The Travel Journal

Fantastic experience: We have relied on Ben to organise a number of holidays for us over the past few years and I can’t recommend him enough. Everything is easy and you can have total confidence that your holiday will be as you expect it to be allowing you the time to really relax and enjoy. Being an independent business really does make the difference to how important your needs are when it comes to getting everything spot on.

Fantastic experience: We chatted with Ben at The Travel Journal about our holiday thoughts and what we liked to do on holiday as a family. Ben came up with some great recommendations and accommodation suggestions. Ben took time to understand what we wanted and put together a tailored package to suit. It’s a personal service and communication was brilliant throughout. Would highly recommend!

Fantastic experience: Thank you again for organising our honeymoon, the whole trip was amazing from start to finish and we’re so glad you recommended a few days to relax on the beach at the end. We definitely needed it! Ben organised local guides which were brilliant, and we were pleasantly surprised by how timely everything was being in Asia. They were always there early and waiting for us when we arrived. An organised holiday like this was new to us, previously we’ve been more DIY, and we were grateful for the organisational prowess. We also loved the restaurant recommendations in the booklet Ben provided, often opting to go to the more locally places. Our guide in Hanoi was surprised when we told her where we’d eaten on the first night, choosing a ‘bare bones’ local Pho place and I think she took us to some more exotic places on the food tour as we were obviously willing to try things. A huge thank you again, we’re really grateful!

Fantastic experience: Great service from The Travel Journal who arranged our trip to Singapore and Bali. All the details taken care of by Ben who goes the extra mile. Looking forward to our trip to San Francisco.

Fantastic experience: We booked our trip to New Zealand , flights, car hire and hotel for return so all the hassle taken care of to get there and back. We were able to select flights from all the possibilities and able to choose what suited us by price and convenience. Car hire included the insurance and Ben sorted the claim for the chip in the windscreen on our return. We had the freedom to booked our own accommodation to build our package. Could not have gone better. Great service.

Fantastic experience: I have been booking my own holidays for years, but a few months ago I stopped by The Travel Journal and spoke to Ben for advice on a Northern Lights trip. He was super friendly, very knowledgeable and within a day had come back to me with lots of options and details. I said “Book it!” and everything was sorted with no stress. I was so impressed by his service that I went back the next month and used his brilliant services again. He is clearly passionate about his work and puts maximum effort into all communication and service. I can’t recommend him highly enough if you want a fantastic holiday without any booking stress! We have just returned from our second holiday booked through Ben and it was top class, one of the best hotels we have ever stayed in and perfectly matching the brief we gave him. Thanks Ben - we will definitely be back for more!

Fantastic experience: We booked our honeymoon via Ben at The Travel Journal and it was a superb decision. During our initial meeting, Ben was thorough with talking us through our options within our price range. We were then given a range of options to choose from, all of which were customised to our needs. When we had decided on our package, Ben kept in regular contact and was easily accessible with any questions and queries we had. The hotels picked were amazing and fully enhanced our honeymoon experience. I would recommend using The Travel Journal for our future travel plans.

Fantastic experience: Ben is superb! Amazing service and knowledge. Very efficient and friendly. This isn't just any travel agent... try him and see!

Fantastic experience: We tasked Ben with delivering a holiday of a lifetime to include a safari in the Serengeti, a beach based stay for R&R and flights from our local airport. Oh boy - did he deliver! Flights, transfers and meet and greet was seamless. Our (luxury) camp in north Tanzania near the Mara River was excellent providing superb hospitality, food and accommodation whilst being ideally located to catch the end of the migration and an abundance of wildlife. Our open sided land cruiser was ideal for the terrain and our ranger guide was superb and, although not guaranteed, ensured we saw everything we could have wanted - and then some. The highlight was having a picnic in our vehicle whilst parked under a tree with a leopard lazing on a low branch! Surreal. The week at the beach resort in north east Zanzibar provided everything for us to relax and get our breath back - lovely bedroom, good range of bars, restaurants, swimming pools plus a beach. It'll be hard to top but that's Ben's next task!

Fantastic experience: Fantastic service, advice and guidance. We had an amazing holiday to NYC and Mexico - first time we had been and we were able to make the most of it due to Ben’s great advice and skill in setting up the accommodation and transfers. Thank you, highly recommended!

Fantastic experience: The Travel Journal on Leeds Road in Harrogate, owned and run by Ben Poole, is our ‘go to’ place for all holiday advice, recommendations and administration. Ben is always friendly and welcoming and willing to share his in depth knowledge and experiences of foreign travel to offer the best possible suggestions. He patiently allows time for you to go away and research further in your own space and responds with detailed answers to the questions you pose. This is very reassuring especially if you are planning to visit somewhere new. He will contact a hotel you are considering, share your specific requests with them and inevitably come back with a positive commitment from them. Every recommendation Ben has given us has been excellent. In addition to this service, Ben will print boarding passes, supply stylish luggage labels, reserve numbered airline seats and present all your paperwork in a folder so that you have nothing to do but pack your bags and take yourselves to the airport. We cannot recommend The Travel Journal highly enough. Ben Poole gives a thoroughly efficient, thoughtful and professional service. Peter and Jean Wood.

Fantastic experience: Simply superb. Great service from start to finish. Listened to our requirements and found some great options. All arrangements went very smoothly. Will definitely use Ben again.

Fantastic experience: The Travel Journal is always so knowledgeable and helpful in helping find the right holiday for us.

Fantastic experience: Thankyou Ben for arranging our brilliant trip to Palma - the hotel was fabulous – amazing rooftop, lovely rooms and beautiful courtyard and the location couldn’t have been more perfectly central within the old town. Beautiful walks in and around the cathedral and the squares, great food, a brilliant beach club, and some fabulous sunshine to finish it all off. Absolutely seamless and ticked every box on our wish list – we’d recommend Palma and the Hotel to anyone and would absolutely recommend you too!!

Fantastic experience: Just returned from a wonderful family holiday in Morocco organised by Ben at ‘The Travel Journal’. Ben listened to our needs and delivered the perfect combination holiday to suit us, our 11 year old and our 17 year old children. Thank you Ben looking forward to our next adventure! The Thompson Family

Fantastic experience: Ben found the most amazingly perfect holiday in Finland for us. He seemed to know instinctively just what we needed. He is so friendly and helpful, taking care of every detail and responding promptly to our questions. This was the first package holiday we have ever taken, we’re usually independent travellers, but now, based on our experience of the Finland holiday, we’ve booked through the Travel Journal again to go to Egypt and Kenya/Tanzania. I have no hesitancy in recommending Ben at The Travel Journal to anyone looking for their dream holiday.

Fantastic experience: Had a great trip to NYC. Hotel suggested by Ben was perfect for our needs . Ben helped with the paperwork and fiddly stuff linked with a trip to the States . It's refreshing to experience old fashioned personalised customer service. Michael &Michelle

Fantastic experience: Great service with attention to detail - the trip was made all the better with background knowledge of the destination and everything nailed on for a smooth trip. Couldn't have asked for more.

Fantastic experience: Ben was recommended to us. He has been amazing, very helpful and knowledgeable of the places we were interested in travelling to. Highly recommend.

Fantastic experience: We will always go to Ben to book our holidays. He is never fazed by our particular requests and always comes up with a great destination for us. Usually it’s something a bit different to what we would find ourselves. Super communication makes the whole experience of finding and going on a holiday a much less stressful experience!

Fantastic experience: 6-week adventure of a lifetime including 5 USA National Parks, between Chicago and Los Angeles. The tailor-made supporting flights organised by 'The Travel Journal',

Fantastic experience: Great thanks to Ben for a wonderful weekend in Rome. Took all the stress out of booking a city break with an excellent hotel; flights and transfers all organised. I couldn't recommend his services highly enough. Thank you.

Fantastic experience: I cannot recommend Ben highly enough! I have just returned from my honeymoon to California, organised by Ben. Ben did a fantastic job from start to finish. From the outset Ben ensured that he really understood the type of holiday we were hoping for - he listened and made tweaks to our itinerary to ensure that he tailored the perfect honeymoon for us. All of the hotels we stayed in were fantastic. Not only did Ben take any stress away from organising the trip, it was a weight off our shoulders knowing that if anything did arise during the trip that Ben would be on hand to help. Thank you Ben for a special holiday that we will remember forever!

Fantastic experience: Ben has been so helpful and brilliant to deal with!

Fantastic experience: Outstanding service from Ben at The Travel Journal. Thankyou for going above and beyond to assist me and organising all my travel requirements. Ben possess huge knowledge and expertise in all aspects of travel and international insight. I am so grateful for your highly professional customer service . Five stars for The Travel Journal ☀️

Fantastic experience: I moved to the UK 9 years ago and have been seeking a competent and reasonable travel agent ever since. And then, almost by accident, I stumbled upon Ben at the Travel Journal. Brilliant. Well-informed (even during the meltdown of the travel industry), clever (attuned to alternatives and solutions), and a delightful human being. I have already been circulating his name among my friends and colleagues. You will too!

Fantastic experience: Ben is fantastic, really can't do enough for his customers, in all parts of the process. From finding the right holiday, arranging and booking to helping out if things go wrong (our flight was delayed and it meant we missed our connecting flight - but Ben was on hand to direct us through what we needed to do at every step). Made what would've otherwise been a really stressful and difficult job a breeze, can't recommend highly enough.

Fantastic experience: Huge THANK YOU to Ben, What an amazing holiday in Dubai you organised for us, every details worked perfectly and all your recommendations were awesome. The location of the hotel was perfect. Why on earth would you organise holidays yourself when somebody as knowledgeable as The Travel Journal can do it a million times better!

Fantastic experience: I can't speak highly enough of Ben at The Travel Journal.. From helping us make fantastic holiday choices with his extensive knowledge, to his lovely 'Nothing is too much' attitude.. Everything was a pleasure. I will continue to recommend Ben! Big 5 Stars from me!

Fantastic experience: Ben is knowledgable, friendly and lovely to deal with. He goes above and beyond to provide a great service, with a smile!

Fantastic experience: All I can say is Ben is amazing ! We’ve just returned from the most amazing trip to Croatia. Going with 2 17 year old boys who wanted a great night life along with me and my husband who wanted good food and a more sophisticated night life. Ben found everything we asked for and some! I can’t recommend The Travel Journal highly enough ! Thank you so much and you’ll be seeing us again !

Fantastic experience: I need to fly overseas for a family emergency and despite extensively searching, I was struggling to find a flight to Perth. Ben was really kind and helpful and even though it wasn't an easy task (due to all the Covid regulations), he found a route I could take and I'm pleased to that after a long and stressful time of looking, using Ben's advise meant I manged to get my flights booked. I'll be forever grateful for his help and I hope the next time we speak, it will be with a little more straight forward request!

Fantastic experience: Ben was really helpful in creating a bespoke Honeymoon for my partner and I. Unfortunately we were unable to go due to COVID-19, but Ben was a great support through the cancellation and refund process. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Ben again, or recommend to a friend!

Fantastic experience: Taking all the hassle and stress away from booking a holiday. Ben has experience of countless places around the world and his experience in the travel industry is second to none making you comfortable that you are making the right decisions and choosing the right places to visit. Friendly service too. Highly recommended.