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Inside the mind of a Tour Leader It’s no secret that one of the most important elements of a successful group tour is the Tour Leader (sometimes also referred to as Tour Manager or Tour Director) leading the group. He or she is the one who will stay with the group from Day 1 providing travel information and taking care of everything until the very end of the tour.The one who will be there to make sure that everything runs smoothly, that any obstacle is overcome, the one who will take care of guests needs and set the overall feeling of the tour. In one short sentence, the Tour Leader is one of the top elements in a successful tour operation.Anyone who has been seriously involved with group tours knows exactly just how important it is to choose the right Tour Leader for each group. We asked Leo, one of our top Tour Leaders, to give us insight of what it’s actually like to be on the road with a group, what it means to be a Tour Leader and which are the ups and downs of the job.   What led you to becoming a Tour Leader? Well, the thought came to my mind when I took my first trip abroad. It was a trip we made with a couple of friends in Sofia Bulgaria in November 1994.It was an amazing trip and one that I will remember forever.When you travel abroad for the first time, something changes in you.Seeing a different place with different architecture, where people speak a different language, eat different things..it really changes your perspective. You realize there’s so much more to get to know about the world. It’s a great feeling, difficult to put into words.. I wanted to get to know as much as I could about this new place. So, together with my friends we wandered endlessly through the city, talking to locals and discovering places. This trip got me hooked on travelling and I thought “YES, Leo, that’s it..wouldn’t it be awesome if your job was to travel and show people the beautiful places you’ve discovered?”..A couple of years later and having travelled around a lot more, I started working as a Tour Leader. I absolutely love travelling and I can’t imagine doing anything else for a living. I feel very fortunate to be working as a Tour Leader. I’ve been doing it for 25 years now and I can easily picture myself doing it for a lot more!   Where have you travelled? I’ve been to various places in Europe, the Middle-East, North Africa, Asia and North America.In total, 32 countries and more than 850 cities.   Any favourite destination? There are so many beautiful destinations and they can be so diverse at the same time, each with its own sense of beauty.I especially likeFrankfurt , Lübeck, Würzburg, Hamburg and Munich (in Germany);Rome, Lucca, Naples, Palermo, Genova and Torino (in Italy);Amsterdam, Delft and Den Haag (in the Netherlands);Prague in the Czech Republic;Gent and Brugge (in Belgium);London, York and Liverpool (in the UK);Dijon and Nice (in France);Singapore;Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia;Budapest in Hungary;Sofia and Plovdiv in Bulgaria;Cairo in Egypt;Beirut in Lebanon andAmman in Jordan.   For how long do you usually travel during a year? I travel for work around 200 to 250 days per year. The rest of the time I will split between Greece and Germany and go on a trip to a new place for myself.   Is there any other destination you would like to visit, but haven’t had the chance yet? Many!! I would like to travel through South America, Australia and visit Japan at some point. I’ve been wanting to for quite some time actually, but haven’t got round to it. Hopefully, it won’t be long.   What are the most common problems you run into while on tour with a group? The most common problem you face when you’re on the road with a group are the traffic jams. Either within the city or on the highway.You can lose a lot of time which can mess with your entire programme. And it’s not a nice situation for the guests being stuck in traffic. Someone will need to go to the bathroom, others will just get frustrated..But, it always works out one way or another.You can also have someone in the group that faces a health issue. For example, someone who tripped at the stairs or a cobble-stone alley and hurt their ankle or knee; these kinds of things. What’s important is to keep control of the situation as much as you can and make your guests feel like they’re in safe hands.   How often are “difficult people” part of a group and how do you deal with them? It is not really often that you have “difficult” people within a group, but the truth is it can happen.Being understanding and attending to people’s needs is usually all it takes for such a person to slowly relax and start enjoying the trip.Courtesy is our way of life!!!   What is it like when the group participants don’t know each other beforehand? At first it can be awkward for some, especially for those who are a bit more introverted.Day by day this changes, because guests start to bond as they are spending a lot of time with one another.After the first two days any ice has broken. They get to know each other and end up having a great time.It ’s also the responsibility of the tour leader to help achieve this.A lot of people make new friends and keep in touch after the tour has ended.   Describe a typical day on tour. It depends on the day. If we’re in a city, we will usually have breakfast between 07:30am to 09:00am (depending on what we have planned). We’ll go sightseeing for 3-4 hours (either with the bus or on foot, depending) and then have free time for lunch and some shopping. We take an afternoon break to relax at the hotel and in the evening we’ll go for a walk around the city for dinner and a drink.We try to keep a good balance between sightseeing and leaving time for anyone to do their own thing. The point is to try and make it a fun trip not an endless tiring exploration and being always in a hurry.Many people have this idea that a group bus tour means being a slave to the clock and ending up not enjoying anything.But this is not the case. A group tour can be a lot of fun.   What would you say people are looking for when traveling? Why do they travel? That’s a good question!I think people generally travel to get to know different places; to see different landscapes, cities, villages; to meet new people; gain a new perspective; enrich their memories’ box.It is that feeling of connection with the unknown and the excitement of the new experience which I think makes people want to travel.With a group tour there is also the human connection element.Often, when we will all sit down as a group for dinner or a drink, guests will exchange past travel stories. Remembering and reliving some funny or even stressful situation that they got into which time has turned into a sweet memory.By the end of each tour almost every group has become like a family.When you travel you feel richer in many ways. New memories, perhaps new friends, new stories to tell and remember, more knowledge of the world you live in.What more do you really need to go travelling?   What is it like to be a professional Tour Leader? Being a professional Tour Leader means you are on the road a lot.You have to really love what you do in order to do this kind of work. You must remain a traveller yourself, always learning something new. You must always research and be knowledgeable of the destinations. Most importantly you have to be kind, helpful and understanding with your guests.To a great extent it is up to you to show people a good time and make them enjoy the trip to the fullest.And you must not forget that a trip that you have probably taken many times before, might be someone’s once-in-a-lifetime journey.You have to respect that and it comes with great responsibility. You must always think positive. Travel is a feeling, a sense of freedom.This is what it takes to be successful in this job.   What do you enjoy most about your work? Well, I really enjoy travelling to begin with.And also meeting new people from different nationalities.What’s most rewarding of all is the feeling that you have contributed to someone’s unique experience.There are guests I had on tour years ago that we still keep in touch through social media.It ’s always so nice to hear from them, getting birthday wishes and so on.It makes me feel content and gives me a sense of purpose in life.   How did the pandemic affect you and others in your line of work? The pandemic had such a negative effect on our work. Everything stopped. The travelling, the work, our income.. I know Tour Leaders who really struggled. It was – and still is – a challenging situation, but we hope for better days. Already, the situation seems to be getting better and better. Countries are starting to lift restrictions, travel regulations are slowly getting easier and there is indeed a rise in demand. People have missed travelling and I’m positive that, starting from 2022, we’ll see travel bouncing back stronger than ever.

One of the European capitals that receives many visitors all year round is Athens. It is a city that people need several days to fully take in and explore as it is full of archeological sites, attractions, cool cafes and quaint neighborhoods. It’s a favourite of those planning tailor-made tours ! However, downtown Athens is not the only area that can mesmerize tourists. There are many beautiful villages in the vicinity of Athens that are worth visiting. Day trips to one of those neighboring areas are a must, because they not only provide a more relaxing feeling than the hectic vibe of the metropolis, but also offer even more insight into Greek history. What are the best day trips from Athens that you should definitely go on if you have some free time? 1) Delphi Delphi is a small town which is about three hours away from Athens. It is situated on Mount Parnassus, and in winter, travelers can even visit the ski resort on the mountain. The main reason that this area attracts many tourists and natives all year round is because of the archeological site which is close to the town. The archaeological ruins of Delphi are one of the most famous attractions in Greece, and are even listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site used to be home to the temple of God Apollo and the most famous oracle in Ancient Greece – Pythia. People used to make long pilgrimages in order to receive a prophecy from Pythia, the priestess of the temple. Delphi is a popular place for group bus tours in Greece . 2) Mycenae Another important historic site in Greece is the archaeological site of Mycenae. You will need a two-hour drive from Athens to get there, but it is totally worth it. If you’ve read Homer’s Iliad, the name should ring a bell, as Agamemnon was the king of Mycenae. You will get to see what is left from the palaces, the Lion’s Gate and the Tomb of Agamemnon. Mycenaean civilization marked one of the most prosperous periods in Ancient Greek History.  3) Nafplio  If you are interested in history, but you also want to wander around a beautiful city, Nafplio is the place you should go. It takes about two hours to get from Athens to Nafplio. The place has a  quite rich history, as you will get to see medieval castles, the Palamidi and the Bourtzi Fortress, which are Venetian constructions, and Ottoman mosques. Besides all the history, Nafplio is known as one of the most romantic cities in Greece. A stroll along the port or the picturesque alleys will make you understand why it is indeed the perfect location for a romance to spark.  4) Epidaurus Epidaurus is a small district which will take you only a 30-minute drive to reach from Nafplio. Nowadays, the area is divided into Ancient Epidaurus and New Epidaurus. Both villages are characterized by their simple and natural landscapes. The rural setting and the beautiful beaches make them an attractive place to visit. What makes them really stand out is the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus – a Theater world-famous for its superb acoustics. It has been so well preserved that it is still operating today. For Greek actors, it’s a great honor to be cast in an ancient Greek play that is to be performed in the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus. Planning a custom tour around Epidaurus is one of the best tailor-made services in Greece one can plan.

There are two types of people in this world; the ones who spontaneously book tickets to a travel destination (the flight might even depart in a few hours), and those who take their time researching everything on the place they are thinking of going to; from special offers to all the must-visit attractions. In whatever category you belong, if you want to be certain that you are paying for a vacation that you are going to enjoy for sure, you should try a tailored-made trip.  What is a tailor-made trip?  As the name suggests, the travel itinerary is created from scratch based on your personal traveling needs and preferences. In other words, instead of following a generic itinerary that consists of all the popular things tourists should do in a place, a group of travelers receive a personalized travel schedule with activities that correspond to their own interests.  This is an excellent option for people who are not solely interested in visiting the iconic landmarks and popular attractions of every city. Travelers who seek an alternative vacation, like a relaxing and luxurious trip or a more nature- and adventure-focused vacation, will be able to get exactly what they are looking for.  Who creates a tailor-made trip? A tour operator is responsible for coming up with ideas and planning the trip of your dreams. A tour operator company like Travelway consists of a team that has extensive experience in planning personalized tours all around Europe . It is important to note that not every tour operator is capable of creating the perfect tailor-made trip.  What traits should you be looking for in the tour operator who will be responsible for your trip?  First and foremost, the tour operator has to be a great listener. The first step to create a successful personalized travel itinerary is to know everything about the group that will go on the specific trip. Basic information, like the number and ages of all the travelers, the duration of the trip and cities that you want to visit for sure, and more personal details, such as how you like to have fun, if you can drive and how adventurous you are, are important in order to get to know the whole group and understand what the perfect trip looks like for you. Additionally, any health issues should be noted so that no activities that may be dangerous are included. For example, if a traveler is in a wheelchair, only wheelchair-friendly venues should be incorporated in your program.  Another essential trait is their knowledge of the country you are to travel to. Tour operators should make sure that even if you are not particularly interested in touristy stuff, stops at the top attractions of the place you are visiting are included. This is important because those landmarks are emblems of the history and the essence of the whole country. On top of that, tour operators should be able to recommend spots and activities that are hidden gems and will match your particular traveling style.  Why should you trust a tour operator and not organize a trip on your own?  First of all, an experienced tour operator knows many countries like the back of their hand, and they can recommend places a casual traveler might not even be able to find online.  Secondly, the fact that tour operators have been in the tourism industry for years makes it easy for them to collaborate with respected travel suppliers in all European countries and close profitable deals for you.  Last but not least, you don’t have to waste any time and energy on researching your travel destination. You still have complete control over the final decisions, but it is the tour operator who takes on the laborious task of searching for the best options and making all the arrangements.

Many people wish that they could have more free time and money to spend on traveling. This makes total sense since traveling broadens a person’s horizons and helps them get a better grasp of the world around them and of their own self.  Just going from your hometown, your comfort zone, to a place that is totally alien and different to what you are familiar with is the right step towards understanding the hype around traveling. We should note that even traveling to areas in your own country is equally important.  Whether you are an experienced traveler or a novice one, it is crucial to do your best to not only learn as much as possible about the history and the culture of a foreign place but also admire the natural landscape. These two traits are vital elements that help tourists understand the essence of any place in a short period of time.  If you want to ensure that you will get a satisfactory taste for the area you are visiting, you should entrust a tour operator who is from the particular area to give you a tour of the place. Why is a local operator the best option?  Reason 1: A local operator knows the place like the back of their hand The fact that travel agencies organize tours to a wide range of places may make customers worry that some of the tours may be basic. This valid concern can vanish from people’s minds if a local operator is responsible for planning a tour. A local knows almost all of the historical and cultural sites an area has to offer. They can take tourists to both iconic landmarks and less known historic buildings and monuments that can help them get an overall idea of the growth and the influential role the particular place has played in national and international issues over the years.    Reason 2: A local operator can give the best entertainment recommendations Besides learning all about the history of an area, you will probably want to go to places where you can relax and/or have fun. The deep local knowledge that characterizes a local operator gives them the advantage of knowing the right place for all kinds of interests and moods. For example, they can tell you which beach is the most secluded and which offers water sports activities. Of course, they can take you to the best coffee shops, restaurants and clubs of the city, and order the best menu items in each spot. The most impressive thing of all is the fact that they can reveal hidden gems that only locals know.    Reason 3: A local operator can provide the authentic experience of living in the particular area Talking with the locals in a particular area is the safest way to know exactly what living in a specific part of the world is like. They share snippets of their everyday life with you by letting you know their favorite spots in the city or talking to you about their daily lives. They may even invite you to their home. And they will be more than glad to let you know about the state of the country as it truly is despite the impression that might be created to foreigners by the news. Only a local operator can provide tourists with these kinds of insights.