Jo Briody Travel Counsellors

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Jo Briody Travel Counsellors

I am a trusted travel expert who organises bespoke holiday experiences worldwide.

27/10/2026

Thinking about Japan for your next big adventure? 🇯🇵

As one of my favourite destinations, it’s a country that seamlessly blends ancient tradition with modern wonder.

Here’s a fantastic 13-day classic route for first-time travellers:

• Days 1–3: Tokyo | Electric energy & neon skyline
• Days 4–5: Hakone | Fuji views, nature & traditional hot springs
• Days 6–8: Kyoto | Deep history & iconic shrines
• Days 9–10: Hiroshima & Miyajima | Rich heritage & coastal scenery
• Day 11: Osaka | Foodie paradise & vibrant vibes
• Days 12–13: Takayama | Mountain charm in the Alps

✨ Prefer something quieter or tailored to your specific interests? I craft bespoke itineraries off the beaten path!

🍁 Best Times to Go
• Autumn: Absolutely breathtaking foliage, comfortable weather, and great atmosphere.
• Shoulder Season: Aiming just outside the core cherry blossom window (late March–early April) gives you a wonderful experience without the extreme peak-season crowds or inflated rates.
• Note: Summer months can be intense with high heat and humidity.

🚄 Travel Tip: Bullet trains (Shinkansen) are the absolute gold standard for getting around, smooth, punctual, and speedy.

💡 Good to Know: No tipping required! Politeness and gratitude are the standard practice.

✉️ Ready to plan?

Message me or send an email to [email protected]

24/10/2026

Switzerland is pretty special in summer. 🇨🇭

Days spent hiking in the mountains, stopping to admire the views (and catch your breath), finding little alpine villages and cooling off in lakes so clear you can see straight to the bottom.

There’s plenty to do, but just as much to enjoy about slowing down and taking it all in.

If you love mountains, being outdoors and exploring somewhere at your own pace, Switzerland makes a brilliant summer holiday.

For itinerary ideas, DM me.

21/10/2026

I can still hear it…

Some travel experiences have such an impact that years later, thinking about them takes you right back.

For me, it was the first morning in the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

It was my first proper safari, beyond a couple of game drives tagged onto a work trip to Victoria Falls.

Our first night was in a treehouse at a camp called Oddballs.

It was fairly authentic (see the pic below).

Open to the elements, it had a mosquito net around the bed, providing what felt like a galactic force field between me and whatever might be rustling around outside.

There was quite a lot of rustling. I can’t claim I slept particularly well!

But then came the morning.

The sound was extraordinary. Birds at every pitch, insects, monkeys, elephants, a whole orchestra of the natural world playing around us. And across the water, right in front of us, a herd of elephants had gathered for a morning drink.

There was something about being immersed in nature like that was so moving. It felt a million miles from everyday life.

Even now, thinking about that morning gives me goosebumps.

And it started my love affair with Africa.

I think that's one of the best things about travel. Not simply seeing somewhere new, but finding yourself somewhere so different from your day to day that it shifts your perspective or gives you a feeling you can still call up years later.

What’s the one travel memory that does that for you?

20/10/2026

I’ve had quite a lot of winter travel queries recently, which got me compiling my own ‘Best Winter Experience’ list based on my own travels:

🏆 Best Northern Lights: Tromsø, Norway

🏆 Best unique hotel: ICEHOTEL, Sweden

🏆 Best winter wonderland scenery: Around Akureyri, northern Iceland

🏆 Best husky ride : Swedish Lapland

🏆 Best out of comfort zone: A sauna followed by an Arctic fjord plunge in Tromsø

🏆 Best seriously cold place: Jasper, Canada (-28°C. Yes, really.)

🏆 Weirdest Christmas setting: Christmas trees in the blazing sunshine in New Zealand

What’s your best winter holiday experience been?

13/10/2026

The best travel decision of my life started with a chance conversation with a pilot at Victoria Falls.

Before I worked in travel, I worked for an international charity. After visiting projects in Zimbabwe, I tacked on a few days to see Vic Falls.

I fell into conversation with a local pilot who started telling me about a country he flew regularly, just to the west.

Huge, towering orange sand dunes stretching for miles before dropping into the Atlantic Ocean. Martian landscapes. Vast, empty spaces.

I remember thinking... Where on earth is that?

It was Namibia, and it wasn't even on my radar.

We already had our honeymoon booked for the following summer. I got home, turned to Ben and promptly convinced him to scrap our plans and change course to Namibia.

We flew into Windhoek, picked up a Toyota Corolla, were handed a paper map and set off.

The tarmac lasted about ten minutes. Then came six hours of gravel roads through some of the most extraordinary scenery I'd ever seen. (Most hire 4x4s these days)

We had no idea quite what to expect. And that was half the magic.

We combined the sand dunes of Namibia with the wildlife of Botswana's Okavango Delta and finished back at Victoria Falls. All wonderful, but Namibia completely stole the show.

We loved it so much that we took the kids in 2018 and this time also spent lots of time on safari. With big game viewing in Etosha and the desert elephants in Damaraland, this is an excellent place for wildlife viewing too.

I will definitely go again in the next few years.
All because a stranger happened to tell me about a place I'd never considered visiting.

Have you ever had a travel recommendation that turned out to be absolutely amazing?

10/10/2026

Not your typical safari. 💃🐘🌊

NAMIBIA 🇳🇦

When people think of Africa, they usually picture standard game drives. But Namibia is on a totally different level.

One minute you’re watching my son tear down Dune 45, and the next you’re driving through surreal, Martian landscapes where you won’t see another soul for miles.

What makes it so special is how varied it is.

You’ve got the desert-adapted elephants moving through dry riverbeds up in Damaraland, classic wildlife viewing in Etosha, and then you head out to the coast where the dunes literally crash into the Atlantic alongside incredible marine life.

It’s proper space, real adventure, and my favourite place in Africa.

Lodges are small and get booked up a year in advance.

If you’re thinking about a trip like this for next year, message me asap to start planning.

08/10/2026

When I plan Japan, I don’t just want to get you from Tokyo to Kyoto and tick off the big sights 🇯🇵

I want to build in the moments that give you a feel for the Japan beyond the obvious.

Maybe that’s being shown around a few tiny izakayas by a local, getting behind the scenes at a sumo stable, meeting a maiko in Kyoto, discovering a hidden garden, learning to make soba or pottery, or spending time with someone whose craft has been passed down through generations.

These are the experiences that can turn a great holiday into a really memorable one.

And because your itinerary is completely tailor-made, I can choose the experiences that fit you… your interests, your curiosity and the way you like to travel.

For more information and itinerary ideas suited to you, message me at [email protected]

Japan has plenty of famous sights. I’m interested in what we can add around them.

06/10/2026

5 experiences you don't want to miss on a trip to Japan ⬇️

🇯🇵 I ended up in Japan completely by accident during an overnight flight diversion on my way back from Hong Kong. Safe to say, it completely caught me off guard.

I booked a proper trip back as soon as I could to explore. It’s a place that feels distinct from anywhere else, shaped in part by centuries of isolation from the outside world.

Here are 5 experiences I think every traveler should make time for:

🍵 Attend a traditional tea ceremony (Sado): It’s far more than just sitting down for a warm drink. The ritual, rhythm, and attention to detail make it a deeply grounding cultural practice.
♨️ Soak in a natural Onsen: Thanks to the region's geothermal activity, hot spring baths are everywhere.
🚅 Ride the Shinkansen: The bullet train is as efficient, sleek, and ridiculously punctual as everyone says. It’s easily the smoothest way to get around the country.
🏯 Stay in a Shukubo: Sleeping at a Buddhist temple stay offers a chance to experience traditional temple living, serene surroundings, and incredible vegetarian meals.
🍱 Sample fresh sushi: If you enjoy Japanese cuisine, eating it locally is an entirely different level. Head down around the Tsukiji Outer Market area for incredible seafood stalls and sushi bars.

This is really just scratching the surface as there’s so much more to see and do.

If you’re thinking about planning a trip to Japan and want to chat through options, I’d love to help.

📩 Send me a DM or email me at [email protected].

02/10/2026

Planning your first trip to Japan? Here’s everything you need to know before you go 🇯🇵

📍 The Ultimate First-Timer Route

Days 1–3: Tokyo — standard-setting energy and neon cityscapes
Days 4–5: Hakone — scenic views of Mount Fuji, relaxing hot springs & nature trails
Days 6–8: Kyoto — deep history, stunning shrines & traditional culture
Days 9–10: Hiroshima & Miyajima Island — powerful history and iconic island sights
Day 11: Osaka — incredible street food & welcoming, fun-loving vibes
Days 12–13: Takayama — idyllic mountain charm in the Japanese Alps

🍂 Best Time to Visit
Aim for Spring or Autumn.

March–May: Iconic cherry blossoms, though expect higher prices and larger crowds.

Autumn: Ideal weather for exploring, perfect for day trips, and a fantastic alternative if you want to skip peak-season rush.

Summer: Very hot and humid — can make outdoor exploring quite intense!

🚄 Getting Around
High-speed Shinkansen (bullet trains) are the absolute best way to travel between cities — lightning-fast, hyper-punctual, and comfortable.

💡 Bonus Tip: Tipping isn’t customary in Japan! A polite express of gratitude is all you need.

✉️ For more info message me.
Drop me an email at [email protected]

Whether it's your first visit or you're returning for a brand-new custom itinerary, I’m here to help!

01/10/2026

Kyoto is pure magic. ⛩️

From iconic temples to centuries-old traditions, here are 5 unmissable experiences to add to your Kyoto itinerary:

1️⃣ The Zen Garden at Ginkaku-ji Temple 🏯
Known as the Silver Pavilion, its meticulously raked dry-landscape sand garden (Kōgetsudai) and tranquil moss-lined pathways offer a peaceful escape from the city.

2️⃣ A Traditional Tea Ceremony 🍵
Step inside a historic machiya (traditional townhouse) to experience the mindful art of preparing and savoring ceremonial matcha alongside delicate wagashi sweets.

3️⃣ The ‘Golden’ Kinkaku-ji Temple ✨
The iconic Golden Pavilion—gilded in gold leaf and reflecting perfectly across the surrounding Kyōko-chi pond—is one of Japan’s most breathtaking sights.

4️⃣ The Fushimi Inari Shrine ⛩️
Wander through thousands of vibrant vermilion torii gates winding up Mount Inari. Early morning is the best time to enjoy the quiet atmosphere along the trail.

5️⃣ The Historic Higashiyama District 🏮
Walk through the beautifully preserved atmospheric lanes of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, filled with traditional wooden storefronts, tea houses, and local artisan shops.

📌 Save this for your future trip to Japan!

💬 Which of these spots is top of your travel wishlist?

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Weybridge

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

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