16 January 2023

The Maldives is one of the most popular choices when it comes to your Honeymoon, so the question is what makes the Maldives so special? It has been a personal life’s dream for me to visit the Maldives and I was fortunate to go in 2022 to celebrate achieving Gold and boy what a trip it was! From the moment we stepped out of Male airport and were greeted by turquoise blue waters I could see the Maldives was special. Our hotel was reached by speedboat which felt very 007 and was an exciting way to get around! Upon arriving at the hotel’s jetty, we were welcomed by a handful of staff and a glass of bubbles – safe to say I could get used to this life…. There’s so much to share with you about this wonderful place however I want to keep this short, overall, I feel that the Maldives should be visited at least once in a lifetime. If you are a couple who want to relax in intimate surroundings, enjoy outstanding service on a dreamy paradise island then this is the Honeymoon for you. Maldives highlights – Pristine sandy beaches Turquoise clear waters Barefoot luxury Over water villas Amazing Sunsets Floating breakfasts Star gazing Romantic Beach Dinners Movies under the stars Snorkelling Sunset cruise Maldives honeymoon top tip – supplements can be high to stay in a water villa – why not split your stay and enjoy a few nights in a water villa and a few nights in a beach villa which helps with the overall cost. Maldives twin centre – perfect to combine with Sri Lanka, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Istanbul. The weather – I often get asked about rainy season so here is my advice based on my own experience having travelled in May and feedback from couples who have visited between May – October – temperatures are good all year round. Like all tropical places there is a chance of showers, but they rarely last long so will find yourself back on the beach or by the pool in no time! Documented lowest rainfall months are between November – April. For Honeymoon inspiration find me on Instagram – thehoneymoonspecialist or you can contact me – E- jen.crowe@travelcounsellors.com T – 02892528570 What’s app - 07904918070

03 January 2023

The Best Honeymoon Destinations for 2023. Your honeymoon is the most important holiday you will take, that’s why it is essential to get it right! I have been looking after holidays for 30 years – 15 of those years specialising in complex itineraries and honeymoons. If you want expert advice and support to ensure your honeymoon runs smoothly, I would be delighted to assist. You can arrange a honeymoon consultation via this link or via What’s app - +447904918070 https://JenCroweTravelCounsellorsAppointment.as.me/ Instagram - @thehoneymoonspecialist Here are my Top Honeymoon destinations for 2023. 1. Maldives – Turquoise waters, powdery sands with memorising sunsets, a Maldives Honeymoon is something quite special. Floating breakfast, sunset cruises, star gazing or snorkelling in the Indian Ocean – the Maldives offers memories that will last forever. Having recently travelled to the Maldives I can honestly say it is somewhere that you should visit at least once in your life. 2. Bali – culturally rich, magical mountains and luxurious hotels provide an exciting and diverse honeymoon in Bali. One day you can be hiking in the rainforest or exploring an ancient temple whilst the next you can be stepping into your private plunge pool and enjoying a floating breakfast! Plus, you must not miss their infamous Bali Swings – of which there are quite a few to choose. 3. Mauritius – Consistently in my Top 5 honeymoon destinations. Luxurious hotels, attentive staff, star gazing, golf, surfing, hiking up Le Morne Mountain, a mixture of cultures makes for an interesting and diverse history to explore on the island. 4. South Africa – some of the most stunning scenery you will ever see combined with outstanding service make a honeymoon to South Africa truly memorable. Enjoy the vibrance of Cape Town before sampling all that the winelands have to offer. If safari is on the agenda, you will have the chance to see the BIG 5 during a visit to one of the many luxurious safari options along the Garden Route. South Africa remains a firm favourite every year among honeymoon couples. 5. Greece – outstanding cuisine, romantic backdrop, iconic sunsets – a honeymoon to Greece offers idyllic surroundings whilst the history provides opportunity to explore should you wish. Santorini is definitely worth visiting and if you have a few weeks to play with I would suggest hopping islands and visiting a few others to maximise your honeymoon experience. 6. Italy – one of my favourites! A honeymoon to Italy has so much to offer and if you have more than a week, I highly recommend exploring by train. The main honeymoon parts would be, Amalfi coast, Rome, Venice, Florence/Pisa and Tuscany – think – culture, vespa tours, some of the best cuisine and a wealth of history to explore. 7. Sri Lanka – after a few quiet years – Sri Lanka is back on the map and ready to welcome honeymoon couples. Sri Lanka is steeped in history whilst also appealing to wildlife lovers should you want to enjoy a few days on safari. Perfectly combining, culture, wildlife and stunning beaches a honeymoon in Sri Lanka really has it all. 8. Cruising – A fantastic way to explore a variety of countries whilst enjoying entertainment and delicious food under one roof! Another excellent benefit of cruising is you can extend your stay either before or after. Whether you want a European Cruise or Caribbean a cruising honeymoon is a perfect choice for couples wanting to see a little more on one trip. 9. USA – great for a self-drive but equally you can stop in multiple parts by taking a flight or trains. The west coast is my most popular honeymoon within the USA or Route 66. You can also team this itinerary up with a visit to Hawaii or one of the Caribbean Islands for some relaxation or even a cruise for a few days which is becoming more and more popular. 10. Adventure – not quite a specific country as such but I am finding your appetite for adventure growing and it is exciting for me! Many couples are now choosing a honeymoon to perhaps Japan or South America. Sometimes travelling as part of a small group or if budget allows choosing a private tour allowing you to share the experience together. For more Honeymoon inspiration you can find me via Instagram - @thehoneymoonspecialist

26 May 2020

Tenerife is by far one of my most popular holiday spots. Perfect for couples, families, singles and with sunshine all year round you can travel at any time! I have a huge obsession with hotels, particularly hotel rooms so having noticed lots of new 5 star resorts open recently in Tenerife I thought it was time for a visit! (Travelled March 2019). On this trip I stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel and Royal Hideaway Corales Beach (adult only). I visited the Bahia Principe Fantasia, Iberostar Sabila (adult only) and Royal Hideaway Corales Suites during my trip. Whilst all these hotels are 5 star, they vary greatly so if you would like personal advice or recommendations please feel free to give me a call. I flew with Jet2 from Belfast so here are a few tips for the journey - Belfast airport – I would encourage anyone to pay for priority security. This is approximately £4 each and worth every penny, you normally get through in under 10 minutes giving you more time to relax and get holiday ready! Arriving in Tenerife – I would recommend paying a few extra pounds and getting a private transfer (I arrange this in advance for my clients) The driver will be waiting for you after you collect your luggage and you will be taken directly to your hotel. Bahia Fantasia (All Inclusive only, family friendly resort) – this hotel is only 10 minutes from the airport. It is one of the best family hotels I have been in. The grounds are spacious, modern and as the hotel only opened in 2018 everything feels fresh! Apart from how well looked after your kids will be, this hotel is fantastic for large families as their family suites hold 5 people plus an infant. There is also a partition within the room which provides privacy. Overall if you want a modern hotel that is fun and provides everything you need to entertain your kids this is the hotel for you. Hard Rock Hotel (BB/HB or All Inclusive plus) – I was excited and curious about staying at this hotel as I know both couples and families love it. This hotel is vibrant, funky not surprisingly music playing throughout the hotel and overall feels fun! It truly is perfect for both couples and families. There are two blocks and a beach club, the families tend to stay around the pool closer to the kids club which totally works. The facilities for kids are excellent for every age range and if you like a good selection of restaurants this hotel will not let you down! The Royal Hideaway Corales Beach (adult only) (BB or HB) – As I mentioned I love hotel rooms so this hotel was the highlight for me. It is an all suite hotel and we stayed in a junior suite with a panoramic view. All the rooms are sea facing however the higher floors have better views and the view at sunset was something quite special. This hotel is peaceful and overall I would say offers a positive wellbeing experience which is also located next to a golf course. The Royal Hideaway also have their Suites section (separate hotel) which is for families. It provides luxury accommodation and is perfect for large families or families who want modern space with hotel amenities. Many of the suites have private pools giving you complete privacy yet within a a hotel resort. Iberostar Sabila (adult only) BB, HB or All Inclusive – I am a huge fan of the Iberostar group for many reasons so was excited to visit this hotel for a meal. I really liked the location as it offered amazing sunset views from their terrace and also direct access to the promenade for evening strolls. This hotel is newly refurbished so provides a modern and fresh choice with an upbeat vibe. The service was excellent and if you want to treat yourself I would suggest paying for the Star Prestige benefits! This is a brief overview of a few hotels however if you would like your holiday tailored, I would be delighted to assist! T – 07904918070 E – jen.crowe@travelcounsellors.com W - www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/jen.crowe

16 August 2019

This blog has been written by my lovely clients, Kathryn and Aidan who just returned from a 22-night trip exploring the west coast of America and then travelling along Route 66. Here are their top tips and highlights. It’s impossible to choose just one highlight, there were so many! For Aidan: • San Francisco- cycling the Golden Gate Bridge • Albuquerque- going up the Sandia Peak Tram and The International Balloon Museum • Oklahoma City- The National Memorial and Museum For Kathryn: • Alcatraz in San Francisco- what a place! Definitely worth a visit. • Watching the sunset over the Grand Canyon and flying over it the next morning, no pictures will ever do it justice. • Albuquerque Old Town- what a beautiful place with lots to see and do! What was a must see? • Alcatraz for both of us - you have to go there! For Aidan: • Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo • The Blue Whale of Catoosa near Tulsa • Tilt at 360 Chicago- although Kathryn wasn’t so sure on this one! For Kathryn: • The Grand Canyon • A show in Vegas- we saw Mystere by Cirque du Soleil and it was absolutely incredible. • Bricktown in Oklahoma City- what a cool little place! • The Gateway Arch in St Louis- the views are absolutely incredible! What would be a top tip that you discovered yourselves during the trip? • Pack light because you will buy a lot at all the outlets, we say this after travelling in a Ford Mustang with 3 suitcases- we had to buy a 4th! • We both got a Revolut Card- what a life saver! They can be used anywhere, and you can just add money to your account via the app when you need it! • Use Uber in the cities, it’s way cheaper than the local taxis and we found the drivers to be friendlier. And lastly what do you feel was the benefit of using my services? We knew we wanted to do the West Coast and Route 66 and didn’t even know where to start, that was the brief we gave Jen and she managed to pull together an amazing itinerary. We loved how flexible she was and that we could adapt the itinerary to suit us. Any questions we had she was able to answer, which immediately put our minds at ease. It was also great to have that feeling of a “safety net”, knowing that if anything went wrong while we were away, we had someone we could contact immediately. Jen kept in contact the whole trip and checked us in for our flights, telling us where we needed to be and when, this took a lot of the stress away for us! We will definitely be using her again! Kathryn and Aidan’s itinerary – San Francisco – Los Angeles – Las Vegas – Grand Canyon – Holbrook – Albuquerque – Amarillo – Oklahoma – Springfield – Saint Louis – Chicago. If you would like for details on this itinerary, I would love to hear from you! Tel – 07904918070 E – jen.crowe@travelcounsellors.com

11 June 2020

Weddings and honeymoons are my favourite holiday to plan. I always feel there is something special about working closely with couples to discover how we can create their dream wedding or honeymoon abroad. Two years ago at Café Vic Ryn (delicious as always!) my path crossed with a lady (Caroline) who knew she wanted to get married abroad, but needed help to find the right place. After a lot of chatting we both agreed Malta seemed the perfect place for their dream day. As it was 20 years since I visited Malta, I thought it was time to go back and explore where Caroline and Gary would tie the knot! Our local wedding coordinator showed me various venues, however once I saw Palazzo Falson I knew this was the place for Caroline and Gary’s big day! Fast forward to 2020 and Caroline and Gary are celebrating their 1st Wedding Anniversary next week. Caroline kindly agreed to share her experience of planning and getting married abroad, so hopefully this will provide some insight as to what you can expect. Why did you decide to have your wedding abroad? We wanted to get married abroad as we wanted a small intimate wedding with close family and friends, as well as combining our first overseas family holiday with our 2 children. We wanted to make it a special experience and have a relaxed stress free time in the lead up to our big day; and as we enjoy time away in the sun, we wanted to have that fun and relaxed feeling that you get on holiday. How did you settle on the venue/how did you know it was right for you? We had gone to Dubrovnik many years ago; and loved the old town feel with the high walls and narrow streets. We had always had that type of idea and place in mind for our wedding day. We didn’t want a beach / cliff location, but instead wanted to be in a place filled with history. Somewhere with beautiful architecture and those beautiful high walls and narrow streets…. and my word Mdina did not disappoint – it was everything we had hoped for and more. We wanted our ceremony to be in a small venue to suit our wedding party of 25 so again an intimate location to suit - The Palazzo Falson was perfect - a small open air courtyard with beautiful natural stone walls, naturally growing flowers everywhere and very authentic and traditional. We wanted a relaxed day, so being able to walk through Mdina’s narrow streets with our guests was really special. We were able to walk round to our restaurant where we spent the evening dining alfresco with beautiful food and wine, and fantastic hosts. How did you find the organising process dealing with everything in another country? The organising process was fairly easy guided by Jen and her in-market person who were a great help in advising us of our legal requirements. All in all, the process was pretty simple - and the paperwork was in English which helped! What tip would you have to anyone getting married abroad? Enjoy doing the research part and have an idea of the type of wedding day you would like, give Jen your brief, and then just enjoy the journey of getting ready to go away. As a bride I think I was fairly chilled (Jen not sure if you would agree?) Embrace the fact that you are getting married abroad and things might be different to how weddings are planned and organised at home - go with the flow of that and enjoy the different cultural experience of it. The Maltese were well versed in foreign weddings and were fantastic hosts to us and our guests. What did you feel was a benefit having me organise the flights/hotels/transfers for your group? We basically gave Jen our list of confirmed guests and their contact details and she did the rest. Some stayed a week and others stayed for a long weekend. Jen took care of the needs of all our group, managing it individually from start to finish. We had the comfort of knowing everyone was financially protected should anything unexpected arise for us and our guests. We didn’t need to worry about different requests from everyone, and knew they were in safe hands with Jen - which allowed us to concentrate on the wedding and our own plans. Jen dealt with our group separately from us so we didn’t need to worry if everyone was ok with their bookings. Did you and the group feel supported? Absolutely! Jen had every detail down to a fine tee with each party, and sorted check ins and itineraries. She also checked in with us all when we were in Malta to make sure everyone arrived ok and all arrangements were as planned. She was available throughout our entire 2 week stay and we felt if we needed to check anything at all, she was there at the end of the phone - which was a great relief and allowed us to relax and enjoy our time away. What was your highlight of getting married in Malta? Can I have several highlights?? We loved Mdina - it was genuinely the perfect location for our wedding day. It was so beautiful and we loved the architecture, history and romanticism of the place. Mum giving me away was so special. We loved the buzz of being away; and the holiday vibe for us and our guests being away in the sun and everyone enjoying a new experience together. Watching our daughters being a big part of our special day and the emotion and atmosphere was just magical. Finally, it was the relaxed and fun day that we had hoped for - spending it with our daughters and close family and friends…. a day we will never forget. Caroline and Gary’s daughters were so lucky to get to see Mum and Dad get married, here are their highlights – Olivia’s highlights are: 1) Getting 2 weeks off school 2) Being on holiday with my family and friends 3) Seeing mum and dad get married Lauren's highlights are when she doesn’t see her mum and dad kiss :) Such a special day for everyone! If you would like any advice or information about getting married abroad please feel free to get in touch, I am happy to help. T – 07904918070 E – jen.crowe@travelcounsellors.com W – travelcounsellors.co.uk/jen.crowe

29 January 2019

Why book a holiday with Jen Crowe Travel Counsellor? New clients often ask me how my services work? As my answer unravels and the client learns a bit more about me and Travel Counsellors, they are always delighted to find out that there is no separate fee for my time in sourcing their holiday. I decided to write this piece to share with everyone the benefits of booking with me, and also having the support of Travel Counsellors who are an award-winning global travel company of 25 years! What you should expect when booking with Jen Crowe Travel Counsellor. • Personal service from our initial contact until you return from holiday (and hopefully beyond). • Thorough holiday research and planning. • I liaise directly with your chosen accommodation to ensure specific needs are met – e.g. special occasions, accessible rooms, highlighting allergies, interconnecting rooms. • Arrange tours/meals/theatre visits in advance of travelling. • I will complete check in for all flights and issue boarding cards (if airline provides this facility) • Ensure your holiday tickets/vouchers are in order – this allows you to look forward to the holiday! • Provide support 24/7 with the assistance of our Duty Office. • Provide financial holiday protection – ATOL and the Travel Counsellors Trust. Getting to know you. Initially it is important for me to have a chat with you so I can get a clear picture of what is important to you and those travelling in your party. I know many people prefer to email these days, however I can learn so much more in a 10 minute phone call. Being able to speak to you results in me finding a better holiday to match your requirements, and budget much sooner rather than exchanging emails back and forth for days. I love to talk, and my wish is to be your travel agent for life - so it is my priority to connect with every client from the beginning. Getting to know me. At the age of 13 I went on my first foreign holiday to Turkey and very quickly fell in love with everything about travelling. The different smells, new scenery, learning about other cultures, meeting new people, tasting new foods and of course – sunshine! Then at the age of 17 I discovered I could arrange holidays for a living which was a dream come true! Travel was my first love and 26 years later I am lucky to love my job (and travelling) more than ever. You can read more about my work history on my webpage. My clients.... I am lucky to have such lovely clients, both old and new, who value my service and are exceptionally loyal. This loyalty is invaluable to my business and I appreciate everyone who comes to offer me the opportunity to assist with organising their holiday. To read some recent client reviews please visit my webpage. Travel Counsellors – with us its personal…… For me Travel Counsellors is the perfect company to operate my travel franchise with. Professional, financially secure and technically forward planning are among many of our strengths. However, the icing on the cake is the commitment demonstrated from every single staff member at head office to ensure my customer and their holiday experience is our number one priority. I have the support of 200+ staff in our head office (Manchester) and whilst I work alone, I have 1500+ fellow homeworkers who also offer support when needed. So, if service and holiday enjoyment is a priority to you, we will not disappoint! Weddings abroad, honeymoons and special occasion holidays. Special occasions holidays are my passion. I am sure you can tell that I love everything about travel however sharing the excitement in arranging these holidays is truly special for me. Whether it is your honeymoon, wedding abroad, birthday celebration or wedding anniversary I would love to help you! Financial Protection Travel Counsellors provide ATOL protection however we also have the Travel Counsellors Trust. This is an independent trust which protects both finances of our client and approved suppliers of Travel Counsellors. Where we travel…. Pretty much everywhere around the world. I have a natural love of tailoring holidays as I love researching and planning and a challenge. After 26 years I definitely love a challenge! Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, I hope to hear from you soon! Jen Crowe. E - jen.crowe@travelcounsellors.com T - 02892 528570

15 September 2020

I was lucky to assist Nicola and Jim find their perfect paradise honeymoon and Centara Ras Fushi Maldives was the icing on the cake for this happy couple. They agreed to share their honeymoon experience in this blog, and also their experience of dealing with me (thank you ??). So when Jim and I first started talking about our honeymoon we narrowed it down to a couple of destinations in the world. Both of us have travelled quite a bit and always sourced our own holidays however for our honeymoon we wanted someone to help guide us in our choice of destination but also to give us that added reassurance that booking online would not give us. A friend recommended Jen so we gave her a call and from the moment we spoke we knew that she was the person that would help us. We spoke quite a few times and emailed regarding options of destinations and Jen was very informative on things such as climate, accommodation standards, seasonal attraction, and her own personal travel experience. After a lot of searching and information gathering from Jen we decided our honeymoon destination would be Maldives. We didn’t think we could get to the Maldives within our budget but we did and what an amazing choice! Before we travelled Jen contacted our hotel and informed them of facts such as it was our honeymoon and a special trip. We met up with Jen so she could discuss all our travel documentation, including priority security clearance at Dublin airport and VIP lounge at the airport. Having all of this done for us made things super easy and seamless for travelling. All we needed to do was pack and go. She had also brought us little surprise treats for our trip which was a lovely touch. Jen is experienced and knowledgeable about destinations, she gives straight up advice on all aspects of your trip. She communicates constantly and always follows up with phone calls. This personal touch and knowledge is exactly what Jim and I needed. Not only is she a gem to deal with but she is super professional and attentive to all details. When we arrived at our destination we were treated so well for our stay and whilst a big credit goes to the resort and the staff I know that Jen had her part to play in our room being upgraded and the extra wee special touches that make a honeymoon extra special. The resort itself was immaculately clean, beautifully decorated with trees and flowers. Our highlight was our over the water villa, with a hot tub and privacy, perfect for honeymoon and couples. We were made to feel special every day, in fact on first arrival the manager of the resort drove us up to our villa which had welcome champagne and fine chocolates. Then each day after there was more champagne and chocolates complimentary for no apparent reason. That was so special. Our honeymoon was very special to us. We wanted a resort with adults only as we wanted to completely relax and didn’t want to see kiddy’s play about the pool as we felt bad enough leaving our own behind. The resort did offer activities and excursions if you wanted to do things and we chose to do a shark dive excursion which was special. We had the most amazing views from our villa and from all of the resort in fact. The water was beautiful and something like you would see in a magazine, definitely a resort of a lifetime. I got to feed and dive with sharks which was particularly special to me as sharks are my favourite. To be sitting in the water sipping cocktails whilst watching the sun go down with my new husband was so very special and I will treasure that forever. The staff were exceptional and so very friendly yet not interfering. It was definitely quality couple time and ideal for honeymooners. Next time when our kids are older I would stay longer for sure. We had 8 wonderful nights yet could easily have stayed longer. Definitely the trip of a lifetime we hoped for! I can’t wait to deal with Jen again for our next trip in life. What a pleasure to work with and we have already recommended her to friends who have honeymoons coming up. Nicola and Jim x