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Our Travel Counsellor, Liz Standley, arranged a fantastic 18 day Vietnam tour for us, taking in Siem Reap (Cambodia) and Bangkok. The trip was so well planned and seamless because Liz had done such a great job, which allowed us to be relaxed knowing that everything was in hand. The local representatives and guides that she had chosen in each location were excellent, and the tour covered everything that we’d briefed her to include- and more! We will certainly not be using anyone else for our next trip like this. Top marks!

Date of experience : April 19, 2024

NYC Adventure

Our holiday in New York was brilliant! From start to finish our Travel Counsellor Jemma Kelly made sure everything was just right - flights, hotel, recommendations for restaurants. After our Virgin Atlantic flights (on time, comfortable) we made our way to Manhattan using the Airtrain & Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) - cheap & easy to use. A 10 minute walk to our hotel, Arlo Midtown, followed - check in was a breeze and we were given an up-graded city view room which had the biggest bed we’d ever seen! Comfy bed, powerful shower. Breakfast was a treat, great choice & huge portions. Would definitely recommend Travel Counsellors and especially Jemma!

Date of experience : May 29, 2024

Caribbean Cruise with Miami stay

Jemma Kelly recently organised our 6 night Caribbean Cruise with Celebrity, including flights, with 3 night post cruise stay in Miami. The service from Jemma from initial enquiry and throughout was excellent. Jemma listened, was responsive, anticipated our needs. Everything was taken care of and arranged and the quality of the recommendations (cruise package, hotels etc was excellent). Jemma even checked in with us while we were away and supported us through a flight cancellation on the way back. We have already booked our next trip with Jemma :-)

Date of experience : May 25, 2024

Best holiday ever!

I’m just home from my best holiday ever that was organised by Travel Counsellor Gillian Murray. I had my heart set on a trip that Gillian had never worked with before, but you would never know. Every single step of the way, our Sail Croatia cruise around the Croatian islands was just exactly what I wanted. Enough busy. Enough chilling. Enough opportunity. The crew were fabulous, the food was fabulous, but the highlight of my holiday, the swim stops were fabulous. It was comforting to compare notes with fellow travellers and every time feel like we’d got the best organised holiday. Gillian looked after us every step of the way and we will definitely be calling on Gillian for our next holiday.

Date of experience : May 18, 2024

Great Service

Our Travel Counsellor Gemma Pauley always goes above and beyond to ensure we have the best holidays! Just back from our latest trip to Cyprus and we were so impressed with our hotel that Gemma found for us. She always knows just what we want which shows she takes time to get to know her clients. Wouldn't ever book a trip without Gemma

Date of experience : June 10, 2024

Suzi Glossy was incredibly helpful with…

Suzi Glossy was incredibly helpful with us booking our holiday. She went above and beyond to find the right holiday for us at the best price and times etc. I would highly recommend her to help you find what you’re looking for.

Date of experience : May 27, 2024

Our angel Travel Counsellor Claire Jackson was a joy to work with and her hard work, and meticulous foresight ensured that our dream holiday of a lifetime was exactly that!

The help that our Travel Counsellor Claire Jackson gave us was amazing. No stone left unturned and all the pre work on our booking ensured that our trip was highly memorable, stress free and extremely enjoyable.

Date of experience : May 14, 2024

Travel Counsellors and Lisa Pollock were Amazing

What an Amazing Varied Holiday arranged by Lisa Pollock and Travel Counsellors. The Travel included Cambodia, Japan, China and finished in Greece. This was quite a complex holiday and together with another couple we wished to make our 60th birthday memorable - which Lisa certainly did. It was a very varied holiday including 11 flights - upgrading when financially viable - early morning arrivals were met with the foresight to book the hotel the previous evening so that we could have an immediate check in. The hotels were all centrally located and the standard of our tours unprecedented. Travel Counsellors were excellent, however our agent Lisa was in the premiere league - she really was outstanding

Date of experience : April 14, 2024

Joanne Webster recently organised our…

Joanne Webster recently organised our summer holiday to Rhodes. I've used her before and she is always super helpful, prompt and knowledgeable. Nothing is too much trouble and our holiday went so smoothly. I would recommend anyone to contact her for all their holiday/travel needs. She is AMAZING !

Date of experience : June 01, 2024

Karen Thornton has listened to our wishes . She has been efficient and professional, during the whole process. We are thrilled to have found her and will happily recommend her to family and freinds.

Date of experience : June 02, 2024

The perfect birthday break!

A huge thank you Claire Jackson who planned such a brilliant holiday and was on hand every step of the way (even when we wanted to add people to the booking at short notice). Claire was extremely personable and listened to exactly what I wanted from the break! I can’t thank Claire enough!

Date of experience : June 12, 2024

I would highly recommend you to choose Sandra Killick

I would highly recommend you to choose Sandra when booking your next holiday. Sandra created a bespoke trip for my mum and me for a once in a lifetime experience. She understood our needs to put together the perfect package. Sandra was there to support before we travelled, keeping us fully updated and was also in contact whilst we were away. This included keeping us updated of local events that may impact our trip and Sandra went above and beyond to support us whilst we were away.

Date of experience : May 09, 2024

First time user and fantastic experience

Jane Sheffield helped us through every step of our holiday experience from shaping our initial ideas into a manageable itinerary to checking us in on the journey home! This was the first time we have used anyone to help with our travel arrangements and I would thoroughly recommend the experience. Nothing was too much trouble and there was even a card and chocolates in our hotel room to congratulate us on our anniversary. Such a lovley touch. it was reassuring to know that Jane was just a phone call away and I would certainly use Travel Counsellors for any future travel plans.

Date of experience : May 24, 2024

Jen organised the perfect honeymoon for us. After our consultation she knew exactly what we wanted. Out honeymoon was a good mix of relaxation and adventure. We stayed in two parts of the island and got to experience a lot that Mauritius has to offer. About half way through our honeymoon, I got sick and ended up in the clinic. Jen couldn't have been any more helpful. She was in contact every day wondering if there was anything she could do. We will definitely be organising trips in the future with Jen. The whole trip was hassle free and we never had to think about checking in for flights etc as she had all of this covered.

Date of experience : April 09, 2024

Angela Visciano introduced us to Majorca

Angela Visciano introduced us to new places to go for our family holiday. She had lots of patients with us as my husband, I and 11 year old daughter all had different agendas. I would recommend Angela every time, her wealth of knowledge of the world is second to none and takes the stress out of booking a holiday.

Date of experience : May 06, 2024

We have just returned from a trip…San Francisco to the Grand Canyon

We have just returned from a trip travelling through California. The trip was arranged through Michelle Wilson at Travel Councillors, the trip was well organised with excellent accommodation from start to finish. All of the stops were in ideal locations and obviously well thought out to cater for our needs . It was our friends 65th birthday and it was a holiday he will never forget. Special thanks to Michelle Wilson who was always available for questions and guided us all through the planning stage successfully and the holiday itself is something all 4 of us will never forget. This is the 4th holiday Michelle as arranged for us and everyone has been exceptional, I would recommend Travel Counsellors through Michelle Wilson to plan your dream holiday.

Date of experience : May 15, 2024

Perfect family holiday

I was recommended to use Liz Rees to help us organise a family holiday for 8. Liz found us a great deal and was so helpful throughout the whole process including checking us in and sending me the boarding cards. Unfortunately my 18 month old became unwell on the holiday and we had to extend our stay, we went through our insurance but also gave Liz a call who got in touch with the holiday providers and made a stressful situation as easy as possible. I highly recommend using Liz for a wonderful service

Gemma is brilliant!

We booked our dream honeymoon in South Africa and Mauritius through Gemma Pauley, and the whole process was smooth and excellent! Gemma was available at any time via email or WhatsApp to answer any questions, even when she was on holiday herself! Our trip was perfect and the booking process and user friendly app couldn’t have been easier. Thoroughly recommend using travel counsellors and especially Gemma! Thanks Gemma!

Date of experience : May 13, 2024

I was recommended to use Michaela…

I was recommended to use Michaela through a friend. I have to say it was the best booking experience we have ever had (and we have tried a few!). Communication was excellent throughout, regular calls and emails to keep us up to date. When the BA flights would not load onto the App it was no issue at all and Michaela put the tickets on a PDF and sent them to us. Once we were in Barcelona we received calls checking all was ok and a lovely bottle of wine waiting in the room. The icing on the cake came when before we knew what was going on Michaela messaged to say there was a taxi strike in Barcelona on the day we were leaving and the transfer to the airport would not be able to meet us outside the hotel. Michaela sent new meeting details, the number of the car and drivers name. What could have been a nightmare was all sorted without any fuss. First class service taking all the hassle out of the trip, I would not hesitate in booking again with Michaela.

Date of experience : May 31, 2024

Sani Dunes Karen Thornton …

We have just returned from an amazing trip to Sani Dunes. Karen Thornton arranged the complete trip for us. Yet again, she was amazing. Will always use Karen for future trips as I feel completely secure with her if anything goes wrong. She is on the phone 24/7

Date of experience : June 08, 2024

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Based in York

Alison Marden

• Customer stories

It's Nice To Meet You

Hi, my name is Alison and I live in of York with my husband Russell and our dog Harvey!

I am passionate about travel and thrilled to be working as a Travel Counsellor. With 22 years of experience in the industry, I still get excited about all my customers’ travel plans, whether it be a family holiday, UK or short break, ski holiday, cruise, luxury/bespoke tailor-made or long haul holidays including weddings/honeymoons and Small Group Adventure Holidays. I just love making dreams come true.

I eat, drink and sleep travel and have been lucky enough to see and experience different countries throughout Europe as well as Florida, New York, Jamaica, Mexico and the Indian Ocean including Mauritius and the Maldives. My passion is Italy, especially Tuscany, I have visited it many times.

As a Travel Counsellor I understand that it's not always convenient for everyone to discuss their travel requirements during the normal working week. Using state of the art technology I am able to work flexible hours from my home office, which means I can be contacted at a time which suits you, including evenings and weekends.

Whatever your holiday needs, I can arrange everything for you down to the smallest details. Leave all the research to me and I will find the best deal for that perfect holiday, saving you time, energy and money. My time is dedicated to you through every single process of your holiday.

Your holiday is as important to me as it is to you. Along with Travel Counsellors financial protection, I promise you will receive 100% honest and impartial advice. I will listen to your needs and use this information to create your perfect holiday.

Thank you for taking the time to read my details and I look forward to hearing from you. Whatever your enquiry, great or small, I am happy to help.

No need to wait, turn your dreams into reality!

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:

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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.

28 October 2021

I have just returned from a fabulous week sailing on the river in the Douro Valley with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises with my husband Russell It was a 2 hour flight from Stansted direct into Porto Airport with Ryanair, other Regional airports are available and although we live in the North of England the flight timings worked better for us. Getting through passport control and collecting luggage was fast and efficient and we were met in arrivals by our private transfer representative, who drove us to the Port of Gaia and we were met at the ship, the beautiful Sao Gabriel, by the lovely Miriam. Due to Covid protocols regarding cleaning, we couldn’t board and check-in until 3pm, so were taken to a hotel opposite where we could freshen up and secure our hand luggage. Matias the Cruise Manager greeted us at the hotel and gave us details of local restaurants and attractions of Gaia that we could experience whilst we were waiting and we’re so pleased we had that time, Gaia is fabulous with its tapas restaurants, museums, port tastings and cable car. I would go back here to spend more time exploring. Having met the cruise manager back at the hotel, he escorted us onto the Ship to check-in and we were greeted with cooling towels and a refreshing drink. We booked a Deluxe cabin on the lower deck with a small window as it suited our budget, it was compact, but suited us as for us it was just our place to sleep and shower, but that’s not to say next time I would love to try and different category. Every single detail was catered for, with high end products in the shower room, a state-of-the-art entertainment system with English TV, movies and free internet. Afternoon Tea was served as we arrived with my absolute favourite thing “Pastel De Nata” (Portuguese custard tart). We relaxed on the top deck before getting ready for our Welcome Cocktail with safety briefing and Port Talk with the Cruise Manager. Matias ran through our itinerary and inclusive excursions for the week, so we could decide which ones we wanted to do, but alongside this you receive a Daily Programme in your Cabin every evening, detailing the day, Our Itinerary consisted of Porto, Entres-os-Rios, Pinhao, Vega de Terron, Barca d’Alva, Peso da Regua, Gaia We stayed overnight in Gaia as our first Excursion was a walking tour of Porto the following morning, before setting sail in the afternoon. Porto is a vibrant town with colourful townhouses and unmistakable landmarks, like the 19th Century Stock Exchange Palace with the famous Moorish Arabian room. The ship only sails during the day and docks in the evenings. Everyone got up early this following morning to sit on deck to watch us going through the deepest lock in Europe, Carrapatelo Dam, 115ft deep. Arriving into Entres-os-Rios we took a short walk to the Douro Museum for a signature lecture on the “Magical Douro Valley” and learnt about the unique geology and wine making history, which was fun and informative as well as tasting wine at 10.30 in the morning ??. A beautiful, air-conditioned coach drove us to lunch at Qunita da Pacheca, a family owned wine estate, known for its Old Tawny Port, where we had a tour of the vineyard and saw where they still crush the grapes with their feet! After an amazing 3 course lunch with wine and a 40 year old Port we were taken back to the ship. Day 4 we had a scenic sailing this morning with a commentary from Matias, it was fabulous sitting on our loungers on the top deck in the sunshine, whilst we were told about all the port and wine houses along the Douro River. After our lunch we went on one of the two excursions on offer to Castelo Rodrigo, a beautiful scenic drive took us to this enchanting village on a hill, where we got to taste local almonds, almond liquor and wine, what not to like?? Our 5th day was an exciting one as we were leaving Portugal for the day and taking an excursion to Salamanca, we were driven again in a very comfortable coach approx.1.45mins to the city where we received second breakfast in a gorgeous local hotel before taking our tour. We got plenty of free time too to explore on our own and do some shopping if we wished as well as sampling some local Spanish tapas and Sangria. After dinner we were treated to a Flamenco Show in the Vintage Bar. Another Morning scenic sailing on Day 6 with a cooking demonstration of “Pastel de Nata” by the pastry chef Liliana, with tasting samples along the way ??. Arriving into Pinhao in the afternoon, there was a choice of 2 excursions to either the Sandeman wine Estate or a Vineyard and wine tasting at the Quinto do Roeda which is known for its vintage ports. Day 7 we sailed back to Gaia, it was a bit overcast today and a bit chilly to sit on the deck, but the lounges on board have floor to ceiling windows so you can watch the world go by quite happily and chat with fellow passengers. Russell and I went on the Guimaraes City tour this afternoon. Guimaraes was the home to the First King of Portugal, we had a wonderful guided walk through the well-preserved old town with its unique architecture and charming little plazas, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. After a farewell cocktail party we were early to bed as we had a 4am transfer back to the airport. The tours cater for all passengers with differing levels of abilities, so you could go on a hiking or cycling tour if you were up for it. We loved the fact that we could do as much or as little as we wanted to do. The small heated pool on the top deck was fabulous, or just sit in the lounge and relax, read a book and chat to the crew and other passengers I can honestly say this won’t be my last river cruise it’s a perfect way to relax whist on holiday. Every day there is a yoga or stretch class in the morning and every evening cocktail hour whilst listening to the wonderful Matias about the following days Port of call and excursions available. With the cruise being all inclusive, including a 24hr self-service coffee area, 24 hour bar if you so wish, all alcoholic beverages, wine and soft drinks and the amazing trips on offer, it’s a very cost effective way to see so much and only unpacking once. I can highly recommend that you consider this trip with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises as it has been the most memorable trip that we will remember forever and we can’t thank the crew enough, who were all truly magnificent, for making this the most special of holidays.

22 September 2017

Travel is in my blood and I am so passionate about it, so I consider myself so luck that I do a job that I love. Much to my joy, I was rewarded with a place on an educational trip to the stunning island of Mauritius with 8 other colleagues! We flew from Heathrow with Air Mauritius who looked after us really well with an upgrade to business class and we arrived to the most wonderful welcome, the warmth and friendliness of the local people became apparent straight away. We arrived at our first hotel, the beautiful Constance Belle Mare Plage. The rooms here were stunning, with plenty of space, and a lovely bathroom that opened into the bedroom, and I had a lovely view out over the pool area to the beach. We had a very busy schedule over the 3 night stay which included wine tasting, a cookery class, a mixology lesson, Golf Lesson (luckily for the guests we stayed on the driving range, we weren't quite up to the standard to be let loose on either of the two 18 hole championship courses) and I can definitely say I won’t be taking up golf any time soon. Finally we enjoyed a relaxing spa treatment. Being wined and dined in some of the seven restaurants was a culinary experience, each with a different theme and the food was just amazing, my favourite was the Blue Penny Cellar Restaurant. During our stay here we took a boat trip with "One Love" this was so much fun, we did some snorkelling, saw wild monkeys, a beautiful waterfall and had the most delicious BBQ on the beach, whilst being entertained by our guitar playing barman and our lovely guide Iris singing to us. It was then time to check out of this stunning hotel and head off on to the next, on the way there we visited the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden and saw the giant Tortoises and the magnificent lily ponds. Iris our guide from Connections then took us to an authentic Creole Retaurant located in a tropical garden in Moka, wow, the food was incredible. In the afternoon we stopped off in Port Louis where we visited the Fort and the Fruit and Veg Market, before doing a little retail therapy, bartering with the local shop owners for a bargain, such fun. Then we arrived at Luxurious Le Prince Maurice, again to a wonderful welcome and was totally blown away by this hotel, the view from the reception took my breath away. My room was spectacular so luxurious, I couldn't quite believe I had this huge space to myself, the bathroom alone was bigger than most hotel rooms. The special touches that this hotel offer really do make this a 5* luxury resort, from having your sunglasses cleaned, and a power pack brought to you by the pool, to a little bottle of alcohol free bubbly in the family suites for the kids on arrival! They really do cover everything. Again we ate in a few of the restaurants and again the food was outstanding, my favourite here was the floating restaurant. The pastry class we took part in got pretty messy and funny, but the Chef was so patient with us and we got to eat our efforts too. One of the highlights of this hotel is the Wine Cellar, the biggest in the Indian Ocean, we had another wine tasting and got to see a bottle of wine valued at $12,000! Another amazing massage in the hotel spa, rounded up the trip. Although this was my second trip to Mauritius I fell in love with it all over again and will go back and with my husband this time. It truly is a beautiful, magical place and the people are so genuinely warm and friendly. Thank you to my colleagues and new friends that joined me on this remarkable trip, you were all amazing and I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity to meet you all. I also want to give huge thanks to Emma from Constance for hosting this trip and looking after us all so well, you were fantastic. So thank you Emma and thank you Constance Hotels, and Mauritius - I hope to see you soon!

08 August 2016

Tuscany is amazing and one of my favourite places. We stay in a friend’s cottage (Ca'de Boni) which is a home from home and yet has access to the lively village community of Pergo with bars and restaurants and is close to the historic town of Cortona. The area is really well connected with good roads and trains and within an hour you have access to the very best of Tuscany sightseeing: Cortona, Siena, Arrezzo, Trasimeno, Montepulciano. Florence (1 hour) and Rome (1.5 hours) can be reached by train. Nearby LAGO TRASIMENO is the fourth largest lake in Italy and it takes only 20 minutes by car: door to beach. The best swimming spot is Castiglione del Lago, where you can take a picnic under the many shady spots under the trees. It is also possible to take boat trips on the lake to the very pretty Isola Maggiore. There are lovely walks around the lake and some good fish restaurants for a leisurely lunch. Cortona has changed dramatically over the years and is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. It overflows with galleries, historic churches and the world famous Etruscan Museum. Cortona is the place to go searching for treasures like art, pottery, jewellery, shoes, leather bags, designer label clothing but also unique hand crafted clothes - individually tailored. Montepulciano is a renowned wine area and there are plenty of vineyards to tour and cellars where you can taste the wines. Camucia is the next village along from Pergo that has a market every Thursday morning and is a must visit. We purchase all our fresh veg and fish for our BBQ’s which is such good value and super fresh. My husband’s favourite thing to buy is ‘Porchetta’ from several vendors at the market and is very popular with the locals too. Getting around is so easy and the scenery is stunning, we could go back year after year!

21 February 2015

Being chosen for an educational is an honour and I was really excited to be going to Dubai with MSC Cruises as this would be my first time in the UAE. We arrived very early morning into Dubai and were transferred to the Moevenpick Bur Dubai Hotel for a rest before inspecting the hotel later on that day, followed by a gorgeous lunch. This is a great hotel and would be ideal for a pre or post stay in Dubai due to its close proximity to the port and airport. After lunch we explored the Jumeirah Beach Residence and visited the Ritz Carlton Hotel, which is situated in the heart of the Dubai Marina District with superlative shopping, dining and beaches all within easy reach. A stroll along 'The Walk' took us to the JA Ocean View Hotel with its magnificent sea views and modern interior. So feeling tired, but excited we then made our way to Port to embark on the MSC Orchestra to start our journey around the UAE. We arrived in Abu Dhabi the following morning and enjoyed a visit to Ferrari World, the largest indoor & first Ferrari Theme Park in the world, with the fastest roller coaster in the world and I was brave enough to go on it. Day 2 was at sea which gave the chance to relax by the pools and then later have a ship inspection. The Orchestra accommodates 2550 guests and is a beautiful ship with the MSC signature Italian style and is suitable for all types of cruisers. Everything from the food to the staff were amazing! Day 3 arrived in Khor Al Fakkan and explored the small town around the port, but an excursion would be the best option at this port to experience life in Abu Dhabi. Day 4 Muscat renowned as one of the worlds greatest ports since ancient Rome. An open top hop on, hop off bus was the experience this day and it was a great way to see Muscat with its bustling souq, Grand Mosque and Sultan's palace. I loved it here and would have loved to spent longer visiting the sites. Day 5 Khasab, Oman - a Dhow cruise took us on the scenic and tranquil Fiord, observing the coastal villages. Seeing the dolphins swim alongside us was again another great experience as was swimming in the pristine fiord at Telegraph Island. Day 6 after disembarking the Orchestra in Dubai we were taken to the Atlantis on the Palm and after exploring what this large hotel has to offer, including their Lost Chambers Aquarium and Dolphin Bay, we had a few hours in their Aquaventure waterpark to enjoy all the rides and lazy river. This is an amazing hotel on the Palm with so much to offer its customers, all I can say is WOW! Later that evening after another fabulous hosted meal at The Manzil Downtown Dubai some free time was had to explore the largest shopping mall in the world and see the famous Dubai Fountains (this is a must when visiting Dubai) Day 7 another action packed day in Dubai with a guided CityTour taking in the Marina, a photo stop by Burj Al-Arab hotel, on Jumeirah Beach. We took in views of the white marble dome and minarets of Jumeirah Mosque and had a Tour of the old quarter of Dubai, Bastakiya, also a water-taxi ride across Dubai Creek and visited the exciting Spice Souq and shop for bargains. That afternoon for our last night, we were picked up from our Hotel to end our day with a 4x4 Jeep Safari in the Desert, another must excursion. After Quad biking, Sand boarding and a camel ride we watched the sun set whilst sipping champagne - a truly memorable experience. I loved my first visit to Dubai and it certainly won't be my last.

02 June 2015

I've just returned from a fabulous 4 nights in New York. This was my second visit the first being 10 years ago and it was as I remembered it. I stayed at the Warwick Hotel on 65 West 54th Street a good central location, the rooms are a very generous size. The best way to explore and enjoy is either by foot (a good comfortable pair of shoes is needed) or by the Hop on, Hop Off buses that can be pre booked before you go and they have human guides on all the bus routes who give you a bit history about the city. It is definitely like being in a movie set and quite often there is some kind of filming taking place. There is so much so see and do, to name a few, I loved Top of the Rock, the views are amazing, we went up to see the sunset and we were not disappointed. A must is to go on the Staten Island Ferry across to Ellis Island and around the Statue of Liberty. Brunch at Sarabeth's opposite Central Park a good place to Celebrity watch! I have so much more I could share, but if this is a place you would like to go, just get in touch I am happy to share my knowledge about this great City.

03 June 2015

I just love Italy and one day would love to have a holiday home there. I've mostly travelled around Tuscany, but for a change we went to Sorrento for 2 weeks, to see the places we've always wanted to see like Pompeii, Capri, Ravello, Positano, Amalfi and Herculaneum. We stayed at a fabulous boutique hotel the Mar Alimuri in Meta just 6km from the centre of Sorrento, which wasn't a problem getting to as the hotel provided a courtesy bus to get you there. From the harbour we got a ferry across to Capri, which is so pretty, although very busy, here you can shop in the designer boutiques, or sit and people watch at a pavement café sipping an Apperol (Italian cocktail) or jump in an open top stretch cab and tour around the island. The Italian public transport is efficient, cheap and easy to use, a train from Meta took us straight to Pompeii, which is truly amazing and the local SITA bus took us along the Amalfi coast road where you could hop on or off at your favourite spots, its not for the faint hearted as the road is twisty, but it's a great way of seeing the coast line along the way.

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Sent by Helen Appleby

York 17/07/2014

Sent by Julie Bradley

York 15/04/2014

Hertfordshire 17/03/2014

York 10/03/2014

Sent by Sally Gordon

Lincoln 10/03/2014

Sent by Graham Butcher

York 03/03/2014

Sent by Rebecca Cussans

York 27/10/2013

£6,429

£8,219

£4,115

£4,949

• Netherlands
• South Africa
• United Kingdom

Handpicked, unmissable holiday deals

With our eye for value and quality, and access to thousands of travel suppliers around the world, we unearth the best luxury holiday deals around. You can find our latest gems below. If none of these travel offers catch your eye, don’t worry. Just ask your own Travel Counsellor to take the hassle away by tailoring a perfectly personalised holiday just for you.

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• Netherlands
• South Africa
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom

A New York & Jamaica Adventure

From €3,350 per person

Begin your stay in the Big Apple with a three night stay in the perfectly located New York Hilton Midtown, situated in the heart of midtown opposite the Museum of Modern Art. Visit some of New York’s iconic landmarks such as Central Park, Times Square and Rockefeller Centre, take a trip on the Staten Island Ferry to catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty and experience one of the popular productions on Broadway. Jet off to Jamaica for seven nights where you will stay in Secrets St James hotel located in Montego Bay. Cool down with a dip in the pool, unwind in one of the three outdoor hot tubs or just relax with a massage and Gold & Go facial treatment at the PEVONIA Spa. If you are looking for adventure, the resort offers a range of recreational activities from bicycle tours to wind surfing, scuba diving to deep sea fishing there will be something to suit all tastes. Be entertained with performances that happen throughout the day in the resort. Experience concert projections under the stars, live musical performances, theme nights and beach parties

What’s Included?

• Private car transfer: Pickup at JFK International Airport, New York to New York Hilton Midtown • 3 nights in New York Hilton Midtown: Urban One Bed (Bed Type Double) (Room Only) • Private car transfer: Pickup at New York Hilton Midtown to JFK International Airport • Economy Flights from JFK International Airport to Sangster International Airport, Jamaica • Private car transfer: Pickup at Sangster International Airport to Secrets St James Montego Bay • 7 nights in Secrets St James Montego Bay: Garden View King (all – inclusive) • Private car transfer: Pickup at Secrets St James Montego Bay to Sangster International Airport

Terms and Conditions

Subject to availability. Prices are based on 2 adults sharing. Flight departs Dublin on Saturday 14 September 2024. All flights included. Price is correct at the time of posting (24 April 2024). Offers are subject to change.

The Small Print

These offers are brought to you by Travel Counsellors (Ireland) Ltd, Travel Counsellors acts as agent for suppliers. The suppliers' terms and conditions apply to any booking, and they are available upon request. The offers and prices contained in this email are subject to availability and can be withdrawn or amended at any time without notice to you. Prices and information correct at time of distribution. E & O E. Travel Counsellors is Licensed and Bonded with the Irish Aviation Authority. Travel Agent Licence no. 621. Travel Counsellors (Ireland) Ltd., is registered in Ireland – 396139.

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Travel Counsellors

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No 1 Old Park Lane

Trafford City

Manchester M41 7HA

United Kingdom

About the Business

Travel Counsellors is a global travel business with over 1,500 personal Travel Counsellors all connected in a unique network. It's because of this that our experts can provide you with the very best personalised, hassle-free advice on any travel arrangements, anywhere in the world. …

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Reviews 4.9.

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Our Travel Counsellor, Liz Standley, arranged a fantastic 18 day Vietnam tour for us, taking in Siem Reap (Cambodia) and Bangkok. The trip was so well planned and seamless because Liz had done such a great job, which allowed us to be relaxed knowing that everything was in hand. The local representatives and guides that she had chosen in each location were excellent, and the tour covered everything that we’d briefed her to include- and more! We will certainly not be using anyone else for our next trip like this. Top marks!

Date of experience : 19 April 2024

NYC Adventure

Our holiday in New York was brilliant! From start to finish our Travel Counsellor Jemma Kelly made sure everything was just right - flights, hotel, recommendations for restaurants. After our Virgin Atlantic flights (on time, comfortable) we made our way to Manhattan using the Airtrain & Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) - cheap & easy to use. A 10 minute walk to our hotel, Arlo Midtown, followed - check in was a breeze and we were given an up-graded city view room which had the biggest bed we’d ever seen! Comfy bed, powerful shower. Breakfast was a treat, great choice & huge portions. Would definitely recommend Travel Counsellors and especially Jemma!

Date of experience : 29 May 2024

Caribbean Cruise with Miami stay

Jemma Kelly recently organised our 6 night Caribbean Cruise with Celebrity, including flights, with 3 night post cruise stay in Miami. The service from Jemma from initial enquiry and throughout was excellent. Jemma listened, was responsive, anticipated our needs. Everything was taken care of and arranged and the quality of the recommendations (cruise package, hotels etc was excellent). Jemma even checked in with us while we were away and supported us through a flight cancellation on the way back. We have already booked our next trip with Jemma :-)

Date of experience : 25 May 2024

Best holiday ever!

I’m just home from my best holiday ever that was organised by Travel Counsellor Gillian Murray. I had my heart set on a trip that Gillian had never worked with before, but you would never know. Every single step of the way, our Sail Croatia cruise around the Croatian islands was just exactly what I wanted. Enough busy. Enough chilling. Enough opportunity. The crew were fabulous, the food was fabulous, but the highlight of my holiday, the swim stops were fabulous. It was comforting to compare notes with fellow travellers and every time feel like we’d got the best organised holiday. Gillian looked after us every step of the way and we will definitely be calling on Gillian for our next holiday.

Date of experience : 18 May 2024

Great Service

Our Travel Counsellor Gemma Pauley always goes above and beyond to ensure we have the best holidays! Just back from our latest trip to Cyprus and we were so impressed with our hotel that Gemma found for us. She always knows just what we want which shows she takes time to get to know her clients. Wouldn't ever book a trip without Gemma

Date of experience : 10 June 2024

Suzi Glossy was incredibly helpful with…

Suzi Glossy was incredibly helpful with us booking our holiday. She went above and beyond to find the right holiday for us at the best price and times etc. I would highly recommend her to help you find what you’re looking for.

Date of experience : 27 May 2024

Our angel Travel Counsellor Claire Jackson was a joy to work with and her hard work, and meticulous foresight ensured that our dream holiday of a lifetime was exactly that!

The help that our Travel Counsellor Claire Jackson gave us was amazing. No stone left unturned and all the pre work on our booking ensured that our trip was highly memorable, stress free and extremely enjoyable.

Date of experience : 14 May 2024

Travel Counsellors and Lisa Pollock were Amazing

What an Amazing Varied Holiday arranged by Lisa Pollock and Travel Counsellors. The Travel included Cambodia, Japan, China and finished in Greece. This was quite a complex holiday and together with another couple we wished to make our 60th birthday memorable - which Lisa certainly did. It was a very varied holiday including 11 flights - upgrading when financially viable - early morning arrivals were met with the foresight to book the hotel the previous evening so that we could have an immediate check in. The hotels were all centrally located and the standard of our tours unprecedented. Travel Counsellors were excellent, however our agent Lisa was in the premiere league - she really was outstanding

Date of experience : 14 April 2024

Joanne Webster recently organised our…

Joanne Webster recently organised our summer holiday to Rhodes. I've used her before and she is always super helpful, prompt and knowledgeable. Nothing is too much trouble and our holiday went so smoothly. I would recommend anyone to contact her for all their holiday/travel needs. She is AMAZING !

Date of experience : 01 June 2024

Karen Thornton has listened to our wishes . She has been efficient and professional, during the whole process. We are thrilled to have found her and will happily recommend her to family and freinds.

Date of experience : 02 June 2024

The perfect birthday break!

A huge thank you Claire Jackson who planned such a brilliant holiday and was on hand every step of the way (even when we wanted to add people to the booking at short notice). Claire was extremely personable and listened to exactly what I wanted from the break! I can’t thank Claire enough!

Date of experience : 12 June 2024

I would highly recommend you to choose Sandra Killick

I would highly recommend you to choose Sandra when booking your next holiday. Sandra created a bespoke trip for my mum and me for a once in a lifetime experience. She understood our needs to put together the perfect package. Sandra was there to support before we travelled, keeping us fully updated and was also in contact whilst we were away. This included keeping us updated of local events that may impact our trip and Sandra went above and beyond to support us whilst we were away.

Date of experience : 09 May 2024

First time user and fantastic experience

Jane Sheffield helped us through every step of our holiday experience from shaping our initial ideas into a manageable itinerary to checking us in on the journey home! This was the first time we have used anyone to help with our travel arrangements and I would thoroughly recommend the experience. Nothing was too much trouble and there was even a card and chocolates in our hotel room to congratulate us on our anniversary. Such a lovley touch. it was reassuring to know that Jane was just a phone call away and I would certainly use Travel Counsellors for any future travel plans.

Date of experience : 24 May 2024

Jen organised the perfect honeymoon for us. After our consultation she knew exactly what we wanted. Out honeymoon was a good mix of relaxation and adventure. We stayed in two parts of the island and got to experience a lot that Mauritius has to offer. About half way through our honeymoon, I got sick and ended up in the clinic. Jen couldn't have been any more helpful. She was in contact every day wondering if there was anything she could do. We will definitely be organising trips in the future with Jen. The whole trip was hassle free and we never had to think about checking in for flights etc as she had all of this covered.

Date of experience : 09 April 2024

Angela Visciano introduced us to Majorca

Angela Visciano introduced us to new places to go for our family holiday. She had lots of patients with us as my husband, I and 11 year old daughter all had different agendas. I would recommend Angela every time, her wealth of knowledge of the world is second to none and takes the stress out of booking a holiday.

Date of experience : 06 May 2024

We have just returned from a trip…San Francisco to the Grand Canyon

We have just returned from a trip travelling through California. The trip was arranged through Michelle Wilson at Travel Councillors, the trip was well organised with excellent accommodation from start to finish. All of the stops were in ideal locations and obviously well thought out to cater for our needs . It was our friends 65th birthday and it was a holiday he will never forget. Special thanks to Michelle Wilson who was always available for questions and guided us all through the planning stage successfully and the holiday itself is something all 4 of us will never forget. This is the 4th holiday Michelle as arranged for us and everyone has been exceptional, I would recommend Travel Counsellors through Michelle Wilson to plan your dream holiday.

Date of experience : 15 May 2024

Perfect family holiday

I was recommended to use Liz Rees to help us organise a family holiday for 8. Liz found us a great deal and was so helpful throughout the whole process including checking us in and sending me the boarding cards. Unfortunately my 18 month old became unwell on the holiday and we had to extend our stay, we went through our insurance but also gave Liz a call who got in touch with the holiday providers and made a stressful situation as easy as possible. I highly recommend using Liz for a wonderful service

Gemma is brilliant!

We booked our dream honeymoon in South Africa and Mauritius through Gemma Pauley, and the whole process was smooth and excellent! Gemma was available at any time via email or WhatsApp to answer any questions, even when she was on holiday herself! Our trip was perfect and the booking process and user friendly app couldn’t have been easier. Thoroughly recommend using travel counsellors and especially Gemma! Thanks Gemma!

Date of experience : 13 May 2024

I was recommended to use Michaela…

I was recommended to use Michaela through a friend. I have to say it was the best booking experience we have ever had (and we have tried a few!). Communication was excellent throughout, regular calls and emails to keep us up to date. When the BA flights would not load onto the App it was no issue at all and Michaela put the tickets on a PDF and sent them to us. Once we were in Barcelona we received calls checking all was ok and a lovely bottle of wine waiting in the room. The icing on the cake came when before we knew what was going on Michaela messaged to say there was a taxi strike in Barcelona on the day we were leaving and the transfer to the airport would not be able to meet us outside the hotel. Michaela sent new meeting details, the number of the car and drivers name. What could have been a nightmare was all sorted without any fuss. First class service taking all the hassle out of the trip, I would not hesitate in booking again with Michaela.

Date of experience : 31 May 2024

Sani Dunes Karen Thornton …

We have just returned from an amazing trip to Sani Dunes. Karen Thornton arranged the complete trip for us. Yet again, she was amazing. Will always use Karen for future trips as I feel completely secure with her if anything goes wrong. She is on the phone 24/7

Date of experience : 08 June 2024

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Travel Counsellors Blog

Do you want to learn what it’s like to be a Travel Counsellor? With the latest news, exciting case studies, and personal experiences from our dedicated team of Travel Counsellors, you can see what a career with us looks like from the inside.

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To mark Pride Month and Father's Day this coming weekend, our Internal Communications Manager, Graham Bernier, shares his heart-warming adoption story.

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In the last of our ‘Meet the Franchise Sales team’ blog series, we caught up with Director, Matt, to find out what he loves about the work he and his team does to bring new franchisees into our community. 

Your earning potential as a Travel Counsellor

Whether you’re new to selling travel or have years of experience, with a combination of hard work and our wraparound support, the sky is the limit.

Pride Month: How George goes above and beyond for his LGBTQ+ customers

Meet Travel Counsellor, George Triggs, and find out how his experience of exploring the world as a gay man has allowed him to plan unforgettable trips that ensure his customers always feel safe, welcome, and happy – whatever their background.

Pride Month: How Matt helps his customers to ‘Travel with Pride’

Matt is empowering his customers to explore the world with their individual needs well and truly catered for. Find out why he’s so passionate about LGBTQ+ travel and discover why to him, being a Travel Counsellor “doesn’t feel like a job”.

Travel Counsellors sail into the world of cruising at the CLIA Annual Conference

Last week, a group of franchisees headed to Southampton for the cruise event of the year. Discover what they got up to throughout the action-packed long weekend. 

Is it time to change your life?

Whether you’re fed up with the same old routine, or aren’t feeling truly fulfilled in your current role, Travel Counsellors can offer you the opportunity to completely transform your life for the better. Find out how.

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Some of our best-performing business owners have been treated to celebrations in the Algarve and Sri Lanka over the past few weeks. Find out what they got up to.

Supporting the wellbeing of our franchisees

When you become a Travel Counsellor, you're not just joining a thriving travel business – you're becoming part of a compassionate community that genuinely cares about your wellbeing. Learn more about the support we offer.

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The Best Upstate New York Day Trips From NYC

By Laura Ratliff

Upstate New York's Hudson and Beacon , Montauk at the tip of Long Island—you’ve heard those names before. And while they’re all perfectly lovely New York City day trips or getaways, there’s a whole host of new hotels, restaurants, and things to do and see outside the five boroughs well beyond those highly trafficked hotspots. Here, we’ve rounded up four incredible upstate New York getaways that should go on your calendar this summer.

Hotel Lilien in Tannersville is home to Nat's Mountain House, a rollicking upstate iteration of a classic New York City institution.

The 18-room hotel is set in an 1890s estate formerly known as the Washington Irving Inn and has held fast to that stained-glass, wood-paneled identity.

For the foodie: The greater Hudson Valley

New York City’s pantry sits about two hours north of the city in the Hudson Valley. While it seems like every trendy chef, recipe developer, and writer decamped for the region during the pandemic, the mass exodus has unsurprisingly turned it into one of the best food-fueled parts of the state to explore.

Skip Catskill and Hudson and head just a hair west, where about two hours north of the city, a chain of small towns you’ve almost definitely never heard of have become playgrounds for top New York City chefs.

Check into Hotel Lilien in Tannersville (population: 579), where an 1890s estate formerly known as the Washington Irving Inn has been transformed into an 18-room getaway with a few modern updates. Hotel Lilien has held fast to its stained-glass and wood paneling while adding lighter, more modern updates—think Carrara marble, Brooklinen bed furnishings, and Mies van der Rohe lounge chairs.

Breakfast is included with your stay, and you’ll want to make sure you stay on-site for at least one dinner: Hotel Lilien is home to Nat’s Mountain House , the rollicking upstate iteration of Natalie Freihon’s Nat’s on Bank and Nat’s on Bleecker. Freihon, who was behind Orchard Street’s legendary Fat Radisha bastion of Lower Manhattan cool for yearsbrings her quirky talent to Hotel Lilien in the form of fondue laced with apples and pork belly croutons, pakora-fried radishes, and cocktails like Nat’s G&T, which is what you’d expect with the piquant addition of celery and olive bitters.

Spend time on the property perusing the library, hanging out by the fire pit or pool, or wandering the eight-acre grounds, but don’t miss some of the other culinary heavyweights who have made their presence in the community known: Day June Luncheonette in nearby Windham opened last summer, at the hands of Fabián von Hauske Valtierra and Jeremiah Stone, the Lower East Side chefs behind natural wine bar Wildair and the late Contra, and serves low-key fare like country fried steak and gravy with beef from nearby Highland Hollow, a nearby farm.

Von Hauske Valtierra and Stone are further expanding their upstate presence this month with the opening of Matilda , a more “formal” restaurant in new hotel The Henson. It’s also next door to the duo’s Paracasa , a small grocery and market, in case your home larder could use some Hudson Valley culinary flair.

If you don’t have or don’t want to rent a car, a two-hour Amtrak trip to Hudson, followed by a quick taxi (ideally pre-booked; this isn’t exactly an area rife with Uber or Lyft), will get you where you need to go.

Troutbeck is an estate hotel with 250 acres of nature and amenities that could be mistaken for a vast, comfortable, and sleek country home.

For the art lover: Amenia

If you’re looking for art outside of the city, you’ve probably been to Storm King or Wave Hill or, maybe if you’re extra adventurous, Mass MoCA—but you probably haven’t been to Wassaic.

On the other side of the Hudson River lies the Wassaic Project , an artist-run, non-profit gallery and residence center in the tiny eponymous hamlet. This year’s summer exhibition, Tall Shadows in Short Order , shows work from 30 artists, focusing on massive, site-specific installations spread through Maxon Mills, a seven-story former grain mill where Wassaic Project hosts its contemporary exhibitions. The exhibition is open on weekends through September, but it's one of just many events that the group hosts; throughout the summer there’s an annual benefit, themed late-night dance parties, and open artists’ studios will also fill your calendar.

By Caitlin Gunther

By Caitlin Morton

By Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

By Madison Flager

Stay at nearby Troutbeck , a 250-acre estate hotel reminiscent of your favorite rich auntie’s country house if she had Malin + Goetz toiletries and Frette linens. Regular Manor House rooms are perfect for a night or two, but even if you’re not taking up residence at the hotel, you can enjoy a leisurely lunch of steelhead trout with brassicas and black garlic or garganelli pasta with Veritas Farms’ lamb ragu and ramps before strolling the grounds. Guests also have access to The Barns, a massive wellness complex with a 1,250-square-foot fitness studio, a gym, treatment rooms, changing rooms, and saunas; a newly-renovated pool; and two U.S.-Open surfaced hard tennis courts, among other things.)

Troutbeck’s natural setting makes it tough to leave, but it’s also just a few miles from the Sharon Audubon Center . Situated along the Atlantic Flyway, one of North America’s major paths for migratory birds, it’s home to more than 1,100 acres of woodland with 11 miles of trail, a pollinator garden, and a raptor aviary with live birds of prey.

End your day with a drive-in movie at Amenia’s Four Bros. Drive-In , which touts itself as the newest drive-in theater in America. Movies change weekly here, but Thursdays are a favorite, where Four Bros. often does a triple showing with a classic in the mix.

A 20th-century boarding house perched above Kenoza Lake is now the 22-room Kenoza Hall hotel, an excellent home base for outdoor adventuring.

For the outdoorsman: Sullivan Catskills

The Catskills range is a broad-reaching section of New York State, with part of the district stretching almost all the way down to Pennsylvania’s northeast corner. This more remote region, the Sullivan Catskills, is a paradise for outdoors lovers: the hiking here is some of the best in the Northeast, and the fly-fishing, in particular, is among the best in the world thanks to the assortment of waterways like the Beaver Kill, Willowemoc Creek, and the East Branch of the Delaware River. (Humble Roscoe, New York, proudly wears its badge as Trout Town USA.)

Even if you’re not an angler, the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum in Livingston Manor will enamor you with the poeticism of the sportearly mornings on misty rivers, the shimmering scales of a rainbow trout, hand-crafted bamboo rods, and dry flies meticulously tied with feathers and fur.

Stay at Kenoza Hall , a pandemic product of Foster Supply Hospitality, that transformed a sprawling 20th-century boarding house into a 22-room hotel with excellent views of the expansive grounds and nearby Kenoza Lake. At the end of the day, you can soak your weary bones in a massive tub (all rooms have them) before dining at the on-site restaurant, which has a menu of retro Old World classics: gnocchi Parisienne, filet Rossini, and duck confit.

After hiking the grounds or the Willowemoc Wild Forest, a massage may be in orderand counter to the rough-and-ready nature of a few of its peers, Kenoza Hall has you covered. The onsite spa Hemlock Spa offers body treatments and massages inspired by Sebastian Kneipp, an early promoter of holistic living. The Kneipp Neuromuscular Massage combines deep-tissue therapy with arnica gel for a soothing, tension-relieving treatment that will melt away the soreness from that last cast or rock scramble. (Also, don’t skip the Kneipp walking path—it may sound a bit “woo-woo,” but walking barefoot over things like rocks, moss, grass, and pinecones is surprisingly therapeutic.)

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame gives a behind-the-scenes look at the on-track action that powers Saratoga.

For the socialite: Saratoga

You’ve heard the Carly Simon lyric: “Well, I hear you went up to Saratoga, and your horse naturally won.” Well, 52 years after its release, Saratoga is cooler than ever, with a bevy of hotels, restaurants, and things to do.

Summer in Saratoga is all about the horses, and you’re going to stay as close to them as you can without sleeping on the track. At the Brentwood Hotel , a shedrow-style barn immediately adjacent to the famed track was reinvented as a cozy 12-room hotel. In fact, on early summer mornings, you’ll be awakened by the clip-clop of prized thoroughbred hooves making their way out to their morning workouts. Rooms here are on the small side but incredibly comfortable, and the on-site bar, Farrier, serves biodynamic wines, excellent cocktails, and local beer and cider that can be enjoyed at the outdoor firepit.

Snag one of the hotel’s loaner bikes and make the seven-minute cruise downtown, where Broadway is lined with endless boutiques (some horse-themed, natch), cafes, and restaurants, including Seneca , whose outdoor patio is the perfect spot to wile away a summer evening after a day at the track; high-rollers can go for a prime New York strip served with foie gras-studded mac and cheese and roasted garlic butter. Then, grab a nightcap at Hamlet & Ghost , a buzzy bar where a reservation is a must, especially during the race meet. It’s worth the effort in order to get your hands on a Health & Wealth: a surprisingly earthy blend of olive oil-washed vodka and lemon aperitif with blackberry and pineapple.

While on-track action can quickly fill your days here, it’s worth knowing what goes into the thousands of pounds (and dollars) of horseflesh. The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame gives an in-depth look into the sport of kings, from a racehorse’s first humble steps on Kentucky bluegrass to—hopefully—the pinnacle of the sport. Interactive exhibitions, like the chance to “call” a race and walk through a true-to-size starting gate, all sweeten the experience at this unique museum.

Saratoga is easy to get to from the city, with Amtrak taking just under four hours. You’ll want your own car if you decide to venture out of town-proper to Saratoga Lake or up to Queensbury, but otherwise, biking or rideshare are both easy options here.

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