About Swords Travel

Bournemouth

Welcome to my world of luxury travel. With over 23 years of experience creating bespoke, tailor-made holidays for clients who expect the very best. My expertise is in crafting unforgettable experiences, whether it’s a relaxing beach escape, an adventurous safari or a multi-destination Itinerary. 

Travel is not just my profession, it’s my passion. My love for travel started long before I turned it into a career. I’ve had the privilege of exploring some of the world’s most breathtaking destinations including the Maldives overwater havens, the rugged beauty of New Zealand, the vibrant cultures of Asia and the awe-inspiring landscapes of Utah’s National Parks. These first hand experiences allow me to offer expert recommendations, insider tips and exclusive access to some of the most luxurious and unique properties worldwide.

What sets me apart is my personal approach. When you book with me, you’re not just booking a holiday, you’re gaining a travel expert who genuinely cares about every detail of your trip. Getting to know my clients is the key to creating truly personalised travel experiences. Every journey starts with a conversation.

I take the time to learn about your past travels, what you loved (or didn’t), and what you’re looking for on your next adventure. Whether you have a clear vision in mind or need inspiration, I’m here to help. I’ll use my expertise to refine your ideas, suggest incredible destinations, and curate experiences that align perfectly with your travel style. If you’re ready to plan your next unforgettable escape, let’s start designing something truly special.

Company founders Mark and Stuart Swords have been in the travel industry since they were 19 years old. Between them, they’ve taken on almost every job in the business; managing hotels and retail stores, and working in the touring, cruise and flight sectors, as well as, of course, creating tailor-made holidays.

With a knack for understanding clients’ needs, Mark was always a top seller, and decided to set up on his own in 2017. Stuart joined a year later, and the duo have spent the last seven years building the business into one of the most successful boutique luxury travel agencies in the UK. Their strategy of personal service has proved a roaring success, and they have a stable of happy repeat clients. With a new retail store in Wimbledon village where they can host events as well as welcome clients, the business is going from strength to strength.

Why choose Swords Travel

Bournemouth

Tailor-Made Holidays – Every trip is uniquely designed around your personal preferences, interests, and travel style.

23+ Years of Expertise – With decades of experience, I offer expert guidance and trusted advice to make planning effortless.

Luxury with a Personal Touch – I handpick every element of your holiday to match your idea of comfort, style, and experience.

Concierge-Level Service – From our first chat to your return home, I’m here to take care of every detail.

Stress-Free Planning – I handle everything from start to finish, so you can relax and enjoy the journey.

Exclusive Added Value – I can help arrange early check-ins and pre-book in-resort extras like dining, spa treatments, and unique experiences to      enhance your stay.

First-Hand Destination Knowledge – I regularly visit the places I recommend, giving you honest, insider advice you can rely on.

On-Trip Support – I’m available before, during, and after your trip for peace of mind at every stage.

Financial Protection & Peace of Mind – Fully affiliated with Swords Travel, with ATOL bonding and full financial protection for your holiday.

Trusted by Clients – I build lasting relationships through personal service, with many clients returning year after year and recommending me to     friends and family.

Carla Skiing

Trusted client

reviews

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Anna Bristow

We have had the pleasure of having Carla organise multiple holidays for us already. Carla is always highly professional, fast with responses and makes sure every detail of the holiday is perfect. Carla always listens to what we want and uses her knowledge and expertise to tailor the holiday so it exceeds our expectations every time. We highly recommend Carla and we will certainly be booking many more holidays via her in the future! We can’t wait to work with Carla on our honeymoon next year!

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Emma Humphries

Updated 13 August 2026

Absolutely fantastic experience booking with sword travel @Carla – The Luxury Nomad. We booked a trip by train (as i have a bad back and cant fly) from london to Paris then Italy, Switzerland and back to France. It was a dream and Carla was there for anything we needed. Booking was easy and she took on board everything that we wanted and made the best holiday possible. This is the second holiday we have booked with Carla and it wont be the last. I dont think i would book with anyone else.

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david rickards

We have used Carla from Swords Travel for years and have been very pleased with the Service. Her knowledge of countries, areas and hotels is great and she always seems to provide just what we are looking for! Highly recommended!

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Kate Dickie

Thanks to Carla for all the time and effort you put into booking our last minute trip for us. You sorted exactly what we were looking for when it didn’t seem possible! Thank you.

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Sarah Gilchrist

Updated 15 April 2026

Carla has arranged long haul holidays for us for a number of years now and we have never been disappointed. She has a good grasp of what kind of holiday would suit our requirements and always recommends great hotels to suit our family holiday goals as the children have grown. Her customer service is top notch and she has good knowledge and insights of the places we have wanted to explore. Highly recommend if you’re wanting to go and explore far away places with a young family.

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Clare O'Neill

I can’t recommend Carla from Swords travel enough when looking for your next holiday. She really knows her stuff and was amazing at securing our flights and recommending several hotels for us to choose from in Mauritius. We had a glitch at the airport on a Sunday and she was on the phone and able to help us to get things sorted. It’s when things happen that the value of an independent travel specialist really comes into play. We are already looking forward to our next trip through Carla in October.

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Stuart Mills

Carla worked with us to create an itinerary that included all our “must sees”. The accommodation that she found was absolutely stunning. Throughout the whole booking process she made everything clear and easy, and we felt like she was always on hand during our travels should anything crop up. Highly recommend for anyone looking at a bespoke trip.

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Nicola French

Great service, really personal and friendly. Carla has helped us plan two quite different holidays and she was spot on with both! Looking at our options now for our next trip. We would thoroughly recommend Carla and have passed her details on to a couple of our friends .

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Lindsay Wilson

A friend recommended Carla at Swords Travel Bournemouth to us and she helped us book a couple of cruises which we were really happy with. Her service was great and everything was planned and communicated really well. We then spoke to Carla about our honeymoon and she blew us away! Her knowledge of the Maldives is excellent and the advice she gave us meant that together we planned the perfect break. Carla really listened to us and built the perfect package, her attention to detail meant we felt safe in her hands and at no point did we feel we were being influenced or sold to. We would definitely recommend Carla for your travel needs.

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Rebecca Davis

Carla is absolutely fantastic. She books all our holidays and we cannot fault the service Swords Travel provide. Carla always knows what to suggest and takes our likes, dislikes and needs into account every time. I cannot recommend her enough! Thank you Carla, looking forward to booking the next trip.

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PT at PC

Carla is great to work with. Helped with the planning of our trip by making suggestions regarding hotels and excursions that proved to be superb. She was also easily contactable if we had any queries whilst we were away. Now, where next?….

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