David Bishop - Travel Counsellor

01/08/2025

Sometimes you have to just sit back and let that jaw drop open.

Some lucky Travel Counsellors are away with HX Expeditions in the arctic and have come across this pair of polar bears relaxing.

What an incredible sight and core memory creation that won't simply last the holiday but for ever more without doubt.

As part of my offering I guarantee polar bear sightings in any location so you can rest assured that whether its svalbard or south Georgia it'll happen*

*it won't this is a joke.

But in all seriousness expedition cruising is absolutely something me and my team excel in so if you've ever thought about exploring the tips of the earth and seeing polar bears in the high arctic or penguins in Antarctica get in touch.

There are also some truly exceptional repositioning expedition cruising that shows you some tropical destinations too which I know very well, so if your bored of the same old holiday.....imagine watching these two polar bears on your next holiday?

[email protected]
0131 516 3920

30/07/2025

I love Rugby, played it to a semi decent level at school and then when everyone starting catching me up in height I got scared and started playing tennis.

What a wuss!

Someone who isn't a wuss is one of my clients whose out in Australia right now suffering from illness while on the lions tour. But rather than throw in the towel like I did all those years ago he got in touch with me.

But fear not support is here, when the email dropped this morning at 5am to rejig various elements as they wouldn't be physically able to attend, myself and my team were on it and liasing with both the clients and the ground operators so they are looked after and more importantly able to chill and recover before the 3rd test on Saturday!!

I know for clients in need having me and my team there to support them when away is a massive reason why they book in the first place so if you are considering holiday plans for this summer (believe me some have still not arranged) or further ahead get in touch and let me show you a more caring and supportive way to book and enjoy your holiday while away.

[email protected]
0131 516 3920

29/07/2025

Last week I was fortunate to be able to visit Intrepid Travel UK Head quarters in Brixton.

Was great to see the heart of what Is a great company who has great synergy with my own travel ethics for sustainability and supporting local.

As part of their Intrepid day (24 hours of madness around the world in all their offices globally from Melbourne to Seattle) we were offered a Unseen Tours walking tour of Brixton.

Unseen tours give the view behind the curtain of locations which you would not always think to travel around, getting a truly authentic view of the place through the eyes of a local, in this case Rah.
Rahs story is sadly not uncommon having battled homelessness for most of his life, but his perspective and love of Brixton shone through and gave me a unique perspective on this colourful and challenging part of London that I'd never visited before.

Who knew Iggy Stardust and Po from the telly tubbies lived round the corner from Sharon Osborne? well you do now!!

Really great day and highlighted the amazing work that Intrepid do globally to give travellers a unique perspective on travelling through with purpose the wonderful world we all call home.

If you want to chat about the possibilities of Adventure touring then get in touch as ive been on Intrepid tours in Vietnam, Cambodia, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and also India so know their product and ethics well.

[email protected]
0131 516 3920

14/07/2025

Travel Counsellors is not just about making clients fun times come to life it's about letting us humble TCs let our hair down at events like the TC family day.

Sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line Bedsonline and Alton Towers Resort is the venue.

I've managed to coax my 7 year old onto the rapids wickerman and runaway mine train so feeling successful already.

Foods been laid on and face painting so everyone is happy and kept watered in these stifling conditions.

Culture is so important and one of the many reasons I picked TC for running my business in travel. We really are a TC family.

If you've ever considered a job working for yourself then give me a buzz and I'll happily give you an honest discussion about the pros and cons of working with TC......I'll give you a clue...there are not many cons!!

[email protected]
0131 516 3920

11/07/2025

Great news to wake upto this morning.

We've only gone and won the best home working agency (in a large sense....because we are rather large).

Such an amazing accolade as with Travel Counsellors it really is a team effort, whether it's the 100s of legends at head office who support us day and night or the 1000s of travel Counsellors in the UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, UAE and South Africa who are working tirelessly for you, we all achieve this award as one!!

So if you still think it's just little old me sitting in a coffee shop selling holidays, then think again, there is a billion pound company behind that laptop and latte so why not support those who really know what they are doing and get awarded on the back of it!!

[email protected]
0131 516 3920

07/07/2025

Positivity winning the day yet again.

Delays with kids is never ideal and I may not have been as positive as my eldest last night with the idea of dragging them around Heathrow to some rancid airport hotel....but fear not....the 9pm buffet....and trip to the science museum today has revalued my focus on humanity!!

I've still got cover in place with this extra days holiday enforced by good old mother nature and BA but I'll be back at the coal face tomorrow, but not before we've done loads of cool experiments first!!

geek mode initiated.

02/07/2025

Life goals usually revert around career success, wealth, family etc but for me it's legoland!!

Yes you heard that right, as a kid I loved lego and I mean loved it. On my 8th birthday I got the lego castle which was my pride and joy and I played for hours week after week, progressed to technic and the rest is history!!

I love the creative level to just having a bunch of bricks and creating whatever your imagination allows.

I pestered my family to go to legoland in denmark and for years and years was knocked back as we simply couldn't afford it and I know realise how tough that must have been having to deny your child something they wanted to badly due to financial pressure and strains.

I have to say I did get a bit emotional yesterday taking pictures of my daughters at the park as it was a full circle moment where I was able to fulfil my parents wish to me by taking myself and my own kids to legoland.

I know it might seem a bit of a rubbish life goal but genuinely for me the ability to afford something like this is part and parcel of years of hard work, dedication and perseverance and the ability to do things with my kids that allow them to develop and fundamentally have fun with their old man!!

Had an amazing day and it lived up to all the expectations I had and most important of all, my girls had smiles on their faces all day long!! So hopefully two budding engineers or architects or ninjas (see ninjago) of the future!!

[email protected]
0131 516 3920

#

01/07/2025

Life goal achieved.

30/06/2025

Copenhagen and Tivoli Gardens

What a superb city Copenhagen is, great transport links, interesting architecture, great food and as far as my kids are bothered Tivoli Gardens.

If you've not been it's a theme park of sorts in the middle of the city, literally across the road from the train station, couldn't be easier.

While it's not cheap, but what is in Denmark, the trend for "cooler" summers in Scandinavia continues and the Gardens were very busy, but queues were dealt with efficiently and at last count we got on over 20 rides, the milky way express being the stand out. Morgana the least ......but amazing views from about 100m in the air....eeek!!

Overall I've loved our short stop in Copenhagen and would return as seems a fun city in the evening, not that I've been able to experience that this time solo parenting, but we've had a really quality couple of days of daddy daughter time.

Highly recommend it. If your looking for a different holiday or something to entertain the kids get in touch and I'll share my tips.

[email protected]
0131 516 3920

24/06/2025

Travel Disruption in the middle east.

Been up at various points last night and this morning sorting clients who are stuck, affected or simply worried about the future.

This is what I'm here to do, yes I can send you to some of the most amazingly places in the world and 99 times out of a 100 you get there have a lovely time and come back safe and sound, but in the odd occasion when the preverbial hits the fan, I am here with the superb support of our duty office to support you.

I've repatriated flights back from the Phillipines, Malaysia, Australia and Indonesia to name a few, this is what we do and if you book on your own you are just a very small number in a very long queue to get the assistance you need, you book with me your an immediate priority.

If you didn't book through me and need help let me know and I'll see what I can do and hopefully going forward you'll see the value in a travel expert.

[email protected]
0131 516 3920

19/06/2025

Another day another superlative laden message.....

So I got GOLD again....I know you may think this is a bit of a repetitive message but I won't apologise.

To get GOLD at Travel Counsellors requires a certain mindset, a certain work ethic, a certain amount of luck and a dedication to my clients that is second to none.

I'm very very proud of my achievements and know the struggle I've got through to get to this level of consistency.

Success isn't easy or guaranteed and should never be taken for granted so I thank you all for your bookings, friendship and support of my business as I move towards scaling yet further for 2026 and new projects and opportunities which could change the face of travel in Edinburgh and hopefully the wider travel community. Watch this space!!

Being GOLD means I'm in the top 10% of TCs globally but also it allows me to get a Gold lanyard at conference.....I don't need anything else!!

If you have been unhappy with your current travel provider or simply want to see what it's like to use one of the best travel agents in the country (I know i should win some awards for humility) then get in touch.

[email protected]
0131 516 3920

21/03/2025

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cly24zvvwxlt

Morning all, always fun to wake upto your countries largest airport being closed all day.

But fear not, when you book through a trusted travel agent like myself and all of the good folk at Travel Counsellors we are o it to support you.

I've been in touch with all clients affected already to monitor and update the minute I hear anything else. I'll let them know the minute we get airline policies and I can also advise on correct procedure from the airlines in terms of what they "have" to offer if journeys are delays, so my clients are well informed and know I've got their back.

Before 0630 I've already contacted clients in Vegas, Auckland, Edinburgh and Dubai who will all be effected.

If anyone hasn't booked through a trusted travel agent feel free to message me and I'll do my best to advise and help.

Good luck if your travelling today like me (all be it from Edinburgh).

[email protected]
0131 516 3920

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