Mel Stead - Travel Counsellors

01/03/2026

Proud to be part of an organisation that cares about our clients. ❤️

26/02/2026

Spring Bank in Cyprus… but make it effortless 🌴

Spring Bank week is actually a beautiful time to take children to Cyprus. The weather is warm (but not overwhelming), the sea is inviting, and everything feels that little bit calmer before peak summer.

Imagine swapping the school run for a spacious two-bedroom apartment overlooking the Mediterranean — where everyone has their own space, and all the details are taken care of.

This Spring Bank, you could be flying direct from Manchester on Friday 29 May for 7 nights at the 4★ Constantinou Bros Athena Beach Hotel in Paphos, staying all inclusive in a two-bedroom apartment — ideal for a family of four who want comfort without compromising on quality.

From landing in Paphos, it’s a short transfer, so the children can be in the pool within the hour… while you enjoy that first chilled drink under the palms. The hotel sits right on the seafront, with direct access to the coastal path — perfect for an evening wander at sunset without ever really leaving the resort.

For children, it ticks all the boxes:
✨ Multiple pools and waterslides
✨ A friendly kids’ club
✨ Evening entertainment and mini-discos
✨ Easy access to waterparks and boat trips

And for parents, it’s just easy:
✔ Separate bedrooms so evenings feel calm, not cramped
✔ Plenty of loungers — no 6am sunbed dash
✔ Great dining with everything included
✔ Spa and adult-only areas if you fancy a little quiet time

The price for 2 adults and 2 children in a two-bedroom apartment on an all-inclusive basis is £7,800.

If you’re thinking about a Spring Bank break that feels relaxed, refined and genuinely stress-free, this is a lovely option.

Message me and I’ll tailor it around your family — from flights to room choice and those little details that make the week run smoothly.

☎️ 0113 868 8856
☎️ 07764 244813
📩 [email protected]

25/02/2026

Today I've been out meeting suppliers and hoteliers and the first stop of the day was to meet the team to look at Dubai. First up we met the lovely Andrea Gherghel and Aymen Baccouche from

Then I met with Angela Torrecilla from and from

What gorgeous hotels and I've learnt tons! We have agreed I need to visit them all to test them out of course.

And Aymen set me a challenge which I've happily accepted! 😉

25/02/2026

🧘‍♀️🌿 Rejuvenate your mind and body with Celebrity Cruises! Join wellness retreats featuring yoga, spa treatments, and healthy cuisine. Sail towards relaxation and renewal!

25/02/2026

So, what actually is “shoulder season”?

It is that lovely sweet spot either side of peak season where you still get the sunshine and all the enjoyment of a destination, but with fewer crowds and often better value too. Think easier restaurant reservations, more space by the pool and a more relaxed feel overall.

If you like the idea of quieter beaches, gentler temperatures and stretching your budget a little further, shoulder season can be a brilliant time to travel.

This is exactly where I come in: I will help you pick the right destination at the right time, with all those little details tailored to you.

If you are ready to start planning your next shoulder season escape, just get in touch and I will do the rest.

☎️ 0113 868 8856
☎️ 07764 244813
📩 [email protected]

25/02/2026

The problem with this career is that my bucket list gets bigger every day!!

You step off the speedboat and the first thing you feel is that soft, powdery sand under your feet, the kind you only ever see in brochures. The water is that unreal, electric turquoise that actually makes you stop and just stare for a moment. This is NOOE Maldives Kunaavashi, and for 14 nights it is all yours.

This island is honestly beautiful. It is small, intimate and feels really personal, but still has so much going on. The lagoon is crystal clear, the reef is full of life and everywhere you look you get that “wow, I am really here” feeling. It has a 4.8 rating on Tripadvisor, which tells you how much people genuinely fall in love with it once they arrive.

During the day you can do as much or as little as you like:

✨ Wander straight from your villa onto the beach or down into the lagoon
✨ Snorkel with colourful fish and, if you are lucky, turtles drifting by
✨ Try paddleboarding or kayaking on perfectly calm water that looks like glass
✨ Head out on boat trips, sandbank visits and dolphin or sunset cruises
✨ Completely switch off at the spa, listening to the waves while you melt into the bed

Evenings are that lovely mix of relaxed and special:

✨ Cocktails as the sky turns pink and orange over the ocean
✨ Long, lazy dinners with your feet in the sand or over the water
✨ Stargazing with barely any light around you, so the sky feels huge

And the best bit: it is all inclusive. So you are not constantly worrying about what you are spending every time you order a drink or fancy another snack. You can just enjoy:

✨ Beautiful buffet and live cooking stations
✨ A la carte options, fresh seafood, Asian flavours and grilled favourites
✨ Drinks throughout the day, cocktails, wine and those ice-cold beers by the pool

This is a proper luxury escape: fly from Manchester on 26th March 2026, speedboat transfers included, then settle in for 14 nights at NOOE Maldives Kunaavashi on an all inclusive basis from £6,850 per person.

If you are reading this and thinking “yes, that is exactly what I need”, send me a message and I will look after everything from your flights to that first step off the boat onto the sand.

☎️ 0113 868 8856
☎️ 07764 244813
📩 [email protected]

24/02/2026

Barcelona has my heart, so I am really excited about this one…

If you love cities with real soul, incredible food and so much culture on every corner, an Easter escape to Barcelona is such a treat. And this year I have found a gorgeous option right in the heart of it all.

This week I met the fabulous team at Small Luxury Hotels of the World and many of the hoteliers working with them. It promped me to have a really close look at this special place a little bit more.

Grand Hotel Central is highly regarded as one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and it has been recently renovated so it feels super stylish and luxurious and welcoming Think:

✨ Rooftop pool and bar with amazing views over the Gothic Quarter.
✨ Calm, grown‑up atmosphere, perfect to come back to after a day exploring.
✨ Beautiful classic double rooms with a fresh new look
Great restaurant, bar and a cosy lounge area.
✨ Wellness area and gym if you like to balance the tapas with a little workout.

You step outside and you are moments from the Gothic Quarter, the Cathedral and easy walking distance to Las Ramblas and the trendy El Born district. Tapas bars, little boutiques, wine bars and galleries are all on your doorstep, which is exactly why I love this part of the city.

🐣 Easter Weekend in Barcelona 🐣

📌 Flights from Manchester.
📌 4 nights, flying out Thursday 2nd April.
📌 Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona.
📌 Classic Double Room, recently renovated on a room only basis.

From £1,050 per person based on 2 people sharing a room.

I'm genuinely excited about this hotel as a base for soaking up Barcelona’s culture, food and atmosphere over the Easter break.

Pop me a message if you would like me to check this for you and start planning your Easter in Barcelona. I can also check other airports and dates if you need something a bit different.

☎️ 0113 868 8856
☎️ 07764 244813
📩 [email protected]

24/02/2026

23/02/2026

✨Tenerife has a way of stealing your heart, and Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora is one of those special places that shows you exactly why.✨

Think elegant, laid‑back luxury on the shores of the Atlantic, with the dramatic backdrop of Mount Teide and those famous Tenerife sunsets right in front of you. The resort feels more like a stylish Canary Island village than a hotel: grand walkways, tranquil pools, lush gardens and chic bars that come alive in the evening.

What I particularly love about this beautiful hotel is how beautifully it balances grown‑up indulgence with genuinely thoughtful family facilities:

Stunning rooms and suites, many with sea views or swim‑up style access, that feel calm, spacious and high‑end.

A superb choice of pools, including one of the largest saltwater infinity pools in Europe, plus dedicated areas that work brilliantly for children.

Fantastic family‑friendly dining with a great choice of restaurants, alongside more sophisticated spots that are perfect for a relaxed date night while the little ones are at the kids’ club.

A brilliant kids’ and teens’ programme that keeps younger travellers happy, so parents can enjoy the spa, a cocktail by the pool or simply a quiet hour with a book.

Located in Alcalá on Tenerife’s west coast, you're perfectly placed for exploring: boat trips in search of whales and dolphins, days out to Teide National Park, or discovering pretty nearby villages, then coming “home” to a resort that feels truly special.

If you are imagining an easter holiday as a blend of five‑star comfort, family time and just the right touch of indulgence, Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora is a wonderful option to consider.

If this sounds like your kind of escape, get in touch and I will put together a personalised holiday tailored around you and your family.

☎️ 0113 868 8856
☎️ 07764 244813
📩 [email protected]

22/02/2026

🤩 SAIL ON BOARD THE BRAND NEW CELEBRITY XCEL 🤩

✨ Interior stateroom from £2️⃣1️⃣9️⃣9️⃣pp €2️⃣5️⃣9️⃣3️⃣pp

✨Infinite balcony from £2️⃣8️⃣5️⃣9️⃣pp. €3️⃣3️⃣9️⃣6️⃣pp

☀️ SPAIN, PORTUGAL & MOROCCO CRUISE ☀️

🗓️ 12th October 2026
🍽️ 11 Nights, full board
✈️ Flying from Manchester
🧳 🚗 Luggage and overseas transfers included

Cruise Itinerary -
🔹Barcelona, Spain
🔹Relax at sea
🔹Tangier, Morocco
🔹Relax at sea
🔹Madeira, Portugal (overnight!😍)
🔹Madeira, Portugal
🔹Lisbon, Portugal
🔹Relax at sea
🔹Seville (Cadiz)
🔹Relax at sea
🔹Palma De Mallorca, Spain
🔹Barcelona, Spain

🫶🏻 They didn’t find your happy place, they built it! 🫶🏻

🫶🏻 Celebrity XCEL will feature the Edge Series Greatest Hits including the Magic Carpet, Sunset Bar, Grand Plaza and amazing Theatre PLUS 7 NEW EXPERIENCES! 🫶🏻

🤩 Recently announced new venue - THE BAZAAR

Celebrity XCEL doesn’t just bring you to some of the world’s best places. It brings those places along for the ride. With The Bazaar, they're no longer just blurring the line between ship and shore, they’re erasing the line completely.

From the culture, flavours, sights and sounds of the destinations you’ll visit to the local festivals they’re famous for, they give you more to explore than ever before! 🤩

Contact me if this sounds like the cruise for you!

21/02/2026

🦁 SAFARI SATURDAY — WHERE TO SEE THE BIG FIVE! 🦁

If a safari is on your bucket list, this is the question everyone asks me first…

“Where’s the BEST place to go?”

Truthfully — there isn’t one single answer. It depends what you want to feel.

Do you want raw nature?
Luxury with wildlife at your door?
Or the highest chance of spotting the Big Five?

Here’s my quick guide 👇

🇰🇪 Kenya – The Classic Documentary Safari
Think golden grasslands, acacia trees and herds stretching to the horizon. The Maasai Mara gives some of the most reliable lion sightings in Africa and during migration season… it’s unforgettable.

🇹🇿 Tanzania – The Big Five Paradise
Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater = probably the best place on earth to see all five in one trip. Huge wildlife density and dramatic landscapes.

🇿🇦 South Africa – First Time Safari Luxury
Malaria-free reserves, amazing lodges and perfect for combining with Cape Town or the Winelands. Ideal if you want comfort + adventure.

🇧🇼 Botswana – The Wow Factor Safari
Water safaris, elephants everywhere and ultra exclusive camps.
More expensive — but genuinely once-in-a-lifetime.

💡 My tip:
The lodge you choose matters more than the country. The right guide = the best sightings.

If safari is on your dream list, message me — I’ll help you pick the one that fits you, not just Google.

☎️ 0113 868 8856
☎️ 07764 244813
📩 [email protected]

Because the moment a lion walks past your jeep… you never forget it.