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Global Affair

Name: Global Affair
Address: Unit 3, Trojan Industrial Estate, Borough Close, Paignton, TQ47EP, GB
Telephone: +441803362988

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Travel is a global love affair. Let us help you to create unforgettable memories, one holiday at a time.

02/11/2026

If planning a holiday feels like a lot, you don’t have to do it alone.

Global Affair is a small, personal travel consultancy, run by Ali and Clare, and today we’d like you to meet Clare.

Clare is the person you might end up chatting to when you get in touch, and she’s a big part of why we do things the way we do. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to experience the world in a way that’s right for them. So the first thing we do is listen. Not to sell you something off a shelf, but to understand who’s going, what matters to them and what would make the trip feel easier.

That might be:

- a family working out what will suit children of different ages
someone who needs to know about access, equipment or routines before choosing where to stay
- a couple who just want somebody else to untangle the options
- a long weekend in Cornwall, or a month in Thailand

Every journey is valid, and no question is too small or too silly.

You’ll get a real person who takes the time to understand what you need, and who can help you ask the right questions before you book. The point is a holiday that fits you, rather than one you have to squeeze yourself into.

If you’d like to have a chat, send us a message here, or take a look at the Travel Library on our website for honest stories, advice and destination tips: www.itsaglobalaffair.com

If you’d like help exploring the options, send us a message. Even a rough idea is a good place to start.

30/10/2026

Travel insurance is the bit of holiday planning nobody gets excited about, and the question of what counts as an “existing medical condition” is where a lot of people quietly trip up.

Here is the plain English version, based on GOV.UK guidance.

Existing conditions can be physical or mental health conditions, and that includes anything you are still having investigated or waiting on tests or treatment for. GOV.UK says that failing to declare something may invalidate your policy, which is a horrible thing to find out when you are abroad and needing to claim.

So before you buy:

Tell the insurer about anything you have been diagnosed with, anything being looked into, and any treatment or tests that are pending
Check the policy actually covers the full length of your trip and every country you will pass through
Look at what it says about activities, hospital costs, getting you home and what happens if an airline or travel company goes bust

If you have a more serious condition, a standard policy may not be right. GOV.UK points to the MoneyHelper travel insurance directory and the BIBA Travel Medical Directory for specialist providers, and they are worth a look.

One more thing that catches people out: a GHIC card is not a replacement for travel insurance. It does not cover private medical costs or getting you home.

It can feel like a faff, and sometimes it is, but ten minutes of honesty up front is far better than a rejected claim later. This applies to travelling with children, with older relatives, and with anyone whose health needs a bit of thought, which is most of us at some point.

We are not insurance advisers, so we would always point you to the official guidance and a regulated provider. But if you want to talk through the rest of the planning so you know what to ask, send us a message.

Have you ever been caught out by the small print? Tell us below and we will learn from it too.

28/10/2026

Some places make a shorter trip feel like a proper change of scene, and Madeira is one we keep coming back to when people say they want to get away but do not fancy a huge journey.

It is an island of steep green hillsides, flower-filled gardens, and walking routes that follow old water channels called levadas. Funchal gives you harbour views, a food market and plenty of places to sit with a coffee and do very little. It is the sort of place that works as a gentle week of strolling and eating well, or as something a little more active if that suits you better.

It will not suit everyone. Some of the terrain is steep, and the walking routes vary a lot in how demanding they are, so if you or someone travelling with you needs step-free routes, a particular type of room, or simply a slower pace, that is exactly the kind of thing worth checking before you book rather than when you arrive.

That is where we like to help: working out what the trip needs to look like for you, then finding the places that fit.

We will not tell you it is perfect for every person or every family. We will tell you it is worth a proper look.

Where is your go-to place for an escape that does not mean a long journey? We would love to hear.

26/10/2026

Another very happy client of ours.

So glad you enjoyed your holiday to Greece and thank you for the kind words.

We appreciate you taking the time to do this.

21/10/2026

Midweek question, and we’re genuinely curious.

Everyone has one item that goes in the suitcase every single time. Not the passport, that’s a given.

We mean the thing that would make you turn the car around if you realised you’d forgotten it. A particular pillow. A favourite mug. A battery pack. A book you never actually read.

It’s often something small and slightly random. And it usually says quite a lot about how you like to travel.

Some people pack for every eventuality. Others throw a few things in the night before and hope for the best. Neither is wrong, but we do enjoy hearing the stories about what people ended up needing.

What’s the one thing you always pack? And has it ever saved your holiday?

19/10/2026

For a lot of children, the airport is the hardest part of the holiday. It’s loud, busy and full of queues, and nobody has told them what’s going to happen next.

A little preparation can make a real difference, whether your child is excited, nervous or both at once.

Talk it through beforehand

Walk through the day in order. You arrive, drop the bags, go through security, wait, board, fly. Children often cope far better when they know what comes next, and what comes after that.

Show them, don’t just tell them

Photos, a short video of someone going through an airport, or a pretend game at home can help. Some children like to “practise” with a bag and a boarding pass made from paper.

Plan for the waiting

Airports involve a lot of it. Pack things that keep little hands busy and that you won’t mind losing. Snacks, drinks and a favourite comfort item are worth keeping in your hand luggage.

Think about noise and crowds

If loud or busy places are hard for your child, ear defenders or headphones may help, and so can choosing quieter times of day where you can. Everyone’s needs are different, so plan around yours.

Ask about support before you travel

Airports and airlines can often offer help, but it usually needs arranging in advance. It’s much easier to ask early than to try to sort it at the desk.

None of this is about getting it perfect. A calm, prepared start usually helps the whole trip feel easier.

What’s your best tip for getting children through the airport? We’d love to share a few. And if you’d like to talk through the support available, send us a message.

15/10/2026

Half-term is nearly here, and if you haven’t booked anything yet, you’re far from the only one.

The good news is that it may not be too late to get away. You might still be able to chase a bit of autumn sunshine, and there’s a lot to be said for staying closer to home too.

Here are two very different ways to do it.

A bit of sunshine 🌞

If the clocks going back already has you dreaming of warmer days, a short sunny break could be just the thing. It doesn’t need to be a big trip. A few days of pool time can do wonders before the dark evenings properly arrive.

A UK break 🇬🇧

We do UK holidays too, and they often get forgotten. A lodge with a hot tub is a lovely way to slow down, with no airport, no passports and no early alarm. Or you could go for a city break, with a wander round somewhere new, good food and a change of scene.

Whichever you pick

There’s no right answer. Some families want warmth, others want a cosy weekend, and some want both at different times of year. It all depends on your family, who’s coming and what would feel like a proper rest.

Availability changes quickly at half-term, so if you’re thinking about it, it’s worth asking sooner rather than later.

Sunshine, lodge or city break: which would you pick for half-term? And if you’d like help working out what’s still possible, send us a message.

12/10/2026

🎄Christmas market breaks look effortless in the photos. Fairy lights, hot chocolate, someone holding a pretzel. The planning is where a few things can catch you out, so here’s what’s worth knowing before you book.

Check the dates 📆

Markets don’t all open and close on the same days, and some wrap up before Christmas itself. Look up the dates for the specific city rather than assuming.

Weekdays are calmer 😀

Weekend evenings can be very busy. If you can travel midweek, you’ll usually have more room to wander, which matters if you have a pushchair, tired children or someone who finds crowds draining.

Think about the ground underfoot 🥾

Lots of market squares are cobbled, and some sit on hills. If anyone in your group uses a wheelchair or walking aid, or tires quickly, ask before you book rather than finding out on arrival.

Wrap up properly ⛄

It’s properly cold standing around outside. Layers, gloves and comfy boots do more for your trip than almost anything else.

Don’t forget the admin ✈

Check everyone’s passport and your travel insurance well before you go. Both are far easier to sort now than the week before you fly.

Pick the pace you want 🚶‍♀️

Some people want a different market every evening. Others want one good evening and a lie-in. Either is a perfectly good Christmas market trip.

Have you been to a Christmas market abroad? Tell us which one and whether you’d go back. If you’re thinking about one, send us a message and we’ll help you work out what would suit you.

09/10/2026

Halloween is three weeks away, so let's talk about the places that take it seriously. Whether you're planning for this year or filing it away for the next, here are five with a proper story behind them.

1. Edinburgh, Scotland
Old closes, underground vaults and a long history of ghost stories, all in a city compact enough to explore on foot. Worth knowing: the Old Town is hilly and cobbled, so it's one to think about if anyone in your group finds that tricky.

2. Whitby, North Yorkshire
This is where Bram Stoker found inspiration for Dracula. You get the abbey ruins on the clifftop, a harbour town and a goth weekend crowd who clearly love it there. Getting up to the abbey means a famous flight of steps, so check what suits your group.

3. Salem, Massachusetts
The witch trials history is the draw, and the town leans into October more than anywhere else on this list. It gets very busy, so booking early and being flexible matters.

4. Disneyland Paris
For families who want Halloween without the proper scares. There's a seasonal celebration with decorations and costumes, and it's a good fit for younger children who like the idea of spooky more than the reality.

5. Transylvania, Romania
Castles, medieval towns and forested mountains. It's a very different trip from the others, and well suited to people who like slower exploring and a bit of atmosphere.

There's no correct choice here. A cosy weekend in Whitby and a long trip to Romania are very different holidays, and the right one is whichever suits you.

Which one would you choose? And if you'd like to talk through the options, send us a message.

Address

Unit 3, Trojan Industrial Estate, Borough Close
Paignton
TQ47EP

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 7pm
Tuesday	8am - 7pm
Wednesday	8am - 7pm
Thursday	8am - 7pm
Friday	8am - 7pm
Saturday	8am - 7pm
Sunday	8am - 7pm

Telephone

+441803362988

Website

https://linktr.ee/itsaglobalaffair

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