Nikki Cumming Travel Counsellors

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I run my own travel business as part of Travel Counsellors and can find the perfect break for you.

22/10/2026

The cruise line I think more people should know about: Oceania 🚢

Oceania sits in an interesting space between mainstream cruising and the most formal luxury lines.

Its smaller, adults-only ships carry far fewer guests than the enormous resort-style vessels. The atmosphere is relaxed and elegant, with food and destinations playing a major part in the holiday.

I’d suggest Oceania to someone who prioritises:

🍽️ Excellent dining
🗺️ Interesting, destination-led itineraries
🛳️ A smaller and quieter ship
⚓ More time focused on the ports
🥂 An adult atmosphere without excessive formality

It isn’t designed around water slides, huge theatre productions or a constant list of high-energy activities. Evenings are generally more about a good meal, a drink and quieter entertainment.

For the right traveller, that is precisely the appeal.

If you’ve previously cruised with a larger line and are wondering what to try next, call or WhatsApp me on 01529 280004 and I’ll help you decide whether Oceania would suit you.

20/10/2026

Is a swim-up room genuinely worth paying more for? 🏊

Sometimes, absolutely. But I wouldn’t recommend one based on the photographs alone.

A swim-up room can be brilliant if you enjoy spending plenty of time at the hotel. You can step from your terrace into the water, avoid searching for sunbeds and enjoy a quiet swim whenever you like.

Before paying for the upgrade, I’d check:

☀️ Sun and shade — some terraces receive very little direct sunlight
🌡️ Pool temperature — particularly outside the hottest months
👀 Privacy — other guests may swim or walk directly past your terrace
📍 Room position — ground-floor locations can be busier or further from hotel facilities
🏊 The pool design — some are narrow shared channels rather than a full swimming pool
👨‍👩‍👧 Who is travelling — direct water access needs careful consideration with young children

If you’re planning to spend most days exploring, the extra cost may be better used elsewhere. But for a relaxing, hotel-focused holiday, the right swim-up room can be a fantastic upgrade.

Call or WhatsApp me on 01529 280004 and I’ll check whether the room is genuinely worth it—not just whether it looks good in the brochure.

18/10/2026

Jamaica, the Dominican Republic or Barbados? 🌴

They all offer beautiful beaches and excellent resorts, but the holiday beyond the sun lounger can feel very different.

🇯🇲 Jamaica
Choose Jamaica for music, food and plenty of personality. Waterfalls, river trips, historic sites and mountain scenery give you lots to experience beyond the resort. The different areas vary considerably, so choosing the right base matters.

🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has an enormous choice of resorts, particularly for all-inclusive holidays. It can offer excellent value, impressive facilities and plenty of options for couples, families and groups wanting an easy beach escape.

🇧🇧 Barbados
Barbados works brilliantly if you want to leave the hotel regularly. Restaurants, beach bars, island tours and contrasting coastlines make it a strong choice for travellers who like a lovely resort but don’t want to remain inside it all week.

My simple guide:

🎶 Jamaica for culture, music and excursions
🏨 Dominican Republic for resort choice and all-inclusive value
🍽️ Barbados for restaurants, exploring and evenings out

The right choice also depends on the resort area, hotel and time of year—not simply the country name.

Call or WhatsApp me on 01529 280004 and I’ll help you choose the Caribbean holiday that suits you.

15/10/2026

Would I fly out on the same day as my cruise? ✈️🚢

If there’s a sensible option to arrive the day before, that would usually be my preference.

A delayed flight is inconvenient before an ordinary hotel stay. Before a cruise, it can mean reaching the port after check-in has closed—and the ship may not wait.

Even a relatively short delay can become stressful once you add baggage collection, the journey from the airport and the possibility of traffic near the port.

Arriving a day early gives you:

🕰️ More protection against flight disruption
😌 A much calmer embarkation morning
🧳 Time for delayed luggage to catch up
🏙️ An opportunity to enjoy the departure city

It won’t always be necessary. I’d consider the flight time, distance from the airport to the port and how the complete holiday has been booked before making a recommendation.

But when you’ve invested in a cruise, one pre-cruise night can be a very worthwhile part of the plan—not simply an added expense.

Call or WhatsApp me on 01529 280004 and I’ll help you arrange the complete cruise holiday, not just the sailing.

13/10/2026

Kenya, Tanzania or South Africa for your first safari? 🦁

There isn’t one universally “best” safari destination. The right choice depends on what you want to combine with the wildlife.

🇰🇪 Kenya
Kenya delivers the classic safari landscapes many people picture, particularly in the Maasai Mara. It’s also relatively easy to combine wildlife with time on the coast, making it a strong choice for a first safari-and-beach holiday.

🇹🇿 Tanzania
Choose Tanzania for the vast Serengeti and the extraordinary setting of the Ngorongoro Crater. It can create a spectacular wildlife-focused itinerary and pairs naturally with Zanzibar when you want to finish beside the Indian Ocean.

🇿🇦 South Africa
South Africa is ideal if you want safari to be one part of a much broader holiday. You could combine it with Cape Town, the Winelands and a scenic road trip. There are also malaria-free safari areas that may suit some families or travellers.

My simple guide:

🐘 Kenya for a classic first safari and an easy beach combination
🦓 Tanzania for big landscapes and a wildlife-led adventure
🍷 South Africa for safari, cities, scenery and food in one trip

Your travel dates matter too, as wildlife movements, rainfall and conditions vary throughout the year.

Call or WhatsApp me on 01529 280004 and I’ll help you plan the right first safari.

11/10/2026

Adults-only doesn’t automatically mean peaceful 🌴

It tells you who can stay at the hotel—not what the atmosphere will be like once you arrive.

Some adults-only hotels are designed for complete relaxation, with quiet pools, low-key evenings and plenty of space to switch off.

Others have:

🎧 DJs beside the pool
🥂 A lively, sociable atmosphere
🎤 Regular evening entertainment
🎉 Pool parties or beach-club events
🎶 Music continuing late into the evening

That might be exactly what you want from a child-free holiday—but it could be a disappointing surprise if you were imagining complete peace and quiet.

Before recommending an adults-only hotel, I’ll check its size, entertainment programme, location, pool atmosphere and what recent guests say about noise. Even the position of your room can make a difference.

“Adults-only” is a useful starting point. The real question is whether you want relaxed adults-only or lively adults-only.

Call or WhatsApp me on 01529 280004 and I’ll help you find the right hotel atmosphere.

08/10/2026

Khao Lak, Krabi or Koh Samui—which part of Thailand would suit you? 🇹🇭

Thailand isn’t one beach destination, and choosing the right area can completely change your holiday.

🌴 Khao Lak
I’d suggest Khao Lak if you want long beaches, quality resorts and a quieter atmosphere. There are restaurants and excursions available, but evenings are generally more relaxed than in Thailand’s livelier resorts. It also works well for exploring Khao Sok National Park.

🚤 Krabi
Choose Krabi for dramatic limestone scenery and plenty of opportunities to explore. Boat trips, islands, beaches and viewpoints are a major part of its appeal. Ao Nang has a good choice of restaurants and activity, while areas such as Klong Muang offer a quieter stay.

🍜 Koh Samui
Koh Samui offers a real island-holiday feel with a wide range of resorts, beaches and places to eat. The atmosphere varies considerably around the island, from lively Chaweng to more relaxed areas such as Bophut or quieter beach resorts elsewhere.

One important detail is when you’re travelling. Khao Lak and Krabi sit on Thailand’s Andaman coast, while Koh Samui is in the Gulf of Thailand and follows a different weather pattern. The destination that works brilliantly in one month may not be my first recommendation in another.

My simple guide:

😌 Khao Lak for quieter beach time
🛶 Krabi for scenery and excursions
🌺 Koh Samui for island atmosphere and choice

Call or WhatsApp me on 01529 280004 and I’ll help you choose the right Thailand for you.

06/10/2026

Why do I always check where your cabin is on the ship? 🚢

Because choosing an inside, ocean-view, balcony or suite is only part of the decision.

A cabin directly beneath the pool deck may hear loungers being moved early in the morning. One above or below a theatre, nightclub or busy restaurant could pick up noise later in the evening.

Being near the lifts can be incredibly convenient, particularly on a large ship, but it may also mean more people passing your door. A cabin at the far end of a long corridor might be lovely and quiet—but less appealing when you’re making the walk several times a day.

I’ll also think about:

🚶 How far you’ll be from the places you’ll use most
🎭 What is directly above and below the cabin
🌊 Where movement may be felt more noticeably
🛶 Access on mornings when the ship uses tenders
♿ Any mobility or accessibility requirements

The largest or most expensive cabin isn’t automatically the best choice. Sometimes a slightly smaller cabin in the right position creates a much easier holiday.

Thinking about a cruise? Call or WhatsApp me on 01529 280004 and I’ll help you choose the right ship, itinerary and cabin.

03/10/2026

Expedition cruising isn’t only about Antarctica 🧭

Antarctica may be the destination most people associate with expedition ships, but there are plenty of other places where this style of cruising makes sense.

🐢 The Galápagos for unusual wildlife and guided island exploration
🐻‍❄️ The Arctic and Svalbard for dramatic landscapes and the possibility of polar wildlife
🦅 The Kimberley for remote Australian coastline, waterfalls and ancient landscapes
🐋 Alaska for glaciers, wildlife and smaller ports
🏔️ The Norwegian coast for fjords, isolated communities and Arctic scenery

Expedition ships are generally smaller, with expert guides and an itinerary built around the destination. Depending on the voyage, days might include Zodiac trips, wildlife watching, guided walks or presentations from specialists onboard.

It doesn’t necessarily mean climbing mountains or enduring basic accommodation either. The level of activity and comfort varies considerably between ships, so finding the right one matters.

If you like the idea of returning home with stories rather than simply a suntan, expedition cruising may be worth exploring.

Call or WhatsApp me on 01529 280004 and I’ll help you find the right adventure.

01/10/2026

Canary Islands, Cape Verde or Egypt for winter sunshine? ☀️

All three can provide a welcome escape from the British winter—but they offer quite different holidays.

🇮🇨 Canary Islands
The easiest all-round choice, with a relatively short flight and plenty of resorts, restaurants and days out. Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura each feel different, so I’d choose the island and resort carefully. If swimming is important, I’d also check whether the hotel pool is heated.

🇨🇻 Cape Verde
Best for a relaxed, resort-led break with long sandy beaches and very little pressure to go sightseeing. It can be breezy, which some people love and others don’t, but it’s a good choice when the plan is mainly to switch off.

🇪🇬 Egypt
A strong option for warmer temperatures, good-value all-inclusive resorts and excellent snorkelling. Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh work particularly well if you want plenty of hotel facilities, with the option to add excursions or diving.

My simple guide:

🏨 Canaries for the widest choice and more to do outside the hotel
🏖️ Cape Verde for beaches and proper relaxation
🐠 Egypt for warmth, snorkelling and all-inclusive value

Which would you choose?

Call or WhatsApp me on 01529 280004 and I’ll help you find the right winter escape.

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