Based in Hove

Martin Lake

It's Nice To Meet You

Hi, I’m Martin. I live in Hove on the south coast with my young family.

My passion for travel began in the mid ‘90s with a round-the-world trip and working holiday in Australia. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to have travelled extensively worldwide, visiting over 50 countries along the way. My travels have taken me to places such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Borneo, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brazil, the USA, New Zealand, Fiji, Kenya and a number of European countries too. More recently, I’ve been discovering destinations a little closer to home, such as the Canary Islands, that work very well for family holidays.

Over the years, I’ve had some wonderful experiences that include watching cheetahs as the sun sets over the Masai Mara, sky-diving at the Whitsundays in Australia, taking a helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon and travelling on the tea country train through the tea plantations in Sri Lanka.

Through work trips, I have first-hand experience of staying in some of the world’s finest hotels (and some more run-of-the-mill ones too!) and can pass on some great tips to ensure you get the most from your hotel choices. I have extensive flight cabin knowledge. Business or Premium Economy Class isn’t always as expensive as you may think and makes long haul travel far more enjoyable.

Before becoming a Travel Counsellor, my career evolved from working in London for a ‘flights specialist’ and managing a team of 20+, to helping build a small travel ‘start-up’ into a successful travel business and more recently working for an award-winning luxury tailor-made tour operator creating privately guided tours throughout Asia. All these roles have required exceptional service levels and a very keen eye for detail.

With over 20 years’ experience as a dedicated travel professional, I can offer impartial, tailored advice for your trip and great prices too! Your leisure time is very precious and I realise just how important holidays are. I take pride in providing inspirational ideas for your trip, something which will save you hours of online research. Planning a bespoke holiday itinerary can be a daunting and sometimes time-consuming experience. Leave the detail to me and I’ll ensure a stress-free, smooth running trip, and you’ll return home with amazing memories that will last a lifetime.

For a no obligation quote (or just an initial chat about your holiday plans), please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I’ll be very happy to help…

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Contact Me

Whatever your holiday needs I'm here to help you, so simply give me a call or send me an email with your contact details on and I can get things started for you:

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My Videos

Elounda Blu - Crete

3/11/2021

Elounda Blu is a fantastic 'adults only' resort with a Cool Living 'VIP' wing for that ultimate in luxury...

My Blog

I absolutely live and breathe travel and I love to write about my experiences! Please take a look through my posts - you might find your own holiday inspiration.

Planning a trip to the Maldives?

28 August 2019

When planning a trip to the Maldives, there’s quite a lot to consider… With 1,192 coral islands (only 200 of which are inhabited) and over 140 resorts to choose from, where do you start? The Maldives is the lowest and flattest nation in the world. Its beaches are pristine and the shimmering azure blue ocean is a haven for marine life. If you’re planning a trip, you’ll probably already know the type of holiday to expect. Most are looking for an idyllic setting with nice beach, good quality accommodation, maybe some snorkelling or diving, and decent food and drink at a reasonable price. Not too much to ask for then? The first thing to consider is the climate. Is there a good time to visit or is it really a year-round destination? The Maldives Tourist Board will suggest the latter of course. But in reality, dry season runs from December to March / April, and wet season from May to November. Wet season tends to bring short downpours (usually in the afternoons) and the rest of the time the sun will shine and the temperature will be in the late 20s. It’s worth noting that visibility is not at its best when diving during the wet season. In terms of pricing when in the resorts, food and drinks can be quite expensive. Expect to pay at least on a par to London prices. A five-star resort can charge £20 for a burger and £7 for a pint of beer. This can start to run up a large bill, so my advice would be to opt for ‘All Inclusive’ so that you’ve budgeted in advance and can then simply enjoy your holiday without the worry of looking at the menu (with a gulp) each time you fancy a tipple. Your international flight will fly into Male, the capital. Male itself has little to offer so it’s best to head straight to your chosen resort. This can be done in one of three ways. Access to each resort will differ – it will either be by speedboat, domestic flight and speedboat, or by seaplane. The cost for this will be incorporated into the initial price of your holiday. Accommodation choices within the resorts are wide and varied. You may be looking for a beachfront villa, an overwater bungalow or something somewhere in between. Thankfully, all the options are low-rise and although the quality will vary depending on price, the standards are usually very good wherever you choose. On the subject of price, it’s usually a good idea to have some idea of budget and what you have available to spend on your trip. The difference in cost between the resorts can quite literally be thousands of pounds per night. So, where’s the best place to stay? Of course, this comes down to individual choice and your particular requirements. It’s also where I come in as I have first-hand knowledge of a number of resorts (not all 140 though!) and can help choose the perfect one for you at a price that fits your budget. I have quick access to all available options at discounted rates and by working together I can create a tailor-made Maldives holiday to suit. You may even be tempted to add-on a trip to see Sri Lanka at the same time..!

Impressions of Sri Lanka

01 July 2019

One of my first impressions of Sri Lanka was how warm the welcome is. 'Ayu Bowan' ('may you live longer') is both the greeting and farewell, and is always accompanied with a genuine smile. The second thing I noticed was how different the country is to India. Its close proximity means that of course there are similarities, but - having spent time in India - I was pleasantly surprised by how easy-going it is in comparison. My first visit involved the difficulty, upon arrival at Colombo airport, of choosing a driver/guide from the many who vie for business outside the terminal building. More recent visits have involved a far better and smoother arrival, with the guaranteed knowledge that my pre-arranged guide would be both friendly and knowledgeable (and insured!) Heading inland to the Cultural Triangle to see the huge ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya and the former ancient capital of Polonnaruwa seemed like the right thing to do. I wasn't disappointed; the rewarding views from the top of Sigiriya were a sight to behold. Journey times can be quite long when travelling in a vehicle around the island, but one way to break this up a little is to include a journey by train. Travelling by train through the tea plantations is a 'must-do' adventure for any trip to Sri Lanka and has certainly been a highlight for me on a number of occasions. While it's certainly not the Orient Express, the Tea Country train offers ‘travel with charm’ and a truly authentic experience. It’s not a tourist train - locals occupy the majority of the (comfortable) bench seats in second class. The warm breeze that drifts through the open windows (and doors!) adds to the enjoyment, as do the vendors offering cold drinks and spicy snacks. With sixteen National Parks to choose from, narrowing this down tends to be dependent on personal preference. Trying to spot the elusive leopards of Yala National Park continues to be a popular option. However, a three-hour safari without a sighting can be disappointing - unless of course you spot a sloth bear bouncing across the road in front of you just as you’re exiting the park, as I did on my last visit. Elephants are another of Sri Lanka's more popular creatures, and if you want guarantees, you should head to Uda Walawe NP, with the added bonus of a visit to the Elephant Transit Home, which rehabilitates orphans back into the wild. A well-balanced holiday experience is what I look for when I travel to Asia, and without doubt Sri Lanka offers this and more. It has history and culture, amazing scenery, fantastic wildlife and great beaches. Throw into the mix some of the best curry dishes - not only full of colour and flavour but also served with a smile - and I realised I had stumbled on a country that I knew I’d be returning to…

My customer stories

Sent by Terry Smith

We were referred to Martin by a family member living in the UK, and opted to have Martin arrange a 35 day self-drive tour of New Zealand. Martin worked quite extensively with us to ensure that we ended up with a tour suitable to our tastes. He reviewed how we wanted to spend our time, how active we wished to be, the types and locations of hotels we preferred, activities, driving times and frequencies, etc. all important factors that would affect our enjoyment. Of course having Martin provide advice and recommendations made this job easier. In the end we had an excellent package that Martin had modified to fit our budget. It was so nice having someone "have your back" so to speak as we did encounter some difficulty in our travels (inclement weather) which affected our travel arrangements. In one case we were stuck on a train in a valley which could not proceed any further. This location was also a "dead spot" for cellular service. Other people who were with us during this time were scrambling to deal with the problem (transport, accommodations). The poor mobile coverage was problematic for everyone but we were able to get a quick message to Martin and his New Zealand team. They immediately took ownership of the problem. By the time the train finally arrived at a new destination they had transport arranged and new hotels booked. Other travelers were still trying to figure out what to do and where to go. On such trips, it is a great piece of mind that Martin and his travel colleagues are there to not only make the initial arrangements but also help you during the trip itself. Martin was always very timely and professional in his responses. Not having known or dealt with Martin before this trip, I can certainly recommend Martin as a conscientious and professional travel consultant.

Sent by Susan McNamee

Martin is quick to respond to any questions answering with different options. I can trust him to make the most suitable travel arrangements needed, he is helpful and thoughtful. 10/10

Sent by Victoria Pritchard

Martin - you are amazing and wonderfully helpful as always! I could not arrange this trip without you! 10/10

Sent by Colin Rose

We have already advised friends of Martin's contact details for future reference. Martin was extremely professional in handling both of our trip requirements . Client care and remarkable tolerance enabled us to design our trips to perfection. Thank you Martin. 10/10

Sent by Stephen Whitehead

Very personalised and speedy service, 10/10

Sent by Julia Trinder

Martin took total care of my booking. Since I’m travelling on my own I feel much more confident knowing I have booked through Martin. I’d definitely recommend him again, it was all very quick and straight forward! 10/10

Sent by Emily Fletcher

Martin is always super helpful and very quick to respond to my many questions.

Sent by Elizabeth Grout

Very helpful and easy to book and a good price

Sent by Frank Ellis

Quick, accurate, efficient, informative.

Sent by Simon Barnes

Professional, perfectly tailored and friendly service. I would highly recommend Martin for all your travel needs. 10/10.

Sent by Ruth Newman

Martin is extremely helpful, knowledgeable and efficient. Always pleasant to deal with . I would strongly recommend him . 10/10.

Sent by Thomas Dowds

Martin is a lovely guy! Very helpful, with lots of suggestions as to where we could go on our trip to Australia We feel very comfortable in knowing that we will be very safe should anything happen while we are away , we can contact Martin for any help !

Sent by Susan McNamee

Martin has been extremely helpful in organising our trip to Japan and has explained all our options should the trip need to be postponed because of Covid.

Sent by Michael Wedge

Martin has been absolutely superb in arranging our holiday. Extremely professional, diligent and such a lovely person to work with. At no time was anything a chore, just a pure pleasure to deal with, always there when you needed him. I couldn't recommend his services more. 10 out of 10, many thanks again, Mike & Polly

Sent by Jonathan Spooner

Martin Lake is one of the most friendly, efficient and professional travel advisers I have ever had the good fortune to have consulted. He is a credit to your organisation!

Sent by Nick Horsley

Helpful, Knowledgeable, flexible and overall great service - Highly recommend using Martin and will do again in the future - 10/10

Sent by Peter Letcher

Perfect. Made to feel valued. The attention to detail was excellent!

Sent by Gillian Robinson

I cannot praise and thank Martin Lake enough for all his support and my million & 1 questions. He was always on hand to answer, investigate and come back with advice and suggestions. I felt so confident booking with him as well as it being such a pleasurable experience, easing me of any travel worries, sorting logistics, assisting with admin and then just on a personal front, sharing my excitement about the trip. What an absolute joy and 5* service. I cannot recommend him enough and will certainly be using him again in the future. Thanks Martin!

Sent by Hayley Rose

Martin has been incredibly helpful. Having shared with him my dream holiday, he quickly made it a reality! Martin has removed all the hassle of booking a holiday and his guidance and knowledge have proven invaluable. So grateful, this will definitely be the first of many holidays we will book with Martin. 10/10

Sent by Sean Holland

Martin was very proactive in searching out a holiday in Norway based on a vague idea of what we wanted. He gave us three options to consider, with some variations within them. The information came through very promptly and we loved the itinerary he gave us. There booking process was very easy, and we got a lovely thank you gift and card through the post afterwards - a nice touch. 10/10

Sent by Bryan Forrest

Thank you for all you have done for us. 10/10

Sent by Sara Moore

Martin was very helpful and super patient when I kept changing my mind. Great service. 10/10

Sent by Steve Wallace

Martin was extremely helpful and incredibly knowledgeable about the destination we had in mind. This is why we decided to travel to Vietnam and to book with Martin, such fabulous service. We’ll definitely be recommending him and we can’t wait for our holiday! 10/10

Sent by Sharon Dowds

Martin has just 'saved the day' by helping our daughter, who is travelling alone and is 20 yrs old, arrive safely in China after being badly let down by a so called 'expert' travel company. Martin was able to sort out accommodation at the very last minute and we are so grateful for his expert advice and 'can do attitude' which included emailing and calling using Google translate, then contacting a friend in Singapore, who speaks Cantonese, to call the hotel on his behalf to be sure that they would be open when she arrives at 1 in the morning! We will certainly be using Martin for all our future travels and will definitely spread the word as to his fantastic service! Thank you

Sent by Tina Pile

10/10. Martin was very helpful and knowledgeable which made our choices easy.

Sent by Amy Watts

Tailor-made Thailand: 10/10. Found the perfect combination of resorts and accommodation, found things I couldn’t have found myself, listened to all our various wants and created the perfect itinerary. Will definitely use Martin again and recommend him.

Sent by Stephen Whitehead

Incredible service. Very quick and found me an ideal holiday. 10/10

Sent by Tom Mitcheson

Martin was really helpful in organising our holiday, providing local knowledge and tips about our proposed destinations. 10/10.

Sent by Jonathan Spooner

I had been struggling with organising my summer holiday with my two challenging teenage children, when I first spoke to Martin. He immediately eliminated all of the pressure and stress, recommending three excellent alternatives that met my complicated criteria exactly. Though our holiday is some way away yet, the prompt, professional and above all sympathetic service that I received from Martin was eye-opening and very welcome indeed. I trust that our holiday will be a delight!