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Meet The Team

Here at Silver Travel Advisor we’re a team of mature travel industry professionals with more years of experience than we care to number! Our backgrounds are diverse, but we are all united by a passion for travel. We live and breathe our ‘Tried. Travelled. Trusted.’ ethos, travelling far and wide to bring back impartial advice and recommendations for our members.

Lisa McAuley

Lisa McAuley

Owner

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Kerry Gallagher

Managing Director

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Penny Worthy

Penny Worthy

Commercial & Partnerships Director

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Julie Crumpton

Head of Retail

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Debbie Marshall

Debbie Marshall

Founder

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Jennie Carr

Jennie Carr

Creative & Communication Director

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Jenn Spence

Digital Content Manager

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Carole Tidball

Carole Tidball

Social Media Manager

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Jane Silk

Jane Silk

Research & Training

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John Carter

John Carter

Our Patron

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Silver Travel Advisors

Our Silver Travel Advisors take a personal approach to holiday planning. It’s our job to take on the tasks of research, organisation and paperwork leaving you to sit back and look forward to your holiday. We’ll bring together all aspects of your holiday into one easy booking including flights, accommodation, transfers and transport, cruises, tours and even what to see and do in your chosen destination. 

Call 0800 412 5678 to speak to our advisors and start your journey.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a Silver Travel Advisor, click here.

Julie Crumpton

Head of Retail

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Dianne Cox

Silver Travel Advisor

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Theresa Connolly

Silver Travel Advisor

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Marie Broadhurst

Silver Travel Advisor

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Kerry Lowe

Silver Travel Advisor

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Sue Lord

Silver Travel Advisor

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Jayne Kerrigan

Silver Travel Advisor

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Joanne Charlton

Silver Travel Advisor

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Silver Travel Contributors

Our team of contributors bring a wealth of travel experiences and adventures to life through their contributions to our website and magazine. Together they have visited an impressive list of countries and are more than happy to share their advice, hints and tips with you so you can read real insight to inspire your travels.

Lynn Scrivener

Lynn Scrivener

Associate

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Gill Haynes

Gill Haynes

Associate

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Cathy Bartrop

Cathy Bartrop

Travel videographer

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Alan Fairfax

Alan Fairfax

Cruise specialist

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Anna Selby

Anna Selby

Travel writer & journalist

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Chrissy Nason

Chrissy Nason

Travel writer

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Gillian Thornton

Gillian Thornton

Travel writer

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Jacqueline Jeynes

Jacqueline Jeynes

Travel writer & author

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Jane Wilson

Jane Wilson

Editor of the Wellness Traveller

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Jeannine Williamson

Jeannine Williamson

Travel writer & cruise specialist

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Mike Pickup

Mike Pickup

Journalist & photographer

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Petra Shepherd

Petra Shepherd

Travel writer

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Sally Dowling

Sally Dowling

Travel writer

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Roger Bray

Roger Bray

Travel writer

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Solange Hando

Solange Hando

Travel writer & photographer

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Steve Aldridge

Steve Aldridge

Travel writer

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©2023 Silver Travel Advisor, All Rights Reserved. ABTA: P8411. Silver Travel Advisor is a UK registered limited company. Book with Confidence. We are a Member of ABTA which means you have the benefit of ABTA’s assistance and Code of Conduct. We provide financial protection for your money when you buy a package holiday. If you buy other travel arrangements such as accommodation only this protection doesn’t apply.

Silver Travel Advisor sells travel services on behalf of Hays Travel Limited and benefits from Hays Travel’s membership of ABTA with membership number P8411. ABTA and ABTA Members help holidaymakers to get the most from their travel and assist them when things do not go according to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct.

We can also offer you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. If we can’t resolve your complaint, go to www.abta.com to use ABTA’s simple procedure. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.com.

Hays Travel Limited are registered in England and Wales with company number 01990682 and VAT number 193167195. Registered office: 25 Vine Place, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear SR1 3NA. Silver Travel Advisor is a trading name registered with company number 07408308 and VAT number 100952746. Registered office: Unit 13e, 92 Burton Road, Sheffield, S3 8BX. Email: service@silvertraveladvisor.com. Call 0800 412 5678. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm & Saturday 10am – 4pm.

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, click here.

Lisa McAuley

Lisa McAuley

Owner

Lisa, started her career in the travel industry over 30 years ago having started out as a travel agent at Lunn Poly at the age of 18. Having worked not only in travel retailing but also tour operating in both mass market and niche segments including ski, touring and hotels, in recent years Lisa discovered a love of cruising as the Managing Director of ultra luxury cruise line Silversea and sat on the board of CLIA. Prior to joining Silver Travel Lisa enjoyed the challenge of running the UK’s largest B2B tour operator Gold Medal with its multiple brands, focussing on long haul holidays. Her favourite destinations include the Galapagos, Maldives, Australia and her home patch the Peak District where she can be found combining long walks with even longer lunches in country pubs at weekends! An advocate for woman in business, Lisa was inducted into the Association of Women Travel Executives most influence women in travel in 2019 and is a strong supporter of Everywoman.

Kerry Gallagher

Managing Director

Kerry began her career in marketing, working at leading advertising agencies before moving to an in-house role with the UK’s largest B2B tour operator, Gold Medal. Combining a career in marketing with a passion for travel was a match made in heaven for Kerry. For over a decade she led marketing, PR and design teams creating inspirational content across worldwide holidays, cruise voyages and luxury getaways.

In her role as managing director at Silver Travel Advisor, she is focussed on continuing to inspire travel and growing the community of Silver Travellers.

She has travelled to all seven continents, with Canada, Thailand, Vietnam, the Maldives and Italy standing out as firm favourites, but her newest passion is expedition cruising, with trips to the polar regions of Antarctica and the Arctic ticked off and many more on the wishlist!

Penny Worthy

Penny Worthy

Commercial & Partnerships Director

Penny has enjoyed over 35 years working in the travel Industry, starting out as a humble travel agent selling dreams, through to heading up a sales team at Avis Budget group. Penny’s main passion in life is travel. She has been lucky enough to have seen much of the world and is always planning her next adventure. Her favourite trips have been to Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Thailand, the Philippines, the Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean. Penny also loves the fresh air of the ski slopes, as well as waking up every day to a new destination when on a cruise.

Julie Crumpton

Head of Retail

Julie started her career in travel over 30 years ago, when she joined Thomas Cook as a high street travel agent. She quickly became part of the retail management team and ran several stores in the West Midlands, including opening their first new concept store. Julie then set up her own travel business with Travel Counsellors. In 2022 she won the TIPTO best independent travel agent award at the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards. Julie has been lucky enough to travel to many destinations during her career and some of her favourites include Australia and New Zealand, Mexico and Sri Lanka, as well as St Lucia and Barbados. Julie is also a big fan of cruising and has first-hand experience of many of the leading cruise lines.

Debbie Marshall

Debbie Marshall

Founder

Debbie has over 35 years travel experience including Crystal Holidays and Jetsave (where she was Managing Director until 2001), and from 2004 until 2010 at the helm of the award-winning villa specialist CV Villas and its sister company Ski Verbier. She launched Silver Travel Advisor in 2011 after a dinner conversation with a group of her father’s friends, when she was surprised to discover how much time retired people were spending on holidays; she realised that there was an opportunity to create an information, reviews and advice website especially for them! She is a non-executive director of Real Holidays and Bailey Robinson, and is on the ’60 for 60′ influential women list at the Association of Women Travel Executives. A finalist in the Everywoman Travel Awards, and at the AWTE Business Impact Awards, Debbie is also the Chair for Dementia Adventure, which offers supported holidays for people living with dementia.

Jenn Spence

Digital Content Manager

A Canadian now living in England, Jenn handles all things website and digital for Silver Travel Advisor. Although generally more of an ‘indoor’ person, travel is the exception – she knows she’s had a good holiday when her feet ache from days spent exploring! Her ultimate travel bucket list location is Hobbiton, New Zealand… although she enjoys anywhere with good coffee and no snow.

Carole Tidball

Carole Tidball

Social Media Manager

Carole worked as a Senior Manager and Consultant in Education before taking early retirement to become a writer and award-winning photographer, and to indulge her passion for global travel. She loves exploring new destinations on foot and finds the best adventures and photographic opportunities are often away from the beaten track. She is a keen runner, hiker and bird/wildlife watcher, regularly seen trekking, splashing and skidding along the hilly footpaths around her home. Carole looks after Facebook and Instagram for Silver Travel Advisor.

Jane Silk

Jane Silk

Head of Research and Training

Jane (MA Marketing) is a CIM qualified marketer and senior marketing professional, who has worked in marketing, branding, publishing and the travel industry for over 25 years. Jane is a specialist in communications, research, marketing and sales for the 50+ market, and an acknowledged expert on how to engage with the older generations – for many years she was director of Mature Times newspaper. She is frequently called on by national and local media as a key representative of her audience.

John Carter

John Carter

Our Patron

Veteran TV presenter John Carter has been our patron since the very early days of Silver Travel. A familiar face from the days of Wish You Were Here and The Holiday Programme, John is a much-loved and respected member of our team. These days he still be found globetrotting, although at a slightly slower pace, ambling rather than rambling. His popular ‘Now and Then’ compilation of  amusing articles about his latest travels can be found in our Features section.

Dianne Cox

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? I have been in travel for 34 years, having worked in various areas of the industry, including High Street travel agents, specialist companies, and corporate travel customers.

Favourite destination and why? My most memorable visit was Alaska, the scenery and wildlife were amazing, and Glacier Bay was simply stunning. Cruising is also a big part of our lives; being able to visit so many destinations in one trip and the ease of it makes for a holiday we really enjoy.

Where do you want to travel to next? I have so many places yet to see on my bucket list: Australia, South Pacific and New Zealand are definitely at the top of the list followed by the Far East, South Africa with a safari, and Italy’s Amalfi Coast with a trip to Pompeii.

Who’s your ideal travelling companion? My favourite holiday companion is my husband as we both share a passion for travel. We love America and have covered many of the individual states.

What is your travel motto? My motto is ‘life is too short and should be grabbed with both hands and enjoyed’. The world is a small place and is there to be discovered!

Theresa Connolly

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? I have been in travel for 35 years, having worked in various areas of the industry, including airlines, 5-Star hotels and customer service roles. I am CLIA Masters certificated for ocean cruising and CLIA worldwide river cruising certificated.

Favourite destination and why? My favourite country is Italy. The diversity of north and south – Rome, Venice, Capri, Sicily, and Milan. Cruising worldwide has been a joy and an adventure. We have cruised Transatlantic, Mediterranean, Adriatic, and North American destinations.

Where do you want to travel to next?I have the West Coast of America, Alaska and Norwegian Fjords booked for this year. My bucket list includes cruising the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Tahiti, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

Who’s your ideal travelling companion? My favourite holiday companions are my family, including my husband, children, and grandchildren.

What is your travel motto? My motto is ‘seize the moment and go to the edge – don’t delay!’

Marie Broadhurst

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? I worked in travel for 16 years in large high street travel agents. After taking a break to pursue other interests including moving abroad for a while and bringing up my boys, I’m back and loving it!

Favourite destination, and why? My favourite destination is Greece, I’ve visited many of the islands and Mainland and there’s not a bit I don’t love. The beauty, the people, the food, the history, I can’t get enough of it.

Where do you want to travel to next? My list is long, its anywhere and everywhere. But top destinations I’d love to visit are Morocco, India, Africa, South America. I love the sunshine, so I’m drawn to hot places.

Who is your ideal travelling companion? Has to be my husband, he loves travelling too and now the kids are older we are ready to get back to taking off whenever we can.

What is your travel motto? Don’t ever say no to an opportunity to travel!

Kerry Lowe

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? I was fortunate to have travelled extensively throughout my childhood and started visiting far-flung destinations at an early age with my family. This well and truly gave me the travel bug, but my travel journey really started when I joined Emirates Airlines as cabin crew and moved to Dubai. During the next 8 years, I visited 5 continents and over 40 countries, and whenever possible, immersed myself in their culture. Even after leaving my career with Emirates, the pull of travel has kept me exploring as often as I can, and I love nothing more than sharing my knowledge and experience with others!

Favourite destination and why? The Grand Canyon blew me away. I took a helicopter tour from Las Vegas, firstly over the iconic Hoover Dam and then through the Grand Canyon, where we eventually landed 3,500 feet below the rim. I was lucky enough to have a breathtaking pilot’s view and marvel at its majestic vastness.

Where do you want to travel to next? My top 3 destinations would be The Galapagos Islands, the lost city of Petra in Jordan and an expedition cruise in Antartica. 

Who’s your ideal travelling companion? Nothing beats a British coastal holiday with my dog, just to see how excited she gets when she sees the beach, melts my heart. Otherwise, I enjoy the variety of solo trips or with friends and family.

What is your travel motto? To enjoy the sunrise as much as the sunset…holidays are always too short!

Sue Lord

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? I have worked on and off in the Travel industry since I was 18, (time out for university and a family), both in office roles and as a rep abroad.

Favourite destination and why? I loved Costa Rica – I spent 7 weeks there travelling around with my young family and loved the abundant wildlife – Kaleidoscopes (the real collective noun!) of butterflies and the “pura vida” and laid-back attitude of the Costa Rican people.

Where do you want to travel to next? Japan for the culture and possibly skiing.

Who’s your ideal travelling companion?

If I can’t have my whole family, my youngest daughter – we are similar in temperament and adventurousness.

What is your travel motto? Carpe Diem!

Jayne Kerrigan

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? Over 35 years! During this time I’ve worked as a travel agent, an overseas holiday rep, and for one of the largest tour operators in the UK. I’ve been lucky to travel to many fabulous countries.

Favourite destination and why? Majorca. I Iived there for several years and fell in love with it. Beautiful beaches, stunning scenery, majestic mountains and fabulous food. What’s not to like!

Where do you want to travel to next? Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia – the list goes on…

Who’s your ideal travelling companion? My hubby – never a dull moment with him. Failing that Dame Joan Collins. She likes to travel in style and I’d love listening to all of her wonderful stories.

What is your travel motto? You’re never too old for new experiences. The world is waiting so go explore!

Joanne Charlton

Silver Travel Advisor

How many years have you worked in travel? 18 years and counting. I started as cabin crew, in the UK initially, and then based in Bahrain with Gulf Air. I lived in Bahrain for 3 years, and then moved to Dubai for a further 3 years. I have since worked for independent agencies, as well as taught a travel and tourism course at a further education college.

Favourite destination, and why? Malaysia, without a doubt. I love the beauty and diversity of the country, the highlands, the islands, the amazing people, the tasty cuisine … it’s just beautiful.

Where do you want to travel to next? Italy, again and again. Sicily especially.

Who is your ideal travelling companion? Myself – I would love to find the courage to do a Solo holiday.

What is your travel motto? Passport, tickets, money – good to go!

Lynn Scrivener

Lynn Scrivener

Associate

Lynn has over 30 years’ marketing experience in the travel and cultural tourism industries. Travel business lessons were first learned at Lunn Poly, British Airways and Hertz Europe. A wide range of tourism development projects followed for such iconic venues as Somerset House, Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Chelsea Physic Garden. Most recently Lynn has enjoyed several years’ rambling (and ambling), leading the marketing team for Ramblers Walking Holidays and Adagio. Thanks largely to business trips and conferences, Lynn has been fortunate to travel extensively including to most of W. Europe, USA, French Caribbean, Egypt, Australia, Thailand and Indonesia. This past year or so, Lynn has enjoyed puffin-watching on Skomer, hiking in the Austrian Tyrol, canoeing the Charente near Poitiers and yet more culture-vulturing in New York. Hurrah for holidays!

Gill Haynes

Gill Haynes

Associate

Gill has over 30 years experience in the cruise industry, resulting in her being a dab hand at Trivial Pursuit blue questions so long as they are about coastal geography. After learning the marketing ropes with Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises, Gill led the team which launched the Ocean Village brand (‘the cruise for people who don’t do cruises’) and as Cunard’s head of global PR, masterminded its 175th anniversary celebrations when Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria performed a ‘riverdance’ on the Mersey in front of 1.3 million spectators. Gill’s favourite destination is South Africa where one walking safari involved climbing a tree to avoid approaching rhinos. A keen skier, mountain biker and windsurfer, Gill loves the great outdoors. Still on the wishlist are canoeing the Great Lakes in Canada and swimming with manta rays in the Maldives.

Cathy Bartrop

Cathy Bartrop

Travel videographer

Cathy has spent her entire career in the travel industry, starting out as a graduate trainee at Saga Holidays in 1983 before becoming Sales & Marketing Manager for Thomas Cook Faraway Holidays in 1986. A few years later she set up her own media and promotions company, initially focused on print and radio but eventually moving in to video production. When video finally became easily accessible online (only 15 short years ago), everything changed and Cathy seized the opportunity to create her own online channel, travelguru.tv. Like Silver Travel Advisor, it is focused on the mature traveller, so it’s a natural partnership. These days Cathy films solo, mainly with only an iPhone, creating videos that share her first-hand experiences and trusted travel advice. When she is not travelling or editing, she can be found on the golf course, seeking out wild swimming locations and enjoying the delights of her home county, East Sussex.

Alan Fairfax

Alan Fairfax

Cruise specialist

Alan is a passionate ‘Cruise Ship’ expert and travel journalist Over 150 cruises completed, sailed and visited 70+ ships of 22 cruise lines. He has travelled the world from the Arctic to Australia, USA to Russia, Asia, Baltic, Caribbean, Middle East, South America and most Mediterranean ports. Sailed several oceans plus the Arabian, Black, Baltic, Mediterranean and Red Sea. Alan a member of The International Travel Writers Alliance says “There is something magical about stepping aboard a beautiful cruise ship, visiting multiple countries and ports but only unpacking once”. Alan, a regular contributor to several newspapers and magazines, has appeared on television travel shows, delivered talks on cruising at various national venues and is known as our ‘Cruise Guru’ due to his extensive knowledge. Where are his favourite places, he is the first to admit his love of the Western Isles of Scotland and the Caribbean.

Anna Selby

Anna Selby

Travel writer & journalist

Anna Selby has been a journalist and feature writer for over 25 years and has been specialising in travel for the last 20. She has worked for most of the broadsheets (including the FT, the Times and the Telegraph) as well as numerous magazines and websites. She began travel writing when she lived in the South Seas for a year with her four-year-old son. They started off in the Cook Islands, where they stayed for six months and then travelled through Fiji, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Tonga and Western Samoa. The islands of Polynesia hold a special place in her heart to this day, and she has returned there several times. Many other places, though, draw her back repeatedly from the US to the Middle East (especially Oman and Jordan), Vienna to Botswana, Marrakech to Iceland. As well as general destination features, she writes regularly on health, spas, food and cruises. She lives in central London with her ex-soldier husband and sees her son as often as possible – though he caught the travel bug and now works and lives in Amsterdam.

Chrissy Nason

Chrissy Nason

Travel writer

Starting as a holiday rep in Greece, Chrissy discovered holidays have many component parts and, whilst expectations vary hugely, holidays can be life affirming! Chrissy worked for many years in tour operating specialising in customer service, product quality, training and brochure accuracy. She was a hands-on director of a Kensington hotel for five years. She then completed an interior design course, undertaking private commissions. With her husband she built and managed a holiday home in north-west Scotland. Chrissy has three grown up children and, when not travelling, helps with her grandchildren, volunteers for the Youth Offender Service and sings with the Kensington Singers. Never one to be influenced by star ratings alone, she prefers places with something extra that make them stand out. Culture and activities also hold more appeal now than lying on a beach! Chrissy still wants holidays to be adventurous and stylish but with a quiet room and comfy bed a priority!

Gillian Thornton

Gillian Thornton

Travel writer

An award-winning member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, Gillian has freelanced for more than 40 years, writing for women’s magazines and regional publications, corporate clients and the specialist travel press, both in print and online. She started her journalism career writing articles for her local county magazine, going on to write parenting articles as a young mum, general features, and interviews with personalities such as Roger Moore and Tim Rice, Dick Francis, Barbara Cartland and James Herriot. In 2018, she celebrated 20 years as a travel writer by winning the Best Cultural Article in the French Travel Media Awards. A fluent French speaker, she specialises in France and the UK, but writes on destinations as far apart as Cornwall and Cape Town, Canada and Cambodia. “I love walking holidays and cruising, cultural trips and city breaks,” she says. “But I’m happy to explore anywhere beyond my own front door.  I can have an adventure anywhere!”

Jacqueline Jeynes

Jacqueline Jeynes

Travel writer & author

Published non-fiction author since 2000, covering a range of topics. Latest books include strategies for targeting mature travellers, how a global pandemic changed the way we travel, health & safety for small firms (based on my PhD), and WWII history. I love long-distance walking, exploring by public transport (currently writing Meander through Wales series), art, sampling local wines and food. I am a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers and the Non-Fiction Authors’ Association (NFAA), book reviewer, and an editor for other authors. I am also a writer/tutor of art history distance-learning courses. Basically, I am a writer! But I love the research that goes into every book/article, whether it is for information/guidance or intended to inspire the reader to visit and try something new for themselves. My favourite trips were Finland for the Northern Lights, the Canadian Rockies and Rocky Mountaineer, wine tasting in Bordeaux, and river cruising on the Rhine.

Jane Wilson

Jane Wilson

Editor of the Wellness Traveller

Jane Wilson is a freelance writer and specialises in wellness travel. From the early days of the health farm concept to today’s hi-tech medi-spas, her passion for traditional therapies and indigenous treatments have led her to many destinations which define wellness tourism. Her 30 years of experience as a journalist and PR consultant in travel and international hotels have provided first-hand experiences of the ancient practises of Ayurveda in India, the latest holistic age-defying treatments in Europe, the spiritual tribal beliefs of Native America and thermal resorts for that much needed rest and recuperation. Tree-hugging and horse whispering to healing spices, generational remedies and lifestyle practices, Jane teases out the wellness benefits of holidays and leisure pursuits and weaves them into her features. Slow travel, mindfulness, cruising for health and the power of just being embraced in nature’s own garden – you are assured of articles immersed in wellness.

Jeannine Williamson

Jeannine Williamson

Travel writer & cruise specialist

A former newspaper journalist, Jeannine is now an award-winning travel writer and leading expert on river and ocean cruises. She contributes to a wide variety of publications including The Telegraph, Times, Cruise Critic and Riviera Maritime. Her worldwide travels have taken Jeannine to both well-known and remote destinations around the globe and include wolf calling in Ontario, paddling along part of the Mississippi in a wooden dug-out canoe, sailing on a cargo ship to the isolated Marquesas Islands, crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a tall ship in gales of up to Force 8 and horse riding across the plains of Mongolia. She has also clocked up hundreds of nautical miles on river cruises throughout Europe and Asia, including Russia, China, Myanmar, India, Vietnam and Cambodia. Jeannine’s awards include the Cruise Lines International Association Cruise Journalism Awards, Travel Media Awards, Latin American Travel Association Media Awards and Women in Business Awards.

Mike Pickup

Mike Pickup

Journalist & photographer

Mike Pickup is an award-winning journalist and photographer covering both land-based and cruise holidays. His work appears in national newspapers and magazines including the Mail, Sun and Telegraph. He is also syndicated in regional titles, making him one of the UK’s most published travel writers.

Petra Shepherd

Petra Shepherd

Travel writer

Petra Shepherd is a freelance travel writer with over 30 years’ experience in television, 19 of which were with Travel Channel International, the leading global travel broadcaster, where she was responsible for award winning documentary style travel programmes. Prior to this Petra was a celebrity booker and has met everybody from Dame Edna Everage to Donald Trump! She’s visited over 100 countries, has lived in Hong Kong and Italy and is a great advocate of solo travel, in 2013 she spent six months travelling alone around South America. Petra particularly loves swimming, skiing, hiking, visiting markets and local festivals. When not getting of the beaten track and being as adventurous as possible, Petra divides her time between London and visiting her 12 God-children around the UK. She is a member of The British Guild of Travel Writers and combines her love of travel writing, books and food as Editor of The Silver Travel Book Club and The Silver Travel Cook Club.

Sally Dowling

Sally Dowling

Travel writer

I have worked in the travel industry since joining my local travel agency at 16. From there I decided to try the high life in London and spent happy years working for US Carriers, Pan Am & Continental. A ten-year career at Tropical Places, a privately-owned long-haul tour operator, gave me the chance to travel extensively throughout the Caribbean, Far East and Kenya. In 2003 I began to write and research travel features for a selection of magazine titles. A highlight was winning the Visit USA award for best consumer magazine feature. My 6-page spread entitled ‘Hidden Florida’ showcased resorts and attractions that could be easily reached if staying in Orlando. Top of my discoveries was the idyllic and very beautiful island of Sanibel. I have been lucky to return many times over the years and Sanibel’s charms never disappoint. As retirement beckons, I have embraced cruising and enjoy both ocean and river cruises. I have been delighted to be part of Silver Travel Advisor since its inception over 10 years ago. It gives me great pleasure to recommend somewhere that I have enjoyed so that others can share the experience.

Roger Bray

Roger Bray

Travel writer

I’ve written about travel for some 50 years, reporting on the growing pains of the package holiday business, the opening of China and the Soviet Union to tourists and the new found popularity of America. I chronicled the rise and fall of entrepreneurs including Sir Freddie Laker, the advent of low cost airlines and was a passenger on British Airway’s first commercial Concorde flight. A former travel editor on London’s Evening Standard, I have won various awards including one for a lifetime contribution to travel writing. I was joint author of Flight to the Sun, a history of the explosion in UK post war holiday travel and am an independent member of a committee advising the Government on financial protection for travellers booking air holidays. I’ve skied in some 140 resorts, run at least 350 routes from Chile to China and am a keen hiker, a Francophile – and have supported Fulham Football Club for 65 years through thick and thin – mostly thin.

Solange Hando

Solange Hando

Travel writer & photographer

As you would expect from a native, France is a speciality -along with other beautiful places in Europe- but my passion for travel calls me far and wide. I trekked in Nepal (16 times to date), travelled by train across Canada and up to Tibet -on the world’s highest railway-, stayed with Buddhist monks in Taiwan and relaxed in Japan among showers of cherry blossom Add river cruises, safaris and tours exploring the local culture and nature, that’s over 100 countries and I dream of many more. Then I love writing features, hovering here and there like butterflies, and in the past 20 years or so I published words and pictures in a wide range of titles at home and abroad. My latest award celebrates a ‘Royal Encounter’ (Bhutan), included in the ‘Best British Travel Writing of the 21st Century’. Books? I contributed to ‘Journeys of a Lifetime’ by National Geographic, wrote how to ‘Be a Travel Writer’ and the Berlitz/Insight pocket guide to Bhutan (my true Shangri La).

Steve Aldridge

Steve Aldridge

Travel writer

I am an award winning travel writer and like to embrace the huge variety of travel options the industry has to offer. Cruising (big and small ships), trekking, road trips, camping (mobile home), city visits, finding things off the beaten track and of course a little sunbathing, have taken me to some glorious parts of the world. These include the Arctic, Maldives, Bahamas, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia (including trekking in Borneo), USA, Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Greece, Turkey, France, Germany and many more. I like to root out the unusual in my travels and write helpful articles with a touch of humour.

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This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.