2026 in association with
LIAM ANDREWS, PREMIER TRAVEL
The Premier Travel consultant from Sudbury in Suffolk tells Samantha Mayling about ‘awesome’ experiences and ‘stunning’ scenery in Madeira
Q. Why did you apply for Cover Stars? A. This was my first application. A colleague recommended it; she’d had an amazing Cover Stars trip in Montenegro. I did a video, superimposing my face on Travel Weekly magazines, saying, ‘I’m daydreaming of being the next Cover Star. Could you make the dream a reality?’ I was at work when I heard I’d won. I was ecstatic. My colleagues were excited for me.
Q. How was the Jet2 flight from Manchester? A. I stayed in a hotel near the airport then met the other agents and people from Jet2holidays and Travel Weekly. We had the Indulgent Escapes package, with extra luggage, lounge access and fast-track – plus a £10 voucher to spend during the flight.
Q. What was the Savoy Palace hotel like? A. The hotel was amazing, with
stunning views. I had a Balcony Seaview room and the balcony was spacious – you could see the whole bay around Funchal. The hotel is very modern, with elegant rooms and comfortable beds. Pure luxury.
Q. What did you do while on the island? A. I loved the 4x4 safari. You felt as if you were in another world, like Jurassic Park. It was breathtaking. It’s crazy how you go from the beach, up into the mountains in the mist and then down into the tree-covered valley. I really enjoyed the wine tasting at the farm – it felt very intimate, with food from the farm itself. There was a nice atmosphere because we’d all got to know each other. The people on the farm talked about how they grow and harvest the vines. They’re passionate about their food sources. We had a masterclass in the mountains on making poncha, a local cocktail. It was an awesome experience. It’s unique because of how the food is
liam’s career
I’ve played semi-professional rugby for most of my adult life, so I travelled around the world. That’s where my love of travel came from. I lived in Dubai for eight years and played rugby there – we’d fly to Bahrain, Oman and Doha, so I got to see that side of the world, plus I played a season in New Zealand. I’m from South Africa and grew up in Missouri in the US, so my whole life has been travelling and learning about cultures. I met my wife in Dubai and she’s from Suffolk, so we came here.
Premier was my first travel job – I just happened to see a job ad and applied in late 2023. I told them about my experiences and how I love to research destinations. I love being able to book that perfect experience or moment for clients. My first big booking was for a family – a mother, her kids and grandchildren to Cyprus. It was about £45k. I’ve just been on an educational Fred Olsen cruise to Amsterdam, and I’ve been on fams to Croatia and Austria. The Jet2 trip was awesome – very luxurious.
grown there, with volcanic soil and the climate. Unfortunately, I was seasick during the sunset boat tour – although the views were spectacular.
Q. What did you think about Madeira? A. I knew about Madeira but had never been, and I would highly recommend it for anybody. It was vibrant and colourful, with friendly people. I thought Funchal was a funky city to explore. It had a kind of Brazilian flair, and I tried to speak a bit of Portuguese. The hillside Santana houses were cool. I loved the local markets and wandering around the side streets. The botanical gardens are amazing, just stunning. We couldn’t do the famous wicker basket toboggans because it was raining, but it looked cool. I’ve spoken to a few customers who were booked to go to Madeira and told them about my experiences. I also talked to my colleagues and gave them advice. I posted on social media and took pictures for our store
Facebook page. We have a lot of Jet2holiday customers, plus cruising and touring clients.
Q. How was your photoshoot? A. It was at the Cabo Girão skywalk, a glass platform that overlooks Funchal. There were hardly any members of the public present, and I was made to feel really comfortable. It was a unique experience, because I’d never had professional photos like that taken before.
Q. How were the other Cover Stars? A. We had a nice blend of ages, with a couple of teenagers, a couple of people my age and some a little older. We still WhatsApp each other. Unfortunately, I couldn’t join them at the Travel Weekly Globes Awards in January. We have had a couple of new hires join us and I told them to apply this year – the worst that can happen is you don’t get picked, but the best thing is that you could go on an amazing adventure.
Liam at Monte Palace Gardens
travelweekly.co.uk
10 SEPTEMBER 2026
31
PICTURES: Thomas Reader; Shutterstock/
Balate.Dorin
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