Gordon had a lovely surprise today....a courier arrived with a fabulous bottle of gin with a heartfelt message attached.

"Gordon, thank you so much for assisting us when we were stuck in Ljubljana and for getting (our daughter) home safely. As always, your expertise was invaluable, we don't know what we'd do without you!"

Here at Gazelle Travel, we are here to help all of our lovely clients. We are with you from your first contact until you are back home and even beyond. Always at the end of a 'phone.....we care about you.

Our lovely customers, Joanne and Andy, have just returned from a trip of a lifetime to Cambodia.

Gordon, our highly experienced and very well-traveled office manager, arranged everything for the couple and was delighted to receive this lovely card upon their return.

It was our pleasure!

Gordon, our Office Manager and USA specialist, has been off on his travels across the pond once again to expand his already vast knowledge of all things American to give our clients the very best holiday experience.

His journey started in the the beautiful city of New Orleans. He explored the vibrant French quarter, wandering down the famous Bourbon Street, sampling the cuisine and soaking up the jazz-filled atmosphere. Stopping for a little retail therapy in the unique stores on Royal Street, specialising in fabulous crystal chandeliers and 19th century absinthe glasses, on the way!

Moving on to Baton Rouge, Louisiana's state capital, located on the eastern bank of the mighty Mississippi river.

Gordon rounded off his visit to Louisiana with a stop off at Shreveport which is know for its bold local flavours, po'boys and casual neighbourhood vibe. It is a cultural and entertainment hub in the Ark-La-Tex region with vibrant casinos/hotels like Bally's and the lively downtown riverfront area. It is also recognized for its rich music history, the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum and the Red River Revel Arts Festival, 

Gordon continued his journey to Texas, the Lone Star State. Everything there is BIG! The food, the buildings, the skies and the fabulous Texan welcome! He took a tour of the AT & T Stadium - home of the Dallas Cowboys American football team and the upcoming 2026 World Cup (a different kind of football!) He and his travelling companions had a little fun "cheer leading" for a photo opportunity.

Gordon's tour then moved onto The John F. Kennedy Tribute which marks the site of one of the 35th President's last public speeches on the day of his assassination.

Next, was a tour of the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District - a shrine to Texan cattle and cowboys! Western shops, saloons and rodeo displays abound.

There was even time to make a quick stop at the John Wayne American Experience........................a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CUSTOMERS OF GAZELLE TRAVEL

Here at Gazelle Travel, our clients’ safety is our number one priority. As the situation in the Middle East evolves, flight schedules and itineraries may be subject to disruption. We are working closely with our airline and ground partners to manage alternative arrangements where required and to ensure our clients are fully supported throughout.

Clients travelling to affected areas will be contacted once we have further clarity from our suppliers.

Our office telephone number is +44 (0)191 3847456

Out of office hours – please leave us a voice mail on this number and we will contact you as soon as possible.

For non-urgent enquiries, please email us at durham@gazelleholidays.co.uk

We advise everyone to keep keeping the UK government’s updates, available on Facebook at FDCO travel advice or online https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

If you are booked to travel AFTER 31st March, please be assured there is no need to contact us — we will be in touch when appropriate.

We continue to monitor official FCDO advice and updates from our in-destination partners and will always act in line with the latest safety guidance.

Regrettably, we do not have access to any bookings made through other companies, so we are unable to step in or manage those arrangements due to Data Protection Legislation.

The FCDO has announced that British passport holders can travel to China for tourism purposes without the need to apply for a visa with immediate effect until 31st December 2026. The maximum stay is 30 days so you can now take that bucket list trip to China without the cost and hassle of applying for a visa - a massive bonus! Call us to chat about our range of escorted tours which cover the "must do" sights as well as the deeper cuts and Yangtze cruises.

More from Chris & Sara’s Berlin trip…

Day three started with a 5km run at the Hasenheide Parkrun (9.00am every Saturday, just like in the UK) and then back to Mitte for a stroll in the sun. They visited the old Nikolai Quarter and the Kino Central in Scheunenviertel, which doubles up as a museum dedicated to blind and partially sighted Jewish workers in the building, which was a brush factory during WW2. Then to Potsdamer Platz and the Blue Man Group show before dinner and then a visit to the East Side Gallery, an almost mile long section of the Berlin Wall which still stands and has been given over for painting by local and international artists.

Their last morning was spent in the West of the city at the Urban Nation modern art gallery followed by a stroll through Grosser Tiergarten, the huge park and former royal hunting ground which stretches out west from the Brandenburg Gate. A 6.00pm flight back to Newcastle meant they were home in time for dinner!

Insider tip #2: Get a Berlin Welcome Card – you’ll get free travel on buses, trams, underground and mainline trains plus discounts on entry to major attractions and at lots of restaurants.

Chris recently visited Berlin with his fiancée Sara, using the new direct service from Newcastle with Eurowings. It was a busy four days, taking in the famous sights of this vibrant city, as well as some of the lesser-known but still hugely interesting spots. Oh, and sampling the local food and drink, of course (Currywurst and beer!).

Highlights in the first couple of days included the DDR Museum which gives a great insight in to the lives of East Germans before the fall of the Wall, a cruise on the Spree River, the famous Checkpoint Charlie, a visit to the Reichstag dome which provides a 360 degree view of the city, Bernauer Strasse, Alexanderplatz and dinner in the hip Kreuzberg area of the city.

Insider tip #1: Get your photos of Brandenburg Gate early on a sunny morning – no crowds and the sun lights up the monument beautifully as you approach from Unter den Linden.

Continuing his travels in Eastern USA, Gordon, our Office Manager, has taken in the fabulous sights of West Virginia. Sampling the produce of the vineyards in the Blue Ridge Mountains, then passing through the natural beauty of Monongahela National Park, admiring the lofty Seneca Rocks, stopping to enjoy the local hospitality and music scene along the way.

Philadelphia was the last stop of the tour - Gordon took time to check out the city culture, taking in museums, restaurants and night life - even ascending the famous 'Rocky' steps to the Philadelphia Musuem of Art, before heading home, ready to help our customers plan their next trip to the US.

Seneca Rocks

Philadelphia

Gordon, our Office Manager, is currently on a fact-finding tour of the Eastern States of America. With his wealth of experience gained from his numerous trips to the USA, he acknowledges that there "..are always new experiences to try, new sights to see, new places to discover in the States" and, here at Gazelle Travel, we are committed to finding the best for our customers.

First stop is Washington DC, the nation's capital. There is so much to see and do here, Gordon embarked on a city scooter tour to whisk around all the awe-inspiring monuments and landmarks. No time to waste, he is off to the vineyards of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northern Virginia...cheers, Gordon!

Gordon on the move!

Lincoln Memorial

Martin Luther King Jnr. Memorial

Chris was at Newcastle International Airport this morning to wave off the first flight to Berlin with Eurowings.

Passengers were treated to inaugural celebrations at the gate and check-in, and there was a lovely sense of excitement as they boarded the aircraft.

Flights will operate Thursday & Sunday until late October so plenty of choice for a weekend or midweek break. Give us a call to plan your trip to this incredible city!