04 April 2023

I was lucky enough to join the S.S. Joie de Vivre in Paris for a mini cruise on the river Seine. Joie de Vivre means the “joy of living” and stepping onboard this luxurious ship you can see how it earned its name. The ship was extraordinary, elegant with handcrafted furniture, fine antiques, original artwork including a Picasso. I slept in a bed that cost $10,000! It was so comfortable I didn’t want to get up to explore Paris. On Uniworld Boutique cruises you have an excursion included at each port. In Paris we had a foodie’s walking tour where I got to sample the absolute best macaroons, beautiful chocolates, and many French pastries. We were also given a guide to the cheese and fish markets. Back onboard for dinner and drinks. We were offered a 4-course dinner with the most incredible lamb and paired with a delicious red wine. The range of cocktails on offer after dinner was vast, we picked our favourites and moved to the top deck to witness The Eiffel Tower sparking in the night. It was a really magical moment; Paris has a special place in my heart as it was where I was proposed to. We returned to the lower decks and to a live performance singing French and English. The dance floor began to fill and remained that way until the wee hours. Sailing by river means enjoying all the conveniences of a traditional cruise, along with all the benefits of inland travel. Stopping in multiple destinations on every trip, you get to visit bustling cities and hidden gem villages, only unpacking once. Even while onboard, you’ll be immersed in the local sights, with ever changing views right outside your window. River cruising is absolutely the best way to cruise, and the best and most luxurious river cruise is with Uniworld.

21 September 2022

New Zealand - I loved it so much I became a Kiwi! One of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever visited is New Zealand. In fact, I loved it so much I made it my home for over 7 years. I first travelled there in 1996, as part of a work trip. I was already an Australian travel specialist and I wanted to learn more about its neighbour. We landed in Christchurch on the South Island and I visited Dunedin, Queenstown, Wanaka, Milford Sounds and Nelson and the beauty of the country and friendliness of its people made a huge impression on me. Fast forward five years and, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, I was made redundant from the travel job I loved, so decided to go on an adventure to New Zealand. I planned to stay four months... and ended up living there for nearly eight years!! I had the time of my life. I went bungee jumping, snowboarding, zip-lining, white-water rafting, cave exploring, volcano climbing, whiskey tasting and completed many wonderful walks across the length and breadth of the North, South and Stewart Island. So if you need a genuine New Zealand travel specialist, look no further. How genuine am I? Genuine enough to become a New Zealand citizen, which I did in 2007. I can guide you on your self-drives, recommend out-of-the-way places which your average tourist doesn’t see and I can advise on air fares. Talking about New Zealand is one of my favourite subjects, so give me a call today!

06 October 2022

I was 22 when I first went to Australia. I had finished University and decided to take a year to explore the world before I got a job. I landed in Cairns and made my way down the east coast to Brisbane, then back up again to Kakadu, before I took a job fruit picking in Kununurra, Western Australia. I then travelled down the middle of the continent, through Uluru (Ayers Rock) and on to Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. I got a job in Sydney so that I could travel back up again to Byron Bay and Fraser Island and across to Tasmania. I totally fell in love with Australia and, on returning to the UK, got my first job in travel to ensure that I would be able to go back there! I have now been many times, although my trips have been upgraded from my backpacker days, and I’ve managed to stay in some beautiful hotels and have some incredible experiences. Australia is rich in culture, has incredible beaches, stunning national parks, and some iconic sights. The cities are multi-cultural and modern, while the Outback remains an untouched wilderness. Whether you are visiting Australia for a once-in-a-lifetime trip or catching up with friends and family, I can make your experience a memorable one, filled to the brim with adventure. Contact me today on Claire.MacInnes@TravelCounsellors.com

19 October 2022

One of my most memorable trips was visiting the gorillas in Rwanda, which I did as part of an overland trip with Dragoman. We had to hike for four hours into the mountains, but it was more than worth it. We even saw one of the remaining gorillas from Dian Fossey’s famous study. We also saw the only twin gorillas in existence at that time. It was truly a magical experience watching the youngsters running around, as curious about us as we were about them. Then to see the power of the silverback, not only his size and strength, but the respect he has among the group. As soon as he appeared they all scattered! I learnt lots of top tips for meeting gorillas. The most important is not to use direct eye contact, as they see this as an act of asserting dominance and a challenge to them. You should instead slowly crouch down and make yourself small. The gorillas seemed particularly interested in one member of our group and wanted to touch her hair. She was very brave, but the gorilla was very gentle. Don’t worry if you are not up to the 8-hour round-trip hike - you can see the mountain gorillas without any climbing. In fact, they have been known to come right out of the mountains to the edge of the villages. There are settlements just an easy half-hour walk from the base in Kinigi. To find out more about overland trips in Africa or even trekking with the gorillas contact me today. Claire.MacInnes@TravelCounsellors.com

05 October 2021

I was lucky enough to honeymoon in the beautiful Amalfi Coast. We flew into Naples where I had the best pizza I’ve ever eaten and stayed one night. We then picked up our hire car, the stunning Fiat Barchetta and drove to Sorrento. Driving in Italy is not for the fainthearted, we saw a lot of chaotic driving, and banged up cars and vespas and that’s before we got to the road of a thousand bends! Having the car did give us the extra flexibility to get around the area with ease and in style. My new husband was a very confident driver even with the twists, turns and tunnels of the Amalfi Coast. If you, aren’t I can organise private transfers from Naples. The hotels provide shuttles that will drop you off and pick you up from the various villages. Taxis are easy to come by so there isn’t any difficulty getting around. The Amalfi Coast is a collection of lots of different towns and villages, each of which has its own unique character. We stayed in Sorrento, which is famous for its lemon groves and being the birthplace of Limoncello, if you haven’t tried it you can’t fail to here as it is offered free with most meals. We drove to Positano which was gorgeous, this is where you will see the colourful houses staggered on terraced cliffs. As the roads wind you get amazing views from the cliff tops or even better from the sea. We took a day trip to Capri. I wish we had longer here as it was a stunning island. I would recommend a visit the Blue Grotto, there are lots of boat trips that can be booked on arrival. For the best views take the chairlift up to Mount Solaro. I was surprised at how much we enjoyed visiting Pompei. It was much larger than we first thought and needed more time, so we went back for a 2nd day of exploring. Italy is one of those destinations that has a bit of everything – rich history, world-beating gastronomy, honeymoon romance and plenty of Mediterranean sunshine to relax in.

26 June 2021

Locals love to brag that Antigua is home to 365 beaches. That's a beach for every day of the year! A beach! Every day! Whilst I cannot confirm if there are indeed that many, the three different resorts I stayed at had the most amazing beaches: Carlise Bay, Blue Waters and Gally Bay. What is not open to debate is that a holiday in Antigua will provide pure relaxation and (what we ALL need) a change of scenery. Life is slow there, but the tourist infrastructure is well established with hotels, bars and restaurants to suit everyone's expectations. The island is large enough to have a variety of places to go but small enough to get around it in one day. When planning your trip make sure that you have the weekend there as Sunday night is when to visit Shirley Heights. If you have seen a sunset picture from Antigua, chances are that it was taken from Shirley Heights. It's 487ft above the English Harbour and really does offer breathtaking Instagram moments. Also on Sundays, you can emerse yourself in some of the local entertainment. We saw a steel drum group and a reggae band. The bar is touristy, but there were some locals and after a few rum punches we were making new friends. If you can, try to visit during the first two weeks of August, as this is carnival time. I would highly recommend taking one of the many boat trips around the island. You can sail round the whole of Antigua in just half a day. It's amazing to get out on the water and look back at the beautiful coastline. The largest town on the island is St John’s, with its period architecture, coloured buildings, mad graffiti and gentle reggae vibes. On Saturday mornings there is a Heritage Market selling fresh fruit, where you'll see Antigua’s famous tiny pineapples, custard apples, green oranges, and massive avocados. There is also a smaller craft market attached to the main market where you can find locally made arts and crafts perfect for gifts or holiday keepsakes. If good seafood is your obsession, then you are in for a treat as there is no shortage. I had herring for breakfast, coconut shrimp for lunch and grilled butterfish with conch fritters for dinner. BBQs are also hugely popular. Don't miss the Caribbean spiced chicken, curried goat, yams, plantain, rice and beans. If you dare, you should definitely sample Susie’s Hot Sauce, which comes in various spice levels. Maybe don’t start with the one named Teardrops...! Direct flights from the UK on British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.