rachel waddington travel counsellors

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Based in Woodford, Cheshire

Donna Waddington

• Corporate Testimonials

It's Nice To Meet You

With nearly 35 years in the travel business I am very well known in the Cheshire area. I joined Travel Counsellors in 2003 years ago and I haven't looked back since.

Using my many years of experience in the travel industry, and as a member of this large and professional organisation, I can offer my clients flexibility and competitive prices, coupled with the highest possible quality of personal service and financial protection.

Travel Counsellors manage and take good care of many local and national companies’ business travel arrangements. With special negotiated rates, we are able to offer our clients the best rates on the market.

Having access to the latest technology allows us to research and offer you deals with a greater variety of airlines, hotels and car rental companies.

I have travelled extensively to many European and worldwide destinations and I am proud to offer first hand and unbiased advice to all my clients.

Honesty, integrity, care and expertise are at the core of everything we do.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Whatever your business needs I'm here to help you, so please get in touch with me and I can get things started:

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My corporate testimonials

Sent by stephen maynard.

Cheshire 01/03/2023

Sent by Shirley Leonard

Manchester 17/05/2019

Sent by Gordon Powell

Epistem/Genedrive in Manchester 16/02/2018

Sent by Paul Hague

Bramhall 03/05/2016

Manchester 18/04/2016

Sent by Kathleen Mackay

Manchester 06/08/2012

Sent by Catherine Booth

Manchester 19/07/2012

Sent by Lydia Meyerturkson

Manchester 18/06/2012

• Netherlands
• South Africa
• United Arab Emirates

Travel Counsellors head to Mexico

The personal experiences of our travel consultants, together with their combined insider knowledge of hotels, resorts, and destinations, ensure that Travel Counsellors can hand-pick the very best holidays for your needs.

Recently, 58 of our Travel Counsellors were lucky enough to head off on a fabulous trip to Mexico, where they stayed in one of our favourite properties there: the adults-only Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen in the heart of the Riviera Maya.

This allowed them to truly get a feel for what Secrets Moxché can offer to our guests. And as well as experiencing the property itself (including a welcome dinner at Seasoul restaurant, a private beach party, and a gala dinner), they explored local sights such as cenotes and the Blue Lagoon. They discover why this region is such a great holiday destination, blending relaxation, culture, and immersion in nature.

Why choose Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen?

The resort has a fantastic location within Corasol, a gated residential community that’s also home to the 18-hole Gran Coyote Golf Club designed by retired professional golfer Nick Price. It’s a great recommendation for those who love to get in a round or two on holiday.

Secrets Moxché is absolutely jam-packed with its own fantastic facilities, including an incredible eight swimming pools – three of them artificial cenotes – and a huge spa which is also cenote-inspired by design. The huge array of activities to sign up for here ranges from thrilling water sports to dance lessons and mixology classes.

Our Travel Counsellors were wowed by the accommodation at this all-suite property, especially its spacious and contemporary suites which include swim-out options. You also get the choice to upgrade to Preferred Club for access to exclusive areas including a rooftop restaurant and infinity pool, a private lounge with top-shelf spirits and appetisers, plus other added amenities.

Existing fans of Secrets Resorts will already be familiar with its famous Unlimited-Luxury® package, which embraces unlimited dining and drinks in no fewer than 11 restaurants and seven bars at Secrets Moxché, along with 24-hour room and concierge services. The choice of places to eat in the resort is just staggering. As well as Seasoul with its fresh-from-the-boats seafood, there’s Dos Almas with its Mexican dining, Suki with its Japanese menu, Allora for Italian food, and the laidback Coco Cafe. The only problem will be fitting them all in…

Exclusive offer

We're delighted to offer you some exclusive benefits when booking with a Travel Counsellor. You’ll get a 33% discount on your stay, a complimentary room upgrade from a Junior Suite Tropical View Room to an Ocean View Room, and sparkling wine, fresh fruit, and flowers in your room on arrival. Other benefits include breakfast in bed with mimosas on one morning during your stay (reservation with concierge required), private petit fours each evening, and complimentary access to the hydrotherapy circuit (once per guest per stay).

"What an amazing trip to Mexico!! Spending time with old friends and making new ones too; it’s what I really love about being a Travel Counsellor. When collectively our community comes together to celebrate our successes! This one did not disappoint... roll on the next one."

Joanne, Travel Counsellor

"Wow, where do I start? Such a chic resort but very down to earth too. The facilities, décor, staff, food, cocktails were all fabulous."

"The whole trip from start to finish was just amazing. As it was my first trip with Travel Counsellors, I really didn’t know what to expect but I loved every minute of it. Swimming in the cenote was a real highlight and lovely to experience a bit of Mexico. The Gala Dinner on the last night was just amazing and the dancing in the secret nightclub topped it off!"

Claire, Travel Counsellor

To book your Mexico holiday at Secrets Moxché, call your Travel Counsellor today.

Discover hidden gems with these destination dupes

In response to a growing desire among travellers to uncover hidden gems free from the hustle and bustle of mass tourism, we've curated a collection of 'destination dupes'— our favourite spots for those seeking the essence of popular locations without the crowds. Often more affordable, these picks promise the same joy and beauty as mainstream places, but allow you to experience them in a quieter, more personal setting.

Enjoy Athenian bliss with One&Only

Greece is a classic destination for all kinds of traveller: couples, families, friends, and solo. And it’s just become even more enticing with the opening of two properties by One&Only – a luxury brand known for its curated services and experiences that immerse you in your destination, giving you a feeling not only of getting away from it all but also of living something truly wonderful.

Experience luxury in a groundbreaking Dubai icon

You can now stay in a revolutionary piece of architecture and instant Dubai icon courtesy of One&Only One Za’abeel, whose award-winning, super-luxe properties around the world combine spectacular locations, unparalleled service, and distinctive personalities befitting their destination.

Find your personal Travel Counsellor

With more than 2,000 independent Travel Counsellors worldwide, let one of our professional and passionate experts tailor your perfect trip and look after you at every stage of your journey.

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• Travel Forum

A trip to Moscow

I'm going to organize a trip this summer. I want to plan everything. I’ll fly from London to Moscow, and I also want to visit St. Petersburg. Could you, please, advise me what places I should visit? I’ll stay in Moscow for about 10 days before going to St. Petersburg. Thank you!

Not a country I’d be spending my money in at the moment.

Ditto. Ditto!

I don't really see the point of shunning a country because you don't agree with its leader and/or its government. Would you go to Italy? China? Tourist dollars are more likely to get into the hands of the people rather than any corrupt bureaucracy and meeting friendly tourists might just change the locals opinions of foreigners and even give them some information they don't get from local news media.

Hopefully , I won't be starting a war here , but I must say I agree with Chani's comments . Having taken three year visas in 2015 , we have been to Moscow and St; Petersburg ( once to Moscow , and twice to St Petersburg ) . The History , Art , Music ( I am a classically trained musician ) and Culture , fascinate us . Much to experience there and advance preparation is essential , To get a good grounding for your visit , read this lavish and detailed book by Suzanne Massie , it's one of the best ways to immerse yourself in what you will experience - https://www.amazon.com/Land-Firebird-Beauty-Old-Russia/dp/096441841X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521652009&sr=8-1&keywords=land+of+the+firebird+massie&dpID=51CPK13XKGL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

And while leaders of such countries can point to foreign visitor numbers as a sign of support ? I also believe that personal safety for certain travellers, especially obvious minorities, cannot be guaranteed, as fervent nationalism increases, and tolerance levels evaporate. Just as I may decide against a purchase at the supermarket because of a company’s behaviour, ethics will always be a consideration.

Well, I'd argue supermarket ethics does not readily translate to travel ethics - the latter is far more complex. Personally, I see the whole "vote with my hard-earned travel dollar" approach as overly simplistic, but if it's your position - I totally respect it.

What I don't understand is members volunteering ethical guidance in response to what seems an innocuous request for travel-related information.

Note a discussion on ethics hosted a year ago by the Webmaster of this very forum.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/travel-ethics-612334a0-0ca1-4128-b088-c13d1d8a91c3

I appreciate Rick Steves' point of view in his "Travel As A Political Act". That said, Putin's Russia is not a place I would support. But, to each his or her own....

From a practical point of view, travel between the two countries can be difficult. I understand the Russians who traveled in the US this past winter had to go to the US Embassy in the country of Georgia to get visas because the Russians expelled American embassy personnel. If you do travel to Russia, you may be on your own. See the American travel advisory: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/russia-travel-advisory.html

Travel Advisory January 10, 2018 Russia – Level 3: Reconsider travel Reconsider travel to Russia due to terrorism and harassment. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory U.S. citizens are often victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion by law-enforcement and other officials. U.S. consular assistance to detained individuals is often unreasonably delayed by Russian officials. Russia also enforces special restrictions on dual U.S.-Russian nationals. Due to the Russian government-imposed reduction on U.S. diplomatic personnel in Russia, the U.S. government has reduced ability to provide services to U.S. citizens.

We have traveled to Moscow and St. Petersburg over the past few years. As in the US, most of the people we encountered helpful and not particularly political. In Moscow, we stayed at The Garden Ring Hotel which was a close walk to the metro. The hotel was very comfortable and quiet for being in the city. We loved the art museums and the Georgian restaurants. In St. Petersburg, we stayed at both The 3Mosta hotel near the Hermitage and the Art Hotel Demetra.. In St. Petersburg, we especially liked the Hermitage and Russian museum. Learning the Cyrillic alphabet and having a good map is a must.

As I think the point about ethical considerations has been made, please keep future replies more specific to the question at hand. Thanks.

Either read a good travel book or book a guide who can personally take you to the best places that interest you and tell about the sights you're seeing. We used Dan Petrov on 2 different trips to Moscow and found him to be wonderfully friendly and witty not to mention super knowledgeable.

Latest advice, Australian Governmemt, 1 April 2018. “Due to heightened political tensions, you should be aware of the possibility of anti-Western sentiment or harassment. While the Australian Government is not aware of any increased difficulties for Australians travelling in Russia at this time, you should follow the security and political situation closely and keep up to date with this travel advice. Remain vigilant, avoid any protests or demonstrations and avoid commenting publicly on political developments.”

We very much enjoyed our group trip to Moscow and St Petersburg last year. excellent guides and accommodations. While Steven who has replied here has excellent advice, ( and we took advantage of it), we felt an organized tour really facilitated our enjoyment of the country. You may want to consider a combination of an organized tour and than adding independent days . Some of the Australians on the tour had arrived a couple of days earlier than the tour stated and then some stayed later. If we were to go again (which I would), that"s how I would do it. And I must say , it was enlightening to have conversations with the Russian tour guides and the non Americans about the current world situation. Not that we went into any great depth, but I think we all went away with a little more understanding. Top places: allow lots of time in St Petersburg at the Hermitage- take a separate day for the Impressionist building. In Moscow, the Russian Art Museum was amazing.

Solid advice from Australian government quoted above, especially the keeping up to date part.

I checked the current version (Sep 18) of that advisory - and it hasn't been updated much. In fact, some sections don't seem to have changed since 2005 - their recommendations for importing/exporting currency and financial instruments, for example, are at least five years behind.

I do like reading governmental travel advisories for entertainment purposes - for instance, up until very recently the US one sternly advised potential travelers that Moscow was largely a cash-based economy (couldn't be further from the truth) and warned about intrinsic dangers of gypsy cabs (which had all but disappeared by 2015).

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.