Andrea Thompson - Personal Travel Advisor Experience It Now Travel

30/10/2026

🚢❤️ A HUGE THANK YOU TO FRANKY! ❤️🚢

As our fabulous week aboard P&O Iona draws to a close, I couldn’t leave without giving a special shout-out to Franky in the Pearl Restaurant! 🌟

He’s looked after us brilliantly all week, always with a smile, and most importantly… he knows exactly how to pour a proper ‘Tommo measure’ of Malbec! 🍷😂👌

It’s people like Franky who make a holiday that little bit more special. Thank you for helping make our family cruise so memorable! ❤️

🇫🇷 Cherbourg has been absolutely beautiful today, the perfect way to finish our adventures ashore. We’ve had an absolute blast! 💥🥰

I’ll be sharing lots more next week about all things Iona — the ship, food, entertainment, cabins, destinations and, of course, my thoughts on cruising as a whole. The good, the not-so-good and everything in between! 🚢

For now, it’s time to enjoy our final evening on board and make a few more memories! 🥂

Andrea Thompson
Personal Travel Advisor ✈️
📱 07538 945 191

29/10/2026

🇪🇬☀️ EGYPT FOR UNDER £500pp? YES PLEASE! 🌴🍹

I’m currently sitting on board P&O Iona, waiting for my massage (it’s a hard life! 😂💆‍♀️), but even on holiday I can’t resist keeping an eye out for a cracking travel deal!

And this one caught my eye! 👀

If it wasn’t glitter season at school 🎄✨, I’d be all over this! A week of sunshine before the Christmas madness sounds absolutely perfect!

🇪🇬 THE GRAND RESORT, HURGHADA
☀️ 7 NIGHTS ALL INCLUSIVE FROM JUST £479pp!

✈️ Return flights from the UK
🍹 7 nights All Inclusive
🧳 Minimum 20kg luggage included
😴 FREE late checkout
👫 Based on 2 adults sharing

✈️ DECEMBER 2026 DEPARTURES

🇬🇧 Liverpool – 1 Dec | £479pp
🇬🇧 Newcastle – 1 Dec | £480pp
🇬🇧 Bristol – 2 Dec | £496pp
🇬🇧 Manchester – 2 Dec | £501pp
🇬🇧 Gatwick – 6 Dec | £502pp
🇬🇧 Birmingham – 4 Dec | £502pp
🇬🇧 Luton – 3 Dec | £503pp
🇬🇧 Belfast International – 5 Dec | £534pp
🇬🇧 Glasgow – 5 Dec | £573pp

🌴 WHAT’S TO LOVE?

🏖️ Beautiful lagoon-style swimming pools
🍽️ A choice of restaurants and bars
🎶 Daytime and evening entertainment
☀️ Sunshine, relaxation and absolutely NO Christmas shopping!

🎥 Fancy a peek around the resort?
https://youtu.be/3rT4tPbMRQc

💬 Could you be tempted by a cheeky pre-Christmas escape?

I’m back in the office on Monday 2nd November, but feel free to drop me a message in the meantime and I’ll pick it up on my return.

📲 Andrea Thompson – Personal Travel Advisor
📞 07538 945 191
🌙 Available until 10pm daily

🔒 ATOL protection applies to eligible flight-inclusive packages. Full booking and financial protection details will be confirmed before booking.

Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing, correct when advertised and subject to availability and change. Shared or private airport transfers are available at an additional cost. Prices shown exclude transfers. Full package details and any applicable charges will be confirmed before booking.

Find out more about Red Sea Holidays at www.redseaholidays.co.uk

28/10/2026

🚢🇪🇸 Sometimes the places you least expect turn out to be the biggest surprises! ☀️🍷

When I booked this cruise, it was very much about experiencing Iona, getting a feel for life on board and seeing what cruising is really like. It fitted perfectly with half term, and I genuinely wasn’t too fussed about the itinerary or ports of call.

But I have to say… La Coruña and Vigo have been absolutely fabulous! ❤️

I didn’t have any particular expectations of either, but both have really impressed me. Neither has felt overly touristy, and there’s such a different atmosphere compared with the Mediterranean coast. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed exploring both.

And the weather? Just perfect! ☀️ Temperatures in the late teens and early 20s have been ideal for wandering, sightseeing and enjoying everything at a leisurely pace. No sweltering heat, just lovely autumn sunshine.

Would I recommend this part of Spain at this time of year? Absolutely! 🇪🇸

Tomorrow is a sea day, and apparently the Bay of Biscay is going to be a little friendlier to us on the way home… fingers crossed! 🤞🌊😂

But for now, I’m making the most of my balcony, the last of the Spanish sunshine, those stunning views and, of course, a cheeky glass of Malbec. 🍷☀️

It’s a tough job, this cruise research… but someone’s got to do it! 😂🚢

28/10/2026

🌏🏁 RACE ACROSS THE WORLD IS BACK! 🏁🌏

Who else will be watching Celebrity Race Across the World tonight? 📺

🇲🇾 Starting in beautiful Borneo and racing all the way to Melbourne, Australia 🇦🇺 — what an adventure!

🌴 Which destinations are you most looking forward to seeing? And could you imagine taking on an adventure like this yourself?

Borneo is VERY high on my travel wish list! 🦧🌿 I’d absolutely love to visit one day.

I’ll be watching on catch-up when I’m home, but I’m looking forward to following the journey and sharing some holiday inspiration along the way! 🌏✈️

🚢 In the meantime, I’m all set up for a little Tommo time, enjoying the view from my balcony as we prepare to say goodbye to beautiful Vigo! 🍹☀️

So, who’s tuning in tonight? And where in the world would you love to explore? 👇

Andrea Thompson
Personal Travel Advisor 🌍

27/10/2026

🚢☀️ Cruise Diaries – Another Beautiful Day in La Coruña! 🇪🇸

Another lovely, relaxing start to the day, followed by breakfast and a very important team meeting in The Quays to plan our adventures! 😂☕️

Today we’ve enjoyed a visit to the Aquarium 🐠, another cheeky sangria 🍷 and some gorgeous Spanish sunshine before heading back on board ready to sail to Vigo tonight! 🚢

I did fancy a dip in the pool today, but I promised to give an honest account of our cruise experience… and there’s no dressing this one up! 😂 The pools are like human baths 🛁🤣 Absolutely packed and definitely not for me! Maybe just bad timing combined with a fully booked ship, but I’ll give that one a miss!

Tonight’s entertainment includes a magician, quiz and a spot of bingo! 🎩✨

Another fabulous day making memories, enjoying the sunshine and embracing the slower pace of life. ❤️

So far, Iona is getting a big thumbs up… just not the swimming pools! 😂🚢

26/10/2026

☀️🇪🇸 La Coruña, you’ve been lovely! 🍷

Perfect temperature, beautiful port, gorgeous family time and, of course, a well-earned sangria! 🍹❤️

So glad we get another day to explore tomorrow!

Tonight is family posh night 🥂✨ — postponed from last night as far too many of us were a lovely shade of green! 🤢😂

So far, despite Mother Nature throwing a few challenges our way, Iona gets a big thumbs up from us! 🚢❤️

Making memories, one port (and sangria!) at a time! 🥰

25/10/2026

🎬 Well, this wasn’t quite how I imagined spending my first full day at sea! 🚢😂

Currently tucked up in our cabin watching a film on the TV, and we’re only just entering the Bay of Biscay! 🌊

Mother Nature has certainly had other plans for us! 🌬️ We’ve had weather-related delays, a change of itinerary and quite a few passengers looking a little green around the gills! 🤢😂

Sadly, Bilbao is off the itinerary tomorrow, so we’re heading straight to La Coruña instead, where we’ll get to enjoy a little longer in port. 🇪🇸

They do say Mother Nature works in mysterious ways… I knew I needed a proper rest, but this seems a rather extreme way of making sure I stay put and do absolutely nothing! 🤣

On the plus side, I’m feeling fully recharged, the batteries are topped up and I’m looking forward to some Spanish sunshine and a well-earned sangria tomorrow! 🍹☀️

Sometimes you’ve just got to go with the flow… or in this case, the waves! 🌊😂

Cruise life isn’t always smooth sailing, but it’s all part of the adventure! ❤️🚢

23/10/2026

🛳️❤️ OUT OF OFFICE IS ON… FAMILY MEMORIES INCOMING! ❤️🛳️

Well, that’s me officially signing off! The laptop is closed, the out-of-office replies are on and, for once, this Personal Travel Advisor is actually going on one of the holidays she’s booked! 😂🍹

And this one is extra special… ❤️

Seven of us, three generations, one cruise ship and plenty to celebrate!

🎂 Paul’s birthday
🥂 Paul’s retirement
🥂 Jackie’s retirement
🎉 San’s 60th birthday

And most importantly, some precious family time together, making memories that we’ll hopefully still be laughing about for years to come. ❤️

There’s been a little bit of secrecy surrounding who’s actually coming along, but the cat is finally out of the bag! 🤫😂

And before anyone asks where Oliver is… don’t worry, he’s off making his own holiday memories with friends and family. And yes, Mum booked that holiday too! Apparently I can’t even take annual leave without being everyone’s travel agent! 🤣

So, for the next week, I’m swapping holiday quotes for cocktails, my laptop for a sun lounger and client cruise questions for a bit of first-hand research aboard Iona! 🛳️🍹

📅 I’ll be back in the office on Monday 2nd November at 1:30pm.

I’ll have very limited access to messages and emails while I’m away.

🚨 If you need assistance with an existing booking, my colleagues at Experience It Now Travel are available at:

📧 [email protected]

Everything else can wait until I’m home, when I’ll be back helping you make your own holiday memories.

Because at the end of the day, that’s what holidays are all about, isn’t it? Time together, new experiences and memories that last far longer than the holiday itself. ❤️

See you in November!

Andrea Thompson
Personal Travel Advisor
📞 07538 945 191

21/10/2026

☀️ SKIP THE BRITISH WINTER – 28 NIGHTS IN EGYPT FROM JUST £1,215PP! 🇪🇬🍹

🥶 Cold mornings, dark evenings and the heating on full blast?

How about swapping January in the UK for FOUR WHOLE WEEKS of All Inclusive sunshine? 😍

🏨 The Grand Hotel, Sharm el Sheikh
🌴 28 NIGHTS ALL INCLUSIVE!

And yes, that’s 28 nights, not 7 or 14! 👀

✈️ Return flights included
🍹 28 nights All Inclusive
🧳 Hold luggage included
🚐 Airport transfers included
😴 FREE late checkout
🛏️ Recently renovated Standard Room

☀️ JANUARY 2027 DEPARTURES

✈️ Belfast International – 10 Jan | £1,215pp
✈️ Luton – 14 Jan | £1,218pp
✈️ Gatwick – 13 Jan | £1,223pp
✈️ Manchester – 10 Jan | £1,231pp
✈️ Glasgow – 13 Jan | £1,238pp
✈️ Southend – 11 Jan | £1,257pp
✈️ Birmingham – 9 Jan | £1,280pp
✈️ Newcastle – 15 Jan | £1,286pp
✈️ Bristol – 11 Jan | £1,326pp

🌊 Snorkelling and beautiful Red Sea views
🍽️ A choice of restaurants, including à la carte options
🍹 Sunset cocktails
🛍️ Close to Sharm’s bustling Old Market

💭 Just imagine…

No scraping ice off the car.
No wondering whether to put the heating on.
No cooking every evening.

Just 28 nights of sunshine, relaxation and someone else doing the washing up! 😂

💬 Could you escape the UK for a whole month, or would you miss home too much?

📩 Message me for more details or to check availability.

Andrea Thompson | Personal Travel Advisor
📱 07538 945 191
🌙 Available until 10pm daily

Prices are per person based on 2 adults sharing a Standard Room, for 28 nights All Inclusive. Includes return flights, luggage and airport transfers as advertised. Prices and availability are subject to change until booking is confirmed. ATOL protection applies to qualifying flight-inclusive packages; full booking and protection details will be confirmed before booking.

21/10/2026

🛳️ The out-of-office countdown is officially ON! 🍹☀️

The suitcase isn’t packed, the holiday washing is probably still in the basket, and my to-do list seems to be getting longer rather than shorter! 🤦‍♀️😂

Tomorrow (Thursday) is my last day in the office before I swap holiday quotes for a holiday of my own! 🛳️🥂

I’m winding things down now, so if you’ve got an existing holiday enquiry you’d like to wrap up, a quick question about an upcoming booking, or anything you need to check before I disappear, please give me a shout tomorrow.

And if anyone has any last-minute tips, recommendations or questions about P&O Iona, I’m all ears! 👀🛳️

I’m not taking on any new holiday research before I go, but I’ll be back to planning everyone else’s adventures once I’ve enjoyed a little one of my own!

Now… where did I put that packing list?! 😂

Andrea x ❤️