Nikki Pennington - Travel Counsellors

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Nikki Pennington - Travel Counsellors

Personal Travel Counsellor with over 26 years experience in the travel industry. Let me arrange your I have worked in the travel industry for over 26 years. Nikki

My name is Nikki Pennington and I am a personal Travel Counsellor based in Manchester. I joined Travel Counsellors in 2006 and before that I was manager of an independent travel agency. I made the decision to join Travel Counsellors because I wanted to concentrate on giving my customers the highest possible levels of personal service and independent travel advice. Travel Counsellors is one of the largest independent travel agencies in the UK. As your own professional Travel Counsellor I can use our award winning technology and my personal expertise to quickly search through hundreds of different flight, accommodation and transfer alternatives to tailor make exactly the right holiday to suit your needs, with the knowledge that your money is 100% financially protected. I can help you arrange any part of your travel arrangements including flights, accommodation, transfers, car hire and holiday insurance - so whether you just need a flight only, a last minute holiday or a round the world trip I can help. What’s more our technology enables me to work from home which means that you can contact me at times when most other travel agents are unavailable, including evenings and weekends should the need arise. With regards to myself, I love holidays in the UK and Abroad, with my husband Scott and children; Gracie, 15 and Bailey, 13. I'm a regular visitor to Malta being half Maltese, and have also travelled to the Spanish mainland, Balearics and Canaries, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Disneyland Paris, and further afield to Walt Disney World Florida, Las Vegas, Austin, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Thailand, Mauritius, the Caribbean and the Maldives, and I've also been on cruising and skiing holidays. So next time you are looking for your perfect holiday, please contact me with your enquiry. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

15/10/2026

Three things I always check before I recommend an all-inclusive hotel

All-inclusive can be brilliant, but two hotels with the same board basis can offer very different holidays.

The first thing I check is the food.

How many restaurants are included? Do you need to book them? Is everything part of the package, or are some restaurants and drinks extra?

Then I look at the location.

If the hotel is quite isolated, all-inclusive can make perfect sense. But if you’re somewhere with lots of lovely restaurants and bars on the doorstep, I’d want to think about whether you’re actually going to make the most of what you’ve paid for.

And finally, who is the hotel really aimed at?

A brilliant family all-inclusive can feel completely wrong for a couple wanting a peaceful week away, and vice versa.

For me, “all-inclusive” is never enough information on its own.

It’s what’s actually included — and whether the hotel suits you — that matters.

You can call/WhatsApp me directly on: ☎️ 01618 261220

14/10/2026

The destination I think is much better as a two-centre holiday

For me, it’s South Africa.

Rather than staying in one place, I’d split the trip between Cape Town and the Garden Route.

Cape Town gives you the city, food, beaches, Table Mountain and loads to explore.

Then the Garden Route slows everything down a bit — coastal towns, beautiful scenery, wildlife, wineries and the freedom to explore at your own pace.

That contrast is what makes the trip work so well.

You get the energy of the city first, then a completely different feel once you head out along the coast.

For me, that makes South Africa feel much more like a proper journey rather than just one long stay in the same place.

You can call/WhatsApp me directly on: ☎️ 01618 261220

13/10/2026

This is why I don’t start by searching for the cheapest holiday

When someone gets in touch, I don’t immediately sort the results from lowest price to highest.

First, I want to know what’s actually going to make the holiday work for you.

Which airport makes sense?

What flight times are realistic?

Do you want to be able to walk out to restaurants in the evening, or are you happy staying in the resort?

What kind of room do you need?

And which hotel is actually right for the people travelling?

Once I’ve narrowed all of that down, then I can look at which option gives you the best value.

Because the cheapest holiday isn’t much of a bargain if you end up with awful flight times, a hotel in the wrong area or spending the week wishing you’d chosen somewhere else.

For me, good value means spending your money on the things that will actually make a difference to your holiday — not simply finding the smallest number on the screen.

You can call/WhatsApp me directly on: ☎️ 01618 261220

12/10/2026

The holiday I’d choose if I wanted seven days of doing absolutely nothing

I’d go for Mauritius.

Not because there isn’t plenty to see and do there — there is — but because it’s one of those places where I’d be completely happy doing very little.

A beautiful beachfront hotel.

Slow breakfasts.

A swim.

A long lunch.

Maybe a spa treatment.

Then back to the beach with a book.

No rushing around. No packed itinerary. No feeling like I should be “making the most of every day”.

Sometimes that is exactly the point of the holiday.

And for me, Mauritius is one of those places where doing absolutely nothing can still feel incredibly special.

You can call/WhatsApp me directly on: ☎️ 01618 261220

11/10/2026

Three hotels I’d choose for winter sun – for three completely different people

If three clients came to me wanting winter sunshine, I definitely wouldn’t send them all to the same hotel.

For a family, I’d look at Landmar Costa Los Gigantes in Tenerife. There’s loads going on for children, good family facilities and enough around the hotel to make the week feel easy.

For a couple, I’d choose Secrets Lanzarote Resort & Spa. Adults-only, seafront, relaxed and polished without feeling too formal.

And for a luxury escape, I’d look at Ikos Andalusia. The service, food and overall standard are what make it stand out, especially if the hotel itself is a big part of the holiday.

Same idea — winter sun.

Completely different holidays.

That’s why I’d always match the hotel to the people travelling rather than just recommend the same “best” resort to everyone.

You can call/WhatsApp me directly on: ☎️ 01618 261220

10/10/2026

One destination I’d recommend for your first proper long-haul holiday

I’d look at Thailand.

It gives you that proper sense of travelling somewhere completely different, but it’s still a really easy destination to enjoy.

You can combine a few days in Bangkok with somewhere like Phuket, Khao Lak or Krabi, so you get a mix of city, culture, food and beach without making the trip feel too complicated.

There’s plenty to see and do, but you can also keep things very relaxed if that’s what you want.

It’s also a destination where your money can go a long way once you’re there, especially when it comes to hotels, food and experiences.

For me, it’s a brilliant first step into long-haul travel because it feels exciting and different without being overwhelming.

You can call/WhatsApp me directly on: ☎️ 01618 261220

09/10/2026

The holiday I’d choose if I wanted somewhere warm but not just a beach

The holiday I’d choose if I wanted somewhere warm but not just a beach

I’d look at Marrakech.

You can still get that lovely warm-weather escape, but there’s so much more going on than just sitting by a pool.

You’ve got the souks, rooftop restaurants, beautiful riads, gardens, hammams and the Atlas Mountains close enough for a day trip.

That’s what I like about it.

You can spend part of the day relaxing, then head out and actually feel like you’ve experienced somewhere completely different.

It’s ideal if you want sunshine but still want a bit of culture, food and atmosphere built into the trip.

You can call/WhatsApp me directly on: ☎️ 01618 261220

08/10/2026

A client asked me… “Is premium economy actually worth it?”

Sometimes, yes.

But I don’t think it’s automatically worth paying for on every long-haul flight.

For me, it comes down to how long you’re flying, the airline, the price difference and what matters most to you.

On a longer overnight flight, that extra space, wider seat and slightly more relaxed cabin can make a real difference — especially if you’re hoping to arrive feeling remotely human.

But if the upgrade is a huge jump in price, or you’re on a shorter daytime flight, I’d sometimes rather keep the money and spend it elsewhere.

A better hotel.

Private transfers.

An extra night away.

Or something memorable while you’re there.

It’s not about upgrading for the sake of it.

It’s about deciding whether that upgrade will genuinely improve your holiday.

You can call/WhatsApp me directly on: ☎️ 01618 261220

07/10/2026

If you’ve done the Canaries every winter, try this next

I’d look at Madeira.

You still get that easy winter escape feeling, but it’s a completely different kind of holiday.

Madeira is greener, more scenic and much more about getting out and exploring.

Think dramatic coastlines, mountain views, lovely restaurants, gardens, walking trails and little towns rather than spending every day around a resort pool.

It won’t suit everyone.

If your perfect winter break is seven days of guaranteed sunbathing, I’d probably still point you towards the Canaries.

But if you want mild weather, beautiful scenery and somewhere that feels a bit different without travelling long-haul, Madeira is definitely worth considering.

You can call/WhatsApp me directly on: ☎️ 01618 261220

06/10/2026

The hotel feature I think is massively overrated

For me, it’s having ten different pools.

It sounds impressive when you’re reading the hotel description, but in reality I’d much rather have two or three really good pools in the right places than loads of them dotted around the resort.

What matters more to me is:

Is there enough space around them?

Is one quieter?

Is there somewhere suitable for children if you’re travelling as a family?

Can you actually get a sunbed without setting an alarm at 6am? 😂

And is the pool area somewhere you genuinely want to spend time?

A huge list of facilities can look great on paper, but more doesn’t always mean better.

I’d always choose the hotel that gets the important things right over the one that simply has the longest list.

You can call/WhatsApp me directly on: ☎️ 01618 261220

Address

Manchester

Website

http://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/nikki.pennington

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