I’m an independent travel consultant with Travel Counsellors. I offer bespoke, tailor-made holidays - get in touch to find out what I can do for you!
23/03/2025
Anyone still looking for that elusive low price family holiday for this summer? Check out this fantastic offer for a 7 night cruise in the Scottish summer holidays! - UK departure on 5th July 2025…
I’ve been on this ship and can tell you it’s a beautiful all-singing, all-dancing very sexy Italian designed ship, with all the required family friendly water slides and all that jazz 💃
It’s what summer family holiday dreams are made of! 💞
It also works as a no- fly option as all you have to do is get yourselves to Southampton by 5th July!
This offer is less than £100 per person per day in a BALCONY cabin including full board and a host of entertainment and activities and a chance to see some beautiful parts of Southern France and Northern Spain which often get missed - with the ease of only unpacking once! 😎
Get in touch with me for more details, this offer won’t last long!
[email protected]
01899 890035 / 07986 527947
4 High Street, Biggar - by appointment service
21/03/2025
Well it’s days like this I think it’s lucky I’m an insomniac! Woke up just after 5am this morning to the news that Heathrow airport is closed and won’t reopen today 😩
This is one of the busiest airports in the world (and also one of the main connections for long haul routes in and out of Scotland). More than 1350 flights in and out of Heathrow have already been cancelled, and there are currently 120 planes in the air which will be diverted or will return to their point of origin.
In other words, it’s complete and utter carnage in the travel world today!
However I’ve already been in contact with my 2 clients who were due to travel today and over the weekend via Heathrow. Over the last couple of hours I have been busy rerouting one via the US East coast back to Edinburgh, managing to completely avoid London, and the other is now departing from Birmingham later this afternoon. By the time this client woke up this morning, I already had the solution for her instead of her being in a panic this morning.
It’s not even 9am - most high street travel agencies are not even open yet, and ALL airline call centres that service flights via Heathrow, ALL forms of web chat, and ALL travel company emergency support lines are completely inundated.
This is where Travel Counsellors really comes into it’s own - it’s the best of both worlds. You have the peace of mind that you have booked with a large global company with all the systems and buying power that comes with that, with the most robust financial protection in the industry due to our independent financial trust, and with a large head office team behind the scenes including our 24/7 emergency line.
The thing is though, in a situation like this, our own emergency line has been inundated this morning, just the same as everyone else’s has, but where our difference lies, is that as an independent business owner, with me personally controlling your bookings, I only ever have one or two or maybe a handful of clients travelling on any particular day. I am never going to be inundated the same way, because I am also a small personal business. I know who every single one of my clients are and where they are going. When they what’s app me from the airport, I know exactly who they are and what they need.
💞 When a large scale incident happens in travel like this, those one or two clients become my only focus and the centre of my universe until it’s sorted! 💞
I can look after any rebooking and alternative routes where possible through my booking systems and at the very least, if I do need to contact an airline or travel supplier, at least it’s me that does the running around and waiting and holding on your behalf. My clients all know that they don’t have to try to get hold of their airline, or worry about their onward transfers and hotel bookings as that’s all taken care of for them by me.
It’s a stressful time for people - I have already seen posts online by people concerned about whether they will make their cruise ship departures tomorrow (and if they’ve booked flights separately to the cruise they will have no package protection for this!)
My advice (if you haven’t booked with me) is to sit tight and wait for your airline to confirm what their plans are. The airlines have policies in place for rebooking / refunding / getting people home but it’s also a good plan to check your travel insurance too.
Of course, booking with a trusted travel professional such as myself or one of my Travel Counsellors colleagues means that we will have sorted all of this for you already!
If anyone who has not booked with me is in need of any urgent help with their onward travel, please do get in touch and I’ll do what I can.
[email protected]
01899 890035 / 07986 527947
4 High Street, Biggar - by appointment service
14/03/2025
Now here’s your own chance to tick 5 countries including 3 beautiful Capital cities off your bucket list! 😎
💎8-Day Gems of the Danube with Scenic 💎
Departures in July and August 2025 -
EXCLUSIVE heavily discounted price of £1895 per person (based on 2 sharing Standard Suite)
Includes:
✅ Return flights from UK airports
✅ 7 nights on board a 5-star Scenic Space-Ship
✅ Personalised trip with included Scenic Freechoice activities
✅ 1 exclusive Scenic Enrich experience with an enchanting private classical evening concert at Palais Liechtenstein
✅ A choice of up to five on board venues, from casual to fine dining
✅ A selection of complimentary premium beverages on board all day, every day
✅ Butler service for every suite
✅ All tipping and gratuities
For more information and for the exclusive discount off the advertised price, contact me direct:
[email protected]
01899 890035 / 07986 527947
4 High Street, Biggar - by appointment service
14/03/2025
Finally rested and back in the office… yes I know it’s Friday(!) but my last note for now on river cruise is just to say if anyone is interested to know more, please do get in touch with me anytime. I can help you navigate the different cruise lines and what they all offer as from a distance they look similar but they really aren’t! As part of attending the river cruise conference this week I also have *EXCLUSIVE* discount offers for various cruise lines for any bookings made during this month so I can beat the prices you see online or on the high street! 😱
Unlike almost all other travel these days, the best river cruise deals are last minute!💥 If you are able to be a bit flexible with dates, destinations and room categories, there are some amazing prices for the 2025 season in Europe, including solo occupancy cabins. Please do get in touch with me asap for a quote and any advice you might need! I’ll leave you with some of my fave people and moments from the last few days on the Danube - it is after all, always the people and silly stuff that you remember! 🛳️❤️
[email protected]
01899 890035 / 07986 527947
4 High Street, Biggar - by appointment service
13/03/2025
I am so excited to be registered to do these masterclasses with the fantastic Sara Davies! What an absolute legend she is. As well as being a Travel Counsellors client and advocate for what we do, she has also been a speaker at our last two Travel Counsellors annual conferences - both times she has been the most motivating and thought provoking part of the conference! I really can’t wait to start these more in-depth workshops with her over the coming months… bring it on! 💪
Just LOVE what she has to say about us too -
"Being a Travel Counsellors customer myself, I’ve seen first-hand the dedication, passion, and support that defines this business. It’s truly inspiring to witness how they uplift one another to achieve success, and I look forward to sharing my life lessons and perspectives on entrepreneurship.”
❤️
Businesswoman known for appearing on BBC TV show
12/03/2025
Each day on a Scenic river cruise, you have a choice of included excursions. The 3 freechoices on our day in Bratislava were a city walking tour, a Communist history tour, and a coach trip to visit a local Slovak family in their home for coffee and cake. Alongside this is always the option to borrow some of the e-bikes that are available onboard and go off on your own adventure. I chose communism… Our local guide, with his long hair and little round John Lennon specs began by announcing ‘by the way I really hate communism!’ He promptly pulled up his jumper to show us his Rolling Stones t-shirt and later was proudly telling us about how AC/DC once did such a big concert in Bratislava that 25% of the population of the entire city attended!🤘 I decided him and his fellow countrymen were my kind of people! He also told us lots of interesting things about history and politics of course, and he took us on a little tourist train up to a castle that he knew lots of stuff about, but remembering it all is just not my forte 🤦♀️ What I liked though, was that our local guide did it all with that same sense of mischief and fun that the Scenic staff on the ship had been keeping us entertained with. All in all it was a lovely morning of exploring before wandering off on our own for a coffee in one of the old town’s picturesque squares 💞
12/03/2025
On a Scenic cruise, every evening before dinner, the cruise director addresses all the guests in the lounge, over a cocktail and some canapés. On the first night it’s a welcome talk and introductions, then they go through all the choices of included excursions during the trip and then each night of the cruise they present the next day’s excursions in detail and also provide information about the destination and what else you can do in any free time you have. Having this information provided by people who are knowledgeable about the regions as well as confident and witty makes guests feel not only comfortable on board but also inspired for the adventures ahead. I didn’t think to film the first night’s presentation on Bratislava and only really captured the wrap up on the last night which was mainly the ‘housekeeping’ info about luggage and check out and airport transfers etc. but it’s still presented so well that I’ve posted it here anyway. I think it really demonstrates how warm and friendly the ships are, and how the team make you feel instantly welcome and at ease. Our cruise director JJ, also introduces the Captain on the first night for the safety briefing, and each night as you can see towards the end of the clip, the chef also presents his recommendations for that night in the main dining room. (There are a few other choices on the menu each night to suit all tastes and dietary requirements). I did mean to edit this 15 minutes or so of footage down, but I can’t bear to take anything out! How anyone can make luggage tags and lost property so entertaining I have no idea! 💞
Lesley Woodall
12/03/2025
On my first morning on Scenic Opal, I woke up an hour or so before my alarm. The conference had been so full and hectic that I was so grateful for an hour just lying in bed and watching the world go by before needing to get up for breakfast and my Bratislava excursion. I have to say, Scenic have exceptionally comfortable beds - apparently I wasn’t the first to ask if they are available to buy from somewhere! - anyway, there was something very special about watching the landscape out of the window gradually change over that hour or so as the sun rose further into the sky and the ship edged closer to Bratislava 🥰 I honestly can’t imagine how anyone could not love every second of a river cruise holiday - and that’s before even selecting the countries you’d most like to visit, and your river of choice… and that’s the best bit!
Lesley Woodall
12/03/2025
On one night of every Scenic cruise, each guest gets invited to dine in the stunning Italian restaurant at the front of the ship and the beautiful 5 course menu is all included as part of the cruise cost. With only a handful of tables, it’s a very personal experience. The executive chef at Portobellos introduces himself and talks you through the menu and the sommelier explains the wine choices for the evening. It’s all done with the same charm and humour that weaves its way across the whole ship, and in fact the entire Scenic fleet. Dietary requirements are catered for sensitively and discreetly and they don’t even mind if you are the kind of person who wears hotel slippers with your cocktail dress ( 🫣). It really is the most luxurious, beautiful home from home you could imagine! Go try it, folks. It’ll blow your mind 💞
12/03/2025
Oh go on then, one last extra special breakfast and then just roll me onto the plane 🙈
11/03/2025
The lengths the Scenic trade team will go to for a photo in front of the Budapest parliament building 🫣😂
Lesley Woodall
11/03/2025
What an unbelievable start we had to our taster river cruise on Scenic Opal yesterday afternoon! While my cabin’s side of the ship had that gorgeous double rainbow, the other side simultaneously had a stunning sunset! Had to hotfoot it up to the top deck for the full 360 ♥️ Stunning!
Lesley Woodall
10/03/2025
What better way to end my trip to Budapest for the 2025 CLIA river cruise conference than by setting sail on a 2 night taster river cruise to Bratislava and Vienna, with our fabulous friends at Scenic ♥️ More to follow but hows this for starters?
Lesley Woodall
10/03/2025
Woke up to these photos this morning 🙈 😂 Technically I think this is designed as more of a daytime swimming pool here on AmaSonata… it’s more roomy than a hot tub and has a swim-up bar at one end with underwater bar stools. On this trip though our days are choc full with conference sessions, trade fairs and ship tours so we have to mostly sample the facilities at night… The wonderful Ama staff were so accommodating though and we were treated to waiter service in the pool from John the barman who brought wine to us (in sensible unbreakable polycarbonate wine glasses of course!) and when the warm-ish swimming pool temperature of the pool started to get the better of me on this early March evening he even brought me a lovely hot chocolate! ☕️ They really are so patient and accommodating at these travel agent takeovers! Anyway I am certainly leaving the ship feeling very confident that I can recommend it to clients! Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality AmaWaterways 🥰🙏🌹
Lesley Woodall
09/03/2025
River cruise ships generally all have three decks with cabins along either side and restaurants and bars at either end. Tonight on the gorgeous AmaSonata I’m in one of the lower deck rooms which is the most cost effective choice when booking a river cruise. You do only get the top windows as you see here and the cabins tend to be a bit neater, but to be honest the ships are so small that whenever you aren’t sleeping you tend to find yourself sitting up on the top deck catching some rays or relaxing in the comfortable lounge bar anyway, so unlike with ocean cruises where a balcony cabin is arguably an essential upgrade, on a river cruise everywhere on the ship is pretty damn lovely and only one deck away from the communal spaces. Yes, i’m really quite happy here!
09/03/2025
Well it turns out the cruise director wasn’t on the menu for dinner 😢 I must admit I was a little disappointed but they more than redeemed themselves with that Crepe Suzette! 😋
Lesley Woodall
09/03/2025
The river cruise industry had grown so much in recent times that we now see and speak to so many different river cruise companies at this conference, so sometimes it becomes hard to distinguish between them all… Ama Waterways have really brought out the big guns tonight though! It’s hard not to be romanced when the ship’s handsome Captain and charismatic Cruise Director hand you a red rose on your way to dinner! Very, very well played, Ama! ♥️😘
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Send a message to Lesley Woodall - Travel Counsellors:
My name is Lesley and I’m an independent travel consultant with Travel Counsellors. Being independent means I am able to offer completely impartial, obligation-free, travel advice.
As part of the Travel Counsellors family, I have access to their special relationships with airlines and preferential rates with thousands of suppliers all over the world. There’s no longer a reason to spend endless hours searching online or stand needlessly waiting in a travel agency, I am available to discuss your personal travel requirements, at your convenience, including evenings and weekends, and can offer everything you can find on the high street and more.
The other good news is, absolutely every part of your trip booked through me is 100% financially protected, through either ATOL or the Travel Counsellors Trust, which is the best in the business. It means that you have complete peace of mind that your money is safe.
Originally from London, I have also lived in Australia and currently reside in rural South Lanarkshire with my 3 children, a stone’s throw from Edinburgh and Glasgow. Before having children I travelled extensively, having visited more than 20 countries across 5 continents, so I’m no stranger to overseas adventures. After becoming a parent, my passion for travel didn’t change but my travel needs did - it’s amazing how something seemingly trivial can make or break a holiday with young children (I had 3 under 2 years old at one point!) so I truly appreciate that everyone’s needs are unique. You can rest assured I will research every tiny detail to make your trip perfect for you and ensure you are well looked after, not only before, but during and after your holiday too, and best of all - this comes at no extra cost to you.
So whether you are looking for a family holiday, cruise, adventure holiday, overseas wedding, honeymoon or any other trip, I would love to talk to you either in person over a coffee, over the phone, via email or even Skype about what you are looking for. I can then create a bespoke, tailor-made holiday that meets all of your needs and more, whilst taking away all the stress of researching and booking, leaving you to simply enjoy counting down the days.
