Based in Drumoak

Fiona Betteridge

It's Nice To Meet You

Hello my name is Fiona Betteridge and I am based in Aberdeenshire. Thanks for your interest in Travel Counsellors and my web site. I believe booking your holiday should be an enjoyable and exciting experience. I pride myself on offering my customers a level of personal service and attention to detail which you could not find in the high street.

I have lived, worked and travelled abroad for the last 25 years, in such areas as the Middle East, Far East and Scandinavia, and holidaying all over the world especially enjoying Australia, America and Europe.

We now have a unique system in place which no other travel agency/tour operator has access to which enables us to book flights, accommodation and transfers separately which more than often beats standard tour operator packages.

Don't forget about those long weekends in the UK as well, I can book you a trip to the races, a murder mystery weekend, golf breaks and what about lunch on the Orient Express?

Whether it be a flight, city break or a tailor made holiday you are looking for I will be delighted to help you.

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Contact Me

Whatever your holiday needs I'm here to help you, so simply give me a call or send me an email with your contact details on and I can get things started for you:

My Blog

I absolutely live and breathe travel and I love to write about my experiences! Please take a look through my posts - you might find your own holiday inspiration.

Bermuda

01 June 2014

Bermuda is a beautiful location, with a distinctly British feel about it. Close enough to visit as a twin centre with say New York. There are many lovely hotels, pink sand beaches and excellent golf courses. There are a range of attractions to visit such as, Dolphin Quest, boat excursions, Gibbs Hill Lighthouse, the dipping ceremony in St Georges and the crystal and fantasy caves. We stayed at Elbow Beach and Cambridge Beaches which are both beautiful hotels. Elbow beach Hotel is on 50 acres of gardens with a beach front location, only seven minutes from the delightful capital city of Hamilton. It has 98 cottage-inspired rooms and suites with ocean or garden views - I had an ocean view with a patio which was lovely to sit on in the evening. There is a spa, private beach and dive shop. Plus for anyone wanting golf there are 4 courses close by. Cambridge Beaches again was set on the beach, with a spa and lots of water sports. This resort is adults only, minimum age is 16. They have rooms, suits and cottages with private plunge pools. Close by you can discover the world’s smallest drawbridge, it has a little section that lifts up and lets a yacht mast come through, so boats can go up the river. The Botanical Gardens are outstanding, with so many beautiful flowers and trees to see. For Golf lovers it is a paradise with top competitions held there. We went to many superb restaurants and enjoyed the famous fish chowder, I would recommend Waterlot Inn Restaurant and Mad Hatters. An interesting event is the old Dunking Ceremony at the square at St George's. A woman is hauled forcible to 'The Dunking Stool', used to dunk women accused of being nags and gossips, in the 1600s and 1700s is again used in historical re-enactments with costumed actors in the town. The offender is strapped in a dunking stool and dunked in the ocean a number of times depending on their crime. The town crier or magistrate is proclaiming the woman's crimes to an audience of onlookers. I would highly recommend Bermuda as a superb beach holiday.

Iceland Holiday

11 May 2014

I went to Iceland to celebrate our daughters 30th birthday and what a great experience it was. Iceland never ceases to amaze - the mouth-watering scenery is an adventure in itself, with volcanic craters, lava flows, hot springs and geysers, glaciers and stunning waterfalls offering a new view around every corner. It is these natural wonders that provide the perfect backdrop to a range of unforgettable experiences from hiking and snowmobiling to bathing in hot pools and gazing at the northern lights. I was lucky with the weather to have 3 days of sunshine but also to have snow. The people were all very nice and the sea food was amazing. Had the lobster soup for lunch most days, although I wasn't so taken with the puffin burgers! We had one hour floating massages in the Blue Lagoon, which were the most relaxing experience ever; the water is really hot and it even snowed while we were in there but we were never cold. We saw the northern lights for an hour, with beautiful flashes and waves of green. The flights from Scotland were extremely quick, 2 hours going out and 1 hour 45 minutes coming back. It takes three hours from London. I would definitely recommend Iceland, you could book a long weekend or even longer to give you more time to explore.

New York

01 June 2014

New York is a great location, full of things to see and do, plus great restaurants of all prices. We stayed for 4 nights coming from Washington on the Amtrak which was very easy and comfortable straight into Penn station and then a quick taxi ride to The Benjamin hotel on 125 E 50th street, close to many restaurants and shops, we walked safely around at night. This location is midtown Manhattan, the Benjamin is a luxury boutique-styled hotel and well worth a stay. Taxis and the hop on bus were all easy to use so getting around was no problem. I visited the Empire State building with fantastic views from the observatory deck, did the harbour cruise around the Statue of Liberty, visited the 9/11 Memorial, which is very moving and of course some shopping. I found that clothes and shoes were good value compared with the UK. I also did a full day tour around central park, going to the Guggenheim Museum and Harlem. In central park you just walk around or take the horse and carriages. Some of the restaurants we sampled were Shake Shack at Madison Square Park, the best burger in New York which often has a very long queue, but is worth it, you can tell it was going to be good because it was local people queuing not just tourists. If you like jazz we went to the Arlington Club, good food and music. Another great place was Lavo at 39 E 58th street, famous for its Fried Oreos, very yummy. All in all a fun location.

Grand Canyon Ranch

07 May 2012

We stayed at the Grand Canyon Ranch while on holiday in Las Vegas and it was a great comparison to the Strip. We took the helicopter from Vegas airport, with great views over the Strip seeing all the hotels. Then it was onwards towards Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. The pilot pointed out all the things of interest and we were able to get some great photographs. We flew below the rim of the canyon and had great views of the Colorado river. We landed at the ranch where we were met by a horse drawn wagon and you could feel the gentle pace of the ranch compared to Vegas, with it’s beautiful scenery and breathtaking views. We had a great lunch of buffalo burgers and checked into our cabins. The cabins had everything you needed for an enjoyable stay. It was very hot during the day but cooler at night, so the air conditioning was good in the day time but you could switch it off at night time. You could also stay in a Tipi if you preferred. We did a sunset ride, where you could go by horse or wagon and enjoy a glass of champagne watching the sun set whilst the Buffalo herd. It was a great experience. Night time brought us an excellent steak dinner followed by songs around the camp fire expertly sang by Casey Adams. There is no light pollution so it’s great for star gazing. After a hearty breakfast and a few more photographs we had the most amazing warm scones and then it was back into the helicopter to fly back to Vegas. It was the highlight of our trip. Two days later we drove to the Canyon (2 hours 30 minutes) and went on the Sky Walk, the glass bridge over the Canyon. I loved looking down through the glass to 4000 feet below. We visited Hoover Dam and some of the native American shops where we bought some lovely souvenirs. I would highly recommend the ranch if you are staying in Vegas.

Las Vegas

08 May 2012

Las Vegas is a fun city, and you don't have to gamble to enjoy it, I just had a great holiday there. The weather was very good for April 2012, nice and hot but with no humidity. We stayed in two hotels as we went half way in the week to The Grand Canyon Ranch. Our first hotel was the Bellagio, which has a great fountain display outside with music and lights four times an hour. It has lovely large rooms and a nice pool area. Our second hotel was The Wynn, which has great views from the high floors. We stayed in the Tower Suites, which have a private reception and swimming pool and provide a nice place to get away from the crowds. It was very easy to access the Fashion Show Mall from The Wynn, simply by walking across a bridge over the road. There are some amazing restaurants in Vegas, we went to Joe's Seafood one night and had the best seafood. For a special occasion we went to Joel Robuchon Restaurant "L Atelier de Joel Robuchon" it was outstanding. Shopping is also great in Vegas with good quality clothes and shoes. We saw two shows, 'O' Cirque de Soleil, where acrobats, synchronised swimmers, divers and characters perform in, on, and above water. This is based at the Bellagio hotel. The second show was the Holly Madison 'Peep show' which was very funny and a little risque. There are many shows to choose from and something to suit everyone. All in all Vegas is a great place for sunshine, entertainment and nightlife.

Azamara Cruise, Nice, Barcelona, Capri & Sorrento

11 May 2014

We sailed on Azamara Journey for a 12 day Mediterranean cruise. Azamara ships are not too big (you never feel lost) and they’re not too small (you won’t run out of new things to do and new people to meet). With a capacity of 686 guests, Azamara’s mid-sized ships really are just right. We loved the club-like atmosphere and the way the staff and crew get to know you. The smaller ships also offer the big advantage of being able to sail to places larger cruise lines can’t. We stayed overnight at some of the ports, which was lovely as we could go out for dinner or drinks. We stopped at several locations, such as; Nice, Barcelona, Capri & Sorrento. The shore excursions where excellent. We visited Pompeii, Gaudi architecture, flower markets and vine yards. The food and wine on board were excellent as where the staff, I would highly recommend a cruise with Azamara.

Holiday In Russia

26 May 2011

Russian May 2011 I have always wanted to visit Russia so decided 2011 was going to be the year. Moscow is one of the few cities in the world that justifies the adjective ‘magnificent’. At first Moscow can dwarf you. Moscow’s past wealth is reflected in its architecture, arts, museums and even its underground railway which is an artistic monument and tourist attraction in its own right we visited about 7 underground stations just amazing. From Red Square to the Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theatre to St Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow is easily treated as a living museum. As were there on May 09th we saw the victory day parade with 100’s on tanks and soldiers which was some spectacular. Eating out was an adventure, some restaurants having no menus in English, we had a few surprises! Vodka was cheaper than having water. Leaving Moscow on the Red Arrow sleeper train we travelled to St Petersburg, the train was very comfortable and from a bygone era. Unlike Moscow’s red bricks and onion domes, St Petersburg is a network of canals and baroque architecture. The summer palace at Peterhof built by Peter the Great is so beautiful with gardens and fountains just like Versailles. Flying time from London to Moscow is only about 3 1/2 to 4 hours, at all times we felt completely safe, it was just myself and my daughter. You have to get a visa before going which is about £100pp It is a location well worth a visit if you love history.

Silversea Caribbean Cruise

05 November 2011

You can not beat floating around the Caribbean on a Silversea All Inclusive Cruise. From the moment we boarded the ship- The service was incredible. Every member of staff always greeted us and had a big smile on their faces. We had a veranda suite which included a balcony. We loved having the balcony and used it all the time. The room is lovely, with plenty of closet space and more drawers than you can fill up. Personalized stationary with your name on it. Fresh flowers in your cabin. The bathrooms were fantastic! - double sinks, shower and bath with Bulgaria amenities- soap, shampoo, conditioner etc When we disembarked at the ports they had cold bottled water to take ashore and on the way back waiting for the tenders to return to the ship –at the ports they had cold punch, water and chilled towels! What makes Silversea cruises so special are the fellow passengers you meet. We met wonderful, fascinating people from all over the world. Everyone was so friendly and wanted to socialize. We have made some lasting friendships that we will keep in touch with. The advantage of the smaller ship is that it is easier to make friends since you run into the same people all the time and the staff members get to know you personally. We stopped at a selection of Caribbean islands, a highlight was the butterfly farm on St Maarten. I loved the Turtle sanctuary at Bequia. If you want wonderful service, great food, and a smaller ship than there is only one Cruise Line- SILVERSEA!

Visit to South Africa

24 October 2010

I was bowled over by Cape Town and surrounding areas. Fantasic beaches, hotels and restaurants. We flew into Cape town with South African airways and went straight to Hermanus for the whale watching. Hermanus is famous for being inhabited by Southern Right Whales every year between June and December. This friendly and quaint town is situated about 120km (one and a half hour drive) from Cape Town. I have to say we where not disappointed, and after a very early start to catch the sunrise we saw lots of whales, and what beautiful creatures they are. Cape town is a lovely, clean, safe and very cosmopolitan. The Victory water front has shops, markets and restaurants with plenty to see and do. We stayed at the Radisson Blu, which is a lovely hotel. Table top mountain is a must and the views from the top are amazing. The day I visited was a bank holiday and my tip is to avoid those days if you can as the queues can be quite long to buy your ticket. The cable car ride to the top of the mountain spins round slowly to allow 360 degree view. It can be quite cool at the top so don;t forget to take a jacket. Nearby beaches at Camps bay are very nice with plenty of trendy shops, bar and restaurants. If you are looking for a perfect day trip from Cape Town then Boulders Beach is just down the road from Simons Town on the False Bay coast, so not only is the water a little warmer and the scenery stunning, it's also a penguin haven! They are so funny waddling about and you can go down to the beach and swim with them. We had lunch in the harbour in Simons Town and had the BEST seafood I have ever had in a long time. We then moved on to the magnificent Franschhoek Wine Valley in the Cape Winelands. Nestled against majestic mountains, Franschhoek is home to award-winning wine estates and restaurants, boutique hotels, luxury guest houses and wonderful retail shops. We stayed at Mont Rochelle, which is both a hotel and a vineyard - luxury accommodation at its best. In the rooms you will find a perfect blend of style and comfort and wake up to breathtaking views from every angle. You can go wine tasting in the grounds and I can assure yuo the wines are superb, Reasons to Visit Cape Town and the Western Cape: 1. Sheer Natural Beauty 2. Great Weather - warm languid summers and mild, moist winters - conditions that perfectly sum up the mediterranean climate of Cape Town and the Western Cape. 3. So Affordable - recognised as one of the most affordable destinations in the world. 4. Cultural Melting Pot - Cape Town and the Western Cape is a cosmopolitan destination 5. First Class Wining and Dining - the destination, with its many restaurants serving traditional or contemporary Cape and international cuisine, is also one of the wine capitals of the world. 6. Diverse Experiences - experience Cape Town and the Western Cape and discover the ultimate combo of nature, wildlife, culture, adventure, heritage. 7. Easy Access - Cape Town International Airport is served by 20 international airlines on a weekly basis, linking the destination to every major global hub. 8. Sunny Blue Flag Beaches - home to 13 internationally recognised Blue Flag beaches. 9. Excellent Infrastructure - whether you're wanting luxury or authentic Africa experiences there are easy roads to get out and about on and endless great places to stay and eat. 10. No Jet Lag - 1 hours time difference BST

Safari - Kruger National Park

05 November 2011

Safari in Kruger National Park - The BIG 5 I had an amazing Safari in Kruger in September, Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. Apart from big five game drives, you can also enjoy bush walks, night drives, sleep-outs under the stars, bird-watching and off road game dives in private areas. The Kruger National Park offers an abundance of wildlife including approximately 507 bird species 147 animals. One of the highlights of my trip was seeing a cheater catch its pray. We had fantastic off road game drives seeing Impala which are the most abundant antelope, waterbuck, grey duiker, Greater kudu, bushbuck ,buffalo. The waterholes attracted elephants, white rhino, giraffe and warthog and many other wildlife species. We watched Loins basking in the sunshine and hippos soaking in the lake. The park offers a unique and unspoilt region promising a traditional African safari experience. I stayed in 2 properties , Chitwa Chitwa and Shumbalala both being superb, the quality of the accommodation and restaurants were excellent. It was a trip to remember with all its fantastic sights.

My customer stories

Sent by Jagat Deo

We have used Travel Counsellors over the last 15-years on many occasions to arrange a complete bespoke holiday package, but also generally book our holidays offered through other companies. The hotels recommended have been superb and the service of the highest quality exceeding our expectations. A memorable occasion was a three centre trip to Dubai, Singapore & Penang where Fiona organised the complete package. The whole trip went like clockwork, from pick-up at our home and all hotel transfers. We want to thank Travel Counsellors for arranging all our holidays hassle free and we will continue to use this service.

Sent by Colin Pearson

Fiona has helped us with a wide variety of holidays over the years. The range includes bespoke family holidays to Florida to exploring Europe on a bike with friends. They have always been a great success. The service she provides is fantastic, very personal. And of course the flexibility of what you can choose is a huge attraction. Just to add the assurance of having Fiona there when something goes wrong is also amazing, she fixed something for us that we could never have done if we had booked ourselves online.

Sent by William and Marigold Bowman

Fiona has arranged several complicated journeys for us over the last few years, being generous with her advice and time. In addition, the events of the last year has meant many changes having to be made, all handled with humour and attention to detail.

Sent by Douglas Cusine

My wife and I have used Fiona as a travel agent for some time. She has always secured for us the best deals, and makes suggestions about alternative arrangements for flights, accommodation etc. she keeps a close eye on our bookings and there is seldom any need to contact her about these matters, as she is “on the ball.” We have used many other agents in the past, but none of them matches the very efficient and personal service we get from her.

Sent by Bertha Forbes

The holiday which you arranged for me was one of the best that I have ever had. Being a solo traveller was not a problem because of your attention to detail and the kindness shown. The hotels were very good being centrally situated and both rooms were convenient for lift and reception area. The hotel in Santorini was especially good: the bathroom was tres modern. Breakfast, however was better in the Athens one with more choice. I can never understand why people like to eat cake for breakfast! Thank you again for a wonderful experience.

Sent by Nicky Harkes

Hi Fiona, we got back safe and sound last night and we just thought we would let you know what a fantastic time we had. The hotel was absolutely superb! The food was good, the drinks were good. The hotel was spotless, the room was really clean and spacious. The entertainment team were fantastic with the kids, the pool area is great for the kids and really safe as there were numerous life guards. Honestly can't express how good this place is for families and we can't wait to go back, so thank you so much for finding it for us and taking care of everything, really appreciate it. Thanks again, Nicky, Diane, Lily and Finlay

Sent by Loraine Wood

Just to let you know that we had an excellent time in Cuba. All flights, hotels, transfers etc went without a hitch. So glad we went to Havana as it is well worth a visit with so much to do and see and all within easy reach from the hotel. We also enjoyed Varadero and it was great to relax after the hustle and bustle of Havana. The Cuban people are so friendly it is unbelievable. I don't know how you managed to book it all within budget, well done!

Sent by Derek Stewart

Just returned from Tenerife after great holiday as usual. Have travelled to other destinations including cycling trip to Majorca after Globespan failure when Fiona responded with package and saved the day. Looking forward to next trip soon.

Sent by Isobel Yackiminie

Fiona has now arranged several holidays for us, and we have been very satisfied with the prompt service she provides. She is always there at the end of the phone, to give friendly, helpful advice, no detail too trivial. I would not hesitate to recommend Fiona to anyone; indeed the more complicated the reservation, the more you need Fiona!

Sent by Michael Head

We're not experienced travellers but needed to fly from the UK to Dubai and then onto Singapore and finally home. Fiona very quickly proposed an itinerary meeting all of our requirements for an excellent price - car parking too. Fiona answered our many questions within hours, on evenings and weekends! We would not hesitate to recommend her.

Sent by Helen Rowe

Although I haven't used your services for a while, I would certainly do so when I next intend to travel abroad or even somewhere in Britain. I have also given your business card to friends & I know of one who was delighted with your work.

Sent by Mhairi Hosking

Fiona arranged a fabulous holiday for my family this year in Spain, we had to make a last minute change of plan to our original holiday and Fiona helped us out of a sticky situation. She was really helpful and very quick to come back with some choices for us. We had a fab holiday in Peniscola and my 4 year old son is still talking about it and can't wait to go back. Thanks very much Fiona.

Sent by Jagat Deo

I have used Fiona's services many times over the last 4 years. The quality of service has been excellent and she has gone beyond the call of duty to help and obtain information to book our holidays. We have not been let down with destinations or choice of carrier and hotels. I will continue to use Travel Counsellors in the coming years.

Sent by Simon Richards

Fiona has now organised two complicated trips for us involving multiple travellers and differing routes and dates. Fiona really knows how to take the pain out of complicated trips, and for the sake of sanity I would strongly recommend this approach! She also seems to access the best deal to boot by the way!

Sent by Peter Williams

Fiona has provided a wonderful personal service on a variety of holidays and short trips and we will continue to book through her.

Sent by Graeme Nicol

I have now used Fiona on a number of occasions and have always found her to be very friendly, professional and willing to help. I would have no hesitation in recommending her to others, as I have already done on a number of occasions.

Sent by William Byth

Very efficient friendly service. Two occasions stand out. Fiona organised a special birthday trip to Rome and found us an outstanding small hotel in a very convenient location. When Globespan went out of business Fiona reorganised a cycling holiday to Majorca for a group of us, bikes included, at very short notice. Highly recommended.

Sent by Stuart Barnes

I just wanted to thank you for the amazing honeymoon that you organised for us earlier this year. It was truly a fantastic time and we had some great experiences in South Africa and the Seychelles, both of which are absolutely beautiful and we would love to go back for another visit at some point Our accommodation was excellent throughout our trip. Thank you.

Sent by Paul Garty

Fiona, What a service second to none well done and thank you Best Regards Paul Garty

Sent by Angela Stewart

My family and I travel abroad three four times a year and our first stop is always with Fiona. Fiona arranges everything from hotels to transport between airport and accommodation. There is nothing Fiona overlooks, always dealing with the small things we have forgotten. We feel special from the time of planning to the end of our holiday. Fiona stays in touch and we would not go anywhere else.

Sent by Allan Montgomery

Fiona was extremely helpful, right from first contact through to post-holiday, and everything went very smoothly, even though we were booking almost last minute. The service Fiona gave was excellent and the holiday she sourced for us was highly enjoyable. We would have no hesitation in using her services again and in recommending her to anyone else.

Sent by Jennifer McTaggart

Myself and my boyfriend booked with Fiona for a holday to Las Vegas and Hawaii. From start to finish, Fiona has done an amazing job, listened to what Neil and myself wanted and also done exactly what we wanted. From travel to and from airports, to advice on luggage I can't fault the service provided. I fortunately have someone to take the hassle out of booking & will go with Fiona in future.

Sent by D Duncan

I thought your service was great, very efficient, friendly and informative. I would use your services again. Thank you.

Sent by DONALD FRASER

Fiona was recommended to me via two colleagues who had arranged travel with her. I initially spoke with her colleague Heather as Fiona was on holiday, I received excellent service and advice and within 24 hours of our initial contact everything was organised for our trip to the USA (including all hotels & internal flights). I would highly reccommend their services.

Sent by Fiona Davidson

Booking a holiday, flights or car hire is always stess free for me as Fiona just gets on the case and within days its all organised and booked. Always had a great holiday and the prices are very competitive. Thanks from the Davidson Family.