Sheila Sparkes at Travel Counsellors

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Sheila Sparkes at Travel Counsellors Looking for the most convenient and hassle free way of arranging your next holiday? I'm here to help! Hi, I'm Sheila. My best piece of travel advice?

I've been a travel professional for over 30 years and am a self-professed
'old-school' agent, based near Sudbury, Suffolk. I love to travel, almost as much as I love music, west-end shows, Rick Astley....and cheese. I have a revolving door to the Caribbean, having visited more than 80 times and being recognised
as an official St Lucia specialist. However, I am an all-rounder and committed to finding the perfect fit, no matter to which corner of
the globe, selling a wide range of destinations and refuse to book with suppliers that don't meet
my high standards of customer service. I won't embark on a plane journey without my travel pillow, and nothing makes me happier than
reading my client's feedback on Trustpilot. Book with me....and definitely split your luggage equally between
cases!

🦿 Sparkles vs Slipper 🦿The curse of St.Lucia has followed me home and is now in league with my slippers🥸20 minutes in th...
28/10/2026

🦿 Sparkles vs Slipper 🦿

The curse of St.Lucia has followed me home and is now in league with my slippers🥸

20 minutes in the door and I’m down like a sack of spuds in the hallway with with a broken metatarsal, falling off a slipper😬

No ABBA no dancing no pushing…🧐

The orthopaedic jury decided that it was a break as a&e were unsure on Saturday.

So off I hobble back yesterday for a weight bearing x-ray to be told I should be non-weight bearing until they do a CT scan…which could take 3 weeks for appointment🤨

NON-WEIGHT BEARING…apparently my expression resembled Doc Emmett Brown after another failed experiment 😱 I did not see that coming again 😫 If you’ve ever been in the NWB club you’ll feel my pain…and that of my family!

So the Maldives on Saturday is off, but on the upside it gives me a chance to catch up on 25 episodes of Corrie and all your holiday stuff…that thought really isn’t taking the edge off somehow 🤨🥸😁

🇱🇨🏝️ Sparkles vs Green Fig 🏝️🇱🇨No visit to St.Lucia is complete without a visit to Soufriere imo. It’s the soul of the i...
22/10/2026

🇱🇨🏝️ Sparkles vs Green Fig 🏝️🇱🇨

No visit to St.Lucia is complete without a visit to Soufriere imo. It’s the soul of the island and where Mother Nature has done her best work.

From the waterfalls and botanical gardens, to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the iconic Pitons, home of the sulphur springs (known as the ‘drive-in volcano’!) and mud baths, the pretty little town of Soufriere is worth way more than a glimpse 👀

Most hotels are situated on the island’s northwest coast and you can easily visit for the day, joining the conga line of day trippers by speed boat or catamaran.

Or you can be creative and beat them all too it by spending your first few nights in Soufriere 🥸

Rather than a ‘box ticking’ day trip which is perfect for many, how about slowing it down and experiencing it all while it’s on your doorstep?🧐

And just such doorstep comes in the shape of Green Fig, a small and quirky boutique hotel perched in the hillside overlooking the town.

It’s just a 10 minute walk (or few minutes in the free shuttle) down to Soufriere and beach which is a safe community, welcoming of tourists and has a handful of bars and restaurants for you to do it like the locals do.

Green Fig has spectacular views of the town and Petit Piton from all the comfy rooms, but views come at a price...

There’s no dressing this one up, the steps are the warm up for hiking Gros Piton! It’s not for the physically challenged, but if you are a person of determination you are certainly rewarded by the vista😍

It’s got a couple of lovely pools for afternoon relaxing post adventures, and a cave bar/restaurant built in to the hillside sharing the magnificent scenery.

And coming soon - if you fancy a bit of star gazing, how about a few nights in ‘the dome’…more stairs involved but the higher you go, the greater the reward👀🌄

It’s very sensibly priced and is the perfect base for exploring before moving on to perhaps a more resort style hotel if that’s your thing…

However you like to holiday, I can make St.Lucia your best one yet, and maybe Green Fig will be part of the cunning plan…🙂

🇱🇨🏝️ Sparkles vs Eastwinds 🏝️🇱🇨Probably my second favourite hotel anywhere…It’s not for everyone but it’s certainly for ...
20/10/2026

🇱🇨🏝️ Sparkles vs Eastwinds 🏝️🇱🇨

Probably my second favourite hotel anywhere…

It’s not for everyone but it’s certainly for me.

Our second visit and I can only describe it as like being wrapped in a comfort blanket…

With just 30 cosy cottages, it is Caribbean rustic charm and genuine, warm hospitality at its finest.

Its guests are predominantly British (which I quite like) with many returning yearly. It’s just easy and like visiting an old friend.

Quality sun loungers, and no 6am scramble for them.

Beautiful gardens brimming with the hummingbirds for the twitchers🦜

Good quality food with daily changing menus for lunch and dinner…and if it’s all a bit too ‘fishy’ as it sometimes was for me, the chef can always accommodate with a suitable alternative with a bit of notice….I call it a ‘Sparkles standby steak with spuds’🤨😁

It’s the perfect combination as a twin-centre with my MOST FAVOURITE hotel…but I’ll tell you all about that one in good time…

These are a few of my favourite things…😍 Anse Chastanet🌅 Sunset🌄 Piton view 🫖 Great cuppa That’s all I’ve got to say ab...
20/10/2026

These are a few of my favourite things…

😍 Anse Chastanet
🌅 Sunset
🌄 Piton view
🫖 Great cuppa

That’s all I’ve got to say about that 🥸🙂

🇱🇨 Sparkles vs Windjammer 🇱🇨We were greeted at Windjammer Landing Resort by a rather pretty sunset, a warm welcome back ...
16/10/2026

🇱🇨 Sparkles vs Windjammer 🇱🇨

We were greeted at Windjammer Landing Resort by a rather pretty sunset, a warm welcome back to St.Lucia.

Having spent part of our honeymoon here way back when, it was great to return to see what a $40 million upgrade gets you these days 👀

I can tell you it was more than a lick of paint to get that extra star rating!

It’s looking pretty smart, most importantly (imo) with quality sun loungers with decent mattresses and matching parasols, and mini loungers for the tots.

The rooms have had a complete overhaul as have the public areas and 5 restaurants - the result is that they are all looking tip top.

The new three bedroom/four bathroom ocean point pool suite was just about adequate for Mr.Sparkles and I to rattle around in for a few days….just too many decisions to make about which bedroom/balcony/rooftop sundeck to use🤨

For families this resort is perfect with its suites, villas and residences offering every holiday style - d-I-y with their all mod-con kitchens to all inclusive.

Magnificent views are also included. and with it obligatory steep hills/steps - there’s a shuttle bus for special people like me though, so fairly workable for all! 💪

Sparkles rating - a big fat yes for all elements👍

No money has changed hands! Just lovely to be appreciated for my hand-holding skills 🙌 🙂
13/10/2026

No money has changed hands!

Just lovely to be appreciated for my hand-holding skills 🙌 🙂

🏝️ Sparkles vs Ayada 🏝️I finally got to visit the southern Maldivian Island of Ayada, in the back of beyond in Gaafu Dha...
08/10/2026

🏝️ Sparkles vs Ayada 🏝️

I finally got to visit the southern Maldivian Island of Ayada, in the back of beyond in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll (yes I’ve had to google it!).

It’s apparently where the Essex ‘legend’ that is Billie Faier’s once holidayed, so I reckon it’s good enough for Sparkles 🥸

It’s a bit of an arse to get to, but anywhere away from the madding crowd often is. But you’re well rewarded for your valiant effort with an island paradise.

A 360 degree house reef is probably its best feature along with stunning beaches, beautiful rooms and all the trimmings a 5* resort.

The strange (to me) phenomenon of the world of Insta was very apparent among the Asian contingent; clearly I’m getting old and couldn’t for the life of me fathom the rational of dressing to the nines in the most impractical of outfits, in the extreme heat and humidity, accessorised with a clutch, piss-balling about looking moody🧐🥸

So this is my 50-something Sparkles version…minus clutch bag and can’t do moody 🥸

I don't make this stuff up....honest!!😁
07/10/2026

I don't make this stuff up....honest!!😁

✈️ Doors to automatic ✈️See you soon St.Lucia…you’re a risky business these days - please be kind to me 🤞😁💃 🇱🇨🌄
04/10/2026

✈️ Doors to automatic ✈️

See you soon St.Lucia…you’re a risky business these days - please be kind to me 🤞😁💃 🇱🇨🌄

🎢🎠 Sparkles vs Disney 🧚🎡 Groundhog days 2-4The alarm goes off after what seems like 5 minutes in bed. Anothe...
03/10/2026

🎢🎠 Sparkles vs Disney 🧚🎡
Groundhog days 2-4

The alarm goes off after what seems like 5 minutes in bed. Another gone midnight finish, another early start….

I lay broken, contemplating spending another day in the happiest place on earth…🧐😁

Another day of donning my Disney ears, queuing for the bus, the loo, the parades, the shows and don’t get me started on the rides….the Frozen ride is 102 minutes of my life I’m not getting back 😩

Would I do it again…yes, just not tomorrow 😁

Broken feet and credit cards aside, I defy the coldest of hearts not to be slightly warmed by the magic of Disney.

I get a lump in my throat every morning with that first view of the castle, walking down Main Street like you’re in a Disney live action musical!

As for the evening grand finale in both parks…it’s beyond exceptional. Whatever you’re expecting, Disney takes it to a whole other level.

If you’ve got kids, grand kids or just a big kid at heart, put it on ‘the list’…if will leave you with very sparkly memories 💕

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