My passion for travel started at age 11 on a school trip to Belgium. The strange accents, weird food, and cars on the wrong side of the road hooked me instantly. Over the last 35 years, I’ve hit over 120 countries, always hunting for unique destinations and experiences. I’ve visited the familiar streets of Europe and the wilder paths of Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
I’d love to sit next to Mikhail Gorbachev on a long-haul flight. I’m fascinated by the history he shaped and I would ask him why he thought it was time for change and how he differed from his predecessors. I’m a history and culture buff – give me the former Soviet states and the Silk Road for their rich histories and unique cultures. I love personalising my travel recommendations, shaped by both my clients’ interests and my own past adventures. I returned to Cuba after 12 years and found it to be as fascinating as ever, times are changing so go soon and experience this unique destination before they serve fries with your Mojito!
I’m always a realist – I’ll manage expectations around pricing and I’m never afraid to challenge assumptions and put options in front of people that they might not have considered before. Balancing the growth of the business whilst maintaining top-notch service and keeping travel interesting is what keeps me doing what I do.
I’ve seen growth in multi-generational family travel, a keenness for joining escorted small group tours for security and the inevitable sharing of experiences on social media. Structured itineraries might limit spontaneity but there are always chances to stumble upon hidden gems.
If I had all the time and money in the world, I’d spend two years slowly travelling around Europe, living like a local instead of staying in luxury spots and without the constant distraction of smartphones and Wi-Fi.
Places Peter has been…
Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Cote d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Guatemala, Holy See (Vatican City), Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Turkey (Turkiye), Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Top 5 Cities Yet To Be Visited
Ashgabat
Baku
Cartagena
Priština
Belfast
Top of My Bucket List
- Iran to see the teahouses on the bridge at Esfahan
- North Korea to see the mass games in the last bastion of pure communism
- To walk the Portugese Camino
Best Communist Tours
Prague nuclear bunker tour and the Skoda tour in Bratislava
Most Memorable Bribes
- Having to “buy” Ukrainian travel insurance to get through the border from Trans-Dniestr
- Paying the “tourist fee” to the guard to allow me to climb one of the towers at the Registan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Best Meals Abroad
Tapas in San Sebastian, Seafood platter in Genoa, All you can eat Steak at Siga la Vaca in Buenos Aires, Surf and turf at the Red Eye Grill in New York and the Mezze in Damascus
Places I won’t go again
- Bangui Central African Rebublic – really scary
- San Salvador in El Salvador – really really scary
Memorable Holiday Experiences
- Running the bulls in Pamplona, twice
- Watching a football match at the Maracana stadium in Rio
- The Oktoberfest in Munich
- Seeing Polar Bears in Svalbard
