http://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/kathy.gillies, https://forms.office.com/e/vF90Q6q11Z

Kathy Gillies - Travel Counsellors, Morningside, Edinburgh (2026)

13/10/2026

Is your camera roll usually the first thing to announce that you’ve been on holiday?

If you love travel photography, you’ll know that some of the most memorable pictures come from the smallest details: an ornate doorway, a market stall, a reflection or the way the light hits the street.

For the next instalment of my “Where to go if you love…” series, I’m sharing five destinations for photography lovers, from the colour and detail of Marrakech to landscapes that make getting up early seem entirely reasonable. You don’t need professional equipment to enjoy them. A phone, a keen eye and time to explore can be a brilliant starting point.

When I plan a tailor-made holiday, your interests help shape the journey. For photography lovers, that might mean longer in each destination, a specialist guide or time to revisit somewhere when the light changes rather than squeezing every sight into one afternoon.

Swipe through for inspiration, save this for your next adventure.

📞 0131 224 0092
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05/10/2026

10 extraordinary beach resorts worth travelling across the world for…
Some of the world’s most incredible beach resorts are extraordinary because of what surrounds them - wild coastlines, tropical rainforest, dramatic mountains, coral reefs, incredible wildlife and places that feel almost impossibly remote.

Think barefoot private-island luxury in the Seychelles, paragliding into Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman, overwater villas in the Maldives, horse riding along the wild beaches of Sumba and rainforest-covered Caribbean hideaways in Dominica.

These are the kind of places where the hotel isn’t simply somewhere you stay.
It’s one of the reasons you travel there.

From romantic honeymoon hideaways and private islands to adventurous coastal retreats and once-in-a-lifetime luxury resorts, I’ve picked 10 beach escapes that offer far more than a beautiful stretch of sand.

Save this for future holiday inspiration – or send me a message if you’d like me to find an extraordinary beach escape that’s perfect for you. ✈️🏝️

📞 0131 224 0092
📧 [email protected]
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27/09/2026

Some hotels offer a beautiful view. Others place you right in the middle of it.

From remote Himalayan retreats and design-led hideaways in the Dolomites to luxury lodges surrounded by the wild landscapes of Patagonia, these extraordinary mountain escapes prove that the beach doesn’t always get to have all the fun.

Think dramatic peaks outside your window, days spent hiking and exploring, long spa afternoons, exceptional food and hotels that are every bit as memorable as their surroundings.

Swipe through for some of the world’s most extraordinary luxury mountain hotels and lodges.
Which one would you choose? ⬇️ Drop your answers in comments ⬇️

Save this post for future travel inspiration or get in touch when you’re ready to plan a tailor-made mountain escape of your own. Complete my quick enquiry form (link in bio or https://forms.office.com/e/vF90Q6q11Z ) and receive a call back from me or

📞 0131 224 0092
📧 [email protected]
Luxury mountain escapes | extraordinary mountain hotels | luxury mountain resorts | remote luxury lodges | mountain holiday inspiration | luxury adventure holidays | Dolomites hotels | Himalayan retreats | Patagonia lodges | Atlas Mountains hotels | Swiss Alps holidays | Mount Fuji hotels | Sacred Valley luxury lodges | luxury hiking holidays | wellness retreats in the mountains | tailor-made luxury travel | bucket-list hotels

18/09/2026

If you like your interests to influence where you travel this series is for you.

First up: where to go if you love art.

From Renaissance masterpieces in Florence and legendary Parisian galleries to Naoshima’s extraordinary blend of contemporary art, architecture and island landscapes, these are five destinations where art becomes part of the entire travel experience.

Explore the colourful creative history of Mexico City, discover contemporary African perspectives in Cape Town or plan a whole trip around the museums and artists you’ve always wanted to see.

An art-inspired holiday doesn’t have to mean spending every day inside a gallery. It can take you through sculpture-filled streets, artists’ homes, architectural landmarks, independent studios and installations hidden within the landscape.

🧳Which of these five destinations would you travel for?

❓What should feature next in the series: food, history, architecture or fashion? ⬇️ leave your answer(s?) in the comments below!

Ready to get in touch?
Complete my quick enquiry form (link in bio or https://forms.office.com/e/vF90Q6q11Z ) and receive a call back from me or

📞 0131 224 0092
📧 [email protected]
art holidays | destinations for art lovers | cultural holidays | art inspired travel | florence art holiday | paris art galleries | naoshima art island | mexico city art | cape town art | contemporary art travel | renaissance art | museum holidays | cultural city breaks | luxury cultural travel | tailor made holidays | bespoke travel itineraries | experiential travel | luxury travel expert

12/09/2026

Family holidays change enormously as children grow. With my youngest about to leave school, I’ve had first hand experience.

Travelling with children isn’t about abandoning culture, adventure or the destinations you really want to experience. It’s about planning the trip around the stage your family is actually at. That might mean fewer hotel changes with a baby, more flexibility with a toddler, hands-on experiences for younger children or giving teenagers some ownership over the plans.

The right flight times, room arrangements, meal plan, transfers and pace can completely change how enjoyable a family holiday feels and they’re exactly the details I consider when creating a tailor-made family trip.

Swipe through for my tips on planning family holidays at every age.
Which stage are you travelling through right now?

Save this post for your next family holiday, or get in touch if you’d like some help creating one that works for everyone. Complete my quick enquiry form (link in bio or https://forms.office.com/e/vF90Q6q11Z ) and receive a call back from me or

📞 0131 224 0092
📧 [email protected]
Family holiday planning | family travel tips | travelling with a baby | holidays with toddlers | holidays with children | travelling with teenagers | luxury family holidays | tailor-made family holidays | multigenerational travel | child-friendly holidays | family adventure holidays | family-friendly hotels | long-haul family travel | family holiday expert | bespoke family travel | stress-free family holidays | family travel inspiration

05/09/2026

Which African safari destination is right for you? 🐆
Choosing a safari isn’t just about deciding that you want to go to Africa. Experiences are completely different depending on where you go, how you like to travel and what you most want to see.

Is your safari dream full of iconic wildlife encounters and vast open plains? Somewhere seriously remote with barely another vehicle in sight? Walking through the bush rather than simply watching from a 4WD? Or perhaps you want incredible wildlife by day and luxurious accommodation waiting for you afterwards...

It’s less about ‘best destination’ & more about ‘best for you’. Have a little fun & take my quiz!

Swipe through, keep track of your answers and discover your safari match at the end →
Then add your result in the comments below, especially if you’re split between two! Where will the quiz send you?

Ready to lock in dates for your dream safari? Complete my quick enquiry form (link in bio or https://forms.office.com/e/vF90Q6q11Z ) and receive a call back from me or

📞 0131 224 0092
📧 [email protected]
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27/08/2026

Been there before? Here’s where to go next… ✈️ Volume 2

Because sometimes the best trip to a country isn’t your first one.

Your first visit might be about the icons: Santorini sunsets, the Canadian Rockies, Las Vegas or Halong Bay. But go back a second time and you can venture further, slow things down and discover the places that made you realise just how much you missed the first time around.

There’s something I love about returning to a country you think you already know. You’ve ticked off the places everyone talks about, so the second trip can be less about the checklist and more about digging a little deeper.
And often? That’s when a destination gets really interesting.

Save this for the next time you catch yourself saying, “Oh, I’ve already been there…” or complete my quick enquiry form (link in bio or https://forms.office.com/e/vF90Q6q11Z ) and receive a call back from me or

📞 0131 224 0092
📧 [email protected]

There’s nearly always another trip waiting.

second trip travel ideas | where to travel next | alternative travel destinations | off the beaten track travel | luxury tailor made travel | bespoke holidays | repeat travel destinations | Vietnam itinerary | Canada itinerary | Indonesia itinerary | Deep South USA road trip | Nashville Memphis New Orleans | Greek island hopping | alternative Greek islands | Morocco itinerary | Argentina itinerary | Ha Giang Vietnam | Con Dao Vietnam | Yukon Canada | Haida Gwaii | Komodo Indonesia | Sumba Indonesia | Milos Greece | Folegandros Greece | Sahara Morocco | Salta Argentina | Mendoza Argentina | experiential travel | adventure travel | luxury travel inspiration

22/08/2026

The holiday details I will always overthink for you…
There’s a big difference between booking a holiday that looks good on paper and designing one that actually works beautifully when you’re there.
And often, it comes down to the details you might never even realise have been considered.

Is the gorgeous hotel actually in the right location?
Is that cheaper flight worth losing half a day of your holiday for?
Does the room category really work for your family?
Are we trying to squeeze too many stops into the itinerary?
These are examples of all the things I will happily overthink.

Tell me where you’re dreaming of going and I’ll happily overthink the rest. Complete my quick enquiry form (link in bio or https://forms.office.com/e/vF90Q6q11Z ) and receive a call back from me or

📞 0131 224 0092
📧 [email protected]
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19/08/2026

I snapped up a fabulous invite to visit Valiant Lady whilst she was passing through Edinburgh.

Virgin Voyages offers adults-only cruises that feature unique perks like no buffets and diverse specialty dining included in the fare.

My top take-aways from my day on board Valiant Lady:
♥️Six speciality restaurants are all included:
🍴The Wake for steak
🍴Ariya a delightful new Indian onboard
🍴Extra Virgin, an Italian restaurant with an affogato trolley
🍴Pink Agave delectable Mexican
🍴Test Kitchen for spectacular creative menus
🍴Gunbae the only Korean at sea
♥️Rockstar Suites (& top-tier loyalty members) benefit from perks like access to Richard’s Rooftop to enjoy a sophisticated & uncrowded vibe and complimentary Moët at sunset Happy Hour
♥️ Head to Squid Ink, the only place at sea where you can get a tattoo!

The best surprise?
As we waited for our tender to take us to the ship we saw onboard guests disembarking for the day and the mix of ages and nationalities was wonderfully broad.
Virgin Voyages welcomes all… above 18, that is!

Give me a call if you are interested in hearing more about & let’s plan your next journey at sea!
Cruises range from 4 days+ and from July’28 Scandinavia & the Baltics will be added to the offerings.

📞 0131 224 0092
📧 [email protected]

Cruise | Cruise sailings | World cruises |

Kathy Gillies - Travel Counsellors

13/10/2026

05/10/2026

27/09/2026

18/09/2026

12/09/2026

05/09/2026

27/08/2026

22/08/2026

19/08/2026

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