Post: Mariden, ACIS, Explorica, Passports, NETC, etc

Posted by Ann on 4/18/08

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I am 55 years old and used to be a teacher before I took a
French degree and decided to become a tour guide,
director, manager whatever. I sympathise with all of you
out there who are having difficulties with your choice of
company for European trips. Basically you get what you
pay for. You might be offered incentives e.g. free trips,
akin to airmiles if you book with certain companies.
Explorica is basically the same as EF because someone took
EF's ideas and set up their own company. EF and Explorica
are companies who provide basic trips with hotels which
are situated some way out of the centre of European
capitals. Their hotels and meals are 1 or 2 star. Many of
the companies pay their tour guides a basic wage which
equates to about USD 80 a day and the tour directors (call
them whatever you will) rely on their tips to make a
decent daily wage. Although you might give your tour
guide excellent ratings the companies will not give them a
bonus to supplement their wages if you write in your
reports that you will not be using them again.

Some companies tell their guides to take you to
restaurants, photographers or companies
where they will make extra money to supplement their
incomes. Papa Gio has worked this out and I would follow
his advice if I were you. I now work for a company which
I am not going to name but is mentioned on this site where
you are guaranteed a 3 or 4 star hotel with a decent
breakfast and a decent dinner. I have had the most
wonderful time over the past few weeks as a tour
director. It is hard work but for me the reactions of
your students from the US and Canada have made it
worthwhile.

Posts on this thread, including this one

Mariden, ACIS, Explorica, Passports, NETC, etc, 4/18/08, by Ann.