I often wonder about what it would be like to be a Tour Guide in a bus crash. I wonder about the loneliness of being hurt and by myself. Having recently smashed up my car travelling alone, and feeling scared and hurt, I wonder how I would feel with a group of tourists around me. I can't imagine wanting them out of my face any more! I would just want the moment to be about my getting well, of course the tour guides needs are not relevant on the trip!
Here is an interesting article about a bus crash in California involving French and Canadian tourists. Pretty scary. It seems that the driver was pretty bad. At what point do we as a guide insist the driver is pulled?
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/06/24/20090624buscrash24-ON.html
Kirsten Snowdon
www.traintheguides.com
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Monday, December 15, 2008
How I got started Tour Directing
Tour Directing is never boring, well yes actually it can get tedious at times. But for the most part it is pretty eventful. I write about my experiences. The good, the bad and total *&^%$ that goes on.
This blog is for all of those folks who can relate and all of the people that dream about working as an international guide. Oh, one more group may like this blog, the folks that take tours. It may shed some light about what really goes on behind the scenes. Whether I am ripping off money somehow, working double overtime to get something done, or trying to get through the tour with copious obstacles I will write it here.
So how did I get started in the job? I wanted to get out of the small town I grew up in. That coupled with the idea that men around my town were boring, most of them couldn’t care less if they ever saw Rio’s beaches. I knew by about 17 I didn’t belong. I just didn’t quite know how I would get out.
I conducted a few student tours locally, taking 12 year olds down nickel mines. I loved being out on my own in a foreign place, even if it was just a few hours away. After attending a Tour Guide School and getting certified my life really took off. I started working throughout Ontario and Quebec. I took people to Niagara Falls regularly and to Montreal and Quebec City.
My first trip was actually a training tour. I had to observe the experienced Tour Director in action and learn the ropes. Once I was done I was starting my own tour.
The deal was I needed to be in a Toronto hotel to meet the guide upon departure. I would accompany the tour through Niagara Falls, Philadelphia and Amish Country before ending up in New York City. I would get one night there and fly to Montreal and begin my tour. Sounded simple enough, but nothing is ever simple in the coach tour business.
I arrived at the hotel the night before departure and left a message for the Tour Guide I was observing. I needed to know what time we were leaving in the morning. I didn’t hear back for a few hours so I hung out in the lobby around dinner time hoping to catch the bus tour coming or going. After 4 messages and several checks to the front desk I resided to my bed. If the guide wasn’t going to return my calls, I would show them how responsible I was and simply show up at 6:30 AM ready to go.
Visit me at www.traintheguides.com
This blog is for all of those folks who can relate and all of the people that dream about working as an international guide. Oh, one more group may like this blog, the folks that take tours. It may shed some light about what really goes on behind the scenes. Whether I am ripping off money somehow, working double overtime to get something done, or trying to get through the tour with copious obstacles I will write it here.
So how did I get started in the job? I wanted to get out of the small town I grew up in. That coupled with the idea that men around my town were boring, most of them couldn’t care less if they ever saw Rio’s beaches. I knew by about 17 I didn’t belong. I just didn’t quite know how I would get out.
I conducted a few student tours locally, taking 12 year olds down nickel mines. I loved being out on my own in a foreign place, even if it was just a few hours away. After attending a Tour Guide School and getting certified my life really took off. I started working throughout Ontario and Quebec. I took people to Niagara Falls regularly and to Montreal and Quebec City.
My first trip was actually a training tour. I had to observe the experienced Tour Director in action and learn the ropes. Once I was done I was starting my own tour.
The deal was I needed to be in a Toronto hotel to meet the guide upon departure. I would accompany the tour through Niagara Falls, Philadelphia and Amish Country before ending up in New York City. I would get one night there and fly to Montreal and begin my tour. Sounded simple enough, but nothing is ever simple in the coach tour business.
I arrived at the hotel the night before departure and left a message for the Tour Guide I was observing. I needed to know what time we were leaving in the morning. I didn’t hear back for a few hours so I hung out in the lobby around dinner time hoping to catch the bus tour coming or going. After 4 messages and several checks to the front desk I resided to my bed. If the guide wasn’t going to return my calls, I would show them how responsible I was and simply show up at 6:30 AM ready to go.
Visit me at www.traintheguides.com
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