About me
Hi, I'm Mike. I'm a travel writer and photographer and cover all forms of travel including ocean and river cruising.
I write mainly for newspapers and magazines, including travel trade publications. Last year I had around one hundred features published and I reach an audience of over two million UK adults.
I was also professionally trained as a photographer and supply hi-res images to illustrate my features. There are some examples below. You can click on any image on this page to enlarge it.
I write mainly for newspapers and magazines, including travel trade publications. Last year I had around one hundred features published and I reach an audience of over two million UK adults.
I was also professionally trained as a photographer and supply hi-res images to illustrate my features. There are some examples below. You can click on any image on this page to enlarge it.
However, my life wasn't always about travel writing. I had a successful career as an innovator in electronic consumer services. I introduced Home Banking to Europe in 1985, worked in New York with AT&T on applications for the first ever smart phone (pictured left), then developed the first smart TV, connected to the internet and capable of accessing websites and sending and receiving emails. I demonstrated this as long ago as 1997.
Later I worked with MasterCard on the first prepaid debit cards, some of which have since been used to replace travellers cheques.
Later I worked with MasterCard on the first prepaid debit cards, some of which have since been used to replace travellers cheques.
TRAVEL
I then set up a travel agency before turning to writing about travel and I am one of the few travel writers who have hands-on travel trade experience.
I write for a range of newspapers and magazines, plus two or three influential websites. I am invited on many press trips and travel with my wife, Gilly Pickup, also a writer and photographer. We write for totally separate sets of publications so hosts get two independent journalists even though we travel together. We get a number of commissions for each trip, often resulting in 15-20 published features.
I write for a range of newspapers and magazines, plus two or three influential websites. I am invited on many press trips and travel with my wife, Gilly Pickup, also a writer and photographer. We write for totally separate sets of publications so hosts get two independent journalists even though we travel together. We get a number of commissions for each trip, often resulting in 15-20 published features.
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Press Awards. It was an honour to win the Czech Tourism 2017 Press Award which was presented in November at the World Travel Market in London. In addition, Czech Tourism told me that their cuttings agency had picked up 25 features from me as a result of one press trip. The problem is, I wonder what they are expecting from the next one!
In June 2018 I receiver another honour, a Certificate of Appreciation from the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan for my many features encouraging tourism to the country. The certificate was presented a few months later in London by His Excellency Erlan Idrissov (left), UK Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan. |
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Commendations. I have also received many kind comments on the features I have written and the press coverage I have generated. Here are a few examples.
This is truly amazing to have THODW featured on so many publications in the UK through you. NL – City of Dreams
Wow – I can’t keep up with all the coverage you have shared from our Dublin trip! FM – PR for Ireland
I’ll only have one word for this: AMAZING!! It definitely was a really good idea to invite you. VS - French Regional Tourist
Wow – thank you so much! This article and this whole page in the paper looks amazing! With those wonderful pictures! Thank you for your wonderful work.
CS – German Regional Tourist Board
Thanks so much Mike! You really are the gift that keeps on giving. MS – PR for Toronto
This is great – the coverage you have achieved for us has been fantastic. HH – Cruise line PR
Thanks Mike, I think you are now firmly sat in the airline Hall Of Fame! SR – Airline Country Manager
Thank you so much! You are a star! JK – Macau Tourism Authority
Seriously?!! You are definitely the gift that keeps on giving! LF - PR for St Lucia
Wow – I can’t keep up with all the coverage you have shared from our Dublin trip! FM – PR for Ireland
I’ll only have one word for this: AMAZING!! It definitely was a really good idea to invite you. VS - French Regional Tourist
Wow – thank you so much! This article and this whole page in the paper looks amazing! With those wonderful pictures! Thank you for your wonderful work.
CS – German Regional Tourist Board
Thanks so much Mike! You really are the gift that keeps on giving. MS – PR for Toronto
This is great – the coverage you have achieved for us has been fantastic. HH – Cruise line PR
Thanks Mike, I think you are now firmly sat in the airline Hall Of Fame! SR – Airline Country Manager
Thank you so much! You are a star! JK – Macau Tourism Authority
Seriously?!! You are definitely the gift that keeps on giving! LF - PR for St Lucia
Here are some examples of my published features.
Trade Publication Newspaper feature Consumer Magazine
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And here are some of my favourite photographs from the thousands I have on file. You can click on any image to enlarge it.
If you would like to contact me please email me on the address below. I look forward to hearing from you.
Best wishes,
Mike
Best wishes,
Mike