John Petch
My expertise
I'm based in
Cork
It's Nice To Meet You
Travel has been my inspiration and passion since I was 8 years old, following my first holiday, in Clifden Connemara! I lived & worked in Paris for over 30 years before returning to West Cork in 2020.
Imagine a place where luxury means intimacy and discretion - Imagine enjoying tailor-made service - Imagine a stylish refuge from the turbulence of daily life. Experience serenity and peace while you travel.
This is what I, as a Travel Counsellor, can bring to your door – handcrafting amazing trips and holidays, making inspirational voyages.
No request is too small and no itinerary too complex.
If it involves travel, be it adventure, short city break, cruise, expeditions, lifetime celebration, corporate trips, I can help! Let’s chat and create custom magical experiences.
While our relationship will always be one-to-one, I’m backed by the global Travel Counsellors network - a world leading organisation of travel professionals. That means I can offer the widest range of experiences and ideas combining the above with my personal experiences during my 30 years working in the luxury travel trade.
Put your travel plans in the hands of a trusted travel professional and let me take away all the hassle from you, so all you must do is sit back, relax, and enjoy. You will also have the comfort of knowing that you are booking with a fully licensed and bonded company, which means your money is safe. Travel Counsellors are licensed and bonded with the Irish Aviation Authority, licence No TA621.
I look forward to hearing from you and planning your trips. Please give me a call or drop me an email.
Kind regards,
John
Culture in North Thailand
Chiang Mai was a lovely city – not too large and easy distance from airport to hotel and hotel to activities we did were superb – visiting Temple Wat, Grandmas cooking experience and night market. This was a big favourite of mine and I hope to return for longer next time to explore out into hinterland and head further up into the hills where there are some lovely boutique hotels and resorts.
26 Aug 2026 5 min read
Bangkok with Melia Hotels & EXO tours
If you are considering Thailand for a future holiday, here is a first hand look at what you can expect. Contact me to start planning your own tailored Thailand itinerary and I will put together suggestions that reflect exactly how you like to travel.
26 Aug 2026 4 min read
NCL Pearl Istanbul to Trieste
I went off on a late summer cruise on Norwegian Pearl in the Eastern Mediterranean - I don't usually travel during school holiday time but it was a a good trip and ports were not that busy.
24 Nov 2025 4 min read
Azamara Journey Transatlantic Crossing
I particularly love transatlantic crossings – an opportunity to totally switch off and relax while scanning the waves for sea life and making new friends over a beverage at the bar or while playing cards or trivia. This was my first Azamara experience, and I am now hooked on this small ship cruise line. As soon as I entered the cruise terminal in Miami, I noticed it was not the usual big hall, re
22 Apr 2025 5 min read
Inaugural of NCL Aqua
In late March, I went on the inaugural 3-day cruise of the Norwegian Aqua - the latest Prima Plus ship added to their fleet. Our round-trip route was Southampton Zeebrugge. I chose to stay at the Novotel for my pre-cruise night, and this was an easy 7-minute walk to the terminal. From the outside, the Aqua looked big, but once inside, the clever design using curves and light colour palettes ga
16 Apr 2025 4 min read
Renovated Notre Dame Cathedral
On my recent visit to Paris I was lucky to get to see the newly restored Notre Dame. It is really a “to do” when visiting the city of light and love. Though it needs a bit of planning and sometimes patience, especially when Paris is busy with visitors. Pre-book your visiting time via the Notre Dame app - it is free, and spaces usually get released 48 hours in advance. When I went, I popped ont
16 Apr 2025 3 min read
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