About Us

Fundamental to Philip's vision when he set up Real Holidays and even more crucial to the way the agency functions now is his belief in their knowledge setting his staff apart from those in other agencies. This expertise and professionalism is applied to tailor-making holidays using a range of agents and selected properties all over the world, in advising you why there is always a more rewarding holiday than that offered by mainstream tour operators, in arranging your business travel as we do for several local art and media companies and in directing you to our own portfolios of luxury Italian holidays and Indian holidays.

Philip

Ex hippy builder, failed pop promoter and a teacher for ten years, Philip Davies started Real Holidays in Islington in 1989 at a time when no other travel agent was interested in selling the holidays of small specialist tour operators. That's a long time to practice putting together creative itineraries in Europe and Asia, and to build up knowledge of individual properties, especially in Italy and Greece, that is second to none. Email Philip

Matt

Matthew

After nearly 10 years in the travel industry, and 2 spells of "backpacking" in Asia, Matt has finally settled down and is enjoying his role as Manager at Real Holidays. Dispelling the myth that he only likes to "rough it" he has recently enjoyed a luxury honeymoon to Mozambique and South Africa and in September he will be soaking up some late summer sun in Basilicata, Southern Italy. His favourite destination is still the Indian Subcontinent but the beaches of Thailand, the cultural hotpot of Indochina and the ski slopes of North America run it very close! Destinations visited include: Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, South Africa, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Jamaica, Mexico, Tobago and widely travelled in Europe. Email Matthew

Sarah

Sarah joined Real Holidays in Feb 1998 and has acquired extensive knowledge of most destinations. As well as her own clients, Sarah helps Philip research his bookings, works on the development of the Italian portfolio and the Real Holidays website. Sarah grew up in Ecuador and she has recently returned from her honeymoon to Mexico City and the Yucatan which was a amazing. Destinations visited include: Mexico, western Canada, USA, India, Australia, Grenada, St Lucia, Tobago and various countries in Europe. Email Sarah

Gwen

Gwen is the Sales Manager of the India & Sri Lanka Portfolio. Travelling yearly to the subcontinent making sure her knowledge is always uo to date, her most recent trip was to the Himalaya of Ladakh where she fell in love with the breathtaking landscape and gentle people of the region. In September she will be returning to South India to catch up on new developments in Goa and Kerala. She'll be heading to Cambodia and Thailand for her annual sunshine fix this winter. Other destinations visited include: Australia, USA, Canada, Vietnam, New Zealand, Peru, Mexico, St Lucia, Maldives, Mauritius, Turkey and Uzbekistan. Email Gwen

Kate

Kate joined us in the summer of 2003 after serving a two year apprenticeship at Travelbag. She handles all our business travel which demands a degree of patience and efficiency that we all admire, although considerably more patience is required in her combining this responsibility with her new role as Philip's PA. Her quiet authority is beginning to have a good effect on his wayward booking excesses, let down only by this blond chanteuse's penchant for Robbie Williams. Email Kate

Annabel

Annabel has worked in the travel industry for 5 years and cites Namibia and Italy as among her favourite holiday destinations. Having spent a year studying in Pisa, she has an excellent knowledge of all things Italian and enjoys her regular trips to Italy to visit our growing portfolio of properties there. Although she has spent a number of recent holidays in the more far flung destinations of Brazil and St Lucia, she will be staying closer to home later this year with a self drive trip from London to Croatia. Destinations visited include: Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Namibia, Thailand, Nepal, China (including Tibet), Brazil, Antigua, Anguilla, St Lucia, Cuba, and extensive travel in Europe. Email Annabel

Oli

Oliver

Oliver has the distinction of being our longest serving member, although he took a detour for a couple of years to Scott Dunn to brush up on his posh holiday credentials. He is an expert at tailor-made long haul holidays, but together with Gwen has now taken on the particular responsibility for our Indian Portfolio, having spent some of his schooldays in India and having travelled widely throughout the subcontinent since. As other clients of his can tell you, he takes great pains to make sure any itinerary he plans with you will exceed your expectation. Email Oliver

Jo

After a period living in Italy on the Amalfi Coast and leading group tours on the Aeolian Islands, Jo has a huge passion for Italy and enjoys her frequent trips back to her favourite country. This year's new adventures saw her visiting Perugia for the annual Jazz festival, with a few extra days also relaxing on the Tuscan coast in a beautiful agriturismo near San Vincenzo, a trip to Basilicata exploring both the coast and the interior of the National Parks and back to Umbria for some time well spent looking at properties in our Italian portfolio. This year she was also lucky enough to travel to California for the ultimate milkshake and burger fest. Destinations visited: New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, California, Fiji, Australia, Barbados and extensive travel in Europe. Email Jo

Rob

In 2004 Rob upped sticks from Real Holidays, suffering from a seven year itch, to follow his dentist wife north to Stockport. After a brief period of catering for the needs of footballers' wives, and an even briefer period of paternity leave, he has returned to the fold in the guise of a home-worker. We are delighted to have him back, as over the years he has acquired an impressive breadth of knowledge due to an amazing memory which is the envy of his boss. If it is quick, efficient service to any destination you are after, you will be put through to "our man in the north". Specialist areas: Caribbean, safaris, Scandinavia, baby friendly holidays. Email Rob

Sacha

Sacha is often the person who answers the phone when you first ring up and is responsible for passing on your enquiries to the most appropriate person. However, after ten years she has become a lot more important than that, and it is a commonly held view that Real Holidays would collapse without her. She manages to be both very bossy and very popular with the rest of the staff, once again the envy of the boss. Email Sacha

Sandra

Sandra has been keeping the accounts at Real Holidays for six years now and has become irreplaceable, as this is not the boss's strongest area. She radiates an aura of calm in the office and has gradually taken on more areas of financial control. She is another person to whom the staff have to answer, as not the smallest mistake escapes her beady eye. Email Sandra