"I grew up in the Caribbean, so travel has been in my blood from a very early age! After leaving university my first job was selling skiing holidays for Crystal Holidays and in the 20+ years since then I've worked in a variety of different roles within the industry. In 2019 I decided to move closer to family in Devon and knew that Tropic Breeze would be the perfect fit for me - luckily Jo and Mark agreed!"
Memorable Experiences: "Swimming with humpback whales in Tonga has to be top of the list but diving with wild dolphins and sharks in French Polynesia comes a close second!"
Favourite Places: "I went to South Georgia and Antarctica this year which was a real bucket list trip - being surrounded by thousands of penguins and enormous elephant seals in South Georgia felt like being in a David Attenborough documentary!"
Where next: "I'd love to explore more of the Indian Ocean. Diving in the Maldives and island hopping round the Seychelles."
Top Travel Tips: "Always pack swimwear and a change of clothes in your hand luggage...just in case."
Three things I couldn't travel without: "Flip flops, a camera and a mask and snorkel."
"I had my work experience in a travel agents at school when I was 14 and off the back of this was offered my first travel job when I left school at 16. Now almost 30 years later I still have the same passion and excitement as I did on my first day. The industry has changed dramatically throughout my career, but I still love it just the same."
Memorable Experiences: "I have fond memories of hot air ballooning over the Masai Mara and crash landing into a tree, flying over the Grand Canyon for my 21st birthday, kayaking the mangroves in Antigua and catching my first glimpse of a Caribbean beach in Jamaica over 20 years ago - I was hooked! I was also privileged to travel through Israel a number of years ago and walking the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem was an amazing experience I will never forget."
Favourite places: "I really believe that travel broadens the mind so I'm always happy to go somewhere new. My favourite places would be Grand Anse Beach in Grenada for the stunning views and local life, New York for its feeling of familiarity around every corner and Kenya for the most amazing wildlife - hearing lions from my tent on safari was just fantastic!"
Where next: "I would love to take my husband to the Maldives as it's always been his dream holiday destination - it would be amazing to share these stunning islands with him."
Top travel tip: "Always double check you have your passport and travel documents before leaving the house and leave plenty of time to get to the airport."
Three things I can't travel without: "Sunglasses, running kit and swimming costume.
My passion for travel started at a young age as I was lucky to travel to Greece and other parts of Europe frequently to visit family. After exploring new places, cultures, and languages I was determined to turn my passion for travel into my dream job. My love of the ocean led to a career as a dive travel consultant, specialising in bespoke liveabord and shore based trips worldwide. After a break from the travel industry I realised this is my true passion and I was lucky enough to join the Tropic Breeze team!
Memorable experiences: "Quad biking in Spetsas, Greece, zip lining in Montezuma, Costa Rica, and I won't forget scuba diving with curious Oceanic white tip Sharks in Egypt in a hurry!"
Favourite places: "Wow this is difficult! I’d have to say the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, truly one of the most beautiful and relatively untouched places in the world. It alone makes up 2.5 percent of the world's biodiversity."
Where to next: "Grenada - if can tear myself away from the beautiful Grand Anse Beach, I'd love to visit the underwater sculpture park and explore the rainforest, especially Annadale falls. After that, Petit St Vincent in The Grenadines to explore the stunning local dive sites which are teeming with abundant marine life."
Top Travel Tip: "Take a phrasebook and use it learn a few local phrases. Pack a tennis ball in your hand luggage, great for relieving stiff and sore muscles - roll it over your shoulders, lower back, legs, and the bottoms of your feet to help get your blood flowing again."
Can't live without: "Sunglasses, flip flops and a scarf, which makes for a great blanket if you get cold on the plane."
"I started my career in travel when I was just 17, working in retail travel agents for many years. I love the variety of challenges and people that the travel industry brings, no day is ever the same! I briefly left travel whilst having my son to undertake a psychology degree, but I missed travel too much and returned after completing it! I have always loved the Caribbean as a holiday destination myself, so to talk about it all day long for my job is perfect!"
Memorable experiences: "Meeting Tribespeople in Samburu, Kenya and being honoured to hold the Lead Tribesmans baby boy! Ziplining through the canopy in Jamaica, crossing several parishes - it felt like a lifetime! Paddle boarding in Barbados - it was the first time I tried it and now I love it!"
Favourite places: "Jamaica, I have been four times - Negril beach is my favourite. Puglia in Southern Italy, Alberbello is a Unesco protected town with beautiful trulli houses, olive groves and of course lots of limoncello!"
Where next? "I plan to visit Las Vegas and Nashville, would also love to visit Northern Thailand and Vietnam. Not forgetting our annual holiday on Canalboats - the Llangolen in Wales is our next visit!"
Top travel tips: "I always take Natural Source Citrus Shower Gels - a natural defence against mosquitos. Socialize on holiday and share your experiences, you may find local places of interest that you may not have known about."
Three things you couldn't travel without: "My own Teabags - I cannot live without Tetley in the morning! My phone, as I love to post pictures on my travels. And my Captain Morgan beach towel to profess my love of rum wherever I am!"
Top Travel Tips: Do your research before you travel, get an idea of what you want to see and do so that you don't miss out on anything - you may not get that opportunity again.
Three things I couldn’t travel without: Camera, swimwear and good company.
"I have been extremely lucky in seeing a lot of the world from an early age. I grew up in Hong Kong and spent family holidays visiting Malaysia and Thailand. Then upon completing university in the UK, I set sail working with Princess Cruises visiting the west coast of America and Canada, Alaska with regular trips down to Hawaii and the South Pacific. Having worked in so many great countries, I now look forward to sharing new adventures with my husband and son."
Memorable Experiences: "I have been so lucky that it is really hard to mention just a few. Catching and cooking Alaska King Crab and seeing wild Orcas playing in the wake of our boat on our way back to the airport at the end of our trip really were experiences I'll never forget."
Favourite Places: "Mo'orea in French Polynesia was simply breath taking, and definitely my idea of heaven!"
Where next: "I plan to return to the South Pacific in the future, in the meantime I look forward to travelling a little closer to home with a family trip to the lakes and mountains of Italy."
Top Travel Tips: "Don't leave packing your case until the morning of departure! A bad habit of mine which always makes the long journeys even more stressful when it can easily be avoided."
Three things I couldn't travel without: "Sun cream, a camera and a street map of the destination."
