Pauline Duffin, Director

Pauline joined the travel industry in 1986 by sheer accident having had no other experience of holidays outside of caravanning on a beautiful Donegal beach. She began her career with a small independent travel agency and then with Student Travel. In 1991 she grabbed her backpack, passport, a one way ticket to Bangkok and, armed with not much more than an inquisitive mind, she let the world open itself up to her. She travelled overland throughout Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal and India and soon realized that life would never be the same again.

She joined Travelwise in 1995 and relished the fact that her clients were as enthusiastic and adventurous about travel as she was. Within her time here she managed to take two sabbaticals. In 1997 she worked in India with a tour company where she gained an  in-depth knowledge of this fascinating country. In 2001 she travelled extensively through Indo-China, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Zealand before returning in 2002 permanently. The backpack has been exchanged for a suitcase and shorter stays in some of the top hotels and lodges throughout the world.

She has been to some amazing places as diverse as the Galapagos Islands to the wide open spaces of Patagonia, a number of cities within America, the great Canyonlands and the desert of Utah and Arizona plus driving Highway One on the Californian Coast. She has enjoyed some unique safaris; searching for tigers in India,the Great Migration in Tanzania and the big five in Southern Africa.  Two incredible safari experiences in Botswana confirmed this country as one of her personal favourites. 

She has of course visited a number European countries and cities and is always on the lookout for family hotels and great beaches within a 2-3 hour flight for that easy summer escape. Recently she took a trip to Svalbard, 800 miles from the North Pole, and found herself snow mobiling across incredible glaciers and frozen fjords. (Pauline takes every opportunity to slip Svalbard into any conversation!). After spending three weeks in Southern India discovering some new places and re-visiting some old favourites in Kerala, Pauline fulfilled a lifelong ambition by staying in the truly amazing Taj Mahal Mumbai Hotel. 

A Few of Pauline's Favourite Trips

journey through northern india

Vic Falls, Botswana & South Africa

Tanzania Family Adventure

Ecuador & Galapagos

A few pictures taken by Pauline on her travels