Mari
Travel Specialist
I feel very lucky to have travelled to so many countries throughout the world and experienced their different cultures.
My love for travel started as a young child when my parents would take the family away on day trips at the weekend. We’d go to places like Loch Lomond, St Andrews and the Lake District, always an adventure and full of fun! We then explored further afield, discovering Spain, Italy and Canada.
My travel career started 25 years ago. My first seven years in the industry were spent in executive sales for an airline, while for the past 17 years I’ve been focussed on selling luxury tailor-made holidays. I feel very lucky to have travelled to so many countries throughout the world and experienced their different cultures. There are many destinations that I love but Rome, South Africa and Las Vegas have to be my favourites.
My travel specialism
I’m an expert on South Africa and have travelled the country extensively, from the port city of Cape Town to the sprawling Winelands and the many private game reserves. I’ve also travelled much of Europe, America and the Caribbean.
My most memorable travel experiences
While staying at Shamwari Eagles Crag – one of the top safari lodges in South Africa – I met with the head ecologist there and spent the whole day with him, learning about the animal population in Shamwari Private Game Reserve. It was fascinating and gave me a whole new appreciation for wildlife.
My favourite destination: South Africa
South Africa is so diverse with a great variety of things to do and see - the scenery alone is magnificent! I love the pretty town of Stellenbosch, which is only a 45-minute drive from Cape Town and surrounded by beautiful vineyards. The Garden Route has numerous glorious beaches and scenic towns, too. The highlight for me, however, was going on safari. I was fortunate enough to have stayed at Shamwari Eagles Crag and it was just amazing. Seeing the Big Five, beautiful birdlife and learning about the reserve’s conservation work was an unforgettable experience.
My favourite hotel: Wynn Las Vegas
This is a beautiful, sophisticated hotel on the strip, with one of the most opulent casinos in Las Vegas. The Wynn has a terrific choice of restaurants, Costa Di Mare being my favourite. The guestrooms and suites are elegant and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering great views. It has several pools, a spa and shopping boutiques. All-in-all, a super luxury resort with great staff.
Service commitment from you:
I’ll listen carefully to you, making sure that I fully understand your holiday wishes and dreams. I’ll then source the perfect holiday for you using my knowledge, personal experiences and contacts to make sure that you have the most unforgettable, hassle-free and fantastic holiday possible.
I’m an expert at making something truly special happen on your holiday. I often go out of my way to try out the most amazing experiences in the destinations I visit to make sure they’re worth recommending to you.
Your top tips for travellers:
- Ask about different room types. Some hotels offer Club rooms with additional benefits like pre-dinner canapes, cocktails or Afternoon Tea.
- A travel journal is a great way of keeping your holiday memories. It’s also useful if you’re trying to recommend something to a friend that may be visiting that place, such as the names of your favourite restaurants.
- Try to do a city tour the day after you arrive. Along with giving you a good overview of the city, it’ll help with navigation, and you may see areas that you might like to re-visit during your stay.
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