About Melanie And My Travel Experience

I have been travelling professionally, for work, for over 36 years. That’s included taking tour groups all over the world and business travel.

melanie – the professional traveller

1. About Melanie – Professional Travel Experience

OK let’s start with some facts and figures about my professional travel experience;

• Over 36 years travelling professionally (as my job) and business travel
• Taken more than 9,500 people on holiday all over the world
• Worked with Travelsphere, Titan, Saga, Newmarket and Wallace Arnold (Shearings) with British travellers
• Worked with Grand Circle and Overseas Adventure Travel with American travellers
• Worked as a step on Tour Guide for cruise ships visiting Invergordon, as well as a Pier Co-Ordinator managing all the shore excursion operations for cruise ships for over 12 years

If you want a bit more detail about places I’ve been to then here’s a bit more information;

• Regular business travel to Denmark and also trips to Germany and Sweden
• Extensive travel around the UK for 6 years and away for a minimum of 6 months per year
• Lived for one season in Lake Garda and another in Lake Como with week-long stays of guests from the UK. Lake Garda tours included weekly visits to the Dolomites, Verona, Venice, Lake Tour and Limone. Lake Como tours included weekly visits to Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, Lake Tour, Milan and Bellagio. Over 50 tours in total.
• Spent a season working as a hotel representative in Lake Garda covering the Veneto region. This involved doing all the health and safety checks for hotels as well as meeting and greeting guests including those from the Orient Express.
• Taken tours all over the world on behalf of various coach holiday companies including;
• Austria – Sound of Music tour
• German Christmas markets – Cologne, Trier, Rhine, Moselle, Dresden
• Multiple trips to Berlin and surrounds for pre and post-cruise tours
• Special events tours including Wimbledon, Formula One, Golf Tours, Robbie Williams, Andre Rieu
• Private group tours including a Cambridge Alumni tour
• 6 trips to China including cruising the Yangtse Gorge before and after flooding, Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Xian, 5-day cruise along the Yangtse, Grand Canal.
• 8 trips to Australia including Perth, Darwin, Cairns, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Uluru. Including a wildflowers tour, driving down the East Coast from Cairns to Sydney and multiple Best of Australia tours.
• 1 trip to New Zealand.
• Bangkok – 8 trips including city tours each time, plus my own trip with tours to the floating market
• Singapore – 8 trips including city tours each time, Raffles Hotel visits for lunch
• 8 trips to the Azores including stays on Sao Miguel, Faial and Terceira with multiple visits to Pico Island.
• Morocco and Spain tour including Tangier, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakech, Seville
• Petersburg to Moscow cruise with 135 British guests.
• Tour to the Baltic States including Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Norway and Estonia
• Multiple tours to Paris including Paris city tours (by me)
• Multiple tours to London including London city tours (by me), theatre breaks, New Year’s trips, Windsor and Windsor Castle
• Multiple tours of the UK including weekend breaks, Christmas tours, Norfolk, Chester
• Multiple tours of the UK with American guests including tours and commentary throughout (by me) and stays in Bath, Caernarfon, York, the Lake District and Edinburgh
• Multiple Highland Railway tours (over 20)
• Tours of Scotland and England including short break trips, two-week in-depth tours of Scotland
• Multiple tours to Lewis, Harris, Isle of Skye, and Shetland (15-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!

2. About Melanie – Travel Background

In the 1970s I was lucky enough to enjoy long-haul holidays and had some great experiences, not least having a birthday cake with candles presented to me on a British Airways flight to America (that was when you could smoke on a plane!).

I was also a member of the British Airways Junior Jet Club, which not only kept kids entertained on flights but also arranged lots of activities and trips in the UK too.

My first job involved working for a Danish company which meant there were lots of trips to the factory in Denmark including driving across to Denmark when I was 17.

Later I moved into travel full-time thanks to my first partner who was a coach driver and introduced me to the life, and it’s something I have done ever since.

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

3. About Melanie – What It’s Like Travelling for Work

Most of my travel has been for work purposes, initially travelling to events and exhibitions all over the UK and Europe and later as a Tour Manager.

It is a different type of travel from leisure travel.

Most of my travelling has been done leading a group of holidaymakers, mainly British, overseas and latterly leading groups of US guests around the UK.

This makes it a different experience too.

I am often busy when away sorting out problems, confirming flights, and getting supplies and in the old days before WiFi was in hotels you would often find me at an internet cafe trying to catch up on emails and messages related to the tour.

The photo above is me at Lake Lugano when I was based in Lake Como. We used to visit weekly and it was always a nice place to spend the day. It’s quite an old photo and was during the time when I was too scared to fly!

When travelling with groups I never stray too far away from the vicinity of the hotel we are staying in, just to make sure I am on hand in case something is needed.

Often I am working with a coach driver which can add another spin on the work experience.

4. About Melanie – Solo Travel Adventures

In the last couple of years, I have discovered the joy of solo travel and it has been a revelation. I have enjoyed solo stays in Portugal, Spain, Istanbul and Baku and I have lots more solo trips planned.

Whilst there are moments of being scared and uncertain I love the sense of achievement and I love the fact I can do what I want when I want.

5. 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 particularly the 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.

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.

Lake Garda and Lake Como

I spent 2 lovely years based out in these fantastic lakes. During that time I got to do all the excursions every week too. It kind of feels like home there.

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.

6. 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!

9. About Melanie – Where You Can Find Me

Here’s where you can find me online;

Silver Travel Advisor – My Profile Page

LinkedIN profile page

YouTube Channel

Facebook Page

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest

Tripadvisor

Quora

Medium

Vocal

Yell.com

Money Saving Resources & Essentials

Here are all the money-saving travel resources I use;

Essentials

• Priority Pass – airport membership scheme. Standard Plus membership is great.
• Lounge Pass – buy lounge access on a pay-as-you-go basis
• Coverwise – great value annual travel insurance
• Medical Cover – ideal for travellers with more complex medical conditions

Getting There

• Omnio – search all transport options in one place here – flights, buses and trains
• The Trainline – you can book train and bus travel in 45 countries on this site
• Kayak

Hotels, Holidays & Accommodation

• Expedia
• Booking.com – huge choice and great upgrades for Genius loyalty members
• Hotels.com – loyalty adds up to free stay
• Cruise Critic – amazing deals plus helpful cruise forums
• Holidaycottages – huge selection with lots of pet-friendly choices
• Vrbo – self contained holiday homes
• Sykes Cottages – also includes National Trust properties

Things to Do

• Get Your Guide – private tours, group tours & loads of activities to choose from
• Viator – even more tours and activities in destinations all over the world

Saving When Travelling

• Discover Car Hire – deals all over the world
• Car Hire Excess – way cheaper than paying car hire companies to reduce excess
• ESim – cheap mobile calls wherever you are going

Travel Essentials

• Easyjet 45x36x20 Underseat case
• Compression Packing cube set
• Packing cube set
• Hanging Wash bag
• Flight Bag
• Travel Document Holder
• Book light
• Travel probiotic
• Wired earphones
• Earbuds
• Travel adapter
• Power Cord
• Ginger tablets
• Ginger sweets
• Travel Fan
• Sleep Mask
• Silicone ear plugs

You Might Also Like

Travel Resources – everything I use all in one place

Travel Inspiration – trip reports, reviews, book reviews, and more to help you get ideas for your next adventure

Travel Essentials – reviews of tried and tested travel gear

Travel More and Spend Less – articles, guides, and hacks to help you squeeze the most from your travel budget

Annual Travel Insurance – all you need to know about this travel essential

Airport Lounges – Everything you need to know including lots about Priority Pass

The Scottish Highlands – holiday cottages, hotels, things to do, and much more to help you get the most from your holiday

Invergordon Cruise Port – all you need to know to help your plan your visit

Loch Ness Tour – details of a 1/2 day private tour that goes to Loch Ness!

Coach Holiday Expert – holiday reviews, articles, and advice to help you have the best coach holiday

About Melanie – background and travel experience

About the Professional Traveller – what this website is all about and why it was set up

Work with Me – details of the travel review services I provide to destinations, hotels, and holiday companies