Anne-Marie Banks -Travel Counsellor 01527 970007

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Anne-Marie Banks -Travel Counsellor 01527 970007

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07/11/2026

What should a family of four realistically budget for a May half-term holiday?

A week away before the long summer break sounds lovely. But travelling before July doesn’t necessarily mean escaping school-holiday prices.

Popular flight times, family rooms and well-located hotels can make a big difference to the total especially if you’d like separate bedrooms, a beachfront setting or plenty included before you arrive.

For the next post in my Budget Expectations series, I’m looking at six different May half-term holiday ideas:
- Turkey
- Mallorca
- Crete
- The Algarve
- Lake Garda
- Orlando

From an all-inclusive beach holiday to lakeside exploring or a week of Disney magic, each option comes with a realistic planning range and a look at what can push the price higher.

The important bit? Compare what’s actually included. A self-catering apartment, a half-board hotel and an all-inclusive resort each leave you with a different amount to spend while you’re away.

These indicative budgets are based on two adults and two children travelling from London during May half term, with Economy flights, checked luggage and the accommodation and inclusions detailed in each slide. Exact dates, children’s ages and room arrangements will affect the price.

Save this for your family holiday planning, or get in touch with your dates and priorities so I can help you find the right fit.

04/11/2026

Planning your first holiday to the Philippines? The hardest part might be deciding which islands to leave for next time.
With so many tempting places to explore, it’s easy to build an itinerary that involves more packing and airport time than you’d intended.

For this first-timer’s itinerary, I’ve combined 14 nights of history, countryside, island adventures and beach time:

- Manila · 2 nights
- Bohol · 4 nights
- El Nido, Palawan · 4 nights
- Boracay · 4 nights

Explore historic Intramuros, discover Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, kayak beneath El Nido’s limestone cliffs and finish with slow days on Boracay’s White Beach. There’s time to experience different sides of the Philippines, with space between the sightseeing for a swim, a leisurely lunch or an afternoon without an agenda.

When planning a Philippines island-hopping holiday, the journey between each stop matters. Domestic flights, airport locations and onward transfers all need to work together, which I can help with. This route is a starting point. I can tailor the island combination, pace, hotels and experiences around you whether that means more adventure, a secluded island resort or a longer beach finish.

Save this Philippines itinerary for inspiration, or get in touch to start planning your own tailor-made escape.

01/11/2026

Some dates are worth planning a whole holiday around.

2027 has a few of them: the longest total solar eclipse of the century, the Ryder Cup in Ireland, and back-to-back Rugby and Cricket World Cups in Australia and southern Africa.
These are the events I’d be securing hotels for now. The best-placed rooms always go first, and they go to people who plan early.

Swipe through for my 2027 edit, and save it for when you start planning.
Already have one in mind? Send me a message and let’s build the trip around it.

25/10/2026

If you love a hotel with a real sense of place, Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa deserves a spot on your Thailand holiday wishlist.

Intricately carved wood, lush tropical surroundings and sweeping Andaman Sea views, this is a hotel with bags of Thai character.

The private pool villas are particularly tempting. Although a beautiful infinity pool, beachfront dining and a spa do give you a few very good reasons to leave your own little hideaway.

For me, its appeal is the chance to enjoy a slower island escape as part of a bigger Thailand adventure. A few days exploring, followed by time to properly switch off, is a combination I think works really well.

In this Hotel Spotlight, I’m sharing what makes Santhiya special, who I’d recommend it for and the practical details worth considering before you book.

Thinking about a tailor-made Thailand holiday? Get in touch and let’s find the right combination of places and hotels for you.
Save this post for your Thailand planning.

24/10/2026

I tell my clients not to do these obvious day trips… because what happens after the day-trippers leave?

If you’ve only experienced somewhere between arriving on the morning ferry and rushing for the last boat back, there might be a whole side of it you’ve missed. An overnight stay gives you time for an unhurried dinner, a wander after dark and a morning before the busiest sightseeing hours begin. Those moments can change how you remember a place.

For this post, I’m looking at five destinations worth giving a little longer: Venice, Capri, Bruges, Mont-Saint-Michel and Miyajima.

Each is a reminder that planning a holiday involves more than deciding where to go. How long you stay and where you spend the night matters too.
I love finding room for these experiences when creating tailor-made holidays. Sometimes, a well-placed overnight stay adds more to your trip than squeezing in another stop.

Save this for your next adventure, and get in touch if you’d like help building a holiday with time to really experience the places you visit.

18/10/2026

Sometimes my advice is: “I’d save your money.”
Sometimes it’s: “That’s worth stretching the budget for.”
Both come from understanding what matters most to you.

When you book a tailor-made holiday with me, you’re asking for my judgement as well as my help arranging it. That means honest conversations about what’s worth spending on, what suits your style of travel and what’s realistically achievable.

A hotel can be exceptional and still be the wrong choice for you. An upgrade can sound tempting without adding much to your experience. And sometimes a different destination opens up far more of what you’re looking for.

I’ll explain my recommendations, talk through the compromises and help you make decisions you feel comfortable with. You should know what to expect before you commit your time and money.

This is the first post in my “Booking with me gives you…” series starting with something I believe is one of the most important factors in every holiday I plan: honest advice.
Thinking about your next trip? Send me your ideas, your wish list and your budget. We’ll work out what makes sense for you and if I don’t think it’s right, I will let you know.

03/10/2026

How much should a family of four budget for an October half-term holiday?

For some families, it’s one precious week away. Others have a longer school break and enough time to venture further. That difference can completely change which destinations make sense.

A week could mean volcanic landscapes in Lanzarote, city and mountain time in Morocco, or late-summer sunshine in Cyprus. With closer to two weeks, Mauritius, South Korea and Namibia become doable options.

For the next post in my Budget Expectations series, I’ve included three shorter holidays and three longer adventures:
Lanzarote
Morocco
Cyprus
Mauritius
South Korea
Namibia

Save this for your October half-term planning or let me know where you have in mind and I’ll give you a realistic budget expectation.

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