When I first started at Bales I was 19,   I was asked by my Father to work for a travel agent for a year to give me a greater understanding of the huge number of areas they had to be knowledgeable in and see the great range of suppliers and tour operators they sold.   I also attended the Institute of Travel and Tourism College one day a week and took all the necessary exams … and yes I passed!! 

I escorted my first tour at 20 years old , clients felt  I was so young  when they met me  at the airport  and boy did you have to prove your competence.  I am sure being brought up with Bales in my life has held me in good stead and I knew even at an early age how passionate we were about the service and ensuring all those that travelled with Bales had the holiday of a lifetime. That is still paramount and the highest priority to us today.
Anyway – my point is that 34 years on (urgh – am I really that old?) when I see my friends travelling with Bales It is an incredible endorsement but nevertheless, as I feel  with all our clients I just hope we exceed their expectations – after all they have had to live with me rabbitting on about how fantastic Bales are for all these years  , it is really putting me to the test!!

I think it hit home when I was at a 50th party last Sunday and realised that everyone at that party are potentially Bales passengers.   Don’t worry I didn’t have a boot full of brochures, though I have to profess I wish I had.    I have very rarely met anyone that doesn’t love travelling,   It does often dominate the conversations – and I genuinely don’t think that is simply when I am there – though I do love to hear about peoples experiences around the world.       

Sometimes I hear people saying to me – ‘I wish I could go but’ well travel is there for everyone and it is all about priorities in life.  If we wait too long for our desire to see certain places then it may not happen.

Does travel change you  as a person , does it make you more broad minded , does it make you more open and tolerant  to different cultures, does it make you  see things differently?  My view is it can if you embrace the varied experiences and learn more about different cultures and their way of life, however these are not the reasons why a lot of people travel  in the first place  – often it is to observe the sites, the wildlife, the historical monuments, the beautiful scenery, the tranquillity of some of the places visited. 

Sorry for rambling, I did say people love talking about travel – I certainly do.

As we have nights that draw in and we creep from autumn to winter, it is wonderful to look forward to a holiday.    Whether you want to go on a Nile Cruise or a tailor made holiday … we look forward to offering you escorted tours and our personal service to the Bales world of nearly 60 countries worldwide.

About Mandy Nickerson

Other articles by Mandy Nickerson

Mandy endeavours to share her travel experiences (where she will 'tell it like it is') and also detail the latest exciting projects that she is involved in. Mandy welcomes your feedback - please feel free to submit your thoughts, queries, comments and theories below.