Sharon

My dad was a bit of a plane spotter so, as a girl, I spent many a Saturday afternoon hanging about airport perimeter roads watching planes taking off and landing! My favourite was the Boeing-747 as, to my small eyes, it just seemed so big and glamorous and was bound to be jetting off to some faraway, exotic land.

Fast forward to today, and not much has changed in that I still seem to spend an awful lot of time hanging about airports, albeit this time for work! The first 15 or so years of my career I spent working for airlines – both as long-haul cabin crew and in ground-based roles – and then, more recently, I have been a Travel Specialist within the luxury travel sector.

Even after all these years, I still feel blessed to be part of such a fantastic industry and I am genuinely excited to go to work every day. Travel just has so much going for it – it broadens the mind, is good for our health and helps people build lovely memories with their partners and families.

Favourite destination: Nevis 

My favourite destination tends to be the one I last visited and, currently, that is Nevis in the Caribbean. In common with all Caribbean islands, Nevis boasts plenty of gorgeous beach hotels, but I think the real beauty of this island is its abundance of nature. A stand-out travel moment for me was a beach and trail horse ride in Nevis – my horse even ventured into the waves at one point. Horse riding along a spectacular tropical beach is an amazing experience and I would recommend it to anyone… regardless of equestrian ability! 

Favourite hotel: Six Senses Laamu

This is a hard one as I have been fortunate to stay at so many fabulous hotels over the years. However, if I had to choose just one, it would have to be Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives. Service comes as second nature to Maldivians, and every villa here is appointed its own GEM (butler), so guests will truly want for nothing. This is the only hotel on the remote Laamu Atoll – meaning it feels about a million miles from anywhere, with the darkest night skies and the brightest stars I have ever, ever seen! One other thing about Six Senses Laamu that I just love is their approach to conservation and sustainability. They desalinate and filter their own water to avoid importing plastic bottles and have their own team of in-resort marine biologists to help support the atoll’s incredible array of sea life.

Service Commitment From You

I am passionate about creating truly memorable experiences for every one of my clients, be that for a honeymoon, a special celebration trip or just a well-earned holiday. I think a key part of this is really listening to and understanding each client’s wants and needs before using my knowledge and experience to match them up with the perfect properties. I am well-travelled and love sharing the many tips I have picked up along the way.

Your Top Tips for Travellers

• Always pack your swimwear, flip flops and something to wear on the first evening in your hand baggage – I’ve had my checked baggage arrive a little later than me on more than one occasion!
• Treat yourself to a flight upgrade – it’s often less expensive than you think and is a fantastic start (or end) to your trip. If the budget can only stretch to one way, I would always plump for the return flight – knowing you’ve got that comfy seat on the way home will really sweeten any end-of-the-holiday blues.
• Don’t forget your adaptor, and an extension lead can be handy too – it’s surprisingly common to find the plug sockets in hotel rooms a very long way from anywhere useful!