Rachael Waller | Blog
Travel Stories,
Tips & Inspiration
From destination guides to planning advice, here's where I share the places, experiences and ideas that inspire the trips I design.
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Why Work With Me
Personal Travel Concierge: What It Means to Be Looked After Properly
No call centres. No handovers. No starting from scratch every time you get in touch. Just one person who knows your trip inside out.
Sea and River Journeys
How to Find the Best River Cruise Lines for Your Travel Style
Not all river cruise lines are the same. Here's how to match the right line, river, and trip to you.
Mountain Escapes
Mountain Holidays Aren't Just for Skiers: Here's What You're Missing
Wellness retreats, snowy villages, hiking, and Christmas markets - mountain holidays without skiing are some of the best trips I book.
Two-Part Escapes
Two Centre Holidays: How to Pair Adventure with Real Relaxation
Most people come back from holiday needing a holiday. Here's why splitting your trip in two often works better than asking one destination to do it all.
Tailor-Made Travel
Cruises from Newcastle
Everything worth knowing before you book a cruise from Newcastle: the cruise lines that call here, what to expect, and where you could go.
Tailor-Made Travel
New York and Boston Multi Centre Holidays
A trip that balances the electric scale of a global metropolis with the refined, walkable charm of one of America's most historic cities.
Tailor-Made Travel
Wine Tasting Italy: Truffles, Wine and Just 8 Guests in the Heart of Romagna
Wine tasting Italy style looks completely different when you step away from Tuscany. Most travellers rarely stumble upon Emilia-Romagna.
Tailor-Made Travel
Belize Holidays: The Ultimate Guide to Planning an Extraordinary Trip
Belize holidays sit on a lot of wishlists, and it's easy to see why. A country the size of Wales with twice the adventure.
Tailor-Made Travel
Corsica and Sardinia: The Perfect Twin-Island Holiday
Most people choose one. Corsica or Sardinia. But the two islands sit just twelve kilometres apart, and together they make something special.
Tailor-Made Travel
Beautiful Holidays in Lake Bled and Ljubljana
The planning guide for people who want to get it right. How long to stay, what order to do it in, and how to get between them.
Tailor-Made Travel
First European River Cruise: The Complete Guide for UK Travellers
You've been looking at river cruise brochures. Maybe for a while. Here's everything you need to know before you book.
Tailor-Made Travel
Where to Stay in Lake Como: The Honest Guide
You've seen the Instagram photos. George Clooney's villa. Pastel houses tumbling into impossibly blue water. None of those photos mention what it's really like.
Tailor-Made Travel
Twin Centre Holidays with New York: 6 Unexpected USA Pairings
America surprises you with how different it can feel within a few hours of itself. Six pairings worth doing properly.
Holidays
Which of These 4 Types of Holidays Suits You?
You've been scrolling through holiday photos for months. Here's how to cut through the noise and find the kind of trip that's right for you.
Tailor-Made Travel
Family Holiday to Japan: A Beautiful First Adventure with Children
There is something about Japan that stays with you, even before you go. The contrast of old and new, the food, the kindness of the people.
Tailor-Made Travel
Greek Island Hopping Holidays: Find the Islands That Make Your Heart Lift
The colours, the light, the food, the pace. Whether you are a first-timer or a returning visitor, there's always another island to discover.
Tailor-Made Travel
Indian Ocean Cruises: A Beautiful Choice for Island Travel
Indian Ocean cruises offer one of the easiest and most elegant ways to explore this part of the world.
Tailor-Made Travel
Magical Zagreb Christmas Market: The City That Turns Into an Advent Calendar
Zagreb might not be the first place you think of for Christmas, but it should be.
Tailor-Made Travel
What to Do in Iceland: Unforgettable Adventures and Hidden Escapes
Northern lights, glaciers, hot springs, and volcanoes - Iceland rewards visitors who know where to go and when. plates and swim in geothermal springs.
Tailor-Made Travel
The Peabody Memphis and Its Famous Ducks
Every so often, a hotel has a personality so strong it becomes part of the destination. The Peabody Memphis is exactly that kind of hotel.
Adventure
Alaska Cruise and Rocky Mountaineer: A Journey of Two Worlds
An Alaska cruise combined with the Rocky Mountaineer train is one of the great back-to-back journeys - glaciers, wilderness, and stunning mountain scenery.ocky Mountaineer and you have something extraordinary.
Holidays
New England in the Fall: The Ultimate Guide to Seeing It at Its Best
A Vermont hillside blazing orange and red, a covered bridge over a rushing stream - this is New England in autumn.
Holidays
Autism Friendly Holidays That Actually Work: Your Complete Guide
Planning a holiday when you have a neurodivergent child involves a different kind of research. These destinations get it right.
Adventure
Best Time for Whale Watching in Iceland
Iceland is one of the world's best places for whale watching - humpbacks, minkes, and dolphins, with northern lights possible on evening sailings.vel that lingers long after you get home.
Adventure
Costa Rica Cruises: The Complete Guide to Wildlife, Cruise Lines and Pre and Post Stays
Costa Rica cruises bring you close to wildlife you can't reach on land - humpback whales, sea turtles, macaws, and pristine coastal national parks.s drip with wildlife right to the water's edge.
Rainforests & Rare Wildlife
Holidays to Costa Rica: Your Complete Guide
If you are dreaming of a holiday to Costa Rica, you are probably picturing lush rainforests, exotic wildlife, and endless adventure. You'd be right.
Rainforests & Rare Wildlife
Costa Rica Wildlife Holiday: Nature at Its Most Alive
Costa Rica holds around 5% of the world's biodiversity in a country you can drive across in a day. A wildlife lover's dream.
Rainforests & Rare Wildlife
Costa Rica Family Holidays That Go Beyond the Ordinary
Costa Rica isn't just a destination for families. It's a chance to spark wonder, learning, and connection in children of all ages.
Tailor-Made Travel
Holidays to Cambodia: A Journey That Goes Beyond the Guidebook
Cambodia offers a rich blend of ancient temples, vibrant street food, warm hospitality, and landscapes that genuinely take your breath away.
Christmas
How Christmas Cruises from Southampton Make the Season Truly Special
A Christmas cruise from Southampton is the easiest way to escape December - warm weather, festive decorations, and someone else doing all the cooking.not alone. Here's a better option.
All Inclusive Holidays
Which IKOS Resort Is Best? The Ultimate Guide to Effortless Luxury
IKOS consistently delivers some of the best luxury all-inclusive holidays in Europe. Here's how to choose the right one for you.
Two Part Escapes
Two Centre Holidays Porto and Lisbon: The Ultimate 7 Day Guide
Two of Europe's most captivating cities in one week - here's how to do it properly and make both feel unhurried.
Two Part Escapes
Glass Igloo and Ice Hotel Holidays in Finnish Lapland
If you've ever dreamed of watching the Northern Lights from the warmth of your bed, Finnish Lapland is exactly where to go.
Two Part Escapes
Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar: Wild Adventures & Blissful Beaches
Tanzania safari and Zanzibar: spot the Big Five on the Serengeti, then unwind on white-sand beaches with crystal-clear Indian Ocean water.wow - this combination delivers.
Travel Destinations
Luxury Villas Ibiza: Le Collectionist with a Personal Touch
Ibiza has an energy that's hard to put into words. Here's how to experience it properly, with a villa that feels like it's yours alone.
Christmas
Christmas Ski Holidays: Where Winter Magic Comes to Life
Snow, mountain villages, and skiing at Christmas - how to plan a festive ski holiday that feels genuinely magical rather than just cold and busy.
Two Part Escapes
Why Twin Centre Holidays Make Perfect Sense
Many people return from holidays feeling like they need another one to recover. Twin centre trips are the antidote to that.
UK Travel
Holiday Cottages with Direct Beach Access: Start Here
Holiday cottages with direct beach access - wake up to the sea, walk straight onto the sand, and leave the world behind. There's something undeniably special about it.
Two Part Escapes
River Nile Cruise & Stay: The Ultimate Way to Explore Ancient Egypt
Drifting past golden temples, walking through ancient tombs - a Nile cruise is one of those trips that changes how you see the world.
Holidays
Black Sea Cruises: Culture, Calm, and Fewer Crowds
Black Sea cruises visit some of Europe's most underrated cities - Odessa, Istanbul, Constanta - without the crowds of the Med.wds you'd find elsewhere in Europe.
Holidays
Cape Town Safari: Big Five Encounters and River Valley Magic
Cape Town paired with a Big Five safari - wildlife, wine country, dramatic coastline, and a malaria-free bush experience in the Eastern Cape.h a safari and you have something truly exceptional.
Travel Planning
Still Wondering if Travel Agents Are Worth It? Here's the Truth
With so many booking sites at our fingertips, it's no surprise people ask: do we really still need a travel agent? Here's my honest answer.
Travel Tips
13 Quick Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Prep
Getting ready for a holiday can feel overwhelming, especially when life's busy. These 13 tips make the whole process a lot calmer.
Travel Destinations
Top 10 Unique Holiday Destinations Worth Travelling For
Looking for somewhere that feels a little different from the usual big-name hotspots? These ten destinations are worth the extra thought.
Holidays
The Ultimate Guide to Ranch Holidays USA
Ranch holidays in the USA: horseback riding through Montana or Wyoming, cowboy culture, open skies, and a complete escape from everyday life.nd. But it probably should be.
UK Travel
No Fly Cruises from the UK: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Yours
No fly cruises from the UK are one of the most searched holiday types in Britain right now - and with good reason.
Mountain Escapes
Christmas Markets Milan and The Swiss Alps: A Magical Festive Escape
Combine the sparkle of Milan's Christmas markets with a Bernina Express rail journey through the Alps to glamorous St Moritz - a four-day festive escape like no other.
Sea and River Journeys
5 Rocky Mountaineer & Alaska Cruise Packages: Premium to Expedition
From Holland America and Celebrity to Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, and Lindblad - five ways to combine the Rocky Mountaineer train with an Alaska cruise, each offering something entirely different.
Tailor-Made Holidays
9 American Ranch Holidays: Dude Ranches, Resort Ranches & Working Ranches
From family-friendly dude ranches in Arizona to Forbes Five-Star luxury in Montana - nine handpicked American ranch holidays to suit every style, pace, and appetite for adventure.
Mountain Escapes
8 of Europe's Best Mountain Top Retreats: Austria to Scotland
Eight of Europe's most inspiring mountain retreats - from Badrutt's Palace in St Moritz and Aman Le Mélézin in Courchevel to a handbuilt Norwegian lodge above the fjords and a Victorian Highland estate.
Sea and River Journeys
Discover the Art of Expedition Cruising: Polar, Islands & Wild Coastlines
Expedition cruising takes you to places no large ship can reach - penguin colonies in Antarctica, giant tortoises in the Galápagos, saltwater crocodiles in the Kimberley. Here is everything you need to know.
Sea and River Journeys
Exceptional River Cruises Around the World: Europe, Asia, Africa & Beyond
From the Rhine and Danube to the Mekong, Nile, Amazon, and Chobe - river cruising brings you right to the heart of every destination. Here is why it feels so effortless, and where you can go.
Two-Part Escapes
Holidays to Nashville, Memphis & New Orleans: 3 Ways to Experience the American South
Nashville, Memphis, and New Orleans each beat with their own rhythm. Three ways to experience all three - an expert-guided group journey, a classic self-drive road trip, or a relaxed fly-and-explore itinerary.
Tailor-Made Holidays
Luxury Cuba Holidays: 2 Unforgettable Itineraries for Discerning Travellers
From vintage cars in Havana and tobacco farms in Viñales to the cobbled streets of Trinidad and barefoot luxury on Cayo Santa María - two ways to experience Cuba in genuine style.
Mountain Escapes
Luxury Ski Breaks Zell am See: The Best Hotels for an Alpine Escape
Zell am See sits beside a frozen lake with snow-covered peaks on every side - and its two finest hotels deliver five-star skiing and spa luxury with direct access to 400km of pistes.
Sea and River Journeys
Luxury Small Ship Cruises: Intimate Voyages to Exclusive Shores
With just 100–750 guests on board, luxury small ship cruises reach ports no large vessel can access - from hidden Greek coves and Norwegian fjords to the South Pacific and remote Asian coastlines.
Tailor-Made Holidays
Mauritius All Inclusive Holidays: 8 Dream Beachcomber Resorts
Eight exceptional Mauritius all-inclusive resorts - from the five-star Royal Palm with its extraordinary staff-to-guest ratio to eco-certified Trou aux Biches, romantic Dinarobin, and the lively Mauricia on Grand Baie.