Lara Harris - Travel Counsellor

13/03/2026

✈️“Why would I book with a Travel Agent?”✈️
It’s a question that comes up quite often, so I thought I’d share a few real moments from my week that highlight the value of having someone in your corner when you travel.

Here are just a few highlights from the past week:

When travel plans change unexpectedly

🌎 Following disruption affecting travel through the Middle East, I spent time working closely with airlines, my aviation support teams, the Omani Embassy in both Oman and London, and hotel partners to make sure my clients could get home safely & comfortably.

The result? He made it home smoothly and in good time. Because he had booked a Travel Counsellors package with me, we were also able to extend cover to include his domestic flight & a large portion of his hotel stay – saving him around £3,500 overall.

Even better, I’ll also be managing the airline refund process for the affected part of the journey, so he doesn’t have to.

🌎 Creating memorable celebrations

One of my regular clients is celebrating an anniversary with a stay at a beautiful 5* hotel in London. By working with my contacts at the property, I secured a complimentary room upgrade and arranged anniversary welcome amenities for their arrival.

The upgrade alone represents a value of around £1,200, but more importantly, it adds that extra special touch to their celebration.

🌎 Luxury solutions at short notice

Another client reached out after their Easter holiday plans (booked elsewhere) needed to change following the recent Middle East disruption.
Through a combination of research, industry contacts & a few calls to trusted hotel partners, I secured them a stunning 5* suite in a luxury European hotel.

I was also able to negotiate the family a fantastic nightly rate, saving them around €6,000 overall.

Moments like these are why many of my clients choose to work with me as their travel agent:

😊 20+ years of experience & expert support, especially when it matters most
😊 Fantastic industry connections
😊 Round the clock help & support when plans change
😊 Added value extras

Need a holiday & want the peace of mind, reach out today!

10/03/2026

After a 6 day delay to their return flight home, this lovely couple have thankfully just landed safely back to Heathrow. 🛬

They had been celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a celebration stay at the beautiful Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, based in Southern Oman this is a stunning, tranquil & remote location I highly recommend.

Unfortunately on this occasion, when the FCDO changed their advice to evacuate, we had to move the guests immediately out of Salalah and up to Muscat in the north of Oman.

First thing the next morning and first ones out, we had the guests booked onto a direct flight Salalah > Muscat. After some aligning on their car pick ups and the best hotel choice for the guests, they were booked into their preferred hotel in Muscat.
Gladly the guests know this hotel well so they settled in quickly & their holiday resumed at the beautiful Al Husn in Muscat.

Whilst we initially had the guests moved to a flight back from Muscat around the same dates as their original, as things unfolded these flights kept getting amended by the airline.

After a few days of uncertainty, an extension to their Muscat hotel stay & no real clarity as to when they could leave availability wise, I & my team went to work searching high & low for all possible routes back to the UK/Ireland and across Europe. I even searched flying onward east from Oman to potentially come back with another airline direct, sometimes this job is about thinking outside the brief.
When, like a mirage in the desert I located the last two seats on todays direct flight home!
Naturally I leapt on these and held the seats for the clients, being it was 1am I couldn't call the client, but was able to hold seats so as not to lose availability before the morning.

The best bit... as the clients were part of a Travel Counsellors package they have now had over £3.5k of costs covered under our Travel Counsellors package protection.
Had this been booked directly, the client would have most definitely had all these costs passed on.

Book with a travel agent (preferably this one😉)... we are worth our weight in gold when you need us most!

10/03/2026

After a 6 day delay to their return flight home, this lovely couple have thankfully just landed safely back to Heathrow. 🛬

They had been celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with a celebration stay at the beautiful Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, based in Southern Oman this is a stunning, tranquil & remote location I highly recommend.

Unfortunately on this occasion, when the FCDO changed their advice to evacuate, we had to move the guests immediately out of Salalah and up to Muscat in the north of Oman.

First thing the next morning and first ones out, we had the guests booked onto a direct flight Salalah > Muscat. After some aligning on their car pick ups and the best hotel choice for the guests, they were booked into their preferred hotel in Muscat.
Gladly the guests know this hotel well so they settled in quickly & their holiday resumed at the beautiful Al Husn in Muscat.

Whilst we initially had the guests moved to a flight back from Muscat around the same dates as their original, as things unfolded these flights kept getting amended by the airline.

After a few days of uncertainty, an extension to their Muscat hotel stay & no real clarity as to when they could leave availability wise, I & my team went to work searching high & low for all possible routes back to the UK/Ireland and across Europe. I even searched flying onward east from Oman to potentially come back with another airline direct, sometimes this job is about thinking outside the brief.
When, like a mirage in the desert I located the last two seats on todays direct flight home!
Naturally I leapt on these and held the seats for the clients, being it was 1am I couldn't call the client, but was able to hold seats so as not to lose availability before the morning.

The best bit... as the clients were part of a Travel Counsellors package they have now had over £3.5k of costs covered under our Travel Counsellors package protection.
Had this been booked directly, the client would have most definitely had all these costs passed on.

Book with a travel agent (preferably this one😉)... we are worth our weight in gold when you need us most!

09/03/2026

It's not often I announce a new supplier agreement here, however this one is most definitely worthy of a mention! I am mega excited to reveal that I can now book the fantastic Oliver's Travels for my clients!

Oliver's Travels have a vast collection of handpicked quirky, stylish & characterful properties worldwide. Their portfolio showcases a huge array of charming private homes & pools in the UK & Ireland, rustic farmhouses in Provence through to Chateaux's & Medieval fortresses in the Loire, luxury tented camps in the Agafay Desert, right through to the stunning palatial retreats of Marrakech, Essaouira & Fez in Morocco.

Thinking of something a little different or further afield... I can help with those too, think door to door Ski Chalets in Europe, Northern lights in Finnish Lapland, spectacular beach views in South Africa, lush hideaways in Bali, Thailand, Sri Lanka... even as far afield as Vietnam!

If you think villa stays just mean having to cooking for the family all week... you have never had the luxury of hiring a local chef to plan & cook your meals across your stay.

Need a holiday, or know someone that does..?
Reach out today

07/03/2026

20years as a travel agent & through all the wonderful things about my role, this job really rides some tough times.
I've had several clients i've been assisting caught up in the Middle East this week, including my mum & youngest sister. All are safe, being looked after & being communicated with.

In the early hours of this morning I was tracking their flight in & although I do this regularly for clients, it was understandly different to watch my family across the sky this morning.

I, like many have an immense level of respect & trust in the wonderful UAE government & the way in which the airlines, hotels and agents/tour operators have leapt into action to support all our mutual guests.
My thoughts are with all affected in the conflict this week.

I met my family at LHR today, there were lots of sad & relieved faces as they were met by their loved ones. I've always felt the airport arrivals hall sees a huge range of true emotions, normally happy... today was a blend of happy & sad faces.

Well done to each and every one of my fellow travel industry colleagues.
This has been a very tough week, but this too shall pass.

04/03/2026

Anyone ever asked 'what's the benefit of booking with a travel agent'... 1699 redials to an airline to get you rebooked at times of crisis is a good example!
One client booked with me, one direct with the airline but Emirates stepped up & helped me align the two passengers together.

Need a holiday or know someone that does... BOOK WITH A TRAVEL AGENT! Lara Harris
I assure you we are worth every penny when it matters most!

28/02/2026

26/02/2026

As a luxury travel agent, I have the privilege of experiencing some of the world’s finest properties & my recent visit to the Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City truly stands out.

From the moment you step through the doors, you’re welcomed into a serene hacienda-style oasis right in the heart of the vibrant capital.
The lush inner courtyard has the usual charming, unpretentious feel of a Four Seasons Hotel. The stunning garden is the perfect backdrop for relaxed breakfasts, lazy lunches or fairylit evening drinks & dinner.

Settle into one of the beautiful elegant rooms & enjoy a finely tuned blend of local workmanship & artisan touches, think hand carved wood work & handpainted bathroom sinks.
My top tip - ask for a room with the rolltop bath!❤️

Across all parts of the hotel the impeccable Four Seasons brand shines through. Every member of staff greets with a genuine smile & desire to help give you an wonderful stay. From the front desk,
right through to the concierge guru that is Angie, they all create the perfect balance of city energy and tranquil escape.

Located on Paseo de la Reforma, it’s ideal for exploring world-class dining, culture, and shopping.
Just a shot hop & you're in uber trendy Roma Norte for vintage shops & authentic local restaurants or the coffee shop & boutique cool of nearby Condesa.

For clients seeking refined luxury, privacy, and a true 5* luxe experience in Mexico City, this property delivers.
If it wasn't such a fantastic city to explore i'd say you don't even need to leave the hotel, with fine dining, a rooftop pool & fireside spots to sneak in a read of the paper or a little quiet work time, what else could you possibly want?

If you’re considering Mexico City, this is where you want to stay.

I explored various parts of Mexico City mostly on foot over a 5 night stay, need a few pointers please reach out anytime

Want to stay at the Four Season's, I know a couple of great on site contacts who would love to welcome you. Let me take care of the details to secure your stay in one of the city’s most iconic addresses, The Four Seasons Mexico City.

25/02/2026

Thank you so much to for having me this evening & to all the lovely PAs I chatted to. Thank you & for showcasing your fab space.

It's been 20yrs since I was on Sunborn London, i've changed a fair bit in that time but is still looking fabulous!

23/02/2026

After a whirlwind adventure across Mexico City, Cabos & Santa Monica this last couple of weeks I wanted to share some of my favourite pics along the way.

Mexico City was incredible & took so much of my space on this reel that this is just part 1 of my trip, next up Cabos, whale watching and Santa Monica!

I love these memories & think I might get some of these blown up for my office wall!

Anyone planning a trip to Mexico City or beyond please talk to me, the location you stay is so important to the experience you have!

23/02/2026

Beautiful photos back from my lovely clients who are celebrating their 50th Wedding anniversary in stunning Salalah, Oman.

Huge thanks to the fabulous for the room upgrade & special anniversary treats to welcome the guests.

15/02/2026

Flying home from an incredible adventure across Mexico City, Cabos & California with my favourite airline. Being it is valentines day I thought I'd dress for the occasion!

Treated myself with my airmiles for this one home!