Ian - Travel Counsellors 0191 6225735 and 01777 780004

12/06/2026

After a post-holiday bug last week (as well as laundry from two consecutive trips), I am firmly back in the swing of things with my social media and, more importantly, with planning trips for clients.

If you are new here (or have not seen me post for a little while), here is a quick reminder of who I am and what I specialise in.

I am Ian, and after 33 years in the travel industry, including 7 years as a Travel Counsellor, I now mostly work with:

• empty nest and 40–60+ couples
• active families with kids over 5
• solo travellers
• multi‑gen families
• special‑interest groups

The holiday types I focus on are:

• expedition and adventure cruises
• river and boutique cruises (including that wonderful Scenic Spirit Mekong itinerary you may have seen on TV)
• adventure, touring and multi‑centre trips
• immersive city breaks
• villa holidays with the freedom to explore

If you recognise yourself in any of that and would like some support shaping your next trip – whether that is for later this year or further ahead – send me a message and let us start a conversation.

10/06/2026

Villa holidays are not just for big family gatherings.

For many of the couples I work with in their 40s, 50s and 60s, a well‑chosen villa is the perfect base for a relaxed but interesting week away:

• slow mornings with coffee by your own pool or on the terrace
• a couple of gentle day trips to nearby towns, wineries or walking routes
• a mix of simple meals ‘at home’ and special evenings out
• space and privacy, without hotel animation teams and other noise or fixed meal times

Destinations such as Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Islands), Portugal and Madeira, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia and Turkey all lend themselves beautifully to this kind of trip. Further afield, places like Barbados, Thailand or Mexico can work just as well if you are ready for something bigger.

If the idea of a villa holiday with a bit of exploring appeals – rather than a full ‘fly and flop’ – send me a message and I can suggest some destinations and villa styles that would fit how you like to travel.

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

If you have been watching Angela Rippon sailing the Mekong on Scenic Spirit, that is exactly the ship and itinerary I chose for my own 50th birthday a couple of years ago. If you haven’t it’s well worth a watch (Channel5).

It was one of those trips that stays with you long after you get home:

• quiet early mornings watching life on the river unfold
• time in cities like Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap
• powerful days exploring temples and historic sites in Cambodia
• and the small everyday moments along the riverbanks that you simply would not see from a big hotel

What I loved most was the balance: comfort on board, incredible food and service, but also real insight into daily life along the Mekong, with excellent local guides and thoughtful excursions.

If the Mekong episodes of the river cruise series have caught your eye and you are wondering whether a journey like this might be for you – or how it could be adapted to suit your pace and interests – I would be very happy to share more about my own experience and talk through the options.

Send me a message if you would like to chat Mekong, Cambodia and Vietnam in a bit more detail.

01/06/2026

Villa holidays are having a real moment, and for many of my clients they are a smarter, more relaxed way to travel than a traditional hotel stay.

They work brilliantly for:
• empty nest couples and 40–60+ professional couples who want peace, privacy and a slower rhythm
• active families and multi‑gen families who need space, flexible mealtimes and room for different bedtimes
• friend groups and even solo travellers who like the idea of a ‘home from home’ plus easy day trips

Over the years I have stayed in villas myself in Barbados, Greece, Portugal, Spain and Thailand, and what I love is the sense of breathing space: your own pool or terrace, unhurried mornings, and the freedom to dip in and out of local life when you are ready.

With the right villa and location you can:

• enjoy lazy days by your own pool or on the terrace
• pop out to local markets, villages and beaches when you feel like exploring
• hire a car for a few gentle day trips or build in a private boat / yacht day
• mix casual self‑catering with a few special restaurant evenings (or even a private chef night, if you fancy a treat)

I work with a wide range of villas across destinations such as Spain (including the Balearic and Canary Islands), Portugal and Madeira, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia and Turkey, as well as further afield in places like Morocco, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. So there is usually an option to suit the style of trip you have in mind.

For me, villa holidays are not about doing nothing, they are about having the freedom to choose your own pace each day, with a comfortable base to come back to.

If you are starting to think about a villa holiday for 2026, 2027 or 2028 and would like help choosing the right destination, area and style of property for your group, send me a message and I will talk you through some ideas.

29/05/2026

River and boutique cruises are one of the easiest ways to explore, especially if you like the idea of seeing more without constantly packing and unpacking.

They work brilliantly for empty nest couples, 40–60‑year‑old professionals, solos who like having everything organised, and even small groups who want shared experiences without the stress of logistics.

That might look like:

- a classic Danube or Rhine sailing past castles and storybook towns,
- a more luxurious river itinerary with fine dining and a slower pace,
- something a bit different such as Colombia or a festive New Year’s Eve sailing, or
- sun‑drenched rivers in Portugal and Spain, with wine, history and easy shore days.

As with all cruises, the magic is in choosing the right route, line and ship for how you like to travel.

If you are curious about river or boutique cruising and would like to know what might suit you best, send me a message and I will talk you through some options.

27/05/2026

Choosing between a city break and a beach holiday can feel like an impossible decision, so quite often I suggest doing both.

A city + coast trip might look like:

• a few nights in a city for culture, food and museums,
• followed by a quieter coastal base for sea views, walks and swimming, or
• starting by the sea and finishing with a couple of nights in a city so you travel home on a high.

Right now I am in Sardinia on a coastal self‑drive, and later this year I will be doing the same kind of mix in Spain with combinations like Malaga + Majorca and Barcelona + Sitges.

If you love both the buzz of a city and the calm of the sea, let us chat about how to bring them together in one carefully planned trip.

25/05/2026

Adventure and touring holidays are not just for backpackers or gap year students.

They work brilliantly for many of my clients in their 40s, 50s and 60s, as well as for:

• empty nest couples who finally have the freedom to travel how they want
• active families with kids over 5 who like to explore rather than sit still all week
• solo travellers who want structure and support, but still plenty of independence
• special interest groups such as photographers, birdwatchers, ramblers or cyclists

You can travel as gently or as actively as you like: from softly paced touring with a driver/guide, to self‑drive trips where you set your own rhythm, to small‑group itineraries with like‑minded people.

If you are starting to think about a trip that feels more like a journey, rather than a simple ‘fly and flop’, send me a message and I will happily talk through some ideas that would suit you.

23/05/2026

Through her TV programme ‘Wish You Were Here…?’, this lady inspired me to explore the world and start my career in travel.

I loved watching her show when I was a child and whenever I’m at Heathrow departures I always think of her as that is where she always started her adventure. From the first note of the theme tune I would be glued to the TV waiting to see which magical sunny destination she was heading to, whilst also dreaming of exploring some of the amazing places she visited.

Thank you for your inspiration and travel content - the OG travel influencer 😎