Ian Walsh

My expertise

Australia
South Africa
Maldives
South East Asia
Europe
Cruise
Honeymoons
Safari

I'm based in

Athy

It's Nice To Meet You

Welcome to my webpage and thank you for taking the time to find out a little more about me. I have been working as a travel consultant for 24 years, including 17 years as a Luxury Travel Counsellor, providing a specialist concierge-style travel service. The travel bug first took hold when I was 14, after my very first trip abroad to Spain on my own to visit friends. From that moment, I knew I wanted to see as much of the world as possible.

For over two decades I have been creating dream holidays, and it truly is my passion. Picture yourself in an overwater villa in the Maldives, gazing out over the sparkling Indian Ocean, or in a beautiful luxury suite in St Lucia, with views of the dazzling Caribbean Sea. Perhaps you prefer a relaxed family escape, where the children make new friends while you put your feet up, confident that every detail has been carefully arranged. These are the kinds of experiences I love to create, so you can enjoy special memories that last a lifetime.

As your Luxury Travel Counsellor, I offer a fully personalised service for all types of travel, both leisure and corporate. I am committed to delivering the highest level of customer service and I am available throughout the day, and by appointment in the evenings and most weekends. My role is to work closely with you to plan your perfect trip, tailored to your needs and refined right down to the finest detail.

I aim to take away the stress of researching and booking your holiday. After an initial chat, where I learn about your expectations and what you are looking for from your trip, I will take the planning off your shoulders. By combining a friendly, professional and personal approach with many years of experience, I can offer you excellent value and a wide range of options that are right for you.

With my wealth of travel experience, I can provide first-hand advice on all types of holidays. I specialise in cruises, premium family holidays, honeymoons to many of the world’s most desirable destinations, such as the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Dubai, Africa, Asia and in the Caribbean, St Lucia, Aruba, Grand Cayman Islands, St Barts and Barbados.

Having travelled extensively throughout Europe and across the globe to destinations including Australia, most of Asia including Bali, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and more as well as North America, Mexico, Canada and the USA, the Caribbean, the Middle East and many more. I would be delighted to use this knowledge and experience to help bring your travel ideas to life.

If you would like to have a friendly chat about your next adventure, I would love to hear from you on 059 8633 836.

Best wishes,

Ian

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MSC World Europa Cruise was amazing!

MSC World Europa Cruise was amazing!

🚢 Cruising in Style: Our MSC World Europa Adventure with the Aurea Experience If you're dreaming of a Mediterranean escape that blends luxury, adventure, and unforgettable cuisine, let us introduce you to the MSC World Europa. We recently sailed as a couple aboard this stunning ship and upgraded to the Aurea Experience Stateroom, a decision that elevated our entire journey. ✨ Aurea Experience:

22 Oct 2025 5   min read

Exploring Abu Dhabi: Luxury, Culture & Family Fun!

Exploring Abu Dhabi: Luxury, Culture & Family Fun!

I was invited out to Abu Dhabi by Etihad Airways, Rotana Hotels and Resorts, and Abu Dhabi Tourism. Just back from an incredible trip to Abu Dhabi, and I couldn’t wait to share the highlights with you. Whether you're a couple seeking luxury and culture, a family craving fun and adventure, or a stopover traveller wanting a taste of something special — Abu Dhabi delivers on every front! Flying Bu

26 Jun 2025 5   min read

Virgin Voyages - Scarlet Lady Ship

Virgin Voyages - Scarlet Lady Ship

A cruise on Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady is an unforgettable experience, filled with luxurious accommodations, vibrant entertainment, and top-notch dining! Although it is buzzy ship with a lively atmosphere by day and by night, you can still find quiet places to chill and relax, low key bars and restaurants to completely unwind and dine in. I stayed in a Sea Terrace room, which offers stunning oc

21 Oct 2024 5   min read

Cruise on MSC Grandiosa

Cruise on MSC Grandiosa

The MSC Grandiosa offers an unforgettable cruising experience, especially with a stunning itinerary that includes the picturesque ports of La Goulette, Palermo, Capri, Livorno, and Cassis. Each port brings a unique charm, combining Mediterranean beauty with rich cultural history. We had beautiful Ports of Call: La Goulette, Tunisia: This vibrant port is your gateway to the ancient city of Cartha

21 Oct 2024 5   min read

IKOS Oceania Ultra All Inclusive Luxury

IKOS Oceania Ultra All Inclusive Luxury

I took a 5 day break to the Ultra All Inclusive 5* IKOS Oceania Luxury Resort. IKOS Resorts are a group of hotels primarily in Greece but now in Spain and soon to be in Portugal too. They have become renowned for their high end luxury and Ultra All Inclusive "Unconditional Luxury" concept, winning awards for their all inclusive over a number of years. The clientele here are couples, families and

12 May 2023 5   min read

Nashvile Tennessee! Where music legends live forever

Nashvile Tennessee! Where music legends live forever

Nashville is probably the best long weekend break you can have in southern USA! There are plenty of amazing things to do in Nashville and one 3 night trip won't cover everything so that is already an excuse to go back again and again! I travelled with American Airlines in their Premium Economy on their Boeing 787 Dreamliner for the long haul flight to Philadelphia connecting on to Nashville and t

12 May 2023 5   min read

Norwegian Epic Cruise

Norwegian Epic Cruise

I was invited by Norwegian Cruise Lines to spend 4 nights on board the Norwegian Epic cruise ship as part of their return to sea test cruise and it didn't disappoint. This was my first getaway since the pandemic kicked off. It had been 18 months since I left the country and I was super excited to be travelling again and on a cruise, one of my favourite holidays. All guests must be fully vaccinated

16 Sept 2021 5   min read

Kuramathi Maldives - A WOW holiday

Kuramathi Maldives - A WOW holiday

This was probably my most anticipated holiday ever! I have dreamed of visiting the Maldives ever since I became a travel agent almost 20 years ago! Of course, the Maldives didn't disappoint and I am longing to return for a longer visit next time! Travelling with one of my favourite carriers, Emirates Airlines, from Dublin via Dubai the connection was only 1 hour. It was tight but everything went

16 Sept 2021 5   min read

Malaysia, Australia & Singapore

Malaysia, Australia & Singapore

This was my honeymoon and we definitely made it a trip of a lifetime! We flew business class with Turkish Airlines from Dublin via Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur. The fully lie flat beds were so comfortable for sleeping and the food is some of the best I've ever had on board a plane! Arriving in Kuala Lumpur, we checked in to the stunning 5* Traders Hotel for 4 days, right in the heart of the city, in

29 Mar 2021 5   min read

Universal Resort Orlando!!

Universal Resort Orlando!!

This was one trip I was really excited about. We travelled with Aer Lingus on their fantastic direct flight from Dublin to Orlando and we got to experience their Business Lounge in Terminal 2 and what a great experience, with lots of snacks and drinks to help you relax before the long flight to Florida. Ask me about lounge access for any Aer Lingus flight. The US Customs and Immigration pre-cleara

25 May 2016 5   min read

Viva Cuba Libre! Havana, Trinidad City & Varadero

Viva Cuba Libre! Havana, Trinidad City & Varadero

This had been one trip I was very excited for and it didn't disappoint! Travelling with Air France via Paris from Dublin the connection was quick and easy and the new Air France 777 aircraft from Paris made for a quiet and comfortable flight. On arrival in Havana we transferred to our hotel, 5* Parque Central. This hotel is in a prime central location and offers very easy access to all the main at

11 Jun 2015 5   min read

The Dubai Experience

The Dubai Experience

I flew with Emirates Airlines Business Class which was a magnificent experience and one I can highly recommend. They have a world class service and with lie-flat beds, this just made the whole journey seem effortless. The first hotel I stayed at was the 5* Sofitel The Palm. This brand new property, which only opened on 1st July 2013, has a French Polynesian theme throughout giving you a feeling

07 Oct 2013 5   min read

I find Ian at Travel Counsellors to be so helpful and his knowledge of booking our holidays is amazing - he is always at the other end of the phone we may have.

Sheila ONeill

Kildare

Ian is great to work with. He is always at the end of the phone if I need a question answered. He always adds the personal touch, like sending you your bag tags with all the information filled out. It's the little things. He has great knowledge on the areas we visit too. Definitely recommend him.

Debbie Lucey

Louth

We have complete trust in Ian Walsh at Travel Counsellors to always deliver a great holiday experience. He is a pleasure to deal with and is very efficient and thorough in organising our holiday/travel arrangements that we would have no hesitation in recommending him to our family and friends.

John Carton

Dublin

Ian was fantastic from the off. Very helpful, extremely insightful and knowledgeable, and his prompt and concise communication was truly appreciated

Michael Martin

Dublin

Ian is excellent, brilliant to deal with, really listens to what you are looking for. No hesitation recommending him

Orlagh Farrell

Dublin

Ian Walsh TC is a fantastic help with advice and options when planning and booking all our trips highly recommend him.

Sinead Fennessy

Laois

Ian is a professional and always gives the best service.

Niall Mulpeter

Kildare

Professional, very knowledgeable & experienced. We changed our minds very late in the booking & nothing was a hassle for Ian. Felt like he had our best interests at heart. Definitely deal with him again.

Nicola Tougher

Dublin

Ian was lovely to deal with, we had lots of chats and laughs while trying to tie down our honeymoon plans. He found lovely accommodation for us in each location on our trip and quickly came back on my numerous queries, altering the itinerary further with a few changes following our request. He never pushed for us to go with any aspect and often offered to change things again to reduce the price further. Would highly recommend based on our experience so far and look forward to dealing with Ian further closer to our honeymoon departure date!

Suzanne McCole

Dublin

Excellent, professional and friendly service. Would highly recommend and I will 100% be booking with Ian for all my future travel plans.

Lesley Anne Reid

Dublin

Very informative and helpful - 5 Stars.

Aoife Ryan

Wexford

As this is my very first solo trip and cruise for that matter, Ian was very helpful and knowledgeable. He was so quick and forthcoming with the information regarding requirements, putting me at ease with my choice to travel solo. I would highly recommend Travel Counsellor Ian to anyone looking to book any type of holiday. I feel excited and relaxed with my choice now thanks to Ian, 10/10 from me.

Deirdre McKenna

Kildare

Delighted that we found Travel Counsellor Ian Walsh . He is an excellent listener with extensive knowledge of city breaks, cruises and everything in between. Partner this with incredible patience and you know you’ve got the perfect guy for all your holiday needs.

Maebh Walsh

Louth

Ian is a super help, especially when you are organising a holiday for a number of people with different requests!

Linda Farrell

Meath

As always Ian does everything he can to get us the holiday we want. He has never let us down in all the years we have booked with Travel Counsellors. I can honestly say I wouldn't hesitate in recommending lan to all my friends and family and have done so for many years. Looking forward to our upcoming trip in 2 weeks time.

Agnes Green

Dublin

What's not to like, incredible service and the personal touch.

Roderick O'Connor

Laois

Ian is always so helpful, always at the end of the phone to answer questions and has such a great knowledge of destinations. Would highly recommend!

Bernadette Byrne

Kildare

Always a pleasure to deal with Ian.

Patrick Fitzsimons

Dublin

So easy to work with, very quick to respond and organises everything, making travel what it is supposed to be - enjoyable.

Avis Marie Mullen

Dublin

Ian is great to deal with, always has amazing places to choose from and brilliant customer service.

Karl Rogers

Galway

I would highly recommend Ian when booking a holiday. So helpful and professional.

Niamh Redmond

Dublin

Always a pleasure booking my holidays with Ian. Nothing is ever too much trouble. Every holiday booked to date has been fantastic. His wealth of knowledge is incredible. We look forward to booking all our holidays with Ian in the future.

Kim McGlone

Meath

Ian was great and really helpful, he helped us plan our perfect honeymoon. I would highly recommend and will definitely use his services for any future travels.

Elaine Kinnear

Kildare

Ian listened to what I wanted and took his time to find me my ideal holiday. He had a lot of patience as I wasn't sure what I wanted to begin with. I am so excited and looking forward to our family getaway in a fabulous destination. Ian couldn't have done anymore for me. I would highly recommend him and this is why I come back myself.

Leona Mooney

Dublin

Fantastic service, from my query to booking was flawless and the app is absolutely amazing, such a professional experience.

Karen Dowling

Dublin

Highly Recommend!!

Sandra McGlone

Laois

Extremely helpful and friendly service from Ian. Would highly recommend.

Grainne Fitzgerald

Kildare

I have already been raving about our experience with Ian to my family and friends. I was so impressed with him - will definitely be using Ian again. We have already passed on his details to our wedding planner as we believe everyone should have the Ian experience when booking their honeymoon.

Marese Feeney

Dublin

Very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. Very good experience.

Ronan Canning

Dublin

I have been dealing with Ian Walsh for almost 10 years now and he is and will always be my go to person for short or long holidays.

Janice McGillivray

Meath

Ian has been great to work with and took all the stress out of arranging my family holiday. The holiday started with Ian...great offers and a great service!! Thanks Ian!

Claire Brown

Meath

I would highly recommend Ian he is so helpful and nothing is too much bother for him. I would feel confident letting my family and friends know how good he is.

Eileen Kelly

Dublin

Ian was so lovely to deal with and very helpful.

Jason Dunne

Kildare

Ian is super helpful and he also has an excellent eye for good value luxury holidays. I would 100% recommend him to everyone.

Emma Evans

Kildare

Ian took the search out of our hands as soon as I gave him my budget, he came back to me with my ideas the next day. He is polite and confident in what he does .. which made me not as anxious.

Tracey McCullagh

Meath

The first thing we did after booking was to recommend Ian to our friends.

Mark Baker

Dublin

Ian was very professional in the service he provided. He listened to what we wanted from our holiday and tailored the options to suit our families.

Lynnette O'Hara

Dublin

Ian was absolutely amazing to deal with, he was always there if we had any questions or needed more information. I would highly recommend Ian if you are planning any type of trip away. It made booking our honeymoon easy and stress free...which is what you want!!!

Nicole Lorigan

Clare

Thank you so much for making booking a holiday so easy, I wish I had found you sooner but will be booking every holiday with you from here on in. You listened to exactly what we were looking for and found every thing and more for us. The count down is on and receiving your thank you card has made it very real and is a lovely personal touch. We really appreciate you going above and beyond for us.

Julie Dowdall

Wexford

Myself and my husband booked our mini-moon & honeymoon through Ian. He was amazing, he gave us plenty of options, tips & hints. He took the hassle away from us .Very helpful & followed up with us before our trip to make sure we were sorted. We are looking forward to our honeymoon in December now. Thanks again Ian. Looking forward to booking more trips with you in the future. Andy & Aidan

Andy Gilbert-Mannion

Dublin

We would recommended anyone to go with Ian for any holiday. Ian, you know what we like and you sure gave us a great break. We are really looking forward to our next holiday already. Once again, many thanks from two very happy customers.

Bernadette & Patrick Byrne

Beechwood, Inch, Athy

We have booked with Ian three times, with one of the trips being our all-important honeymoon. What I really value about the service Ian provides is he really listens to the brief that you give him, including budget. He really puts you at ease, very professional and knowledgeable so you know you're in the right hands. If you run into bother when on holidays, lose documents or just need advice Ian is always available to assist you which is absolutely priceless. A fantastic service from an absolute professional.

Martina Cullen

Athy

My husband, 3 year old son and I are just back from one of the best family holidays we have ever had. When we contacted Ian back in February about booking our summer holiday, we knew we wanted to go to Portugal, but we were open to ideas and let Ian select the resort and location. Ian took time out to talk to us and listen to our requirements and came back promptly with not one but three different options for us, all within our price range. Ian's recommendations far exceeded our expectations. We couldn't have been happier with the 5 star service we received from Ian and from our family holiday. So much so, that I have already booked my next holiday later this year with my Travel Counsellor. Thanks again Ian.

Paula Brady

Baldoyle

I first met Ian last autumn at Toastmasters in Athy and after talking to him for a little while soon discovered he organised holidays for people and tailored made them to meet family requirements. This was music to my ears as I am a widow aged 64 and every year try to plan my own holiday with a friend who also lost her husband some years ago. I explained to him what my wish for this year was and he emailed me different options and hotels he could recommend for me, which included train transfers, pick-ups etc. even down to places to eat out. He was very patient and organised a holiday I am really looking forward to.

Marie Conlon

Newbridge, Co. Kildare.

I was recommended to Ian through a friend last year, I used Ian to book a cruise for myself and my husband. I go on holidays each year and always use a travel agent. I must say without a doubt Ian is a pleasure to deal with, he goes beyond what is expect to make sure you have all that you require to have a great holiday. One quality I like about Ian is his honesty, if you need transfers he will say yes get them, or if not he will say they are not value for money. I would have no problem recommending him to my friends and going forward I will always use Ian as my travel agent.

Eileen Kelly

Balbriggan Co, Dublin

Thanks so much for arranging our holiday in Portugal recently. We had an amazing time and the hotel was fabulous and ideal location. Totally stress free for us as you had it all sorted and very professional service. I am looking forward to booking plenty more holidays with you.

Rachel Harford

Balbriggan

I would always contact Ian first before I go looking for our annual family holiday. He gets back to me promptly with a choice of options and I also purchase my travel insurance through his service. He now knows my family’s needs and we get the package we want and save for every year. I find that added security knowing that there is someone at the other end of the phone should something go awry. We will continue to use Ian at Travel Counsellors as long as he provides this great service.

Janice Mc Gillivray

Stamullen Co Meath

I would use Ian to book any holiday requirements I would have. I find him so easy to deal with, so professional and knows exactly what I like.

Sheila O Neill

Newbridge Co Kildare

We spent a wonderful week in Lake Garda. Thanks to Ian for finding us a holiday at short notice to this amazing place. Thanks for going above and beyond Ian, You're a gent and I would recommend your services to anyone.

Sandra McGrath

Balbriggan, Dublin

New adult only 5* Secrets Moxché Resort Mexico

New adult only 5* Secrets Moxché Resort Mexico

Exquisite taste and exotic views will capture your heart at Secrets Moxché. Escape into luxury™ in the heart of the Riviera Maya.

18 May 2022

Kuredu Island Resort Maldives

Kuredu Island Resort Maldives

Kuredu Resort Maldives is a gorgeous vibrant resort, with a stunning lagoon, fringed by white sandy beaches. Excellent for families, couples or friends.

24 Sept 2021

Sail on Celebrity Edge

Sail on Celebrity Edge

The incredible Celebrity Edge has revolutionised big ship cruising without compromising on luxury. I hope you enjoy this short video. Call 059 8633 836

20 Sept 2021

Amanzoe Luxury Resort Greece

Amanzoe Luxury Resort Greece

Wellness retreats don’t get much more exclusive - or decadent - than the Amanzoe. Contact me today on 059 8633 836

20 Sept 2021

Here's some travel inspiration - Islands

Here's some travel inspiration - Islands

As the world of travel starts to gather pace again, the islands of the world are opening up! From the Maldives to Mauritius and the Caribbean to the Seychelles

20 Sept 2021

Kuramathi Maldives - One of my favourite island resorts

Kuramathi Maldives - One of my favourite island resorts

Kuramathi is a stunning island paradise and I loved every second I spent there. For more details on my stay, go to "My Travel Blogs" below this video

20 Sept 2021

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059 8633836

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