Sent by Kate Hammond
Manchester 18/06/2020
Based in Royston
Looking for help with your business travel? Find out how I can help here
I love travel. I still get excited about it even if it is someone else who is doing the travelling. That’s why when you come to me I promise I’m going to give you the best and most hassle free holiday experience imaginable.
I have travelled all over the world, from West Coast USA to the Middle East, North Africa to South Australia so chances are I'll know about the destination you're looking for and if I don't, I'll know someone who does!
This is where my personal service comes in.
From the moment you contact me, I’m at your disposal. I’m available at a time and place that suits you. I’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for: using state of the art technology, my own extensive travel experience and that of over 1,000 colleagues worldwide and the buying power of the world’s largest home based travel agency. I’ll even show you holidays that perhaps you didn’t think were possible. Whether it’s a drop-of-a-hat weekend break in Cairo or a trip of a lifetime to witness the Northern Lights. And everything in between. I can organise it whenever you like, wherever you like.
I’ll be there helping you along the way - from booking and organising visas, to checking you in for your flight and dealing with any special considerations you may require. Plus, the service doesn’t stop when your holiday starts; I’ll be working for you for the duration of your holiday and afterwards, I’m available day or night.
So pick up the phone and give me a call and we can have a chat about your next holiday or business trip.
Because when you go on holiday all you should do is enjoy it.
I am also accredited by the following bodies and companies;
Dubai Department of Tourism Dubai Expert - Gold Level
Moroccan National Tourist Office
Icelandic Tourist Board
Oman Tourism Board
Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority
Tourism Ireland
Qatar Airways
Air New Zealand
Continental Airlines
South African Airways
Whatever your holiday needs I'm here to help you, so simply give me a call or send me an email with your contact details on and I can get things started for you:
I absolutely live and breathe travel and I love to write about my experiences! Please take a look through my posts - you might find your own holiday inspiration.
06 October 2009
I never know which language I should be speaking in Marrakech. Although English is widely understood, I think it’s only polite to greet people in their native tongue. It does get a bit confusing when you greet someone in Arabic and they reply in French though! On the whole, Moroccans are a fun loving bunch and I’m sure they do it just for laughs, or maybe it’s just me. The Arabic hospitality, ancient traditions, good weather and a four hour flight combine to make a great weekend break and arriving into Menara airport as the sun sets over the Atlas mountains is a wonderful way to start. There is a large poster at the airport taxi rank which clearly explains that the fare into town is 50 Dirhams and then goes on to tell you that you should pay double what is on the meter! I’ve never understood why, it’s always been like that. But that’s Morocco for you. I stayed at the Le Meridien N’fis which is just outside the city walls on Avenue Mohammed VI but as Marrakech is quite compact it’s only 10 minutes taxi ride to the very hub of the city, the Djemmaa El Fna. This huge square, surrounded by cafes, restaurants and shops, is full of stalls selling everything from freshly squeezed orange juice to leather handbags and as the sun goes down the tempo rises, snake charmers, story tellers and restaurants seemingly appear from nowhere and ply their trade into the early hours. Just behind the square is the main souk. This labyrinthine warren of ceramics, leather and spices extends for what seems like miles. It’s very easy to get lost in here - I speak from experience, but it’s certainly an adventure and there are big bargains to be had on leather goods, beautiful ceramics and fantastic metal lampshades if you barter hard enough. To escape the hustle and bustle take a taxi to the Majorelle Gardens. Built by the painter Jacques Majorelle in 1947 and now owned by Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent, they are a haven of tranquillity. Wander through some incredible cacti and bamboo and find shaded corners and pergolas painted in that unique Moroccan blue. It's a gentle, relaxing way to spend an afternoon. The Tagine is the national dish and while there are some excellent places on the edge of the Fna, strolling away from the square with the Club Med behind you, there are some fantastic little riads where dinner for two can be had for about fifteen pounds although these are rarely licensed, which is a shame as Moroccan wine is very good. So it’s back to Le 6, a bar/restaurant on Ave. Mohammed VI, a stone’s throw from the hotel for a nightcap.
20 August 2009
Some people worry about Egypt, I’ve never fully understood why. Perhaps it’s a fear of the unknown, but sometimes the unknown can turn a holiday into an adventure. Cairo’s a bit like that - one big adventure. Yes it’s a big, frenetic, dusty, crowded city but at the same time there is a genuine warmth and sense of fun in the Egyptians. And while being in Cairo can seem a bit daunting if you’ve never been, if you’re prepared to ‘hold your nose and jump in’ there is a fantastic time to be had. From the frantic bargaining in the Khan El Khalili to the serenity of Al Azhar Park, from the modern minimalist hotels to the ancient Pyramids and Sphinx there is seemingly nothing you can’t do. I was in Cairo for a week and, not having been there for nearly 10 years, of course I had to see the Pyramids. Just to check they were still there - yes they are, and the Sphinx if you’re wondering! It never ceases to amaze me that the Pyramids are accurate to less than one degree and they have stood 7 millennia and yet in my 100 year old house there isn’t a single straight wall! It’s hot up on the Giza Plateau and I decide it’s time for a cold beer and where better than the gardens of the Mena House. Almost in the shade of the great Pyramid, it has been welcoming guests in resplendent luxury for 140 years. It is a stunning property. Unfortunately I’m on a bit of a budget so it’s back to the Sheraton for me. Which is no bad thing, my room overlooks the Nile and the island of Zamalek and as the sun fades to the west, in front of me the Cairo tower is performing its rotating light show and the lights of Cairo are reflected in the river. As the temperature drops, Cairo comes alive and it’s time for a spot of bargain hunting. A taxi to the Khan El Khalili and a wander down the narrow passageways is just the thing. Past shops so tiny I can barely get inside them while shopkeepers eagerly try to entice me to part with my money. Rows upon rows of intricately designed perfume bottles glisten in windows alongside black basalt, alabaster and rose granite ornaments and jewellery of lapis lazuli. I’m looking for a couple of presents and eventually, after much haggling and endless mint tea, I extract myself from the Khan slightly lighter in the wallet but with a few nice pieces. I think I’ve got a good deal. It’s about 4 stops on the metro to Gezira, on the southern end of Zamalek island and as I have to walk past the Sofitel on my way home, I pop into the Buddha Bar for a nightcap. The view down the Nile is amazing and as the gentle lounge music soothes me and I stare out of the window past the 3 story high Buddha, I know in the back of my mind that this time tomorrow I’ll be back in London. But that’s tomorrow. One more gin martini please.
Manchester 18/06/2020
Rochester 24/02/2013
peopleton 20/02/2013
St. Albans 18/02/2013
London 18/02/2013
Sidmouth, Devon 17/02/2013
Royston / Dubai 16/02/2013
Royston / Dubai 16/02/2013
Royston,Herts 15/02/2013
manchester 15/02/2013
London 09/05/2012
Steeple Morden 09/05/2012
London 05/11/2010
Harrow 27/10/2010
Steeple Morden 04/06/2010
Macclesfield 03/06/2010
Harrow 11/09/2009