Freelance Tour Manager for Rail Based vacations around the world
The life of a Tour Manager during lockdown is not a pleasant one. Working in the Travel Industry at a time when there is no travel is depressing, and financially ruinous. After many months depleting my savings in the recurrent expectation that travel would return, only to have my hopes dashed time after time, I …
The BBC want to remove 'Land Of Hope & Glory' from the Last Night of the Proms - because somebody, somewhere, might be offended. There is no more eloquent rebuttal than to show people what it actually looks and sounds like, so here we are. Take 09:51 minutes out of your life to watch a …
I guess that'll teach me to try and be happy during lockdown. Shortly after my last post, the UK Government decided to put France on the Naughty Step, and as a result I've just been told that my Italian Tour to Sirmione & Lake Garda has been cancelled. For a couple of days there was …
75 Years ago, it was Victory over Japan day - VJ Day. It matters not simply as a just and deserved victory over the cruel regime of Japanese Militarism, but also as the conclusion of the entire 7 year period of the Second World War. It's tempting to describe in detail the epic battles of …
It has been a long, and frankly, lousy Summer. All of my Tours were ultimately cancelled with the cancellations being drip-fed month by month as the situation changed, or rather, didn't. I was lucky enough to receive some financial help from the government, but this was rather soured by their laissez-faire attitude to support for …
It ... is of course COVID-19, the Coronavirus Me How is it affecting me? So far, it's not a good news story. I've now had two China Tours cancelled, and this represents a significant financial hit, which could be as much as 30% of my annual income. As things stand, I have no work for …
So. The Long Winter break without work is drawing to a close. I'm off to Vietnam & Cambodia in 11 days and then a busy season lies ahead. I've used the two month break to reduce my sleep defecit, catch up on TV box sets and remind Mrs TimOnTheTrain that she has a husband who …
Continue reading "Live on Stage 1, Vietnam and The Corona Virus"
The annual 'Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show' runs at Olympia, London from 30th Jan 2020 to Feb 2nd 2020 and this year two of my Tour Operators (Great Rail Journeys & Rail Discoveries) will be present on stand E72 at the show. This is a great opportunity for future (and existing) clients to talk …
Continue reading "Come & Watch Me at ‘Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show’"
Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg is the largest model railway in the world. It has a Floor area of 1,490 square metres and 15.4 Kilometres of track with 260,000 human figures, 130,000 trees and over 4,000 buildings. It includes a functioning airport and Fire Fighting service and national scenes from Germany, Scandinavia, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and the …
Today, the 27th of January, is Holocaust Memorial Day, and the date is chosen because it marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz II-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. Having visited Auschwitz many times, today has particular resonance for me. I feel very passionately that we need to remember and reflect and I worry …
I'll be taking Bailey out for a bit of a run so he can burn off some energy (and therefore hopefully be less likely to bark at the other dogs) and then both of us will walk down to the Village War Memorial to attend the 10:45 open-air service of remembrance. We do the same …
I came across this video which explains rather well the issues that affect AMTRAK trains in the USA, despite the unpromising title. My clients on USA Tours are often surprised by the slightly ramshackle state of the rolling stock and the smallness of some stations and passenger handling facilities. They also often wonder why there …
There's a new Great rail Journeys video on their web site, and I'm in it! I'm waiting by the phone for offers from the major studios. A new world beckons - I shall mingle with the stars, live in Hollywood and be constantly followed by Paparazzi no doubt. Fame, wealth, and glamour are calling me. …
The internet is chock full of advice on how to pack a bag efficiently. There's so much advice that it's tough to know which method to choose. Part of the answer lies in asking what kind of Tour you're on? Sometimes the tour will stay at one destination hotel exclusively, so you'll only need to …
There isn't a place that I haven't visited where the experience hasn't been been at least slightly marred by some idiot taking a selfie. In days gone by I used to take groups around Auschwitz/Birkenau; the day I realised that it might be time to slow up was the day that I watched a man make a …
I don't propose to comment on the suitability or otherwise of any candidate for the Presidency. I'm not an American registered voter and when I visit the USA (which I do frequently and with great pleasure) I do so as a guest - meaning that it would be absolutely inappropriate for me to express any such views. …
TimOnTheTrain 