SJP Holidays

The August edition of Behind The Scenes from Designer Travel is out, and I'm rather excited about this one as you'll find me in it once again - this time talking about Puglia! Puglia has become such a passion of mine (look out for my own blog), and it was brilliant to share why with the DT team for this issue. If you've ever fancied Italy's sun-soaked heel, sleepy whitewashed towns, incredible food and a coastline that rivals anywhere in Europe, this is well worth a read. The

We honestly can't thank Susan enough for everything she did for us - from helping us book our dream safari holiday to South Africa, to dealing with the unexpected disruption caused by the conflict in the Middle East. She was absolutely fantastic every step of the way. When our flights and part of our itinerary had to be changed at very short notice, Susan worked incredibly hard to sort everything out. She kept us updated throughout, always remained calm and reassuring and mad

I want to give a huge thank you to Susan, my incredible travel agent. I booked a solo trip to celebrate my 40th at Canonnier Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa in Mauritius, though my cousin ended up joining me for it too. She didn't just organise a holiday, she crafted an experience that touched my soul. From the moment I landed, everything flowed effortlessly. I was greeted, transferred smoothly to the resort, and treated to high-end service every single day. The resort team wer

I was lucky enough to spend a couple of seasons in South America, and I fully understand the appeal of this beautiful continent. I visited Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica and even the Falkland Islands, and I was lucky enough to escort an overland tour to Cusco, Lima and Machu Picchu too. Having firsthand experience of this part of the world makes it easy for me to suggest a trip there, and honestly, everyone I know who's been comes back wanting to

The June edition of Behind The Scenes from Designer Travel has landed - and families are very much front and centre this month. Whether you're planning a traditional family holiday, a multi-generational trip or something a little more adventurous, there's real inspiration in this issue. The Turkey spotlight is particularly worth a read - I recently visited for the first time in a while, along with 30 of our Designer Travel team and we all came back with glowing reports. It re

There is something about receiving a card through the post that never gets old. When Maggy and Mel arrived home from their Florida family holiday and turned up with flowers, chocolates and a handwritten card, it truly warmed my heart. The most thoughtful of gestures. They had mentioned during the planning stages that they would love to see a rocket launch while they were out there. So I had a quiet word with NASA and made sure they launched Artemis II at just the right moment

We recently booked a multi-state trip to the US through Susan, and I honestly can’t recommend her enough! From start to finish, the entire experience was seamless, stress-free and incredibly well organised. We travelled across three different states and flew between each one, yet everything ran so smoothly thanks to Susan’s attention to detail. Every flight and part of the itinerary was perfectly arranged, making the whole holiday feel effortless on our end. What really stood

Designer Travel has just released its beautiful new brochure, entitled The Culinary Escape Collection. If food is as important to you on holiday as it is to me, you're going to love it! Inside you'll find a handpicked selection of food-focused experiences - from Michelin-starred dining at luxury beachfront resorts to authentic local flavours, underwater restaurants, private chef experiences and world-class cuisine at sea. It's a genuinely inspiring read. I've always believed

Designer Travel has just released its brilliant new Best of Touring brochure - and it's packed with inspiration. Solo travel, family getaways, unique experiences and a special spotlight on Asia - ancient China, Tokyo and the Himalayas among the highlights. There is also a fascinating look at how guided travel has evolved and the trends shaping its future. Touring holidays have grown enormously in popularity and I have been booking some fantastic adventures for clients recentl

I recently dispatched my spring newsletter to my subscribers. If you want to have a read of the full newsletter, click here...

It's no secret that I love Canada. The thought of fall foliage and pumpkins was simply too much to resist, so an autumn trip was always on the cards. With Covid airline credit still sitting with WestJet, I flew premium economy from Gatwick to Halifax, Nova Scotia - revisiting areas I'd explored over 15 years ago, discovering some new places and spending time in Saint John, New Brunswick with old friends. There is so much to share that I'll just pick out the highlights! Cape B

When I was invited to visit Mykonos, as part of a Designer Travel educational trip, I will be honest, I had my reservations. I pictured sunset DJ sets, packed beach clubs and a crowd considerably cooler than me. I boarded the plane in my faithful Skechers wondering if I had made a mistake. I am so glad I kept an open mind. The trip was hosted by the Myconian Collection - a group of 14 family-run hotels, the first of which opened in 1979 and is now operated by four sons. That

The April edition of Behind The Scenes from Designer Travel is out - and this month it's all about river cruising! River cruising is something I am genuinely passionate about. Unpacking just the once, drifting through stunning scenery and waking up in the heart of a new city every morning - it really is one of the most relaxing and rewarding ways to explore the world. Eleven of our Designer Travel experts recently attended the CLIA River Cruise Conference in Amsterdam, experi

I am delighted to share that I have a feature in the April 2026 edition of Oundle Life. The editorial team asked me to write about one of my favourite parts of the world - Nova Scotia, Canada. The piece is called Right To Roam and covers everything from the stunning Cabot Trail and Cape Breton Island to the food, the coastline and why this part of Canada keeps drawing me back. Click the link below to read the full article and browse the magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/

We just wanted to thank Susan for arranging our three-week holiday through British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies in September 2025. It was an unforgettable experience and she pulled out all the stops to celebrate my husband Steve's 60th birthday. From the initial consultation through to our return home, our itinerary reflected everything we had discussed - the fantastic landscapes, outstanding scenery and wonderful wildlife. Canada is a stunning country with wonderful peo

We have been using Susan for a number of years now - she has booked us a Canary Islands break and a wonderful Mediterranean cruise, both organised extremely well, with Susan looking after us from beginning to end. When it came to planning a special holiday for a 60th birthday, we turned to Susan again. She was extremely knowledgeable, offering several destinations before helping us narrow it down to Barbados. Using her experience of the island, she found us a great hotel that

When John and Jackie came to me to organise a three-week Japan trip for their 40th wedding anniversary, I knew it was going to be special. John kindly agreed to write about their experience on their return and in his own words, here it is. Be warned, these two made every single minute count! We've just had the trip and adventure of a lifetime. Japan. Simply awesome. Susan had previously organised our USA coast-to-coast trip and pulled together this three-week Japan adventure

Time to explore the February edition of Behind The Scenes from Designer Travel - this month's theme is island escapes from around the world! Discover the culture and luxury of Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, the dramatic volcanic landscapes of the Azores, and Caribbean Islands by cruise. We're also featuring closer-to-home island gems: the Channel Islands and Isles of Scilly. You'll find a customer's perspective on their Maldives adventure, and if the Winter Olympics have inspi

I recently dispatched my winter newsletter to my subscribers. If you want to have a read of the full newsletter, click here ...

My wife and I first visited Anse Chastenet in the spring of 2023. We've loved visiting St Lucia since we first went as a family in 2016, and as part of an earlier visit, we'd been on a snorkelling trip to Anse Chastenet Bay. A friend had also told me that Anse Chastenet was a very different sort of resort - much closer to nature - which greatly appealed to us. Our stay in 2023 was excellent, even after the drive along the approach road to the resort, which is frequently menti