Europe | People & Stories

This is the reality of being a Trafalgar Travel Director in the summer  

Recently updated on February 1st, 2025 at 12:01 am

With their pro-attitude and unflappable manner, you might think your Trafalgar Travel Director just wakes up ready to seize the day. In reality, there’s a whole lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating the perfect trip – especially in their busiest season, summer.

Our wonderful Trafalgar Travel Director Judith let us get the inside scoop on what it’s really like to be a Travel Director in the European summer. 

“I got into the travel industry more than a decade ago, starting with Contiki,” Judith tells us. (Contiki is Trafalgar’s sister brand that caters for 18 to 35-year-olds.) “Before this I studied and then worked in the finance industry in Australia, but after the 2008 Global Financial Crisis I decided it was time for a change. I packed my bags and moved to Europe and I haven’t looked back.” 

Judith, Trafalgar travel director on tour
Meet Judith!

What’s your schedule like in the summer? 

“Summer is definitely the busiest time for a Travel Director. There are more people traveling, which means more people at each destination, more traffic on the roads, and so everything logistically has to be planned to the tiniest details – with room for last minute surprises, of course.

This means between May and September we usually have 35 to 45 people on-tour, and are constantly on the go with only a few days between each tour. We receive each trip a few months before departure, so even on our days off we are planning for upcoming trips consistently on a rolling basis all summer.”

trafalgar travel director with guests in Paris

Talk us through a day in the life of a Trafalgar Travel Director

“Whilst there are no ‘regular’ days in the life of a Travel Director, a standard day looks similar to this: 

6:00am  

I try to wake up 2-3 hours before the departure for that day. If I can, I’ll try and get a 20-30 minute workout in, as I think staying physically fit and moving my body is important to being able to work the long touring days. I’ll pop into breakfast to say hello to the hotel staff and guests and eat a small meal, before heading back up to my room to check the itinerary for the day and make sure everything is ready to go. I’ll then meet my driver about half an hour before we leave (earlier if we are organizing porterage for the bags) and reconfirm our plan for the day. 

8:30am  

My favorite part of the day is greeting my guests in the morning and letting them know our schedule. I like to gauge the energy of the group for the day and then make sure everyone is excited for whatever is to come. We then will perhaps go on a city tour with a Local Specialist, maybe take an Optional Experience to a famous site or attraction, and have some free time to explore. I usually use this time to check in with my suppliers, both for the current tour and future trips. 

6:00pm  

Either an included group dinner at the hotel, sometimes an Optional Dinner out at a fantastic venue, or a free night for my guests to check out the local culinary offerings. On free nights I will always have suggestions for my guests, and I like to hear about their meals afterwards. There are simply too many choices and one person could never try them all! 

9:00pm  

Headed back to the hotel, I usually have an hour to unwind, finish any paperwork (the least glamorous behind-the-scenes part of a Travel Director’s role) and I try to sleep at 10:00pm. I’ve learnt over the years that the best tours are when the guests and the crew are rested and ready to take on each day, full of energy and enthusiasm!”

Couple enjoying an ice cream in the balkans

Do you have pre-prepared spots where you can take guests on hot days? 

“One of the traits of a Travel Director that we learn on the job, is to quickly scan our surroundings as we move around with our group so that we can take them to the most comfortable spots when we need to stop, or make a meeting point. This can mean under trees in the shade, building alcoves, or secret spots that may uncover some Hidden Gems off the beaten path. We are constantly looking out for these places, whether it be when our guests have free time, or a meal on their own, and also in our spare time.

I like to travel in between trips when I have longer periods of time off between tours, so I also enjoy discovering new places that I can share with my guests. And yes, this sometimes includes finding the best ice cream, gelato and cocktail spots – it’s a hard job, but Travel Directors are happy to do it!”

What are your best hot weather travel hacks? 

“I recommend a good hat and pair of sunglasses to all my guests. One of my favorites is that I travel around Europe with a huge, lightweight, broad brimmed hat. It is a travel-friendly hat that folds down easily, and is UV Resistant, and it is perfect for both out and about wandering the hot summer European cities, also for my guests to spot me in a crowd, and keeps the sun off my face when sitting in the front of the coach.”

woman in a large sun hat in greece

What is something you do on-tour that guests wouldn’t know that you do to make their trip even better? 

“If you haven’t traveled with us before, one thing that you may not know is that Travel Directors love to surprise our guests with Local Treats. I like to make my guests feel as if they are spoiled and always like to introduce them to new flavors and experiences that they might not come across if traveling on their own. This could be a Käsekrainer in Vienna, a Lángos in Budapest or Txakoli in the Basque Region.”

What is your favorite Trafalgar tour to run, and why? 

“There are too many favorites to name! Imperial Europe is one of my favorites for taking a look into central Europe in 10 days where every few days we arrive in a new country and get a crash course immersion into the country and culture. I think it’s definitely a guest favorite! I also love the London to Paris tour – it’s a 9 day in depth tour of two of my favorite cities, full of culture, incredible food, and bucket-list attractions.”

What’s your most precious tour memory? 

“I once had a lovely American couple on my trip who were 89- and 87-years-old. It was their first time outside the United States and they had finally decided to come to Europe as the wife’s dream was to see the Vatican City and Sistine Chapel. She had many health issues and was limited to how much she could accomplish each day. Whilst the rest of the group were on a visit to the Vatican Museum, the staff at the Vatican allowed us to walk together, just the two of us, in a less crowded area, and stroll through the Vatican gardens at our own pace, before meeting the group in the Sistine Chapel and later St Peter’s Basilica.  

The awe and amazement in her face at every turn is something that I will never forget. She found beauty in every single detail. The architecture, the plants, the tapestries and even the Swiss Guard uniforms. Her appreciation for the tiny details made me truly appreciate how lucky I am to be able to take people around the world to such incredible places.”

The Vatican and st peter's square

What are your five suitcase essentials as a Trafalgar Travel Director in the European summer?

  1. Sunscreen! The European sun is no joke. Even with sunscreen you can get a tan, but there’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy Europe when you are sunburnt and sore. (It also doesn’t look great in your photos!) 
  1. Comfortable sandals. I prefer sandals to sneakers in the hotter months, but I will always choose comfort over fashion. We cover lots of ground each day, and as a Trafalgar Travel Director you are usually running around even when your guests are resting. Luckily there are some great brands out there that fit both the comfort and fashion checkboxes. 
  1. My broad brimmed hat. As mentioned earlier, stay protected from the strong European summer sun. Create your own shade, and it doubles as a handheld fan if needed.  
  1. A phone strap. When I’m working, I cannot go without a phone strap. I have a crossbody one (that actually a very lovely guest gave me a few years ago on a Swiss tour), that is always attached to me, and is great because it means I never need to worry about misplacing my phone or leaving it somewhere. It also protects me a little more against any security issues that can sometimes be present in crowded places. I get a lot of compliments on my pink multicoloured strap, and I recommend them to not only my guests but also my family and friends. 
  1. Deodorant – no one’s going to trust a smelly Travel Director! 

Experience the magic of Trafalgar Travel Directors like Judith on a Europe tour.

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