SJP Holidays

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

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

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

For some strange reason, people seem to like hearing my voice and having a nosy at the rooms I stay in on my holidays and work trips, so to satisfy demand - here's one I've previously been keeping to myself! This video is from when I was in the Maldives earlier this year and stayed at the wonderful 5* Varu by Atmosphere in one of their gorgeous Water Villas... If you're considering a trip to the Maldives, I can highly recommend this island. It's situated in the North Malé Ato

Susan has been so helpful in booking our holidays over the past couple of years - most recently to Ikos Andalusia - we had the most amazing time! Having her book all the travel and arrange check-ins takes all the stress and admin out of travelling, and our journey ran really smoothly. She even helped to arrange car seats for our young daughter. Our room was unexpectedly upgraded and actually had a side sea view which was a lovely surprise. Our daughter especially loved the s

It’s these kinds of stories that make my work so rewarding. Julie and Neil returned to Mauritius where they got married to re-new their wedding vows, but the holiday was made even more special by taking Julie's mum with them to celebrate her 80th birthday. To then receive the following letter, card and flowers was the icing on the cake... 😊 Dear Susan, Just a little note to thank you for all your help, patience and assistance with our special trip which was just perfect. We

I am delighted to have had another article in the July 2025 edition of two lovely local publications, Oundle Life and Thrapston Life The editorial team were keen to run a feature about my recent educational trip to Mykonos. Click the link below to read my article and to browse the full magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/rlpov/hsdq/#p=8

Have you ever had to pinch yourself to check you’re not dreaming? That was me as our seaplane touched down at the W Maldives. Looking out across that dazzling blue water, I spotted a line of smiling staff waving from the jetty. Check-in had already been taken care of in the VIP lounge at Malé, so from the moment we stepped off the plane, it was all welcome drinks and warm smiles. After an introduction to the island from the manager and a buggy tour of the resort, we were show

I was lucky enough to be invited to stay at the beautiful Ikos Aria in Kos earlier this year - and it did not disappoint. Although I already knew a lot about the Ikos brand and everything it had to offer, experiencing it first-hand was a real treat. The attention to detail, the ease, and the sheer level of thought that goes into every part of the holiday… it really did impress. Let me share what you can expect… Ikos Resorts is a collection of award-winning luxury properties i

This one felt really special. Call me old-fashioned, but how wonderfully refreshing to receive a card from this lovely couple after their stay at the adult-only Keyonna Beach boutique hotel in Antigua. Who needs emails and phones when you have a note like this? 😊 Hi Susan, We just wanted to thank you for arranging such a lovely holiday for us, it was perfect. Our room, we think, was probably the best one of the 47 rooms in the resort. The staff call our small block “in the c

Last November, I was lucky enough to stay at two incredible Anantara hotels in the UAE, each offering something completely different but equally special. If you’re looking for luxury, exceptional service and a memorable stay, these are two properties well worth considering... Anantara Downtown Dubai Hotel Anantara Downtown Dubai is a peaceful retreat in the heart of the city, just 20 minutes from the airport. Once you step inside the grand doors, the bustle of downtown Dubai

Earlier this year, I finally ticked off the Island of Spice - Grenada. Kicking off my trip with a few nights at Mount Cinnamon, a boutique hotel I’ve had my eye on for years, was the perfect start. Just 15 minutes from the airport, Mount Cinnamon is a stunning intimate boutique hotel perched on the hillside overlooking gorgeous Grand Anse Beach. As a self-confessed beach snob, let me tell you - this two-mile stretch of golden sand did not disappoint. The property itself felt

Big news. The Maldives have finally been ticked off my wish list! 😊 In July, I was fortunate to join a small group of Designer Travel colleagues for an 8-night educational trip to four different islands. We flew with the impressive Qatar Airlines via Doha - another first for me. I wanted to share an overview of my experience and what I feel each island has to offer. If you'd like more details, you know me - I love to chat about holidays! The first two islands I visited are c

Vanessa and Chris, fellow members of my tennis club, approached me with a request for a resort holiday where they could enjoy both tennis and some well-deserved relaxation. I’m pleased to say that my hotel recommendation seems to have hit the mark… Memories of past holidays made us long for the sound of cicadas and the scent of cypress trees that Greece always delivers. Add to that the guaranteed hot, sunny weather and a refreshing glass of ouzo, and we couldn’t resist. We as

I am delighted to have successfully completed the online training courses for the Sandals and Beaches Resorts, to add to my collection of specialist online training. NB These training courses have to be re-taken every two years.

The pandemic brought about challenging times for us all. As someone deeply passionate about exploring new destinations and learning more about the world, the limitations imposed during this period were hard. Not only did they impact my ability to book trips for my clients, but they also restricted my own trips and travel stories. With the recent transition to Designer Travel marking a new chapter in my journey, I'm thrilled to embrace the opportunity to make up for lost time,

I contacted Susan for recommendations on seeking a March sunshine break for us. She researched our requirements and provided helpful suggestions, including the fabulous 5-star Amavi MadeForTwo Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus. The room was excellent, full of tech to work the lights, curtains and temperature, and a lovely comfortable bed. The outside pool had allocated sun beds, the grounds were beautiful and the staff were amazing. We enjoyed a plentiful buffet at breakfast and del

Susan was recommended to us by a friend when we booked our amazing honeymoon to St Lucia in 2013. She is always friendly, polite, professional and helpful, especially so this time around. At the beginning of this year, we approached Susan with our holiday requirements and worked together to find the perfect all-inclusive resort in Rhodes for a 10-day holiday in August. We were thrilled! July came along and as the terrible fires in Greece started, we hoped and prayed that t

Susan has been helping my family with holidays for several years and we are extremely appreciative of her hard work. This summer we found ourselves in a difficult situation when the terrible wildfires in Rhodes resulted in the sudden cancellation of the Saturday outbound flights, whilst we were in the departure lounge waiting to board. Hugely disappointed that our long-planned family holiday was ruined, we set about recovering our luggage and retrieving our car to return ho