About Bicton Travel

In 1998 Bicton Travel, a family-owned West Australian owned and operated travel agency, began sharing its passion and expertise in luxury travel.

Founded by Carole Smethurst and her son Phil Smethurst, what started with a team of two has steadily grown to become Australia’s most awarded travel agency. Not a claim we take lightly. No other agency can claim the number of professional awards that Bicton Travel has won.

Today, we remain a WA-based Family run company operating from our offices in Bicton, Western Australia. We are proud members of Independent Travel Group, Cruiseco, Virtuoso, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) and are committed to ongoing AFTA (Australian Federation of Travel Agents) ATAS accreditation. Booking with an ATAS accredited agent means you’re in safe hands and can travel with confidence. Further details about ATAS accreditation and what this mean can be found HERE

In 2016 Carole Smethurst was inducted into the CLIA Cruise Hall of Fame for her service to the cruise industry. The CLIA Hall of Fame Award is a formal recognition to honour an individual whose efforts and accomplishments represent a significant contribution to or noteworthy achievement that has positively impacted the development of the cruise industry.

Awards

2020 Travel Daily Most Supportive Leisure Travel Agency
2020 Best Cruise Travel Agent – Readers Choice Award – Cruise Passenger Magazine
2019 CLIA Cruise Industry Awards "Large Cruise Agency of the Year"
2019 NTIA Peoples Choice Award "Retail Travel Agency of the Year"
2018 NTIA Peoples Choice Award "Retail Travel Agency of the Year"
2017 Cruise Agency of the Year – CLIA
2017 Best Individual Cruise Agency – Readers Choice Award – Cruise Passenger Magazine
2016 Carole Smethurst – CLIA Hall of Fame for service to the cruise industry – CLIA
2016 Cruise Agency of the Year – CLIA
2016 Best Individual Cruise Agency – Readers Choice Award – Cruise Passenger Magazine
2016 Best Travel Agency Single Location – Bicton Travel – AFTA
2015 Cruise Agency of the Year – CLIA
2015 Best Individual Cruise Agency – Readers Choice Award – Cruise Passenger Magazine
2015 Best Travel Agency Single Location – Bicton Travel – AFTA
2015 Best Travel Consultant – Phil Smethurst – AFTA
2014 Cruise Agency of the Year – CLIA
2014 Best Individual Travel Agency – Cruise Passenger Magazine
2014 Best Travel Agency Single Location – AFTA
2013 Cruise Agency of the Year – CLIA
2013 Best Individual Travel Agency – Readers Choice Award – Cruise Passenger Magazine
2012 Best Individual Travel Agency (Finalist) – Cruise Passenger Magazine
2012 Best Travel Agency Single Location (Finalist) – AFTA
2011 Cruise Agency of the Year – CLIA
2011 Office of the Year – Travelscene American Express
2010 Cruise Agency of the Year – CLIA
2010 Cruise Consultant of the Year Phil Smethurst – CLIA

Meet Our Team

Phil

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Phil Smethurst

Director

Phil is the co-founder of Bicton Travel with his mother Carole and manages our Bicton Travel Premium division, creating bespoke travel experiences for the luxury traveller. He has cruised on most of the worlds cruise lines and says small ship and expedition style cruising is his favourite.

Phil has immense knowledge of the world’s airlines, luxury cruise ships and exotic destinations. Whilst he cannot choose one particular favourite city he ranks Amsterdam, Berlin, Milan, Rome, Singapore and Sydney as some of his favourites. For a relaxing vacation, his go-to destination is the Amalfi Coast, and he has enjoyed fabulous beach breaks in The Seychelles and The Maldives. For the adventurous, he recommends an African Safari and has himself travelled in Botswana, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe. A recent trip to the Patagonia region of Chile was also an adventurous experience he would highly recommend.

Carole

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Carole Smethurst

Director & Godmother of Amastella

Carole is the owner of Bicton Travel, Bicton Travel Premium and Cruisefinder.com.au. She moved to Australia from the UK more than 25 years ago and established Bicton Travel after working as a consultant with Traveland. She specialized in cruising and is recognised as one of the foremost cruise experts in Australia. She has cruised the world extensively and in 2010 established Cruisefinder.com.au as an online cruise agency to cater for the ever growing internet market.

In June 2016 Carole was honoured to be Australia's first travel agent to christen a new river vessel. Carole is now proud Godmother to APT's Amastella. Carole has most recently awarded and inducted into the CLIA Hall of Fame. The CLIA Hall of Fame Award is a formal recognition to honour an individual whose efforts and accomplishments represent a significant contribution to or noteworthy achievement that has positively impacted the development of the cruise industry.

Nadia

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Nadia Redman

Luxury Travel Advisor

With over 20 years’ experience in the travel industry, Nadia has established herself as a luxury travel advisor. Her love of discovery and adventure has led her to travel the globe extensively. Specialising in Europe, Italy, as her number one destination, she shares a great love for this country where her family comes from. Having cruised on several vessels Nadia enjoys the small ship life on the likes of Ponant, Silversea and Regent Seven Seas.

Byron

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Byron Horne

Luxury Travel Advisor

Byron has only been with Bicton Travel for 4 years, however, his experience in travel spans over 26 years. His first love is cruising! Byron has spent over 200 nights at sea spanning over 30 cruises across various Cruise lines such as Holland America, Viking, RCI, Celebrity and Cunard just to name a few. Byron has been spoilt by experiencing ultra-luxury cruise lines such as Regent Seven Seas, Crystal cruises and Silversea expeditions.

David

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David Armstrong

Sales, Marketing & Client Support

David started his career over 15 years ago in an online travel agency specialising in flights all over the world. He now works more behind the scenes looking after our marketing and special offers.

David has travelled extensively throughout Asia, Europe, Kenya, North & South America his most memorable trip would be travelling by luxury train through India the Deccan Odyssey!

David's next travel destination is Uganda to experience the once-in-a-lifetime experience seeing the Gorillas in the wild!

David

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Fiona Armaro

Accounts & Administration Manager

Fiona began her career in Travel as a Reservations Consultant with a major Australian Wholesaler. Her people skills led her to Bicton Travel in 2002. Since starting a family, she now works behind the scenes handling the company accounts and works closely with the administration and management team.

She has travelled to USA, Mexico, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Mauritius, Maldives, Europe and extensively in Asia. Fiona has cruised from Fremantle onboard Superstar Virgo, Sun Princess to Asia, Rhapsody of the Seas from Honolulu to Sydney, around New Zealand onboard mv Discovery, in Asia onboard Cunard QE2, the Mexican Riviera onboard Sapphire Princess, cruised Europe on Carnival Magic and the South Pacific onboard Pacific Princess and P&O Pacific Star. She most recently cruised with Silversea onboard Silver Discoverer in the Kimberly which is her highlight to date and thinks it should be on everyone’s bucket list. Family adventures with her young family are next.