Dean Around The World with Karen Thornton

1. What is your earliest childhood travel memory?

I went to Austria when I was about 7 and I had my birthday there. We stayed in the countryside just outside Vienna and it was so beautiful. We visited the Prata (fair) and went on a massive big wheel, then went on a ghost train with my brother and I also remember swimming in a lake with fish and meeting an Austrian girl called Maria who became my pen friend.

We also walked to the little shop every day to buy Milka chocolate. It was a really fun trip – loved it. Thanks for reminding me of it with this question!

2. Which was the first place you truly fell in love with? I would say the first place would be Saint Lucia. It’s so beautiful and different to any other Caribbean island I’ve every visited, it’s special! I’ve had some great times here too… Lots of happy memories!

3. Do you have a favourite restaurant or most memorable meal from a holiday you’ve taken?

Yes – for our 20th wedding anniversary and Neil’s 50th just before lockdown we went to Barbados and had a meal at Lone Star restaurant on the beach. We arrived at sunset and the restaurant was just beautiful. It’s right on the best beach on the island and throughout the meal we could hear the waves lapping behind us. The table was decorated beautifully and the food and service was excellent. I had just started at TC and had no idea that Covid was on its way so I was blissfully unaware of that was coming…. It was such a memorable meal for so many reasons!

4. What is your all-time favourite destination and why?

I can’t choose one Dean, that’s mean! I have a top 3 and in no particular order they are Saint Lucia, Sri Lanka and Iceland. Saint Lucia for its beauty, its diversity and because it’s great fun

Sri Lanka for the people, the experiences, the beauty and nature.

Iceland for the people, the diversity, the nature and it’s sheer bonkers-ness. Mother nature at its best!

5. Can you tell us about a hidden gem or a place people should know about?

I’d say Namibia. It’s one of the least visited countries in Southern Africa and its sheer size means it will never be overcrowded. It’s home to the world’s oldest desert, has huge sand dunes and also has the largest population of cheetah in the wild too. It’s not on the tourist trap which means it’s definitely unspoilt and well worth a visit.

6. What has been your worst or most challenging travel experience? Either for yourself or any of your clients

Oh wow after 35 years there have been so many! I’ve been incredibly lucky personally with my travels, but having lived and worked through events such as 9/11, the Ash Cloud, Covid and more it’s hard to pick just one. What I do know is that my crisis management skills are now unflappable (especially after starting a travel business in March 2020!) and I’m so laid back I’m horizontal.

I wish I’d written a diary looking back as there have been some pretty major rescues over the years!

7. What destination is at the top of your travel bucket list now?

Again this is a mean question! How can I choose just one? I’d love to visit Machu Picchu, take a journey on the Rocky Mountaineer and visit Elephant Hills in Thailand for starters….! But the more amazing trips I book the more my list grows!

8. What does travel mean to you personally?

It means new adventures, new experiences and the chance to grow as a person by experiencing new cultures. I also love travel for making amazing memories and to challenge myself. I was able to set up my business due to the death of my father, so travelling is my legacy to him. I think about him on every trip, I always have a ‘moment’ to thank him for what he’s enabled me to do and I pinch myself that I get to do this for a job.

It blows my mind how lucky I am!

9. Which place surprised you the most?

Israel. I was lucky enough to visit on a fam trip back in 1996 (I think) for a week. For a country the size of Wales, the sheer scale of its historical roots blew me away. From taking the cable car up Masada to floating in the Dead Sea, walking the Via Dolorosa to swimming with dolphins, and exploring Tel Aviv and it’s vibrant nightlife, I wasn’t expecting any of it and it’s stayed with me ever since. I feel incredibly sad for the current situation there now but the memories of my trip have stayed with me for almost 30 years.

10. Where’s next for you ?

Namibia in just over 2 weeks. I can’t wait! I’ll be travelling with a group of clients and discovering a totally new country so for the reasons above, I’m very excited to be introducing this best kept secret to some lucky clients!