http://www.travelcounsellors.com/jo.briody

Jo Briody Travel Counsellors, Weybridge (2026)

28/05/2026

Yesterday I was on a call with a mum and daughter planning a trip together. It made me smile.

I've got one of those coming up myself, with my daughter Eva.

She's just finished her final uni placement and landed her first proper job starting in September as an RGN Level 5 in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a top children's hospital.

I genuinely couldn't be more proud of her if I tried.

So before the shift work kicks in, I'm stealing her for a few days.

Can you guess where we're going? Here is a clue…

It has dramatic volcanic cliffs and whitewashed buildings and is famous for sunsets.

26/05/2026

While I am sitting in front of a fan today trying to keep cool, my mind has officially drifted back to Sri Lanka.

This was me last summer, cooling off in a secluded plunge pool looking out over the incredible Gal Oya National Park. No crowds, no high-volume resort noise just total, uninterrupted peace, a gentle breeze, and taking in the viewfrom the water.

When the weather gets like this at home, it’s so easy to let your mind wander to future trips. For me, a proper holiday isn't about rushing through a generic tourist checklist. It’s about finding those hidden, quiet corners of the world where you can finally just slow down, breathe, and completely reset.

That is exactly why I do what I do.

As an independent travel advisor, I don't design cookie-cutter packages.

I spend my time curation-testing these exact kinds of low-volume, authentic experiences for my clients so that when you finally step out of the office, you land exactly in your version of paradise.

If you could magically transport yourself to any spot in the world to cool off today, where would you be?

Let me know in the comments below (bonus points if it involves a plunge pool!).

20/05/2026

When I’m not deep in holiday planning mode, this is what I’m sometimes doing.

Went to a networking event today with a group of female founders and I left genuinely inspired.

Not by someone in my industry.
Not by someone doing what I do.
By women running completely different businesses.

That’s the thing nobody really talks about.

Some of my best ideas and biggest perspective shifts have come from conversations with women who have nothing to do with what I do.

A different industry. A different model. A different set of problems.

But the same drive, same hustle, same figuring-it-out energy.

There’s something really powerful about that.

I’m grateful for these women and these moments.

Community isn’t just people who look like your business, it’s people who remind you why you’re building one.

That’s the good stuff. 🙌

19/05/2026

Why do my clients choose to book their travel with me?

Either they don’t have the time or energy in the first place

OR

they're done with the endless scrolling,
the conflicting reviews,
the booking rabbit holes.

They want someone who already knows what works.

And who knows them.

What that actually looks like:

→ A real conversation that evolves until the trip is just right.

→ One person, always. Me! I remember your preferences, your quirks, what made last year's trip work perfectly.

→ A WhatsApp away when you're away. No hold music, no call centres… just me, sorting it.

→ Total peace of mind. I'm an independent advisor backed by a major global travel group, so you get personal service with serious buying power and full financial protection behind it.

And the part that surprises most people?

My planning service costs you nothing. I'm paid by the partners who I trust and choose to work with.

Partners that I know can deliver.

Which means I'm entirely focused on getting you the best value and experience, not the best margin.

If I wasn't competitive, I simply would not have a business.

If you've got somewhere in mind.

Or just a feeling you're overdue a proper trip, send me a message.

Where are you dreaming of going next?

18/05/2026

WANT TO SAFARI THIS YEAR? A FEW SPACES LEFT FOR 2026!

🦒 Imagine sipping sundowners while giraffes roam past your pool… this is luxury safari like no other!

𝗢𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 - 𝗟𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 - 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Enjoy touches of luxury as you witness South Africa’s unspoilt natural beauty on this unique safari experience.

✈️ Flights from Heathrow
📅 10 Days
🌟 5* All Inclusive
🗺️ 11 Included Excursions
👥 Small group tour
🍽️ 28 Meals
💚 Family tent available

Backed by the imposing Waterberg Mountain range, relax in total comfort in the five-star Safari Plains camp where high teas and sundowners promise an added touch of luxury to your adventures in the African bush.

✈️ HEATHROW

2026 Dates
▪️26th August - £3501pp (4 seats left)
▪️11th November - £3348pp
▪️2nd December - £3348pp

2027 Dates from £3,416pp (multiple dates available)

💰 Deposit from just £395pp

🐾 Track the ‘Big Five’ with six game drives in a reserve in the UNESCO-listed Waterberg Biosphere, a malaria-free paradise home to diverse local wildlife
🌿 Enjoy expert insight with an introductory wildlife talk from one of the reserve’s resident wildlife specialists
⛺ Unwind in the unparalleled luxury of Safari Plains’ five-star tented camp, within the Mabula Game Reserve
🏔️ Witness the unspoilt natural beauty of the African savannah and its vast surrounding mountain ranges
🌅 Take part in a South African safari tradition with a relaxing sundowner on the gorgeous savannah plains
✨ Reconnect with nature with a stargazing experience under the African night sky, a morning bushwalk and a traditional bush lunch

Prices are inclusive of the discount, based on 2 people sharing, correct as of 18th May 2026.

To book or for more info message me here or call 01932 290037.

17/05/2026

They mentioned Cancún. I don’t think it’s right for them.

I’m currently working on a January 2027 itinerary for a client I’ve planned travel for before.

It starts with a sailing holiday in the British Virgin Islands with their family over Christmas, followed by their own Central American adventure afterwards.

In our early conversations they mentioned Mexico, Guatemala, and places like Cancún and the Yucatán, largely based on recommendations from their son who’s travelled extensively in Central America.

And I completely understand why those ideas come up.

They’re familiar,
easy to picture,
and full of well-known highlights like cenotes, Chichén Itzá and resort stretches along the coast.

But having worked with them before, I also know something important.

Massive tourist areas and resort-style destinations really are not their thing.

What they actually love is space,
movement,
authenticity,
and places that still feel connected to local life.

So instead of trying to tick off a long list of “must-sees,” I’m shaping a very appropriate route for them:

• Antigua and the volcano landscapes of Guatemala
• Lake Atitlán and its quiet lakeside villages
• Tikal Mayan Ruins deep in the jungle at sunrise
• And finishing in Mexico City for food, culture and contrast

It’s not about doing more.

It’s about recognising what fits people and just as importantly, what doesn’t.

That’s where the value of bespoke travel planning really sits.

Have you got a trip in mind that you need personalising?

——————

Hi I’m Jo
I organise unforgettable trips, taking the stress out of planning your next adventure. Follow for inspiration, advice and travel stories.

15/05/2026

Is a "quiet" trip to Thailand still possible?

The short answer: Yes, but you won't find it on a standard booking site.

Thailand is busier than ever, and if you follow the usual "Top 10" lists, you’ll likely end up sharing your sunrise with a hundred other people.

I help travellers navigate the region differently, not by pretending the crowds don’t exist, but by knowing exactly how to avoid them.

I focus on:

The "Low-Volume" Stays: Boutique retreats that limit guest numbers to keep the atmosphere still.

The Better Timing: Knowing when to be at the temples and when to be tucked away.

The Hidden Pockets: Finding the corners of the Andaman or the Northern hills that are less trodden.

Every trip I plan is built from scratch.

I don’t promise "deserted" islands, but I do promise a trip that feels personal, intentional, and far away from the "mass-tourism" experience.

Thinking about Thailand for your next trip?

Tap 'Send Message' and tell me what you’re looking for.

I’ll give you an honest look at what’s possible and which spots still hold that original magic.

15/05/2026

One of the things I’ve noticed recently is a shift in how people want to travel.

It’s less about ticking places off a list, and more about travel that feels immersive. Slower, more meaningful, and properly curated around the experience itself.

I’ve seen this most clearly in Nepal.

Trekking in the Annapurna region is an experience that stays with you long after you’ve left. With highlights such as an early morning sunrise over the Himalayas.

Cold air,
headtorches on,
and that quiet moment as you step outside and start climbing towards P**n Hill in the dark.

There’s almost no sound on the trail.

Just your footsteps and the sense of the mountains slowly waking up around you.

Then, as the light changes, the Himalayas begin to appear. Summit after summit emerging from the darkness, completely still and completely vast.

It’s one of those rare moments where everything goes quiet. Not because there’s nothing to say but because there’s nothing that needs to be said.

Autumn is the finest season to trek Nepal. The skies are at their clearest and the scale of the landscape is at its most striking.

It’s the kind of travel that strips everything back to the essentials and takes your breath away.

Is Nepal on your wish list? Let me know ⬇️

13/05/2026

If you love to travel and you're thinking about a trip this autumn… THIS IS FOR YOU!

Not a package.

The kind of trip where you come home and immediately start telling people about it.

This is what I do.

I plan tailor-made long-haul travel for those who are genuinely curious about the world and want to experience it properly… not just tick it off.

🍂 Japan in autumn. I know this destination well.
Travelling in October or November is a different experience entirely from the popular cherry blossom season. The koyo, the autumn colour is breathtaking.

🌿 A private safari… not a crowded park.
The kind where you're the only vehicle watching a pride of lions in the afternoon sun. I've experienced this personally and nothing else comes close.

🍁 Canada by road with the Rockies in autumn light, your pace, your route. No coach parties. No itinerary you didn't choose yourself.

Or somewhere completely different.

No website can tell you whether a place is genuinely right for you.

That's what I'm here for.

Tell me where you've been, what you loved and where you've always wanted to go next. I'll take it from there.

Message me. Let's plan something worth talking about.

12/05/2026

These are the some of the trips I am working on right now. Which would you choose?

🏙️ a summer break in New York City
🏝️ winter sun in the Maldives
🐘 a desert adventure and safari in Namibia
🏔️ exploring New Zealand’s South Island

Four completely different adventures.

Comment below with your pick ⬇️

Jo Briody Travel Counsellors

28/05/2026

26/05/2026

20/05/2026

19/05/2026

18/05/2026

17/05/2026

15/05/2026

15/05/2026

13/05/2026

12/05/2026

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