Travel Advisor
Janine Linklater
Gungahlin, ACT
Specialties
All-Inclusive Holiday, Cruise, Culture & Heritage, Family Holiday, Ocean CruiseJanine's path into travel began back in 1988 and picked up again in 2025, and across 29 countries since, she's the sort of expert who seeks out the small, local finds most travellers never come across. "I get a real buzz when I find a small, local tour or attraction most people never come across," she says.
Her number one piece of advice is a practical one for anyone who, like her, can't resist picking up gifts along the way: pack a light suitcase on the way out of Australia. "That way you've plenty of room for your purchases coming home, and you don't need to buy extra luggage or send parcels back," she explains.
While Janine loves a good self-drive or culture and heritage journey, she's equally at home planning something ambitious. She recalls a five-week Canadian itinerary she put together for two lovely clients - business class flights, a luxury cruise around New England and New York, the Rocky Mountaineer through the Rocky Mountains, and time in Vancouver at either end. "Going above and beyond is easy when you love your work," she says, describing how she cares for clients as individuals, learns how they most enjoy travelling, then stays across every detail from the first enquiry through to hearing all about the trip afterwards.
Ask about a favourite hotel and Janine doesn't hesitate: the Hotel das Cataratas, a Belmond hotel and the only property inside Brazil's Iguassu Falls National Park. "Once the park gates closed, I had the waterfall viewpoints to myself at dusk and dawn, experiencing the majesty of the falls without the crowds," she recalls. "Just - wow."
For Janine, travel is ultimately about discovery, learning and understanding - meeting people the world over and coming to know their culture, history and surroundings. It's what keeps her seeking out new-to-her destinations, with a heritage journey through Scotland's Orkney Islands and her first trip to Africa both waiting at the top of her own list. And clients clearly feel it, as one put it after collecting her travel documents: "We're happy we decided to use a travel agent - and even happier we crossed paths with Janine."
Experience
38 Years
Countries visited
26 Countries
Accreditations & Awards
Get to know me
What is the most amazing experience you have created for a client?
I put a 5-week Canada tour package together for two lovely ladies. Their itinerary included Business Class flights, a luxury tour and cruise around New England and New York, a tour package through the Rocky Mountains and the Rocky Mountaineer and time in Vancouver at each end.
How do you go above and beyond for your clients?
Going above and beyond is easy when I love my work – caring for my clients as individuals, listening to them and learning how they most enjoy to travel, then creating their ideal itinerary and staying on top of it all from their first enquiry through to hearing about the amazing things they experienced
What is your number one travel tip?
If you're anything like me, and love to pick up souvenirs and gifts on your travels, pack a light suitcase for your flights out of Australia, so you have plenty of room for your purchases on the way home and you don't need to buy extra luggage or send parcels home!
What are your favourite destinations to visit and why?
I love to explore every destination, but I get a buzz when I find a small, unique local tour/attraction. I loved the quiet of 'mushing' my own dog sled team in the wilderness near Tromsø Norway. Reaching almost 5,000m above sea-level at Palcoyo Mountain, Peru and mixing with school children in the isolated mountainous regions of Pokhara, Nepal were both very unique experiences that hold a special place in my memory-bank.
Where or what is still on your travel bucket list?
I decided a number of years ago, to ask myself, if I only have one trip left, where do I really want to visit, and this will be my ideal next trip to plan. My current bucket-list trip is to connect with my heritage throughout Scotland, in particular the Orkney Islands and explore the rest of the UK and Ireland.
Africa is the only continent I have yet to visit, so that is another exciting trip to plan!
What is your favourite travel memory?
So many memories in every trip it is not possible to define one favourite.
My first visit to Europe was over Christmas. We explored so many wonderful Christmas markets throughout Germany; explored Denmark, Finland and Norway in the deep of winter, visiting Honningsvag and staying in the Ice Hotel in Kirkenes; and we spent Christmas with family friends in Switzerland and New Years' Eve on the streets in Vienna.
What is your favourite luxury hotel and why?
A beautiful hotel filled with old-world charm, the Hotel das Cataratas, a Belmond Hotel, at Iguacu Falls, Brazil is unique as the only hotel within the Iguassu Falls National Park. Once the park gates closed, I was privileged to visit the waterfall viewpoints by myself at dusk and dawn and experience the majesty of the waterfalls without the crowds. Just - WOW!
Why do you love travel? Tell us what it means to you?
For me, travel is about discovery, learning and understanding - meeting people from around the world, whether I am a visitor in their country or sharing the travel experience with them - learning about their culture, history and the local natural and built environments keeps me wanting to explore new-to-me destinations and looking for the next exciting adventure!
Janine's Speciality Destinations
A World of Experience
Janine's client testimonial
Yesterday we picked up all our travel documents from Janine. We have met several times with her and she seamlessly organised everything we wanted to do and made invaluable suggestions and recommendations along the way. We are happy we decided to use a travel agent and even happier we crossed paths with Janine. Let the adventure begin!
• Sharon Palmer