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About Melanie – My Background

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I have been travelling professionally, for work, for over 36 years. I’ve taken over 10,000 people on touring holidays & river cruises all over the world

melanie – the professional traveller

My Professional Travel Experience

Here are some facts and figures about my journey in the travel industry:

Over 36 years of professional travel experience

  • I have spent more than 36 years travelling as part of my job and for business purposes.

Guided over 10,000 people on holidays

  • I have taken more than 10,000 people on holiday all around the world.

Travel companies I have worked with include:

  • Travelsphere
  • Titan
  • Saga
  • Newmarket
  • Wallace Arnold (Shearings) for British travellers.

Invergordon Cruise Port

  • I have extensive experience as a step-on tour guide for cruise ships in Invergordon.
  • I also work as a Pier Coordinator, overseeing shore excursions for cruise ships. I’ve been doing that for 12 years

Travel Work Exp.

+37 years

Guests on Holiday

+10,000

Countries Worked In

40+

Website Seen By

+4 million

Website Clicks

+75k

Website Words

420k

Travel Experience Overview

Regular Business Travel

  • Regular business travel to Denmark
  • Trips to Germany and Sweden

Extensive UK Travel

  • Extensive travel around the UK for 6 years
  • Away for a minimum of 6 months per year

How I Started in Travel Video

Seasonal Living and Tours in Italy

  • Lived for one season in Lake Garda and another in Lake Como
  • Week-long stays for guests from the UK

Lake Garda Tours Included:

  • Weekly visits to:
    • Dolomites
    • Verona
    • Venice
    • Lake Tour
    • Limone

Lake Como Tours Included:

  • Weekly visits to:
    • Lake Maggiore
    • Lake Lugano
    • Lake Tour
    • Milan
    • Bellagio
  • More than 50 tours in total

Hotel Representative Experience

  • Worked as a hotel representative in Lake Garda
  • Covered the Veneto region
  • Responsibilities included:
    • Health and safety checks for hotels
    • Meeting and greeting guests, including those from the Orient Express

Global Tours

  • Taken tours all over the world on behalf of various coach holiday companies, including:

Notable Tours:

  • Austria: Sound of Music tour
  • German Christmas Markets: Cologne, Trier, Rhine, Moselle, Dresden
  • Berlin: Multiple trips for pre and post-cruise tours
  • Special Events:
    • Wimbledon
    • Formula One
    • Golf Tours
    • Robbie Williams
    • Andre Rieu
  • Private Group Tours: Including a Cambridge Alumni tour

Travel to Asia and Australia

  • China: 6 trips including:
    • Cruising the Yangtse Gorge
    • Visits to Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Xian
    • 5-day cruise along the Yangtse
    • Grand Canal
  • Australia: 8 trips including:
    • Perth
    • Darwin
    • Cairns
    • Sydney
    • Brisbane
    • Adelaide
    • Melbourne
    • Uluru
  • Notable activities: Wildflowers tour, driving down the East Coast from Cairns to Sydney, and multiple Best of Australia tours.

Additional Travel Highlights

  • New Zealand: 1 trip
  • Bangkok: 8 trips including city tours and floating market visits
  • Singapore: 8 trips including city tours and visits to Raffles Hotel
  • Azores: 8 trips with stays on Sao Miguel, Faial, and Terceira; multiple visits to Pico Island
  • Morocco and Spain: Tour including Tangier, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakech, Seville
  • Petersburg to Moscow: Cruise with 135 British guests
  • Baltic States: Tour including Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway, and Estonia
  • Paris: Multiple city tours conducted by me
  • London: Multiple city tours including theatre breaks, New Year’s trips, Windsor, and Windsor Castle
  • UK Tours:
    • Weekend breaks
    • Christmas tours
    • Norfolk
    • Chester
  • Tours with American Guests: Including commentary throughout and stays in Bath, Caernarfon, York, the Lake District, and Edinburgh
  • Highland Railway: Over 20 tours
  • Lewis, Harris, Isle of Skye, and Shetland: Multiple 1-week-long trips

Since I was 16 I have spent 13.5 years travelling – that’s 13.5 years of my life so far spent in hotels!

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    • My Travel Journey

    In the 1970s, I was lucky enough to enjoy long-haul holidays. I had some great experiences, including having a birthday cake with candles on a British Airways flight to America. (That was when you could smoke on a plane!)

    British Airways Junior Jet Club

    I was a member of the British Airways Junior Jet Club. This club not only kept kids entertained on flights but also arranged many activities and trips in the UK.

    My First Job

    My first job was with a Danish company. This job meant many trips to the factory in Denmark. I even drove across to Denmark when I was 17!

    Transition to Full-Time Travel

    Later, I moved into travel full-time. My first partner was a coach driver. He introduced me to the travel life, and I have been doing it ever since.

    My Passion for Solo Travel

    Travel really is my passion. I now enjoy solo travel, and my bucket list is ever-expanding!

    What It’s Like Travelling for Work

    My Travel Experience

    Most of my travel has been for work purposes. I started by attending events and exhibitions across the UK and Europe. Later, I worked as a Tour Manager.

    Work Travel vs. Leisure Travel

    Traveling for work is different from leisure travel.

    Leading Groups

    Most of my trips have involved leading groups of holidaymakers. These groups are mainly British, but I also lead groups of US guests around the UK. This creates a unique experience.

    Busy Days on the Road

    When I travel, I often stay busy. My tasks include:

    • Sorting out problems
    • Confirming flights
    • Getting supplies

    In the past, before WiFi was common in hotels, I spent time at internet cafes. I would try to catch up on emails and messages related to the tour.

    Staying Close to the Group

    When traveling with groups, I never stray far from the hotel. I want to be available in case something is needed.

    Working with Coach Drivers

    Often, I work with a coach driver. This adds another layer to the work experience.

    about melanie photo showing baku promenade

    My Solo Travel Adventures

    Discovering the Joy of Solo Travel

    In the last couple of years, I have discovered the joy of solo travel. It has been a revelation. I have enjoyed solo stays in:

    • Portugal
    • Spain
    • Istanbul
    • Baku

    I have lots more solo trips planned.

    Embracing Challenges

    While there are moments of fear and uncertainty, I love the sense of achievement that comes from overcoming them. I also enjoy the freedom of being able to do what I want, when I want.

    Places That I Know Well

    I am lucky to have visited lots of places several times, giving me a deeper insight and understanding of the place, things to do, where to visit and more.

    Here are the places I am most familiar with;

    Scotland (Especially the Scottish Highlands)

    Of course, I have to start with my home patch but I’ve actually been bringing travellers to the Highlands since before I lived here.

    I’ve been lucky enough to lead tours and trips all across the Highlands and the Islands.

    about melanie shetland image showing puffin and nesting materials

    Shetland

    Yes, I know it’s in Scotland but it’s so different and special that it deserves it’s own mention. Shetland is amazing, unique, unforgettable and very different from Scotland. In 2024 I will be visiting for the 17th plus time and I still love it.

    about melanie azores showing hydrangeas

    Azores

    The Azores are a delightful archipelego in the Atlantic ocean. Each island has it’s own charms and all the islands are different. I can’t wait to get back!

    Australia

    I’ve taken multiple trips out to Australia and have seen a great deal of this amazing country. Tours I’ve done have included Wildflowers of Western Australia, a drive down the East Coast from Cairns to Sydney and the ever-popular Best of Australia tour several times.

    China

    China was the reason I conquered my fear of flying. I was determined to see the Yangtse Gorge before it flooded and I’ve been back and travelled on the river after the flooding. I’ve done a variety of different tours including an amazing Waterways of China which included a cruise on the Grand Canal. What an amazing country it is.

    My Qualifications

    I have been undertaking a lot of training relating to travel since I became an Independent Travel Agent.

    Training includes courses about specific places, touring holiday companies and river cruises – all the things I specialise in!

  • a certificate of a cruise
  • a certificate of a tour expert
  • a certificate of completion with a boat in the water
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  • a certificate of a training program
  • a certificate of a training program
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  • a certificate of a training program
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    • About Melanie – My Fur Babies!

    The hardest thing about travelling is leaving my family, although that is easier now than it used to be as my nephew has gotten older. However, leaving my dogs just gets tougher.

    My dogs have been my best friends and kept me company through everything life has thrown at me over the last 12 years or so. They sleep next to me at night and they snuggle next to me on the sofa.

    As I write this, during the Covid-19 period of life, they have been my constant companions now for 9 months. I have never been at home so much and they have kept me calm and sane through this craziness, helped me to focus while I work and helped me to appreciate life when at times that has been a bit harder to do.

    I think the reason I love dachshunds, in particular, Lotty and Christy are my 3rd and 4th, is their characters. They are strong willed, independent and not very biddable – much like me!

    As Seen In/On

    Here are the publications or websites where I have been mentioned or quoted;

    Articles I Have Written or Contributed To

    Some Other Places You Can Find Me

    I’m A Member Of

    My Recommended Essential Travel Gear List

    Find all the items I use on every trip all in one handy Amazon list

    My Social Media Links

    More Resources

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