Janet Lewis - Travel Counsellor

With 43 years’ experience within the travel industry, I can assure you that you have landed in the best possible place! I am your local Travel Counsellor based in a small village outside the beautiful old city of Oxford. I am proud to say I was born in the village of Wheatley and have lived here all my life. I live with my husband Alan and our gorgeous Parsons Jack Russell Terrier, Poppy who we adore!

All aspects of travel are a passion of mine, from caravan and camping where I pursue my love of walking, to soaking up the sun on an exotic sandy beach. But my favourite has to be doing a self drive holiday around beautiful Namibia! I have been lucky enough to experience some wonderful destinations over the years including as I say my favourite Namibia, the Indian Ocean, Thailand, The Caribbean and Mexico; not forgetting lots of European destinations! Whether it be a cruise, a city break or maybe a guided tour to some far away country; or maybe it’s that work conference that you need help with? I am here to guide you through it all.

Time is valuable - You don't have to spend hours on the internet, or in a high street travel agents, because after we've chatted you leave the rest to me.

So what's stopping you from getting in touch? I will be personally on hand to help you at a time that suits you during the day or evening. I promise to deliver exactly what you are looking for. I am conscientious and committed to finding the trip that’s right for you. I won’t be happy unless you are!

So! Let’s get you on your way as soon as possible. Please email or telephone me today for a 'plane sailing' booking experience, followed by an unforgettable trip!

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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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.

We arrived in Namibia after an overnight 11 hour flight to Johannesburg and then an onward flight to Windhoek. We were met and quickly transferred to our overnight lodge about a 35 minutes drive away. We'd decided to do a self-drive as it is so safe and they drive on the same side as the road as the UK so knew everything would be fine. Our vehicle was delivered to our lodge that night and the hire company went over everything with us. We had 2 spare wheels, a pump and an excellent sat nav. We were excited to set off fairly early the next morning as we knew it was going to be about a 5-6 hour drive. We started on tarmac roads, but it wasn't long before we went onto gravel. We relaxed into the driving swapping the driving between myself and my husband Alan about every hour. The roads changed from gravel to compacted sand and back to gravel, but it was all good fun and actually, quite enjoyable. We arrived at our first 2 night stop Desert Homestead Outpost in Sossusvlei. Our accommodation was in a thatched chalet with a private terrace that overlooked the open landscape. Dinner was served on an outside terrace and it was lovely! Early to bed as next day we were up for the sunrise and our excursion to the Sossusvlei to visit the iconic red sand dunes, one of the most scenic natural wonders of Africa. These have the biggest sand dunes in the world rising to almost 400 metres - 'Big Daddy' - which you can climb to the very top! We had a fabulous morning, first seeing the sunrise and then the climb up the dunes! Afterwards we explored Deadvlei, a white, salt claypan dotted with ancient trees which were hundreds of years old - it was amazing! Our next stop was to the seaside town of Swakopmund another 5-6 hour drive so another early start as it was more of the same road conditions! We found the temperature dropped here and we really needed some warmer clothes but we managed! Swakopmund is a very German town, lots of German named bars and restaurants. We stayed at the Hansa Hotel in the middle of the town where we were very lucky to be upgraded to their suite - it was massive!! Lots of adventure type activities in this town including quad biking, horse riding and fascinating desert tours. Alan did a living desert tour, he was picked up from the hotel and taken in a 4x4 vehicle to the dunes where he had great fun being driven over the dunes. His guide was amazing, he knew exactly where to find the small creatures that live in the sand and Alan had a brilliant time photographing them. Dinner wasn't included here so we went out to a really lovely restaurant on the end of the pier and had the most amazing fish! Next stop was Twyfelfontein for the next 2 nights staying at the Twyfelfontein Country Lodge (again very cold at night and early morning, but the days were wonderfully hot)- the scenery every step of the way changed so much - it could be hilly one minute and then next very very flat and open but so beautiful! Twyfelfontein in the Northwest of Namibia has a lot of important rock art and rock engravings and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area is also known for the desert-adapted elephant, so in the late afternoon on our 2nd day here we went out on an Ephemeral (Dry) River Drive looking for these wonderful creatures. It was very exciting as this was going to be the first time that we'd be out searching for elephants and finally, sure enough we came across a small herd of about 12 elephants - it was magical and they came very close to our game drive vehicle. We didn't want to leave but it was starting to get dark but had to go as on the way back a stop was planned for the sunset and our sundowner drinks. For our next part of the trip Alan was getting very excited (he loves doing wildlife photography, so the remainder of our trip was all around the wildlife). So driving up to Etosha (another long one) but so worth it - on the way we spotted giraffes fairly near our next lodge which was the Etosha Safari Lodge, individual accommodation was on a hillside with magnificent views. The sunsets were stunning! We had an early morning half day game drive into Etosha where we were in a 9 seater vehicle. The array of different animals was just amazing - an abundance of springbok, giraffe, elephants, zebra....the action around the waterhole was fantastic! Our next 2 nights were still in Etosha but way across to the East, here we drove through the National Park stopping off at the amazing 'Pan' which is a flat calcrete depression covering about 5000 sq kms. I felt we were on a different planet! We saw many animals again during our drive to the next lodge which was the Onguma luxury tented camp! When we arrived the most magical thing was an elephant in the waterhole just playing around and a giraffe slowly meandering down to take a drink, it was mesmerizing! Our 'tent' was amazing, only 7 of them all overlooking the waterhole. They don't take children at this lodge as there are no fences to keep animals out, we had to have a guide to collect us and walk us back to the tent after dark. The food and service here was some of the best we'd had, and what we’d had was already amazing! Alan being into photography; as well as an early morning game drive, we'd booked an afternoon in a hide which was water level so we could get some amazing shots, zebra, wildebeest, warthogs and the giraffes didn't disappoint! Next was just an overnight enroute to Erindi. Just a 1 night stay where we visited Africat a cheetah conservation in Okonjima where we learned about the cheetahs and the work they do there. Well worth a visit. I think we saved the best for last - Erindi Private Game Reserve, staying at Old Traders Lodge. The waterhole here always had something to see, it had hippos and crocodiles and at dinner a family with baby elephants turned up, it was amazing! The game drives were fantastic and we finally saw lions and both the black and the white rhino! Our guide was brilliant! One final night in Windhoek before the journey home, we were so sad to be leaving Namibia. Everything was perfect. The supplier that I used were fantastic, checking in via Whatsapp daily to make sure everything was okay. I will always use them for any Namibian trips for my clients in the future as I can't rate them highly enough! I cannot believe what a fantastic trip this was, so much better than I expected and I'd certainly put it up there with one of the best if not the best holiday we've ever been on!

We had the pleasure of booking our cruise through Janet at Travel Counsellors. It’s not the first trip we have booked and we had no doubt we were in good hands. Jan made it so easy for me to find the right cruise company, the right route, and the right service level. What helped me so much is that she knew so much about cruising and I was able to consider lots of different options and chat about what she thought would suit us best. As a family with only one child (aged 6) we had to find something that ticked boxes for us and our daughter. I was particular about where we visited and in the end we decided that an Adriatic cruise in a mid-sized ship would be perfect. Jan couldn’t have been more spot on ! The ship was everything we could have hoped for. Jan had secured us a mid-area cabin and also spoken to me about the benefits of the different packages and upgrades available. What really adds to the service Jan provides is the ease of doing everything. If you find you’re stressing about something and pick up the phone you’ll normally find her saying ‘but I’ve done that’, or ‘don’t worry, I do that’, or ‘I can sort that for you’. The personal touches are something we all love but forget are available. Our route was perfect (the weather not so in places but we can’t blame Jan for that?) and the little touches along the way that make you remember that travelling through a concierge service is a luxury that is very very affordable. We started in Venice and stopped in Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Corfu, Naples and finished in Rome. The staff on board the Celebrity Infinity were just fantastic. The food was amazing, the entertainment was fab and the facilities were just spot on. There was a perfect balance between activities and just chilling out. One particular restaurant had animated plates in front of you watching how your food was prepared. I’d never seen anything like it! I also love the Travel Counsellors app as when you book holidays through TC and Jan everything is in one place. All you need is your smart phone, your passports and your luggage. It also helps with payments too so that you know what is due and when. I love seeing the upcoming trips and the countdown in days. I know people worry that you are paying over the odds. Believe me you’re not. Can you find it cheaper? Maybe if you have the energy to keep searching and searching, missing out on deals and trying to remember if you are comparing like for like but the thing for me is … do you want your holiday to be below budget or extra special? I know what I would chose.

I was lucky enough to travel to the Seychelles with my husband staying on three different islands, Mahe, Praslin and Denis Island with a day trip to La Digue. We flew on Qatar Airways from Heathrow Terminal 4 on their A380 aircraft changing planes in Doha. Doha is a fantastic airport, very large but easy to find your way around, a few hours stopover gave us time to stretch our legs and then board for the onward flight to Mahe, Seychelles! On arrival in Mahe we were met by our driver Bernard who helped us clear immigration and he then whisked us off to our first hotel where we stayed for two nights – The Carana Beach which is a small boutique hotel. It was lovely, contemporary in style, reception smallish but very adequate. Whilst checking in we were given a lovely cold drink and wet towels to freshen up. It wasn’t long before we were whisked off to our room and how beautiful was that! Large sleeping area and a massive bathroom all very cleverly lit and a lovely balcony with a day bed and sea view. We had dinner in the hotel which wasn’t too expensive compared to the bigger hotels. During our time on Mahe, Bernard took us on a full day tour which included a visit to the capital Victoria, the Bel Air Cemetery, Tea Factory and Mission Lodge. In Victoria we went to the colourful market, the best way to get a feel for the Seychellois and their way of life. Built in 1840 and renovated in 1999, it remains the bustling heart of the capital and definitely the best place to buy fresh fruits, fish, vegetables and spices. The Victoria clock tower is the most prominent feature of Seychelles’ small capital and has acted as a focal point for nearly 100 years. The clock tower is an elegant replica of Big Ben that was first erected in London in 1897. The Bel Air Cemetery, undoubtedly the oldest historic site in Seychelles, was the first official burial ground to be opened on Mahé. The cemetery’s tombs, vaults and shrines contain the remains of some of the island’s most famous personalities such as corsair Jean-Francois Hodoul and the 9ft giant Charles Dorothée Savy. Also, the remains of the mysterious Pierre-Louis Poiret, claimed by some to be the son of Louis XVI who fled the French Revolution and took refuge in Seychelles. From Victoria we headed to Jardin du Roi Spice plantation where we had the most delicious lunch and got to try things that we’d never had before! Plus, we saw giant tortoises up close! The following day Bernard drove us to the Inter Island Quay to board the Cat Coco ferry to take us on the 1-and-a-half-hour crossing to Praslin where we would spend our next 2 nights staying at the Indian Ocean Lodge, a 3* hotel. The food was very good, and the staff were happy to explain what the dishes were and how hot they might be as my husband doesn’t like spicy food. We saw beautiful sunsets here. This island is home to the famous Coco de Mer plant, unfortunately didn’t have time to see much of Praslin as we were booked on a day trip to La Digue, just a 15-minute crossing by ferry. On La Digue we went to Anse Source d'Argent, which is reputed to be the most photographed beach in the world. With its soft white sand, clear turquoise water and huge granite boulders sculptured by the elements and time itself, it is not difficult to see why photographers and film makers still love to come here. The sea is sheltered by the reef, and is very calm and shallow, with only sand underfoot which makes it safe for children. Access to the beach via L'Union Estate requires an entrance fee of SCR100 for non-residents. It was quite crowded here, although understandably so; it was such an amazing place and one that I will remember for a long time. After 2 nights on Praslin, we ferried back to Mahe where our driver was waiting to take us to the airport for our inter island 30-minute flight to Denis Private Island. The best was definitely saved ‘til last! The flight itself was amazing, seeing the islands from the air was breath taking and then landing on the grass strip that runs through the island was another experience that I won’t forget. On landing we were met by the hotel manager and his staff in golf buggies; to take us and our luggage to the main building to check us on, again greeted with a lovely local cold drink. This already was looking like paradise! Soon the golf carts were whizzing us off to our room which was fabulous. Very private, no other room overlooked ours and we had our own bit of ‘private’ beach leading right down to the warm Indian Ocean’s edge. The room was massive, a deluxe beach cottage with a living area and a fantastic outdoor bathroom which extended onto a small garden which had another outdoor shower. Outside we had our own private deck with Sala and day bed as well as beach loungers. Two days to relax in paradise, I really thought I was in heaven! The food here was out of this world and although the restaurant was spectacular you didn’t have to over dress for dinner, you could take your shoes off as you entered and walk around barefooted and men could wear smart shorts for dinner too! The island is self-sufficient with their own farm and they grow their own vegetables which you can go and see at any time. You can do lovely walks or bike rides around the island and they have organised tours by golf buggy to show you round too. There is a library for some extra quiet time and a small games area near the bar. No swimming pool, as unfortunately the ocean has eroded this away – a sad fact of what is to come. But really not required when you’re surrounded by the warm Indian Ocean. Denis Island isn’t for everyone and I don’t think you’d want to stay for longer than 5 or 6 nights. But for complete relaxation, good food and fantastic accommodation I’d highly recommend it. Our 2 nights were over far too quickly and soon we had to head back to Mahe for our onward flight to London. This really was a trip that will stay at the top of my ‘Making Memories’ list and one that I can cross of the bucket list!

My husband Alan and I are lucky enough to have our own apartment on the Costa Blanca. We, sometimes with friends, like to visit different places in Spain using our apartment as a base. A couple of weeks ago we drove 1.5 hours up the coast to the hilltop town of Altea, just the other side of Benidorm. We have been many times and we stay in a small hotel called the Abaco Inn, just at the foot of pretty Altea. Altea has many hotels down on the coast and a few in the old town which is where I prefer to stay. Both are easily walkable, although it is a very steep walk up to the top of the old town, but well worth it. The beach area has recently been renovated and there are lots of swish bars and restaurants along the coastline. On summer evenings, Altea artists set up along the promenade wall towards the centre of the town (by the sea wall parking) and sell their paintings. At night, the old town really comes alive and has a buzzing nightlife. Restaurants are in abundance and vary in what they offer and in price. You can get traditional tapas, pizza, pasta, Mediterranean food, Indian food, French food - there is so much choice! I have a couple of favourites - a Mediterranean restaurant called La Cappella which has great views over the Sierra Bernia mountain range - it was wonderful. Also, a gourmet tapas restaurant called Xef Pirata where we had a tapas taster menu where the courses just kept coming! It seemed small inside, but there was an upstairs too; a great vibe! Stroll up to the top of the hill to the square overlooked by the church with its famous blue tiled dome. There are hundreds of ancient, narrow cobbled streets and walkways, some with shops and others just with houses. They are all so pretty with the beautiful coloured flowers against the whitewashed walls. Little bars can be found tucked away in the narrowest of streets where it’s nice to stop off for a cold beer or glass of chilled wine and a plate of tapas! If you wander around in the heat of the day, be sure to have your sunscreen on and a hat but always with a camera in hand as there is a photo opportunity around every corner. A terrace off the Plaza de la Iglesia offers fine views over Altea town, the harbour and Albir in the distance and Benidorm beyond - truly spectacular. Just 45 minute drive from Alicante airport, Altea is an ideal weekend away!