Jo Shayler Holidays

27/04/2025

The old dear's sleeping off a late one so I thought I'd amble on and 'ave a word. Arf!

I'm Billericay Bert 🦊 and like Ma I'm partial to bit of beach action which is why we live on Essix's "Sunshine Coast" (her description, not mine 🙄).

But 'er indoors is a high-falutin', award-winnin' travel agent (she says) and frankly I'd prefer me overwater accommodation a tad closer to the equator, ta very much.

Bizniss class with treats preferred. Woooof!

Big up the Frinton-Fox-Red Massive 💪🦊

Bert x

20/04/2025

It’s very nearly a wrap for Easter Hols 2025 and what a year for family adventure it has been so far.🦁🐯🐻

The key to achieving the best price for any get-away is to book as far ahead as possible. 🧐

Just like Mr Blobby, last minute-bargains haven’t been a thing since the 90s! 😉

Whether it’s Sri Lanka’s wildlife, California’s coastal highways, or a safari with a side of Cape Town beaches, Shayler’s Selections are packed with a healthy dose of inspiration.

https://www.joshaylerholidays.com/family-holidays

Happy Easter Sunday to you 🐣

JST x

Pick a country or resort and I’ll tell you which hotels you should stay at; I've stayed at many of the hotels myself. I like to recommend based on personal experience but if I can’t, I will find someone who can, whatever the type of Beach scenario you seek.

13/04/2025

"Liels paldies" to His Excellency Ambassador Atis Lots for my invitation to the Latvian Embassy in London last week. 🇱🇻 🇪🇺

I enjoyed a proper taste of the Latvian wild thanks to Nordictourismcollective and guest chef Ēriks Dreibants, the man behind the Michelin Green-starred Pavāru Māja. ✨️

With bog-shoeing, sauna culture, hiking trails, wellness retreats and 33 km of idyllic white sand beaches, the Baltic nations are going to revolutionise the UK summer travel market. Mark my words, you heard it here first. 👂 👀

Just one question: where were the Ferreros?! 😘

JST x

30/03/2025

When Mike entrusted me with his plans for a big birthday beach holiday in India, I knew that there was only one hotel worthy of such a celebration: The St. Regis Goa Resort ✨

A room upgrade, sushi by the river, and a resort so peaceful it somehow absorbed a wedding and a Parliamentary Meeting without disturbing their hard earned rest and relaxation. 😇

Thanks for the lovely words, Mike – I’ll take “just what we needed” all day long 🙏

https://bit.ly/4ivGXd6

JST x

22/03/2025

It's no secret that Steve and I are unapologetic Reykja-holics and return to these icy climes as often as funds allow. ❄️ 🇮🇸

I entrust my clients' precious whale-time with just one company, Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik. 🐳🐳

Family owned, the original whale watching operator and deeply passionate about the conservation of these fascinating creatures ❤️

Shortly after your trip you'll receive a detailed account of your personal encounter along with images taken by the crew 🙌

WHALE DIARY | 5th March 2025 | 13:00

"Report from Eldey: This afternoon the sea had finally settled enough for us to sail out and so with barely any wind and the sun shining bright we sailed out. We explored between the islands in the bay with a snowy mount Esja as our background. After a bit of a search we found a humpback whale! This individual was doing short fluke dives while remaining in the area so we got to spend a long time around it. At some point it even seemed to come and check us out for a little bit so we got to see the whole body shine through the water surface only meters away from us! In the end we decided to give the animal some well deserved rest and went on exploring the bay a bit more before heading back into harbour."

Whale Diary Credit: Milan Vansteelandt

Please don't eat whales. 🙏
JST xx

16/03/2025

“Can I track down the best beach getaways for you? Shore! “

Aren’t I hilarious? 😘

This was one of my finer punning moments of 2020, the year I launched my website which was conceived over a long lunch in 2019 and delivered kicking and screaming into the darkest of times.

Call me high maintenance if you will, but five years on, and in preparation for exciting business developments coming later this year, I decided that a website declutter and refresh was in order.

🤩 Behold the new holiday categories 🤩

👀 Gaze in awe at the unique and personalised content 👀

😎 Marvel at my tasteful yet alluring colour palette 😎

🥳 Celebrate with me as I share my ‘Shayler’s Selections’ with you… whether you want them or not 🥳

By sharing my own experiences and the frank feedback of my clients, my website is designed to provide inspiration for the restless and the curious. I hope that you find yours here.

www.joshaylerholidays.com

JST x

02/03/2025

It doesn't seem to matter what nonsense the orange emporer spouts from the other side of the pond, there is still a huge appetite to hit the road and explore the U S of A. 🇺🇸

Dad spent his working life between the UK and the USA and would regale us with tales of steaks the size of dinner plates, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and inside knowledge as to who shot JR... the latter turned out to be a fib, much to our horror and disappointment🤣

I also have a relentless fascination with this country of extreme contradictions, but I always remember Dad's words of wisdom: 'never make the mistake of assuming that just because we share a common language, that we share common values'. Something I often reflect upon🥰

Route 66 is calling loudly to me, as it did to Jackie and Del who were kind enough to document their own experiences for me last year. ❤️🤍💙

https://bit.ly/3v54SME

Are you like-minded or have current events put you off? Answers on a post-card. 😘

JST x

28/02/2025

This week I've been prepping for my first departure of the year...

❄️ 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇮🇸 ❄️

Snorkeling the Silfra Fissure is not for the faint hearted... just for the foolish 😘

A wood-fired sauna and an icy plunge pool in leafy Buckinghamshire isn't quite as hardcore but I feel ready to conquer the world nonetheless 💪

Destination updates to follow 👀

JST X

16/02/2025

Life doesn't have to be a beach 😘

From the misguided fool who (kindly) brought you "Telly Tubbies on Ice" in The Baltic ❄️ ...

https://youtu.be/IpSRsPgsab4?si=wOrk_ynyxIVuVSUw

Jo Shayler Holidays will hereby present...

"Return of The Travel Jedi: Snorkeling Between Continents" in Iceland 🇮🇸

Coming soon (4th March) to a social media platform near you 👀

JST x

30/01/2025

Introducing The Little Shore Hotel in Khao Lak, Thailand 🇹🇭

A short hop and a skip from the fabulous Elephant Hills and therefore a great place to regroup following the adventures with Nelly and her jungle friends 🐘🏞️

Annie was keen to show off her room-tour skills and hereby presents her private pool suite which was thoughtfully upgraded on arrival to include a "spare room for somebody who might annoy somebody else" 🤣 I usually call it the 'snore room'.

Our winter months are a great time to head east and you'll get a very decent level of lux in return for your buck too. Book at least 6 months in advance for the best hotel choices.

JST x

26/01/2025

“I’m not eating that foreign muck…” are not words that you’ll ever hear uttered by this inquisitive travel agent. 🧐

Khunjul is an explosive combination of cinnamon bark, galangal, cardamom, cloves, madder root, white pepper, mace, dry ginger and red chillis. It’s often referred to (euphemistically) as Moroccan spicy tea and there is no ill that it can not cure 👨‍⚕️

As you will see in the below clip it nearly took my head off! 🤯🤣

https://youtube.com/shorts/tKJJZcIGEl8?si=n7KjJWxz-GebCRQ_

I’ll try anything once… I just might not try it again 😉

JST x

23/01/2025

Just like a skinny chef, a static travel agent should be approached with caution. 😘

For my first departure in 2024 I was invited to stay with the legendary Constantinou Bros in Paphos where I thoroughly inspected all four of their beachfront establishments.

First up...

What?: Asimina Suites Hotel

Where?: Paphos, Cyprus 🇨🇾

When?: April until end October 🌞

Why?: 5 star, beachfront, adults-only opulence with exemplary service and first class eats

Perfect for?: Avoiding children during your precious and hard-earned down-time

How much?: from around £1000 per person for 5 nights with flights, private transfers and breakfast 💫

Yamas 🥗 🦑 🥙 🍢🥂

JST X

19/01/2025

Very few holiday enquiries warm the cockles of my heart in the way that a birthday, wedding, anniversary or honeymoon do. 🥰

With eons of experience under my belt I am skilled in extracting the maximum amount of lux from your precious hard-earned💰

Some hotel groups and operators, such as Beachcomber Tours, include hefty discounts on accommodation for such occasions… and then ice that cake with a choice of complimentary experiences whilst in resort. Sparkling wine with a welcome note on arrival are of course standard.

Mark and Jane recently celebrated 40 years of wedded bliss at the idyllic Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa and multiple husband-points were gained as a result 😉

https://bit.ly/3VOqsPR

All holidays are occasions worthy of celebration but if you’re planning to get hitched, have been successfully joined for several years (in a row!) or have a big birthday in the offing do get in touch. I add complimentary airport lounge passes and security fast-track to help see you off in style. 😎

JST x