Recently updated on October 4th, 2022 at 10:03 am
From unique local encounters to one-off foodie moments, we chat to the Willy Wonka of holiday dreams, Michael (also known as our European Head of Product) to find out what the magic ingredients are for crafting the perfect Trafalgar trip.
How long have you been with Trafalgar?
Over 25 years with The Travel Corporation, including numerous years as a Travel Director for brands like Contiki, Insight and Trafalgar across all of Europe.
What do you love most about your role?
One word: creativity. The sights of Europe and Britain are like a giant connect-the-dot game and I get to experiment with connecting the dots in new and different combinations, resulting in fantastic itineraries.
What’s your vision when crafting holidays to Europe & Britain?
Food testers use the term ‘high amplitude’ to describe flavours that are well blended and balanced. I use the same philosophy when combining just the right amount of structured activities and ‘free time’ to produce a well-blended trip that is just the right mix. And that’s just the start – we always like to include a few ‘new flavours’ of places that give you a real taste of the country or region that you’re visiting. Many that are guaranteed to surprise and please.
How should a guest pick the right Trafalgar trip for them?
Essentially, there are a few decisions to be made: the first choice is the region where you wish to travel. From there, you can look at the trip style – we offer City Explorers (up to nine days in the same city); Country Explorers (up to 17 days all in the same country); Regional Explorers (up to 20 days visiting more than one country) as well as five other trip styles. The last decision comes down to a balance of the trip duration and ensuring that the itinerary in question features all of the sights that appeal to you. We offer 18 trips through Italy alone and over 20 in the United Kingdom (including Ireland) so it’s safe to say that we have something for everyone – even the kids. Our specially-designed Family trips offer the perfect mix of fun, hands-on and educational activities for both parents and children.
What is your top travel tip for guests?
Don’t be shy. Take advantage of the incredible knowledge that our Travel Directors possess and ask them as many questions as you want. Travel Directors thrive on questions! As a Travel Director, I was always amazed by the depth and breadth of questions that my guests asked, and it helped me to expand my own knowledge.
What is it about Trafalgar trips that makes it easy for guests to switch off?
You frequently hear that world-class gymnasts “make it look easy”. The same can be said of our world-class Travel Directors. You arrive at hotels, restaurants, and guided visits where the ‘red carpet’ is always rolled out and awaiting your arrival. This is all due to the experience and professionalism of our Travel Directors organising everything in advance. From the moment that you meet your Travel Director, you can count on the fact that you will be looked after. Our Travel Directors take great pride in their ability to make our trips as smooth as possible.
Is there one place in the world that keeps pulling you back for your own travels?
I had the pleasure of working two winter seasons in a small ski village in Austria. The natural beauty of the region, the friendliness of the locals and the traditional lifestyle make it one of my favourite places in the world. I have lost track of how many times I have visited and I am confident that I will continue to be pulled back.
What has been the proudest moment in your role with Trafalgar?
Seeing the new printed copy of each brochure is a great source of pride for me. It is impossible to accurately estimate the countless hours that it takes to bring all of the pieces together to create the finished product, but seeing the end result is very satisfying. I can look at a brochure page and think about how my efforts will translate into wonderful experiences and happy memories for hundreds (if not thousands) of guests on each of our trips.
What’s your prediction for the next hottest holiday destination?
Many destinations are cyclical and what’s hot this year is not the next. The increasing popularity of low-cost air carriers is making it easy and affordable to access previously unheard-of destinations. As a result, I imagine that we will see more demand for some of the former Soviet Republics including the Baltics and even as far afield as Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
If you’re keen to find out what it truly means to explore the world with Trafalgar, take a look at what’s on offer over at our website trafalgar.com. Have you experienced a Trafalgar trip before? Let us know your highlights in the comments field below.