Based in Swords

Ellen Warren

It's Nice To Meet You

My biggest passion is travel and how amazing it is that I am able to do what I love most as my job.

My name is Ellen, born and raised in The Netherlands and now living in beautiful Ireland. After studying Tourism I worked for many years in 5 star hotels where I learned how to take care of our discerning guests in the best way possible. But travel was my passion and I decided to make it my business too when I joined Travel Counsellors, initially in the Netherlands.

Being part of a global company meant that when I decided to move to Ireland permanently, I could continue doing what I love most and still take care of my clients in both countries. As I have grown my business here, I have had the pleasure of looking after the travel arrangements of some high-profile Irish customers both for dream honeymoons and unique holidays, and now I’m ready to do the same for you.

I’m based in Swords as a Travel Counsellors and we’ve just put down roots in Bettystown, Co. Meath. And as I’m not restricted to 9-5 it means we can chat about your holiday plans whenever suits you best. Most importantly for me is that the experience from start till finish is personal and special, I will try to get to know you and I’m sure I can make all your dream holidays come true.

I travel myself as much as possible, obviously because I love it, but also to be able to advise my clients even better. From safaris in South Africa and Botswana to backpacking in South East Asia, many road trips in the USA, relaxing in the Seychelles, discovering Caribbean islands like Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Saint Martin and Curacao. I’ve also spent lots of time on city trips in Europe, there are so many beautiful destinations only a few hours away and of course I’ve enjoyed many summer holidays in Mallorca, The Canaries, Italy, France and many more places. Last this year I was one of the lucky Travel Counsellors who went to Brazil to discover this amazing country. My first introduction to South America was amazing and can't wait to see many more countries in that beautiful part of the world.

Something I’m really passionate about is accessible travel. So what is accessible travel? It is making travel accessible to everyone everywhere. So as always when I meet someone or talk to them on the phone, my first question is “where do you want to go”, and I will make that happen.

I look forward to meeting you and helping you with your travel plans. I’m here for any type of holiday, far away or nearby, a city trip or your dream honeymoon, road trip, tailor made holidays, luxurious or standard, business travel, cruises, group travel, winter and summer holidays, or getting married abroad is one of the many options I can help you with. Everything is possible and I’m here for you with personal and friendly advice. Please do not hesitate to contact me, it will be my pleasure to help you.

“Travel is the only thing you can buy, that makes you richer”.

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Contact Me

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

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My Videos

Nice to meet you!

10/20/2020

This is a short video to introduce myself and to tell you a bit more about what I can do for you. Contact me for more info.

Stunning Seychelles

10/15/2020

The Seychelles, one of the most stunning places I have ever been. Check out my video about this gorgeous destination.

Beyond the Horizon

9/30/2020

As travel arrangements continue to change, we’re looking ahead to start making plans to get excited about. Let me guide you.

Lovely Lanzarote

1/8/2018

Check out my trip to Lanzarote, Canary Islands.

My Blog

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

Beautiful Brazil

21 March 2019

Brazil was on my bucket list for a long time and recently I was lucky to be able to discover three regions of this huge country in South America during a work trip. After a short stopover in Lisbon we were on our way to Rio de Janeiro! Rio airport is huge, but incredibly efficient. We were out of the airport in no time and within 30 minutes of leaving the plane on the way to the city. We arrived in the evening and our hotel was right on the Copacabana; where else in Rio would you want to stay?! With a welcome cocktail on the rooftop terrace with swimming pool and amazing views of the Copacabana, we were welcomed by the hotel manager. It was pretty late, but there was still plenty of people on the famous beach, of course mainly playing football. And it was also busy again at 5 in the morning. Because of the jet lag I got up early and Rio was also awake. From the hotel we had a view of the beach as well as a view of the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain, which we also went to visit after breakfast. We went up with a ski lift and the views of the city are truly breath-taking. And there he was for the first time this journey, high on a mountain on the other side we saw the most famous statue of Brazil, the Christ the Redeemer statue. Wow, goose bumps the first time I saw it. After Sugar Loaf Mountain it was time for lunch in a real Brazilian BBQ restaurant, a so-called Churrascaria. This is not just a BBQ restaurant; the meat is prepared fresh for you and it's the best meat there is. The meat is served at the table in various ways and a piece is cut in front of your nose. It is like having a little party at your table and incredibly tasty. With our bellies full it was time for something else that makes my heart beat faster, carnival! Rio and the rest of the country have a world-famous carnival tradition and we went to the Carnival Factory, where we were given a tour. A great deal was told about the background, the stories, the history, what it means and so on. It was very impressive, and it is very important for the Brazilians, they have been doing this for a whole year. Finally, we were also dressed in traditional clothing, which made for a hilarious moment, especially when we also had to perform samba moves. If you want to experience a carnival in Rio, book your trip well in time as this is the highlight of the year! The last stop of the day was at the immense statue of Christ the Redeemer. This iconic monument has been on my wish list for years and I still can't believe I was there. With a train we went up the mountain and we drove through a beautiful area, a jungle in the middle of the city with great views. When we arrived at the top, I thought, "Well, this will be interesting." It was foggy and we didn't see anything. A few more stairs and he suddenly appeared. Wow! Really incredible how big and impressive. The fog was interspersed with clear moments and this made it an extra magical experience. The following days we explored the city with our guide. A highlight was a visit to the Escadaria Selarón Mosaic Steps (Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams filmed the video for "Beautiful" here). The artwork consists of coloured stairs with all different tiles. People from all over the world have sent tiles so almost every country is represented; there were also some nice Dutch tiles in between. The street art in general around Rio is beautiful; beautiful graffiti that make it a colourful whole. Via the Cathedral of Rio and many shops in the centre (where of course I bought a load of famous Havaianas) our stay in Rio ended in a samba club where we dared to dance after a number of Caipirinhas. It was time to leave Rio behind us and after a flight of only 2 hours we arrived in the city of Salvador. We stayed in a beautiful old monastery to hotel! In the heart of the historic centre, this was a very unique place to stay. Salvador is the former capital of Brazil. You can see cultural heritage and history everywhere. And of course, there is the music; from the various street cafés to the famous Olodum samba band playing on the street. Michael Jackson recorded his famous video for "They don't care about us" with this samba band. We did so many different things, we went ziplining at the beach, visited sand dunes, had a wonderful boat trip, strolled through the historic centre and shopping at the market. You will also find great restaurants here, so many different cultures that you taste in the delicious food. We spent the last days in Praia do Forte, from fine small-scale poussadas to large all-in resorts along the coastline, here too there is something for everyone. Brazil is so incredibly diverse, and I have only seen a small piece, but it was fantastic, the variety makes it a great destination for everyone. Whether you like cities, nature, beach, culture it's all there, a must for couples, young, old, families with kids or the adventurous solo traveller. If you want to know more about this impressive country, please contact me.

NYC "The City That Never Sleeps"

20 September 2018

New York, the City that never sleeps! A city that we all seem to know, whether we have been or not! It is the backdrop to many films and well-known television series, video clips and commercials. I have been in this impressive city three times in recent years and I can’t get enough of it. Often when you have seen a certain city once you will not feel like going back there soon again, but New York is somehow addictive. There is so much to see, so much to do and experience. Of course, the first time I went was mainly dedicated to all tourist attractions; The Empire State building, Central Park, Times Square, Broadway, the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero and neighbourhoods like Chinatown, Little Italy, Soho and Meatpacking District. I have also seen a few musicals in this ultimate musical city, along with concerts, sports games and a visit to a comedy club are all ticked off my list. Because you can do and see so much, you can go back and discover something different every time, we all know Central Park, but it is so big, 1.5 times the size of Monaco, so it’s difficult to see that all at once. Battery Park and the High Line park are just as special to see, just to mention two alternatives. You will also find over a hundred museums, and while I'm not an expert in that area, places such as MOMA or the American Museum of Natural History are really cool to visit. The distances in this concrete jungle are often underestimated, so take a look at the different options to visit the city. Besides taking the metro or walking for miles until you're exhausted you can also rent a bike. Cross the Brooklyn bridge and discover hipster Brooklyn, but even the rest of Manhattan is very nice to see by bike. There are many cycle paths and you can even cycle to Central Park in one straight line from the far end of the south. Boat trips on the Hudson, the free ferry to Staten Island or a helicopter flight are all possible. And I haven’t mentioned yet that New York City is the ultimate city to shop till you drop! Try the tasty bagels, steaks and burgers, go and have a look at the beautiful library, "Grand Central Station", Wall Street, all these places that you can visit for free. As you can see there are endless possibilities and even if you are not a "city person" I know for sure that New York will be an unforgettable experience. You can also do a combination with Niagara Falls or start your road trip here. New York in combination with Aruba or Curacao in the Caribbean is a very special holiday option... everything is possible. Have you always wanted to visit this city? Do you want to go back again but this time do something different or combine it with another destination inside or outside the US? Please feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to tell you about all the fun possibilities. As well as organising the flight and hotels, I also like to help you with musical tickets, the NY pass and other tourist attractions.

Dominican Republic

20 September 2018

Last March at our annual a Travel Counsellors conference I won my very first TC award for ‘Best Marketing’. I was very excited and honoured. With this, I was lucky to be invited to go on a “winners trip” to the Dominican Republic! What a gorgeous destination to discover. We flew to Punta Cana and we transferred to a gorgeous resort, with beautiful gardens, white powdered sand beaches, amazing pools, with a welcome drink in our hand. Welcomed by the manager and we are shown around the resort and its three other sister resorts. The following day it is time for some fun at Scape Park. With helmets and gloves we are buckled up and climb these stairs onto the first zip line. It’s great fun and the views from the zip lines are stunning. I felt like a child and isn’t that one of the best feelings ever? The last line ends in the water and we enjoy some other cool things that you can there. A great place for some adventure for almost every age. In the evening we travelled to Coco Bongo, an amazing place. It’s a mix of a disco with amazing live entertainment, cirque du soleil mixed with a club, great fun and again something for anybody between 20 and 80! The following morning, we made our way to Casa de Campo, which is a huge estate with a luxurious hotel and restaurants, golf courses, private beach, harbour, shops, spa and much more. I recommend visiting “Altos de Chavon”, a town especially built in an Italian medieval style for a movie set. It’s a beautiful place with restaurants, stunning views and a great atmosphere. After a fabulous lunch we made our way to Santo Domingo the capital of the island. We visited some gorgeous boutique hotels, all located in the heart of the city, in authentic style, absolutely stunning places to stay. We hit the town and end up at a little square near the church, filled with locals, families, couples, young and old enjoying Sunday night, dancing and singing to the live music. Monday morning, we meet up with our guides to see the city by segway. Learning about the history, beautiful buildings and the people. Leaving this beautiful city behind as at the end of the day, I’m so positively surprised that I recommend everyone to add this into their itinerary, because otherwise you really miss out. Our last destination is Samana, a less commercialized area, but still full of great resorts and hotels to stay in. Of course, we visited several hotels and resorts here and we stayed ourselves in one of the beautiful Bahia hotels, champagne in the room on arrival and sea view to enjoy. We visited a national park which is located at a smaller nearby island, saw beautiful birds and the mangroves, quite peaceful and calming. A haven from the bustle of the towns. Time for a new adventure, we are dropped off in the mountains to meet up with a guide for a horseback ride through rivers up the mountains and through the forest, with a spectacular view when we reach the top. Later we walked down into this valley to a waterfall, a place you can only dream of, we dive in to cool down. We are near the end of our amazing trip but not before visiting of the places with the best atmosphere, Pueblo de los Pescadores. But first, we visit one of the most gorgeous resorts I’ve seen, a very relaxed and luxurious spot with stunning suites and villas. This place is absolutely one of the best places possible to stay. We dined at a quiet beach where you will only find locals, we sit at big wooden table with our feet in the sand, platters of fresh fish, a piña colada served in a fresh pineapple and three men singing famous songs in Spanish, this is Paradise! In the evening we explore Pueblo de Pescadores and what a great atmosphere, nice bars, small streets, little shops and great restaurants at the beach. Unfortunately, we must leave the beautiful area of Savanna behind us because it’s almost time to go home again. I’m so surprised in the best way possible about the Dominican Republic, it is known for its beautiful beaches and great all-inclusive resorts but there is so much more. Dominican Republic is a great place to see and stay in different places, go explore and discover what is has to offer because there is so much. It’s almost a shame if you travel for that long to only stay in one area. I’ll be happy to help and tell you more about it. With pleasure I will put together the perfect itinerary for you no matter what your goal is for your next holiday, everything is possible. So do you want to know more? Do not hesitate to contact me.

Stunning Seychelles

20 September 2018

Everyone has a paradise island on their "bucket list", an ultimate dream destination. This is often a romantic tropical island with white beaches, palm trees, clear blue sky and the sea in that beautiful turquoise blue color. I too wanted to experience a paradise destination like this, so I chose the Seychelles. With Etihad, one of the top companies from the Middle East, I flew via Abu Dhabi to Mahé the main island of the Seychelles. The Seychelles consist of more than 115 islands but 3 of them are the most important and accessible for tourism. Mahé is the largest island and from here I flew with a domestic flight in a small propeller plane in only 20 minutes to Praslin, the second largest island and best known for its unique coconut "Coco de Mer". Praslin has one of the most beautiful beaches in the Seychelles, Anse Lazio a picture-perfect beach. In addition, Praslin is the perfect starting point for all kinds of fun day trips. One of those trips was a very special one for me. We were taken by boat to Cousin Island and the boat trip alone, which was very short, was great. You sail over the beautiful Indian ocean along the various islands and it feels like being in a movie set, it is so amazingly beautiful that it almost does not seem real. The gigantic giant turtles still live on Cousin Island, and you can get close to these impressive animals. After our meeting with these "giants" we had a short hike through a jungle-like area and mangroves to the other side of the island. Here our guides were preparing a delicious barbecue for lunch after which we could relax on another beautiful beach. The day ended with snorkeling at St. Pierre island. And although a lot of the coral is damaged by a tsunami, it is beautiful, and you can see bright colorful fish and if you are lucky you can also see sea turtles or small sharks. It was a great day and must do trip on the Seychelles. We also made a daytrip to La Digue, the smallest of the 3 main islands. No cars are allowed here and there is a wonderful relaxed island atmosphere. We hired a bike and cycled to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world; Anse Source d'Argent and this is breathtaking, the white sand, the clear blue sea and giant black granite parties that provide a stunning setting. La Digue is a lovely island and nice for a day trip but also perfect to stay for 1 or 2 nights. After a few days at Praslin we went back to Mahé, by boat this time, it only takes an hour but take note, the seas can be rough. At Mahé we stayed in the most beautiful resort of the island, so large that there were golf carts to bring you to the wonderful restaurants, the different beaches, the spa or other places within the resort. This is an amazing place and for me the absolute best resort I have ever been able to stay. There are different types of accommodation and the most beautiful are the 8 "hillside villas”. These are, as the name suggests, on a hill with amazing views over a beautiful bay that belongs to the resort, and all these villas have a private pool with that view! But there are also family villas that are ideal for families with children. This resort is super child friendly, perfect for all ages, whether you are traveling as a couple, as a family with children, "honeymooners", with friends, there is something for everyone. There are several restaurants that are all fantastic and there are plenty of fun activities to be found at the resort itself. They have a "boot shop" on both beaches where you can borrow snorkel gear for free and larger items can be rented. You can surf, sail, take paddle boats, peddle boards, rent a boat etc. There is also a private helicopter platform and you can book a "scenic flight" or day trips with the helicopters to the other islands. We tried ziplining, they have 8 private cable cars, where you can ‘fly’ through the jungle under the guidance of guides. An adventurous activity that I would highly recommend. We dined on the beach on our last night. Truly the icing on the cake, a lovely end to an absolute dream holiday. I found the Seychelles to be so unique, diverse and varied that I absolutely would go back again, it has so much to offer. If you are looking for a paradise break dream but want to do more than just relax on the beach then the Seychelles are the islands to travel to. I’m in love with this destination, it is impossible to describe how beautiful it is. And obviously a perfect honeymoon destination. I have also published my video that I took of this trip, this gives you an even better picture of these beautiful islands. Have a look at my YouTube channel and subscribe so you won’t miss anything: http://bit.ly/2cwhdNB

Jamaica

20 September 2018

Jamaica - beautiful beaches, palm trees and lovely reggae music made famous by Bob Marley. These are the first things many think about when you say Jamaica. Late last year I was personally invited by the Jamaican Tourism Board to go on an educational trip to Jamaica, an offer I could not say no to! It is early October when we fly to Montego Bay, arriving late in the evening we met our local guide for this trip, a representative from the Jamaican Tourism board. For the first few days we stayed in a beautiful luxury all-inclusive resort in Ocho Rios, one of the popular spots of the island. Ocho Rios is ideal because of its central location on the long coastal strip in the North. Plenty to see and do here. Besides visiting various beautiful hotels in the area, we travelled to Mystic Mountain, here as the true Jamaican Bobsleigh team we go down the hill with a bobsleigh, just like ‘Cool Runnings’. You first go up a ski lift and you have a beautiful view over the green tropical hills and the beautiful sea. But there is more adventure in the area, we climbed the waterfall called Dunns River and went bamboo rafting in a wonderfully quiet place in the middle of the jungle. The tropical surroundings are gorgeous. The following day we visited a very special place and resort, the Golden Eye resort. The reason this is so special is because the famous writer Ian Fleming, known from the world-famous James Bond books he wrote, lived here when he wrote all those books. It is a breathtaking place and I understand how he got inspiration here. You can stay there yourself, and besides Ian Fleming many other celebrities stayed here too, including Prince Harry, Tom Cruise and Beyoncé. Besides the home of Ian Fleming, they have built a resort on the grounds where you will find lovely beach or lagoon villas to stay in. I think this is my favorite place to stay on the island. We drove to the most Eastern point, a relatively undiscovered spot, called Port Antonio. It’s beautiful here, the foothills of the Blue Mountains, the Blue Lagoon and idyllic bays at the sea, a stunning area. Via Montego Bay, we travel south and here we come to one of my other favorite spots. An accommodation that I wanted to visit, I had booked this many times and customers were always so enthusiastic about it that I was happy that I could see it myself. Jakes's, a super nice place, small-scale and all different bungalows and houses, a bit of a hippy vibe, beautiful sea views and beautiful gardens, a great place to relax a few days. After visiting the YS falls we made our way to Negril, this is perhaps the most beautiful beach in Jamaica, 7 Miles Beach. Powdery white sand, turquoise water and the ultimate Jamaican atmosphere. Friendly locals, reggae music in the background and good food. Here, I recommend Rick's cafe, a famous place in Negril, where you can enjoy a drink at the terrace. Located on a cliff, you can enjoy beautiful views and a breathtaking sunset, with live music. You can dive from the cliffs here at different levels, something the tourists like to do But it is the experienced locals who steal the show, from a high spot, the show the most beautiful and spectacular diving, really cool to see. We also sailed the black river on a boat trip. Here we got to know a completely different kind of nature, and also meet the “friendly crocodiles”. Amazing to see these creatures in their natural habitat. In and around Negril there is a hotel for everyone, from larger resorts to nice small-scale boutique hotels in all sorts of price ranges. Jamaica has stolen my heart and is undoubtedly one of my favorite places in the Caribbean. The relaxed atmosphere and beautiful nature make it a unique island. Besides beautiful beaches it is a very green and tropical climate, vast and hilly. The Jamaicans are very friendly, and you can do, see, and experience so many different things, making it so much more than a relaxing / beach holiday destination. Many people still only stay in the large all inclusive resorts and think that it is unsafe to leave your resort. But trust me that was in the past, it is a shame if you do not discover the rest of the island! Go for an adventurous fly drive or perhaps divide your stay over two areas. If you want to know more, please don't hestitae to contact me.

Charming Curaçao

20 September 2018

Curaçao is a popular holiday destination among a lot of people. Since it is such a popular destination I decided to go travel there for my own holiday. I wanted a relaxing weeks holiday with nice beaches, good choice of restaurants but also with fun activities to do. Curaçao ticks all those boxes. On arrival we picked up our rental car and tried to find our resort without navigation. Very old-fashioned with just a map trying to find the way, arriving in the famous Jan Thiel bay. The Papagayo beach resort is located here where we chose to stay. We stayed in a beautiful villa that is very spacious, with beautiful views of the sea. A bright spacious veranda ensures that you can sit outside and enjoy the sun, the view and the beautifully landscaped garden. Great to enjoy breakfast here or to end the day with a glass of wine in the evening. In the Jan Thiel bay there are a number of beach clubs and restaurants, of which Zanzibar is the best known and most popular place for tourists. A large wooden bar often with live music and good food ensure the popularity of this. During the day we enjoy the sun at the beach club of our own Papagayo beach club that has a lovely swimming pool with a view, on the ocean. After two days of relaxing it is time to be adventurous and we grab our snorkeling gear and drive to the other side of the island to Shete Boka National Park, meaning ‘seven bays’. The coastline is more than 10 km long and has several bays and inlets where various species of turtles lay their eggs. One of the park's best-known attractions is Boka Tabla, a cave that is accessible from one side of the country, and on the other side of which the upstream sea flows in. In addition, you can hike the Christoffel Park with the highest mountain on the island, the Christoffel Mountain. You have to start before 11 o'clock in the morning, however, the earlier the better of course. After we have enjoyed Shete Boka we continue to “Westpunt” where we stop at the famous Jaanchies restaurant for a delicious traditional Antillean lunch. The interior is similar to that of an authentic farm. The cheerfully whistling tropical birds emphasize the natural ambiance. The specialty of Jaanchies is iguana, but you can also eat chicken, beef or delicious fish. The owner calls himself the speaking menu, he tells every guest in a comical way what is on the menu. I definitely recommend this restaurant as the food is delicious and you experience the Antillean hospitality and local food. We drive back to the other side and stop at some beautiful bays and beaches for snorkeling. Furthermore, during our holiday we visited Willemstad which is a wonderful city to visit with many restaurants. I absolutely recommend “Saint Tropez” and “Bij Blauw”, really delicious food at a beautiful spot by the sea. In addition, we visited the Aloe Vera plantation and we went to take a look in the studio where the famous Chi Chi's are made. And a must for everyone who goes to Curaçao is "Karakter" for a day. Here you can enjoy the sun on the beach beds by the sea, palm trees around you, shade if you want and really great food. Snorkel and enjoy a day of sun, sea, a drink and delicious food in a nice and quiet place. Really do it! Oh and they even my favorite Dutch treat called “Bitterballen” definitely worth a try. Curaçao is a wonderful island with a little something for everyone, whether you just want to laze in the sun, or be adventurous, explore nature, or eat to your hearts content, Curaçao is the place to to be. I now fully understand why so many people regularly go to Curaçao and I will certainly go back again. Do you want to know more about Curaçao or do you have holiday plans? Please contact me and I will gladly help you further.

Lovely Lanzarote

20 September 2018

Throughout the year, Lanzarote is a great destination to stay. I enjoyed it very much and would recommend this to most people. Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands is where I go when I’m in need of warm temperatures and some nice sunshine during our winter. The Canary Islands are one of the few "close" destinations where the weather is good almost all year round. Lanzarote is a unique island with unusual landscapes, beautiful in a different kind of way. The island is surrounded by spectacular crystal-clear waters and has some white, black and golden beaches. Because of the long sandy beaches, beautiful nature, impressive landscapes and local culture, Lanzarote is an ideal holiday destination for both nature and sports enthusiasts. The island is not too big, so you can easily explore it with a rental car and visit several sights in a day. I did the latter myself, a visit to the National Park Timanfaya in the central part of the island, is absolutely worth it with its beautiful volcanic landscape. You can also take a day trip to the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura by ferry and a visit to the black beach at El Golfo is also highly recommended. The three most popular coastal towns of Lanzarote are; Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise and all three have plenty of choice when it comes to hotels and apartments. Something for everyone, from small-scale apartments to luxury 5-star resorts for the whole family, but also beautiful "adults only" hotels. I stayed in a beautiful 4 star "adults only" resort, quite small which I found very pleasant, not too big. Located in Playa Blanca which I loved, because for me it is the most authentic and atmospheric appearance. It was within walking distance of the beach and the boulevard with many restaurants and shops. The room was very spacious, with separate seating area and outside a nice patio (or balcony), overlooking the pool and everything was close. The quality of the food was superb and there were three different bars where you could go for a drink. It was a wonderful place to relax.

Sensational South Africa

20 September 2018

Africa, I can say with absolute confidence that this is my number one destination of all the places I have been so far. The first time was in 2009 and I remember a friend who showed me her photo album, she had just returned from South Africa and I would leave the following month. She had lots of photos of elephants, and I thought “I have seen elephants before, it’s not that big of a deal”, how wrong was I? A month later we flew to Johannesburg, started the trip in Pretoria and then on to the Greater Kruger Area. We first stayed in a lodge in one of the private reserves attached to Kruger. At the entrance of these reserve they checked if we had a reservation and then a friendly African ranger tells us to go left, drive for 5 km, turn right and follow the road. We were given a piece of paper with a map on it… and so the adventure starts! Knowing that you are driving in an area where all these amazing animals like the Big 5 live, where elephant, giraffe, zebra, rhino, leopard and lion roam freely, was a wonderful thought. After five minutes, we say five zebras in the middle of the road and this makes me so happy, something I never expected and from that moment on… I was sold. We experienced game drives with guides in Kruger and in some private reserves, we drove around ourselves, it was so exciting and so impressive when you first come face to face with a huge African elephant or when you reach a whole group of lions who have just conquered a giraffe and started their dinner! A must is a safari walk through Kruger or one of the private reserves, and of course you do this with two experienced rangers. Around Kruger you can visit so many other beautiful places; Bourke's Luck Potholes, the panorama routes with beautiful views such as Gods Window, several beautiful waterfalls, Pilgrims Rest and so on. A visit to the Moholoholo rehab centre is certainly worthwhile, here wounded animals are taken care of and they try to place them back in the wild as much as possible. We travelled from Kruger to St. Lucia, located at the Indian Ocean side of Africa and known for its large numbers of crocodiles and hippos. A river cruise is a must here, via Umhlanga Rocks, a stay in a reconstructed Zuludorp and then from Durban we flew to Cape Town. Cape Town, the opposite of the rest of the country but a magical place to end this amazing holiday, beautiful beaches and a vibrant centre located under the impressive Table Mountain. Often shrouded in white clouds, so once it is clear go straight up and enjoy beautiful views of the city and Robben Island. Also, a hike to the top of Lions Head is more than worth it. Of course, we also went towards the Cape of Good Hope. With our mini convertible we drove the breath-taking coastal road of Chapman's Peak, what a view, beautiful bays, red coloured rocks and high cliffs with a clear blue ocean in the background. No wonder that this road is often used for car advertising. Combine your day trip to the Cape with a visit to the funny penguins at Boulder's beach. And try to drive back to Cape Town just before sunset and stop at one of the beautiful spots in Hout Bay to enjoy a breath-taking sunset. What a country; nature, animals, vast landscapes, history but also the friendly people make this a special destination. I was sold, and I knew I would come back here again. See my travel blog "Breath taking Africa" for more African adventures. This was my return to South Africa in combination with Botswana and the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

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Excellent service from Ellen and have already recommended to family.

Sent by Niamh Walsh

The most stress free and enjoyable experience. There is nothing like the service and knowing that every little detail is taken care of. I will never book a holiday myself again!

Sent by James Behan

Great service top class.

Sent by S. Behan

Ellen was very professional and helpful in finding our perfect holiday. She gives great advice and made everything so easy for us.

Sent by Matthias Bruggen

Ellen is a great Travel Counsellor. She is willing to go the extra mile and serves every complicated request. Last year I booked a road trip through Arizona and everything was arranged perfectly, I didn't have to care about anything. This year she arranged a nice tour through Scotland for my family and myself. She listens carefully to understand your needs and offers exactly what suits. I am happy to my book future trips with Ellen and will recommend her to my friends.

Sent by Brendan Furlong

A friend recommended Ellen Warren. I normally do my own arrangements, but now I talk to Ellen, and everything is done, accommodation booked, flights/seats and transfers all done, plus you have someone who is there for you. Excellent service which I will use again and will recommend her to my friends and clients.

Sent by Michael Sreenan

Ellen did an excellent job. She was very helpful in outlining different options and provided great advice in terms of what might work best for me. She was very open to making adjustments to the arrangements when requested. Ellen was very attentive and responded promptly to any additional queries and very efficient in terms of firming up arrangements. Ellen was a pleasure to deal with and I would have no hesitation in recommending her to others.

Sent by G. Behan

Ellen has been a breath of fresh air when booking our holidays. From first contact to the end of our holidays has been a care free experience for us on all holidays booked with Ellen. 10/10 for excellence, experience, customer care, contact-ability and friendliness. We would have no issues in recommending Ellen for holiday needs as she is a brilliant person to deal with.

Sent by Suzanne Redmond

Without Ellen's help I would have definitely gone mad trying to book our special birthday holiday for my husband to Las Vegas. She is a wonderful and I have already recommended her to 2 of my pals.

Sent by C. Traynor

Having used the services of Ellen before - which resulted in one of our best holidays ever - we had no problem in deciding to ask Ellen to organise our next holiday also. To date, her preparation has been fantastic, and even with a few problems (all down to myself), the holiday is now organised, and all that is left is to actually travel later in the year. Many thanks Ellen.

Sent by D. Doyle

Excellent communication with everything. Ellen has made things so much easier for my partner and myself. Zero stress. Would highly highly recommend. Thank you!

Sent by J. Gavin

Ellen provided first class service when making my travel arrangements. I would highly recommend Ellen to friends & family.

Sent by Laura Arnold

Ellen is absolutely amazing and goes above and beyond to help her clients, nothing is ever a problem and she has been a pleasure to book and rebook (due to covid!!) our honeymoon with x

Sent by G. Warren

Ellen is extremely efficient in all the aspects of Travel Counselling. We would be lost without Ellen whenever we want to travel. The most helpful and professional person you could ever want.

Sent by Sean Whelehan

Ellen is a joy to deal with and the 10 score is really a 10+.

Sent by Bernadette Sexton

Ellen was very responsive and provided me with a number of great options based on the initial brief. Pleasure to engage with.

Sent by Jennifer Hurley

I've just recommended Ellen today to a work colleague who's daughter is planning her honeymoon and my best friend who's booking New York for her parents for Christmas. Thanks for the birthday card too and all your help organising our trip!

Sent by Jean Gavin

I give Ellen 10/10 for her excellent service and would recommend her to my all friends.

Sent by Ciaran Ryan

Ellen is absolutely brilliant!. She takes the time to understand what you want and then builds you your dream holiday around that. Ellen is always there to answer any questions I have and I couldn't recommend her higher.

Sent by Shane Wilson

Excellent experience of dealing with Ellen and from the outset was honest in every aspect of dealings with myself.

Sent by Brian Fetherston

Ellen was a pleasure to deal with and made the process easy and painless. I highly recommend her.

Sent by Jennifer Daly

Ellen was extremely helpful and very patient with my endless requests! Love the myTC app too, very convenient

Sent by Niamh Walsh

Amazing service, 3 P’s Personal Positive Professional!

Sent by Cathal Traynor

We needed quite a varied itinerary planned for our sixteen day multi location holiday. Ellen planned it perfectly and even when we needed to change some dates there was no problem. We would have absolutely no problem in recommending Ellen and she will be planning our future holidays.

Sent by Tommy Smith

My wife Sarah and I booked our dream honeymoon with Ellen and we couldn’t recommend her enough. She organized everything for us and took the hassle out of everything. She asked us a few questions about what we wanted and we told her we didn’t want to be stuck in the same place, we wanted to see a couple of places. She recommended a cruise so we went to Miami for 3 nights stay at the Royal Palm Hotel, it was a great location right on Miami Beach. We went on a 7 night Caribbean cruise on the brand new MSC Seaside ship. She gave us great advice and answered any questions that we had. The cruise was amazing from the food to the drink package and each stop off at port we saw plenty of beautiful islands and even went snorkeling and swimming with dolphins. After the cruise we had one more night in Miami before flying home and Ellen had got us upgraded to a suite at the Nobu Hotel Miami. This was a beautiful hotel. We would definitely be booking with Ellen again she made our dream honeymoon come true we loved every minute of it. Thanks Ellen!

Sent by Ronan Power

Ellen was fantastic and I would definitely recommend her to friends because of the service she and Travel Counsellors provides.

Sent by Catherine Livesey

Ellen was super to deal with. We got several options regarding our trip to Australia & there was no problem in changing the ideas. Ellen was efficient and considered all aspects of our plans.

Sent by Rachel Lowry

Fantastic service felt very personal, will continue to use Ellen as my Travel Counsellor!

Sent by Steve Garrigan

Amazing service! Highly recommended.

Sent by Sarah Prendergast

Ellen created our dream honeymoon and listened to everything we wanted. She went above and beyond for us and we are so excited!

Sent by Oona Foran

Ellen took the hassle out of trying to book a holiday!

Sent by Philip Magee

I can’t thank Ellen enough, I’m fussy and hate booking holidays, Ellen actually made it enjoyable and went above and beyond to make sure we got the best holiday. I’ll be recommending her to everyone and I loved theTravel Counsellor app also.

Sent by Sean Whelehan

Ellen is a gem and a delight to deal with. She is attentive, friendly, courteous and open to sharing her vast knowledge of travel and quick to apply her skills to creating a complex travel itinerary for us. Many thanks Ellen, Sean & Caitriona Whelehan.

Sent by Carina May

Ellen is a dream to deal with! She works fast and always provides a different variety of options to choose from! Wouldn't book a holiday with anyone else.

Sent by Lucy Kilbride

Ellen was fantastic and really listened to our requests, taking everything on board and into consideration. We are so happy with our honeymoon and cannot wait to go!

Sent by Peter Desay

Ellen is an absolute legend and a pleasure to work with.

Sent by Tara Hanly

Ellen introduced me and my friends to the concept of the Frenymoon this summer when she planned our trip for Jamaica and man did she deliver! We had an absolute ball from start to finish as Ellen had planned our itinerary to a T. We had given Ellen a budget for accommodation and she gave us a great selection throughout the country ranging from guest houses to hotels and even a stay in a luxury guest house! We couldn't believe the trip Ellen had created with our budget and suggestions etc. We could recommend Ellen highly enough and will be sure to be availing of her services again.Thanks again Ellen. It really was the trip of a lifetime- topped off with hearing "No woman No Cry" in Trenchtown !

Sent by Sarah Greene

Ellen put an amazing holiday together for me and my husband to Athens and Santorini in June this year. It was the perfect holiday from flights, transfers and hotels. She made everything so easy and I can't wait to see what she comes up with for our next holiday. I would highly recommend Ellen for all your holiday needs.

Sent by Edel Byrne

Ellen planned an unbelievable trip for me and my friends to Jamaica...the attention to detail we went into for the trip and Ellen was so attentive to our trip requirements. I immediately went to use her services again for my next holiday which is to Cuba next year, Ellen is an impeccable planner and takes the stress out of planning an amazing break, would 100% recommend her to anyone .