Bespoke luxury holidays dominate the current climate, with more and more travelers setting their sights on worldwide locations and unique pursuits. If you are hungry for experiences, excitement, and new cultural insights, several experts, airlines, and tourism groups have the tools to help match you with your dream bespoke holiday.
Travel Counsellors – David Bishop
When planning a holiday, whether it’s a multi-stop adventure to far-flung places or a week in Spain, the trip must be tailored to you. Designing the perfect holiday is no easy task, yet with the help of a specialist travel consultant, the process can be simple and stress-free.
David Bishop has extensive knowledge and experience when it comes to booking holidays. After working for ten years with travel experts, Trailfinders, he became self-employed and now operates under the umbrella company Travel Counsellors. With a unique network of travel professionals, independent experts like David can offer expert advice to tailor holidays to the individual.
Based in Edinburgh, David is happy to meet clients in person to discuss their trip, whether over coffee or via a home visit. Alternatively, he can discuss plans over the phone or through email.
Considering all aspects of the trip, from the flights to transfers and accommodation to insider tips, David creates dream breaks for his clients. No details are forgotten, no matter the destination or budget, his skills, and commitment.
Some clients may seek a relaxing getaway in luxury resorts with day trips factored in; others may want an action-packed break, camping under the stars, or trekking amongst beautiful landscapes. Whatever the plan, David can help make the dream a reality.
At Trailfinders, David organized premium cabins with all major airlines and world-class ground arrangements, including the Ghan, Indian Pacific, and the Transalpine. This has provided him with in-depth knowledge of the luxury travel market.
If clients want to visit some stunning locations, open-jaw itineraries involving cruises can be a unique way of traveling between incredible places, be it Singapore to Sydney, Darwin to Perth, or perhaps Fjordland night cruises in New Zealand.
He is also particularly passionate about helping clients plan holidays to Australia and New Zealand, thanks to two years spent living there and exploring the many delights of the two destinations.
Much like a hotel’s concierge service, David’s service is not limited to the flights and accommodation. He will take care of restaurant reservations and spa services, recommend nightlife hot spots, and anything the client wishes. While away on holiday, he will be contactable when an issue occurs.
Trusted and relied upon, David is a Gold TC (Travel Counsellor). Based on customer testimonials and sales, he is in the top 10 percent worldwide and one of very few Gold TCs in ScoTCsd.
Elitsa Nixon – Travel Counsellors
Passionate about helping customers create their perfect holiday, travel specialist Elitsa Nixon has years of experience making bespoke trips. Based in Dumbarton, Elitsa has worked under the umbrella company Travel Counsellors since last year as an independent travel consultant, and one of the areas she specializes in is niche expedition cruises.
After settling in Scotland over eight years ago, Elitsa gained a master’s degree in International Tourism Management before joining a major UK tour operator specializing in itineraries to long-haul destinations such as the Far East, Middle East, Africa, Indian Ocean, and Australasia.
Today, Elitsa specializes in cruises, particularly focusing on niche expedition cruises. An increasingly popular way to travel, expedition cruises are changing the face of cruise ship holidays. Accommodating a few hundred passengers only- as opposed to the thousands normally found on cruise ships – they take passengers to incredible and remote corners of the world.
Expedition cruises are perfect for curious adventure seekers exploring the Galápagos Islands, Antarctica, the Arctic, and Australia’s Kimberly Coast. These once-in-a-lifetime trips take passengers to spectacular locations on smaller, custom-made cruise ships designed to navigate icy waters and gain access to places not easily accessed by visitors.
As an up-and-coming holiday option, most travel agents aren’t well-versed in expedition cruises. Elitsa, however, has a keen interest in the specialist holidays and, having worked on a cruise ship for five years, is well versed in normal cruise ship holidays, too.
Elitsa can help create a truly bespoke cruise holiday, regardless of the length of trip, choice of destination, or budget. Many people will include land experience in addition to their cruise to make the most of their dream vacation and completely immerse themselves in new destinations and cultures.
Elitsa is proud to offer customers a flexible and personal service. She is happy to meet customers face to face or can discuss options over the phone or online. With the benefit of working from home, she can work around the customer’s schedule to provide impartial advice.
