The thing I wish I’d had when I went to New York …

In 2020, just before the world as we knew it drew to a standstill, my husband and I went to New York. We spent five days exploring the city and ticking off all the ‘must sees’ from the list. I spent months planning the trip in a notebook, and while we were there, I kept a little diary of our time. We did all the main attractions: Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the Flatiron Building, Madison and Times Square, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, Top of the Rock and much more besides.

I loved the few days we spent there, but a part of me felt that I could have planned it better.

But why am I telling you all this? When planning the trip, I felt overwhelmed and frustrated that nobody would prepare it for me, sit me down, and tell me what I needed to do to make the most of this beautiful city. I felt sure someone would offer a service to create a perfect New York itinerary tailored to my needs, but there wasn’t.

I realised that this is likely how people feel when planning their trip to Shetland, too, and that’s when I pivoted my business away from solely offering tours and into providing help and advice to people in the planning stages of their Shetland adventure.

I was on a call with a client yesterday, and at the end, she told me that I offered a “truly valuable service”, and it struck me then that I’m now doing what I wish someone could have done for me when I went to New York.

My travel consultations have become one of my favourite parts of my business, and not just because people put their trust in me, but because I can watch them become more and more excited as we discuss all the things that they could do to make the most of their trip.

Every individual or couple I meet has different requirements, and no two consultations look the same. In the past month, I’ve:

Discussed how to create a holiday itinerary for Shetland, Orkney and Faroe
Shetland and Orkney with a section of the NC500
Shetland and Orkney without the NC500
Shetland without a car
Shetland with a car
Shetland in two weeks
Shetland in 2.5 days
Shetland on a budget, travelling around youth hostels
A walking holiday to Shetland

It’s an honour to tailor experiences to meet the needs of individuals and to meet people from all over the world keen to enjoy a little slice of what Shetland can offer.

Whether you’re travelling solo, as a family or as a larger group, I can put together a travel itinerary to suit your needs. Or perhaps you’re travelling with a motorhome or tent but can’t figure out ferries, campsites and routes. Let me do that for you while you sit back and dream of the North!

What does a TRAVEL CONSULTATION look like?

1-hour Zoom call where I get to know you and what you are looking for
A recording of the call to refer back to
A document with all the notes and suggestions from our call — I will help you plan the best itinerary for your time in Shetland
Cost: 100 GBP

I have now created a simple booking system and have updated my availability for the start of 2025. If you’d like to secure your spot, you can book here:

Book Your consultation here

If you’re not ready for a consultation and want to learn more, pick up a copy of my new Guidebook, which I poured everything into.