Cover Stars 2026: Why Madeira could be an ‘Insta’ hit with young clients

Q. What were your first impressions of Madeira?

A. I had thought it was a destination for older clientele and the lack of beaches put me off. I can’t believe how wrong I was! It was predominantly couples, including a lot in their 20s. I’d compare it to a short-haul Bali. For younger clients that want the ‘Insta’ trip but don’t have the budget or time for the likes of Bali, Madeira is the answer. There are so many activities and the scenery is gorgeous for those Instagrammable pics. I’m hoping to target younger clients by telling them what they can do there. The climate also surprised me. We experienced every season in one day depending on our location, but it’s like the Canary Islands in terms of a steady year-round temperature.

Q. What was your hotel like?

A. The Savoy Palace Hotel in Funchal is very impressive with a luxurious feel. Service was exceptional; staff were happy to help and very friendly. My room was huge and very plush, with every amenity you could ask for and a spectacular sea view. The range of food at breakfast was wonderful; they even had sections where they made specialities, including my favourite, eggs royale. I enjoyed a dip in the heated pool and visited the award-winning Laurea Spa.

Q. What did you think of the places you visited?

A. Funchal was lovely: cobbled streets lined with restaurants. We visited the farmers’ market with stalls selling flowers, fish, fruit and locally made goods. All the people were so friendly and wanted to tell us about their history, traditions and culture. We then went to the Cabo Girão viewpoint. I was nervous because it had a glass walkway 580 metres high, but I was brave and walked on it! Our visit to the wooden, triangular Santana houses was like stepping back in time.

Q. What activities did you take part in?

A. We travelled by cable car to the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, from where the views were fabulous. I loved exploring the different areas, such as the Chinese garden, and seeing the resident flamingos. I had a piña colada in a real pineapple and returned to the entrance in a vintage Rolls-Royce. Another highlight was wild swimming, although I didn’t go in too far once I noticed the crabs!

Q. What was the food like?

A. Lovely! On the last night we went to a Michelin-starred restaurant and it was the best meal of the trip. It was a tasting menu, pairing each dish with a local wine.

Q. Has the trip helped you to sell the destination?

A. I’ve already switch-sold a couple who were planning to go to Gran Canaria. I showed them my photos and they were blown away. I am also planning to train our shop staff on Madeira.

Q. How was your photoshoot?

A. We were at the clifftop hotel Quinta do Furão, surrounded by vineyards. It was raining so I was worried I’d look like I’d been dragged through a hedge backwards! I was nervous, but in the end we had a laugh.

Q. How did you get on with the other agents?

A. We got on very well considering we were all different ages. We were like one happy family.

How has your career in travel progressed?

I joined the industry at 17 as a modern apprentice at Thomas Cook in Spennymoor, County Durham. After five years I moved to the Metrocentre in Gateshead, before becoming customer services manager at the Bishop Auckland branch, aged 23. At 25 I had my first daughter and switched to three days a week. After the birth of my second daughter, I moved into homeworking and joined Hays Travel as a personal travel consultant. I left in 2021 to join The Holiday Village as a homeworker. Two years later, I saw a manager’s job advertised at Seaside Travel in Wingate. I met the owner, Nicola Park, and got the job! I opened our seventh shop in Fishburn and was asked to manage our busiest branch, Hartlepool. In 2024, I became training manager across all branches, and in April 2025 I was made regional sales manager, looking after seven shops. I’m always on the road in my blue Seaside car, which says “honk for a holiday” on it, so drivers often hoot – they think they’ll get a free trip!

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