Joanne Grogan - Travel Counsellor

Joanne Grogan - Travel Counsellor I am your Personal Travel Consultant. No matter how big or small your enquiry is I am happy to find that perfect holiday, break or experience for you.

I am able to access suppliers from across the globe, air land or sea.

August has been an amazing month for me, filled with my three favourite things: family, travel, and music. I enjoyed art...
31/08/2026

August has been an amazing month for me, filled with my three favourite things: family, travel, and music.

I enjoyed art exhibitions, spent some lovely days in Manchester, took a delightful week-long trip to Greece, caught up with friends, attended three fantastic gigs at Wythenshawe Park, and celebrated an 80th birthday. All of these experiences have left me feeling happy and content.

Alongside this, I have booked some late holidays for customers, and some exciting adventures for next year, as well as meeting suppliers for the Bahamas, Maldives and ITC.

I have plenty planned for September as well, starting with a little trip to Southampton this week, followed by more flights to come.

29/08/2026

The Palm Springs hat made it to Pulp

Nurturing strong relationships with my trusted suppliers is a vital part of what I do. By really getting to know the tea...
27/08/2026

Nurturing strong relationships with my trusted suppliers is a vital part of what I do. By really getting to know the teams who look after you on the ground, I can help ensure that when you travel, you enjoy the extra touches, special attention and little surprises that make your holiday feel truly personal.

That is why this week I took some time out of the office to meet with tour operator ITC and the General Manager for Ritz Carlton Fari Island. It was fantastic to spend time learning about both the hotel and ITC.

The Maldives is a dream destination and it was nice to virtually escape for a while.

How to feel calm, organised and ready before you travelYou have booked the holiday, the countdown is on… so what should ...
26/08/2026

How to feel calm, organised and ready before you travel

You have booked the holiday, the countdown is on… so what should you do to prepare before you travel?

Here are some simple steps to make everything feel calm and stress free:

🛂Check your passport & essentials
Make sure your passport is in date for long enough after you return, and that you have any required visas or entry forms in place. Keep confirmations, insurance details and key documents together in one easy-to-reach place, and take photos or digital copies as a back up.

💳Sort your money & cards
Let your bank know you are travelling, check card charges for overseas use and decide how much local currency you want to take. A mix of card and cash usually works best. Keep a small amount handy for tips, taxis and snacks on arrival.

🚘Plan your transfers & timings
Decide how you are getting to the airport or station and build in a buffer for traffic or queues. Keep an eye on your check in time, baggage allowance and terminal, so departure day runs smoothly.

💊Think about health & comfort
Pack any regular medication in your hand luggage with copies of prescriptions if needed. Add a small “comfort kit” for the journey: refillable water bottle, snacks, lip balm, hand sanitiser, neck pillow and a light layer for cooler air conditioning.

📱Get your tech ready
Charge devices fully the night before and pack chargers, adapters and headphones. Download boarding passes, hotel details, maps, playlists and films while you are on Wi‑Fi so you are not relying on signal when you travel.

🧳Organise your packing
Check the weather for your destination and plan outfits rather than throwing things in last minute. Use packing cubes or sections in your case, and keep anything you might need on arrival near the top. Remember swimwear and a change of clothes in your hand luggage if you are heading straight to the pool or beach.

🏠Prepare your home
Empty bins, clear the fridge of anything that might spoil, and set timers for lights if you wish. Ask a neighbour, friend or family member to keep an eye on things, collect post or water plants.

👥Share key details
Share your travel dates and basic itinerary with someone at home, including the name of your hotel and your flight times. It is a simple step that can offer extra peace of mind.

☺️Give yourself a “soft landing” when you get back
If you can, avoid planning anything too demanding for the day after you return. A little time to unpack, do laundry and ease back into normal life keeps that holiday feeling going for longer.

And of course, if you are ever unsure about what you need for your specific destination, I am here to guide you through it all so you can simply relax and look forward to going away.

If you want me to make it even easier by arranging your travel, please get in touch.

0161 297 0366
[email protected]

I have already done my California visit for this year, and explored a little more inland, however if you are a first tim...
24/08/2026

I have already done my California visit for this year, and explored a little more inland, however if you are a first time visitor you cannot go wrong with this iconic journey.

California dreamin’ on the Pacific Coast Highway…

Imagine 14 nights or longer for a more relaxed pace, winding your way from San Francisco to San Diego:
starting with Golden Gate Bridge views, cruising the coastal curves of Big Sur, sipping wine around San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, then soaking up the buzz of LA, the surfy charm of Huntington Beach and the sunshine vibes of San Diego.

Think ocean‑view drives, golden beaches, characterful coastal towns and some of America’s most exciting cities in one unforgettable trip.

If you would love a tailor‑made California road trip designed just for you, get in touch and I will take care of every detail. It is somewhere I have visited on numerous occasions and can help guide you.

I love it when clients come back for their next adventure.Last year Hannah and her family explored the USA with an epic ...
19/08/2026

I love it when clients come back for their next adventure.

Last year Hannah and her family explored the USA with an epic journey through New York, Yellowstone and Utah. This year, they set their sights on something completely different: an adventure down under in New Zealand.

With a couple of nights in Singapore to break the journey, they swapped our British summer for a Kiwi winter in July. After a few precious days with family, the adventure really began: wandering through Hobbiton, bubbling geothermal wonders in Rotorua, hiking in Tongariro National Park, soaking up the culture in Wellington and then down to Queenstown for winter sports, a scenic flight to Milford Sound and visits to Lord of the Rings film locations.

It was action packed, carefully paced and absolutely memory-filled.

Thank you, Hannah, for trusting me again to bring this trip to life, in partnership with my fantastic team in New Zealand, and for allowing me to share your beautiful photos.

If New Zealand is on your bucket list, or you’re dreaming of your own once‑in‑a‑lifetime adventure, I would love to help you plan it.

Back in the office today after the most wonderfully relaxing week in Kefalonia.Paul and I are not usually very good at “...
17/08/2026

Back in the office today after the most wonderfully relaxing week in Kefalonia.

Paul and I are not usually very good at “doing nothing”, but this break was so overdue that on the day we arrived we both fell fast asleep on the sunbeds that afternoon… for a good hour or so!

We stayed in a lovely one‑bedroom villa in Trapezaki on the south‑west coast of the island, around 30 minutes from the airport and Argostoli. With its hilltop setting, a couple of great little tavernas within walking distance (or a 2‑minute drive if the hill to Ionian View felt a bit ambitious!) and easy access to Lourdas Bay, it was the perfect small village base.

We hired a car and, once we got used to the bends and the hills, driving was easy and stress‑free, even in August. We had a couple of gentle days out: into Argostoli to see the turtles and stroll the De Bosset Bridge, then across the mountains to Messalina Lake and beautiful Sami. That drive rewarded us with incredible coastal views, wineries and the stunning Sacred Monastery of Agios Gerasimos.

We decided to save Fiskardo and Assos for next time, as the big cruise ships were in and we knew they would be busy. I can already see a twin‑centre stay working brilliantly: a few nights up in the north for pretty harbours and colourful villages, followed by beach time in the south, or even adding a ferry trip over to Ithaca or Lefkada.

It was our first time in Greece together and my first “proper” Greek island holiday in about 25 years. I had forgotten just how beautiful the islands are, how warm the hospitality is, and how good the food and wine can be.

Feeling refreshed, inspired and back at my desk, ready to help you plan your own Greek island escape… until the next adventure!

Sorry for the lack of posts, we have had a chilled week, doing a little driving around, buy mostly relaxing and eating!...
13/08/2026

Sorry for the lack of posts, we have had a chilled week, doing a little driving around, buy mostly relaxing and eating!!

I will share more next week, but at the moment I am reading by the pool whilst the sun slowly goes down, looking at the view

We are in Kefalonia, and we are loving the villa and the pool. It is so nice to have this space to ourselves, and all we...
09/08/2026

We are in Kefalonia, and we are loving the villa and the pool. It is so nice to have this space to ourselves, and all we can here is the wildlife.

We have hired a car, and after a little stress picking it up, thanks to a bizarre rule that they could only take 1 of us to the pick up point, and Paul having to then drive manual for the first time in years, we made it here.

From the moment we arrived, we both have relaxed and sleep has dictated our day, however we did move tonight to wander down to a lovely restaurant about 10 minutes away for the views and lovely food.

We may venture further tomorrow, but lets see🤣

Tomorrow I am moving my office again, and going to spend some time by a pool, in the Greek sunshine.I am off for a trip ...
07/08/2026

Tomorrow I am moving my office again, and going to spend some time by a pool, in the Greek sunshine.

I am off for a trip with Paul to Kefalonia for a week in the sun. We are staying in a small villa, working with one of my villa companies, and will have a car to discover the Island.

My responses may be slower, but if you have been to Kefalonia, please let me know anything we must see that may be a hidden gem.

Sorry, not sorry for all the photos that may come along!!

Address

Manchester

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+441612970366

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