I’ve been travelling far and wide since I was a baby - in fact my first trip was as an infant to Zimbabwe visiting my mum’s family. I have lived in England, South Africa, Germany and Switzerland, which gave me the opportunity to learn and grow and see many things in life from more than one cultural perspective.
I lived in South Africa for 21 years and, for 8 of those years, called Cape Town my home. Here I worked for a local tour operator welcoming visitors from all over Europe to the Mother City and made sure their experiences of South Africa was top notch.
My new home, for the last 9 years, is Brighton and will be here long into the foreseeable future. Many a summer evening has been spent on the pebbly beaches.
My recent travel experiences
Having returned to England in 2011 I have loved life in Brighton. The best thing is that I have both the stunning South Downs and the fab beaches (albeit pebbly ones) right on my doorstep, and that really appeals to me. Over eight years I worked with a fantastic local travel agency who introduced me to everything Brighton and over that time I got to experience destinations as diverse as Japan, Morocco, Costa Rica and Borneo.
While in Tokyo always try and get out in the evening to marval at the bright neon lights. I spent just 3 nights in Tokyo, exploring the markets, the parks and gardens as well as the city’s Imperial Palace.
Essaouira is one of my favourite Moroccan destinations, with its vast beaches, colourful old town and old city walls overlooking the colourful local fishing boats.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of my favourite destinations in Costa Rica. With its cooler climate, it’s the best place to escape the sometimes overwhelming heat of the lowlands. During my time here I saw some incredible birdlife and frogs and the walks in the forests were just magical.
While on honeymoon my husband had to put up with some great hardships...crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches, delicious seafood and mostly me taking lots of photos!
Fiona Bateman - Travel Counsellor
In 2019 I decided to step out of my comfort zone and, with the support of my nearest and dearest, have joined the Travel Counsellors family. So, who am I now and will working with myself be the right decision for you? Well, here is what makes me different:
Everything you book with me is 100% financially protected. No if’s...no but’s.
I can be available for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
I will ensure that your reservations are correct, and all relevant procedures are followed to ensure that everything from check-in to your return homes runs smoothly, including contacting local service providers with any special requests.
I will provide a personal service with specific information on health, visas, passports, documentation and handwritten luggage labels if required.
Though my offers are often competitive, I won’t compete with the internet as to do that I would have to match their service levels and financial protection - and they don’t have anything close to what Travel Counsellors can offer. I will add value to your holiday and ensure you receive that value every time and the most important thing is it’s the perfect holiday for you.
I build my business on referrals so the win for me is that you book with me as you have been looked after so well and you feel comfortable to pass on my details to your family and friends - it’s really that simple.
So, whether you’re keen to explore Europe, have your business trip organised and would like to extend it to include a holiday, perhaps you’re in need of a honeymoon planned by someone who knows what she’s talking about or perhaps you’re keen to join in a group tour... For a personalised and seamless travel experience simply give me a call and we’ll get everything in place.
