Beautiful pink and orange sunrise over old Dubai city, with the old houses overlooking the canal.

Extraordinary

experiences with a bespoke online
travel agent you can trust

When it comes to travel, every detail counts - and that's where Once in a Lifetime Holidays shines. Our dedicated team of online travel agents, known as Creative Travel Directors leave no stone unturned in their quest to make your trip unforgettable. From your first consultation, we work tirelessly to craft a bespoke travel itinerary, bringing together the best flights, accommodations, and experiences for a seamless journey. Whether you're seeking a romantic escape to Italy, a luxury cruise or a family adventure to Disneyland, we have the insider knowledge and connections to ensure that every moment of your trip is filled with magic and wonder.

What we do

Holiday inspiration and Ideas

Planning Services

Flights

Accommodation

Transfers and Transport

Excursions, Tours and Guides

24/7 emergency support

Our Story

Led by Joan Jones, a passionate travel agent with more than 35 years of experience, our growing team of travel and tourism experts are committed to delivering unforgettable 'wow' moments. We handle every logistical detail to ensure your journey is flawless. Since launching in 2019, we have worked exclusively with the finest tour operators and travel partners who share our commitment to excellence.

From our humble beginnings, we have rapidly flourished into a multi-award-winning, independent online travel agency, thanks to our unwavering focus on providing personalised customer service, delivering tailor-made travel itineraries, and exceeding our client's expectations. We are passionate about travel, and our extensive knowledge of destinations around the world enables us to provide expert advice and services.

We’re not your typical online travel agents; we are explorers, dream weavers, and memory creators on a mission to deliver unparalleled travel experiences and moments you will cherish forever.

Talk to our team about your dream holiday today

Arrange a discovery call

Meet our Team

We are travel enthusiasts who share a deep-rooted passion for exploring the world

Each team member brings decades of experience in the travel industry, and despite being based in different locations, we're all connected by our common goal of making dreams come true.

Joan Jones

With 35 years of experience and 40 countries under her travel belt, Joan creates personalised bespoke holidays for her clients.

Meet Joan

Joan Jones, luxury online travel agent with Once in a Lifetime Holidays.

Mark Francis

With 35 years of experience, Mark's adventurous spirit inspires you to be your best self and 'just do it' with the holiday of your dreams.

Meet Mark

Mark Francis, Once in a Lifetime Holidays travel agent, standing by beautiful water and a villa.

Libby Cowan

Libby's skill at creating customised travel, and making holiday dreams come true, allows her to create extraordinary trips.

Meet Libby

Libby Poole, luxury travel agent with Once in a Lifetime Holidays.

Why use an online travel agent?

Have you ever wondered whether it's better to book flights online or through a travel agent? Ultimately, a professional online travel agent can save you time, money, and energy.

Find out how

Two deckchairs on a white sand beach under a palm tree with the sun setting over the sea.

Crafting Extraordinary Journeys:

At Once in a Lifetime, we redefine the travel experience by prioritising superior service for a select clientele, emphasising quality over quantity.

As ultimate travel professionals, we fearlessly embrace innovation and inspiration, doing things differently to create unparalleled experiences. Our visionary team learns and leverages each other's strengths to ensure every client feels valued and every journey unforgettable. Be part of our travel community and embark on a journey where excellence knows no bounds.

Recgonised

as one of the best holiday providers and luxury travel companies in the UK

We take great pride in the credibility we have garnered so far, and we are thrilled to be recognised as industry leaders and innovators. Our growing trophy cabinet speaks to this and serves as a testament to the hard work and dedication we pour into every project.

We are committed to delivering exceptional holidays for our clients and ensuring they feel confident in their choice to work with us. Despite our relative youth, we have already made significant strides in our industry and are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible.

View Our Awards

Finalist for the Agent Achievement Awards, Best Small Homeworking Company in the UK – July 2025

Winner of the Small Luxury Business of the Year in the UK Aspire Luxury Travel Awards, 2024.

Finalist for the TTG Luxury Travel Awards, Small Homeworking Company of the Year, (Nationwide) 2023 – February 2023

Finalist for the Aspire Luxury Travel Awards – Small Luxury Homeworking company (Nationwide)of the year 2023 – winner announced October 2023

Suppliers Special Recognition, Beachcomber Tours, 2022.

Winner of the Support to the Sector, from the Association of Touring and Adventure, 2022.

Winner of the Best Travel Agent in London, Home Counties and Essex, from Classic Collection Holidays, 2021 and 2022

Winner of the Sustainable Travel Agent Award from the Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers, 2021.

Finalist for the Rising Star Travel Agent in the UK Aspire Luxury Travel Awards, 2020.

Aerial view of the clear turquoise ocean lapping waves on a white sand beach.

Our Promise to You

We hold our values close to our hearts and strive to embody them in everything we do. We believe in providing our clients with more than just a holiday but an experience that will bring joy, meaning, and lasting memories.

Honesty and transparency

We commit to gaining your trust with honesty, integrity, transparency and personal attention.

The ultimate travel professionals

Using our creativity, contacts and insights we will enhance your holiday experience

Operational excellence

Our experienced team will uphold our corporate values whilst committing to operational excellence in every aspect of your holiday journey

Customers first

We commit to putting our customers first and providing exceptional, 24/7 service from your initial consultation until you’re safely back home.

Responsible travel awareness

As an independent online travel agent, we commit to making more sustainable choices within our organisation and to help you travel more responsibly.

To us, you’re more than a customer...

You’re part of the family

Destination:
Arizona
Matthew, solo traveller
Well, what can I say? As a consumer, I look for businesses with integrity, reliability, expertise, and resourcefulness, to name a few. Once in a Lifetime Holidays has these qualities in abundance, but for me, their stand-out quality is a passion for providing a holiday experience and service that I have not received from any other travel operator. Book with them, and you are in safe hands.
Destination:
Multiple
Sharon Bannister
I have been trusting Joan with my amazing holidays for many years now. Never disappointed! Her knowledge of resorts is excellent. All I do now is tell her the country and budget , then leave it to her. If I’ve had problems at any point she’s always at the end of the phone!
Destination:
Antarctica
Lorraine Arnold
Returned recently from Argentina and Antartica. Libby listened to all our needs and went above and beyond everything we wanted. The Antarctic was everything and more we wished for. Libby was so professional and had so much to offer and looked after us better than we could have imaged. Can’t thank you enough. Outstanding and 5 stars are NOT enough!

Destination:
Multiple
Sharon Bannister
I have been trusting Joan with my amazing holidays for many years now. Never disappointed! Her knowledge of resorts is excellent. All I do now is tell her the country and budget, then leave it to her.
Destination:
Antarctica
Lorraine Arnold
Returned recently from Argentina and Antartica. Libby listened to all our needs and went above and beyond everything we wanted. The Antarctic was everything and more we wished for. Libby was so professional and had so much to offer and looked after us better than we could have imaged.
Destination:
Mauritius
Laura Strapp
I usually book all our holidays and have never used an online travel agent. In this instance, I didn’t know where to start, and Emma from Once in a Lifetime Holidays gave me two great options from the brief I gave her. She took all the stress and hours out of planning. It was great to get advice from people who have experience and stayed at the places they recommended, especially when booking a big trip. I couldn’t recommend Emma enough.

experiences with a bespoke online travel agent you can trust