Lets your travels begin..
Welcome to Robbo Travels — a world of my adventures, unforgettable experiences, amazing food, incredible people and stories from a lifetime spent exploring the world.
My blog is certainly not about staged travel photos Instagram pics, It’s about real travel, real experiences and the memories that make journeys truly special.
For those who really know me, they know I love looking for some real hidden food spots and unbelievable wines and beers with breathtaking destinations and once-in-a-lifetime adventures, I’ll take you to places many travellers have never even thought about visiting… whilst also bringing back memories for those who already have.
Travel has been part of my life since the age of 17, when I first set off to the Greek Island before travelling to Asia during the incredible days of the 1990s, long before smartphones, social media and Google Maps existed, just my lonely planet book, that I still have to this day.
Back then, adventure meant getting lost, meeting strangers, discovering hidden bars, local food spots and finding the best experiences through word of mouth and instinct, just like the today version of race across the world, but my travel was never rushed, trust me.
And yes… Bangkok in the ’90s certainly gave me a few stories to tell!
Wow — some of those bars and taxi drivers would have seriously sell their own sister and services for just a few extra baht I heard, taxis drivers were armed with photo albums waiting on passenger seat of their sister apparently!
Looking for the best bars and fun, not just Bangkok…..acrosss the world?
Don’t worry… I found them. Those tales are definitely still to come! 🍻😂
My journey eventually took me to Australia, where I lived and worked on Manly beach, and the Northern Beaches, as I worked and travelled across to some fantastic hotels whilst exploring huge parts of the country with some crazy Aussie people.
Australia became one of my true loves in life — the beaches, road trips, people, food and lifestyle all helped creating who I am today, and my parents really did live the experience with me, through letters, postcards and drunken calls between 3am-4am to say hello….
The last 20 years have brought even more adventures, first through my catering and event management company, and then working in customer service with British Airways, even here on our special days, I still helped with food and catering, before jumping on the phones.
I certainly met some amazing people along the way, helping plenty of unhappy customers — and celebrating with some very happy ones who had finally saved enough Avios points to fly halfway around the world…Of course, there were always a few who thought 500 Avios would get them there and back!
My favourite response was, “You can’t even buy a bag of peanuts for that!” 😂
Ten years ago, I started slowly building my own travel business, as BA heard about my plans, and opened the door and said goodbye…so it was Hello Exclusive Travel Holidays, helping people create unforgettable memories and discover incredible places around the world.
Besides trying to start a new business, I was caring and having time with my dad following the sudden loss of my mum with my sister and brother, my Dad was my hero, my best mate and one of the people who believed in me no matter what.
Losing someone like that leaves a space that can never truly be filled, but the love, memories and lessons they leave behind stay with you forever.
My passion for travel, people and creating amazing experiences is still as strong as ever, I often think back to something Mum used to say: “Have hope and faith in each other, and it will all be fine.”
Those words have stayed with me through the good times, the difficult times and every adventure in between. ❤️✈️
Today, life has brought me to the fantastic community of Great Harwood, to support a good travel friend, with big plans Jon Howarth, and grow his business with future expansion plans with the Best Destinations travel brand, bringing back real personal service, trust, experience and confidence when booking holidays to the high street.
We believe booking travel should be about speaking to people who have genuinely travelled, experienced destinations and differnt cultures, understanding what makes holidays special.
Were not just a high street shop where they simply sell from pictures in a brochure, and targeted to sell certain holidays and suppliers, were independent and family owned, and focus on the assurance & personal service, along with the flexibility to be different.
As my blog grows, you’ll discover stories, laughs, adventures, food trails, cruises, hidden gems, many other agents who have become great friends, making unforgettable moments and experiences from this amazing world – all written with honestly, passionately and with a sense of fun, well I try :)
So grab a drink, enjoy the stories and come travel the world with me.
Trust me… there is plenty more to come.
Pop in and say hello anytime, and talk travel
Robbo “Ian Robinson” – Manager – 45 Queen Street, Great Harwood, BB6 7QP
#bestdestinations #greatharwood #travelspecialist #travel #iansworld
