Personalised journeys that become your most memorable holidays.
Embark Travel is a boutique travel company led by travel specialist Michelle Barker, helping travellers turn their travel ideas into truly memorable journeys.
Rather than simply booking trips, Michelle works as a travel designer — taking the time to get to know you, understand what excites you, and shape holidays that feel personal, thoughtful, and perfectly suited to the way you like to travel.
From hand-picking experiences that match your interests, to adding meaningful details that elevate larger group tours or cruise itineraries, Embark Travel specialises in enhancing every journey. Whether it’s sourcing memorable shore excursions, smoothing the logistics around a group tour, or adding those extra touches that make a trip unforgettable, no detail is overlooked.
Embark Travel has a strong passion for cruising, personalised holiday design, and carefully curated small group tours — many of which Michelle personally escorts from Newcastle, offering clients a uniquely hands-on, relaxed, and highly personalised travel experience.
With 20+ years experience designing holidays for solo travellers, couples, families, friend groups, cruise lovers, and small tour groups, Michelle brings both expertise and genuine care to every itinerary. The focus is always on personal service, trusted advice, and making travel feel exciting rather than overwhelming.
At Embark Travel, you’ll have the confidence of knowing you’re working with someone who is personally invested in your journey — from the first conversation to your return home.
Yes, you can book online — but that doesn’t always mean you should. When you book packages like Luxury Escapes, TripADeal or cruise package deals through Embark Travel, you get more than a good price and emailed tickets. You get expert eyes on the details, help navigating the fine print, and a travel specialist who knows how to upgrade a great deal into a genuinely great holiday. From sorting visas and logistics to adding experiences that make a trip feel personal, booking with a travel agent means fewer “I wish we’d known that earlier” moments — and far more enjoying the journey.
As a Luxury Escapes Agent, we can book all the packages you see online — and often more. With access to exclusive agent-only offers, we can also enhance your chosen deal, tailoring flights, accommodation, experiences and inclusions to suit your travel style and preferences.
As your local TripADeal (TAD) agent, you can book any TripADeal package and enjoy the added benefit of expert, local support. A small service fee applies, which covers the finer details — from visas and transfers to added sightseeing and personalised touches — ensuring your TripADeal holiday is seamless, well-rounded, and truly memorable.
Explore our regularly updated collection of exclusive cruise packages, featuring hundreds of exceptional sailings. New offers are added frequently, so be sure to check back often — or get in touch to find the perfect cruise and have it tailored just for you.
Have a travel dream? A place you’ve always wanted to see or an experience that’s been sitting on your wish list? Maybe it started with a photo on Instagram… and now you’re wondering what comes next. That’s where we come in. We take your ideas and turn them into a beautifully planned, tailor-made holiday designed just for you. We handle all the behind-the-scenes details—research, bookings, timing and logistics—because let’s face it, that part isn’t the fun bit. We design and organise every detail. You simply relax, travel and enjoy the experience.
If you’ve landed here looking for Jayes Travel — don’t worry, you’re in the right place! After 19 incredible years, Jayes Travel has transitioned into something fresh and exciting: eMBark Travel. Let me explain the story behind this new chapter.
About 2 years ago, I found myself reflecting on the future. While exploring Sri Lanka with an inspiring group of fellow travel agents — all working solo from home — I started to think, What’s next for me? After 20+ years in the travel industry, I realised it was time for a change.
I’ve always loved designing your dream holidays, but I wanted to create something that was completely my own, from the ground up. After months of brainstorming (and laughing at some terrible name ideas), a clever friend came up with eMBark — a perfect nod to my initials (Michelle Barker, M.Barker … see what we did there? 😉). The name clicked, and with it, the vision for this exciting new era was born.
Transitioning from Jayes Travel to eMBark feels like the right step forward. Jayes has a long and proud history in Newcastle, and while I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve achieved together, it was time to start something truly mine.
Take a look around, sign up to the new e-newsletter. I look forward to helping you embark on your next adventure.
Michelle Barker – formerly Jayes Travel, now eMBark Travel!
