What or who inspired you to become a tour director?
I have always been passionate about travel. Mark Twain probably said best: “Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” My dad took us abroad many times while I was growing up, which only strengthened my desire to see more of the world.
How do you balance your personal life with your travel career?
It is a tricky balance! In this case, technology is my best friend. When I am away, I make sure to check in with friends and family through text, Facebook, and WhatsApp. When going about your normal business at home, you have no idea how much a few minutes of your time on Skype can mean to your tour director friends!
What qualities do you feel make for a good tour director?
Flexibility, patience, and quick thinking: Itineraries can change at the drop of a hat due to a closure or a storm, or a flight delay. Tour operators need people they can count on to find the best solution so the guests can continue their trip without noticing the speed bump.
What advice would you give to a first-time traveler?
Keep an open mind. Traveling to a new part of the world can initially be a bit overwhelming. People may live and behave differently than you, but that does not mean that it is wrong or backward. We learn a lot from one another when we step outside and truly experience another culture.
What are three things you must always take with you?
My iPod, a good book, my camera
What would it look like if you could design your own customized tour to reflect your passions?
I want to design some tours for music lovers. I have three big itineraries: London—Paris, Venice-Florence-Rome, and Vienna-Salzburg. I would love to incorporate concerts with visits to the homes, museums, and halls where our beloved composers lived and worked. I was recently in Bergen, Norway, where I visited the Edvard Grieg museum and house after hearing the Edvard Grieg Piano Concerto performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. This was a magical experience for a music lover.
Name someone famous you’d like to travel with and where you’d like to take them.
I would actually love to be taken abroad with Mark Twain. In my travels, I have visited a number of places where he stayed. His travels certainly sparked curiosity about travel for a number of people, and, we all like to quote him!
How has tour directing impacted your perspective of the world?
The world has gotten much smaller. I don’t really feel like I am in a foreign country anymore when I am in Western Europe. I have friends on five continents. There’s something unique and special in that, which makes me feel closer to people who have almost nothing in common with me, culturally speaking.
What advice would you give someone if they wanted to become a tour director or guide?
First of all, ask yourself if you can be gone from home very much. Are you flexible enough to get a phone call, pack your bag, and take the next flight out? In addition, aim to at least be conversational in one foreign language. Our world is becoming smaller, and the chances that you will need some Spanish or French are growing exponentially, even on the domestic tour circuit.
