Donna Horner
My expertise
I'm based in
Kirkby In Ashfield
From Nottinghamshire to the world — your personal travel expert
Hello, I’m Donna — your personal Travel Counsellor.
Based in Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, where I’ve lived for most of my life, I offer a truly personal and dedicated approach to planning your perfect holiday. I’ve been happily married to my husband Andy since 2008, and while we don’t have children, our home is full of life thanks to our much-loved pets. Outside of travel, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, staying active at my local gym, unwinding with a good book, and anything involving animals.
Travel has always been far more than just my career — it’s been a lifelong passion.
From a young age, I was fortunate to experience unforgettable family holidays both here in the UK and around the world. Those early journeys sparked a love of travel that has stayed with me ever since — and today, nothing brings me greater pleasure than helping others create their own special and lasting memories.
With over 28 years of experience in the travel industry, including many years with one of the UK’s most well-known high street travel companies, I bring a wealth of knowledge, insight and trusted expertise. I’ve been privileged to personally experience many of the destinations I recommend — from multi-centre adventures across Australia and ski escapes in Canada, to the iconic beaches and world-class attractions of Florida, as well as extensive travel throughout Europe.
What truly sets my service apart is the personal care and attention I give to every client.
I take the time to understand you — your preferences, your travel style, and the experiences that matter most. Every itinerary I create is individually tailored, with each detail thoughtfully considered to ensure a seamless and beautifully curated journey from beginning to end.
Joining Travel Counsellors was a natural progression for me. Their award-winning reputation and commitment to exceptional customer care perfectly align with my own values. As part of this highly respected and trusted company, I’m able to offer not only expert advice and a fully personalised service, but also complete peace of mind every time you travel.
Working from home gives me the flexibility to be there when it suits you best — whether during the day, in the evening, or at the weekend. For me, your holiday is never just another booking; it’s a personal experience that deserves time, care, and genuine attention.
At its heart, travel is about connection.
Connection to new places, new cultures, and the people we share those experiences with. I’m passionate about building lasting relationships with my clients, understanding their dreams, and bringing them to life through carefully crafted, unforgettable journeys.
I would be absolutely delighted to help you plan your next escape, and I look forward to creating something truly special together.
Travel guides
Explore my guides and blogs
Small ship sailing to Amsterdam and Rotterdam
I was recently fortunate to be invited on a memorable five-night sailing aboard @fred.olsencruiselines’ Borealis, departing from Newcastle with stops in both Amsterdam and Rotterdam. It was a truly wonderful experience that highlighted the many unique advantages of small-ship cruising. Boarding was seamless and efficient—we were welcomed on board just after lunch, and within minutes of receiving
21 May 2025 5 min read
Atlantic City, the Sullivan Catskills and Scottsdale
It was only a 90 minute coach ride from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, the home of gambling on the East Coast of America. I wasn't sure what to expect of this little town but it was surprisingly a real gem of a place. We arrived at our hotel, The Hard Rock Atlantic City and after a speedy check in were straight to our lovely rooms. Spacious and just enough luxury without being too over the top.
02 Jan 2020 5 min read
Philadelphia.... Lovely!
Philadelphia has never been a destination that I had ever considered before, not sure why but when the opportunity came up to visit I knew I had to take the chance to see what the birthplace of the United States of America actually had to offer.... I was definitely not disappointed! Philly, as it's affectionately called by the residents, is a fabulous city with plenty of historical sites mixed w
02 Jan 2020 5 min read
Happy New Year... now's the time to start planning your next trip!
First of all I'd like to wish you a very Happy New Year from myself and Andy!! Thanks so much for all of your support in 2019, I can't wait to get started on 2020!! January is often a dreary, grey month after the bright lights and excitement of Christmas, which is why it is ALWAYS the busiest month in the travel industry… people need something else to look forward to once Christmas has gone. You
02 Jan 2020 5 min read
Loving Las Vegas!
Las Vegas has been on my ‘bucket list’ for quite some time so I was really excited to get the opportunity to visit in February as part of my multi centre USA trip. We had chosen the LINQ hotel more for location than anything, being very central on the strip and easy to get to one end or the other. I also liked the fact that it isn’t a ‘themed’ hotel. Travelling along the Strip in the taxi from t
17 Apr 2019 5 min read
Four Nights in New York
We stayed at the Doubletree by Hilton Times Square West on West 40th Street almost on the corner of 9th Avenue. Check in was quick, allocated rooms on floor 31 with a city view. The rooms are small, but this is expected in New York. Room was functional and comfortable though with tea/coffee making facilities, hairdryer etc. Check in also included freshly baked cookies which was a lovely touch! W
29 Mar 2019 5 min read
Top 5 Last Minute Travel Christmas Gift Ideas
It’s now less than a week until Christmas and most of us have finished our shopping, maybe even wrapped our carefully planned gifts for our loved ones. If, like me, you still have some bits to get but are struggling for inspiration of what to buy that person who has everything then check out my suggestions of perfect Christmas gifts: 1. Theatre break in London - Why not book a couple of nights
18 Dec 2018 5 min read
Touring the Bay of Naples (Part 2)
Next on our trip was Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius. I had heard from lots of people that Herculaneum was better preserved than Pompeii due to the nature of the eruption. Pompeii was pelted by volcanic rock and pumice before being buried under the same material whereas Herculaneum was buried under a huge layer of volcanic ash and mud so not sustaining the same level of damage as Pompeii before it
28 Jun 2018 5 min read
Touring the Bay of Naples (Part 1)
Having never been on a touring holiday before, I wasn’t sure what to expect so arrived at our lovely little hotel in the quaint town of Vico Equense on the Sorrento Coast and was very pleasantly surprised. The Hotel Aequa would be our base for the week and our itinerary that was planned meant that we would travel from our base each day by coach or rail to some of the region’s most iconic places.
28 Jun 2018 5 min read
An LA Road Trip - Part 1
I had never driven in the US before. I have driven in many other places, but never felt confident enough to drive such big cars. So I’m glad that I did this time as the driving is so straight forward. I would highly recommend a GPS as it also came with free unlimited Wi-Fi meaning that we always had access to the internet as well as 30 minutes of international calls a day free of charge and 60 min
23 Dec 2016 5 min read
An LA Road Trip - Part 2
We continued on to Santa Monica, arriving mid-morning. After a speedy check in at the Meridien Delfina and a quick freshen up we set off through the streets of Santa Monica to the pier where my dream came true! I rode the world famous Ferris Wheel on Santa Monica Pier! I have seen that wheel on so many TV shows and films so to be there was a real memory to treasure. Dream number two wasn’t far beh
23 Dec 2016 5 min read
Our Kiwi Adventure - South Island
We arrived into Christchurch airport just after 9am, a short 50 minute flight from Wellington. Picked up our next car (not so much of a beast but still comfy) and got on the road heading to Kaikoura for our date with the Dusky dolphins the next morning. The views on the drive were amazing… Snowcapped mountains, beautiful blue skies and rolling green hills! It was such a relaxing drive. We were hop
02 Dec 2015 5 min read
A Kiwi Adventure - North Island
Who knew there was so much to see and do in Auckland? Certainly not me, that’s for sure! We had a fun packed few days visiting various places of interest, on land and water. A day spent in the Auckland Museum exploring New Zealand’s history, a morning spent on Waitemata Harbour sailing under the Auckland Harbour Bridge (wasn’t brave enough to climb it!) and an afternoon wandering the second-hand s
27 Nov 2015 5 min read
Rule Britannia (the cruise ship!)
I was lucky enough to get the chance to be on-board the beautiful P&O Britannia just before her launch in March 2015. I am not a seasoned cruiser so it was a great experience to see what cruising is really like. Check in ran smoothly and we passed through security without issue. Boarding a ship is very similar to boarding a plane in terms of security so for someone who hasn't cruised before
13 May 2015 5 min read
Malta - A Mediterannean Gem
Our trip to Malta started with a mid-morning flight onboard Air Malta. The flight was just over 3 hours long and a very comfortable journey. We arrived at Malta International Airport, mid-afternoon (they are 1 hour ahead of the UK) and everything went very smoothly as we passed through immigration taking only around 30 minutes from landing to meeting our tour representative in Arrivals. We boa
27 Feb 2015 5 min read
Zakynthos
I've just returned from a fabulous stay in the resort of Argassi on the beautiful island of Zakynthos. It is such a fantastic island with something for everyone. We stayed at the Diana Place Hotel on an all-inclusive basis which was a first for me in Greece. I normally love to eat out and try different restaurants and bars so it was not my usual choice of accommodation. It turned out to be the
10 Jul 2013 5 min read
Kos and Kalymnos Twin Centre
We arrived at Kos Airport in the early hours of the morning and was quickly transferred to our accommodation in Kardamena. It only took 10 minutes and we were in our apartment. We quickly dumped our luggage and headed into the resort to get a drink and some food. We were surprised how much was open as it was approx. 2am! We managed to find an excellent bar on the harbour front, called Crackers wit
30 Apr 2012 5 min read
Messing about on the river (or Broads as the case may be!)
My hubby and I decided that, as we had travelled quite extensively around the world, we wanted to see a bit of the UK. After speaking with some friends we decided on a boating holiday to the Norfolk Broads. We were quite stuck with timings as one of the couple's were pregnant and the other couple were getting married later that year so we decided on the beginning of May. Luckily a boating holid
20 Mar 2012 5 min read
Fun in the Sunshine State!
I have been lucky enough to go to Florida many times but the last time I went was to take my husband for his first taste of Florida - and it's now one of his (and my) favourite destinations! If you think that Florida is just for children or that all there is to do is theme parks then you are very much mistaken! We did everything!!! Theme parks, beaches, culture, nature, adventure and much mo
20 Mar 2012 5 min read
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Why use a Travel Counsellor
Let's plan your dream trip together
Tailor-made for you
Your holiday isn’t just a trip away. It’s a longed-for escape, time to reconnect with loved ones, or a dream adventure you never thought possible. That’s why I take the time to truly get to know you and understand your hopes and expectations, then use my experience, connections and passion for the destination to create a trip that makes those dreams a reality.
Personalised service. Always
When you plan a holiday with me, you’ll be given my personal mobile number from the very first call. I’ll listen to your thoughts and ideas like I would a friend and arrange accommodation, activities, and flights that are all personalised to you. And I’ll share my personal tips and recommendations, so you can experience the true beauty of each destination.
Stress-free travel, and more time for what matters most
I believe your time away should be stress-free, easy, and seamless from start to finish. So, I take care of all the details for you - from ATOL protection, insurance, and flexible payments to access to the myTC app, which keeps everything in one place.
Support when it matters most
If the unexpected happens, you can rest easy, knowing that I’ll handle any last-minute changes, flight cancellations, or disruptions before you even pick up the phone. So you always feel happy, carefree, and ready to make the most of every moment.
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