the newest addition to the Ikos collection, set on the western coast of Crete, and this little glimpse gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Beautiful surroundings, excellent food, a very high standard of service and, as with all Ikos resorts, an all-inclusive concept that goes far beyond what most people imagine when they hear the words “all inclusive”.

If Crete is on your radar for next year, or you already know and love Ikos and fancy trying somewhere new, this is definitely one to have a look at.

And if you’d like me to talk you through how Ikos Kissamos compares with the other Ikos resorts, just get in touch. I know the differences between them can make a big difference to which one suits you best.

13/08/2026

Here's somewhere you may not have considered: Armenia.

Getting there has just become considerably easier, with the first direct flights between London and Yerevan launching this summer.

Yerevan is sometimes called the Pink City because of the distinctive volcanic stone used in its architecture, but there's much more to Armenia than its capital.

Ancient monasteries, mountain landscapes, local wines, fabulous food and one of the oldest winemaking traditions in the world all make this a fascinating corner of the Caucasus.

It's certainly not somewhere everybody will have on their list.
And perhaps that's exactly the appeal.

12/08/2026

When the journey becomes part of the holiday

There is growing interest in European river cruises that begin with a rail journey rather than a flight.

It is not difficult to see the appeal. Instead of airport queues and baggage restrictions, you can settle into your seat, watch Europe pass the window and arrive in the heart of the city ready to join your ship.

The combination works particularly well on the Rhine, Danube and the rivers of France, where the journey can feel every bit as civilised as the cruise itself.

For anyone who enjoys seeing Europe at a gentler pace, a rail and river holiday could be well worth considering.

12/08/2026

𝐈𝐝𝐲𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐧-𝐒𝐨𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐤𝐨𝐬 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 £𝟒,𝟏𝟔𝟗 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧

Discover five-nights of relaxation, discovery and tranquillity pre-cruise at 𝐈𝐤𝐨𝐬 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 in a Double Bungalow Garden View | Veranda Stateroom before boarding 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐚 to coast historic harbours, island escapes and culinary delights.

Highlights:
✔ Halkidiki, Greece
✔ Athens, Greece
✔ Milos, Greece
✔ Katakolon, Greece
✔ Catania, Italy
✔ Malta, Valletta
✔ Palermo, Italy
✔ Salerno, Italy
✔ Rome, Italy

Stay Includes:
✔ 5 or 6 nights pre-cruise stay at Ikos Olivia in Halkidiki
✔ All Inclusive
✔ Double Bungalow Garden View

Cruise includes:
✔ 7 nights cruise onboard Oceania Allura, sailing on 7 of May 2027
✔ Veranda Stateroom
✔ Full board on ship
✔ Included gratuities
✔ All speciality dining
✔ All soft drinks & speciality coffees
✔ Complimentary Wi-Fi
✔ Complimentary wine and beer with meals OR US$200 Your World Included Shore Excursion Credit
✔ Private transfers and internal flights
✔ ATOL and ABTA protection

✔ 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲𝐣𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 £𝟒,𝟏𝟔𝟗 (𝟓 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞)
Payable locally £32/€37

As always this trip can be adapted, tailored and changed to fit your requirements exactly, just get in touch:

☎️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝟬𝟭𝟳𝟮𝟴 𝟴𝟱𝟬𝟬𝟭𝟰
📧 𝗶𝗮𝗻.𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿@𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺
✅Book with a Trusted Travel Expert
✅Full Financial Protection and Fully ATOL Bonded
✅24/7 support

12/08/2026

🐘 It's World Elephant Day 🐘

11/08/2026

A little extra time at the airport could make a big difference

There have been further warnings about delays at passport control at some European airports as the new Entry/Exit System continues to settle in.

Experiences vary considerably by airport and time of day, but the sensible advice is straightforward: do not cut things too finely, particularly when returning home.

Allow enough time to reach the airport, complete any formalities and clear passport control without turning the final hours of your holiday into a race against the clock.

It is one of those small details that can make the journey home considerably less stressful.