Michelle Barker at Embark travel

09/06/2025

CANCELLATION PLUS - New Travel Insurance Product Available ✈️
Let's chat travel insurance for a minute, because I want to tell you about a new product/level of coverage I can offer to you.

First things first - this policy is much more expensive than what I've offered you/will still offer you with our partners at NIB. But it's a completely different, unique level of cover. Because the product opens itself up to many more claims, obviously the risk of claim is higher to the insurer and therefore the premiums are higher.

BUT, I can see so many circumstances where this insurance will be very important to some travellers. Because you know, life sucks sometimes and as much as we don't ever think we will need to cancel our dream holiday - stuff happens.

Here are some scenarios where 'Cancellation Plus' for those “didn’t see that coming” moments that aren’t covered by the standard cancellation cover.

- You’ve cut ties with your travel buddy and don’t want to travel with them anymore
- You’ve changed your mind about travelling
- You’re worried about your friend’s health and wouldn’t want to go away if their health deteriorated
- Your visa application wasn’t approved
- You were too eager booking your trip before getting your leave approved.
- Cost of living has stung you and you can’t afford to travel at the moment
- You’re worried about your elderley parent's health (where they have pre-existing conditions) and wouldn’t want to go away if their health deteriorated

But there are some VERY important T&C's to be aware of.
- Cancellation Plus Cover covers a portion of your prepaid, non-refundable costs - not all of them. It covers the lesser of 75% of the non-refundable unused portion of your coverable prepaid travel costs or 75% of the Cancellation Cover sum.
- The maximum you can claim under a Cancellation Plus scenario is $10,000.
- You can't add this cover on later. You can only buy Cancellation Plus Cover at the same time as buying your travel insurance policy
- It doesn't cover any elements of your holiday paid more than 48hours before purchasing the policy
- You must cancel your holiday more than 48hours before taking off. Cancelling within 48hours of departure is NOT covered.
- There are certain destinations this doesn't cover (Russia, Ukraine, Iran...and others)

There are obviously lots more T&C's and I have the full product disclosure statement for you if this is something of interest.

Want to know more? Email [email protected] for a quote and more information. Also, you don't have to have booked your holiday with me for me to help with your insurance. If you've booked yourself or booked through an agent that can't offer you this option, please feel free to reach out.

07/06/2025

More Dubrovnik photo spam, well because it’s Dubrovnik and it was the most delightful day. Walked the entire walls with including the towers, explored the streets and of course, gelato and wine 🥰

🏠stayed at the (perfect location - 5star so the price reflects this)
🍴Dinner at - must must come here and eat the steak. Book early for an outdoor table, no regrets on eating all the bread
🦑 Lunch at - squid salad beyond delicious. Capers and grilled squid - perfect combo

MUST find your own at Sulic Beach for a swim. Local swimming spot only a few minutes from the Hilton.
Managed to avoid a lot of the big crowds and tour groups. Dubrovnik, you are the start of what looks to be a great week in Croatia. Today I board Katarina Lines to explore the islands. Share more soon xx

04/06/2025

MONTENEGRO 🤍 you were a dream boat.
Sunshine, great food and wine, breeze off the ocean…it felt amazing to be back by the water!

As we crossed from Albania, we had lunch in Budva, stayed in Tivat and then visited Kotor & Persat.

These old towns have a rich history and we’ve been blessed with amazing, local guides who are passionate about their home cities. I can’t stress enough how important it is to book a tour guide! Whether it’s a private guide for a few hours, or if the budget doesn’t stretch - book a shared tour, or even a free walking tour that only requires a (decent) tip.

You can fall into the trap of being ‘well travelled’ or ‘I can research it myself’ (I’ve heard it plenty from travellers!). I can guarantee that watching every YouTube clip, or reading every article doesn’t come close to the local guides who that lived within the city walls; That can tell you about running through the streets and about the local legends.

Im fortunate to travel plenty; I still wouldn’t just wander the streets aimlessly. You need to get to know the locals and their stories… otherwise every cobblestone street becomes the same.

Just a few pics of our amazing time here 🇲🇪

03/06/2025

Well Newcastle Airport just keeps the annoucements coming this week don't they!! I'm sure you've seen it back home EVERYWHERE that Jetstar will commence Newcastle-Bali direct flights starting in October this year.

These flights are going to FLY out the window - so my advice is to jump in and grab your seats. That's step one! Then get in contact with me on here or on [email protected] and let's talk accommodation!

Club Med has a 30% discount that was released today for the rest of the year. And with our affiliation wit Luxury Escapes we have over 600 amazing deals currently available.

Here's hoping for plenty more annoucements on international flights from Williamtown Airport soon. Exciting times!

02/06/2025

Ever lost something at Sydney airport? It doesn’t go to the staff Christmas party 😉 it goes to the annual ‘lost property auction’ !!

Sydney airport donates all the funds to a local cause.
Want to have a squiz at what was lost throughout the year? The auction link and more details are in the article below.

Did you know about this?

30/05/2025

OHRID 🤍 on the Macedonian side of Lake Ohrid, the sun peaked through for a few hours to explore this gorgeous town.

Most of the time when I’m designing holidays here, I’ve used Tirana as the base and visited the Albanian side. But it was beautiful to experience this side of the lake in Macedonia!

As our guide explained, the locals like to say ‘oh rid’= ‘oh hill 😅’ and there are definitely some hills!! The steps were worth it for the spectacular views over the lake, to visit St John Kaneo Church, and to see the Church of St Sophia.

Winding back down the hill, through the cobblestone streets and back to the lakes edge. We only had the afternoon here but it was worth it 🤍

29/05/2025

DID YOU HEAR? Big news out of Newcastle Airport today (no, still zero word on international flights) - but we will have direct flights between Perth and Newcastle!

From 8 September, Qantas will fly direct to Perth, landing you in Australia’s sunniest city – gateway to endless coastline, world-class wine regions and the rugged red expanse of the WA outback.

Whether you're heading west for work, reconnecting with loved ones, or chasing a new adventure, flying direct from Newcastle just makes sense.

• 3 flights a week on Friday, Sunday and Monday*
• 5 hours flight time Newcastle to Perth
• Flights on sale now!

26/05/2025

One thing I love about travel is stumbling across the unexpected. It’s the people you meet and the stories you hear…

Outside the Bell Tower is Sighişoara (the most gorgeous town), we saw these beautiful plates and bowls. As we stopped to take a look, we did comment something along the lines of ‘I wonder if they are local or made in China’. That’s when we met this 5th generation local lad, and we heard all about HOREZU Pottery.

In a town of only 20,000(ish) people he has lived here his whole life. His family makes Horezu Pottery and it’s still ALL done by hand. The colours in ox horns, the design done with a peacock quill… Each piece is uniquely different - when it’s all done by hand no pieces are identical! Each piece is hand signed by his father.

Take a minute a check out the story from the New York Times, all about this style of local pottery - made from a little town in Romania 🥰

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/03/style/horezu-pottery-ceramics-romania.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Safe to say the luggage is a little heavier!

25/05/2025

Heading to Paris? Dreaming of Paris?
Save this for later - some of the best rooftop bars in the City of Love 🥰

https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/rooftop-bars-paris

Survey the famous Parisian skyline from these gorgeous rooftop bars

23/05/2025

A little look of our two nights in Bucharest - to kick off our time in the Balkans.

Stayed at the Epoque Hotel - Relais & Chateaux
Ate at Care cu Bere (popular Brewery and eatery in the Old town) and Noblesse, a local family owned restaurant.

Explored the Grand Palace of Parliament, Spring Palace and beautiful old town. So many buildings and streets are inspired by Paris 🤍

Will be sure to share more experiences as we travel along through this remarkable part of the world

20/05/2025

Isn't it more expensive to use a travel agent?
I'm sure you've heard it before - I certainly have!

But the truth is that we get access to exclusive deals that you might not be able to find. We work with trusted suppliers that have such a big volume of sales that they get discounted rates. And in turn, we can pass these savings onto you! It's dollars back in YOUR pocket.

Here's a great example on some of my favourite Princess Cruises itineraries for 2026.

Sapphire Princess – Rome(Civitavecchia) to Copenhagen
19 April 2026 – 26 Nights
Balcony Cabin if you were to book with Princess directly, on their standard price - $9819 per person. Our price? $6859 per person! That's a saving of $2960 per person!! That pays for your return economy class flights to get to the cruise...

Sapphire Princess – Copenhagen to Boston
7 August 2026 – 27 Nights
Balcony Cabin if you were to book with Princess directly, on their standard price - $12,699 per person. Our price? $6,174 per person! That's a saving of $6525 per person!!

We also have access to different cabin types, you still get all your membership benefits if you are a past passenger AND on some cabins, you will get extra onboard credit. That makes the saving even greater!

So before you press book, why not check first?
Email [email protected]
Phone 0402 335 919

19/05/2025

Well I don't know about you, but this wild, wet and windy weather has me wishing for sunshine and holiays ☀️ It seems so far away to get back to summer... but it doesn't have to be!

Have you seen the NEW resort at Hamilton Island? It's called 'The Sundays' and it sits right on Catseye Beach. We have a 'Winter Promo' at the moment saving you 20%.

4 nights' accommodation for 2 adults, with return airport transfers, breakfast daily and non-motorised watersports is $3168 per couple.

Do you have any Qantas Frequent Flyer points you don't know what to do with/how to use? A one-way reward seat from Sydney to Hamilton Island is only 12,000 points in economy class or 27,600 points in business class (plus $65 in airport taxes).

If you need something to look forward to, and a little escape from winter - this could be the perfect excuse!

Want to chat about it?
Email [email protected]
Call/Text 0402 335 919