Katie Thomas

Katie Thomas | Foreign Exchange Specialist

Phone Katie: 01452 345100

Email Katie: [email protected]

Visit Katie: 4 St Michaels Building, Eastgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1PD

All about Katie I started my travel career straight from studying business and travel at university when I joined a small independent travel agency. After several years there I moved to a larger, chain travel agent where I eventually became Manager of the Foreign Exchange bureau. I love being back in a face-to-face role with customers and being able to help them to find the holiday of their dreams. For my holidays I like to explore and venture out of the standard tourist areas. America is my favourite place to visit and I still have a lot of places on my wish list, as despite being to Las Vegas several times I still haven't seen the Grand Canyon!

America

On my first ever flight I went to San Francisco for a 2 week self drive in a 4x4 and it was great fun. I went to San Francisco pier and shopping district, driving down Lombard Street with its 8 hairpin bends, eating in China Town and meeting Forest Gump! It was certainly a great start to the holiday and that theme continued with a guided tour around Yosemite National Park, a Veterans Day parade in Palm Springs and watching a San Diego Padres baseball game at Petco Park. I can say I've stayed at the same hotel as Charlie Chaplin and Mae West (Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego). I also visited San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Universal Studios and all the usual tourist places. In Las Vegas, I visited lots of the famous hotels both along The Strip and in Downtown where I was amazed at the Fremont Street Experience Laser show. I ate at the top of the Stratosphere Hotel, which is the highest altitude restaurant I've ever eaten in (but didn't have the guts to try any of the rides!) I stayed in Nashville at the amazing Gaylord Opryland Hotel, which is a mini-resort in itself where I had the opportunity to go on a boat ride through their own water system with a cascading waterfall. Whilst there, I enjoyed an evening at the Ryman Auditorium watching them record a live Grand Ole Opry radio show. I also visited the Country Music Hall of Fame and Graceland. I love the feel of the open road so had to drive to Lynchburg and visit the home of Jack Daniel's - a thoroughly interesting tour even if it is a dry town! I have also taken a day trip to Chicago, which included a visit to the top of the Sears Tower (now called the Willis Tower) and Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.

Europe and Beyond

In Brittany, we stayed in a mobile home, which is a great way to see France on a budget but still enjoy great facilities like heated swimming pools and kids clubs. The coast of Britanny is stunning and great for exploring. I travelled to Menorca on a self-catering basis so got to experience the great variety of restaurants as we hired a car and toured the island. With its rich past and historic sights there is plenty to see and do in Cyprus. We hired a car and explored the island which included a drive up into the mountains to Saint Neophytos Monastery and a visit to the Tomb of The Kings. My favourite memories of Tunisia include the fabulous hospitality of the locals and spending the afternoon travelling through the countryside on quadbikes - a great way to see parts of any country!

City Breaks

A trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower is a must when you're in Paris, I enjoyed going to all the traditional tourist attractions including the Louvre and Arc de Triomphe. There are so many places to eat out in Paris to cater for all budgets and half the fun is trying somewhere new to eat everyday. My must see place in Amsterdam is the Anne Frank House - it's such a moving place. The city is easy to navigate on foot or using the tram and there are some lovely self guided walking tours, which take in the sights, or you can hop on a water taxi for a tour from a different perspective. In Zurich, I recommend jumping on the bus to Zurich West to experience great restaurants and smaller shops, which sell fantastic locally made produce. I then experienced the opposite end of the spectrum by going window shopping along Bahnhofstrasse and stopping for a famous Swiss Hot Chocolate. I loved hiring a bike to see the beautiful city. There is so much to see and do in Hamburg, especially if you enjoy live music (this was the purpose of my trip). I enjoyed experiencing plenty of nightlife that kept me going all night and then I visited the early morning traders market on the way home for breakfast. If you're a fan of The Beatles there are also plenty of tours on offer and you can visit the venues for the full experience.

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Countries Katie has visited

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  • The Netherlands: Amsterdam
  • Cyprus
  • France: Brittany, Lille, Paris
  • Gran Canaria
  • Germany: Hamburg
  • Menorca
  • Czech Republic: Prague
  • Tunisia
  • USA: California, Chicago, Las Vegas, Nashville
  • Switzerland: Zurich

 

Cruise Lines Katies has experienced

 

  • Riviera Travel River Cruise - MS Emily Bronte