David Bishop - Travel Counsellor

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

18/06/2025

Big milestone achieved today......

No not building the 2 man job bunk beds for my daughters....though that was a flipping achievement.

But making £6m in sales since I joined Travel Counsellors and backed myself.

One of the things they ask you to do when you start is to set out goals of what year 1 or 2 or 3 looks like and never in my wildest delusionally optimistic projections would I have considered achieving something like this.

I couldn't have achieved it without all your support though and given I had very few contacts to start with, which is insane when I consider my strategy in 2017 when I started was pushing my eldest daughter around the park connecting with random people in Edinburgh based on their occupation, bizarre!!

But since those trial and error days I've developed a pretty simple process and believe it works very well, and I'll let you in on my secret....

STOP SELLING TO PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY ON CONNECTION.

Not rocket science really?

Another big milestone likely achieved today or tomorrow so watch this space, but thank you so much for your continued support, Children's Hospices Across Scotland benefit as well with my continued support of their business through donations based on my bookings.

So If you have ever wondered what it's like to have support, knowledge and honest guidance with your travel then feel free to get in touch and I'll be happy to discuss.

n.b no more flat pack for me, I'm better at sending people on their dreams than making a comfy place for my children to dream for sure!!

[email protected]
0131 516 3920

09/06/2025

All Aboard: The Art of Slow, Luxurious Travel 🚂✨
In an age of private jets and fast-track everything, there’s something rather indulgent about slowing down.

Luxury rail journeys aren’t just travel—they’re an experience. Picture this: a crystal glass in hand, panoramic windows framing epic landscapes, and white-gloved service that makes you forget what a boarding pass even looks like.

For those of you who know me, you'll be well aware I'm a train geek, I'm not ashamed of it and will not hide away from it, but in all honesty my tastes have changed over the years from the rough and ready of the Trans Mongolian, being stuck in cramped cabins with Mongolian Traders to now enjoying the true delights of the Eastern and Oriental as it luxuriously winds it way through the jungles of Asia.

Train travel is a delight and one that more and more of my travellers love to enjoy and experience.

Such as the timeless glamour of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and the refined Highland charm of the Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train, to the wild drama of Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer—where glass-domed carriages glide past snow-draped peaks—and Australia’s legendary Ghan, carving through the ochre Outback in true style… this is storytelling on rails.

For the well-travelled, these journeys offer something rare: luxury without rush, comfort without compromise, and the chance to see the world in cinematic slow motion.

Planning your next escape—or looking to turn a milestone into something extraordinary? Let’s talk trains. You’d be surprised how addictive slow travel can be when it’s done properly.

[email protected]
0131 516 3920

30/05/2025

Busy week at the coal face.

Booking many holidays for clients and working through some amazing new enquiries to Japan and China, after clients were inspired by Race around the world.

Then had some training by Sani Resort and Ikos Resorts where I learned all the subtle nuances of each of their luxury properties as well as the high level concierge service they offer to clients staying in their 3 bedroom villas and above, something I've helped many clients with over the years.

Then after some chats with Travel Counsellors about possible opportunities with new corporates through the The PA Show I made an absolute wally of myself and got dressed up as one part of the village people for the SPAA Summer party which was 70s theme. The video of a 6ft 6 first nation chief doing YMCA in front of the entire room will haunt me forever......

So if you want any information on Sani and IKOS or working with me on a corporate level then get in touch....dance lessons best try elsewhere if I were you!!

[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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