What to Look for in a Travel Agent

In this day of online trip booking and lowest price airfare searches, do you still need a travel agent? According to the ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) and most travelers, the answer is a resounding yes. Travel agents still book nearly 90% of all cruises and over 80% of all tours and packages. A consumer-conscious travel agent will work hard to find you the best possible combination of price and features to make your tour a dream vacation. Here are some questions to ask that will help you evaluate travel agents and be sure that you find the best one for your booking and travel needs.

1. Do you know a good travel agent?
Yes, start by asking around. A good travel agent will build a good reputation. If you have friends and associates who travel often, ask them for their recommendations. Those will be a good starting point for your own search.

2. How long have you been doing this?
Look for an agent that has been in business for five years or longer. While length of time in business is no guarantee of commitment or knowledge, experience is a great teacher.

3. What are your qualifications as a travel agent?
There are a number of professional training courses that your agent may have taken. The highest certification for a travel agent is a Certified Travel Consultant, which requires five years of full time travel industry experience and the completion of twelve courses. Other certificates include Certified Travel Associate, and Destination Specialist. While it is not necessary for a travel agent to hold any of these qualifications, they do provide proof of commitment and knowledge in the industry.

4. Are you affiliated with an agency?
On the other hand, even a younger, newer agent who is affiliated with an established agency has access to the resources and information of the entire agency. That’s not to say that outside agents – those who work outside an agency – are not as good. An outside agent has the advantage of flexibility in booking trips that are not part of their agency’s offered products.

5. Are you affiliated with any professional organizations?
U.S. travel agents are not generally regulated or held to uniform standards, but there are two major professional bodies to which they may belong, the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and the Association of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA).

6. What questions is the agent asking me?
One of the most important qualifications for a travel agent is an awareness of and sensitivity to your needs. The agent you’re working with should be full of questions aimed at learning as much as possible about your needs. A good travel agent will be focused on you and your needs, not just on the products they are selling you.

7. Do you have any specialist knowledge?
Some agencies and agents specialize in a particular type of trip. If you have special needs or are seeking a unique type of vacation – like the new and very popular eco-tours – you may do far better with an agent who is experienced in that special field. Other specialties may include booking tours and trips for people with limitations and/or disabilities, booking adventure tours, or booking trips to a specific destination.

8. How do you find me the best deals?
You can ask more specific questions, but you’re really trying to find out how well-connected your travel agent is within the industry, and how current they are with the latest technologies and developments. You’re looking for answers like, “we have preferred supplier arrangements with these travel companies” and “I subscribe to these databases of travel offers” – answers that make it clear your travel agent uses all the resources available to find you the best possible trip.

9. What will happen if I have an overseas emergency while your agency is closed?
Your travel agent can and should be your strongest advocate before, during and after your trip. Being able to contact your agency during their off hours can mean the difference between sitting in a hotel lobby waiting until the office reopens. The answer you want is: “There is always an agent on call to resolve problems that might arise even when we’re closed.”

10. Do I like this person and feel comfortable with them?
While it’s not necessary to like someone in order to do business with them, it’s a very good gauge of how well they’re relating to you. You’ll get the best service and vacation experience from a travel agent who is focused on you, your companions and helping you arrange the vacation of a lifetime. After all, a good agent isn’t looking for a sale – they’re looking for a long-term relationship.

How to know when your food quality has actually expired

Laws, health, hygiene, Best Before, Use Before….Store this Product….Oh how my head aches! What happened to going into your local butcher, buying a joint, even some bacon and storing it in the Larder?

Politicians, Food experts all seem to forget that ‘some of us’ lived in the days when refridgeration was not the normal household appliance. All we had was a cool larder and used our SENSE OF SMELL. How many back in the 1950’s died of food poisoning? Even the 60’s….I will tell you not many.

We made cheese by hanging sour milk in old stockings (tights) outside the backdoor to extract the whey, stored vegetables in a cool dark place and our meat….was either hung or left for anything up to a month to ‘mature’ Were we sick? No! Eggs did not have a date stamped on every shell….we used the old method of if they floated don’t use. It is only today where there are so many ‘convenience’ foods, prepacked with additives that range from A – Z that sickness occurs. Hens treated for Salmonella, cattle imunised, crops sprayed and now even genetically modified thus lowering our own imune system that we have problems.

BEST BEFORE….means just that. Usually used on foods that last longer, such as frozen, dried or canned foods. It should be safe to eat food after the ‘best before’ date, but the food will no longer be at its best. After this date, the food might begin to lose its flavour and texture.

USE BY….You shouldn’t use any food or drink after the end of the ‘use by’ date shown on the label. Even if it looks and smells fine, using it after this date could put your health at risk and cause food poisoning.

You will usually find a ‘use by’ date on food that goes off quickly, such as milk, soft cheese, ready-prepared salads and smoked fish.

It’s also important to follow any storage instructions given on food labels, otherwise the food might not last until the ‘use by’ date. Usually food with a ‘use by’ date needs to be kept in the fridge.

Personally I exclude Cheese from the above. Soft Cheese…well comon sense has to come into play as it has more than likely been treated. But with hard cheeses…cut off the mould and enjoy.

EAT WITHIN DATES…Due to additives some food labels also give instructions such as ‘eat within a week of opening’ and it’s important to follow these instructions. But remember, if the ‘use by’ date is tomorrow, then you must use the food by the end of tomorrow, even if the label says ‘eat within a week of opening’ and you have only opened the food today.

FREEZING….This is a good way of preservation but pre-frozen foods should NEVER be re-frozen unless cooked first.

HOW LONG IN THE FREEZER? My daughter asked this question some time back when she came to dinner with her boyfriend. In truth I almost choked on my food. The Ham joint I had cooked was fresh from the Butchers about a year back. Properly wrapped and sealed had stood the test of time.

In theory, food could be safe to eat after years in the freezer, as long as it has stayed frozen during that time. But it may not be very nice to eat, because the taste and texture of food changes if it is frozen for too long.

Basically it is a case of using your own common sense. If you must buy prepack or readily prepared foods use them in the time indicated. If you shop and buy fresh you have a longer ‘shelf life’ when stored properly.

How to Get Low Airfares

There is no doubt that the arrival of the so called “low cost airlines” have changed the face of short haul air travel & although it pains me to say it, as they have taken away a lot of my revenue, for the better in my opinion.
I have been running my own travel business for over 12 years now, mainly dealing in discounted airfares. It used to be the case that if you wanted low cost airfares that you had to stay a minimum amount of time & especially a Saturday night. This was impossible for people who only wanted to travel for short periods, wanted to travel during the week or simply wanted one way travel. Now you can get low airfares staying as long or as little as you want, travel when you want & even for one way travel, this was unheard of only a few short years ago.

The low cost airlines & their low airfares have had a huge impact on air travel & peoples flying & holiday habits with more & more people now taking lots of short breaks instead of the traditional 2 weeks in the sun during the summer. As a result of this impact the long established Airlines are following suit in offering low airfares for travel for any durations & one ways.

We have all probably heard of or seen the ridiculously low airfares of £1 (or less ! ) plus tax to fly to many destinations across europe, but how do you get these low airfares ? Well I will tell you (although I’m not sure why ? )

First & foremost you must plan well in advance, 6-9 months or even longer if possible. The low cost airlines will generally have very low airfares for their lead in prices to grab your attention & get the headlines. However they will only have a handfull of seats available at the low airfares, once these seats are sold you will have to pay more. Maybe the next fare level will only be £10 more so still a low airfare but again once a small amount of seats have been sold at this price the fare will rise again. This will keep happening until the fares are most definately not low airfares so it pays to book in advance. Lets face it at £1 or thereabouts plus tax if your plans change & you can’t travel you are not loosing much are you ?

Next, get yourself on the e mail list of the low cost airlines such as Easyjet, Ryanair, Jet2, Bmibaby etc. They will then e mail you when their flights are about to go on sale for up coming seasons. This should enable you to get first pick of the low airafres when you want to travel. Familiarise yourself with the low cost Airlines that fly from your local airport & get on their e mail lists. You will find this information on your local Airports website.

If you are not sure where you want to go then try websites such as skyscanner where you will find a facility to find out where the low cost Airlines fly to from your local Airport including the low airfares. You may find yourself travelling to places you would not have thought of simply because you cannot pass up the low airfares to that destination.

Try travelling during the week or be flexible in when you want to travel, play around with dates on your low airfare searches & you may be pleasantly surprised at how much you can save.

New destinations are often added by the low cost Airlines & to promote these destinations they are generally offered with low air airfares. again this is where you will benefit from being on the e mail lists of the low cost Airlines as you will be the first to find out when new desinations are being launched.

Follow the above advice & you will find yourself clocking up those air miles travelling to well known as well as not so well known destinations all over Europe & in taking advantage of the low airfares & often cheap prices across Europe having a few days away for the cost of a good night out in the UK.

Problems with treating those less obviously affected by eating disorders

Eating disorders affect a large amount of people. In American society and all over the world. When you say “eating disorder” you most likely think of anorexia or bulimia. Both are very serious disorders, but the most common eating disorders are commonly overlooked ones: compulsive over-eating and binge eating disorder. Both involve the excessive consumption of food, and are often used interchangeably.

For many people, realizing you have a problem is a large step. Deciding to seek help is another one. But many people with “lesser” eating disorders are usually denied the help they need. Many people fail to realize that ALL eating disorders are dangerous. Eating disorder sufferers are refused help because they aren’t emaciated and starved or near death. People are told they aren’t “sick enough” and are turned away. Some sufferers in the early stages of anorexia are told to “just eat”. Some bulimics are told to “just stop”. People with compulsive over-eating and binge eating disorder are told to stop being so greedy. Those with ED-NOS or eating disorder not otherwise specified are told they are not sick at all and just looking for attention. Everyone who bears the weight of an eating disorder on their backs is suffering from a mental illness. A mental illness with physical symptoms. No matter how small or insignificant their physical symptoms seem, all of the eating disordered community deserve an equal chance at treatment and recovery. An eating disorder treated early is better than one left to destroy one’s body beyond repair until it is too late.

It is a wonderful thing when someone with an eating disorder chooses recovery. It is a shame when they are denied what they desperately need because they do not exactly fit criteria or arent so sick to the point of death. Everyone with an eating disorder is at risk for physical and emotional damage, even during the early stages of an eating disorder. We must learn to realize that eating disorders are serious no matter what type or what stage the disorder is. Just looking at someone’s weight will not tell you what an eating disorder is doing to a person, or how much it affects them. Please do not let the eating disordered be denied the help they need any longer. Do not refuse them treatment and recovery until it is too late. Everyone deserves a chance to live happy.

History Of Car Hire; Model T To Sat-Nav

The introduction of the Ford Model T as the first mass produced car is closely linked with the car hire industry. A mere eight years after the first Ts rolled of the production line an enterprising Nebraskan businessman called Joes Saunders started a car hire firm with one car. The main focus of his business was the travelling salesman market, although his first customer is believed to be a man who wished to take a girl out on a date.

Two years after this original foray, a young entrepreneur, Walter L. Jacobs started a company in the Chicago area. The car rental firm was founded with a dozen Model Ts with Jacobs carrying out all of the repair and maintenance work himself. The success of this business was outstanding and within five years it is believed that it was generating an annual income of one million US dollars.

The success of Jacobs’ car rental company did not go unnoticed by investors; most notably John Hertz. Hertz already owned the ‘Yellow Cab and Truck Hire Company’ and used his funds to buy out Jacobs’ car hire firm. Hertz himself was then bought out by the General Motors Company who re-branded the company as the ‘Hertz Drive-Ur-Self System’. Hertz is still a major player in the car rental industry and most probably the company with the most history.

The early years of the car hire industry were dogged by involvement with organised crime. The Prohibition years saw bootleggers and robbers frequently using car firms for ‘jobs’ and led to the industry gaining a poor reputation with the public. The ending of Prohibition allowed the industry the freedom to distance themselves from the criminal fraternity and rebuild a respectable reputation.

The expansion of the American rail network acted to bolster the car hire industry for a number of years. Purely rental car parking was created at some stations to further entice customers, mainly due to Railway companies heavily investing in franchises. Rail companies also started to create a service where customers could order a hire car in advance of their arrival at stations using the telegraph network.

In the post war period the car hire industry grew rapidly, being linked to another form of transport; in this case however it was no the railroads but instead the rapidly expanding air travel market. Car rental companies began to open franchises at airports to allow passengers vehicular transport at their arrival destination. The term ‘fly-drive’ became popular and supplied a service to tourists and businessmen alike.

Competition in the car hire industry since this time became fierce, with many companies employing aggressive advertising campaigns with the help of the airlines themselves. Today airports are still a major source of revenue for companies, with desks filling many arrival lounges.

The modern era of car leasing has seen companies face increasing competition from improved public transportation links. Most major airports now have a direct rail link with their host cities while coach and bus companies allow travellers to reach almost any destination once they have left the airport. Businessmen are still integral to the industry, as much as it was for Saunders’ original firm, while the innovation of ‘fly-drive’ holidays has opened a wider market.

Car hire companies are increasingly employing satellite navigation systems in their cars making travel easier for customers. The addition of high-tech security systems such as fingerprint scanners have also been employed to secure fleets. For companies to survive in this highly competitive industry they must be innovative and provide a service that is unrivalled. With prices increasingly forced down by rivals the customer now faces possibly the widest choice ever in the history of the industry.

Chinese foods

One of the modern contribution of China is Chinese foods. The Peking Duck, the Beef in Black Bean sauce, the lobster with ginger, and host of other great Chinese food. Chinese foods and food products have become suspect as of late. We have seen the reports of seafood with high levels of antibiotics and hormones. We have read about the pet food with toxic and industrial ingredients. We have seen a TV report about a street food vendor who made pork dumplings with cardboard instead of pork. That TV report turned out to be a hoax. Maybe. You never know with state run media.

I love Chinese food and teas. Like many North Americans, I’ve become a little suspicious about Chinese food. Too many stories have come out about toothpastes with industrial and toxic ingredients. The Chinese exports have also included toys for children with high level of lead in the paint. Lead is something that has become a regulated substance in all products in the west.

Some people are can have a reaction to monosodium glutamate (MGS) ranging from headaches to chest pains. MGS is used extensively in Chinese foods. MGS is also extensively used in commercial cans of soup, noodles soups, granola bars and numerous food products. If you have concerns about having a reaction to MGS, consult with your doctor.

Foods and food products from China are pervasive and cheap. Chinese foods (Chinese cuisine) is also exotic and delicious. It has added greatly to the enjoyment of food and cooking. Chinese food is also becoming something of a concern.

Health Canada and the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have both been negligent in allowing foods from China to come in and fail their respective safety standards. The two countries have announced that they will be more vigilant and may even ban some foods and food products from China. Both countries however are loath to loose business with China, which is lucrative for all concerned.

As a consumer, you however can have a great influence. As your grocer where the foods come from. If they can’t give you a straight answer, pass on the product. Even if you will eventually buy the product, the retailers will begin to be more vigilant and informed.

Personally boycott some food products. Sea foods from China are highly suspect at this time for instance. Some people have even gone so far as to test foods and food products according to the standards set by FDA or Health Canada. You are a very important, even essential part of the market as the consumer. If you ask questions and make a point of passing up a product that you would normally like to buy, then that make a very loud statement.

We can make the foods we love safer for ourselves.

Airport transfer limo hire

There could be any number of reasons why you would need an airport transfer. It could be a honeymoon, getting married, a stag night with the lads, a hen night with the girls, corporate event, business trip or maybe a well deserved holiday. One of the key issues with any trip abroad is how you are going to get to the airport. You could get a taxi, however if you have a large party one taxi will not be enough. You could get a train but then you will be hoping against any delays. Or you could drive but then you run the risk of an inevitable hold up. For a reliable, efficient, professional and relaxing airport transfer the obvious choice has to be in a limousine. The limousine will arrive on time at your door, many can carry your luggage or at least arrange for a van or people carrier to take it whilst following on behind and it will drop you outside the airport without any need to wait for one of those annoying buses. And on the return flight home you can rest assured that the limousine will be at the airport waiting to ferry you home in style.

Limo companies operate nationwide covering all major UK airports. Therefore if you need limousine hire London to Heathrow or limousine hire Glasgow to Glasgow International airport this will not be a problem. The size of your party will determine the limousine you need to hire. For a small party of say eight people you have a choice of any limousine but to keep cost down the best choices are the traditional stretch Lincoln Town Car, Chrysler C300 Baby Bentley limousine or Hummer H3 limousine. For larger parties of up to 20 people a 4×4 limousine such as the H2 Hummer limousine , Jeep Excursion limousine or Lincoln Navigator limousine is recommended. All the limousines will arrive with complimentary bubbly and on board entertainment such as TV, s, DVD players and CD players guaranteed to get you in the mood for you trip abroad.

Here are some of the airports that airport transfer limo hire covers:

1. Aberdeen Airport
2. Birmingham Airport
3. Blackpool Airport
4. Bournemouth Airport
5. Bristol Airport
6. Cardiff Airport
7. Coventry Airport
8. Doncaster Airport
9. Durham Tees Valley Airport
10. East Midlands Airport
11. Edinburgh Airport
12. Exeter Airport
13. Glasgow International Airport
14. Glasgow Prestwick Airport
15. Humberside Airport
16. Leeds Airport
17. Liverpool Airport
18. London City Airport
19. London Gatwick Airport
20. London Heathrow Airport
21. London Luton Airport
22. London Stansted Airport
23. Manchester Airport
24. Newcastle Airport
25. Norwich Airport
26. Southampton Airport

Although hiring a limousine for an airport transfer may seem extravagant it can sometimes work out cheaper than a taxi, particularly with a large number of people that are all chipping in. But it often adds to the experience of the holiday/stag night/hen night abroad and at least you know the limousine will arrive on time.

Want To Tour The Us For Less? Head To Chinatown.

Bargain hunters don’t only go to Chinatown for knock off designer handbags, they also look there to find the best prices on bus tours of America. Travelers in east and west coast US cities have come to love the “Chinatown Bus” for their no-frills service and rock bottom prices. However, the bargains do not stop there. If you want to find the cheapest way to see the most popular tourist attractions in the US, try a Chinatown tour operator.

Just as Chinatown bus service began by catering to the recent immigrant community, for years these tour operators have targeting their tours only to the Chinese speaking community. However, more recently they have been discovered by the broader market and are increasingly popular for visitors to the US and residents alike.

Sayaka Singh who lives in New York said that any time she has family visiting from India they inevitably want to take a trip to Niagara Falls. She discovered several Chinatown tour companies online and has since sent many family members to the Falls with them. She said, “You can’t beat it, for less than a hundred dollars they get transportation in a nice motorcoach, hotel accommodations, a tour of the Falls area, and several other stops along the way. They loved it.” Several of her relatives then booked a tour to Washington DC.

What to expect

These are definitely budget tours, but the value they deliver is truly unbeatable. Hotels are usually 2-star level but they tend to be national chains and are quite adequate. Plan on something equivalent to a Travelodge, however many times the hotel quality is higher. Hotels are commonly not situated in the downtown core of the city or right near an attraction.

In a style typical of tours throughout Asia, the tour itinerary is usually quite full. The pace of these tours is very rapid. You will see as many attractions as possible but will not stay at any one attraction for very long. This can be frustrating for people who like to linger or have time to explore. It is perfect for travelers who want to see a lot in a short period of time.

People from all over the world go on these tours and it is impossible to predict the demographic makeup of a group. However, do not expect an “all-American” crowd. You should expect multilingual tour guide and many non-English speakers on the tour. Many people cite the mix of people as their favorite aspect of the tours (“I felt like I was part of a UN delegation, it was great!”). The tour guide will not give an in-depth narrated tour and will speak in both Chinese and English. The tour guide will also arrange for the group to stop for meals. This is usually simple fare such as a rest stop food court or a Chinese restaurant.

How do they do it?

$99 for a 3-day tour from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon; $85 for a 2-day tour from NYC to Washington DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia—it is hard to fathom how they can offer such low fares.

These companies run very streamlined operations and work on slim margins. The key to their model is that the tour buses are full. They tend to operate tours only to the most popular destinations (ie. Grand Canyon, San Francisco, Niagara Falls, Washington DC), and they sometimes cancel a tour if not enough people book it. Often these tour companies use charter buses and therefore do not have the expense of maintaining and operating a fleet of buses, something that may not really be their area of expertise.

Since the tour companies run tours on a regular schedule, they are able to negotiate very good room rates with hotels. Therefore they can still offer low rates even during a busy time of year. They also save money by paying their tour guides very little. Customers are expected to tip the tour guides and this really their main source of compensation.

What exactly is included?

All tours include hotel, tour guide and transportation. Most include entrance fees to any national parks when applicable. Some also include admission to attractions. Read the tour details carefully or inquire before you book if you are not sure. Optional tours can add to the cost of your tour and you should budget accordingly. Usually the tour guide will organize the optional tours for the group and you will pay the guide directly.

How do I find these tours?

Almost any city that has a sizable Asian population will most likely have a tour operator specializing in multi-day budget tours. New York, Boston, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Los Angeles have dozens of tour operators. Most likely they will not advertise in the same places that traditional tour companies do. Your best bet is to look online.

These tours are a terrific option for travelers who want to see some of America’s most popular sights but do not have a lot of time and want a great value. For far less than you would pay if you went on your own, you can sit back and have someone else make all the arrangements for you. As an added bonus you will also get to experience a great diversity of cultures along the way.

Tips for Getting Around Algeria

Although there are regions of Algeria that are perfectly safe for tourists, especially the southeastern part of the country, you can still travel safely in the country if you follow a few basic tips.

Getting Around by Air

Air Algerie operates frequent flights from the domestic airport in Algiers to the main business centres throughout the country. You can also get flights from this airport to some of the gateway oasis towns such as Ghardaia and Ouargla and to the oil producing towns of the country. For most of the year, air service runs on schedule. During the summer months you may experience delays when flying to areas in the south because of the desert sandstorms.

Getting Around by Ferry

Ferries run in all the major coastal towns of Algeria, such as Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djidjelli, Ghazaouet, Mostaganem, Oran and Skikda.

Getting Around by Rail

There are daily rail services throughout the northern sections of the country. In the south services connect with the northern trains twice a day in some of the major towns and once a day in others. Even though there is daily service it is slow and you need to give yourself plenty of time for arriving at your destination.

Getting Around by Road

In general, the roads of Algeria are in very good condition. The traffic drives on the right. If you plan to drive in the desert, your vehicle should be in good condition because you won`t find any service stations where you can get the repairs done. You also need to make sure you have plenty of gas and water with you before you embark on such a journey. Tourists in Algeria are advised not to travel on the roads after dark.

You can rent cars at the airports and at the hotels in the major towns and cities of Algeria. For those who wish to drive their own vehicles into the country, you must have an International Driving Permit and show proof of ownership at the border. You are only allowed to keep your own vehicle in Algeria for a three-month period and you need to purchase extra insurance at the border. If you prefer to let someone else do the driving for you there are coach services linking the major towns. However, it is not recommended for travelling long distances.

Getting Around in the Major Towns and Cities

Although there is public transportation in the form of buses available in the larger cities, this is not a recommended mode of travel for tourists because of the likelihood of being robbed. It is best to use taxis within the cities and towns and only those metered taxis recommended by the hotel where you are staying.

Touring the Battlefields of Northwest Europe on a Bespoke Tour

Like the majority of my competitors, I offer standard battlefield tour packages that show people the sites of D-Day, Ypres, The Somme, Waterloo, Arnhem, Vimy Ridge, etc. I offer six set date tours each year aimed at taking people to the battlefield sites on or close to the anniversary date of the battle. My Battlefield Tours 4u website also offers a range of set itinerary tours that have flexible dates and hotel grades.

What relatively few battlefield tour operators do however is a “truly bespoke tour service” whereby they put together a tour with their customer to ensure that the customer gets to see what they want rather than just what the tour operator wants to show them. Such a service is a partnership between the customer and tour operator/guide determining what can be seen in the time set aside to allow the customer to achieve their aim. I have been fortunate enough to take customers to visit the battlefields where their father or grandfather fought. I have taken others to the grave of an ancestor and shown them the place where their ancestor fought and died. Others have wanted to see the places where their own regiments fought and so on. I have even taken veterans back to the places where they fought and lost friends.

The key to a truly bespoke battlefield service is defining what you the customer would like to do or what you want to achieve. This is unique and individual to each customer, but in general the following gives a good basis from which to work.

What is the purpose of the tour?

What is it you the customer would like to do or achieve? For example do you want to: -

1. Visit the grave of an ancestor, relative or particular person?

2. See the place where that person fought and was perhaps wounded or died (if this can indeed be established)?

3. Understand the battle in which they fought?

4. Get a better understanding of the war in which they fought?

5. Want to see the place in which a particular unit fought?

6. Follow the progress of a particular unit during a campaign?

The list is almost endless, but in short it is what you the customer wants to do that matters.

Where do you want to go?

This sounds easy, but this may not necessarily be the case. It is linked closely with the purpose of the tour, but can include places to enhance understanding that do not directly relate to an ancestor’s, relative’s or particular unit’s war.

How long do you want to go for?

You are in charge and can determine the length of your tour, but beware a word of caution here. Make sure that the time is sufficient to achieve your aim and get around the tour locations, but not too long so that you get “toured out”. By this I mean the days start to merge into one and the places you are visiting no longer have a meaning. The great thing about a truly bespoke tour is it remains flexible and if this happens you can take a break, reorganise the schedule or whatever else you and the tour guide jointly decide.

Where do you want to be picked-up and dropped-off?

This needs to be agreed before going on the tour as it has a bearing on the tour cost. I have picked people up from their homes, met them at the UK Ferry Port, at the hotel, an airport and more. I have agreed different pick-up and drop-off locations where asked. If the pick-up and drop-off points are on my route (or close by) I do not normally charge for this, but if additional mileage is involved or the location involves an overnight stay then a charge is made. Each tour operator is different so make sure you check this out.

What standard of accommodation do you want?

You can set the standard; I can normally arrange anything from self-catering to a five Star Chateau Hotel. You can of course specify that the tour guide stays with you, but don’t expect them to cook if its self-catering (I am not a good cook and do not want to poison my guests). Often the tour guide will stay in the same place if it is within their budget. I normally stay in the same hotel so that I am available for my guests should they want to see me or nearby if the cost is greater than my budget allows. I have stayed in more expensive hotels when my guests have decided that this is what they want provided they pick-up the additional cost.

What meals do you want to include in the price?

A good tour operator should be able to arrange a tour that includes no meals, breakfast only, half board, full board or all-inclusive. Make sure you agree with the tour operator before going on the tour just what is included. Is it just meals, or is wine provided with dinner, or no drinks, or include all drinks, etc. If meals are inclusive decide whether or not you wish the tour guide to dine with you (providing they are staying in the same hotel). I normally give my customers the choice, but even where it has been agreed that we dine apart within a day or so this seems to change as we continue to discuss things once back at the hotel and then over dinner. Please don’t forget that the tour guide will need some admin time to prepare for the following day, top up on supplies, etc.

Do you want museum fees included?

You can have museum entrance fees included in the price of your tour or you can pay on the door as you go in. Make sure you agree this with the tour operator before you go. I normally include these within the price as standard, but others may not.

What about refreshments whilst travelling around the battlefield?

This can include light refreshments and snacks carried in the vehicle or regular stops to allow you to purchase your own. The choice again is very much the customer’s. I normally carry a cooler-box with drinks as a minimum, but this will vary from one tour operator to another.

The list can go on, but I think you will have got the gist of what I am trying to say.

My best advice is if you want to do something different from a standard tour talk to a professional. They will tell you whether or not they can do it, if they can great, if they can’t you can decide to go elsewhere or even follow an alternative if it is offered. You can of course talk to a number of tour operators about your proposed tour, but please do not string them along, as organising a bespoke tour can be very time consuming. They may also turn down another tour based upon your enquiry and if you decide not to use them they will have missed out on another opportunity. This is after all their livelihood and they need to make a living so please be fair.

My final point is that a truly bespoke service puts you in charge and we the tour operators should be facilitators to enable you to do it. I believe that I like the other truly bespoke tour operators do.