Based in Dublin

Aisling Duignan

It's Nice To Meet You

Hello my name is Aisling Duignan and I am from the Sutton/Howth peninsula area of Co Dublin. I am very lucky to have lived in this beautiful peninsula all of my life, where you are within nearly touching distance of the sea and close proximity to some beautiful walking trails giving me access to breath-taking views of Dublin Bay from East West North and South, not to mention the great amenities that are available to me from Golf, Sailing and Tennis, to name but a few.

When I first met my husband, he had a great passion for travel which he passed onto me. I have been very lucky to have travelled with my husband and three children all over the world from, as west as Los Angeles the far east of Australia and most places in between! I find it hard to pick a favourite as all have been very different, unique, and fantastic experiences, I suppose Japan would be my stand-out experience with Australia coming in a close second!

All my life has been in hospitality industry and more recently the travel industry. I always aspire to give high level of customer service to ensure creating unique experiences for my clients. As your personal Travel Counsellor I can tailor the perfect travel experience for you. Whether you wish to marvel in the beauty of Singapore’s hanging gardens or discover a world of new culture in Japan, I can help with all your travel needs and exceed every expectation.

So, if you are planning that special, once in a lifetime holiday, why not give me a call. As I work from home, I am not restricted to the 9-5 working day and can chat in the evenings when you have more time to talk. If you would prefer a face to face meeting, that can also be arranged, and I would be happy to meet you in the evenings or at weekends at a place suitable to you and together we can plan your special holiday.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

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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

Introduction to me and Travel Counsellors

10/29/2020

Just a short synopsis about what travel services I offer and why you should book with me.

Maldives...my bucket list trip!

10/29/2020

A taster of what you can expect when you decide to travel to the Maldives

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.

Norwegian Getaway Cruise

13 January 2022

I was very lucky in the latter half of 2021, as travel resumed to have the opportunity to take part in some educational trips. The first one being in September with Norwegian Cruise Line, departing out of Civitavecchia on a Norwegian Getaway, with the bonus of also meeting up with my colleagues. We arrived in Rome (Ciampino) on an early morning flight with Ryanair, all travel documents and entry requirements were adhered to seamlessly. We then transferred to the port of Civitavecchia, which is a little over an hour by bus. These transfers were included with Norwegian, and can be shared or private, based on your own preference. Before we embarked, we had an Antigen test done before we could check-in, which was orchestrated extremely efficiently. I do think in relation to Covid the cruise companies are really on it and have to say felt like a very safe environment. It is so exciting as you embark, from the sheer magnificence of the ship when you are up so close and personal. We went straight to the cabin to see what awaited us and where we would be spending the next few nights, which I have to say was pleasantly surprising how spacious and comfortable it was and the clever use of space. A balcony cabin in my opinion is a must, my favourite time was having a pre-dinner drink watching the world go by! After a fantastic lunch in the Buffet restaurant, the most casual dining option that Norwegian has to offer included in your cruise fare where you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner. What I liked about Norwegian’s offering is that they have up to 9 other dining options that you can choose from included in the lead in cruise fare, so you are spoilt for choice. Thereafter, you have multiple specialty dining to choose from where you are charged a supplement from $20 per person to experience, still very good value. The food was a very high standard from fine dining to pub grub you couldn’t fault it and the service was impeccable. I think it is very important when choosing a cruise holiday for the first time, you must consider although you will be experiencing multiple destinations during your cruise, ultimately, your cruise experience is all about what the cruise ship has to offer and what you will experience from a dining and entertainment point of view, Norwegian for me ticked all the boxes! From an entertainment point of view, numerous bars to choose from and many with an outside sitting area where the Cocktail menu is never ending, to the Getaway Theatre offering 2 Broadway shows and The Grammy Experience (Bar) which had some talented bands with themed tribute band shows, the Fleetwood Mac experience being the highlight of our cruise. Most nights my colleagues and I would finish off the evening on the top deck, where there was a Disco every evening. We couldn’t get enough of the Disco…it had been a while since anyone had danced! On the third day we woke up in the port of Palma. Every time you arrive in a port, the anticipation reminds me of Christmas morning as a child and never disappoints! You can disembark from 9am and must be back onboard by 5pm, again transfers are supplied by Norwegian to bring you from the port to the centre of where you are. There are also guided shore excursions which you can add to your itinerary with Norwegian at a cost. We spent a lovely day in Palma starting with a visit the Castell de Bellver, a beautiful circular castle, one of the few in Europe with spectacular views of the port and beyond. Then into the Old Town to explore and some lunch finishing off a perfect day with a swim in the warm Mediterranean. The beach is only a 5-minute taxi ride from the old town, loved Palma and look forward to the next visit. Another day at sea and we arrived in Civitavecchia, a very picturesque port town that is only an hour by train or bus from Rome, where you could add on a post or pre cruise stay. This was my first time cruising and to be honest I wasn’t really sure it was for me, but my opinion has definitely changed and I feel everyone should experience a cruise in their lifetime! Thanks Norwegian.

My Japanese Adventure Part 1

22 October 2019

My husband and I are avid rugby fans and decided to follow the boys in Green to Japan this year for the Rugby World Cup. We flewfrom Dublin to Dubai and then on to Narita Tokyo, kicking off the first leg of our journey as part of a group. From there transferred by coach into Tokyo to the Tokyo Marriott in Shinagawa-ku where we were staying for 3 nights. The hotel is located near Shinagawa station and the rooms here are finished to a very high standard. They also have decent sized rooms which is important as hotel rooms in Japan tend to be on the smaller size. The hotel also had fabulous marble finished ensuite bathroom with all the bells and whistles, not forgetting the Japanese toilet with integrated bidet, these toilets are unique to Japan. These toilets are more easily found than computers in Japan and until you have experienced one, you probably won’t understand why….so let’s leave the toilet talk there! Shinagawa is one of 23 wards in Tokyo and Shinagawa station is one of the city’s busiest stations in Japan and like all the stations in Japan this is where all the restaurants pubs (Izakaya) can be found. After we checked in this is where we headed to catch the end of the Japan V Russia match, the first of the Pool A matches! The following day we were up early and started with breakfast, which was a very impressive buffet, where east meets west and there was also an option for everything in between! By coach we travelled through the Shibuyu crossing, one of the busiest thoroughfares in the world, nearby is Harajuku, which is renowned for its youthful atmosphere, quirky boutiques, trendy bars and restaurants. Yoyogi Park and Meiji Shrine is adjacent to here and is also a must do! Next stop was the Imperial Palace, home to the Imperial family. You can’t go into the castle, but you can view from outside and do a guided visit of the Imperial Palace East garden. Asakusa Kannon Temple was our next visit, Asakusa is the historical capital of Tokyo and considered a more traditional area of Tokyo and home to one of the oldest temples Sensoji or Kannon Temple. The main gate of Sensoji Temple and the main hall are connected by a bustling shopping street, Nakamise street selling all your typical Japanese souvenirs. Further on is the Shinto Temple where I was lucky enough to witness the arrival of a Bride on her Shinto wedding day. When match day arrived (Ireland V Scotland) We decided to the train to Yokohama Stadium as it was going to take about 40 mins by train as opposed to a 2-hour coach journey. Having been to Japan before were familiar with the public transport via JR lines and the Subway which covers central Tokyo. There is an information office generally found within the entrance of the stations, that will help you with purchasing your ticket and your route for your destination. We arrived in Yokohama with plenty of time to spare before kick-off. Great win for Ireland against Scotland with great atmosphere and great celebrations! Next day we departed by coach for Hakone where we were staying for one night. Hakone is mountainous town west of Tokyo known for its hot springs (Onsen) and the views of Mt Fuji, which can be seen from Lake Ashi or the top of the Hakone ropeway. We visited the Hakone Shrine and walked down from the shrine to the red tori gate overlooking Lake Ashi. To take even more shots of Mt Fuji we took the Hakone cable car. We stayed in the Prince Ahinoko hotel which is the only hotel located on the lakeside with spa facilities and Onsen/Hot springs available, they also have the first Segway Nature experience tour. To find out more about my adventures in Japan make sure to read part 2 of my blog. If you’re interested planning your own Japanese adventure why not contact me to find out more. With my travel knowledge and first-hand destination experience I can plan your perfect holiday, all personally tailored just for you.

My Japanese Adventure Part 2

22 October 2019

Following on from the first part of my blog on Japan, the next stop on our adventure was Kyoto and we decided to travel by Bullet train. The Bullet train travels at 320 km per hour and is a very efficient service enabling you to cover a lot of ground when in Japan. We departed at 12.35 and arrived in Kyoto station at 15.38. Everything to do with the Shinkansen runs to the second and always on time! We transferred by coach to our hotel Kyoto Tokyu hotel and checked in. Kyoto was once the capital of Japan and is like a boutique version of Tokyo with no high-rise buildings. Kyoto is famous for numerous Buddhist temples and gardens, Nijo Castle which is the former Imperial Palace and is also the birthplace of Geisha culture. If you’re lucky you can spot Geisha girls around the Gion district and it’s possible to organise organise a private audience with a Maiko (trainee Geisha). Later that evening we headed into the Ponto-cho area for dinner, this is where all the restaurants and bars can be found with some of these with outside areas overlooking the Kama-gawa river, that runs through Kyoto. There are also some great Karaoke bars, which we also sampled. The selection of different types of Japanese food is vast from Teppanyaki, Yakatori, Tempura, Noodles, Sushi to name but a few, there is also plenty of Western restaurant options. The following day in Kyoto, we headed by foot to Nijo Castle. This Castle was built in 1603 as the residence of the first Shogun of the Edo and was formerly the Imperial Palace before being donated to the city and it was then opened up as an historic site which is surrounded by beautiful gardens. We then headed east to visit the famous Kiyomizudera temple, the approach to the temple is uphill and consists of busy lanes with plenty of souvenir shops selling some local pottery, sweets and pickled vegetables a Japanese staple, not forgetting the Matcha tea flavoured whipped cones. We stopped near the entrance of the temple for lunch and had some prawn and vegetable tempura with some rice and pickled vegetables. It was fantastic to sample the local cuisine while overlooking the city of Kyoto. Kiyomizudera temple is surrounded by a wooden stage that juts out from the main hall 13 metres above the hillside and again the views are fantastic! Behind the main hall stands the Jishu Shrine which is dedicated to love and matchmaking and the Ottawa waterfall is located at the base of the temple where you can drink from 3 different streams that are said to allow the drinker a long life, success in school and a fortunate love-life! Following day, we took the train out Arashiyama. Arashiyama is located west of Kyoto at the base of the Arashiyama mountains and is about a 35-minute train journey. On our arrival we decided to hire bikes to get around. First stop was the Monkey park, a steep 20 – 30-minute hike up to where the monkeys are but it is worth the hike for the view at the top and to observe the Macaque monkeys in their natural habitat. While there you can also purchase food to feed the monkeys in an enclosed area. We then headed towards Togetsuyko bridge where we took a 40-minute river cruise on the Katsura river. There was beautiful scenery to take in and helmed by our Japanese guide who pointed out local wildlife. We got back on the bikes and headed for Sagano Bamboo forest, which is 16 square km with a pedestrian walkway throughout passing by several temples and shrines. After checking out of our hotel our last port of call Nagoya, which was 2 hours by coach transfer. Our first stop was a visit to Nagoya castle and Hammaru Palace, this Shogun castle was built in the 16th century and is a designated historic site. Hammaru Palace was destroyed during World War 2 in 1945 and the Palace was rebuilt in 2018, but it is a stunning reconstruction. After filling our schedule full of all the cuisine and culture Japan had to offer we were ready to watch the Irish team take on the World Cup’s hosts. For the Ireland V Japan match we travelled by coach to Shizuoka, Ecopa Stadium. There was a great atmosphere as people gathered outside the stadium Japanese and Irish supporters mingling, all in great spirits. Unfortunately, we lost but the Irish were gracious in defeat the mood lightened by a spectacular firework display that took place on leaving Ecopa Stadium. Our last day we spent in downtown Nagoya. Nagoya is a bustling city and reminded me of New York city with a similar street grid plan and impressive high-rise buildings. We headed down to Sakae on our last night, where all the nightime entertainment could be found! We had a fantastic time in Japan and even though it was our second time visiting, there was still plenty to see and discover. If you’re interested planning your own Japanese adventure why not contact me to find out more. With my travel knowledge and first-hand destination experience I can plan your perfect holiday, all personally tailored just for you.

Singapore & Australia

28 October 2019

One of my favourite family holidays has to be when my husband, my 3 children (Richie 17, Emily 15 and Michael 11) and I travelled to Australia via Singapore in 2014. As it can be an exhausting flight travelling to Australia, we decided to break up the flight from Dublin with a three-day stopover in Singapore and took the opportunity to visit friends. After a good night’s rest, we decided to start exploring Singapore, starting with a visit to the Gardens by the Bay. The Gardens are split into three gardens, Bay South, Bay East and Bay Central with plant species from all over the world, beautiful Orchids, so many varieties on display. On foot we headed across to the nearby iconic Marina Sands hotel where there is a Sky Park observation deck on the 57th floor and is accessible to non-residents. Here you can have a drink in the world’s highest ‘Al Fresco’ bar and take in the spectacular views of Singapore. It is also where the iconic infinity pool is located. For an alternative view of Singapore, we also did the Singapore river cruise. We did it during the day, but if you do it at night you can take in the light show in front of the Marina Sands. On our last day in Singapore we went to Sentosa island and there are many things to do here, especially if you have kids to entertain! We took the Cable Car Sky Pass to Sentosa island, a lovely peaceful way to travel, with breath-taking views along the way. Our first stop was Universal Studios which has 28 rides, shows and attractions in seven themed zones, as only you would expect from Universal. We just had time after that to visit the Adventure Cove Waterpark which is a fantastic park with plenty of rides to choose from and lazy rivers. My favourite attraction was the snorkelling, as you could snorkel with over 20,000 tropical fish and this gave us a taster of what was to come in Australia! Singapore is somewhere I would like to return to for a longer stay, as there is so much to do and it is also clean and safe. Leaving Singapore behind we landed in Brisbane and then onto Cairns, where we collected the SUV rental and headed to Port Douglas and our accommodation in the Cayman Villas. Cayman Villas is the perfect place to stay if you are travelling as a family. We booked the 3-bed apartment which was spacious and modern, with a sizeable balcony overlooking the pool. These villas are located within walking distance of the four-mile beach and the seaside town centre of Port Douglas. During our stay we spent a lot of time on four-mile beach which is stunning. We were there in July which is winter in Australia, with a climate of warm days and low rainfall on the Gold coast. We had fabulous weather throughout our stay and were able to swim in the sea without having to wear wetsuits to avoid been stung by the Box jellyfish. We decided to do a day trip out to Mossman Gorge located in Daintree National Park as it is the oldest surviving rainforest on earth and listed as a world heritage site. During our stay we did the Wavedancer Low Island day tour which departed in the morning and sailed for about an hour before reaching the tropical low island where we went on a guided snorkelling tour off the island (this is where my obsession with snorkelling began) which was followed by a buffet lunch on board the boat and then guided tour of the island and a glass bottom boat tour. Following on our next stay was the Whitsunday island called Hamilton Island, close to the Great Barrier Reef. We took an hour fight there and the view from the plane looking down on the reef is something I will never forget. Simply spectacular! Hamilton island is car-free and the only mode of transport is a Golf Buggy. Hamilton Island is a large beach resort that provides Paddle Boards, Snorkelling Equipment and Catamarans which were all inclusive with our stay. We did another cruise during our stay on Hamilton Island where we stopped off at the stunning Whitehaven beach from there it was on to the Great Barrier Reef. My husband, myself and my eldest son Richie did our first Scuba dive as well as some amazing snorkelling. The last stop on our trip was Sydney for 4 nights. We stayed near Sydney Harbour in the Rocks district and there was a great variety of restaurants and pubs to be found, a lot of them overlooking the harbour. During our stay in Sydney we took in as many sights as we could from the Sydney Opera house, hop-on hop-off Sydney ferry, Tarongo Zoo and Bondi beach where my son Richie got to meet some of his heroes from his favourite program Bondi Rescue. If your interested in planning a long-haul trip for you and your family, why not give me a call? With my travel expertise I can tailor make a holiday to suit the whole family!

My customer stories

Sent by Sarah Moore

I had a wonderful experience. Aisling worked very hard to create the holiday that I wanted. I would definitely recommend Travel Counsellors.

Sent by Helen Bresnan

I would highly recommend Aisling as a Travel Counsellor. She has been extremely helpful when organising the trip and provided great advice and a great service. I am very much looking forward to my trip.

Sent by Ciaran King

Aisling was great. Our group of 12 had a mix of business and economy travellers. There were multiple flights and layover hotels required. We had complete peace of mind with our booking and will definitely use her again.

Sent by Chris Cawley

Aisling listened to what I was looking for and developed a great itinerary. Caring, trustworthy, responsive. Overall, a great experience.

Sent by Finnbarr O'Farrell

Very efficient and very friendly.

Sent by Helen Ruttle

Aisling provides a complete service from the moment you book until you return! So knowledgeable and professional - always available to help throughout entire holiday. Thanks.

Sent by Dypmhna Quilligan

Aisling was very efficient, knowledgeable and so lovely to deal with. All I had to do was say yes and she organised it all. Fabulous service. Thanks so much Aisling.

Sent by Amanda Salveta

Professional, friendly & prompt service.

Sent by Siobhan O'Farrell

We enquired with Aisling on a trip to southern Italy and she came up with the best itinerary ever at a reasonable price. She made the whole booking experience a pleasure.

Sent by Peter Rose

Aisling was very patient and she took into consideration all our special requirements for our holidays. Aisling was efficient and a pleasure to deal with.

Sent by Ciara Murphy

I found Aisling very professional and helpful. Very knowledgeable on the location I booked. Nothing is a problem. Very smooth booking. Really looking forward to the vacation.

Sent by Desiree Pierce

Aisling always goes the extra mile and is so helpful - we have recommended Aisling to a number of friends who all say the same thing!

Sent by Ciara Thorburn

Aisling was amazing, she was so helpful, and I would definitely recommend her!

Sent by Conor Gallagher

Aisling is so helpful. Takes away all the hassle of research and coordination of flights dates and accommodation. She knows what we like and finds it with no fuss and within budget. Why would we use anyone else!

Sent by Luke Byrne

Aisling could not have been a bigger help to me. She found me a holiday which ticked every box I was looking for within 24 hours. Amazing service which I will recommend to friends.

Sent by Phelim/Susan Keogan

Just wanted to say how delighted we are the trip you’ve arranged for us! Thank you for all you involvement in making it so easy for us xx

Sent by Lesley Phelan

We had a very seamless experience with Aisling as our Travel Counsellor and would highly recommend her and will book with her again in the future.

Sent by Suzanne Costello

Fabulous service!

Sent by Deirdre McSwiney

Very attentive to detail, which is appreciated.

Sent by Niall McCormack

This is the first time I have used Travel Counsellors service and I was very impressed with the service I experienced. Aisling was Extremely helpful, professional, friendly and courteous. I would certainly recommend Aisling to friends and colleagues, and I will definitely use her service again

Sent by Darren Wright

Fantastic Service!

Sent by Sarah Gallagher

Thank you Aisling for listening to our wish list and requirements. You heard what we wanted and created a holiday where we laughed , relaxed , enjoyed the luxury and now wish we could press repeat! Looking forward to our next adventure.

Sent by Helen Ruttle

Aisling Duignan provided a fantastic, comprehensive service during booking my Christmas holidays in Florida. From arriving in Miami airport - where driver was waiting to take us to hotel, Sonesta Beach Fort Lauderdale hotel , which was the best I stayed in (breakfast too & beach view of flocks of pelicans flying by!) Next stop - Royal Caribbean cruise for 6 nights, stunning! The level of knowledge/expertise that Aisling provided was second to none. Looking forward to my next trip already....