Recently updated on July 5th, 2023 at 04:34 pm
You’re getting ready for your trip; you’ve checked out all the Know Before You Go information in My Travel Portal. You’ve made a mental (and physical) checklist, and you’re pretty sure you’ve got everything covered. But, there are some things that only experience can teach us. That’s why we’ve reached out to some of our Travel Directors to get their best travel tips and insider secrets, everything you need to know before heading off on your unforgettable journey with Trafalgar.
Complete strangers will quickly become old friends
Even if you’re joining the trip as a solo traveller, you will never be lonely. Your Travel Director, your travel companions, your driver, they’ll quickly become old friends as you experience some of the greatest moments of your life together. And, you’ll have a chance to learn about a world of cultures, not just those of the destinations you visit.
“It’s like travelling with the United Nations, and we do a little roll call as our groups are getting more and more diverse. We get feedback from first time travellers about how amazing it is to meet people from all around the world. They share their preconceptions about other cultures before they met people from these backgrounds. One guest told me “I thought I was coming to see France, but I have learnt so much about the world in just these two weeks.” – Travel Director, Sarah Frost.
But it’s not just your fellow travellers that you’ll make lasting friendships with. Guests are welcomed like family into the homes of our Be My Guest hosts across the globe and treated like cherished friends by our Local Specialists.
Don’t overlook the optional experiences
Each of our trips include amazing experiences that show you the must-see sights, take you to our Travel Directors’ favourite hidden gems and immerse you into the culture of each destination you visit. Everything you need is taken care of. But that doesn’t mean you should stop there.
We carefully curate a selection of optional experiences for every itinerary we offer. These are created to let you dive even deeper into the nature, culture and history of the places we visit. Get in the spirit of southern Spain during a flamenco show and tapas dinner, or enjoy an evening of jazz on the water during a riverboat cruise in New Orleans. One of our best travel tips: make sure to partake in some of the optional experiences available for your trip. You don’t want to miss out on these incredible activities!
No matter where you’re going, bring a scarf
You may be sceptical about this one, but trust us, you’re going to be so happy we gave you this piece of advice. Seriously, going to Morocco in August, bring a scarf. Summer trip to India, bring a scarf. Trip to the Scottish Highlands, DEFINITELY bring a scarf. Let us explain:
“It will warm you when it’s cool, protect you if it’s rainy or hot, you can snooze on it and actually even wear one! A good scarf can make a simple outfit look fab. Buy one when you are travelling as they also make great quality souvenirs.” – Travel Director Catrin Griffiths
In hot destinations, it’s perfect for overly airconditioned restaurants or museums and it’s the perfect coverup when visiting religious sites. It’s the most versatile accessory in your travel arsenal.
Our Travel Directors are better than any guidebook
You can buy the guidebooks and download the travel apps, but there really is no better resource than our Travel Directors – fountains of knowledge brimming over with the best travel tips. They know each destination like the back of their hand. As well as being passionate about travel and unlocking the absolute best travel experience possible in a personalised way for every single traveller, they have been trained, re-trained, and trained some more. So, we can confidently say, they are the best in the business. If you have any questions, go to them first. On the off chance they don’t know the answer, they can point you to the person that does. They’re your very own personal travel expert, filled with insider knowledge that lets you go beyond the tourist sights and experience each destination like a local.
These guys and gals love travel. It’s not just their job; it’s their passion. And that passion is contagious.
“Trafalgar’s attention to detail, and particularly our Travel Director, made this trip of a lifetime even better than any of us dreamed possible…” – L. Quaglio, Trafalgar guest, European Traveller trip
Brush up on your social media skills
Most people have a love-hate relationship with social media (and some people have no relationship with social media at all). Regardless, the fact remains that it is a great way to share your travel experiences with friends, family and, if you’re so inclined, the world!
Sharing your favourite travel photos on Instagram is also a great way to share your memories with your new-found travel family: your travel companions and Travel Director. Tag each other and make sure that people can appreciate that great shot you took of them at the Grand Canyon or their flour-covered face after a pasta-making session in Florence. It’s also a great way to inspire future Trafalgar travellers, letting them know of the fun that awaits if they choose to travel on the same trip.
“It’s much easier for guests and Travel Directors to share images through Instagram, rather than by email, and enables guests to share images and stay connected with newfound friends.” – Travel Director Sarah Frost
Share your favourite travel memories with the hashtag #SimplyTrafalgar, and stay tuned to our @trafalgartravel Instagram account.
Now that you’re privy to our best travel tips, you’re armed with everything you need to know to have the holiday of a lifetime. So, pack your bags, and we’ll see you soon!