Becoming a Group Coordinator: The on-tour experience

After leading trips with EF Educational Tours, our sister company for student travel, Marie decided to bring her friends and family on trips with EF Go Ahead Tours. Since transitioning, Marie has led multiple tours. Her only regret? Not switching over earlier! Read on to learn about her favorite parts of her trips with Go Ahead Tours.

Traveling with a Tour Director

The caliber of great Tour Directors was one aspect of the on-tour experience that carried over from Educational Tours.” The Tour Directors are the cream of the crop,” said Marie. “Everybody likes to feel special and taken care of and the personal attention they give each individual traveler makes you feel like they really care.”

The Tour Directors truly become part of the group by sharing their stories, speaking about their culture, and bringing a wealth of knowledge that enhances everyone's experience. “Personally, I love learning about the history and culture of each place,” said Marie. “I admire their knowledge. They’re so smart and know so much about the areas we visit.”

Personalizing the trip

The Tour Directors also provide their expert input to help travelers get the insider’s view of each destination. Whenever Marie’s group entered a new country while on a tour through alpine Europe, their Tour Director gave the group members chocolate from that region. While on tour in Greece, the Tour Director helped the travelers make great use of their free time. “Our Tour Director Raquel thought of every little detail,” said Marie. “She made dinner reservations at the best local restaurants, she arranged transportation for those who wanted to go to the beach, and she even took us to Oia to see the sunset!”

In addition to the Tour Directors providing their expert input, Marie and her travelers loved staying in centrally located hotels because they could explore the area at their leisure. “Staying in hotels that are right in the center of everything means we can go out for a stroll at night or walk over to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Plus, it’s nice to know you can easily get back to the hotel.”

Spending time with travelers**

The common thread that ties together all of the delicious meals and inspiring destinations are the friends that Marie has made by sharing her passion for travel. Marie hosts parties every few months before her group leaves on tour. “I ask people to bring a dish to share, as well as 3 questions and answers,” she said. “We go around and ask all of the questions and I give prizes to the three people who have the most correct answers.”

Marie continues to catch up with her travelers over dinner even after returning from tour. “I tell my group members, ‘Once we travel together we’re family,'” she said. “The friendships that have developed are the best things I’ve gotten from these trips.”

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