About us

Archipelago Choice

Hello 😊

We’re delighted you’d like to get to know us a little better. We’re a tight-knit team based in the heart of the Lake District, and we arrange holidays for travellers from all across the globe, specialising in tailor‑made trips to Portugal, the volcanic islands of the Atlantic, and a carefully selected collection of standout destinations.

You can count on us for easy communication, honest first-hand advice, and holidays fully customised for you. Because we’re a small team, you’ll get to know us personally and will always be able to reach us when you need us, including while you’re away.

Let’s introduce you to the team

About Us - Archipelago Choice

When you’re ready to start planning your holiday, one of our team members will take your enquiry and will remain your main point of contact throughout. We all make regular visits to our range of destinations, so any team member can chat with you and suggest accommodations, excursions, and experiences that align with what you are looking for. That said, we all have our specialist areas, so we’ll give you some pointers on who to go to for each destination 👇

Meet the team at Archipelago Choice

Your ATOL Protected Holiday with Archipelago Choice

At our welcoming office in Keswick, it’s a team effort. We like to get to know our travellers so that we can offer personalised holiday experiences and honest descriptions of the places that you want to visit.

At the enquiry stage, we listen to your preferences before sending you a customised holiday itinerary that’s just right for you. You can make any changes you want to your itinerary before securing your holidays with a deposit. We have full ATOL financial protection, so your money is safe when you book a holiday with us. Our holidays are the full package and we can arrange your flights from anywhere in the world, and will find the best flights from an airport that is convenient for you.

Whilst you are away, we will provide you with a 24-hour emergency number. This gets you directly through to one of us. Though it doesn’t happen often, flights do sometimes get delayed, and we take away the hassle by making any necessary holidays adjustments, such as rescheduling activities and hotel stays. We’re always here to help, so you can book with confidence and enjoy a holiday that runs seamlessly.

If you would like us to turn your holiday wish-list into a reality, call us on 017687 75672 or email the team team@archipelagochoice.com

Our Story So Far – The Archipelago Choice Journey

Whale watching in the Azores

Ian Coates and Sarah Bennett first launched Archipelago Choice (originally called Azores Choice) in 1998, specialising in arranging holidays to the nine islands of the Azores. Focusing on one destination enabled them to offer fully flexible holidays using their extensive knowledge of the islands.

Sticking to this same ethos, they slowly expanded the company. For over a decade, Archipelago Choice became the leading specialists in arranging holidays to the Portuguese-speaking islands of the Atlantic: the Azores, Madeira, Cape Verde, and Sao Tome and Principe.

The volcanic islands of the Atlantic continue to be at the heart of what we do, but we also offer holidays all around the globe, including Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Namibia, and even the Faroe Islands!

If you’d like to know more, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, request a brochure, and get in touch at any time team@archipelagochoice.com.

Get in touch

01768 721040

We’re an independent travel company with full financial protection through either the ATOL scheme or via our IPP insurance policy.
(so your money is always safe).

But more importantly, we look after people.
We look after you from your first enquiry right through to your return home.

Meet Our Team

Jake Cardigan

Jake Cardigan

Travel Specialist

Max Cousins

Max Cousins

Travel Specialist

Paul Bunn

Paul Bunn

Travel Specialist

Steve Jones

Steve Jones

Travel Specialist

Lucy Woods

Lucy Woods

Travel Specialist

Ian Coates

Ian Coates

Travel Specialist

Matthew O’Sullivan

Matthew O’Sullivan

Travel Specialist

Myles Taylor

Myles Taylor

Travel Specialist

Sign up for our newsletter

In our weekly newsletters, we share our first-hand experience of travelling around our range of destinations. We’ll keep you up to date on all the latest travel news and will include useful travel guides, written for you by our team of destination specialists. We shine a spotlight on some special locations, experiences, and boutique stays so that you can look forward to your next adventure.

We promise not to sell your data or share it with 3rd parties.

You and your money are safe with Archipelago Choice.

All of our holidays come with full financial protection.

24/7 Support

24/7 support for all travellers

100K+ clients

Trusted by over 100,000 customers around the world

10+ destinations

Plan your next unforgettable journey with our curated selection of destinations

8 Specialist Travel Consultants

We look after you from your first enquiry right through to your return home

brochure image

Request a brochure

If you love all things Portuguese, then you’ll love our Portugal and Atlantic Archipelagos travel magazine.

You can enjoy insider tips on the best places to stay and the most unique experiences and locations, across mainland Portugal, the Azores, Madeira, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Principe.

We have been arranging tailor-made holidays to Portugal and the Portuguese-speaking islands of the Atlantic for over 25 years. So you can rely on us for honest advice and fully flexible ATOL-protected holidays.

Request a brochure

Award-Winning Excellence

We're honoured that our commitment to exceptional service and unforgettable experiences has been recognised by The British Travel Awards year after year. What makes these accolades truly special is that they're voted for by you, our valued guests! Your continued trust and support mean the world to us.