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About The Professional Traveller

About The Professional Traveller – History

About the Professional Traveller

What Is A Professional Traveller?

A professional traveller is someone who travels for a living. They could be a travel writer, a pilot, a tour manager for example.

During 2020 tourism had crashed due to Covid19. All my touring work had gone, all my guiding work – everything.

I decided to use my time to build a website that I had been thinking of doing for several years.

I wanted to share my experience of travelling for all my working life.

It was wonderful to start working on my passion project. Those early days were great, although I had a lot to learn about building a site from scratch.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to keep working on my site. Financial pressures meant a return to work, albeit in a supermarket as a merchandiser and later working on the Office of National Statistics Covid19 study.

Whilst these roles provided much needed income, it meant I couldn’t spend as much time on my business as I wanted to.

In 2022 tourism returned, albeit with ever changing rules and restrictions. Two years of pent up demand and carried over bookings turned it into a very busy year. It was a challenging year trying to keep travellers safe.

2023 turned out to be another busy year. Many of my colleagues had left the industry so there were lots of shortages.

I kept working on the my business throughout this time, using the winter down time to put in more effort.

2024 was crazily busy – one of my busiest years yet. I worked to become an independent travel agent which was alot to fit in as well.

About The Professional Traveller – Purpose

The Professional Traveller is all about helping people to find their perfect trip.

There are two ways that I help people.

The first is by helping people find travel inspiration and plan their own trips.

I share trip reports and reviews. These can include touring holidays, river cruises, solo trips and more.

They include all the things you need to know.

  • Is it safe?
  • Is it expensive?
  • How do you get around?
  • What is there to do?
  • Where should I stay?

The second way I help people is as an independent travel agent.

For trips that are a bit more complicated I arrange everything for people.

This includes;

  • Getting there – whether by plane, ferry or train
  • Finding accommodation
  • Arranging activities
  • Helping people to get around either with transfers or hire cars
  • Putting together multi destination holidays
  • Or simply helping people to book a flight or a hotel or both

The Professional Traveller Team

Working hard to sniff out travel bargains

melanie silver travel photo
lotty
christy the professional traveller

Melanie

Professional Traveller

Very much like a dachshund myself. Determined to hunt out a bargain and sniff out great deals. Not great at being told what to do either!

Lotty

Expert Sleeper

As the oldest member of the team (in doggy years) Lotty gets to sleep a lot. She can’t see very much now, or hear very well but she still makes her views known.

Christy

Treat Demon

Able to sniff out a gravy bone or a treat in the local area, Christy loves her food. Every meal time she barks with excitement – similar to her owner?!

Meet The Team

Melanie

I have been travelling professionally for work for over 36 years.

Initially, this was business travel, working at exhibitions and events all over the UK and Europe.

Later I worked as a Tour Manager taking coach holiday tours all over the world. During that time she travelled with thousands of holidaymakers.

I have travelled to;

France, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Morocco, Tunisia, Azerbaijan, Istanbul, China, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Portugal amongst others.

Travelling professionally has given me a great deal of travel knowledge.

That includes everything from how to get great deals, to tips and tricks to make travelling easier and smoother.

The Professional Traveller is a place to share that knowledge so that others can learn to travel like a professional too.

I still love travelling and my list of places to travel is huge.

I love to travel solo.

I work with cruise ship passengers as a tour guide for shore excursions. I also work part time work as a Tour Manager for coach holiday groups.

I love a travel bargain and use all the techniques and tricks on The Professional Traveller website to find the best deals. Spending less on travel means more trips can be squeezed out of the budget!

Find out more About Melanie

Find out more on her LinkedIN page

Lotty

Lotty was a rescue dachshund. She came from Coventry. Her owners had tried to breed from her but they had bred her with another dog that was bigger. That meant she ended up having to have a section to get the puppies out. She was left with a saggy stomach and in her middle years she experienced some back problems, but thankfully not a slipped disc.

Lotty was a dedicated and loyal supporter of The Professional Traveller. She helped through lockdown by providing moral support and encouragement. In her latter years she went blind and deaf. This didn’t stop her from exploring and being a typical dachshund.

Lotty crossed the rainbow bridge in April 2022. She had been beside Melanie during the early part of the year when Melanie had major surgery. Once Melanie was recovered and able to look after herself Lotty headed over the bridge, almost like she knew her job was done.

Christy

Christy was Lotty’s best friend. She was a rescue dachshund who came from Suffolk. Her original owners had tried to breed from her and had been unsuccessful. After 18 months they gave her to a dog breeder who kept her in a kennel. What a shock after having lived with a family first. The breeder was unsuccessful and put her up to be rehomed after 18 months. We arrived, introduced her to Lotty, and then drove back to the Highlands in a day. The rest is history.

She was Lotty’s best friend and was never apart from her. They spent their nights sleeping curled up together beside me in the bed. Now at the ripe old age of 13.5 years, she is still going strong despite having had Cushing’s disease for a number of years.

She too is losing some of her sight and hearing but can still sniff out a treat at some distance. She has been my constant companion since we both lost Lotty.

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