WHY USE AN INDEPENDENT TRAVEL CONSULTANT?

If you're planning a big holiday, you might be wondering whether to book directly with a tour operator or use an independent travel consultant.

Perhaps you've been browsing the websites of specialist tour operators, looking at their suggested itineraries, reading reviews and trying to work out which company is best placed to arrange your trip.

There are some excellent travel companies out there. But there's something worth understanding before you decide who to book with.

A tour operator can recommend holidays from its own portfolio. An independent travel consultant can look across a range of different operators to find the one best suited to you.

And that distinction can make quite a difference.

Not every travel company is right for every holiday

Let's say you're planning an African safari.

One specialist might have particularly strong relationships with camps in Kenya. Another might excel at arranging more adventurous safaris in Botswana. A third might offer excellent options in Tanzania, including some wonderful smaller lodges that don't feature in the programmes of the larger operators.

If you approach any one of those companies directly, naturally they'll recommend holidays using the properties and services they work with.

That doesn't mean their recommendations aren't good. Far from it. But you're seeing the options available through that particular company.

My starting point is different.

As an independent travel consultant, I'm not tied to one tour operator's collection of hotels, lodges or itineraries.

I start by listening to what you want from your holiday. Then I consider which of the specialist suppliers I work with is best placed to deliver it.

For one client, that might mean working with a well-known luxury tour operator. For another, it could be a smaller specialist with particularly good knowledge of a destination or access to accommodation that's less widely featured.

It's about finding the right fit for your holiday, rather than fitting your holiday into a particular company's programme.

Your holiday shouldn't be a one-size-fits-all exercise

Two couples could both ask me to arrange a three-week trip to Japan and end up with completely different holidays.

One might want to explore the major cities, stay in beautiful hotels and enjoy privately guided experiences.

The other might have visited Japan before and be looking for somewhere less travelled, with traditional inns, rural landscapes and opportunities to experience everyday Japanese life.

The destination is the same. But the right itinerary, accommodation and specialist supplier could be quite different.

That's why I don't believe in producing a quote before I've had a proper conversation with someone about what they're looking for.

The more I understand about your interests, travel preferences and priorities, the better placed I am to make recommendations that genuinely suit you.

First-hand experience makes a difference

I've been fortunate enough to travel extensively, from African safari camps and the islands of the Indian Ocean to Japan and South America.

That experience helps me ask questions you might not have thought about.

Would you prefer a smaller safari camp where you might see fewer vehicles, or a larger lodge with more facilities? Is a particular Maldives island right for someone who loves snorkelling? Would you enjoy a packed itinerary, or would a slower pace make for a better holiday?

Sometimes the most useful advice isn't about what to include. It's about what to leave out.

And where I haven't experienced something personally, I can draw on the knowledge of trusted specialist suppliers who know their destinations in considerable depth.

One person looking after the whole holiday

There's another important difference between booking through an independent travel consultant and dealing directly with several travel companies.

You deal with me.

From our first conversation and the planning stages through to booking, preparing for departure and returning home, I'm your point of contact.

I get to know your preferences, understand the thinking behind your itinerary and keep an eye on the details.

And if something doesn't go according to plan, you know who to contact.

For me, that continuity is an important part of the service.

What about price?

Using an independent travel consultant doesn't automatically mean paying more for your holiday.

I work with established specialist suppliers and have access to their trade arrangements. The cost will depend on the itinerary, accommodation, flights and services involved.

But I don't claim to be the cheapest option, and I don't offer a price-matching service.

What I aim to provide is good value: a holiday where your budget is spent on the things that matter most to you, rather than on features or experiences you don't particularly want.

For a significant holiday investment, I think that's an important distinction.

And what about financial protection?

The holidays I arrange are booked through established travel suppliers, with the appropriate ATOL and ABTA protection.

So choosing an independent travel consultant doesn't mean giving up the reassurance of booking through a recognised travel company.

You can have the financial protection alongside a much more personal planning experience.

The difference is where the conversation starts

There's nothing wrong with booking directly with a specialist tour operator. Many are excellent at what they do.

But when you approach one company, you're asking what they can arrange for you.

When you come to me, we start with what you want — and then work out which supplier, itinerary and accommodation are best suited to making it happen.

That's what being an independent travel consultant means to me.

If you're considering a tailor-made holiday and would appreciate some knowledgeable, impartial advice about where to start, I'd be delighted to have an initial conversation with you.