It’s usually around this time of year that many of us start thinking about booking our summer holidays, and perhaps honeymoons? So if you have yet to find your dream destination, then i think this little feature here may be right up your street.

For i am chatting with the wonderful James at The Turquoise Holiday Company, who are an experienced privately owned company, who pride themselves on their high level of service….

 

{w} Hi James, could you firstly tell {www} readers a little bit about you?

 

My name is James Bell and was brought up on travel. My father had travel agencies in Scotland and I spent eight years in the ski industry and various other travel companies before setting up Turquoise in 2002 with my wife and business partner Brian. Our aim right from the start was put some romance, passion and glamour back into the travel industry. I live locally (Beaconsfield) and have two lovely children Sophie & Angus and when I am allowed to escape my child care duties (which I love) I enjoy golf and hunting for antiques.

 

 

{w} What do you love/dislike about your job?

 

Making people happy – especially honeymooners, because everyone remembers their honeymoon and it’s our job to get right 100% of the time. I suppose the only thing I dislike is tidying my desk!! I like to think of myself as creative and energetic and so generally have a lot going on.

 

{w} How did you get into the wedding industry?

 

When we started we never really thought about the honeymoon market, it sort of found us, with the brand colour of the company, the type of accommodation, the destinations and our attention to detail and service levels all made us very appealing to honeymooners. We ran a promotion in the FT just after we started featuring Tahiti and her Islands after another company had pulled out due to the Second Gulf War which had also just started! All the enquiries were honeymooners and the rest is history.

 

{w} What do you aim to achieve for your clients?

 

We aim to delight and over deliver, we choose our products and hotels very carefully and have and do turn down bookings where we think the hotels are just not suitable or where we have had issues or problems before. Our reputation and integrity are very important to us. The company is all about advice, imagination and service.

 

 

{w} What style of honeymoon is your favourite?

 

I love the seas so island hopping in the South Pacific or the Seychelles would be a winner for me.

 

{w} Could you tell us some information about your honeymoons?

 

Our average selling price is around £3000 per person, but we sell many honeymooners that are more affordable than this and we have sold honeymoons which are in excess of £50,000. Twin centre honeymoons are a speciality of Turquoise and our newest destinations include Vietnam, Borneo and Cambodia.

The Indian Ocean remains our biggest destination in terms of numbers, but our roots and history are in the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand.

We operate a gift list which has been a fantastic success. It carries no cost to our clients or to the friend and family contributing – beware many do.

 

{w} Do you have any tips for couples in selecting their honeymoons?

 

Talk to a specialist, make sure you have the very best advice.

Make sure your tour operator is bonded with ATOL this will make sure you are financially protected should the unthinkable happen.

Book with someone you like and trust.

Book at least six months in advance (ensuring the best rates hotels and rooms are available)

Make sure you are travelling at the best time of year for your chosen destination, although you never can guarantee the weather – even paradise is awful in the rain! A good tour operator will advise you of this.

Don’t do too much, packing and unpacking is the most unromantic thing in the world.

Don’t charge off on honeymoon on the day of your wedding; travel the day after or even two days after – enjoy the moment and day after.

The best room in a more affordable hotel is always better than a cheaper room in a more expensive hotel.

Remember heaven is who you are with not a place found on a map.

 

{w} How can we get in touch with you?

 

http://www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk

01494 678 400

Twitter – @TurquoiseUK

Facebook – facebook.com/turquoiseholidays

 

Thanks so much to James at The Turquoise Holiday Company, it’s been great getting to know you…. your holiday’s sound incredible!! Please do go and browse on their fantastic site xoxo Lou

 

 

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