Profile picture for user grainne-sheffer

Grainne Sheffer

[email protected]
+44 (0)1273 358 691

Background

I joined Travel Nation in 2014 after taking a few years off to raise my children. I went travelling after university and spent 14 months travelling around Australia, followed by four months travelling around Asia. This lead me to work in travel as I figured that I might as well work in an industry that I love and get to go on fantastic holidays!

Originally from...

Co. Monaghan, Ireland.

Where did you spend your "student days"?

Brighton and Edinburgh, where I studied Hospitality Management.

Travel industry experience

I worked for Trailfinders for 14 years, spending six years in their Business Class department. Having booked First and Business class passengers for many years, I've also been fortunate enough to have travelled in Business Class on various airlines. I know and understand the differences between each airline and can offer you lots of tips, I will happily advise on what each airline offers; from chauffeur car transfers to the seat pitch and on-board service. I can tailor-make trips to fit your exact requirements using my 15 years of experience in tailor-made booking trips. I've sent lots of clients on fantastic holidays, so I would love to book your trip of a lifetime too!

Grainne has visited:

  • Antigua & Barbuda Flag

    Antigua & Barbuda

  • Argentina Flag

    Argentina

  • Australia Flag

    Australia

  • Barbados Flag

    Barbados

  • Belize Flag

    Belize

  • Brazil Flag

    Brazil

  • Canada Flag

    Canada

  • Chile Flag

    Chile

  • Colombia Flag

    Colombia

  • United Arab Emirates Flag

    United Arab Emirates

  • Egypt Flag

    Egypt

  • French Polynesia Flag

    French Polynesia

  • Guatemala Flag

    Guatemala

  • Indonesia Flag

    Indonesia

  • Kenya Flag

    Kenya

  • Malaysia Flag

    Malaysia

  • Maldives Flag

    Maldives

  • Mauritius Flag

    Mauritius

  • Mexico Flag

    Mexico

  • Morocco Flag

    Morocco

  • Mozambique Flag

    Mozambique

  • Namibia Flag

    Namibia

  • New Zealand Flag

    New Zealand

  • Oman Flag

    Oman

  • Panama Flag

    Panama

  • Qatar Flag

    Qatar

  • Singapore Flag

    Singapore

  • South Africa Flag

    South Africa

  • Sri Lanka Flag

    Sri Lanka

  • Tanzania Flag

    Tanzania

  • Thailand Flag

    Thailand

  • Uganda Flag

    Uganda

  • United States Flag

    United States

  • Vietnam Flag

    Vietnam

uganda_gorilla_with_baby_900x600

Last trip:

Uganda
900x600_fiji-taveuni-white-sand-beach

Next trip:

Fiji

About Grainne

When I’m, not at work or travelling, I’m…

Running around after my two children aged 7 and 5.

My favourite film is…

Favourite film is Gorillas in the Mist.

If I weren’t working for Travel Nation, I would be…

Travelling somewhere with my family and passing on the travel-bug to my kids.

On my round the world trip I spent longer than expected in:

Australia – I was having far too much fun.

Which place exceeded your expectations on your travels and why?

Namibia – no two days are the same; it just blows you away. One day it’s desert, the next stunning coast, the mountains or a self-drive safari.

What are your top 5 must-pack items?

A sarong, a good book, my tweezers, eye mask and earplugs.

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be and why?

Sydney. A great outdoors lifestyle with impromptu BBQs at home or down by the beach.

What was your first great travel experience?

Backpacking around Europe was great fun, however, when I arrived in Sydney, sat on Coogee beach  I realised I could go wherever I wanted to.

What are your top 3 places in the world?

Mozambique, Namibia and Brazil.

What is your favourite hotel, why and where is it?

Marataba Safari Lodge, South Africa – in the foothills of the Waterberg Mountains. Amazing rooms, food and safaris through endless green space under vast skies.

Which is your favourite beach, where is it and why?

That’s a very tough question – probably Cable Beach in Broome, Western Australia. Beautiful sunsets, a big broad beach and it's pretty much deserted. Or maybe the Maldives - idyllic beaches, turquoise waters and excellent diving.

Which passport stamp are you proudest of?

Mozambique.

Do you have any ‘pet hates’ while travelling?

Flags on rucksacks.

Where/what would you like to visit?

Uganda – I would love to see Gorillas in the wild.

What is the weirdest thing you have eaten while abroad?

When I was in Nairobi, I went to the carnivore restaurant and tried zebra and crocodile.

What’s the best/worst thing you’ve eaten on your travels?

The sushi in the Maldives was the best; the worst would be refried beans in Mexico. There are only so many days you can have them for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Have you ever worked abroad? If so explain.

I did lots of different jobs on a working holiday visa in Australia in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns and Adelaide. Who knew selling fairground ride tickets could be so much fun!?

Have you experienced culture-shock, if so, where,/where was the place you found to be most different from home?

I haven't, but I think my kids got a bit of a shock when we first arrived in Marrakesh.

Where is the most depressing place you’ve found yourself?

The plane back to the UK after my first round the world trip.

If you had just 24 hours in a big city which one would it be?

New York.

What’s the best party you've been to whilst travelling?

Sydney Mardi-Gras

What do you miss most from home while you're away?

Family and friends.

Grainne camping with her kids

Grainne camping with her kids

Grainne at the beach with her 2 kids

Grainne at the beach with her 2 kids