Hi, I'm Annette, the face behind Travel Net, and I thought I'd start my blog by telling you a little bit about me and how my love of travel began.
I'm 46, based in Westbury, Wiltshire, and I live with my fiancé, our two gorgeous teenagers and our beloved working Cocker Spaniel. Family life keeps me busy, but one thing I've always made time for is my love of travel.
Where it all started
I've always loved holidays. Even as a child, some of my happiest memories were made by the coast. My dad was a surfer, as were my brothers, so many of my childhood weekends and summer holidays were spent at Croyde Bay and Newquay. We also enjoyed plenty of campervan adventures in the south of France.
Those early experiences gave me a real love of discovering new places, exploring different destinations and, most importantly, enjoying time together as a family. Then, when I was 14, I went on my first holiday abroad with my family. We visited Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, and I was completely bitten by the travel bug.
Turning a passion into a career
By the age of 16, I knew I wanted to work in travel. I completed an apprenticeship and GNVQ in Travel & Tourism and started my career with Lunn Poly in Bath. I absolutely loved it — helping people choose their holidays, learning about different destinations and being surrounded by everyone's excitement about their upcoming trips. I was later promoted to Assistant Manager at the Trowbridge branch.
But, as life sometimes does, things changed. I decided to retrain as an Accountant, a career I went on to enjoy for more than 20 years, the last 13 of them at Wiltshire Caravans. However, that love of travel never disappeared.
Finding my way back to travel
Around two years ago, an opportunity came along to become an Independent Travel Agent. It felt like the perfect time to return to something I had loved so much when I was younger. So, I took the leap and Travel Net was born. And honestly? I haven't looked back.
Being an Independent Travel Agent allows me to combine my experience, organisation and attention to detail with something I genuinely love — helping people travel.
Why I love booking holidays for other people
For me, booking a holiday isn't simply about finding a flight and a hotel. It's about getting to know you. Are you looking for complete relaxation, adventure, quality family time or somewhere romantic for two? Maybe you're celebrating a special birthday or anniversary. Perhaps it's your first family holiday, a much-needed escape with friends, or a dream trip you've been saving for years.
Whatever the reason, I love hearing what you're hoping for from your holiday and then putting the pieces together. I particularly enjoy creating itineraries and finding those little touches that can turn a good holiday into a truly memorable one.
And then there are the holiday photos
I love hearing all about a client's trip when they return and seeing the photos they've taken. Knowing that I played a small part in helping create those memories is one of the best parts of what I do.
Your holiday, your way
At Travel Net, I want the booking process to feel personal. You don't have to spend hours searching through endless websites, comparing hotels, trying to work out transfers or wondering whether you've found the right option. That's where I come in.
I'll listen to what you want, use my knowledge and experience to help find the right options, and take care of the details so you can concentrate on the exciting part — looking forward to your holiday. And because I'm independent, I can work with a wide range of travel options and tailor recommendations around what matters most to you.
Let's start planning
Whether you're dreaming of a beautiful beach, a city break, a family adventure, a cruise, a long-haul escape or simply somewhere you've never been before, I'd love to hear from you. After all, travel has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.
From those childhood trips to Croyde and Newquay, campervan adventures in France and my first flights abroad, to my early career in travel and now running Travel Net — I've come full circle. And I couldn't be happier.
So, where will your next adventure take you? Let me take care of the planning, while you look forward to making the memories.
Annette xTravel Net — Independent Travel Agent