Meet Our Founders

Travel is personal. We believe planning it should be too.

Willow & Bird is an independent luxury travel agent in Montpellier, Cheltenham in the heart of the Cotswolds, created around first-hand knowledge, trusted relationships and getting to know the people behind every journey.

Colorful houses built on a hillside overlooking the sea, with boats docked at the rocky shore and people enjoying the waters and scenery.
Close-up of palm tree fronds against a pale sky with warm sunset light.
A large white cruise ship docked at a port near a hillside with residential buildings and greenery, with a clear sky overhead.

Like many of the best journeys, Willow & Bird began with a conversation.

We talked about the kind of travel company we would create if we could start with a blank page - somewhere independent, personal and built around relationships.

We wanted freedom to look beyond a single collection or brochure and bring together the right hotels, specialists and experiences for each individual journey.

And we wanted to create somewhere people would actually enjoy planning their holidays. That idea finally found a home in Montpellier, Cheltenham, where our Travel Studio was created to feel less like a traditional travel agency somewhere you can enjoy a coffee or a glass of something chilled whilst telling us where you’re dreaming of going.

It started with a conversation…

Meet April Bellchambers

Founder and Managing Director

April believes that the best travel recommendations come from actually being there. She travels regularly to experience the hotels, airlines and destinations Willow & Bird recommends. Always on the hunt to find the details you wouldn’t be able to find online.

Now travelling with two little ones too, she’s also become very good at spotting what makes a hotel genuinely good for families - which is the inspiration behind Little Explorers.

  • How welcoming and considerate the staff are when you first arrive to the hotel. First impressions make a big impact on how you will view the overall holiday!

  • My husband and I love going on last minute spontaneous trips, which are often inspired by an article we have read, or new experiences and cuisines we have had the pleasure of trying at home.

  • Japan…

    We were meant to honeymoon there, but due to two new arrivals to the family we decided to go to the Maldives instead. There’s plenty of room for adventure in the future!

Meet Stacey Clinton

Head of Travel

With more than 20 years in luxury travel, Stacey has a rather impressive little black book - and an even better memory for the hotels and places worth knowing.

She loves getting to know clients properly, understanding how they like to travel and sharing her first hand experiences on the best hotels, best times to travel and her favourite immersive experiences.

  • Canada. I would go back in a heartbeat to explore more of the country, spend more time in the mountains and hopefully see a little more wildlife.

  • My perfect first day on holiday: taking it slow, wandering with no real plan, finding my bearings and letting myself settle into holiday mode. No rushing, no schedule — just enjoying the feeling of being somewhere new!

  • Antarctica…

    A cold holiday like Antarctica is not everyone’s cup of tea! But the thought of being able to see an area of the world that people often only get the privilege of seeing on TV feels very special.

WILLOW & BIRD

Beachside outdoor lounge area with white seating, pillows, and a view of the ocean with umbrellas. A wooden ceiling with bamboo decor hangs overhead. People are relaxing on the beach and chairs under umbrellas, with palm trees and blue sky in the background.

WHERE WILL YOUR NEXT JOURNEY TAKE YOU?