What is your favourite ever trip?

A travel highlight would have to be my honeymoon in the Maldives. It was unrivalled paradise from the very first minute. Prior to travelling I wanted to experience both the beach villas and the overwater villas, so we did 6 nights in each…and the beach wins for me. We stayed at OZEN – everything was outstanding. The food and drinks, the spa, the service – everything.


What have been your most memorable moments whilst on a trip?

I have so many – but Botswana is the memory that jumps out the most. I remember being on a night (game) drive and seeing elephants in their natural environment with their young – both magnificent and terrifying at the same time - even though you know you’re safely under your guide’s watchful eye.

If you could be dropped anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

It’s nearly lunchtime and freezing cold here…so I would love to be dropped at a beachside restaurant, with the sun blazing and the gentle lapping of the waves as the soundtrack. A glass of something chilled in hand and fresh grilled fish on the way.


What’s it like working at Holmes Travel?

Work isn’t work when you enjoy it. I love my job and the people I work with. Our office environment is fun – we laugh lots, we work hard and we work together. There’s a real team ethos at Holmes, which is something I’m very proud of.


What are your best travel tips?

To do all you can to avoid stress – be organised, be early. If needs be, book a hotel at the airport the night before if you have an early flight.


Strongest destination knowledge – Caribbean, Mauritius, Dubai and the Maldives, but also lots of European destinations (you may have gathered that I like beach holidays).

What is your favourite ever trip?

That’s a bit like choosing your favourite child!



If really pressed it would be Botswana- nothing quite prepares you for the natural wonders of the Okavango Delta.

What have been your most memorable moments whilst on a trip?

This is really hard as the world is such a wonderful place and I’ve been fortunate to visit so much of it…. get comfy.

Seeing the Grand Canyon on a perfect cloudless day in November when it was very cold- you could see for literally miles (50 plus).

The first view of the Taj Mahal as you enter- it really is breathtaking.

Getting on a safari jeep at 5am as daylight breaks with the anticipation of what’s to come.

The Egyptian temples on the Nile- they are all amazing!

As a complete historical contrast- The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island were strangely emotional as you realise how new the USA is.

I could go on!!

If you could be dropped anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

St James Park Newcastle on matchday. Up the Toon!

Or for a contrast, Dinner at Siete Fuegos, Vines Hotel Mendoza, Argentina eating steak off the BBQ and drinking a great local Malbec. Throw in an incredible sunset over the nearby Andes mountains and I would be a very happy man.

What are your best travel tips?

I think my main piece of advice is not to have pre conceived ideas  - always travel with an open mind.

Travel to India and Cruises are great examples where people might have a pre conceived idea of what to expect, but could be denying themselves the trip of a lifetime!

What are you favourite trips to put together?

I think my favourite is Rajasthan in India. The trips we put together are completely bespoke with a private driver throughout and local guides pre-arranged.

It is stress free as all seamlessly arranged so you sit back and enjoy the wonderful seemingly chaotic madness of India.

Getting to know your driver on your adventure is also very rewarding.

What is your favourite ever trip?

It is so hard to choose, but the Galapagos is up there as one of my favorite trips. Where else in the world would you find a sealion having a chill on the sunbed by the hotel pool? It is such a unique place with some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets I have ever seen. There are so many endemic species both on land and underwater that you never run out of new things to see. I would definitely return if the opportunity arose.

What have been your most memorable moments whilst on a trip?

Whilst in Manuel Antonio national park in Costa Rica I woke early one morning to find a troop of White Faced Monkeys sitting on my balcony… we gave each other such a fright!

If you could be dropped anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

I’m very easy to please… put me anywhere sunny, hot, with 5*’s next to the name, and a Gin and Tonic in hand.

What’s it like working at Holmes Travel?

I love my job and work with an amazing team of people. I thrive on the variety of travel that we do here and the challenges that it brings.

What are your best travel tips?

Always carry a copy of your passport with you, you never know when it could really save the day.

Strongest destination knowledge – I have been working in the travel industry since I was 16 years old so there are not many places that I don’t know something about and if I don’t by the end of your enquiry I will!

Why did you get into Travel?

From a young age I loved maps and learning about new cultures. I was fortunate to go on a lot of family holidays to Europe but also further afield to Japan multiple times and Canada.

I had no idea what to study at University so when I saw International Tourism Management as a subject I instinctively thought ‘holiday studies!’ Little did I know this would spark a passion in learning about sustainable travel and how the tourism industry effects destinations.

Moving into a travel role straight out of University gave me the chance to explore the world and in particular my love of travel to Africa, Asia and Australasia. I’ve now clocked up 56 countries and have no plans to stop there!

What is your favourite ever trip?

I’m not sure if this counts as one trip but in 2018 my wife and I took a year long career break starting with two months travelling overland from Cape Town to Nairobi. This involved camping, sometimes out in the open with all the wildlife and sounds of nature around us. We then went to New Zealand for 8 months and worked and travelled around which was the number one thing on my bucket list to do. After NZ we went to Fiji then spent a further 3 months in South East Asia travelling from Hanoi to Bangkok.

That being said… I’m also massive fan of the Maldives and have loved all 3 of my trips there.

What is your most memorable moment whilst on a trip?

There are so many to choose from.

Being surrounded by Orca whilst on an expedition ship from Greenland to Iceland was pretty epic, or seeing wonders like the Taj Mahal or Angkor Wat for the first time was awe inspiring.

But since a young age I’ve been fascinated by Marine life so diving with Whale Sharks and Manta Rays are probably my standout top memories.

If you could be dropped anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

It would have to be the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. The huge open plains are just full of life and incredible wildlife encounters and there is nothing better than having a beer looking over a watering hole and watching nature do its thing.

What’s it like working at Holmes Travel?

Every day is different! One day I could be putting together a luxury multi centre trip to South East Asia, the next I’m working on a Rock and Roll band's summer tour around Europe.

There is never a dull day and we have a great team of weird and wonderful people who have a huge amount of experience and knowledge to share.

Plus Jack often buys us doughnuts…

What is your best travel tips?

Have a positive mindset! Delays, cancellations and changes will happen – embrace them. Don’t let them ruin your trip.

Also when traveling in places known for questionable hygiene, have an aniseed ball every morning to make sure you don’t spend your days on the toilet rather than exploring. Trust me…it works.

Strongest destination knowledge – Southern and Eastern Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Western Canada, East and West Coast USA.

What is your favourite ever trip?

My favorite trip has to be my first Safari trip to Kenya. The red dirt of Samburu National Reserve combined with the waves of the heat hazes was mesmerising and a completely new experience for me.

What have been your most memorable moments whilst on a trip?

Dolphins riding the bow wave of our small boat off Namibia, absolutely stunning!

If you could be dropped anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

Somewhere quiet! The South Pacific would be wonderful, or back to Svalbard ready to explore the Arctic which I’ve been fortunate to do several times, but it never gets old.

What’s it like working at Holmes Travel?

Every day is varied and we are always learning due to the nature of the industry. Whilst there is pressure to deliver amazing trips, most days are fun and uplifting.

What are your best travel tips?

Travel light!

Strongest destination knowledge – France, Northern Norway, Eastern Canada, New York and East African Safari.

Why did you get into Travel?

I always enjoyed learning about countries & travelling was a natural progression. 

What is your favourite ever trip?

My first Safari to Botswana.

Taking a light aircraft and landing on a grass airstrip was an incredible start to the trip. We then had elephants feeding right outside our tent and hippos making loads of noise in the nearby lake. Such a magical experience in an incredibly remote area with all the amazing wildlife so close by.

What have been your most memorable moments whilst on a trip?

Climbing Sydney harbour bridge on my own – at times I was petrified but was so pleased I overcame my fear and did it!

Victoria Falls – its such a wonderful natural wonder and the sheer power of the falls have to be seen to be believed (at the right time of year!) 

If you could be dropped anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

Mauritius –  the beaches & hotels are amazing. There is so much to do on the island on the land and sea and I can’t wait to go back at some stage.

What’s it like working at Holmes Travel?

Very varied. We never know what we are going to be asked for – a low cost flight to a luxury holiday. We all work well as team, pulling the experiences of everyone together to give the best knowledge to our clients.

What are your best travel tips?

When staying somewhere, try to explore the little streets off the main drag, you’ll often be surprised at what you find.

Travel light – says she who struggles to do that!

Strongest destination knowledge –  Singapore, Europe - Greece, Portugal, Spain, Vietnam and Cambodia!

What is your favourite ever trip?

Driving around the circumference of Australia in a Ford Falcon panel van…28,000kms! It was an incredible adventure, travelling through diverse climates from the dusty Pinnacles Desert to the ice-covered peaks of the Snowy Mountains.

What have been your most memorable moments whilst on a trip?

My most memorable moment whilst away is playing cricket with my camp mates and the locals at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. I was travelling through Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya at the time, seeing a huge array of game and breathtaking scenery…but it’s the connections I made with people en-route that stick with me.

If you could be dropped anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

At the community kitchen in The Golden Temple in Amritsar. 

I’m an enthusiastic home cook and the chance to help prepare food in the community kitchen (Langar) would be amazing. Volunteers serve over 100,000 meals a day to devotees and visitors to the temple and the scale of the catering is mind blowing…It would be a truly life-changing experience for me and I am determined to make it happen! 

What’s it like working at Holmes Travel?

Holmes Travel is a very special place to work. We are a small dedicated team and the wealth of travel knowledge between us is immense. The family business vibe creates a supportive atmosphere.. and I can truly say we are all good friends. 

What are your best travel tips?

Buy your Pringles before you board the plane!

Do you have any trips planned?

My love for travel continues, having just returned home form a city break in Porto. The next adventure is already booked…three weeks in northern India where I’m sure the wildlife encounters and cultural immersion won’t disappoint.

What is your favourite ever trip?

It’s hard to choose – but I would say my most memorable holiday was my Mediterranean cruise with my Grandmother in 2018. We cruised from Venice, to Mykonos, Corfu, Crete and Dubrovnik. Lifelong memories were made. I will always recommend a Mediterranean cruise to those wanting to visit Greek islands – you get to explore all day and then go back to the ship and enjoy the incredible entertainment on offer.

What have been your most memorable moments whilst on a trip?

So many to chose from! But the ones that stand out the most are climbing Dubrovnik’s City wall, spending my 20th Birthday at the famous Rick’s Café in Jamaica and visiting the Memorial and Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 2023.

If you could be dropped anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

Vancouver, British Columbia. Canada is a dream destination for me and I’d love to get to see all the stunning scenery and wildlife one day.

What’s it like working at Holmes Travel?

The team at Holmes Travel feel like my extended family and I love coming to work every week. I have always felt supported, especially during the pandemic and when I was on maternity leave. 

What are your best travel tips?

Travel with a printed copy of your travel insurance and e-visas as back up, and don’t forget to pack the correct (and enough) travel adapters for your destination.

Next destination you are going to visit

Disney World and Universal Florida – for two weeks we are staying off site and hiring a car which will make it easy to get around. My three year old daughter is especially excited to meet Ana and Elsa from Frozen. Let it gooooo!!!!

Why did you get into travel?

I love going on adventures and seeing new and different cultures.

What is your favourite ever trip?

My First ever biking holiday to Barcelona. Due to it being in the covid pandemic, the city was still recovering and as such there was hardly anyone around so it was lovely and quiet.

What have been your most memorable moments whilst on a trip?

I was outside a random little bar in Spain and a group of lads were kicking a ball around outside and invited me to join in. I mesmerised them with my silky skills, nutmegging four of them. They started cheering and I ended up on their shoulders dancing away!

If you could be dropped anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

Puerto Rico – I’m really into the music scene there at moment and love the food!

What’s it like working at Holmes Travel?

Amazing, having started not that long ago I was welcomed in with open arms. 

What are your best travel tips?

Cash is king. You can’t always rely on cards and technology so have a back up fund, especially if going somewhere rural.

What is your favourite ever trip?

I really loved my trip to Venice in 2003. It was my first trip to Italy, and I loved the feel of the city. Lots of history and so different from anywhere I had previously visited. 

What have been your most memorable moments whilst on a trip?

I remember my first time on a plane, travelling with family to Tenerife. It was exciting, experiencing flying for the first time, visiting a foreign country and the different weather. 

If you could be dropped anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

I have always wanted to visit New York, but the flight time has put me off so far.....maybe one for the near future!

What’s it like working at Holmes Travel?

Although I am not directly involved in the booking of travel, being in the office as knowledge and ideas are shared amongst the team has taught me so much about the travel industry.

What are your best travel tips?

Arriving at the airport with plenty of time, start the holiday as stress free as possible!

What was the last trip you did?

My last trip was a city break to Berlin. We started the trip with a cycle tour of the city, which we really enjoyed and gave us a good overview of the city. It was an interesting walkable city with plenty to see and do.