Rachael Higgins
My expertise
I'm based in
Mayo
Because You Deserve A Travel Expert Who Genuinely Cares
Travel has always been my passion. After more than 30 years in the industry, I still genuinely love helping my clients turn their travel dreams into real, lifelong memories.
For me, it’s never just about booking a holiday... it’s about really looking after my clients. Many have been travelling with me for over 25 years, so I understand what they like (and what they don’t!) almost instinctively. That means I can quickly guide you towards what will suit you best, with those little details that make all the difference.
My approach is simple: it is personal. I take the time to listen, to ask the right questions, and to understand what really matters to you. Whether it is a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon, a special family adventure, a luxury cruise or a long-awaited escape for two, every itinerary I create is tailored around you and the way you like to travel.
Over the years I have been fortunate enough to explore much of the world myself, from Australia and the Far East to Africa, the Americas, Canada, the Caribbean and throughout Europe. Cruising is a particular love of mine, and with first-hand experience of many of the major cruise lines, along with my CLIA membership, (Cruise Lines International Association; the world's largest cruise industry trade association), I can offer honest, practical insight to help you find the ship and sailing that feels like the perfect fit.
A large part of my business comes from recommendations, and I never take that trust for granted. It means a great deal to me that so many clients return year after year, knowing I will always go the extra mile, keep an eye on the detail and be there when they need me, before, during and after their trip.
If you are starting to think about your next holiday, I would love to chat. Whether you already have ideas or you are not quite sure where to begin, just get in touch and we can start planning something that feels exactly right for you.
A Luxury Hotel That Follows You Around: Discovering Explora Journeys
I was delighted to be invited on board EXPLORA III in Greencastle, Co Donegal, on Friday 11 September. Having now had the chance to experience the ship for myself, I can see why this style of cruising is attracting so much attention...
14 Sept 2026 2 min read
Star Princess Inaugural Season Med Sailing!
I had the pleasure of sailing on Star Princess in October on her second-ever voyage, and I can honestly say… I came home genuinely impressed. This sailing ran from 15th–22nd October, round-trip from Barcelona, calling into Malaga, Gibraltar, Cartagena and Marseille. I was on board with a group of fellow travel agents and Princess representatives, and it gave me the perfect opportunity to experien
30 Dec 2025 5 min read
Honky Tonks, Hot Chicken & Hiking: A Guide to Nashville & Beyond
In October 2022, my husband and I finally took a long-overdue break—the first with just the two of us since our Honeymoon! Destination — Nashville, Tennessee! As someone who has spent nearly 30 years in the travel industry, I’d always been curious about this legendary music city, even though I wouldn’t have considered myself a huge country music fan. But l can tell you that Nashville was everythin
12 Mar 2025 5 min read
My Med Escape with Silversea Cruises: A Journey of Luxury
This summer, I had the privilege of sailing aboard Silversea's Silver Ray, an incredible ship that made its debut this year. Alongside a few of my Travel Counsellors colleagues, we embarked on a Mediterranean adventure that I can only describe as unforgettable. But before we get into the details of the cruise, let’s start at the beginning of my journey. Athens: A Perfect Pre-Cruise Treat Before bo
21 Nov 2024 5 min read
Southern USA Road Trip: A Family Journey, Orlando! - Part 3
Next on our itinerary was Orlando! While it wasn’t our first visit, it was just as special and exciting as ever. One of the most interesting things about returning to Orlando with our kids at different ages is how the experience changes and evolves. This time around, our trip to Orlando felt like a whole new adventure. When you visit theme parks like Walt Disney World or Universal Studios with ki
02 Oct 2024 5 min read
Southern USA Road Trip: A Family Journey, Florida - Part 2
Welcome back to our road trip adventures... After soaking up the charm of Savannah, we hit the road for Daytona Beach. The drive from Savannah to Daytona takes about 3.5 hours, but we (or should I say ‘I’) decided to add a little extra fun by making a quick stop in the historic city of St. Augustine. Here’s a peek into our journey! St. Augustine St. Augustine was a great surprise! Known as the ‘
02 Oct 2024 4 min read
Southern USA Road Trip: A Family Journey - Part 1
In March/April, my family and I embarked on an unforgettable trip to the USA. We flew directly from Dublin to Charlotte with American Airlines, which meant we cleared immigration before we left Ireland—a convenience that always makes the journey smoother. We also used the new MPC app, speeding up the immigration process even further. The American Airlines staff were very friendly, the aircraft was
15 Aug 2024 4 min read
My advice for booking your honeymoon
For most people, a honeymoon is one of the biggest trips they will ever take, and understandably, it comes with high expectations. It’s an incredibly exciting time, but it can also feel overwhelming. With over 30 years of experience in planning and booking these special trips, I’ve put together some helpful hints and tips to ensure your honeymoon is everything you dream of. Not sure where to star
04 Sept 2019 5 min read
New England Adventure
Our adventure started in Boston (you can read all about it on my ‘Quackers about Boston’ blog!) Coming from the traditional damp Irish summer, the weather in this part of the world was just perfect for a road trip – sunshine and blue skies – what more could you ask for?! A short 45-minute drive from Boston, our first stop was the historical city of Salem which was made famous by the Witch Trials
22 Aug 2019 5 min read
Quackers about Boston!
Our adventure started in the city of Boston, just over a 6-hour flight – direct from Dublin with Delta Airlines whom offered a great and very comfortable service. America’s oldest city is charming. It has bags of character within its different districts, but best of all it is a fairly small city, so you can pretty much walk all of it and that is exactly what we did…. Although for a small city the
24 Jul 2019 3 min read
The Canadian Rockies!
This October I was reminded of how amazing our world is and the very reason I love my job! I was fortunate enough to be invited on a trip to Western Canada with Rocky Mountaineer, British Airways and American Airlines along with the tourist boards of Alberta and Vancouver. So where better place to start than at the beginning with our flights? Sometimes a laborious part of an adventure, but w
25 Oct 2018 7 min read
Awesome Abu Dhabi
‘Awesome’ – not a word that I draw on very often, but it’s a great way to describe my brief encounter with Abu Dhabi at the start of May. We flew out of Dublin on a direct flight with Etihad Airways. The flight was comfortable, and the food, entertainment and service were nothing short of excellent. Etihad Airways aircraft are a young fleet, modern with the best of facilities. Not a long journe
12 Aug 2016 5 min read
Escape Completely... Med Cruise
Work, politics, bills, cooking, cleaning, childcare...the list goes on... Sometimes life is a daily struggle, and we all need somewhere to escape to. Long ago I was sold on the idea of cruising. I have been fortunate enough to have personal experiences of many of the cruise lines and I personally think it’s a perfect holiday – after all, how else can you see so many places, enjoy great food, fa
21 Aug 2015 3 min read
Pangkor Laut and Kuala Lumpur
From the moment we checked in with Emirates the holiday of a lifetime started. We were lucky enough to travel business class, which was immensely comfortable and the service was second to none. This was a whirlwind trip so the extra comfort was a huge bonus. Although not my first time in Asia, this was my first visit to Malaysia, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. We touched down in Kual
28 Apr 2012 4 min read
Family Cruising
When we booked our family holiday, I must admit I was a little sceptical. I had cruised before, but this time was to be different as we were travelling with our 20 month old daughter... On the 15th August we flew from Dublin to Barcelona, and checked in for 1 night at the Renaissance hotel Barcelona Airport. Our flight arrived into Barcelona quite late, so we opted for convenience. The hotel ha
24 Nov 2009 4 min read
Cruising the Caribbean
Having enjoyed a ‘mini-cruise’ in Europe in 2006, I was really excited about cruising in the Caribbean, and the trip certainly didn’t disappoint....... Flights I flew with a group of colleagues from Dublin to London Heathrow with Aer Lingus, and then Heathrow to Miami with British Airways. Both airlines were comfortable, in particular British Airways. In my opinion they offer great facilitie
03 Mar 2009 4 min read
Riva del Garda and Venice
This was my first visit to Italy and I’m sure it won’t be my last! My husband and I enjoyed a fabulous week in the Hotel Villa Nicolli in Riva Del Garda. Lake Garda is stunningly beautiful and with several towns surrounding the Lake we found it hard to decide where to stay. Riva Del Garda is set at the north of Lake Garda and approximately 1hr 30 minutes coach transfer from Verona airport.
14 Nov 2008 3 min read
What I ate on a 7 night Princess Cruise!
Well, almost everything I ate!
30 Dec 2025
Silversea Cruises
Silversea Cruises Webinar 15th Oct 2024
05 Dec 2024
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