TheVine: How long have you been working for Topdeck?
Kieran from Topdeck: I’ve been working for Topdeck for just one year I started in June after completing the training course. It’s been a crazy few months!
Explain the selection process, and why you think you got the job?
The selection process is very tough and competitive, designed to ensure the best people are selected to represent the company. It is a very sought after job; when I went in for the interview I was told they had over 2,000 applicants and from that only 24 of us continued into the training trip.
The training trip itself was very difficult but also extremely rewarding, covering over 40 cities and 20 countries in just 56 days. It was designed to push us in all aspects of what the job could bring. I feel I got the job in part because I like to think of myself as a very outgoing person who is driven and motivated. I also love to travel, meet new people, and having a degree in management and accounting helped a lot.
You’re local knowledge of every place the European Topdeck trip visits is pretty impressive, how do you go about learning the history of a place?
History has always been a passion of mine, I actually studied archeology in university for a year hoping to be like Indiana jones (laughs). But a lot of time and effort is gone into finding out as much as I can about the history, not just the dates, people, and events, but the culture, people, and crazy facts. The history you can read in a book, but it’s the other stuff – meeting locals and exploring the cities as much as possible – that I feel people really remember. I found the best way to learn so much about a country is to explore what I find interesting; they’re the things you remember the most and enjoy sharing with other people.
Name your top three places to visit in Europe and why?
That is a very tough question, but I would have to say my top three would be (in no order of preference):
1. Croatia, particularly the city of Dubrovnik.
It is both an amazing city with beautiful ancient walls, but also a history that is very fresh for a lot of people coming out of the former Yugoslavia and the wars. It’s a country and people that is still growing and changing, just like the countries around it, such as Albania. Plus it’s the filming location for Kings Landing in Game of Thrones.
2. Another favorite place for me is Munich, Germany.
It takes some of the best aspects of the German culture, and of course home of the Bavarian purity law, and puts them in a beautiful and interesting city. Munich really does have everything from grand beer halls, where you can get steins of some of the best beer in the world, pork knuckle and pretzels, to beautiful architecture from the old town and new. It has a very rich and interesting history with both dark and light parts, and is home to Octoberfest one of the best festivals in the world.
3. One more of my favorite places is Madrid in Spain.
For me Madrid is one of my favorite cities in the world. I just love everything about the feel, the people, the culture – it all works. I love the Spanish language and the culture and the city and country as a whole is, in my opinion, a must for everyone to check out. It’s difficult to say what about it I like so much, but I guess it’s the vibe the city gives off. Other places may try too hard to be touristy but Madrid has a really good balance and has so many places to escape reality for a while.
Name three traits you need to possess in order to be successful as a Topdeck travel trip leader?
Some traits I have noticed that have been essential for me in the job so far include:
1. Being able to adapt to any situation.
This was a very important one because anything can come up when you’re on the road. You have to be ready to deal with anything that could happen because you’re the leader for the 40+ people you are taking around Europe.
2. Being outgoing.
For jobs like showing a large group around a strange and exotic country it is very important to have an outgoing personality. A big part of it is understanding that there are 40+ people on the coach and each of them has their own likes, dislikes, and plans for the trip. There are the people who want to see every museum and know all the history, there are people who want to eat as many local dishes from every country as possible, and of the course the people who want to see the night life in every city. It’s all about finding the right balance for everyone. Having the confidence to speak in front of large groups is also an important part of having an outgoing personality.
3. It goes without saying but having a passion for travelling is essential.
One of the best things about doing this job is the fact you get paid to see the world. However it doesn’t come without its drawbacks for seven months of the year you are essentially living out of a suitcase and always on the move, going to a different country almost every two days. As much fun as it is it can be a bit difficult for things like catching up with friends, going to the gym, or sleeping in on a Sunday. It’s definitely not your average 9-5 job. So having a love for seeing new cities, cultures, and travel is a must.
What have been some of the most rewarding things about being a Topdeck trip leader?
The most rewarding part for me is meeting all the different people on the trips. No one trip is the same and it’s a real pleasure for me to get to meet amazing people from all over the world and show them some of the most stunning places. The people I have met, both passengers and fellow workers, have become life long friends, many of them I still regularly see. I even have a tattoo with a group of them from my very first trip!
Another rewarding thing is being able to really get to know some of the most stunning cities in the world; finding out the best places to eat, drink, and enjoy everything Europe has to offer. The job has taken me to picnics under the Eiffel tower, sky diving in the Swiss Alps, watching flamenco dancing in Barcelona, dancing the night away in Ibiza, winning money in the grand casino in Monaco, gondola rides through Venice, sailing the Greek islands, bike rides through the streets of Amsterdam, and that’s just scratching the surface of some of the experiences I’ve got to have with Topdeck.
Generally speaking, who are the types of people who go on Topdeck Trips?
I have met some amazing people from all over the world, each with their own hopes and expectations of Europe, but generally speaking the types people who come on these trips are very like-minded people from about 18 to 27. They have a love of travel and wish to see as much as they can without having to organize every detail. Every group I have been with – the people are always amazing. Everyone who is on the trip is there to meet new people and experience new things, which makes it easy for groups to become so close. It’s amazing to see in just a few weeks people become life long friends.
Why is Topdeck such a good place to work over other international tour companies?
Topdeck is a great company to work for because they pride themselves on offering something for everybody. They want people to get the most out of their holidays by giving them as much information and history about the places they can, providing the best accommodation close to cities, and offer plenty of free time so everyone can enjoy the cities at their pace and do the things they want.
Topdeck also has a great sense of togetherness. While each trip on the road is essentially its own journey everyone is always there to help you out: from the suppliers in the cities, to fellow trips on the road, to the staff working nonstop in the office. Sometimes it’s just you, a driver, and sometimes a chief on the road, but there’s a whole family there for you if you need them. Knowing that if you ever need something a fellow crew member is more than happy to help out is what makes it a great place to work.
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This article was brought to you by Topdeck.